November 2006 - Present :-)

Ok, ok....so I lied. Its been more than a few days. Before I started this post I checked sitemeter to make sure that people were still reading my blog......it appears as though I still have as many readers now as I did a month ago, so I'll continue with this post. ( I didn't want to post this up if no one was reading....) Get comfy....its gonna be a long one.

When I start reading someones blog I like to find out why they started blogging. Many people have shared these reasons with me: boredom, 'my new hobbie' journaling, venting :-), pleasure.....etc.

Me? Why did I join the crazy world of blogging? My reason just so happens to be 6 feet 2 inches tall :-)

But let me back up to, oh, lets say November 27th, 2006. I was invited to a friends birthday party, where I met a friend of my cousins. His name was Adam. I remember driving home that night thinking, "Wow, what a nice guy. Too bad I'll probably never see him again." ( If I had only know :-) )

So, the weeks go by, and Adam starts showing up at my church on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. ( he attends a church down the road) I'm gonna be totally honest here.....by Christmas, I was hooked. Any time the church was planning an event or my friends were getting together, I'd pray that Adam would show up. :-)

Little by little, we started talking. When my Mom had open heart surgery in January of 2007, I was sitting in the waiting room and I received a text message on my phone. It was Adam, checking on Mom. Over the week that my family stayed in the townhouse near the hospital, we talked just about non-stop. If we weren't on the phone, we were texting. Yes, Jaime....I do remember conversations I had with other people that week :-P

Okay, now let me jump ahead. We spent basically the entire summer together.....until August 24th, 2007. Adam left for Master's Commission. For those of you who are not familiar with Master's, its a 9 month discipleship program. ( more info at masterscommission.com ) We were both excited about this opportunity for him....except for one little detail. As a first year at Master's, you are under a covenant.....no relationships. The 9 months is meant as a time to grow closer to God without the pressure of any outside relationships. It was bittersweet: We were both excited for the time to focus on God and search Him out, but at the same time we knew it wasn't going to be easy.

So, I said all that to say this: that is why I started my blog. It was a way to 'communicate' with Adam, without actually talking to him :-) I had no idea so many other people would find my blog!
He came home for Thanksgiving, at which time the closest I came to seeing him was seeing his car parked in his Church's parking lot. Thankfully though, we did at least get to spend some time together over Christmas....with lots of family and friends surrounding.

He graduated from his first year back in May. Which brings me to another point.....that is why I haven't been blogging near as much. I've been a little preoccupied catching up the past 9 months.

So where are we in our relationship now? As of a few days after his graduation, we have started courting. Courting?
One of the things that made me notice Adam to begin with was the way he treated girls, and the respect he showed towards them. We soon found out that we both agreed on the way a relationship should be handled. Avoid the physical side and concentrate on become strong friends.
Which would be the definition of courting.

We have been so encouraged by my sister and brother-in-law. They also courted, and now have an amazing relationship within their marriage.
I was also on another blog, (the link on my page: High Calling ) and read the story of Beverly's courtship. It is so encouraging to read about other people who have the same experiences.

My plea: I know Jaime, and occasionally Beverly, read my blog. If the two of you (or anyone else I may not know of) have suggestions or stories of any sort, they would be greatly appreciated. I love reading how it worked out for others.

Please pray for us, as we are still seeking God's direction in this. We don't know where any of it will lead, but are keeping God in the front row.

Ok, I'm done now :-)

( Sorry I don't have a current picture. The most current one I have on here is under my April 27th post, "Prayer Request." ok, ok, so he was more than a good friend :-) )

I'm Still Alive!

Yes, I'm still in blogger land......I just haven't posted in quite a while :-) Life has been crazy over the last few weeks, and my blog was put at the bottom of my to-do list. It feels good to be back though :-)

I have something I really want to post about, but it will take some thinking on my part and the next shift will soon be here ( I'm at work ). For now, I just wanted everyone (DANA) to know that I'm still here, and will actually 'post' something in the next few days.......:-)

Hide-n-Seek

Cosette and Eli love to play hide-n-seek at Grandma's house. I must say that this is one of their better hiding spots. If you look from the side it just look like the hamper is full of clothes.....not two giggling kids :-)

In Memory

I wish I didn't have a reason to blog tonight. But I do.....

When I got back from the funeral home last night ( Grandma Hazel ) there was a message on the phone from my friend Lacey. She sounded upset so I called her back quickly. She did not have good news.....
Our friend, Jeni Rempel, was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning.

Jeni and I became friends when she joined the homeschool group I was apart of (about 8 years ago).

Lots of memories and fun times.....but the sadness in my heart is still to fresh to list them now.

Pray for her family, who just lost their 19 year old daughter. (It was just a few years ago they lost their older daughter to cancer.)

Jeni Rempel

You have many friends who are missing you already, Jeni!

We love you

"A confluence woman was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident early Sunday on Listonburg Road, according to Pennsylvania State Police.Jeni Jonae Rempel was transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., and was listed in critical condition after the accident, police said.Rempel was driving a 1988 Buick when she reportedly lost control of the car and drove off the roadway into the south berm, causing the vehicle to become wedged between two trees. A passing motorist observed the vehicle at about 3 a.m. and saw that Rempel was unresponsive in the passenger side."

A GREAT-Grandma

Hazel Layman

12/13/1910 - 05/18/2008

We love you Grandma!

You will be missed

Hes Growing Up

After a hard day climbing.......

.......a little boy needs his rest

The Best

This is my family..........

Ok, so ithis is my family almost 19 years ago.

This post is dedicated to my Mom, in honor of Mothers Day. She has dedicated many years of her life to not only raising her children, but also giving them an education....which isn't always easy ;-)

When Wray and I were still just toddlers, she would be trying to explain fractions to Jaime while the two of us were pulling on her arms asking for play dough, cookies......

an-apple-peeled-cut-up-and-put-on-the-yellow-plate-with-salt......:-)

(just for you mom :-) )

While Mom was careful to make sure we all understood fractions, carbon, horizontal vs. vertical...etc....she was even more concerned that we all had a strong faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Hours, Days, Weeks, Months she spent with us studying memory verses, going over practice questions, and loooong drives to quiz meets where she spent her entire day dedicated to us. With some friends from church, we put together a top notch quiz team (if I may say so myself) and she was always the first to encourage and support us. This picture shows Jaime with a quizzing trophy.

Mom always wanted her three children to have close relationships with each other. Her dream was for the three of us to stay close once we were grown. And I can honestly say that she did an excellent job. :-) We obviously had normal sibling squabbles when we were young, but we remain close to this day.

Even when Jaime went off to college, we were still a 3some......

So heres to you Mom! To the years of your life you dedicated to your family ( and the years to come ). We may not express this as often as we should, but we all appreciate every thing you've done for us! From putting extra salt on that apple :-) to late night talks when we needed it most. You definitely are the Best!

We Love You Mom!

Happy Mothers Day!