Finaces and His Provision

So I got my bank statement the other day and relized that I really was cutting it pretty close since I had not worked in a while. I got a little stressed when I relized I had to make 173 at Ruby Tuesday. When I got to work yesterday we were so slow. But God somehow allowed me to make 182! Thank You!!!

A Somewhat FREE Friday!

So it was amazing I did not work a double at Ruby Tuesday, Friday. I worked at the B&B. I went in at 8 and was off at 2 so josh and I could drive up to Miamisburg to go eat dinner with Angie (his almost kinda might as well be sister) Well on my way from work to OX I got pulled over for going 8 over the speed limit:( Very Sad Face. The office however gave me a ticket for seat belt violation instead. I was wearing my seat belt but he said it would be better for me because it would not give me points etc. So I was a little flustered. Then it took forever to get to Miamisburg. But we made it. We had dinner at O'Charleys. After that I took Josh to work and had errands to run. Hung out with his mom for a bit then we went and picked him up and headed to the half price book store! Fun I bought Kids books!!! and some Women's min stuff.

Work and Dinner at My Place

I worked both jobs today, this week has been a little bit crazy trying to fit two works schedules together in a somewhat orderly way. It was funny though because I went to work then I had to go grocery shopping (yea for cheap Aldi) and be home so I could cook dinner for the guys and the roommate. I felt like a grown up! Fun a little crazy but fun!

Add on

Oh I forgot we had a cook out last night too! It was fun to sit and talk with some of the kids that were here last year and to see some of the new faces!!

Good Bye Control!! Yea!!

Last night was my last night "leading" the kids nights. I have enjoyed doing them this summer but with all that is going on right now I feel that is more important that my time is focused elsewhere. And Ali is capable of helping so I think it will work well.

This morning I drove to Innomark to take this test. To be real honest the test was like a 5th grade proficiency test, but only Math and English. No science! But I should be expecting a call!

New Job and the other...

So as I talked about before I was offered a job on Tuesday of last week at Bed and Breakfast Property Management. I deiced it was in my best interest to take the job that God was providing. So I started the job today. It was pretty crazy for the most part, the couple that own/manages the business were out of the office because the guy had broken his leg and was gonna have surgery. Not good. I basically am a receptionist and work on applications. So far not too bad!

Oh the other thing so during my first day on the job Innomark Communications called and wanted me to come in to take a test and further process my application. AHHHHHH

Kick off Service

Wow the summer went super fast it is crazy. Today was our first service. We had 127 people (students, community families ect.) I was downstairs with the kids this week and we had a blast. oh if interested in the sermon you can view the podcast at the website www.bridgeoxford.com they are updated each week. Back to the kids, we had three this week Brody, Mason and AvaGrace. They were tons of fun, each very different. Ava is 3 and is a huge talker and loves to tell stories, she has a purse and cell phone of course. Mason is 2 and is allergic to many things this makes it a slight challenge but he has a great smile. Brody the youngest is Mason's little bro he is 1 and loves to laugh. This week we talked about the sower(parable) we trough wads of paper to indicate seeds onto different surfaces and checked to see where it would grow best.

Crazy Friday and a More Crazy Saturday!

Well yesterday, Chad and I worked on all the Bridge publications: Fliers, Visitor Cards, Bulletins, and other stuff. I had done most of the stuff earlier this week but it was not all completed yet. Nor was it proofed. So we finished it and went to go print it all and what did we forget? To PROOF it! So minus a few misspelled words it is all finished. Hey I can't spell, and I am over it. I mean really if you were to look at this page while I was typing you would see lots of red, I misspelled "misspelled" Crazy I know. We started after lunch and went until 8pm! Ahhh.

After we got back Courtney Beatty(except it is no longer Beatty) came over to hang out fun fun fun.

Saturday:

I had a crazy morning. Working on cookies, preprations for this weekend, shopping for floss, and more than I want to remember. I drove to west chester, hamilton, fairfield and oxford. After that I worked on Kid stuff for Sunday! Tonight we have the concert and then a drive to columbus!

No naps!

Welcome Class of 2012

Today was our Freshman Move in day at Miamis. The Bridge helped hand out water bottles on campus to the families, students and workers. We had a great time the weather was wonderful, not too hot. We were out from 8:30 - 2:30. My group was on South Quad we had 6 dorms that we were in charge of. The day went really well we had great conversations with bunches of people. I had a little friend named Steven (he was a sophomore) who was helping pass out water for me it was pretty cool.

Tonight we are going to the Pig Roast Uptown Yum!!. Right now everyone is napping.

