So I don't feel like I have slept all week. A lot has been going on at the ranch, and just in life lately. If you could be specifically praying for me during this time at the ranch for me just for confidence and relationships with the other mentors.
I have really enjoyed getting to know my new co-mentor, Erika, she is pretty amazing, I must say. We have already gotten to know each other better than Kelly and I ever did. Which I love. Erika is from NJ and I thought that would be hard because she is from the north, but it has given us something to bond over. For those of you who are confused at this point, pretty much my entire family lives in either NJ or PA, so it is just coo that we have that in common. So anyway, Erika is great and I know that I will be learning a lot from her.
Anyway. There have been a lot of changes on the ranch and they are hard for people. First being that Kelly, my last co-mentor is still here. This is a hard change for her specifically. The 4 girls that are in the house with me have been her kids since she started at the ranch, so it hasn't been an easy move for her. The girls are still getting use to it as well. However, they also love Erika. I'm sure that one of the girls would much rather have Erika and Kelly instead of me, but you know whatever.
The second change that just happened was we got a new student. This is hard. I just got use to the 4 that I have had all summer and now we have to start training a new student to follow the rules that the ranch has set up... This is going to be a somewhat hard task. Partially because both Erika and I forget about saying yes ma'am or yes sir... instead of just saying yes or no. Not to mention feeling like we have to constantly remind her to ask permission before doing something. Although she is doing an amazing job. One other interesting thing, is that she is already lying about stuff to the girls. Why is it that we feel some much like we have to fit in that we start lying about ourselves? It is truly sad. Hopefully, because level 1 is setup to build trust worthiness, with time she will start telling the truth. Thankfully her roommate is really trying for level three and knows to talk to the house parents about things like that.
Alright. So we have a new student, Brady. I have a new roommate. Yup. Life is good. And is also hard, so I'm just asking for prayer.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
It is the weekend!
Oh hi!
Sorry for the disappearing again. I may need to work on that, but really it is a LOT harder to write this when I have a lot on my plate and can't get to my blog at the ranch.
The last week/first week of August/September was a break for everyone. So some people headed to home or a volunteer family for the week. It was nice to have a break because it was very much needed, at least on my end.
On my break I did some travelin'. I headed down to see the old roommates because you know my life would not be complete without them. Those three (and then also Renee who is not pictured) mean the world to me! I have truly been blessed by there presence in my life... I mean really, if it wasn't for them I don't think that I would have the confidence to say that I am a GOOD roommate even though the first might care to disagree. I also got to see one of my favorites, JORDAN!
She has also been a HUGE BLESSING in my life. The time that we got to spend together that weekend meant so much to me because it has been a rough couple of weeks prior to seeing her. I love that I was able to go and sit with her for a few hours and just tell her what my life is looking like right now. Which I need people in my life that will just sit and listen to me sometimes and pray for me. It was nice, and Jords if you are reading this now that some of those prayers have been answered, but keep on prayin'!
And what would make a trip to Montreat even more complete? You guessed it! I got to see a cute baby! And seriously she gets smarter EVERY TIME I see her! I got to spend a few minutes hanging out in the office with her and then even got to babysit her that night. Although the time was somewhat short it still made my heart happy. And sadly I don't think that I have a picture of her from that time.
Being in Montreat was a really refreshing time for me because I got to see people I LOVE! Everyone is asking me about whether it was weird or not being back and not in classes and stuff and I have to say that I am STILL THANKFUL to not be in school anymore and that I graduated. And to be honest it isn't weird, because those people are still my family from college, I still care deeply for them and I want to see them and know how they are. There have been a lot of changes since I have left for the ranch, but going back made me realize that not everything in my life is changing, people in Montreat still love me and are praying for me. HOW AWESOME?!
The next stop on my adventures home was the ever amazing SMC. My favorite part from that trip was walking into Stacey, the resident life director,'s office. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a "I really needed to see you today" and a great big hug. That made by heart even happier than I already was from the weekend. And the best part was we just sat there and caught up on life and it was good. And she even helped me work through some of what I was feeling about things that are going on right now. Just like old times :). I truly felt blessed to still know that the people in Spartanburg still love me and think about me. I was also able to see other people that have just touched my life while I was there.
If you can't tell already by this post, one of the things that I have been struggling with lately is being alone with no one to love on me in a way. Lately there has been a lot of struggles with people in my life pushing me away or never spending time with me. And it has been really hard. But I guess one of the lessons I have to learn is that God is the only one that matters. He encourages me with love. He is my friend when no one else will be. And there are constant reminders that even though people can build me up, they can also knock me down, but no matter what God still loves me and directs my paths and will never leave or forsake me... HOW AWESOME IS THE GOD WE SERVE? He will not leave or FORSAKE me!
