On the weekends

Now that I'm working, the weeks go by quickly and with relatively little excitement. Anything thrilling seems to happen on the weekends. 

A few weekends ago, Matt and Lena convinced Nathan and I (with very little effort) to go to Ned's orchestra concert at U of I.  It was a really great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The music, for the most part, was beautiful. A few of the songs weren't exactly my style, but they were played quite well. 
After the concert we went out to Five Guy's with Ned. 

This past weekend,  Troy and Ellie invited us up to Belvidere.  We got up there Friday night. Us and Wendi and Daniel stayed and their house, Kendra and Larissa stayed with Darcy, and Aaron stayed with Seth in a hotel.  Saturday, we went shopping- which served the purpose of allowing us to wander about chatting  more than we actually shopped.  Then, we went back to Troy and Ellie's and ate a wonderful supper and stayed up quite late.  We spent the day, Sunday, in church and sang at a nursing home.  

We're all couples now! :) 

It was an absolutely wonderful weekend. I have such amazing godly friends. I am continuously reminded how blessed I am. 

In Christ
~Michelle

Kendra

We've been best friends since the day she was born. We grew up together, rarely spending more than a week apart. On Wednesday nights, it was a fight to see whose house we'd go to. Sleepovers, swimming, Sunday school, Wyss vacation, vacations with friends, adventuring, day dreaming, telling secrets... :)

We did everything together.

As we grew older, we encouraged each other in our Christian walks, talking late into the night.  And, we still found time to be goofy, laugh like crazy, and act like complete dorks. :) God truly blessed me with an amazing friend and cousin. 

Now, we're going to be married couples together. Eee! :)

Kendra and Aaron

I'm so excited, I don't think I even know how excited I am. :)

Congratulations Kendra and Aaron! 

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.~ Proverbs 27:17

In Christ
~Michelle

Saturdays, Work, and Waiting

I like Saturdays. 
And now that I am working, I like them even more.

On Saturdays I have time to get things done, relax, and do random fun things like baking. :)

Last Saturday, Nathan and I went to a potluck. We were told to bring bread so we spent part of our day making bread together. :) They turned out awesome. Nathan is a pretty good cook.

really really good pumpkin bread :)

and awesome cheesy bread :)

Work this week was long a boring. I think I'll like it but I'm still waiting on background checks and such to come through before I can actually take on clients.
I had to sit and wait a ton this week. I had to get a physical and a TB test on Wednesday and scheduled an appointment for 4:30. I got to the clinic at 4:15...they didn't call me back until 6:00.  Needless to say, Nathan and I were late for church. 
On Thursday, I had to get finger-printed. I went in at 4:00 and waited until 5:45 until they finally got to me. 
I am so tired of sitting. :)

Through the week, any time I've had free time, I've been drying apples. I love dried apples and I eat them about as fast as I dry them. They bring back childhood memories of jumping off the school bus in the fall and gobbling them up for our after school snack. 

yum. :) 

Today, I cleaned our sadly neglected apartment and did a bit more baking. :) Yah, I like to bake. We had some extra apples so, Nathan and I made two pumpkin pies and four mini apple pies.  Don't worry we won't eat them all. We took one of the pumpkin pies to the farm for the Old Farmer to enjoy. :)

I love pies. 

Tonight we heard the testimonies of three of Nathan's brothers. It was a blessing to be there.  Praise God for His work in every one of our lives! 

In Christ
~Michelle

First Day

Today was the first day of really being an adult. I went to work. 

It was mainly orientation all day today, filling out tons of paperwork and getting confused and overwhelmed. It's a whole lot like syllabus day in college. You feel like you accomplish nothing and see everything that has to be done.
Ah, well. It will all get done.  It's just a bunch of things I have to do in this first week of employment. 

To answer some questions:
I think I'm going to like my team and my supervisor seems really approachable.
I am part of the supervised independent living program (SILP) for the Peoria Children's Home and I'll be working with 17-20 males.
I really don't know much about what I'll be actually doing. 
My hours are relatively flexible. I'll mostly be working from 8:00 or 8:30 to 4:30 or 5:00. 