Good Morning Freshmen!!

It is 8am and we(the bridge Family) has been awake since 6:15am and we are all a little slap happy! We are all up to go out to the campus to hand out water to all the new freshman as the move in. But as we are setting here we realized that the move in does not begin until 9am rather than the assumed 8am so we are chilling! I need a nap!

ICE need I say more

Crazy day for most of us! Josh and Mark went to Kettering to Get Ice from the church. You see they have this horse trough that was used as a baptismal. So they loaded it into the trailer and we on a mission to fill the thing with ice. So the went. Then they had other running to do in that area.
I worked on publications and fliers and cards and more.! Then when the guys got back we went to Kroger and talked with Abe about more ice. Thank you Kroger! The donated almost 9 buckets of ice it was so great! Chad started school today so he headed down to KY to go to southern seminary. He had to leave at 4am. After the fun with Ice, school and computer work we all had our leadership orientation. It went very well. I am so excited about this semester, I can't wait to see how God is going to use each of us and them.

The day ended with brownies and Ice cream. YUM!

Water and Ice, Ice and Water

Last night we finished the last of the labeling of crazy 3000+ water bottles. Finally it is over. Well at least one part is, now we have to pass them all out!! Today Mark and Josh headed to Dayton to fill up a huge water trough with ice. Their adventure began at Kettering and finished at Kroger

Open Doors

I am so excited God is so great! Today we had our typical kids night with our 12 or so kids. But this night ended a little differently. We were divided into groups for our activities, the kids played the bible game on the xbox. They loved it. But aside from that Kristi came tonight. Let me fill you in a little about Kristi. She and I met early on this summer at Oxford Baptist Church's Feed the Hungry Event. She was very closed and pretty confident that she had her life worked out just how she wanted it. From the first time I met her she was a burden on my heart! I began to pray for her as often as I would remember her. We would see each other every once in a while. But she never really wanted to talk. Even though the offer was always there. But tonight this sophomore in high school showed up to a children event because she had no where else to turn. She sat in one of the pews and I took my seat a bit away ready to listen without pushing. Her eyes glazed with the tears that she'd been fighting. So we moved to a smaller room to talk. Life hurts and so often we thing we have it under control but we are so fooled. She has made many mistakes but she as dug a hole so deep she that she has lost sight of any of the light that ever existed in her life. She has no one who is honest with her and she has no one that she is honest with. God has opened a door. And I am so thankful! Nervous! And ready! Thank you Lord. Thank you.

Why today?

So as I explained last week I had an interview last Tuesday well I had one today as well. The one today was with a company called Innomak Communications, Sena, Daniel's wife works there and she helped me to get the interview. But the job and the interview left me with a good feeling. After my interview I headed back to oxford to go to lunch with the guys, Kara and Ali. We all went to the dinner cuz Josh has wanted it for like the last month. While at lunch the Reality Company called to offer me the job. Are you kidding they were suppost to call by Friday but that did not happen. And now I am at a crossroad, do I take it or do I pass? Well I am taking it for now at least. If the other job is offered I will most likely take it.

Happy Birthday to the Bridge!

So yesterday we celebrated the Bridge turned 1! We had some of the key people that have helped to mold and make the Bridge what it is today come out and spend time with us. We had a cook out and played games till the evening hours.

Today we had the 2nd what seems to be annual marathon staff meeting. It was a good meeting but it was again very long. And has made us all ready for this week to be over because of the amount of work still needed to be accomplished.

Jessica Ross

Jess got married in 20 min!! It was the shortest wedding I have ever attended! After the wedding we went home and hung out with the family and the kids.

Ruby T and Dani

The guys had a lunch meeting at Ruby Tuesdays today! And the had the best waitress ever!! It is true ask them if you don't believe me. No but really they came to visit me and have there meeting. While I was the bartender.

After work I went to have dinner with Dani. She is doing much better. I had to play the bad cop a lot. She is struggling with a lot and really is struggling with discerning whether she should act from her heart or from her head.

Dinner with Two Good Men

Today was filled with water bottles and labels. I did however sleep in a bit before the fun began. Since we have been getting closer to the move in of our students we have also been getting closer to the celebration of our 1year! We have been in church planting and leading for over a year. So to somewhat celebrate Josh, Chad and I went out to dinner at Pappadaeux (a seafood/Cajun restaurant). It was very good. After dinner we went to see the Dark Knight. A good movie. So the evening was full of good food, good entertainment, and great company.

City Fun

So on Monday the city of Oxford received a complaint about the house. Basically there was a sign out and the people thought that we were using the house as 'the church' and thought that there was no one living here. Well the boys live here and the church meets in SES Chapel. Satan is defiantly showing himself this semester.

