Friday, October 26, 2007
It's news and it's big!!!
The story is... I'm moving to St. Louis next week, so I had to go to Canada to change employers on my work visa before I start my new job in St. Louis on Nov. 5th. I already had planned to be in St. Louis last weekend before the whole job thing came up, so it was "convenient" to just drive to Ontario. So I got off the plane from a week in Denver on Friday at 10:30, we left STL around 2:30 after some issues that we had to smooth out with my new employment letter, got it pre-approved by the border patrol in Sarnia/Port Huron and drove to Ann Arbor, MI. We stayed Friday night with a friend who used to go to OC and woke up Saturday morning and drove across the bridge at Detroit, then on to Niagara Falls. We had lunch and walked around for a few hours. Caleb had already done some research on some of the touristy things we could do. So we were going to do two. We did the "Journey under the Falls" where you ride the elevator down and walk to look out underneath and walk out beside where they come down. We walked from that end by Horseshoe Falls to the bridge to Buffalo. We saw the Skywheel, so we decided to go there for the second thing. On our first big time date, Caleb surprised me by taking me to the Oklahoma State Fair last September. We picked three rides that night and OF COURSE I had to pick a Ferris wheel because it was the first time I was at a fair with a boy! I love Ferris wheels! Caleb really wanted to see if we could walk across the bridge because there was a Canadian and an American flag in the middle. But when we finally got over there, we had to have our passports and ID to go threw. We didn't want to mess with it since we had to deal with my work Visa, so we just turned back. So we headed for the Ferris wheel. I was so excited to find the biggest Tim Horton's I've ever seen!! Anyway, we finally got on the Ferris wheel. I'd been trying for two or three weeks not to get my hopes up because I knew that taking this Canadian to Niagara Falls would be an amazing opportunity to possible as a big question. But Caleb had made a few comments that really made me think that it wasn't going to happen that day. Once we got on the Ferris wheel (which is completely enclosed), he sat across from me instead of beside which was so weird. But when the door closed, he started to sing. This is not completely random since music and singing is so much of who Caleb is. The song was new though. That was the weird thing about it. So at first I kind of playful said "why are you being funny?." But when I spoke, he just kept on singing. He got a bit of a funny look on his face, so then I started to panic or wonder, "Is this it?!!?!" It was a mix of complete excitement and panic that I was getting my hopes up and would be disappointed. So he finished and asked the question!!! I hugged him so fast that he didn't even have time to open the box. So after he sat up beside me, he finally said, "Do you want to see it!?!?" haha (The ring, of course!)
So we finished the ride by taking pictures of each other and the falls from the top. then walked around a little more and bought some souvenirs before we headed back to the border to get my paperwork done and get back to Ann Arbor to sleep.
What a day?!?!!
We are hoping the wedding will be in early August. Location TBA.
Love you all!
(Sorry it's taken this long to write this story. I am in charge of registration at World Mission Workshop here at OC this weekend. So since I got back on Monday at noon, I've been doing nothing else! I'm sorry if I didn't get to call you myself.)
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Why does change always sneak up on us?
As I sit here this afternoon, I've decided to take a moment to relax and reflect. I'm feeling rather homesick today. These days are few and far between, but today it is evident. With the amazing, exciting and oh so cute phone call I received from Dauphin last night at about 11, I was exstatic, yes, but overwhelmed by the realization that one of my best friends is making the greatest decision of his life and I going to miss out on all of it... hopefully not his wedding day, but that's possible too. These moments I will miss out on are what scares me and makes me emotional about being so far from home. Don't get me wrong, though! If it is to be, I am thankful, so happy, and overly content to live the rest of my life with the man I love, no matter where that might be. But there are days when I want to hold on to the past and everyone back home, days when I can't imagine that those at home are going to miss out on the big moments in my life.
So, if you read the post I just added a few minutes ago, I'm sure you interest was peaked by the idea of a job interview in St. Louis. I have been packing once again. Getting ready for the next stage in my life. I got a job at Sanford-Brown College in St. Peters, MO, as an Admissions Representative. Right between Caleb's and Dardenne Prairie cofC. God has amazing plans! WOW! How much more perfect could it be? Some of you are probably think, "Amanda, why are you so stuck on Admissions?" Well, a) It's what I'm good at, so just let me be. (I've faced an amazing number of people that don't get that.) It is the one thing in my life that I actually excel at. and b) my work Visa is to be a "vocational counselor" so that is my only ticket to employment in the US right now.
