Not a whole lot

I just wanted to give a short update. Life is going. I'm in love with Joshua Radin...look him up on itunes or his myspace...I pretty sure he's married but it's love! I leave for Haiti in 5 days...FIVE! So much to do and yet not so much! I still need to plan the vbs and get some supplies together for it. Good news...all the money is in and I'm paid in full! So tonight is the first night in 7 nights I have no plans and nowhere I have to be. So I'm headed to the gym and then I'm cleaning my room and maybe starting to pack. I'm kinda excited about it all! Oh I finished another baby quilt! I'll post pictures later. Last night I got inspired and painted...it's so relaxing to turn on music and mix colors and experiment. I mean I'm not good but there is something in the release of creativity that is so addicting!

292.06

It's amazing how you can totally plan for something and then get the carpet pulled out from beneath you. That has been the story of my past month.
So COAT began...It was all set and full. Then 3 days before it begins a couple calls and cancels. 2 days before another lady calls and asks if it's a possiblity she can come. Then calls me 3 days later to say she'll be on a plane later that evening and is coming for the first 2 wks. (I decided to prepare like she was coming...so that worked out well). COAT is going really well I think...the last couple arrived last night and Renee decided to stay for the full ten weeks of the program. I'm excited that everyone will be together finally. I feel good about it...which worries me because normally that means I'm forgetting something huge! Maybe I'm just paranoid.

So, I leave for Haiti in less than 2 weeks. I'm really excited about my team! So, I thought I had all the money raised and was all comfortable and set to go...no no no that would be too easy. That is where the title 292.06 comes from...I know God will take care of it. I did however get two very missionary looking skirts for 6.36 at family thrift today. They will do well! We can only take 15 pounds with us and we're most likely only getting one shower...and there may not be electricty. I am so pumped about it! We're flying straight out of Port eu Prince to Pingoin (sp?) a very very very small town in the middle of Haiti. Very rural were we are doing some light construction at a school, a vbs, and pretty much whatever the missionary asks us to do. In some ways I think this will be the hardest place I've gone to...I think it's the poorest and politically the most troubled. I've heard there is a spirit of hopelessness there. I so excited to be leading the students that I've worked with for 2 years and to see their attitudes about the trip's conditions. When told about the weight limit, lack of showers, and food they were all like we're not going on vaction we're going to serve. So pray for our safety...especially on March 3rd and March 10th...those are the days we're in Port Eu Prince. Also, for my team to be united in the bond of love and that God will really speak into my teams life and they will see him in a new way. Also, that we'll be used by God.

So an India update. I'm still a team leader and going to India for 8wks (I have to keep reminding myself because It's so exciting). At this time I have 5 college students on my team. Chris, Adam, Dave, Sarah, and Andrea with the possibility of more being added. I've been getting more and more details from Mary (who's in charge of internships) and I'm so very excited the more I find out. I am waiting to start any planning until post Haiti. One country at a time.

I'll love ya tomorrow

COAT officially begins tomorrow. It's 11:40pm and I'm headed home from the office. I had a couple call and cancel today and a lady we've never met ask if she can be here for the program on Monday. I only teared up 2x today and may have forgotten to eat resulting in low blood sugar shakey cranky Corey from being released...don't worry I went home and ate and just sat still for 20 mins. It's amazing how eating and becoming still can improve one's mindset and mood. I bought my granola from Starr's dad to my office so that next time I'm prepared! All in all it's been a good day and I think I'm on track to start COAT in the morrow. Oh Sunshine Krepps is a rockstar who totally saved me from freaking out the 10am binder situtation I had this morning. He spend all day on them...bless you! Oh on January 29 I offically became a U2 fan. The song that did it was Window in the Skies...Twila showed me the music video and I've been hooked since. Here's the link...enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VskbxuehP3I
Anyway, I'm going to bed
Peace out

Hide the crazy

So it's now less than 2 wks till coat begins again. I'm pretty stressed out to be honest which apparently turns me into not suck a nice or compassionate person. I haven't been feeling well...stress really upsets my stomach. My head is killing me...I think this is what a migraine is? It hurts so mad I think I could puke and all noises are really loud. (thi sis me complaining sorry) I asked my boss if I could leave early 30 mins early and I got told no...so in 15 mins I'm leaving...and in 2 mins I'm putting my head down and turning off my light. Why is it no matter how hard you work on something...it's still high stress at the end. Oh and I'm not sleeping well...14 mins to go!!!!

