An unfortunate event

One day, I decided to take both of our golden retrievers out for a long walk around the path in the park near our house.  I had done this many times…walking BOTH dogs I mean.  They are both rather big, weighing between 70 and 80 pounds.  Believe me, it’s as hard as it sounds.  Especially since Tucker (who is now 10) likes to lag behind and Jake (who is 7) plows ahead.  It is really a funny sight to see. 

Anyway, I enjoy taking the boys for long walks and I really like going alone with them because it’s a time for me to think (when I’m not being yanked around, that is).  Before heading out my mom asked if she and Kristi could come and I told her it was fine and I didn’t mind going by myself.  So I leashed the dogs and we headed for the park.  We were almost to the end of the park path when I noticed an old lady a little ways in front of us.  She had with her a little dog.  Of course the boys noticed her and her little dog and they quickened their steps as I quickly tried to reel them in.  As we came up to her she did the unthinkable…SHE LET HER DOG GO!!! OFF THE LEASH!! What a mistake! Her little dog immediately ran for cover behind her legs and, quicker than a wink, the boys followed BUT they went opposite ways around the old lady.  Jake ran around the right and Tucker around the left.  AND since I had reeled the boys in really close to me and locked their leashes in place I was bent in half, my arms around her waist, and my face in the old lady’s butt.  I was her wedgie!  Take a moment to picture this for yourself…I certainly didn’t have the best view.  I don’t remember how long I was stuck in that rather awkward position, but we finally were able to maintain control of our dogs and put some more distance between us.  I was furious and yanked the boys the rest of the way up the path and kept them on a short (but not too short!) leash all the way home. 

The next day, when I had cooled off a little, I told my mom this story.  Now we laugh a lot in my family, but my mom was laughing so hard at this, that it took me by surprise.  But whatever, I didn’t think any more of it.  Several days later, my mom confessed to me that she and Kristi had wanted to go for a walk so they decided to go a few minutes after I left so they could stay behind me.  So yeah, they saw the WHOLE THING!!!  They stopped and sat on a bench while the show was going on and stayed there until I was out of sight, for fear of my reaction if I turned around and saw them there.  Mom and Kristi laughed so hard they cried!  I now understood why my mom had been laughing so hard when I told her…I was just reliving it for her!! Oh man…

And you know what?  I haven’t seen that old lady since…

Going canoeing!!

Tucker and Jake

Journal Entry

Sorry that I have not posted in awhile.  Several times I have wanted to update my blog with pictures and fun stories from the FANTASTIC summer I am having.  I still hope to do that but I think I'll summarize at the end of the summer :)
First off, I am in Harrisburg, PA for an internship at Highmark.  I have been here for a week and still have another two weeks to go! It is going well so far.  I am helping out one of the R.D.'s (Registered Dietician) on staff and seeing what her job is like.  There are many different areas of nutrition and her job would be considered worksite wellness.  Promoting health and wellness is her first priority among the Highmark employees as well as other clients.  I have been helping her by being a second eye in reading and editing some articles, working on projects, researching wellness programs, etc.  I really enjoy meeting the different clients and sitting in on meetings and learning where they are at as they are implementing wellness programs in their workplace.  While I am here, I will also have the opportunity to learn from a dietician in food service (Giant Foods), a Clinical dietician, and a dietician who works in a private practice. 

Yesterday, as I was sitting in Highmark working on a project, I was reminded of this verse in Isaiah 55 "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways' declares the Lord." (vs. 8)  I had received a text from Lauren Channell in which she asked if I would be interested in taking over some hours at her current job.  She will be leaving in August for PT school and her boss is looking for replacements; someone who could give a few hours every week.  What an amazing opportunity!  Lately I have been so discouraged about my grades and whether or not I'll be able to get a  dietetic internship after college.  I know and have been told that I need experience in the field of nutrition to be considered for an dietetic internship.  The Highmark internship was such an answer to prayer and they came to me! I didn't go searching for it or nothing.  And now this!  A paying job with flexible hours which provides relevant experience for my major.  God is SO BIG! My grades may tell me that I'm far from getting an internship after college, but God has other thoughts and plans.  He has blessed me with these unique opportunities to better learn and gain experience.  And what an opportunity for me to share His glory!

