The Welcome

First Day

Today was my first official Sunday at NCF (North Country Fellowship Church- www.ncfchurch.org). 'Overwhelming' is such a minor word compared to the outpouring of love from the congregation. The welcome they prepared was unbelieveable and so unexpected! I cant remember a time when I have felt so welcome!

I was asked to come up at the end of the service to give a testimony and explain how I got to NCF. After that was a buffet dinner prepared for my first day complete with cake and a "welcome song," to the tune of Happy Birthday lead by one of the deacons- it was great lol.

They gathered up 'pantry items,' for me and other various things. What a huge blessing and surprise. After that we had a staff meeting which was great to be a part of as staff. Then my pastor and his wife and family came over to check out my new place, which is beyond words incredible, hung out, opened gifts and then back to their house to hang out and play 'spoons.' Its a really fun game I have recently learned.

Jimmy, as I call him is still loud and proud of his sound system, however he has now switched to Aerosmith.

Had an amazing adventure picking up my new mattress with my seperated-at-birth-sister (Kelly). Save that for another day.

Don't forget to thank God for the amazing blessings in your life- I know I have been continually amazed at His love and timing!

Roadrunner...

Well, what a week! I thought I would be up in NY and organizing stuff on Monday p.m. but it ended up being Tuesday instead. Its been a busy but great week. Started the new secular job on Thursday and its awesome! I had no idea a job could be so low key and challenging in a good way!

The church position starts on Sunday with an interview by the local paper, pictures and a formal introduction to the congregation.

I got cable on Wednesday and DSL today (Friday)...and a mattress tomorrow --woo hoo! A mattress may not seem like a big deal to you, but when you have slept on an airmattress for 2 1/2 yrs its heaven to me :)

It all seems like a dream...awesome apartment .....great job....great church.....again I amoverwhelmed by God's grace, awesomeness, faithfulness and His timing.

So far...the only bad things are....

1. "Jimmy."I have named the man who lives above me "Jimmy." Since I moved in and maybe even before he has played one Guns and Roses album NON STOP! I wish 1985 would call him and tell him they want their album back.

2. Intorcias. This little town hot spot is a horrible stumbling block to dieters. It is a family owned and operated old time doughnut shop that smells AMMMMMMMAZING. You remeber those Bugs Bunny cartoons where Bugs smells something good and floats on the smell till he reaches the source? I feel as though the screens in my windows are the only things restraining me from doing the same :) And of course the breeze is always blowing in the right direction to blow it into my windows.=)

1 Day to go

Tomorrow is the big day~ Moving day. And I can't believe that it is almost here! This time has just flown by. The time up here has been bittersweet and now begins a new chapter of my life. Its exciting and scarey equally.

Last night some girls from church threw me a going away party (THANKS GIRLS!). It was so nice to be able to have a nice group of friends to just spend time with before the craziness of the move begins.

Well, I should get back to packing!

Please feel free to leave praises and prayer requests on here for me as well!

Let's back up

It was brought to my attention that this blog seemed to start in the middle of the story which made it confusing for new friends. I graduated from Bible college in Boston,MA in May 2004. My dream, and reason for going was to prepare for fulltime ministry. After a very bittersweet four years, I graduated with a BA in Biblical studies with an emphasis in church and youth ministries.

I have spent the past year since then working as a case manager and an assistant program director for an area human services agency.

Now.... I am preparing to move back to NY- not the part I am from but close to it. I was offered the opportunity to interview for a staff position with a church in Northern NY. The really cool thing is that God started this path more than 8 years ago when I met my friend Brian online in some random christian chat room. I was newly saved and looking for other christians to talk to and somehow met him.

This was as they say the beginning of a beautiful friendship lol. We stayed in touch throughout that time,and although we attended the same secular college and even took some of the same classes, we never met. Well, somewhere along the years Brian introduced me to his pastor, also online, now he and i 'talked shop' every now and again and stayed in touch.

This past fall, Mike, the pastor, and I caught up again. He asked me what I had been doing since we last spoke. I laughed since my life was dramatically different. He asked me about my relationship and i informed him it was over; he asked me where I was living and I told him I was in my own place; he asked me about school and I told him I graduated, we then started brainstorming a few ideas and after a few chats and a couple resumees later...I was meeting both Mike and Brian in person and just 2 months later (now) I am preparing to move to the Northern NY area to begin my ministerial career. I couldn't be more excited, intimidated and hopeful for this opportunity.

Please keep me in prayer as this is the biggest thing I have ever done.

Three more days

Well, the day is almost here. I makethe big move on Monday the 16th to Carthage,NY. I have a lot of thoughts/feelings right now about it. I am excited yet overwhelmed and at the same time sad to leave. I don't think that it has sunk in yet. With so much to do and the clock continuing to bring Monday closer it is getting a little stressful but to God be the glory! It amazes me each day as I think of the journey I have been on these past 9 years as a Christian! And its only the beginning ......

In the Car- May 2005 

Well....as much as I enjoy going against the grain I figured I would check this out and see how it goes.