Exit 0 Jeffersonvlle, Indiana

I had been hearing for awhile now about a group that helps the homeless at Exit 0 in Jeffersonville. This past Sunday a new friend Litha Sonner was telling me and another good friend Trish Hodges about going down on Monday evenings to take food and other supplies to help out the homeless. The Trish and I both found it interesting and thought it would be something our life group would be interested in taking part in. Well today while doing homework I got to a point where I evaluated what still had to be done, I felt an overwhelming nudge that I was to go help Litha and her group this evening at Exit 0. Part of me was like I've got homework, I don't want to get out today, but still felt like I was supposed to go. So, I did!

I parked at the Waffle House there in Jeffersonville and went in to use the restroom and get me a cherry coke before getting started. When I ordered my drink I asked the server how much I owed, he sat the drink down and looked at me and said it's on the house. I knew from there it was going to be a good night. I walked across the street and met up with the group; we set up for dinner and served! I was at the beginning, Bean soup or Chili. As the line progressed several asked for Chili, and Litha asked if I had enough I was like “oh yeah, I think so,” Litha laughed and commented that it was like the never ending container of Chili. Each of those people that came through the line had a smile on their face, and a thank you.

When we had served the last of the line we walked around and talked to some of them. Everyone was talking and having a great time. Each of them was grateful to have a warm meal to eat. When everyone seemed to be done, boxes of clothing, blankets, and supplies were set out for them to pick through. Each one of them had several things that they walked away with. What little was brought they were thankful to have! Why can’t we be more like that! We have an opportunity to go buy what we want, the latest styles in clothing, warm bedding, and a roof over our house. We buy, buy, buy; why not do with less!

When the last of the people left, we packed up the few remaining things that were left. We were talking about what had happened this evening, and it started to rain, lightly. What perfect timing! When I finally walked to my car and got in I realized how wet my jacket was, and I was a little cold. I sat there in my car, thinking “I’m in my car, I’m getting ready to go to my warm house, and eat dinner and my first thought is my coat is wet and I’m cold.” I looked over to where we had just fed some wonderful people, and thanked God for the opportunity to be his hands and feet.

http://jcexit0.com/index.html

West Virginia

I had an awsome opportunity during the summer of 2008 to work for a company that did title search work for an Oil and Gas company. So, this job took me from the comforts of my small town Indiana home to Pocahontas County in West Virginia. I was away from home and family The bonus was I was with family, my cousin and her husband own the company so it didn't make it so bad I was with people I knew, for the most part. I had a 30 minute drive to work, because we were in the middle of God's country and there is no way to get anywhere quick. Plus, this was the only lodging that would hold the entire crew and was close (somewhat) to the courthouse. I would have to say that was the best summer of my life.

The Highlights were:
I got to see two great bands play (Pure Prarie Leauge and The Outlaws)
Mom, Dad, Beth and Hannah came durring the 4th of July to visit.
It was the first time I had a BBQ Bologna sandwich. (It was heavenly!)
I got to see a real live bear and was happy I was in my car!
I got to see most of a BEAUTIFUL state driving around, and
Met some wonderful people and One good friend (who lives there).

Check back in soon for my tourist's guide to visiting West Virginia!

It's a new day...

Another day has come and gone. I've spent the week working at the New Salisbury post office. So needless to say, I am exhausted! Getting up at 5:30 is hard when you are a night owl.

I am a few weeks into school, my finacial aid came thru, thank God! Otherwise I wouldn't of known what I was going to do. The classes I'm taking are Community Health and Osha Construction Standards. I really like both classes, and there are students in both that I have had in previous classes. It's nice to see familliar faces. Some exciting news... I am scheduled to work on the site of the next Extreme Home Makeover home. I don't know any details of who or where but it's close and I will not be able to find out until the middle of next week. My scheduled time is going to be on Monday October 25th for a 4 hour shift. I hope I can get a few pictures snapped to post!

School is here again!