I am so excited for these opportunities and what I will learn through them.  And not just in the field of nutrition but also about God! I am constantly reminded of how wonderful He is and how He has a unique and special plan for my life.  He holds the future!
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:13

Dear Logan

Dear Logan,

Congratulations! You are the newest member to the BEST family anyone could ask for! You were born May 10, 2011 and are the youngest of four boys.  Your three older brothers are the most adorable and rambunctious little things I have ever seen! Matthew is the oldest of 7 years and he is such a little stinker.  He is very smart and really quick witted.  He is very caring and affectionate and he is very helpful to your mommy.  Christopher is a year and a half behind Matthew and is almost 6.  He is the polar opposite of Matthew; very laid back and reserved.  He loves to take naps and sit quietly while watching a movie or reading a book.  He may not admit it, but he loves and admires his older brother and wants to do everything he does.  Noah is a typical third born and a perfect example of the “terrible twos”.  Actually, I wouldn’t necessarily call it terrible…more like adventurous or mischievous.  He is quite a pill!  He has a lot of energy like Matthew does and he is the loudest of the three…by far! Noah holds a special little place in my heart, I think mainly because he has taken to me.  He says my name and my heart just melts.  It sounds like “Kiwi” more than Keri but he always says it with a big smile on his face. 

And you, little one, are so precious! I met you for the first time this past weekend and you are such a wonderful baby!  You sleep a lot and when I talk to you I can tell you want to smile.  Don’t worry, you will any day now.  Unlike your brothers, you are darker skinned and have a head of dark hair.  My mom tells me that I looked just like that when I was born. 

And why do I say you were born into the best family anyone could ask for? Because this family has the best sense of humor I have ever seen.  Whenever we get together we pick up right where we left off.  We relive stories and laugh uncontrollably even though it might be the 11^th time we’ve heard that story.  Your mommy, Joy, has some of the best stories I have ever heard.  She puts the wonder in wonderful. When you’re old enough, ask her about the time when she rode the roller coaster, or about the time when the bra rack at Wal-mart was stuck to her coat, or when toilet paper was stuck to her shoe and she dragged it all through the store without realizing it.  Believe me, she is full of them.  And now she is the mother of four boys so I know there are plenty more to come.  Matthew told his teacher the other day that the reason his mommy had another boy was because that was all she knew how to make.  So cute!

Well, I could go on for awhile, but since a picture is worth a thousand words I am going to share a few with you. 

Trusting God

I really think that Blogger should come up with a way for people to add music to their page.  That way a certain song starts playing whenever someone reads your blog.  As far as I know, there isn't that option.  So, if you're willing, grab your bible and a cup of coffee and play this song while you read :)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzwd6JTaXPQ

Something that has been on my mind for the past month is putting my trust in God.  It is something I've always thought of and feel like I do, but through different circumstances in my life, I have been asking myself, "Do I really trust God?" A wise friend shared with me, "You can only trust God to the point at which you know God."  I started thinking about that....what do I know about God?
So, I started making a list of things I knew about God and where in scripture He tells me that.  But as I was writing these things down I realized that I could come up with a really long list of things.  So I started pondering over these verses and I challenged myself to not move on from them until I believed them to be true with my whole heart.  It has required me to take my time and read them over and over.  I started with a short list and it has grown a little since I first started it a week ago.  It has caused me to meditate and think about it before moving on.  I love how these verses, that I've heard my whole life, have really become alive to me!  I no longer view the words "Trusting God" as an expression, but as an action.  It is something that I am learning and putting into practice. 

Here is my list so far.  I hope these verses come alive for you as much as they have for me!