Tuesday We hung our house sign up and that night we had someone stop by and take pictures of the house.

Today the guy stopped by again to inform us that the sign was a banner and that we needed to remove our sign and such. But we have not removed it because we see no current violations.

So as for now we have a sign up and are waiting to see where the city thinks we are at fault.

Job interview and Water Balloons

I went to a job interview with a small business in Hamilton. The office works with repossessed and foreclosed houses. They recondition them and rent/lease them out. I would be doing admin work. The interview was interesting, there were 2 large dogs in the office, I had an oral interview, a typing test, a copy test and internet test. I feel I did alright but I am not exactly sure what they were looking for. But anyway I should know by Friday!

Tuesday night with the munchkins, we played with water balloons and learned about Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. We had 9 after Payton showed up.(he got home later) Next week is our last "summer kids thing" so we are still praying to figure out what to do during school.

A Brand New Room

Chad and I (with the assistance of Josh's decorative touch) redesigned the garage into a sweet new game and hang out room. We covered the walls with $1 fabric from walmart. We went with a steel gray and black for the one wall, and a black and burnt orange for the other. It looks pretty great. Now we are looking for something to cover the washer and dryer with. Any Ideas? Did I mention the Zebra rug?

Water

3,500 Bottles of Water Arrived today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh the memories.

Today was the "official report day." We had a staff meeting today the lasted 4 hours!! Oh my heavens. It was good though. We were able to work through a lot of things.

All Report Day!

All staff report day! It is official we are back and ready to go, I hope. Well today our staff meeting went for like 6 hours. AHHHHHH! But really it is great. We are so pumped and ready to go. I ended up calling off work. Because of the meeting and the fact that there was some important information that we needed to talk about and I needed to be there. Since I was calling off my manager threatened to write me up, OVER a MONDAY MORNING! Have no fear, all was forgotten after we had a heart to heart.

Well the day was pretty much a day of conversations and conversations, with a side of conversation! My head hurts a lot.

Today is such a better day in many ways but in other a more frustration. I was able to communicate in whole words and without tears...big accomplishment.

Welcome back Ali

Ali is back. She rejoined us this week. Ali was a summer missionary with us last summer. She is from Florida, and is a freshman in college. While here she will be taking classes online and helping Josh and Kara with the community/trailer park ministry.

NO more Water Bottles for 1 year!!

I think that is the End! Yes We have finished every last bottle! YEA!

La La La

Well I woke up around 8:15am this morning to drive to Miamisburg because I was the girlfriend of their vocalist today! Fun day! All went well there the guys did good. Now I am sitting here talking to Dani who called to inform me that she was no longer engaged. WOW! Long story short it is better off for her. But sad face for her.

Wedding in KY

Sarah Wyncoop and Aaron Kersey got married today. They are pretty cool people. I met Sarah when Josh, Nathan, Erika, Kelly, Andy and I went to Florida in 05. And Aaron I met at Nathan and Erika's wedding over the summer. But the wedding was in ky basically a 2.5 hour drive there and back. I however did not have to drive thanks to my Mr. Wonderful! Thanks Babe. But wearing a dress while riding in a car for that long is really no fun at all. Even though the dress is way cute! And I was way cute too! (Josh was pretty hansome as well) The wedding was fine and the reception was fun, Sarah loves candy so there was a candy table set up so you could go and fill up a bag for your favor. And now we have arrived back home and are super exausted. But the weekend doesn't end there tomorrow Josh is singing at Miamisburg. And then Staff stuff begins at the bridge! Oh and did I mention I might have an interview! Yep definatly maybe do! Will fill in later.

Yea! For Kings Island. Boo! For Long days.

Well I Wednesday morning and headed to Kings Island with Josh and Phil for the evening. After 5pm tickets are only $15! We met up with Rachel at the park after she got off work. We rod a good amount of rides! Had a pretty good time. One super cool ride was the Firehawk it is a ride that you are laying down on you back and stomach for the ride it was amazing!! The night was long but it was good.

Now for the long days I worked doubles on Thursday and Friday. Not so exciting. Friday was a good day I worked with Kandy in the bar and realized that rater I was a server or a CEO of some fancy company I still needed to remember that God has placed me in that position for a reason and a season so though I am still looking and hoping for a job, I am a little more OK with my situation.

Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies! They are great fun and yummy too. but a word to the wise they are not a good idea for hot sunny days with 14 crazy kids!! We had 14 that is great but when we have more kids we have more craziness... Rachel came and helped this week it was great! Josh taught about Jonathan and the armor bearer. And we played games and ate giant monster cookies.

