Health & Free Living

I can't believe that it has been a month since I last wrote. Time just flies by! So, I've been at my job for two months now and I still love it. It is great to have a job that really seems to have a purpose. Things continue to go well with Walter. We've gone to two other Cubs games this past month. They won one of them! Speaking of the Cubs...I am incredibly depressed right now. I try not to hope, but I always do. I can't seem to let go. My days have been spent in agony. :) I'll try to update some more later!

This past Saturday Walter took me to the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw Soul 2 Soul tour. It was wonderful. I really enjoyed the concert and even Walter liked it! The show was fantastic (and romantic) and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to go. Walter was going to surprise me, but I found out accidently a few days earlier. Whoops!

It really hasn't been that long, but so much has happened. I started work at Livingstone and absolutely LOVE it. I enjoy the people and everything that I am doing. They give me a variety of work and I am staying busy. Things with Walter are going really well and I spend almost all of my free time with him. Last Saturday, he came with me to my parents' house to color Easter eggs with my family. We really had a lot of fun. Little did he know that my family has a hard core egg coloring competition. (Nate always wins). Walter and I went to the Chicago Cubs home opener and saw an almost perfect game played. It was awesome. Last year, every game I went to the Cubs lost, so things are looking better for this year. I am in a little bit of a phunck now that Derrick Lee is hurt. Note to the wise, don't talk about it. I just get depressed. After talking about the Cubs, you're gonna be a little shocked, but Walter and I (along with our friends Lauren and Bryan) went to a Chicago Wh...

Yes, it's true. After patiently waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, I have a job! I am working full-time for the Livingstone Corporation (my dad's company) as Assistant Project Manager. I'm so excited for the position and I officially start on Monday. However, I am going into the office tomorrow to get things set up, etc. God has been so faithful and I have been so blessed. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to work with this company and it has come in God's perfect timing. As some of you know, I have been working on several projects for Livingstone over the past few months to help pay bills, etc. Through all of that work, it has made me realize more and more how much I want to work with Livingstone. In those four months, I believe that God was preparing me for this position, so that I could enter knowing it is something I enjoy and a place I desire to work. Thank you all for your prayers and thanks be to God! I'll try to keep you all updated.

As promised, here are some picture from Arizona and the World Baseball Classic game.

This past weekend (Thursday - Sunday), I got to spend the weekend in sunny Phoenix, AZ to watch some baseball -- except, it wasn't that sunny. Walter and I traveled to AZ where we met up with our friends, the Romers. Keith Romer is the Assistant Coach of the Wheaton College baseball team and he and the fam were down there with the team. I stayed with Jess and the kids in one room and Walter and Keith shared another. On Thursday, we got to watch Wheaton baseball beat Concordia College 22-4. The weather was perfect. On Friday, we headed to the World Baseball Classic game with the USA playing South Africa. USA won 17-0 and the game was called after the 5th inning by mercy rule. It was slightly cooler, but incredibly windy! Walter and I had tickets to the Cubs spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, but the game got rained out. The Phoenix area had gone 143 days without rain and it decided to rain ALL DAY when we were supposed to go to the Cubs game. Go figure!...

Yes, Drew Lachey won Dancing With the Stars !! Wooooooo! As you can tell, I'm a little excited. His freestyle dance on Thursday night was awesome. Anyways, I love this show and wanted to celebrate his win! Way to go, Drew!

I had an absolutely wonderful Valentine's Day. It's actually the first Valentine's I've ever really celebrated. To celebrate, Walter surprised me and took me to TangoChicago where we had a group tango lesson and ate dinner. It was sooooo much fun and the food was delicious (yes, there was food that I liked!). I love to dance, so it was an incredible treat. Plus, it adds to the ballroom dancing lessons that we are already taking right now -- watch out "Dancing With the Stars"! Afterwards, we went to Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in Chicago for chocolate fondue. I can never resist chocolate. I hope that all of you had a terrific Valentine's Day. Remember, the ultimate love is God's love for us. That alone gives us reason to celebrate!

I know, I know, it has been a long time since I have posted anything. I apologize. I feel like nothing new has happened, but I guess a lot has happened since December. First of all, I have a boyfriend. Those of you who know me have fallen over in shock, but yes, it is true. If you have any questions, you can contact me on your own time -- I'm not about to share about my relationship on my blog. However, I will let you know that we are taking ballroom dancing lessons. I know that I wrote some time ago that I really wanted to take lessons after seeing "Dancing With the Stars" (still one of my favorite shows). Now that I have a dance partner, I'm able to take lessons. It is soooo much fun! By the way, speaking of "Dancing With the Stars"...vote for Drew! I am still on my adventure of faith concerning my job. I have been doing a variety of work for my dad, trusting God to make ends meet, and patiently waiting for a full-time position. The good news, it looks lik...

It's been awhile since I quit my job at The Little Gym and I have yet to inform everyone as to what is currently happening in my life. Let's just say, it's an adventure of faith. I am working a lot of hours at Ann Taylor LOFT and doing part-time work for my dad. Also, I will begin teaching voice lessons starting in January. It's hard to always know where the money will come from, but God provides. There came a point at The Little Gym where I knew that I had to get out of there (I had been looking for a new job for about 9 months) and my parents even agreed. I looked at my budget and prayed a lot about it. I felt God calling me to take a step of faith and he gave me faith before, during, and after my resignation. It's amazing how God works. He never leaves us alone and he is always there for us. There are times when it feels like he will never answer and we will be in the valley forever, but he always brings us out and loves us. I can look back now and see specifical...