While I was home I struggled with leaving to come back to the ranch. And I tell you that not because I don't like my job, because I do. And like my mom reminded me before I left - I don't want to live at home or in Charleston. I tell you that because it is NOT an easy job. It has been awfully lonely the past couple of months. There are only 7 other people that are my age around the ranch and I only see one of them on a regular basis. Not to mention that I don't know the others well so on the weekends I don't know what to do because I don't know who to call. Also I tell you that because I don't want you to think that it is easy for me to be 6 hours from home and 2 hours from Montreat. It is not easy for me to be away from home... in fact sometimes it is terrifying and all I have to say is that I am thankful for cell phones and the fact that my mom has hers attached to her hip.
Ok. so real fast because I'm getting tired. So I went home and hung out with my mom and got my toes done, my oil changed and made an apron, yes, I'm that awesome.
Then I drove back up to Montreat for the night so that I wouldn't have to drive 6 hours. And hung out with Scout again... because yes we are that awesome.
Then made it back to the Ranch....
I have to go to bed now, but I will update later about this last week and this weekend! Promise!
Sorry for the disappearing again. I may need to work on that, but really it is a LOT harder to write this when I have a lot on my plate and can't get to my blog at the ranch.
The last week/first week of August/September was a break for everyone. So some people headed to home or a volunteer family for the week. It was nice to have a break because it was very much needed, at least on my end.
 |
| Suz, me, Rikki, and Rhia |
 |
| Jordan! |
She has also been a HUGE BLESSING in my life. The time that we got to spend together that weekend meant so much to me because it has been a rough couple of weeks prior to seeing her. I love that I was able to go and sit with her for a few hours and just tell her what my life is looking like right now. Which I need people in my life that will just sit and listen to me sometimes and pray for me. It was nice, and Jords if you are reading this now that some of those prayers have been answered, but keep on prayin'!
And what would make a trip to Montreat even more complete? You guessed it! I got to see a cute baby! And seriously she gets smarter EVERY TIME I see her! I got to spend a few minutes hanging out in the office with her and then even got to babysit her that night. Although the time was somewhat short it still made my heart happy. And sadly I don't think that I have a picture of her from that time.
Being in Montreat was a really refreshing time for me because I got to see people I LOVE! Everyone is asking me about whether it was weird or not being back and not in classes and stuff and I have to say that I am STILL THANKFUL to not be in school anymore and that I graduated. And to be honest it isn't weird, because those people are still my family from college, I still care deeply for them and I want to see them and know how they are. There have been a lot of changes since I have left for the ranch, but going back made me realize that not everything in my life is changing, people in Montreat still love me and are praying for me. HOW AWESOME?!
The next stop on my adventures home was the ever amazing SMC. My favorite part from that trip was walking into Stacey, the resident life director,'s office. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a "I really needed to see you today" and a great big hug. That made by heart even happier than I already was from the weekend. And the best part was we just sat there and caught up on life and it was good. And she even helped me work through some of what I was feeling about things that are going on right now. Just like old times :). I truly felt blessed to still know that the people in Spartanburg still love me and think about me. I was also able to see other people that have just touched my life while I was there.
If you can't tell already by this post, one of the things that I have been struggling with lately is being alone with no one to love on me in a way. Lately there has been a lot of struggles with people in my life pushing me away or never spending time with me. And it has been really hard. But I guess one of the lessons I have to learn is that God is the only one that matters. He encourages me with love. He is my friend when no one else will be. And there are constant reminders that even though people can build me up, they can also knock me down, but no matter what God still loves me and directs my paths and will never leave or forsake me... HOW AWESOME IS THE GOD WE SERVE? He will not leave or FORSAKE me!
While I was home I struggled with leaving to come back to the ranch. And I tell you that not because I don't like my job, because I do. And like my mom reminded me before I left - I don't want to live at home or in Charleston. I tell you that because it is NOT an easy job. It has been awfully lonely the past couple of months. There are only 7 other people that are my age around the ranch and I only see one of them on a regular basis. Not to mention that I don't know the others well so on the weekends I don't know what to do because I don't know who to call. Also I tell you that because I don't want you to think that it is easy for me to be 6 hours from home and 2 hours from Montreat. It is not easy for me to be away from home... in fact sometimes it is terrifying and all I have to say is that I am thankful for cell phones and the fact that my mom has hers attached to her hip.
 |
| See... legit, I made that - with a lot of help from mom |
Then I drove back up to Montreat for the night so that I wouldn't have to drive 6 hours. And hung out with Scout again... because yes we are that awesome.
Then made it back to the Ranch....
I have to go to bed now, but I will update later about this last week and this weekend! Promise!
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