What do I know about God?

-He does not lie, He does not change His mind, He always keeps His promises.  ~Numbers 23:19
-He is faithful and just.  ~1 John 1:9
-He is sovereign.  ~Psalm 103:19, Isaiah 55:8-9
-He is a caring God. ~Nahum 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7
-He is a God of peace.  ~Isaiah 26:3
-He is a God of hope.  ~Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 39:7, Psalm 62:5

"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." ~Philippians 4:11

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  ~Jeremiah 29:13

Things I'll Miss

Here I am, sitting in the Minneapolis airport with Paige Moyer, almost ready to head back to PA. Paige and I were so excited to find out we would be on the same flight from Colorado Springs to Minneapolis.  We didn’t plan that at all! And get this…we were in the same row!! I was able to switch with a nice lady and so Paige and I were across the aisle from one another.  It was such a relief for both of us…I love how God provides! 

As I have been thinking about my summer plans and reflecting on my time in Colorado I wanted to share some of the things I’ll miss and some of the really important things that I learned.

When I think about things, or people rather, that I will miss, Joh and Corrie are the first to come to mind.  In the short amount of time that I was in Colorado Springs, they became like grandparents to me. We had a blast watching NCIS, eating ice cream, hiking, and laughing together.  They did a great job at making sure I was taken care of and comfortable at the Glen.  The other night, I stayed late at their place after NCIS, and they showed me tons of pictures that they have taken from their trips around…well everywhere!! Pictures of Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, and several from their stays at the Glen from years past.  It really inspired me to take advantage of the time I have now to travel! I hope to see Joh and Corrie on my next trip out to the Glen.

I am going to miss all the other volunteers and staff members that I met during my stay.  They were all so great in welcoming me! It was so nice to be in a community of believers every day as much as I was.  I am really glad and thankful that I was placed in the bookstore/coffee shop because that provided such a unique opportunity for me.  I got to meet so many different people, from different organizations.  I met several people on EDGE Corps, Nav staff, and many that were just locals.  I am a big people person, so it is really important to me to be in a position where I come in contact with a lot of people.  I was constantly letting people know that I was a student at Penn State and am involved in the Navigators there.  Some people even mentioned how they knew the Bowman’s! And I got to meet Cathy Bowman’s best friend (oh yeah, besides Dave).  Ok sorry, I’m starting to ramble.  I can’t seem to get my thoughts in order.  Long story short, I really enjoyed working in the bookstore because it provided many opportunities for me to get to know people.

While I was at the Glen, I was able to attend many of the EDGE Corps talks and get to know them.  That was such a blessing to me as I am thinking about going on staff with the Navigators in the future.  This time provided a bigger and broader EDGE preview for me! I got to meet several staff with EDGE and I was able to not only meet Drew Frazer personally, but I had dinner with him!  I had several questions for him and he was so helpful and he gave me such good advice!  He is the campus director at Boulder, Colorado and I would love to make a stop there when I return to the Glen. 

I am also really going to miss the beautiful landscape in Colorado! Every morning I would open the blinds in my bedroom and there would be the gorgeous mountains! My house was quite a ways away from the castle and carriage house, but I really enjoyed the walks.  It took me about ten minutes to get anywhere, but it was such a great time for me to look around and take it all in.  The turkeys would be walking around and the deer would be grazing in the brush.  They would stop and stare at me as I walked by.  Two days ago, there was a bear on property, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to see it. 

Okay, I said that I would share more on things that I learned while I was in Colorado, but right now I'm really exhausted.  I will be sure to post again soon.

