Home is Where the Heart is

Well Hellloooo!! Konichiwa! It's been a while, huh?! My apologies! I get busy, what can I say? ;) Lol, so how is the States!! You all need to start posting on here and letting me know!! You all know how it is here! And I'm getting a digital camera on Wednesday so I can start posting pix on here for ya!! And you all better do the same!! Annie from COLORADO!!!! Lynnie from Indiana, Michigan, and New York ( which is really fun by the way! I recommend going to the Toys R Us in Times Square!!) And I know Lizzie goes so many different places with her family!!! So you all need to post some for me!! Lol!! ESPECIALLY ANNIE IN COLORADO!! I am sooo jealous of you right now!!! She KNOWS she is in my favorite place on the whole entire planet!!! Gosh! And actually, this blog is going to be about a little piece of my heart that I wrote the summer after we came back from working out West. Man, I fell so in love with that place that I've been homesick for it ever since! Ask the girls! It's the only place I ever talk about (even tho where we worked stunk, we still had a blast with the Gores!! :) ). I moved so much when I was younger that every place looked the same to me; this was the only place that was different. It was it's own little world. So Beautiful. Anyway~ This is what the little piece said (and remember, I tend to get a little poetic sometimes, lol):
"...Well, I got an email from Mary, my forman's wife from my job out in Colorado this past summer. As I was emailing her back, telling her how much I missed her, Yancy, and the kids..., I began to realize how much I missed the West as well. The mountains in their ageless majesty; the sunrises, never the same as the last; the grass, greener than any shade Crayola can come up with; the rivers, restless and wild, making their place in this world; the cattle, making the West what it truely is; the cowboys in their silent grace and chivalry; and the sky, with its consuming purpose, going on forever, demanding attention, yet tiring of it all. I love the change of weather, it can come on sudden and ruthless, yet leave quietly, and as suddenly as it came, drenching the land and quenching its thirst. That land is in me. I yearn for it with every breath I take. As I wrote to Mary telling her how much I missed all of this, I felt overcome with a longing from deep within my heart. It was this homesickness I just couldn't explain. A homesickness from my own home. But, I guess that's not true is it? This place (Indiana), desolate, bleak, flat, cold, this is just where I live for the moment. Home is where your heart lies, and I believe I left it lying out West somewhere, waiting for my return. *sigh* But God does have everything set out in His plans, in His will. Everything happens for a reason. So I will do here all that He asks of me. But, God, will you ever let me return to where my heart desires? That or ebb this heartsickening homesickness for this place so far beyond my reach? Like Heaven on Earth, that West you've made for me...Love, Your Daughter"
Boy, I sure can go on, huh? Haha! But, maybe this will help all those ppl who ask me why I love it there so much, but can't really understand it because I was only there for work for the summer. Maybe it'll just confuse you. But to the 3 of us who were there, and for those who have been there and FELT the magic, they will understand. And they will smile at my "silliness" and my "sentiments". But, they will understand. And that, my friends, is all that matters. ~ In The Big Guy, me

Phillipians 4:13

Wow it's been a while!! Happy B-day Grandma!! I didn't forget I promise!! And Jenny, Josh, and Amber!! :) Lol!! I promise I didn't forget!!
Can you believe I've only been gone for almost 5 months?! Just a year and 8 months to go! Not that I'm counting down or anything!! Lol! I like it here!But it's definatley different from the states!! I'm hoping to go to Fort Worth, TX, from here! Vmfa-112, the Cowboys! If I don't get that then maybe somewhere in Miramar! No worries!!
So what to say really?! Life here is crazy!! Work, work, work!! Lol!!! But I get today off! And I don't hafta be to work until Tuesday!!! Yea!! So I hope it's a nice weekend!! Hopefully my crazy b/f will go to this place called Miyajima Island, about 40 min. from here!! There are little deer, wild monkeys, and old historical stuff to take pictures of!! And since I have a giant amount of time off, maybe I'll figure out how to put pix on here!! I think I can do it w/o having a digital camera... I'll just mess around with the scanner for a bit. :) Then I'll go back and put a picture with each of my entries!:) Yea!!
I miss you all!! I talk about everybody all the time and show off all of your pictures! (By the way, Annie and Lynnie, the guys here think you guys are GORGEOUS!!!) :) Heehee!! Send me some more!! Well, this is REALLY long so... I'll let you go with this... Keep close to your heart the story of Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33) This story can apply to every aspect of your life. We all are like Peter, quick to question and act, but a little shaky on the trust part. But, no matter how much we doubt ourselves, or even the Lord, He is standing a heartbeat away, ready to snatch us from the waves life sends to crush us, if we only ask Him. Trust fully in Him and know that He has great things planned for your life. Don't run your own life and still expect Him to give you all the good stuff. Give your life completely up to Him, and let Him run it how He wants. :) Gotta go. Muah!!* Me

