Wow.

I feel like we've been moving for a month. Which we kind of have, I guess. This past week was crazy...Tom got back from Windy Gap on Sunday and immediately the process began. For the next 2 days we were packing up the rest of our house. On Wednesday we got a Uhaul truck and some high school students helped us move everything in to the truck. Then on Thursday, we drove the Uhaul to a storage unit in Washington and some folks there helped us unload everything. When we finished with that we got to go look at houses (yay!). Back to Goldsboro. Then first thing Friday morning, I left to go to Raleigh for one of my best friends' weddings. Yay Holley!! It was awesome. I had soo much fun hanging out with my best girl friends for 2 whole days. Tom came up for the wedding on Saturday evening, and then we drove back to Goldsboro after the reception. At that point, our bed was the only remaining thing in our house, aside from a few boxes. So yesterday and today were spent cleaning the house and packing our remaining belongings on to a trailer attached to Tom's truck. Then off we went to Greenville where we are staying temporarily until we find a house in Washington. So basically after all this rah-rah I decided that no matter what the cost, I will pay movers to move all of our stuff out of storage and into our new house. We haven't had internet since we got back from Windy Gap so that's why it's been so long between blogs. But now we're back online! Thank God...I really cannot live without internet. Here are some pictures from our assignment at Windy Gap. It was an amazing month. Thanks to everyone for making it so awesome!

And there it is...

Do you ever think that you can "will" yourself out of a certain situation? Like if I just pretend like it isn't true, then it won't be?
I went to see the camp doctor yesterday because my ears were hurting and I've been having headaches for a couple of days. So I'm sitting outside for awhile with this camper who is also waiting to see the doctor. Then the nurse comes out and says we can come inside and wait if we want to. I've already figured out by this point that there is a kid inside with a horrific bloody nose. So she says, "Neither of you have a problem with blood, do you?", kind of laughing. I nonchalantly say "No" along with the camper. This of course is a COMPLETE LIE; let's just say that I have passed out on multiple occasions. But I'm trying to play it cool, thinking a bloody nose is no big deal. And then, there it is, that oh-so familiar feeling of my face being on fire, my stomach getting nauseous, and my head feeling light. Thankfully, I have come to recognize these warning signs and I immediately bent over and put my head between my knees (I don't think anyone noticed, or at least didn't ask what I was doing). The feeling eventually passed and I once again admitted to myself that I'm just a squeamish wussy, and that's probably never going to change.
Oh and the doctor said I just have fluid behind my ears from sinus stuff. Wha-wha.

Within me lives a purpose....

I have been so frustrated with the internet access here at camp, I almost threw my computer off of the porch this morning. Needless to say, it's been awhile since I've had some solid online time.
Well, it's day 5 of week 2 on our assignment. Let me give you a little picture of what's been going on: fried okra, creamed corn, hashbrown casserole, fried chicken, green bean casserole, cornbread, fried pickles, apple cobbler. No folks, that's not the entire left side of the bojangles menu...that was my dinner last night. Yikes. I tried to go for a "jog" this morning, but it didn't work out too well (i.e. I can only jog for about 1 minute before I'm completely worn out and then have to walk the rest of the way). I've come to realize that I have a pretty distorted view of myself. Somebody took a picture of my parents and I last week while they were here, and when I saw it I thought, "Either the camera adds 50 lbs. or I AM FAT". I definitely always think I look better than I actually do....not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but I'm gonna try and work on it.
A week has gone by since I was offered (and accepted) a position with Beaufort County Child Protective Services. Basically, I will be investigating and assessing reports of child abuse or neglect and working with the families. I never wanted to work in CPS before, but this job just fell into my lap and I am pretty sure that this is what the Lord wants me to do. It is going to be very intense and emotionally draining. But now I think I understand my purpose in being here at Windy Gap for a month. REST, and prepare. I think the Lord really wants me to have this month of down time to draw closer to Him so that I can truly help these sweet children of His that don't deserve to be abused and neglected. I know that I can do it with God's help, and nothing less.
I've taken a few pics since we've been here, but I haven't figured out how to post them yet, so I'll try and get those up soon. Off to see Sex and the City in Asheville!