*sigh* Once again it's time to go back to work tonight.  I love vacations, but why does it have to be so hard to go back?  Not to mention my sister is in town this week, and I have to work the whole time.  Oh well.  She spent the night last night and we went to see Hunger Games so it was ok. 

My trip up north was good.  We went to my cousin's wedding, which was a lot of fun.  I love being with all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  I'll tell you what, my grandma DOMINATES the dance floor!  How many people do you know that still play Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men at their wedding?  It all started when our first cousin got married eleven years ago and that song was popular, and my grandma thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.  Every cousin has since had it played at their wedding for her.  And she loves it.

Back home now, and back to reality... I know I am going out of town again next week but I will be doing nothing but working and sleeping until then.  So I feel really stressed out about it all.  I just have to think about the fun I'll be having in a week instead of stressing out about all I have to do until then.

Here's to a good week for all!

Summer 2011- One for the Books

sMy summer involved a lot of the Kerchers.

uMy summer was Wednesday morning Starbucks with the Moms.

mIn May I got to see Josh Turner with my sister!

And what is summer without a Memorial Day weekend
church picnic?

I went to the beach a lot.

What is summer without good old fashioned VBS fun?
Doesn't get much better than this.

4th of July tie-dye goodness



And somewhere in there, I went to Camp Kulaqua
but did not bring my camera.... :(

I went to my grandparents' on the farm.
Just a few of us with Grandpa

And a few of us with Grandma.

Summer 2011 really was one of the best summers I've had in a long time! And it wasn't even summer vacation, because I'm not in school and I still had to work a lot. But it sure felt like a summer vacation in high school, which was so much fun. Between hanging with the Kerchers, VBS, Kulaqua, and going to Grandma's, I really had so much fun and almost felt like a kid again. Almost. I have to say, I'm sad to see it end.

With how emotionally difficult this last year has been, between losing my grandparents and various other issues, it was good to have this summer, to have some time that was for me. Yes, I admit it is selfish.

On the upside, Lauren and Brennan are getting married in a month. Yay! And my mom and I are planning a trip to DC in October with my brother and possibly my sister. Again, you say? Well, she was gonna go and I thought, I'm gonna tag along! Plans are still up in the air, but I sure hope it works out. It will be so much fun if it does.

So, you remember how I wrote yesterday that I was going to clean? Well, I did. I actually got a lot accomplished, and my room looks about sixteen times better than it did (with still a ways to go-- let's just say I'm not very domestic). Anyway, once I was finished for the morning, I collapsed downstairs in front of the TV watching 48 Hours (one of my weird obsessions-- yeah, I dvr that show) and found myself falling asleep. "Ok," I say, "I need a nap, I'll just go upstairs to my room so I'm not in my roommates' way." Fast forward six hours: 7pm I wake up! I couldn't believe it! All the while I knew I was taking a ridiculously long nap, but I was so tired and I just couldn't get myself out of bed.

So then I'm going to bed again by 10pm, asleep by probably 11 or so. And now here I've been awake since 5am. I think I'm gonna make a Starbucks run, then have to take a nap again later (I work tonight- I actually have to this time).

So, am I just incredibly lazy? Or is it just that I have the time, I take advantage of it, and it's ok? None of my friends could do this with kids, so I guess I should be grateful I have the time to rest right now. But sometimes I'm also worried. Lately I've been way more fatigued than before (yes, even since I started night shift), I've been achy, and had absolutely no energy. None. So how long do I let this go on before seeing a doctor, and not be labeled a hypochondriac? (I do not like doctors and avoid them like the plague... ironic, I know) Maybe I'm just fatigued, and lazy, etc, etc.

I had a great week at camp. A GREAT week!

I can't really sum it up in any way, except that it was a super busy, fun-filled week taking care of the kids and counselors. We really didn't have anything serious, with the exception of sending a kid to the ER who was having an anaphylactic reaction to something. We thought on Tuesday that we were having an outbreak of a stomach bug, but ended up only having two, one of whom we had to send home. That was not a fun part, because she was the sweetest girl ever.

