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.

Home again...

So I'm home and back at work. I'm not going to lie I'm strugglin today. I am so glad I got to spend time with the Hunters but on the hand coming back to being a week and a half behind sucks. I hope the Hunters had a good time because they sure showed me a good one. I really enjoyed all the lil talks that happened and just seeing their pretty faces. I learnt that I'm a light weight when it comes to drinking...sorry about that guys who knew that 1 beer and 1 mixed drink could do me in. I personally hate drinking too much...it makes me feel guilty and like trash. Probally why I rarely drink and therefore l'm constantly a light weight. I did have fun though...it was probally the best time I've ever had playing scrabble (which is on my list of least fav games becasue well it makes me feel stupid) I loved church and enjoyed the format of a Bible Study...I learnt a lot. It was also really good to reconnect with Cara who is a huge reason I'm with NMSI. She is stinkin awesome and I just have always enjoyed her. She is just really easy to talk with and understanding. I pretty much want to be her...a small Asian woman who loves the Lord! The Mexican buffet was awesome...I think I'm still full! The flights were uneventful but I did finish the book I've been reading, "Searching for God knows what" by Donald Miller...a must read!!! I need to process it more before I can really talk about but stinkin good to be sure. I am glad to be home...my bed was amazing last night to be sure. Well I best get back to my email...Thanks Hunters for blessing me! Oh and I miss Duds!!!

Nashville...how do I love thee

So as much as I am continually learning to love Ft. Myers and the whole Florida life I still yearn for something more...wide open spaces if you will...more about that later.

So Evansville was awesome!!! I had a blast and I learnt tons. I'm pretty sure the students enjoyed it and grew too. Starr has some pretty embarressing video of me (She has me singing with the headphones on to that Carpenters song that's all like dododo doooo ahhhhhhh ...lovin you) It was great times of fellowship, fun, worship, and teaching. So on the way to Evansville I woke up as we were driving through Nashville and thought...hmmm I should just stay in Nashville on the way back and visit the Hunters. So I got me a one way ticket and I'm live in it up in the casa por Hunters (I took and failed French) It's been great so far...very relaxing...my first actual comp time I've ever taken. On Thursday I just layed by the pool and read (and swam to cool off at the end of each chapter...I'm reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller...it's a really good book...I love things that make me think) I got to cook dinner which was a blast to make and then had a good workout at the Y. I finally met the illustrious Todd Burka...who I've decided is impossible to read but is really funny. It's wierd to finally meet someone that you feel like you already know through other people's stories. I begin to suddenly worry how I look and what to say and ohhh crap what does this person know about me. I'm not normally a person who is easily rattled or comes across as shy (I tend to be an uber people person) but when I met the Todd Burka I got all shy and akward. But no worries I saw him last night and gave him plenty of sass back to his abundance of sass. A group went to go see Breakin 2...this 80s break dance movie. It was horrible and yet so funny! I decided that break dancing is awesome and I love my free 80s bandana. I am loving my time in Nashville...
Here's a picture from a few years ago...it's my first shot...so gross but a great night!

Indy here I come

So I'm out of town for a week...leaving in uhmm 10 mins actually...for Evansville, IN. We're going to the National Student Conference with CCF...I'm pretty excited. Praying God will do some awesome stuff in the lives of my students. It will be a bonding experience driving for like 18 hrs to get there! Can you say roadtrip?

I'm officially finally a legal Floridian and a registered Republician (which I'll just say I hate being put in the box) I will say that this is by far my best driver's licence picture to date.  

