hmm.

Joseph and I are embarking on a new journey together. :)

Brief Update

Work and school have been keeping me extremely busy. The job that I thought would be 30 hours a week has brought me to realize that it is usually going to be between 30 and 40. Tonight was my first night to close by myself...and of course something had to go wrong. My paperwork wouldn't print and I had no clue what to do when it wouldn't.

Also, Joseph and I have started hanging out again. We went on our second first date last night. It was great. It brought back so many memories. It was repeat of our first first date. And really sweet. :) We are going out with a couple from our church, good friends of ours, tomorrow night after church and after I get off work. I am excited.

Well, that's it for now. Sorry it's not much.
Chels

NEWS

I GOT THE JOB!! :) I started training tonight on how to close and learn how to open in the morning.

Oh yeah, and I started classes today at JSU.

New in 09

I am now officially a student at Jacksonville State University and start classes on Friday.

AND...

Last Sunday, I got offered the shoe manager position at Peebles. At first, our DM, Stan, had told Connie [my wonderful boss] that he wanted her to interview other people as well. I found out today that she interviewed others and they just didn't seem right and so...I have a interview with Stan on Thursday for the job. :)

School days...

As another year has come and gone so quickly, I have found that my heart has learned many lessons this year. I have managed to finish my first year of college only to have to begin college all over again a few months later. I have achieved going on my first major mission trip while also managing to go out of the country for the first time and also get on a plane for the first time.

A few lessons I have learned...

- God has to come before anything that I bring into my life. If He is not first, then not only one thing, but many others will begin to pile up before Him and in His place.

- Jesus is my heartbeat; missions is my passion. I truly enjoy serving others. It is what I was made for. Serving and helping other people gives me such joy.

- My greatest dream is to open an orphanage in a foreign country. I have taken my first step towards that and am working towards the second step.

- I should never be allowed in a kitchen by myself cooking...ever...things end up burnt.

- Me + empty house alone = one very paranoid 20 yr old.

- I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, but sometimes have to make myself refrain from being around people so that I can concentrate on alone time with my Father.

- I will probably never [or not for a long time anyway] ride a go kart again. I am not fond of them right now...or the drugs I have to take to be able to feel ok after having wrecked one...

Well, that's all of my lessons for now. I am sure there are many I forgot, but I am stopping there for now.

School starts on Thursday [and orientation in Tuesday]. I am super pumped, yet so nervous all at the same time. Jacksonville State is so much bigger than Southeastern, which really doesn't make me feel real great about it. But I am so ready to get into what God has waiting for me. Becoming a Social worker is my next step to achieving the Big Dream God has placed within me. I am so excited and cannot wait to see who I get to meet through this program at JSU and can't wait to see how He will use me to help so many.

Also, I am starting my fundraising for China. I get to go back this summer. :) The trip is a couple hundred dollars more than it was last year, but I know God will provide like He did last year.

Out for now.
Chels

Winter Xtreme 08

I went to Winter Xtreme this week with the students. It was an awesome time with some really great bands and speakers. Unfortunately, my body didn't have as much fun. Monday, I was sick. Tuesday, I felt great; yet that evening came to an end when I wrecked the go kart I was driving on a track. And Wednesday, I was reaping the benefits from the wreck. My body is still really sore, but I had xrays done and no bones were broken [praise the Lord]. He gave me some meds and sent me on my way. I am praying for quick recovery and hoping that I will be alright enough to go to work tomorrow.

Blissfulness

The holidays have been slightly on the ritz this year. Our Christmas tree in the Usher house was put up on Christmas Eve morning and ended up on our porch the following night. I really enjoyed Christmas Day [and also not having to go to work the day after to deal with returns]. Christmas Day I was able to spend precious time with family and extended family. It actually wasn't as crazy as it usually seems, and I loved it. My aunt and I were able to have a sweet heart-to-heart talk that was probably long overdue.

our tree

and our other decor

Luckily I survived my first set of holidays in a retail store. Although everyone appeared to be a little insane...I really did enjoy it. And while I am on my job, I might as well update you too. I still really like it a lot. It is wonderful, to me, that I get to help people and get paid for it. I have such a huge passion to help folks out and this is just topping on a cake. I would still really like a job [soon] in human resources, but for now, this is ok. I can wait on Him to put the job in my path.