Mother India here I come

Hi,
So a lot has happened in the past month. Christmas was good...it was nice to stay here and have my first Christmas as an adult...this involved me being staying in my pjs all day at the Christner's house who ended up spending way more money on me than my family. It was a tad akward opening the Victoria Secrets gift card that the rest of the girls got from their dad...but I have been hording that Star Bucks one...ohhh how I've sold my soul to the man! I got this way cool pink thermos that well is pretty and I need to start making tea at home to use it!
Then came New Years which was honestly kinda lame...I mean it was fun but I don't know it's just not a huge deal to me. Then after a week off of work I started back and it's been a whirl wind since. The coat program starts in 3 wks and next week I'm at staff retreat where I'm going to be forced to spend 5 hrs in silence and solitude...not excited about it to be honest. I've had a lot of this kind of time lately and well after an hour I'm about done.

Oh the exciting news is that I'm leading a team to India this summer!!!! I leave to help lead a group from CCF to Haiti March 3...just for 9 days over their spring break. India however is 8 weeks! We're living and working in an orphanage ( a lil over 100 kids with some of them Tsumani orphans), free school (1,000 kids), clinic, and pastor training center. Needless to say I am way excited about it! I've been prepping myself by eating Indian food and watching Indian movies...Bride and Predujice and Born into Brothels...both great movies. Also, I've been list

Anyway, I'm excited about it all.

Le Tea

Last Saturday night was the work Christmas party. It was a lot of fun. I personally love dressing up so this was a blast! I bought a new dress that was in the words of Josh Hunter "racy" and actually made it less racy by sewing that piece of lace in...so it was a tad revealing. I love the dress and morn the fact that I have nothing else to wear it to. Any it was a fun day...I did 4 people's hair including mine..who knew I could do hair? I just decided to do hair and 3 lovely ladies trusted me. It was a fun night and I got a musical hulla hoop which I regifted to a niece or nephew. I'll admit I'm a regifter...what's the point of keeping something you know you'll never use? I'd rather give to someone that will use and love it.

Twila and I at the party...we're looking good!

Here is all the hair I did! It was fun...like creating something!

It's not a work function with my favorite kids...ahh the Weinmans how I love them! They are growing up so fast! Christina just turned 11! (Paula is 12)...they are young ladies but Christina still will cuddle up next to me!

So the two single guys I work with were gentlemen and drove me there. There was some drama when I locked my gift and dish (I made this awesome choc chip whole wheat with nuts and flax seed cookie cake thing...it was a good experiment) in my house and Ryan (not pictured) broke in my house vis climbing in his suit through my kitchen window. He was my hero of the night. This is Craig who saved my birthday by breaking in to a house late at night to get my cell phone so I could get my birthday calls. Anyway, Craig has left and is preparing to serve in Mozambique.

The party ended early and I was bored so I took pictures of myself. (Does that make me vain?) Yes you can give me a camera and I can entertain myself for hours.

(I call this Corey the Afghan )

So yeah it was fun. Ok so Le Tea is the Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker which Jesse inspired me to listen today...It's my favorite movement...well at least musically.

How I spent my Saturdays this fall.

This was my first quilt for my almost 3 year old niece Izzy.

The is my second quilt, I put a lot more into it....because of the fact it's for a baby - not that I like this niece more. It's for my newest niece, Zoe...who I actually haven't met yet.

This fall I quilted most Saturdays from 2-6pm with Kathy Olsen, a lady who lives here. It was so much fun! So fun that this spring I'm starting my own quilt! I even got my first sewing machine for Christmas...Oh the fun I will have! I have one more baby quit in the making...it's for Stacey and Derek Williams. She was my mentor here and they are headed to Myanmar this summer.

My past month!

So I have been slack this past month...so here's a quick summary.
I went on a Mini break to the beach....was awesome. It was like 50 degrees and perfect to be alone and deep in thought. Was great ...



Then came thanksgiving...mixed with my personal days. I created my vacation mix on my ipod...creating mixes is possibly on of my favorite things! Thanksgiving was good...got addicted to Lost. Ran a 5k in 35 minutes (not 1 hour and 6 mins like in the picture)...pretty good for me. (especially becasue I hate to run). Twila and I are running in another in Feb in Tampa...Pirates meet you at the finishing line!
Then came my last weeks of CCF...it was sad. I'll miss it horribly! I personally think my white elephant gift was awesome...Grable now has it hanging in his dorm room! The ladies and I went out to the Cheesecake Factory for an end of the year celebration...we dressed up and all I have to say is that there will be pumpkin cheesecake in heaven!!! Oh and I finally figured out how to change color with my camera...the one of me is with vivid!