I think this picture captures my emotions perfectly. yesss 

Me and the Bouquet...I'm so pretty  

This is from the wedding last weekend. The line for food was mega long and lets just say I got bored.This is me in the wilds of First Baptist Church of Ft. Myers. 

divine intervention

So within the past 3 weeks I have now officially caught 2 bridal bouquets! (Pictures to follow) apparently, I moved as fast as the desert mongouse and snatched it from the hands of mere babes. (the pack of 10-13 yr old girls in the front were still megga pissed at me on Sunday) Several people asked me if I play sports namely basketball because of my moves... honestly I blacked ...all I remember is suddenly I had the bouquet in my hand and people are laughing/shocked looks all around (one witness said they were pretty sure I defied gravity at one point). All I know is that I have a vase of fresh flowers and can say that I caught the bouquet 2 out of 3 times this summer. Heck maybe I'll get a first date from someone that was impressed by my mad skills! who knows...it was fun though...it was fun!!! ohh after the guy caught the garter they played lets get it on and I have never blushed so red in my life!!!! So did the guy and luckly we didn't have to dance to it!!!! Ohh and I looked hot...pictures to follow!!!

Librarian Corey...shhhh quiet...no talking in the library. (I took this was in Russia...long story)
 

Books Corey Loves

So after talking with Jesse last night I've decided to compile a list of books that I love (this is not a complete list) I've tried to break them down into genre.

Classic:
Persuasion by Jane Austin
Of Mice and Men -John Steinbeck
Much Ado about Nothing -William Shakespeare
The Secret Garden -Frances Hodgson Burnett
Rebecca-Daphne Du Maurier
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Chick Literature
Something borrowed -Emily Giffin
Something Blue - Emily Giffin
The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
anything by Sophie Kinsella

Random Fiction
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - Mark Haddon
Life of Pi- Yann Martel***
Vanishing Acts -Jodi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult
Roots of Desire : The Myth, Meaning, and Sexual Power of Red Hair - Marion Roach***

Christian fiction
pretty much anything written by Francine Rivers
This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank E. Peretti

Christian non Fiction
The Search for Significance - Robert McGee
Turning Points – Mark Noll
Pretty much everything by Brendan Manning
In Search for Christian Unity -A History of the Restoration Movement- Henry E. Webb
Come away my beloved - Frances J. Roberts
The Return of the Prodigal - Henri Nouwen

Books on NMSI reading and I liked a lot
Why Not Women : A Biblical Study of Women in Missions, Ministry, and Leadership -Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton
Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box Arbinger Institute
True Faced - Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch
Generous Orthodoxy - Brian D. McLaren***
*** means that I’m not quite done with these books but I like them a lot so far

My new purse from H&M. I think H&M is my new favorite store! Ahh Sweden you've done it again...first Ikea and now H&M!  

I took this one when I was at home...my neice Izzy LOVES to play dress up. She came in the room I was in strutting her 2 year old stuff...it was sooo funny.  

buttons

So I'm not going to lie I love pop music. I love how it makes my hips sway to the beat and how it's easy and fun to sing along with in my car. I mean I love other types of music...classical, some rap, alternative, indy, jazz, blues but right now I'm feelin pop music. Maybe it's because I don't have to think about it that much and it's nice to just be able to relax. It's like most things in my life are whole wheat bread. It's really good for you and even tastes great, but you have to work harder to chew on it compared to white bread that just melts in your mouth and isn't quite as satisfying.Life is slowly getting more and more normal here. It just takes me a bit to recover from home...I hate that it does but I guess that's just the way it is I guess. I'm getting to the point where I'm glad I didn't get the job and realize it was really nice to dream and really think about where I'm headed in life. Laura one of my housemates asked last night if I could do anything what would I do? I said honestly I'd be a wife and a mom...but I can't bank on that happening...I can't wait around for that to happen...I can't apply for it...it just has to happen in God's timing which is perfect. Some days I am totally aware how not ready I am and I'm content and others I struggle more. For now I just need to keep going where God's set the path and keep struggling along. I feel the need to say that after a week of basically continuous rain and bad weather I can finally see a blue sky and sunshine. Storm clouds are in the distance and will no doubt roll in later but for now the sun is shining on me.

