as of late

I have been crazy busy at work as of late.

We are in the process of moving from our current location to the new location up town. Our new building is not quite ready yet, but it should be within the next week or so. We have gotten a lot busier these past few weeks with a lot more jobs to do. So we are trying to get them all taken care of before we move.

I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday. Honestly, I don't feel too much different than 22. I'm just a little bummed I can't sing T-Swift's "22" anymore. I got some new TOMs for my birthday and my plane ticket to NYC.

Speaking of NYC...Another one of my friends from college got married. And he happened to be getting married in NYC. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to go to New York and see my friends. So my friend Becca flew from Texas and my friend Allyson flew from West Virginia, and the three of us met up in NYC. We stayed with Becca's uncle who happened to live only five or six blocks from the church our friend got married in. Friday morning I flew out from STL and went to New York. I got to eat dinner with my grandma's first cousin. She's such a sweetheart. She even took me to dessert at Cafe Lalo. It was delicious, and so great to spend time with her. Saturday, me and my friends explored the Chelsea area of the city before the wedding. Then we went to the most beautiful little ceremony in the city. I'm so glad I went. After the wedding, we walked around the city some more and even walked to Times Square, and had some dinner. The next morning, I had to wake up super early to fly home. I was  actually home in time for church.


Since then, I've been working like crazy and working out when I get the chance. I got another day off this past Monday for Memorial Day. Mom, Ang & I went shopping in Marion and Carbondale. It was relaxing and nice to just be chill. I got some new tops and a new bathing suit. Just getting ready for summer time.

1. "Baptism Sunday" at LCC, over 35 people baptized into the faith. Praise the Lord!
2. celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Taco Bell with my best friends
3. doing a little freelance designing for a friend
4. birthday TOMs
5. my baby cousin graduated 8th grade & was valedictorian --- his speech was about a rubik's cube
6. Kleinfeld's in NYC
7. Flatiron Building in NYC
8. art in the park in Madison Square Park in NYC
9. wedding dates
10. the dates with the groom!
11. Times Square in NYC
12. leaving NYC

Happy First Birthday Hallee Jae!!

Last Tuesday, my precious niece turned ONE! I can hardly believe that one year has gone by already. It seems like just yesterday that we were waiting for what seemed like forever in the waiting room for her to get here. And then she arrived. And she's fantastic.



Hallee Jae. So full of life. She is exuberant. She's got a fire and a sass. A beauty and a firecracker. My kinda lady. I look forward to every year that comes along to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. God has wonderful plans in store fo her life. I'm so glad He picked me to be her aunt.




We had a birthday party for her last Saturday at Rosiclare Park down by the river. It was a little chilly, but overall a beautiful day. It was a cowgirl theme, for the little cowgirl herself. She got so many wonderful presents. And she smashed her cake to pieces. She loved every bit of it.

1) trying out her new tricycle
2) loving her new rockin' horse from grammy, gramps & aunt E
3-6) CAKE SMASH!
7) trying to share some cake with Aunt E
8) all cleaned up

being a youth leader

One of the greatest joys in my life right now is being a youth leader to the junior high and high school kids at Little Chapel Church. While I was at school, I didn't really have time/I was still too close in age to the kids to really be "relevant." But now I'm just old enough to be a leader. Most of the leadership is made up of people my age, with a few older couples. I feel like we really relate to the kids because we are so close to their age. I just remember when I was their age, and how significant the relationships with college age/a little older adults were to me. So I try to be the best that I can be, and live my life in a way that they can be proud of. One month I taught junior high Sunday School. We all try to meet one-on-one once a week with one of the girls, and go through a Bible study or just meet and talk about life. Just take time to invest in them. When I find verses in my quiet time that I think are relevant, I'll send it to the girls. They need people who will love them and want them to grow up in Christ. This weekend is the girl's conference, WORD. We have an exceptional speaker and an awesome worship leader coming in. It's going to be great.

Some of my favorite girls :)