So last week I randomly got asked to go to Disney World (for free). I discovered after sitting in front of a kid freaking out during it's a small world ride that I never want to take kids to amusement parks. It was fun and I really really enjoyed epcot! We ate in Morracco...it was sooo good! I really enjoyed it and at night in epcot it's quite romantic...strolling through the streets of different countries...white Christmas lights...a slight chill in the air...hmmm. It was fun. Oh and when we left we saw the space shuttle discovery in the air and watched it till it faded! That was awesome.



So now I'm back in to the same old same old. My car needs 4 new tires so that's what I'm praying Santa will put under my small pink tree! I'm staying here for Christmas...apparently it's rather expensive to travel during Christmas. I'm actually looking forward to spending some more time alone and organizing my room. My mom got me a sewing machine and I'd like to set it up. So yeah...life is good. Missing family and friends and I turn off I'll be home for Christmas every time it comes on but other than that good. Oh so random...I think I'm allergic to soy. Everytime I eat it I get nauseas and a headache... I tried it again for lunch and I don't feel well! But tomorrow is the work Christmas party and I have a hot new dress and shoes!!

recovery

So after one exhausting COAT group, being tossed around in like with a boy and nothing happened, and a busy semester with CCF I am finally getting some rest. I feel bad but I'm more than glad this coat group is gone and some of us at the office are getting a break. I mean I loved them all but it was exhausting running all the time. Andrew, Bob, and I looked like Zombies at the office on Thursday and Friday because it was the first time we actually let our bodies slow down...I didn't know any of us were that tired to be honest. So I'm offically not leading the summer internship to India (which I'm way bummed about it was my first choice and somewhere I'm praying about serving but who knows maybe I'll meet that handsome Scottsman and move there!) I've got Monday and Tuesday off of work so I'm trying to find a good deal on a hotel to get away. I'm terrified about running in the 5k...I haven't run in 2 wks since I got really sick and then exhausted from COAT. I think I have a winner for who I'm spending Thankgiving with...Starr from CCF. Then hopefully I'll be going to Orlando to watch some soccer with Craig and some others. I went camping last night...ohh Florida is finally freezing to me!!! It was in the 50s...I had 2 layers on and was still borderline cold! It was great the fire was so nice and warm. Losing weight has definately messed with my internal temperature..I'm cold a lot now! Uhmm I'm almost finished with my second quilt...pictures to follow...it's a baby one for my neice! Other than that I'm doing pretty good. Bored right now becasue everyone is out of town but enjoying the quiet. Ohh my ipod works...I'm listening to the Sign by Ace of Base this exact moment...such a good song!!! I'll let you all know if I die in the turkey Trot aka 5k!!! Welcome to my new reader Karyn and one of my favorite people...ever and will be setting me up with her single quality male friends (please feel free to follow suit...heheh)

Happy 95 thesis day!

If you don't know what it means goggle it or ask me!

So I had a great October 31st! Phil took the office out for some needed encouragment. We left the office at 7am to an mystery place which ended up being this swamp nature reserve. It was so beautiful! It was like a school field trip and was all educational even! I saw a 13 ft gator! It was 2 miles of board walk in undestrubed Florida wild...what it looked like 100 years ago! It was really relaxing and great not to be in an office or doing COAT but it was great being able to relax and enjoy the people I work with. Then some of my college students had a party and I was Pippy Longstocking (something I've always wanted to be!) next year Strawberry Shortcake - old school version! Ohh I am most likely leading an Internship this summer...Kenya is out and they offered me Bulgaria or Malawi...I'd like India but we'll see... The decision is made in Jan. Other than that I'm sick and my throat hurts real bad but I worked all day and now can crash and watch movies and sleep!



















Lucas and Katelyn as 3 hold punch Jim (from The Office)
















Elise and me...she was a cop

Bane of my existance

This is my brand new ipod that I've saved and coveted for so long. It's crap! After 3hrs on teh phone with apple and 10 hrs of frustration it's still not working. Then I took it to best buy for them to fix and guess what...no workie still. ughhh sometime when I have time I'm going back to Best Buy and they WILL make it work or replace it! I'm none too happy about this!

Meeting with Phil

So I had that meeting with Phil. It was awesome but I totally need to process it so I think I'm going to go home and journal. A lot of stuff was tossed about the biggest was me leading the intern team this summer to Kenya...ohh an Africa as the place to serve in....which goes against my whole I'm never ever going back to Africa thing I had going and yet God seems to be drawing me to there. Anyway it was good...then I got this phone call from my mom. My grandpa's not doing good after his back surgey and they want to put him in a nursing home whihc will seperate him from my grandma (they been married 53 yrs) and yeah well he's really important to me. So I'm upset and maybe crying as I write this. I've got to go....

