The Beautiful Smoky Mountains!

Well, it's official, I am now living in TN! We have been here two weeks now, and we are all unpacked and settled into our new apartment. It's kind of cozy but needs some painting. The all white walls are kind of boring. So we get to go pick out the paint and don't even have to pay for it. How nice is that. I am currently looking for a job. I had an interview yesterday but it was a joke. I don't know how they called that an interview. They barely asked me any questions. I am glad that didn't have positions open because I didn't really want the job. It was at The Chop House to be a server. I don't think I would have liked it.

Nevin has his last day of training today. I think he is ready to get down to the real thing. He has been on his cottage for a couple days but has been shadowing the other house parents. I think he likes his job. It is a lot different from anything he has ever done so he is still adjusting.

WE GET TO GO TO OHIO THIS WEEKEND!! YEA!!!! I can't wait to go home and see everyone! Nevin has a four day weekend so we decided to head back home for those days! I have been a little home sick so it will be nice to see everyone again! We are leaving on Saturday morning and coming home on Tuesday.

That is about all the excitement for now. If you want to see pics of the move and of our apartment I have them up on facebook! Come check them out!

Until next time!

It's been a while...

Well, you know me...I stink at updating these things. It has been a couple months since I last posted. Things have been kinda crazy in my life since I went on vacation. Nevin and I are getting ready to move to TN in 18 days! AHHHHHH!!! It is where we feel God wants us to be. When we went on vacation there Nevin felt God calling us there. I struggled with that for a while because I didn't understand why God was speaking to my husband but not me. I have had a couple talks with God since then and am feeling better. I know God has a great plan for us, and I am excited to see what the future holds. Nevin will be working at the Smokey Mountain Children's Home. He is going to be working with teenage boys. Totally different than anything he has ever done but I believe he will be GREAT at it.

As for me, I don't know what I am going to do. I feel like God is giving me a chance to start all over. I get start writing this new chapter in my life. Part of me is sad to end this last one. I love my life the way it is. God has given me a wonderful job that I love with wonderful co-workers. He has given me a husband that is more than anything I have ever imagined for myself. I have a home, and family close by that I love dearly. God has called me to give all that up (except for the husband) and start all over. I have always had a hard time with change, but I know God is going to grant me the desires of my heart. Sometimes we don't know what those are yet. So for me, I am praying God shows me where I am supposed to be. I pray he gives me a passion in TN all my own. Something I can step out in faith and do.

An update on my mom...she is doing pretty well. I am taking her Wednesday to her fourth Chemo treatment. After that she will have two more to do. Then radiation. It will be so hard for me not to be here and help when she needs me to. I know God is taking care of her. She gets pretty tired sometimes. God has been good to her. She hasn't been very sick. That is a blessing. It is weird seeing her without any hair. She loves being bald though. Please continue to pray that God heals her body. Thanks so much!

Until next time....

Lora

VACATION!!!!

Well it's back to the real world. Nevin and I just got back from vacation tonight. It started memorial day weekend. We left early Saturday morning and went to Karyn's for the weekend. I always look forward to my times I get to spend with her. When we got there we of course got Marco's Pizza! Always a highlight..and we went to a park to have a picnic. We decided to help Karyn out and fix her front headlight so we could stay out after dark. Well it took a while and we soon found out her car is possesed (as the guy from advanced auto informed us)! LOL!! We weren't able to fix it so we couldn't stay out past dark. We hung out with her fam and went to the carnival in town. I never saw so many people in fruitport! We saw the fireworks. They were pretty good for small town. That was our weekend. Just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

Then I worked for one day and my week long vacation started! Nevin and I went to TN. We first went to the Diamond Caverns in KY. They were beautiful and give a nice workout. After that we went to our friends house just North of Nashville TN. We stayed with them and caught up on each other's lives. The next we decided to head to Nashville and check out the city. We went to the country Music hall of fame. Very neat place. The only place in Nashville I saw someone famous...of course it was only their picture! LOL!! THen it was off to Sevierville. We stayed with my aunt and uncle. They spoil us rotton. We had a blast. The mountains are gorgeous. I love being among God's beautiful creation. Here are some fun things we did...

Ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company ( I didn't eat any shrimp though)
Took the sky lift up to the top of the mountains! AWESOME ride!
Dollywood of course..Thanks Marcee!!!!
Saw the Miracle Show. It is about the life of Christ! INCREDIBLE!!!
Went camping near Gatlinburg in the pouring down rain. Thank goodness for our tent!
Went hiking to a waterfall. BEAUTIFUL!!!
Played put put on the side of a mountain!!!
Went to the Dixie Stampeed for our aniversary dinner! Thanks Marcee!!!!! (one of the highlights of the trip)
GOT TO SLEEP IN!!!!!

It was a blast and I look forward to the next trip to TN!!! So Nevin and I did celebrate our one year anniversary. I can't believe how fast it went and it only goes faster!

That was our trip! I am sure I could tell you stories but that would be a much longer blog than this already is....

What a great time...

So tonight was so much fun. I went over to my friend Val's house. We hung out with her husband and our other friends..Travis and Kim. The six of us had a good time. It made me think back on the days when weren't married and Val, Trav, and I would get together and have a great time. This time we just added three more people. Triple the fun! We had pizza. PB pie, and played Rook. That was the longest game but me, Trav, and Kevin won. Of Course! LOL! I always enjoy when I can get together with friends and just relax.

I have busy couple of weeks coming up. Tomorrow I am going to my cousin's bridal shower. She is getting married in Hawaii in June. I am not able to go to the wedding but am looking forward to the shower. It is a Luau! Should be lots of fun! Then Sunday is my Grandpa's birthday. He is defintely getting older and as he does I cherish every moment I get to spend with my grandparents. I thank God that I have been able to have a close relationship with them. Then next Saturday it is off to Michigan. I can't wait to see Karyn. I haven't seen her since New Year's. WAY TOO LONG! Nevin and I are leaving Saturday morning stopping at a Cavern on the way up and coming home on Monday. I always look forward to my Karyn time. I never know when the next time is.

Then after we get home a couple days later it is off to TN. This is our 1 year Anniversary vacation. THis is the same place we went on our Honeymoon. THis time we are going more to visit my family that lives there. I miss them so much. It will be so much fun!

I am looking forward to a long overdue vacation....

Until next time...

Life throws you curveballs....

So I thought life was going pretty great for me. I finally got to a place where I loved going to work everyday. I enjoy the people I work with. We are planning our vacations coming up. Nevin and I are working on things that we have procrastinated on way too long. My relationship with God was getting back on track...then Friday I came home from work and BOOM! I felt like I got hit by a truck. My found out that she has cancer. I don't a lot of details because she doesn't either.

I keep having these mixed emotions about it. I get mad because this shouldn't be happining to my mom. I get sad and just sit and cry. I feel strong sometimes because I know that God can heal her and make her all better. I trust that he can. It is in those times when I feel strong that satan gets in the way. He jumps in and tells me well what if God doesn't heal her. What if everything isn't going to be ok. Those are the times where I get mad and ask God why...why my mom. Those are times when I just want to sit and cry. I feel like it is a emotional rollar coaster.

So I know that throughout this experience I know that it won't be easy. I know that I am going to have these different emotions. I also know that it is perfectly normal to feel all of them. I do need to remember that God is always on my side. He will be by my side even when I don't feel him there.

I am reminded of the song by Casting Crowns...I will Praise You in this Storm. Even when life sucks and I don't see the end of the long tunnel, I will praise God because he has my best interest at heart. He will take care of my mom and of my family.

Please remember to pray for her. Thank you very much.

Here we go again....

Ok so....I tried a different blog once and I didn't do so well keeping up to date with things. I will try better this time! I promise Karyn. I am a pretty busy girl with taking care of my house, my husband (who by the way is the best husband in the world), going to work and trying to have a good relationship with God. I would love to say that right now He is numero uno in my life but honestly he isn't. I have been working on that a lot lately. So that is basically my life right now. Oh and I have the cutest and coolest puppy..Petee in the whole world. He is my only kid these days so there you have it! Until next time....