Tuesday, November 22, 2005

My Inspiration

My dear friend Betsy is my inspiration to blog today! I wanted to check my last blog and see if anyone left a post, and by golly, Betsy did. And her posts are always charming and witty and make me smile. So, of course, I thought, "I should check Betsy's blog and see if she has posted recently?" I checked and she had. She posted yesterday, when I know she had many other things to do--spend all morning on the phone with me and visiting at my house, as well as edit my article for the Worhip Team Newsletter at 11:00pm. (Thanks Bets! You are a love). Furthermore, her post was about blogging when not in the mood to blog. Yikes! She really guilted me into it. But I need that, you know!

Anyway, Betsy is my inspiration in many ways, not just in blogging. For some reason, I feel particularly drawn to her lately. I have grown in so many ways since meeting her. I have known her for many years. I think Danielle was only two when we first met at the Christian and Missionary Alliance church in Cambridge Springs. I always respected her as an upright Christian woman, but did not really know her that well--just well enough to know she was special. As the years have gone by, we stayed in contact, but not on a regular basis.

Fortunately, Nick was renting a home they owned when we first began dating, and that brought us back into contact again. But it wasn't really until Chloe was born that we really began to nurture a relationship. I was anxious and she wanted to write, so a friendship blossomed. Who would have thought? Oh! and of course, I wanted to write, as well.

Which brings me to another point of inspiration. She has kept me on track with my writing. I have published many articles on the internet, begun writing for my church newsletter, and am even going to be taking over the Worhip Team Newletter at my church. Where would I be right now without Betsy? We get together once a week to encourage and inspire and hold each other accountable.

What's even more, is that she has taught me so much about what it is to be a Christian woman--not that I am always, but I sure do try. Well, anyway, Bets, I love ya! Thanks for the inspiration! Maybe I'll go check out some discount tires!

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Time Slips Away

I can't believe it has really been so long since my last blog. There are so many things going on that sometimes I don't realize how fast time really does fly.

The last few weeks have been packed full of interesting and fun events--I can't say too much for the housework, but carpe diem, right? Perhaps the most interesting thing we have done since last I wrote was take a road trip to Benezette. It is a small town a bit south of St. Marys. Nick and I went last year and had a great time. This year, Nick's, mom, dad, and brother wanted to go with us. The more the merrier, right?

What makes Benezette so unique and interesting is the fact that there are elk there. Nick tells me that over a hundred years ago elk roamed freely in these parts but were weeded out by hunters. Fairly recently, and I don't know exactly how recently, the Game Commission began reintroducing them to that area. Now there are quite a few. When driving around, all you have to do is watch for stopped cars alongside the road in order to see one.

The trip is about three hours long and it is well worth the ride this time of the year. The leaves are glorious with all their bright and colorful foliage. It truly makes me appreciate what beauty God has put in this world. Anyway, when we arrived in Benezette, we drove for a little while, all wondering whether we would see our subject, the Elk. We drove for some time and low and behold there were the cars alongside the road, and three elk standing in someone's back yard--right by their garage--right by their house! Imagine walking out of your house to see such a huge creature standing next to your car, as if to say, "Where do you think you are going?" They are rather large animals, and can be a little intimidating. But they really don't seem bothered at all by their admirerers.

We drove a little farther and saw more cars, so of course, we pulled over that time, as well. This time there were two; one relatively small, and the other gigantic! Its rack--not that I really care about such things, but this was very impressive--was huge. Now when I say huge, I mean huge. If you killed it and wanted to mount it on your wall--which I also don't particularly care about, but just to make my point--you would have to have a very big home to accomodate it. I know it would not fit anywhere in our cozy little home.

So that was our little road trip. We stopped at a gift shop there, and drove a few extra miles to Sharon, PA to eat at an Italian restaurant called Combine Brothers. They serve yummy food, in huge portions, and at very reasonable prices. I like the huge portions because everthing we have ever brought home reheats nicely and makes a great dinner the following day. It's one of my father-in-laws favorite places to eat.

Well, it's late so I am going to bed. I will try not to be a stranger. Take care!