16 days...

16 days till COAT ends...
I'm not sure how I feel about it all. I mean I love the people (most of the time) and have been stretched and challenged to grow in both my walk with God and in leadership and yet part of me has checked out and is planning the party I will have the day after when my life returns to "normal". But the thing is "normal" has become life in COAT. I'm meeting with Phil this afternoon about my future...he's oked me to go on the field. Part of me wants to celebrate after all I've been working for 2 years for this and the other part of me wants to go to bed and pull the covers over my head. This whole being "healthy" whatever that means is scary...it means change. I'm old enough to be terrified of change and I know it hurts and yet I know that's what is going to satisfy me. It's just wierd how I've transistioned into this new role on campus as someone who gives out rather than someone who takes. That I'm understanding and living by these ideals NMSI has talked about...I've finally almost bought in and now well I don't know what's next. I'm committed here in Ft. Myers at least till next fall and yet Phil has said that if God calls me elsewhere before then he'll support it. (Phil's out president here and pretty much stinking amazing) So about the Holidays...so far I've decided to stay here in FTM. I'm running in the Turket Trot on Thanksgiving day...It's only a 5k but that's a huge deal to me! Last year I cheered and this year prepare for total domination! I've learned in the past 2 weeks I like to run...go figure! Then I'm not sure about Turkey day itself...I'm noncommittial at the moment. On Friday I'm going to Orlando with Craig to meet his family and watch his brother play in the final four for DIV3 soccer. (if his team makes it and right now they are #2). That's my Thanksgiving...hopefully low key and relaxing. I think I'm going to stay here for Christmas too at this point. Oh I've been majorly working on support for next year and... my finger has been healing nicely (picture to follow) it looks basically normal! boo random infections! Oh I also got an ipod which I will now call the bane of my existence...ughhh I don't even want to talk about it!

My saga...

So the day of my birthday my ring finger started hurting. That night I noticed my finger was swollen and red but there was no cut so I was like huh that's wierd. The next day my finger hurt even worse and was swollen and turning yellow/green. I was told by my friend that's a dr to go to a dr the next day. So I got into the dr and she was like I'm not comfortable opening this wound and you need to get it lanced...I'm going to refer you to a hand surgeon. So she called and made them see me the next day...they kept saying they were full till October 24th. So this first picture was taken on the day I went to the first doctor.

















So I went to the hand surgeon and he was really nice. I went by myself which I regret. He numbed my hand...way painful...but I was strong! Oh and he wouldn't let me watch!!! He then cut open my finger and drained the puss and then cauterized (no idea how to spell that one) the wound. So basically he burned the infected flesh...it smelt really bad and I got kind of dizzy and my knees started to shake. (why I wish someone was with me) He bandaged it up and said it would be numb for about 12 hrs and gave me some painkillers...Vicadin. So yeah 24 hrs later when feeling finally returned and I was in imense pain I took the Hydrocodine they gave me...oh yeah my known allergy is Codine so yeah I got pretty sick. After almost passing out at work and getting really really ichy I decided not to take any more. Oh so the Dr also told me to soak in Epson salts...I'm pretty sure these will be in Hell and used to torture people there! I have never experienced pain that before. It sure drained my finger but made me curl in a ball and honestly cry like a baby. All I wanted in life was my mom. I may have freaked out and called a few people to see if this was normal...no one was home or they were watching Lost...so I took more painkillers that I was allergic too and went to bed. This next picture was the next day...















So yeah Wednesday was the bad day and it was better in the days following. I called the dr and got a different painkiller...darpaset (I went to Bible college and can't spell). My opion on painkillers...I like not feeling pain but hate not being able to control my body...why would you want to be addicted to that feeling! So I decided I can't be famous becasue I can't be addicted to painkillers...

















So my finger is now healing nicely...it's shedding is really gross and I'll have a nice scar but the infection is gone and my finger didn't fall off and hopefully oneday I'll have a nice rock on that finger to make the scar look smaller. So yeha it's amazing how one finger can consume your whole life...well at least a week.















Oh so only 4 more weeks left of COAT (the training program I'm running)! I'll miss everyone but I'm really really looking forward to a break. I'll write more about it...I love it but well...everyone is having emotional/spiritual breakdowns and I'm way excited for them but it's draining none the less.

