Small Town Service

Anyone who's never had the experience of working in a small-town library has missed out on a lot. I've been working at my local library for 4 years now and it has been a great learning experience. I have gained a lot of confidence in my people skills and have changed my outlook on people since working there. I have gotten to know all of the locals and have gotten close to a lot of them. Even a few of the newer patrons enjoy talking to me and having me help them. When I first started working there I thought it was just to earn money for gas, but now I realized I've become more of a part of the community and have learned so much.

It's funny to me how comfortable people are around me, because I don't think much of it, but this one really nice lady had been looking at some magazines and as she was walking past me, commented on how much junk is in magazines now. She said they were such a waste of money because of all the terrible advertisements and other things. It makes me feel really good about my job that people feel comfortable enough to chat and share their thoughts.

Today, I helped with a good deed for a lady who comes in quite frequently and sometimes is annoying because she always wants us to look up famous people's birthdays for her. She'll bring in a huge list and it gets a little much. Today, a young guy came in and said a lady was having trouble with her oxygen tank. I didn't know what to expect, and when I got outside, it was this lady and she couldn't figure out how to hook it up and turn it on or off. Between the two of us, we got it figured out for her and I showed her how to use it. She came in a little later and told me she was very impressed with how I was able to help her and thanked me. Then she told me I looked like Chelsea Clinton. :P I thought that was funny and asked her if she meant it as a compliment and she said, "Oh, I think she's just beautiful." It was funny. But I was thinking about her after she left, and I realized how much she and other people depend on their library, not just for books and resources, but for companionship and someone who will listen and care about them.

In a day in which there is such a lack of customer service and care for others, it's nice to know you can depend on your local library. And now I realize I've become a part of that and it makes me smile. :)

Children Are a Gift From the Lord

This past week I had the honor of nannying for a family from church. I love kids but it has been a while since I've babysat, although I don't really have a problem babysitting because it's only for the evening or one day. This however, was from Monday-Friday. I got to go "home" at nights, which was great. I stayed up at the camp all week and had my own house. It was nice.

The kids? They were precious. I loved them. I think they liked me. It was so sweet getting wrapped in hugs at random times and playing games with them. It amazed me how sweet kids are in the morning. I'm so used to adults being pretty crabby in the morning, I forgot how adorable and happy and sweet they are.

What I learned from this week? I never, ever, ever, want to have kids. At least not for many, many years. I know it's all different when they are your own and you have them one at a time (typically), and no, the kids weren't bad, but I was again made aware of how I am quite content being without children. :) Just the week before, I saw this adorable baby boy in the store and had the thought of stealing him because he was so cute. But, thankfully, the good Lord showed me how I need to wait a while (a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong while) before having my own kids (especially since I'm not married).

But, I did have lots of fun with them. I lost my camera so had to use my cell phone, which is having technical difficulties leading to major poor quality of the pics. However, every post needs some pics, so here you go:

Holding one of her many crabs

Not too sure about the water

Another of about 10 tiny crabs they caught

The 3 little munchkins. :)

Cool rock I saw. You can't quite tell, but the orange rock looks like it has 2 eyes.

Playing dress-up...One of the princesses

Another princess. :P It was his idea!

The other princess was "indecently clad" so I told her I'd not put her pic online, although she's pictured at the very top of this post.

All in all, a good, but very tiring and very enlightening week. :)

Graduation!

I'm now an official graduate of WWU! :)

It was a great time, short and sweet. I got a few pics from my parents so I decided to post them.

Click here to see the photo album

I'm sooo happy to be graduated!!!!

A collage of my grad party last night. :) It was really nice. My co-workers decided to put it on for me and hosted it. My family and a couple of friends were able to make it too. I'm overwhelmed at their love and care for me. :)

I am not a faithful blogger

Since I'm not a very faithful blogger, it seems all I do is update. Oh well.

Last week was camp and boy was it amazing! The services were better than I could have imagined and the time spend with one another was such a blessing. I had a wonderful week.

This week is the fair and we have a witnessing booth there again. I've gotten the chance to work there for 3 days and it's been such a blessing too. It's been great getting to know the other believers and hear their testimonies and see them at work for the Gospel. Totally amazing. :)

My granny passed away yesterday. :( I miss her a lot. My dad has now lost both his parents. He was also in a car accident last week and is very blessed to be alive. So pray for us. We need it.

I graduate on Saturday!!!!! Very exciting. :) Pray for direction for me though, I need God's leading.

I lost my camera somewhere at camp. I'm still looking for my usb. Pray I find them! I really need them! :(

Well, a boring update, but at least you know what's going on. Hope you all are having warmer weather than we are!

July Update

Well, the time has come. Four years have come and gone. I'm finally graduating from college this August! I can't believe it. No, I still don't have much of an idea what I'm going to do with my life, but I'm excited to be done. A little scared too because I've been in school nearly my entire life. Now I have to get a job or go for more school, in what, I don't really know. Life sure is different from what you expect. Four years ago, I didn't think I'd be here, still not knowing what to do with my life. I thought I would have had it together by now, and would be on the road to being rich and famous. :D Ok, not really, but I did think I'd have my life together by now.

Oh well, I suppose I have a lot left to learn. I keep hearing that I'm still so young, and I know at 22, I am still pretty young, but I don't like to be one of those people who have that mentality that I'm still young and don't have to make any crucial decisions. I want to have my life together and have an idea what I should be doing. It's frustrating not knowing or even having any idea. I could sure use a billboard spelling out what to do. I've been praying and trusting, and making some small steps, but I don't feel sure about anything. Keep praying for me, will ya? Thank you!

In other news....I took a total of 10 pictures and 1 short video in the month of July. This may not seem newsworthy, but about 3-4 years ago, I was taking around a few hundred pictures a month, if not more. I guess that's what happens when your friends get married and move and you're left with a few single friends, all of whom have busy lives and you rarely get together. Part of growing up, I suppose. Funny, I don't feel grown up. :)
Camp is next week! I'm very, very excited for it! I get to be a camper again this year, which I am very thankful for. I'm helping in the kitchen during Junior camp. I am so looking forward to a week of being around believers and being totally blessed by the Word and atmosphere. If you'd like to stream any of the services, the list of the dates and times are on our website. Click here for more information.

I found this pic of myself while looking through my photos. It's from last year, I think. I'm not one to post pics of myself, but I really like the lighting and the editing. I thought this post could use a pic. :)



Have a great rest of the summer!!!!

Only in WC...

Only in WC (the initials of my county) will you encounter a man roller-blading down the highway wearing nothing but a helmet, shorts, roller-blades, and ski poles.

Only in a rural library in that same county will a patron say she's in a hurry because her goat's in the car and it's hot out.

Gotta love small counties. :)

Those Bible Names...They're All The Same...

I had to share this. Last week, while walking across campus, I walked past one of my old Chem profs. I knew he recognized me, since I had spent a lot of time getting help from him when taking his class, but I didn't feel the need to say hi. Anyways, as he walked past, he said, "Hi Rachel!" I knew he was talking to me but I chose to ignore him, after all, that's not my name. Was I wrong in doing that? I still feel kind of bad, but I hate responding to a name that is not mine! It would have required a long explanation about my real name and too much interaction for my liking.

What bugs me the most is that it was not the first time I've been called another Bible name. When people don't remember my name, they call me Sarah, Rachel, or Hannah. Always! It doesn't make me angry, just a little annoyed, but also curious. Is my name that hard to remember? I have a whole book named after me, for goodness sake! :D I know, I know, overreacting. But seriously...