Let me just say...we so take a lot of things for granted. I saw a drama put together to a new Faith Hill song, "A Baby Changes Everything." It was really good. At the end, the song says: "My whole life has turned around, I was lost, but now I'm found." This part made me break down everytime I saw it. Everyone is dressed in 'biblical clothes' except the guy that does this part. He is a person from our time. He takes the baby from Mary and just holds Him in his arms.

God sent this baby to a lost and dying world. He sent His baby boy to take on MY sins and save from a terrible, wretched place that I really deserve. That blows my mind. Why in the world would He decide to do anything like that? Especially for me?? I just don't understand. And then as I get into the Word I remember why. He loves me. The God who created this universe, this world, the land I walk on, and my very being with such intricate detail loves me. My oh my. I just want you to take that in. He loves you. He loves you despite the mess ups that we do every single day, week, month, year. He will always love us and be there for us. I hope and pray that as another Christmas season has come and gone that the true meaning will live on in your heart. Jesus is the reason for the season. He is the reason we have breath each new morning. He is the reason we need to live our lives. Focus on the Father.

Birthday week: numero uno...

This week has been wonderful and so much fun. Birthday week started last Sunday (Nov 23rd). Nikki said I should have had a birthday month, but I usually start a countdown 3 months before my birthday and make sure everyone knows about it, so I decided that I wanted to have one solid week of birthday fun. [I got the idea from an episode of Gilmore Girls when it was Lorelai's bday and she got a bday week.] Pictures will be posted below each day from that day...

Sunday: A group of friends that went to China with me was coming through Birmingham on their way from Tennessee back down to Florida. They went to go pick up one of our translators, Midea, for her to spend the holidays with one of them. So, I drove up after church that morning to meet with them for lunch. It was a wonderful surprise to the week [because I had no idea they were coming until Saturday]. And after church that night, a whole group of folks came to celebrate with me at Struts. We had the center of that place filled up. It was so much fun!

my China friends. :)

Jessica and me at Struts

Connor [he wanted his corndogs to be on a stick...so i put them on straws for him]

the big 2-0

Monday: This was my actual birthday. I worked for a little while, went to lunch with Connie and then me and my sister, Nikki, went out to eat at Outback and hang out...we missed you Katie.

Tuesday: I spent the day in Birmingham, worked for Mrs. Kathy for a few hours and then went to spend the evening with Melissa. :) And then I went bowling.

yummy birthday cupcakes.

me and Mel

Wednesday: I went out and bought myself some cute dress shoes. [This is a big deal...I never buy dress shoes...]

three of the most comfortable, cute dress shoes ever...

Thursday: Thanksgiving. We had our 1st annual Turkey Bowl game. Courtney [Wendy's 8 yr old] taught Wendy and I some cheers and we cheered til we got bored... Later that day I went over to Katie's in-laws [another set of parents to me] for lunch and then off to Raylee's to see Nikki and Chad and everyone.

Friday and Saturday: We had the Miller kids stay with us. 6 kids. It was intense, but great! I had to work most of the weekend, but still got to hang out with them. The 5 girls stayed in my room with me, while the brother had the upstairs living room all to himself.

This week, birthday week: number two...Tiff is having me open a present a day. A blog will follow on this week as well...possibly will be just pictures...

Til next time.
Chels

Happy thanksgiving!

I have the most amazing friends in the world. Yes, you...

I could never thank God enough for blessing me with the people He has allowed to be in my life. You are each so precious to me and I want you to know that I am so thankful for you.

And I also thank you for being a part of my journey. I appreciate the role that you each play in my life. You are wonderful.

p.s. Random thought...I don't understand why 'turkey day' replaces 'thanksgiving' as today's name...

Have a happy thanksgiving!
Chels

Peebles

I started my new job on Wednesday. I sat and watched videos for hours only to find out last night that I really didn't have to. Yesterday was my first day on the floor. I loved it. I worked from 10-9 [open to close]. Of course I was exhausted after work, but I learned soo much! I think that is only a few things that I don't know how to do now. I am really excited about it. I have never done retail before, but I think this is one job that I was made for. I helped this older lady pick out a whole outfit and some other stuff too. It was a lot of fun! :) I have found that when I greet a customer and ask if they need help finding anything...well, i actually have to help. lol. I don't know where hardly anything is except by department/section. But it is helping me to learn the whole floor. We had two new kids start last night and I was walking the girl around and explaining stuff to her like I had been there for forever.

Anyway, this is just to say...I like this job a lot! :)

out for now.
Chels