No time... there's never any time

Anyone remember that Saved By The Bell when Jesse took all those caffine pills and freaked out on Zack...so power and hardhitting that I'm still scared of those pills!! I just wanted to say I'm alive but extremly busy (and wish I could take the pills to get everything done but relaize that there's no point)...life should be getting normal in the next few weeks...ah having 3 jobs!!!

A month ago

So a month ago today I left for Boston with my church. It seems so much longer than a month ago now. It was an awesome trip and I found out that I could live there forever and be happy! I went with my church to visit and work with a church plant that is getting set to open in the next month. It was awesome taking the T (the metro) everywhere and just walking around such historic places. I got to visit Harvard, the Old North Church (see legend of Paul Revere), Samuel Adams statue, Boston Commons (I love this park), a really old cemetry, and other cool things. I felt totally at home and had a great visit there...like I said I'd totally move back if God leds me there! Oh and it was cold and rainy there so it was heaven for me!!! a lil slice of fall!



Me and the Make way for Ducklings statues (It's from a kids book)



Me outside Harvard...yes it makes me look smarter



I took this one for Josh!


Samuel Adams and me!

No more midwest girl...

I'm now in everyway a resident of Florida. Today I change my plates over to Florida plates. It was a bitter sweet moment of giving up my Missouri for Florida. My car looks so naked with only one plate. I did however splurge and get the wildflower design. The name of the flower sounds like my name!! It was a tie between wildflowers and sea turtles. Other than that life is honestly pretty full on at the moment. I came in the office tonight to get a few things done and in order before I leave for Boston on Thursday. I'm due for a break down at some point in the near future and until then I'll press onward. CCF starts next week and please pray becasue they kicked all the clubs off campus and we lost our meeting room. God is good and will provide.

Art?

My friend Kelly messed with this picture of me. I think it looks cool! Looking forward to a wild weekend here in the FTM. I have no plans...yessssss! Tonight I think I'm going to get artsy and paint, modge podge, and listen to mellow tunes...so excited for it to be 5 and me to buy a canvas! I'll post the results if it looks half way decent (I don't claim any talent just a love of art)

Wacky Weinmans

Last night I got to babysit some of my favorite children. (ok, I have a lot of favorite children) Their parents had brain tumor suport group (Susan had a brain tumor taken out in May and is currently undergoing radiation and chemo) so I got to hang with Paula, Christina, Daniel, and their dog Mattie. I just love these kids...they are refreshing to be around. While I made dinner Christina made the table (check out the pic she did a great job!), Daniel the wildman Wienman played with Mattie (the kid has no fear), and Paula sang me the entire High School Musical soundtract. We ate and then we gave Mattie a bath becasue well she stank! Then came dessert and I quized Daniel on his spelling homework. Then it was off to bed...they wentto bed willingly at 8:15 and I fell asleep on the couch till 9:15 when their parents got home. That was the best hour of sleep I've had in 2 days!!! I was dead to the world it was beautiful!!! That was my exciting Tuesday night...it was so much fun. I love those Weinmans!


Daniel waiting to pounce Mattie

Christina is the huge cuddle bug!

Paula is a huge reader and the biggest Harry Potter fan I've ever met!

Dinner with the Weinmans...Christina made the table pretty!

Torture to Mattie but she sure smells so fresh and clean clean!

Kathy's Sour Cream Enchiladas

Here is my claim to fame...so easy to make...cook and invite friends over to share...maybe play loaded questions?

Sauce:
1 bag of chicken (I cube and then cook in a frying pan with garlic powder, a tad bit of salt, pepper, onion powder…drain access liquid)
2 pts sour cream (I use light sour cream)
15 oz of cream of chicken soup (I try to use the reduced fat kind)
(mix together well and I normally season it with more garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion powder to taste)

Cheese mix
5lbs of Monterrey jack cheese
2 cans of diced chile peppers
1 can chopped olives
(mix together well)

30 corn tortillas (not flour they will become mushy and gross)

Preheat oven 350 degrees

A very large baking dish (I like to buy disposable lasagna dishes)

In the baking dish put a layer of corn tortillas then spoon a layer of the sauce mix then a layer of cheese mix then layer tortillas (repeat until dish full…I normally do about 4 layers…the thicker the longer you need to cook it!) end with a cheese mix layer on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake about an hour …check the middle to see how the middle is cooking…the cook another 30 minsish without the aluminum foil)

Let sit about 10 minutes to get solid so it’s easier to cut and enjoy. This should easily feed at least 10 people. This is easily doubled and I’ve feed 40 on a doubled recipe.