When in Rome

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city girl with a small town heartWhich is why you're attracted to the romance of RomeStrolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in handAnd gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

rain rain go away

So after 3 days of rain I think I'm tired of it...I noramlly love rain but not today...basically this post is me whinning...other people get to do it so I want my turn.
I'm tired of that wet jean leg that stays wet FOREVER
I'm tired of it being sunny and raining
I'm tired of using a rain jacket adn umbrella and still being soaked
I'm tired of wet flip flop noise
I'm tired of being freezing inside because I'm wet and the AC is blasting because even though it's raining it's still f-ing hot outside!
I'm tired of waiting in my car for 30 mins for it to calm down then just running for it and then getting inside and people giving me the ohhh so it's raining face.
I'm tired of wanting to curl up and watch a movie but I can't becasue lighting struck out TV and the mission has no money for a new one.

Things I do like about rain...
Puddles and changing into my fannel pjs that are like 2 sizes too big and ohh so soft and then taking a nap...which takes me to my next pet peeve...people coming inside my house and turning the ac off because they are cold because they just came from outside and I'm napping and wake up drenched in sweat (my room doesn't get good air)

So basically I've had a pretty crappy week...started off really bad with my sister and me having a fight to end all fights last Sunday...I am still not over that one... I miss my nephew and nieces and won't get to see them for a long while...I have a ton of issues that thanks to my family that make me feel like no one will ever want me...Kirksville didn't end up happening...I miss my best friend...and there are only 2 cars for 30 ppl on campus...I have no idea where I'm going to live in 3 months because like a million people are coming down - that I have to be excited about but right now am just tired of change...I also just wanna cry a lil with someone and be be told it will work out...I for some reason need physical affection right now and no one to hold me and tell me I'm ok...

So yeah... feeling very overwhelmed and isolated...which I know I'm not...I'm part of this organization that l0ves me and cares for me but everyone is really busy right now and I'm not able to trust them either...guess it' something God can do...I hope God can do...and will do...for now I'm just me...take me or leave me...I'll always be honest...I got that going for me...

Greens Bottom

So last night I went out with Kelly and then hung out at her house till late when I made the trek home...I decided to brave the construction and drive on my old favorite road. There is two ways to get to Kelly's house on highway 94 or taking Green's bottom a two lane in the middle of nowwhere road...The Green's bottom choice is always the way to go! Since St. Charles is growing so fast they have decided to turn Green's Bottom into an alternative to 94 and so are widening to 4 lanes and building the road up. It's not done yet and slow in process...so I'll try to tell you about this road and why I love it. This road sits right on the flood plain for the Missouri River and so the land is pretty flat but very fertile - luch greens everywhere this time of the year. So I'm driving with the windows down (I did turn the heat on cause I'm a wimp thanks to FL) and listening to Dave Matthews. This road has several small farms along it so there are times when there is tall corn growing next to the road and others when there is nothing but a field. The road is slighly hilly in places and I was the only car on the road as I took each hill just a little too fast. Then all the sudden my brights caught the reflection of 3 deer in one of the fields. I stopped the car and just watched the deer walk around...one was a large male with these huge antlers. I turned off Dave and just took the whole scence in...As the crickets sang out loudly all I could think was to sing As the deer Panteth for the water so my south longeth after thee. You alone are my hearts desire and I long to worship thee...They eventually trodded off into the trees that line the river and I turned Dave back on and went on my way...taking the steep windy road that leads to my mom's house...A lot of fun times happened on that road between my house and Kelly's house...scary stories were told (mostly by me), accidents avoided, laughter, car raves, times of deep reflection, me keepin the rythm in the backseat, tears were shed, deep converstations, meaningless chatter, and I some pretty great moments of my life. I will be sad when it's gone and becomes surronded by subdivisions and concrete...but I have my memories and that I can tresure and share with others...and who knows maybe I'll have another Greens Bottom Road in this next phase in my life.