I really feel that God has placed me there. I applied for a position in foster care and the SILP supervisor picked up my resume and asked if he could interview me instead. The interview went really well. The other workers really liked me and before I knew it, I had a job offer.  
It's not what I would have chosen. 
But, It seemed as if God kept telling me "these are the least of these. Go serve them."  It really is these kid's last chance before they spend the rest of their lives in and out of prison. 

Please, don't be scared for me. Yes, this is a dangerous area of town. Yes, these are the "roughest kids in Peoria" (as stated by my supervisor). But, God will protect me. He has protected me in the past and he will again. This is for His glory, not mine. I did not go into social work for the comfort and safety. 

Anyway. 
For those of you who get squeamish at the sight of anything sappy-read no farther. 

So, tonight while I lay languishing in my bed with a pounding headache, (The headache could have been a result of the long day at work, dehydration, bad posture, being hungry, or the incessant beeping of the fire alarms (no, I didn't burn anything) that took Nathan and I way to long to turn off. Seriously those things could drive a person absolutely insane.) Nathan did all the dishes, made my lunch for tomorrow, and scrubbed the kitchen floor. 
:)
He is so awesome. 

God has truly blessed me. 

In Christ
~Michelle

Day at the Zoo

This Wednesday, we had grandma and grandpa and Pearline over for supper before church. I really enjoyed the evening. They got to see where we live and experience my cooking. I made chili. It'd be pretty hard to ruin chili. 

Thursday was a fun day. My mom, Jenny, Cecily, Lena, and the little girl she babysits went to the zoo for Cecily's birthday.  

she enjoyed my gift of Masha and the bear :)

tiger 

Cecily kept saying "sheep" :) 

I forget what this actually is though. Some cow-like animal.

Cecily and her camel :)

Brielle and Cecily enjoying the zoo

Lions

afternoon rain

Thursday evening, Nathan and I went to the farm to do more cider. This must have been the year for apples. Most of the apples didn't come from the farm this batch. It was storming, so we did this round in the shed. We ended up doing 32 gallons!

double rainbow over the farm

kendra turning the crank 

"a-b-c-d...." :) 

cider :)

:)

Friday evening we went to a Martin family thing to celebrate Nathan's mom's birthday.

It's been a busy week. My last week of freedom.

I start my job on Monday, prayers are appreciated. 

In Christ
~Michelle

Apple River Weekend

The young group was kind enough to let Nathan and I join them for the weekend in Apple River. 
It was great being able to share what has been a part of my young group day for nine years now. (yes, nine years! I hardly can believe it)

Saturday's events: Tanner's Apple Orchard, hiking, nursing home singing, eating, singing, and games

most of the girls on the trip

us :)

watching the rock-climbing

Sunday's events: Church at the chapel and relaxing at the park.

:) cousins. friends. :)

I made Nathan pose in front of the church

I seriously think this is one of the most beautiful places in Illinois

the chapel

trying to scare a fish

by the river

When we sang at the nursing home family members sang along, the residents cried and sang, and an old man took off his hat. It was so wonderful to see smiles on their faces. I think we are one of the only groups who ever sings for them.  When we sang at the hotel and at the park, people would walk by and stop, and sometimes sing along. And, we were reminded again in church on Sunday to "dare to be different". I know we must have looked quite strange to some, but to others we made their day. It was just a reminder of how a simple thing can really bless others. 

It was an absolutely wonderful weekend. It was such a blessing to be there.  

In Christ
~Michelle

ah, harvest

Thursday, I headed to the farm for the day. 

My dad took me for a ride on the combine. :) I still love combine rides.

view from the cab

Trent taking Kandace for a ride

After my ride, I helped my mom and Lena make apple sauce. For some reason it wasn't as pink as it usually is, but is still really yummy. :) 

And, I bought a mum the other day. :)

I didn't really know how much I like fall until I realize how giddy I get about harvest, pumpkins, cider, and the other lovely things that go on this season. :)

In Christ,
~Michelle