So... I started school back. I'm excited and scared at the same time. I'm excited that I am almost finished and scared because I have spent most of my life up to this point attending SOME school. The funny thing is I have spent the same amount of time in College than I have spent going through Elementary, Middle, and High School. At this point I should of had 2 bachelors and a masters, but who cares! I can not say that I regret one thing about college, I have made many friends and had many opportunities at IUS.

I also was worried because my financial aid had not come thru yet. Since I had not worked during the 2009 because I was laid off, I had to fill out extra paperwork, and write a paragraph about how I had supported myself during the year. I did that and wrote another paragraph letting them know that I did currently have a part time job, but I could not pay for school out of pocket and I only had 4 classes left. I also stated that by me finishing up in May, I would be able to find full time employment having completed a degree. Well, they gave me a grant that paid for the full amount of this semester and will cover next semester too. I could not be more excited! I have had grants and scholarships before but not any that covered the full amount. God herd my prayers and a took a load off my back.

I have been following a new blog lately. A friend of mine from school Katie, is on a new weight loss challenge, and I am TOTTALY inspired by her wanting to do this. By Katie doing this, I am going to do a weight loss challenge of my own. I have to do this on my own no one can do it for me. Thanks Katie! Here is her blog... if you'd like to check it out!

http://katie-fttw.blogspot.com/

Raleigh, North Carolina

I am in a funk on trying to find things to post about, so I went searching for ideas. I think I have come across something I'd like to write about, traveling and places I'd like to go. Along with hole in the wall places that make that area unique.




Raleigh, North Carolina. One of my closest, dearest friends lives there, Stephanie. Now I've been to visit her a few times but Raleigh is the current city she's in. I was there for a long weekend, and was not abel to spend a lot of money. So I got up the next morning and did a search online for free or next to nothing on the cost. It was funny when she talked to her dad later that night she told him something along the lines of: "I've been here 5 years and Sandy found things to do that I didn't know about and didn't cost a lot of money." It took me two hours of searching the local Chamber of Commerce website, following rabbit trails, and lucking out that there is lots to do there.

One place I loved was the JC Raulston Arboretum(http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/index.php), the grounds are taken care of by NC State University. When we were driving up it didn't look very big but once we parked and started walking around it was bigger than what we thought. There were several "gardens" each with their own theme. We end up spending one afternoon there just walking around seeing all of the neat gardens.


We also visited the North Carolina Museum of Art (http://ncartmuseum.org/); what a wonderful place. It was free to get in and they have a fabulous collection! One piece I really liked was The Garden Parasol. The only thing I can say is wow! See for yourself:

http://collection.ncartmuseum.org/collection11/media/view/Objects/295/1620?t:state:flow=8e62c390-ea7c-484f-a692-fe585e8476e3 (cut and paste into browser)

The Garden Parasol
Date: circa 1910
Related People:
Artist: Frederick Carl Frieseke
American, 1874-1939, active in France 1898-1939
Dimensions: 57 1/8 x 77 in. (145.1 x 195.6 cm)
Medium: Oil on canvas

I only had a long weekend there so we were not able to do much, but here is the link to the Raleigh Visitors Center. (http://www.visitraleigh.com/) You can find just about anything there you would like to do with you and your family.

NPR Article

My Aunt hooked me to NPR. Now I have to say, my feet are just wet on NPR i'm not fully in. I listen to different Podcasts that NPR puts out but I have not ventred to listening to NPR fully yet, I'm not a NPR junkie. I came across this article that was posted, I don't remember exactly where I found it at, but I did. This article touched me. It made me think back to those students I passed at IUS and they looked a little rough around the edges, a little tired, and lugging 2 or 3 bags around with them. Those same students I'd see in quiet corners of the campus taking a nap, eating a sandwich, and their nose in a book/laptop. I often wondered about their lives. Were they homeless to an extenet? Were they couch hoppers? I may never know, but with the economy in the slump that it's in will there be more students in this situation. The only thing I can say is that I'm thankful every day that when I was laid off from work, I had my family to fall back on, and a bed at my parents.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128778321

College Students Hide Hunger, Homelessness by Gloria Hillard