Dog Days

It's that time of year.

Summer, so far, has been one of the best in recent memories (summer and I have a very fickle relationship.) In these last couple of weeks, though, I am sensing that slow change into the long, long days of summer, where I begin to anticipate the beautiful routine that is Fall and the school year.

Work changes, subtly, so that I am no longer preparing for the quickly upcoming youth summer trips, but for the long term (which is harder to focus on for the long-term, in my office), the weekly routine shifts as more and more people start to take weekend trips that my job doesn't always allow (given that I work on Sundays) and I start to feel a little bit lonesome. It's nothing major other than a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach and in the back of my mind. It's easily remedied during the week and can be put on the back burner during the weekend when not left too long to my own devices.

I'm pretty good at constructing things for me to do, to keep myself busy, but the nagging is always there, always seeming to walk a step behind. It's the time of year I start to feel a little left behind (not the kirk cameron kind) and wonder why my need seems to be so great and others so small.

I'm hoping that all the upcoming good stuff next week and that the trip to Colorado and friend-a-palooza next weekend will put the nagging to rest.

Ghosts

You

And Our

Arguments, worn out like sweaters,
with patches on the elbows, slowly unraveling,

You

And Your

Demands, always wanting, always pushing,
More than I wanted, could have had, could have given

You

And Your

Pyromania, determining to build and to burn
The things that were good, the things that worked.

You

And Your

Side of the story,
Constructed to make you look like the knight and
me the distressed, the lost, the confused

Me

And My

Fault, for believing you were more than a reptutation,
for seeing what I wanted you to be, not what you were

Me

And My

Ghosts, lurking behind good memories turning sour.

Burn

A long, long time ago, I was told that the song below reminded them of me. It was the beginning of the end of something long and drawn out and at the time I was flattered. Recently, I acquired the song, thanks to Sarah Wright, looked up the lyrics and found out that they're not really very flattering.

Hum. So much for that.

I felt for sure last night
That once we said goodbye
No one else will know these lonely dreams
No one else will know that part of me
I'm still driving away
And I'm sorry every day
I won't always love these selfish things
I won't always live...
Not stopping...

It was my turn to decide
I knew this was our time
No one else will have me like you do
No one else will have me, only you

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

Amazing still it seems
I'll be 23
I won't always love what I'll never have
I won't always live in my regrets

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine...

Happy Birthday Jamie!

Come join us on the older half of the 20's!!

Favorite Pictures

Tony, the cleaning guy...

Tony: Miss Hannah, you in town for a while?
Me: Until I go to Colorado at the end of the month.
Tony: Is that for the weddin'?
Me: That's not until September
Tony: (pause) How many weddin's you been in lately?
Me: Three total
Tony: You seen that movie, 27 Dresses? (I nod) You don't be like that. You gotta get married this year, so focus on finding a steady boyfriend, ok?

Math for the Fourth

College Roommate with great relatives that live nearby

+

Her Funny Husband

+

Swimming Pool and a great Lab (Puppy) with whom to play fetch

+

Fireworks

+

Sushi and other delicious food

+

Wii

=

a great fourth of July weekend.

Happy Belated Birthday!

Happy Birthday Spode!

Houston, Ohio, VBS: In Review

Back to the bullet points.

1. VBS went really, really well this year. We had 5 year record high attendance and our after VBS day camp was full everyday. This year, I felt like things during VBS week went fairly smoothly and while it was stressful, it wasn't the crazy, "is it noon yet?" kind of stres like it has been in the past. I think a lot of that contributed to my mom being here and my friend Sarah being here with her two youth. Give me another week or two and I'll be ready for next year!

2. Ohio: Is it bad to say that I prefer trips with 5 people as opposed to groups with 25? I really, really enjoyed spending time with the 5 girls that went on the trip and am happy to report very little catty-ness and girl-ness while in Lancaster (lane-kissed-er). We also had a great time with the give-away day (I found a shirt that said, "i've got tought nuts: rust-proof lug nut specialist. The shirt gave me the title of Rev. T. Nuts.) We also had a great time at a couple of cookouts from members of the congregation and a good time exploring Lancaster and Columbus. Favorite memories? Exploring Lancaster, cleaning gutters-yes really, sardines, rising park and cards with the Raddatz boys.

3. Houston: I have to say that before leaving for Houston, there were a lot more loose ends than I would have liked to have left with (namely, what we were doing for our day long service project and whether or not we had enough adults for the trip.)

I was also a little worried about this group dynamic of 17 (the breakdown: 4 incoming 6th grade church girls, 4 7th grade messiah school girls, 2 non-church/non school 8th grade girls, 1 7th grade messiah school boy, 4 seventh and 8th church boys plus a friend, 1 incoming 6th grade church boy). The group didn't really know each other outside of their circles. However, our service project of helping out at a hispanic community center and their day camp, went swimmingly and the groups got along really, really well. The day at Galveston was wonderful-minus some pretty terrible sunburns (even after repeat applications of sunscreen), and the time we spent together as a group went really, really well.

4. Side note to Houston: I've blogged about one of my youth, Tyler before, who thinks it is his personal mission to remind me that he doesn't come on trips by his own free will and to remind me that he is bound and determined to have a miserable time. Thursday, at the beach, Tyler walked up to me and said, "THIS IS AN AWESOME TRIP!!!" Everyone applauded. When talking with his mom this last week, she said that Tyler had a similar report for her as well. Yay.