Number twelve: Craft Show Failure

This may not seem like a highlight of the summer, but it really was. Yeah, I was close to tears during the show, but it all turned out good and I learned so much.

I had fun setting up the show. collecting the props and making others, making jewelry all summer (when I wasn't doing homework or working), and I spent the day with my mom since she came with me to the show.  I only had a couple of sales and I barely covered the cost of my booth fee. Pretty sad, that bit.

On the other hand, I got tons of compliments on my jewelry and every loved my displays. I learned that shows are not my favorite thing and they are much harder to sell at than you might think. I have a very deep, new-found respect for people that do shows all the time.

So that is my summer recap. It was great and I am so glad that everything happened the way that it did!  How was your summer? What great things happened in your life?

Number six: My sister got a puppy!

That's right! In July, my sister got a puppy! His name is Wellingtin and he is a six month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He is totally adorable! And we all love him!

Now this might not seem like a big deal to you, so I will give you a little background information. Ever since my sister was able to ask for Christmas and Birthday presents she has always had two answers. #1: she wanted a puppy and #2: she wanted a dog. Now, as a kid, I was terrified of dogs. Seriously, terrified. On top of that, my dad worked swing shift for awhile and needed his sleep. Then later he had brain surgery and now requires at minimum 8 hours of sleep. 

It always seemed that a dog was just out of the question. My sister was not mature enough to take care of a dog on her own and mom did not need more things to have to do. They were able to placate her by allowing her to play with the neighborhood dogs and she babysat some dogs too. But she always wanted a puppy. 

Now, now that she is 21 and everything is right and I am not so afraid of dogs. Now, she has a puppy! Welly was a gift to her for college graduation! (Congrats Sissy!). 

Welly is a true delight. We has a very sweet disposition and a kind spirit. He is very active, loves to hunt moths and crickets. Enjoys walks around the neighborhood. He is happy and just makes us all happy. My sister is teaching him to sit and come and such and he begins obedience classes next week! Ho-rah for Welly!

Number three - Church and My Relationship with Jesus!

Oh rejoice! Rejoice rejoice rejoice! My heart cannot hold it all in. Life is wonderful and good and sweet!

So at the beginning of the summer, I was going to church with my aunt and her family. Not that it was horrible or anything, but it just was not for me. Worship was hard and the message was hard to relate to. Plus the service started at 8:30 in the morning!

One Sunday Katie and I decided to go to a later service and after that we were kinda laughing about church hopping. Then Katie suggested that we go to her old church in Lansing.

We made our plans and told her parents. The next Sunday we found ourselves at South! I have not been in a church that is so alive, so in love with Christ since Spring Arbor! It was amazing! Worship was wonderful and the messages spoke to my very soul! The best thing was that it really filled my spirit and helped me get through the stresses of the week.

Katie and I would be practically sobbing while we sang praises to Jesus. It was wonderful!

Meanwhile, furring the week, I was stressed beyond belief. The shop owner was out sick and I was doing my best to keep the shop together. My classes were challenging (I should probably say I was having issues with MY instructor, but I don't want to name names). I was having more trouble than I thought I should have been having writing my thesis. I missed home. I was not getting as much jewelry made as I had planned. I did not have a job for after my internship. I just felt like I was failing at life!

Crazy thought for a 24 year old right? But let me tell you, we feel them just the same. Like I told Katie, life is harder than they tell you.

So there I was, loving church, but not really growing closer to Jesus. That is when the pastor did a sermon on hesitant Christians. And I was like yeah! That is me!

That week, almost every night. I cried while I talked to Jesus. I needed to know why I was not trusting him with everything...I discovered that I was afraid of what he would do with me...as if his perfect will would be bad for me! Crazy, I know.

So that is when I decided that even if he wants me to go to some crazy bug infested, wild place with no flush toilets, that I would go. Do you know why? Well it is because I know that he will take care of me wherever he sends me. I finally trusted him with everything. I gave it all to him, I cannot and I do not want to be in charge of all the things in my life. There is too much for one person to deal with!

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we think that we can do better with our lives than Jesus can? Why do we worry when he is right next to us asking if he can help?

I don't really know why we do these things, but I do know that he will take anything we give him and he will do a better job than we can by ourselves.

Thank you Lord Jesus!! Master of all!! Praise your name forever!!! Amen!

Let it BEGIN! Let it BEGIN!

Hey Guys! Well this is the first week of the MBA program!! I am so excited for it! I feel just like Rhino from Bolt!

Yes, I do know I am a ridicules nerd for being excited about school, but I can not help it! Here are a few pictures to mark this momentous occasion in my life...lol just kidding. We need not be so somber. This is going to be fun!

My acceptance letter!

Wohoo!! SAU!!!

Look at these great books! So excited!! Look at the boatload for accounting!! The four books on the right. Four! Oh and the quilt in the background is one my mom made for me. The bright colors are so me!

So far it does not seem like it will take too much of my time so I should be able to be crafty still. :D I started working on another sweater last night while I was watching the wonderful old Disney Peter Pan and 101 Dalmatians. I love those great old movies. I am not sure how much jewelry and knitting I will do in the near future though. You see, Lent is starting tomorrow...and...I have decided to reduce the number of movies I watch a week from between 7 and 11 to only 2! The problem must be obvious to you all. I make things while I watch movies. So If I am not watching movies I might not be making jewelry. Don't worry! I will do stuff, it just might not be as much as before. Anyway, I am giving up movies (inferior relaxation and recreation) in order to spend more time relying on God. He is the only true relaxation and peace. So, I'm going to do it! Hope you guys all have a great Fat Tuesday and a wonderful Lenten season filled with hope and renewal and peace! Get closer to God, guys!