So, yesterday was my 27th birthday. I can't believe that I am 27! My birthday has been wonderful. It's amazing how birthdays change as you get older. When you're younger, it seems to be more about popularity, and you base the quality of your birthday on how many people know, etc. Now it's different. I'm overwhelmed with all the birthday phone calls and cards I've received -- all meaningful and heartfelt. I'm realizing how much I am loved. My heart is full. The Lord has richly blessed me and I feel his love through all of you. Thank you.

Well, it has been a while since I have written anything and a lot of things have happened. First of all, I have joined a Bible Study. I have been looking for a study with people my own age and in the same place in life for a long time. God has blessed me with such a group and I love it. I was accepted immediately. Secondly, two days ago I resigned from my job at The Little Gym. I have been there over a year and it is time for me to move on. I have been looking for a long time, so I was incredibly happy to give my notice. I will continue to work there until Thanksgiving. I will tell you more details in the future. God has really been working in my life and changing it in so many ways. It has been a long process, but he has remained faithful. My last two job searches have taken me nine months -- interesting... God has been growing and developing me for where he desires to take me next and preparing me for the future. It isn't always easy, but God is good. Here is a poem that really s...

I know that I am not the only one who is filled with grief over the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Having spent the first 6 & 1/2 years of my life in New Orleans, it is hard for me to imagine everything that I remember probably destroyed. Plus, I think and pray for all of our friends in the area. I've always taken pride in where I was born and I feel as if a part of me has been destroyed as well. I was New Orleans recently with the High School Youth Group for my church, working in the inner city...in Hollygrove. You might have heard of Hollygrove. It is in one of the lowest parts of New Orleans and is pretty much wiped out. I constantly think of and pray for the people we to whom we ministered and became so dear to all of our hearts while we were there -- most of them are the ones who have no cars, etc. They're the ones that had to flee to the Superdome. I pray for the ministry of Trinity Christian Community, the place we worked with in New Orleans. Pray that financial suppo...

My sister, Kara, had her cancer surgery today. She had a tumor that was removed a few motnhs ago underneath that was found to be cancerous. So, today the surgeon went to remove any tissue that might be affected. He feels confident that he removed everything and Kara is doing great! Praise God! Please continue to pray for her and the family as she will be unable to use her right arm for the next few weeks. She will also have to go through extensive physical therapy. Pray that the girls, Natalie and Amy, will be able to understand that mommy is unable to hold them all the time. Thank you so much for your prayers thus far. God is good! He is faithful!

I have just returned from the Veerman Family Reunion...I am so incredibly blessed. I have a family that is so incredibly close and enjoys spending time together. The past five days flew by and I miss everyone already. You see, we're not only family, we're close friends. I recently heard a sermon talking about having joy in suffering...Even though I am struggling through some tough stuff right now, I am so incredibly blessed to have this family. In fact, while at our reunion, the thoughts and stresses about work and other stuff at home, didn't even cross my mind. For the first time in a while, I went the entire time with out a headache from stress. (I actually got one on the way home...go figure). I was so at peace and content...I was so full of thankfulness and joy. God is awesome and he is faithful. He has promised to get me through this time. (Spending time at this reunion, however, has only strengthen my desire to have a family of my own :) ). Thank you, Veerman family, ...

It's Me! 

For those of you who are ever thinking of switching insurance, do not use UNICARE. They cover absolutely nothing and they take forever in processing claims -- I am still waiting for their response to some claims, and now those hospitals are hounding me. I'm not that old to have all these problems! Plus, my boss switched from individual plans to a group plan that no longer covers my medications. Thus, instead of two $25 co-pays per month, I now pay $300 per month -- definitely not budgeted. Anyway, just needed to get that out and let off some steam. How annoying.

Well, I went to another Cubs game yesterday and they lost. It was a really frustrating game. I try to hold out hope and believe, but it gets quite difficult in games like yesterday. Of course, I will always be a die-hard Cubs fan -- win or lose. Maybe the Cubs are like my life... I continue to have so much hope only to be disappointed. Life has been a bit frustrating lately. Concerning my future and a job, I am still incredibly lost. I'm often afraid to hope...for a good job, for a good man, for friends. I'm not as strong as I seem. (I didn't get the Wheaton College job and I am incredibly confused). I need God's strength and I am trusting that he has a plan for my life and a reason for my wandering. I just wish I had a glimpse of his plan...

Okay, so the Cubs are breaking my heart, but at least we have Derrek Lee. My dad and I went to the Cubs game on June 13th and here is a photo from where we were sitting (third row behind home plate)...awesome seats, horrible game. I've just got to keep believing. :) (I'm practicing adding pictures, hence this late post).

I've been watching the reality show "Dancing With the Stars". It's a really fun and classy show that has "stars" learning different types of dances (tango, jive, quickstep, etc.) and then performing them and competeing with one another. It's reminded me how much I enjoy dancing. I think I'm going to look into taking some ballroom dancing and/or swing dancing classes through the local park district. Only thing is, I might need to find a partner.