in other news...

so as everyone knows from the previous blog and/or facebook pics i got a tattoo yesterday.  its actually shocking when i look at my wrist and think that it is there for forever.  good thing it is beautiful.  thanks to derek.

it means a lot to me.  i chose a tree because i love nature and beauty, and trees represent that part of me.  also, a tree represents so much life and growth.  its such a reminder of god's faithfulness. within the leaves are the words "it is well."  em and i actually stole this from a girl on her summer project, but it took on such meaning to me recently.  this has always been my favorite hymn, but after derek sang this song at my mom's funeral it has become an anthem of hope for me.  the song sings faith for me when i can't believe.  the words surrounded by so much life is a testament to the faith god is growing in me.  i love when i look at my wrist now all i think about is my mom and jesus. 

in other news...

I GOT A JOB TODAY!  as most of you know, i have been searching all summer for another job.  in june i told my school i wasn't coming back.  it was a hard decision because i loved working at atkinson, but it was time to move on and use my degree and find some more challenges and something that offered more advancement opportunities.  i have never really been a "career-minded person", but my goal in searching for jobs was to do something that i felt like mattered and work for a place that i could use my gifts.  i was getting frustrated after working so hard and not getting any return.  i was just trying to believe that god had the perfect job picked out for me.

after applying for over 15 jobs and not having a single interview, i finally was offered an interview at the children and family resource center in my town.  the job title is adolescent parenting program coordinator.  the description jumped out at me at once and i told derek, 'i think this job is for me!'  anyways, after 2 interviews and another session today, they offered me the job.  it is actually a slightly different job than what i applied for.  i will be the lead coordinator for the adolescent parenting program (app).  

i will have a caseload of 14-20 girls that i will look after to achieve the 2 main goals of the program:  graduating form high school and preventing a second pregnancy.  also, i will be doing promotion and recruiting for the program.  i will also be in charge of dreaming up new ideas to grow the program.  the program is designed for low income girls, most of which have little to no family support.

i feel so blessed to have this opportunity.  i can't believe i am going to get paid to love on these girls.   i am super excited and thankful.

Festivals Inc.

Well... the summer is winding down to its end. As you all lament on your inability to wear white for many months, hopefully a blog is just what you need to cheer you up. I know thats what I need. Ha.

So we have a few fun stories from the summer. (since the last blog anyways, the costa rican traffic cop, etc...) Too bad I probably can't remember many. :)

This summer has been a busy one, but the last month we've kinda relaxed a bit and enjoyed some time for ourselves. Our only road trips all came in one week, where we took 3 trips to Charlotte in 5 days...

#1. Stone Temple Pilots - When I was a kid, my first CD was Pearl Jam Ten, which probably changed my life... but i'm almost sure my second CD was STP Core, and that was big time. Loved it, and loved the band, and wanted to BE Scott Weiland (minus the reliance upon heroin to function :) ) So my buddy Justin hooked me up with a ticket and we got to be right up front for a show I thought I'd never see. They did break up 3 times or something, which is almost as much as Summer and I, but like us are back together for a reunion show. (well WE'RE not doing a show... but you get the point) It was amazing. Here's a pic of that night, some of you will enjoy, excluding Jared Clark, who told me "the 90's called, it wants its music back." :)

#2. Emily's birthday in Charlotte. Fun time at Nolan's Kitchen, followed by a John Mayer concert. Same place as STP, but about a 1/4 mile farther away. :) He's a great guitarist, but he took his shirt off and Summer thought that was hot. End of fun night for me. :) jk. Dude can play, even if he did seem a bit "under the influence."

#3. Summer's trip to move her little brother into college.... Lot of miles for 1 week.

------

This past weekend was our lovely hometown festival "The Apple Festival" where I think about a bajillion people come to a little piece of downtown to watch cloggers, parades with pickup trucks, and other assorted country-fied good times. But everyone's favorite, yours and mine, is festival food. I'm talking about the big fat lamb gyro, or the hot dog with hand cut french fries, or bbq. Makes me hungry thinking about it. You know you want some. We did, and we chowed down Saturday, chasing it with an apple slush, and a turtle caramel apple, which is probably the most amazing thing i've eaten in decades. (and they're available year round!) Then we climed up on top of my friends family store and watch people on the street from the rooftops. It was quite fun!

The whole weekend the plan was for Summer and Emily to buy each other a lovely birthday present. I designed their request, and on Labor Day we printed them at OfficeMax and headed off to get their TATTOOS.

Which was hilarious. My wife was adorable, and I think she probably made an impression on the tattoo shop guys. :) She nearly fainted at one point in the middle, and cracked them up the whole time, never failing to have something funny to say. Be sure and check her facebook for a picture album to go with the story. I'm sure Emily will have some pics up as well.

Summer will be writing about her experience soon. Stay tuned. :)

-Derek