We were confined to the nurses' cabin for Tuesday and most of Wednesday due to housing the sick kids. It was really ok, because they were both sweet and a lot of fun to be around and get to know. I hadn't expected that going into this week.

It was great to run into my old youth leader and counselor, Holly. Her girls were all surprised to find out she had been a counselor to Allison and I. Yikes, do we seem that old to jr. highers?

I hope I get to do this again next year! Nothing like reliving the good times at Camp Kulaqua.

June passed quickly and here we are, nearing a week into July. What a busy, fun summer it has been already! I haven't had a summer like this in a long time.

The 4th was great! I started the day off going to the beach with Hannah, Catherine, and Lauren. Parking was a you-know-what and we drove around almost an hour just to find a spot. But our time on the beach ended up being a lot more fun. We played in the waves awhile, and I'm glad to say I didn't get sunburned at all! Yay, Neutrogena 45 SPF that lasted three hours! I didn't even need to re-apply.

The Kerchers came over to my parents' house in the evening, and it was such a good time. Sitting around eating dinner, talking, laughing, walking to the river in the intense humidity (magnifies the heat at least 100X if you ask me), and back home to watch Macy's 4th of July fireworks from the air conditioning of our home, all in all a great day. Friends that are like family are the best. Our family away from family, but really they are family to us.

In less than two weeks I will be trekking south of Gainseville to work with my sister as the camp nurse. And now that it's this close, I'm scared to death and hoping for a calm week. Those kids better behave and not do anything stupid. After that, I will work another several days and then it's on to visit family up north. It will be fun, of that I'm sure.

Summer Seaquest VBS week was a success, and so much fun! What a way to spend my days off! As usual, it brought back so many wonderful memories of my own childhood experiences in the same VBS. A mural painted 16 years ago by my sisters and me hung in the hallway where everyone passes. A different time and era, because no one really paints those murals anymore. I can remember spending hours each day the week before VBS painting murals, decorating rooms, getting things ready for 200+ kids to come and have a blast.

That week before VBS was just as much fun as the real thing itself. There were always friends to play with, teachers to help, and it meant a trip or two to McDonald's. Nothing but wonderful memories can be associated with VBS for me. Our church has done it very much the same in the past 20 years with the exception of a few, and after this year there will be a lot of changes. Change- my favorite word! (Why change something that's working great?) But I'm glad that I have the memories that I do.

I still have a few more days off before going back to work, which I'm so thankful for. It really has been a great staycation. I've been at my parents' most of the week in order to be closer to the church. I've napped nearly every day, rubber banded hundreds of shirts, tie-dyed dozens (with the stained hands and arms to prove it), laughed at the funny skits, participated in the silly hand motions for songs, and just had an overall great week. Due to the exhaustion I'm glad it's over, but do wish there could be more carefree days like that.

On the agenda for the next few weeks: July 18 I will be going to Camp Kulaqua with my sister as the camp nurse. This is the camp I went to for seven years in jr. high and high school. This summer is definitely one full of nostalgia, and I'm ok with that!

Josh Turner

Last night, my sister Hannah and I journeyed up to the great city of Valdosta, GA, at Wild Adventures. We got there about noon after a 2-hour drive and me not having slept after work. We got into the park, not expecting Disney World, but still thinking it would be fun. All I can say is, while it's a great park, I don't think I will ever go back again. We ended up going to the car from about 1:00-4:00 and taking a nap.

We were worried all day that it wouldn't be worth it, but let me tell you that when Josh Turner ran out on stage singing Firecracker, we both turned to each other and were like, "Worth it!" It was a great concert. You know how there are those singers where once you hear them live, you realize they really aren't very talented? Well he is definitely not one of those. The guy's voice is like butter. And he has a testimony for Christ, which is awesome.

It was just a fun concert, a great way to just forget about life for a little bit and let loose and sing. Hannah and I have finally gone to our country concert! After having slept 2 hours in a 32-hour period, I came home and slept until about 20 minutes ago. And I needed it, and could probably still sleep another few hours if I don't make myself stay awake. Thanks, night shift.