Happy Best Friends Day, Annie

Annie,
I want you to know that I will never forget all the great things we have done over the years. I know I am bad at getting back to answering emails and I am very sorry for that. But you know how I am and I know that no matter what you'll stick thru it all with me. No matter what, I know that we are stuck with each other. We have never abandoned each other yet, and we're not about to start now. So, I want to let you know that I miss you, and I'm sending out my hugs, kisses, and cookies all the way from Japan just for you on our special day. Thanks for always being there for me. Thru thick and thin. Tears of sadness and tears of joy. (And tears of pain from all those bareback accidents! Wowch!)From Marion to Colorado and back! From the bottom of my heart, thank you, for always being my friend, and for being closer than a sister. I love you girl. In Him, Jessie

HEY JESS! Guess what today is?! Do you remember? One solemn day back when we were kids, this day was deemed....National BEst FRIENDS day! It still works overseas too! :)
What have you been doing? Getting to ride much? I hope you are having fun and living life to the fullest in Japan. Make the most of the time you are there, gain lots of experiences. Make a difference in people's lives, like you have here and everywhere you go! I have been blessed by you and your friendship in my life, and I thank God for you every day. We have shared SO many memories, good and bad, and you are so much a part of my life, like a sister to me, some one I could not forget even if i TRIED! You are stuck with me and I am stuck with you forever! Let that be a soothing thought not a sentence, ha ha. HERE are some memories I came up with thinking about and reflecting upon our friendship over the years...
Remember the rumage sales we used to go to all the time?!
The bike rides and adventures deep into the woods, exploring? The "indian graves" out in the apple orchard?!
The HI signs on road trips!
Look, horses! WHere? Oh, those are just tires or logs, ha ha!
Making HORSE SALAD from plants and weeds in the yard
BIG MAMA!!! ah!
Climbing the trees, especially our tree house
Riding in PARADES!
Cleaning up horse poop all over town so we don't get in trouble.....
TPing friends and neighbor's houses late at night....
ARNIE! How can I forget?!
Skipping school on the last day and GETTING CAUGHT by mom!
Strawberry shortcake at 7:00 in the morning when you should be in class....not a good idea
Going to KING's ISLAND
Meeting Officer Cook and our good friend PAT DAY!
PAONIA CO --- the LOOONNNGG train ride, RAISE THE BAR, Whistling Acres, your good time makers.... JESSE JAMES and Annie Oakly! The drive in movie....the Chinese restaurant in Delta, TRAVIS!!! Mirror mirror on the walll.......2 hour trip tp WALLIE WORLD! Buck Branaman! Camping with mare and yancy! the kiddies! Crusty Butt!! That there blade of grass reminds me of a story... Sure is nice out here, it is! Neighbor PATT!, What do GAY horses EAT>!?! The ROLLER ROPER! The bullwhip......The MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER! I......quit! I quit, I quit I quit I quit! and HAVE A NICE SUMMER! I WILL! (those dang posters FELL!)
TJ's straight line! ~~~~~ I'll get right on that! Capture the Flag (or those little brats)
The Water fight and MATTY!
High school prom --- what a night
Our road trip to MI! our friend Aaron who came to see us...driving home in a blizzard!!!
THE DUMB PAGE!!!!

These are just a few I came up with, I'm sure you will think of more! We have had lots of good times, never forget them. Never forget who you are.
I love you!!!!! HAPPY BEST FRIENDS DAY! Lets keep adding memories to the list ok?!
Sister in Christ, ANNE