What a weird feeling though? I am so sad to be leaving OC; my "kids," the job that I have always known that I am gifted at and a life that has kept me insanly busy, never is the same, and allows me to share Christ to families and college students. But at the same time, I want the next four weeks to go by so quickly because I'm ready for life to become what I have invisioned it to be for the last several month. I love "DPcC"! They seem to love me. I can see myself becoming involved there so easily. The families are great! So I will be working a strickly 40hr/wk job which will be a little more professional, most with adult students, more specific in academic fields, and yet I know I will still be able to bring my own personal and caring approach that OC has taught me so well. I'm going to miss the OC office. These are my best friends in the good ol' US ofA. But my ministry is still going to be mine and I am so excited to begin to learn how to share and work in ministry with the man I love.
The next four weeks are going to be tough on me. Especially b/c I don't get to spend 11 of those days here. I know that some of you feel like I'm bailing on you. But please know, I am loyal. I am always here. And you can always come visit St. Louis!!!! It is a really cool town, I promise!
There is still the small glitch of changing my work visa. Please pray that that goes smoothly. Caleb and I are driving to cross the border at Sarnia on Oct. 19th. Thanks!
So, if you read the post I just added a few minutes ago, I'm sure you interest was peaked by the idea of a job interview in St. Louis. I have been packing once again. Getting ready for the next stage in my life. I got a job at Sanford-Brown College in St. Peters, MO, as an Admissions Representative. Right between Caleb's and Dardenne Prairie cofC. God has amazing plans! WOW! How much more perfect could it be? Some of you are probably think, "Amanda, why are you so stuck on Admissions?" Well, a) It's what I'm good at, so just let me be. (I've faced an amazing number of people that don't get that.) It is the one thing in my life that I actually excel at. and b) my work Visa is to be a "vocational counselor" so that is my only ticket to employment in the US right now.
What a weird feeling though? I am so sad to be leaving OC; my "kids," the job that I have always known that I am gifted at and a life that has kept me insanly busy, never is the same, and allows me to share Christ to families and college students. But at the same time, I want the next four weeks to go by so quickly because I'm ready for life to become what I have invisioned it to be for the last several month. I love "DPcC"! They seem to love me. I can see myself becoming involved there so easily. The families are great! So I will be working a strickly 40hr/wk job which will be a little more professional, most with adult students, more specific in academic fields, and yet I know I will still be able to bring my own personal and caring approach that OC has taught me so well. I'm going to miss the OC office. These are my best friends in the good ol' US ofA. But my ministry is still going to be mine and I am so excited to begin to learn how to share and work in ministry with the man I love.
The next four weeks are going to be tough on me. Especially b/c I don't get to spend 11 of those days here. I know that some of you feel like I'm bailing on you. But please know, I am loyal. I am always here. And you can always come visit St. Louis!!!! It is a really cool town, I promise!
There is still the small glitch of changing my work visa. Please pray that that goes smoothly. Caleb and I are driving to cross the border at Sarnia on Oct. 19th. Thanks!
Sorry I've been "missing" lately
So, September was RIDICULOUS!!!
Aug 30- Sept 5- Portland, OR/Seattle, WA (thanks to Nic and Eric for coming to see me in Seattle!)
Sept 9-11- Office Retreat in Tatonka, OK
Sept 14-17- Regina for my mom's wedding (yes, her and Ron got married)
Sept 21-23- unexpected trip to St. Louis for a job interview
Sept 28-30- Fall Visit
Yep, ridiculous!
Aug 30- Sept 5- Portland, OR/Seattle, WA (thanks to Nic and Eric for coming to see me in Seattle!)
Sept 9-11- Office Retreat in Tatonka, OK
Sept 14-17- Regina for my mom's wedding (yes, her and Ron got married)
Sept 21-23- unexpected trip to St. Louis for a job interview
Sept 28-30- Fall Visit
Yep, ridiculous!
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