The Monster Cookie Recipe:

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 pound (2 1/4 cups) brown sugar
1 1/2 pounds Skippy* creamy peanut butter
6 eggs
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
4 teaspoons baking soda
10 cups regular oatmeal
1 pound M&M’s candies
12 ounces chocolate chips

1. Combine first 7 ingredients.
2. Mix very well.
3. Add M&M’s and chocolate chips.
4. Add oatmeal 1 cup at a time.
5. Store in refrigerator for several hours.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, depending on size of the cookie.
7. Dough freezes well and keeps well in refrigerator.


We Changed the Recipe a little bit, I allowed the kids to pick what kind of candies went into the cookies, we used white chocolate chips, m&ms, chocolate chips and Reese pieces.

The Kids

The kids we minister to... It is so neat to see how the kids are learning, and how they are getting more comfortable with us each day. I spoke with the Pastor's wife (of Oxford Baptist Church) she is a wonderful lady, but we were talking about many things and how we are dealing with the kids. This made me think of how we are able to plant seeds in each child that we have had made contact with. Some of them were more of a challenge than others but still the love that we attempt to show, I pray it is a start in a change in there lives.

Many of these kids are un-churched and undisciplined. But many of them know the bible stories better than some churched kids. How? I have no clue. The stories are there but the understanding and belief is not. We are working with these kids and attempting to show them that God loves them and that God has something great for them beyond the circumstances of their lives.

Thank you Google!

Today was another lovely Sunday here at the Bridge! I would just like to say thank you to Google and the internet in general. We have brunch at the Bridge right now on sundays, it is held at the guys house (which is 221 west withrow, just incase you would like to join us sometime). Usally we have 4,1, or 7. Yes the number changes every week. Today however was a surprise day. We had Rachel join us. Rachel will be a student at Miami Middletown (a sub campus of Miami) she lives in West Chester and Lives in Hamilton. Neat girl. The other visitors we had were Cobrin and his family (mom dad and little brother) he has just moved here for an internship with Miami. Cool his dad looked us up on the internet!! Yea google. We spent the day hanging out with Rachel and then we went to the Block Party that was going on at the Oxford Baptist Church, where we met back up with Corbin. We all hung out and we went back to the house to play cards and chill! Good day! It was a nice break.

www.bridgeoxford.com

The Count Down!

Ok there are 18 days till move in and my life is getting far from simple. I have picked up some extra sifts at works so I can get some extra cash. but anyway here is a brief run down of the next few weeks just to let you all know how these crazy next couple of weeks are.

August 4th (10-4 work)
August 5th (10 am Meeting with Catering, 11-4 work, 6-8 Kids Night)
August 6th, 7th, 8th (10-4 Work)
August 9th (Sara's Wedding in KY)(and Ali moves back)
August 10th (Josh Sings at Miamisburg and All Staff report day)
August 11th (10am Staff meeting, 11-4 work)
August 12th (11-4 Work, 6-8 Kids night)
August 14th, 15th (work 11-9)
August 16th (Jess' Wedding in Cbus)
August 17th (Church with the Family)
August 18th, 19th (11-4 work, pass out flyiers and lable water)
August 20th (Plan for tomorrow!)
August 21st (they arrive today!!)

And that is just the next two weeks ahhh! You see there is Jamey, Tracy, Mark, and Dustin's Birthday Party. School starting and other things I am forgetting right now.

The Irony of the Job

So I am a waitress, and now my manager has asked me to to be a Bartender. You see it is kinda random and odd. I have helped cover bar shifts in the past but it is still strange for me to be an actual bartender. In all honesty I could careless about bar tending, I don't enjoy selling alcohol and I have no clue what any of the stuff really is because I don't drink nor have I drank in the past. So I am suppose to start training this week. I guess it is all fine and dandy but I really want out of the restaurant business!!! Anyone know of a good company in the Oxford, Cincinnati area that is hiring a recent college grad with little to no experience please send them my way!!

Rent! Car! Insurance! Oil Change! Cat! Job? Everything!

It is amazing how everything comes crashing on top of us all at one time. It is the first of the month and life has come screaming my way. Today I have to pay my rent bill. It is funny how I really love my apartment, until today. Don't worry tomorrow I will love it again. But the same thing happens each month with my car. Well you see growing up and into my high school years I had no debt I bough my first car with cash and now it seems like my life revolves around bills and payments. Ok I am pretty sure it does. Not to mention I am a worrier by nature. Just ask Josh, He will agree!