Vets and bugs, gross!

This is pretty random but I am a little freaked out by this! After pouring a delicious bowl of Purina One natural dog food for lil Twigs, I realized there was a hole in the bottom of the bag and some crumblets fell out of me. Shrug, no big deal. Wait, are there bugs at the bottom of the pantry? Hmm, they are all dead. I better check the food anyways. As I scruffled open the bag and peered inside I saw nothing but dog food but just to make sure "My Precious" was safe I poured the entire bag into a Walmart bag so I could further examine the contents. SICK! THE FOOD IS MOVING! Little buggies were all over the bottom of the bag and moving the kiblets around. Dumpster and Petsmart run! (No dogs were harmed in the writing of this story)

I've had 2 interviews this week with veterinary offices. The first one was a long and silly interview process which involved an application (weakness, strength, goals blah blah), reading the hand book, a short quiz and an interview in which the self proclaimed 'analytical and OCD' doctor informed me that "If hired, we would have to work on my spelling" Turns out I misspelled 2 words, mind you I was reading and writing for 1:15 minutes. My bad, didn't know that it was a crime to make mistakes. I noticed some other shenanigans (yes, I spell check that) and decided I didn't really want to work there.

Today I interviewed with an Emergency Animal Hospital, they are super flexible with schedules and I can work from 6pm-12am which would keep Nate and I on the same schedule! I'm going on a working interview Monday the 29th. Wow, the 29th marks Nate and I's 9th month of marriage....where does time go? Surely it moved a lot slower when we were apart. I'm also looking into an afterschool progeam called PEAK enrichment-basically you teach fun classes (dance, bugs, lego building) 2 hours a day and a few friends from church are thinking about doing it too.

Please pray for my job search this week, that God would give me clear direction as to where He wants me and I would find a job that I enjoy. Pray for Nate's job also. Although he is not in danger of losing his position, other people are being let go as the project gets closer to being completed and it's creating some jealousy and gossip. If you know Nate, it doesn't bother him which I am thankful for but I still think prayer is order here.

Only about 2.5 months til we visit for Christmas!
Shalane

House Wife

I haven't been getting as many subbing jobs as I anticipated. I don't like having the working days undecided and wondering if I will meet my weekly goal. I can't say that I mind staying at home. Lately, my days have been pretty filled. I've starting getting more involved at church and making closer friendships. These week I am hanging out with a friend pretty much everyday or I have my class on the schedule. With my 24th birthday fast approaching, I've been reflecting on where God wants me. I still feel called to be working with animals or in a medical field yet I am not really sure why I have that passion right now. I applied at a few places today and we'll see what happens. But after looking at my plans for the week, I have to wonder if God just wants me all to himself right now! What if He wants me to use this time in fellowship and as a time to grow even closer to Him? I would hate to miss that opportunity which could be further preparation for my future as a mom or some other stage He has prepared for me. Sigh, I wonder if I'll ever know what I want to be when I grow up!

Although my career path is uncertain, I am really enjoying this season of spending time with friends and meeting new people. I'm getting to know some people in the apartment complex really well and I've had several opportunies to head out on the town and talk to people. I can honestly say that I'm anything but a 'Desperate Housewife'!

I love you all so incredibly much and miss spending time with you! Keep me updated on your lives cause I want to hear from you!

Vacations and Sickness

We are back from the retreat! (OK so we've been back for a while and I'm just slow) Leading worship went really well, Nate had a couple of slip ups with the pick flying out or a missed chord but overall he did a great job, he kept going and it was a lot of fun. Our friends are so supportive that they probably didn't even notice. The retreat was SO much fun! We had some great times of fellowship, we played kickball, had a volleyball championship, ultimate frisbee and even a group venture to the golf driving range-which was surprising fun for everyone. I swing like a tennis player but Nate is a professional, see the videos :) We spent the nights playing a pool game called "scratch" or "scum" which is basically the version of "horse" for pool tables. That game was awesome and involved a couple people being pegged in the leg with the cue ball! Oh and this trip involved pretty much minimal sleep which resulted in Nate and I being sick for a couple days-we're back though! Woohoo! Thank you Caroline for suggesting Tylenol Cold AM/PM which allowed us a solid nights sleep.

Funny: I took the PM and went to sleep before Nate got home. He came into the bedroom ready to give me a hug (normally I hear him come in but not with the meds) I opened my eyes to see a huge man standing next to the bed with his arms out like a monster and I was so out of it that all I could really do, even in my terror, is whimper and roll over. Great, Shalane that would really save your life! If anyone ever wants to attack me without a struggle - that was the moment!

What we have come to realize is that we really do love the people out here. Not to say we don't miss home or love our family and friends at home. This has just been a really good time for us to be challenged by our Christian friends to live the life, actually put into action what we are learning and I have to say I feel like I have grown so incredibly much in the last 3 monthes. We will be sad to leave our church and friends here and are currently trying to figure out a way to get all of you in one place! We are taking a class called E.E. right now and its going well. It basically focuses on knowing the answers to 2 questions and helping people answer those questions or at least think about it. It involves a good amount of homework but it's worth it.

Malia is getting some opportunites right now in Texas with some close friends. She is a nanny and I think she might be LOVING it! We're praying for Texas support of her ministry. Not much else going on right now. I just feel so loved! I'm in love with my Savior, my God, my husband, my family and friends and I'm feeling so much compassion for those around me hurting. The theme for the week is LOVE. Everybody wants it, everyone needs it, no one can give it more perfectly than Christ! I hope that each day I can love people better.
So naturally I must end this with: I LOVE YOU!!!!