2 Days Left?

Ah! I only have two days left here in Colorado Springs! On Saturday I was thinking about my last week here and I realized I still hadn't gone hiking.  Between Sunday and Monday I went on three different hikes.  Sunday, I hiked the "Echo Rock" trail with Joh and Corrie and their daughter, Monique, and her husband, Rick.  Rick and Monique were at the Glen from Wednesday to Monday for a marriage retreat and also visiting their parents.  They were so great!! Just like their parents! They didn't miss a beat in getting to know me and making me feel like family.  They came in to the coffee shop quite frequently...one morning Rick said, "We needed our fill of Keri".  They got me to try soy milk in my latte and they also had me try tea.  It wasn't too bad! Anyway, they invited me to go on a hike with them and their parents, so Sunday afternoon we lathered ourselves in sunscreen and set off up the mountain.


Joh and I at the beginning of our hike




I love our expressions




That was a really steep incline up "The Scar"





Me with Rick and Monique





After the hike, we went back to the Pink House and enjoyed a nice cup of tea.

Monday morning, I hiked up to Dawson's Grave and had my quiet time.  It was such a beautiful hike and what a gorgeous view!

Monday afternoon, Sonja took me to Manitou Springs for coffee and dessert!


Right before I devoured that delicious piece of art! It was a coconut banana bombe...really good!


Annndddd, I had to take advantage of the beautiful day, so I hiked up to Dorothy Falls.



It takes my breath away every time

More pictures will be up on my facebook page tonight! :)

I'm surprised I'm blogging this much... :)

I’ve been reading a book written by Joni Eareckson Tada and I wanted to share with you all some of the things that I have been learning.  I’ve been thinking a lot about my past and I worry a lot about my future and I am so touched with her words about grace.

“God doesn’t give us grace for the future…He doesn’t give me grace for next year’s headaches—or even next month’s heartaches.  God only gives me grace for today.  He expects me to live this day in His strength, leaning on His wisdom, drawing on His presence and power.” –Joni Eareckson Tada

What awesome truth!

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” –Isaiah 43:18

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:34

We are called not to think about things of the past (Isaiah 43:18) and are also called to not think and worry about the future (Matt. 6:34).  We must live in “the Now”.  Why? Because now is all we have.  There is no more important moment than this one…right here, right now!  Ephesians 5:15&16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

So often, I am on the treadmill of life.  I don’t live in the Now, but instead I am living and running in the future.  My days are packed with meetings, work, and getting together with friends. Don’t get me wrong, those aren’t bad things to do with my time necessarily, but I don’t take time to be still…I’m restless.  I’m anxious about what’s up next.  Man, does it ever get me down. 

John 10:10 says that Satan “…comes only to steal, kill, and destroy."  Am I going to let Satan steal my present time right now worrying about what might come next?

I love how Joni puts this:

“When you think about it, if our adversary can get us to focus on our past mistakes, wrong turns, and wasted opportunities, he has stolen the present moment from us…If our enemy can keep us occupied with our past or with our future, we lose the grace, blessings, and opportunities in the Now.  And when you lose the present moment, in a sense you lose everything.”

I think that is so true.  Now is all we have…why waste it with thoughts and worries from the past or the future.  Enjoy this moment.  Live this moment to its fullest. 

“This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

                                                                                 -Psalm 118:24

~~~

With that said, I thought I would catch you up with a few things that are going on here at the Glen.  It has been really rainy the past several days which, for me, has been disappointing.  This weekend is supposed to be nice so I will be spending my free time at Garden of the Gods.

Bookstore hours are long and sometimes they drag by.  I work 10:30-6 and I get a lunch break.  We often get busy right when a tour lets out or when the EDGErs have their free time.  And there are several other conferences that have been going on.  When it’s not busy, my boss has me and Alex working on different projects.  It’s been really fun and I love working in this bookstore and meeting different people…many of whom are affiliated with the Navigators.

When I’m not working at the bookstore, I normally read in my room.  I’ve also had the privilege of joining on some of the EDGE Corps talks.  They are really good! This morning I found out that Drew Frazer will be coming to spend a few days with the EDGErs.  It doesn’t look like he will be speaking at all, but I’m hoping to talk with him and his wife. 

With only a week left, I am trying to think of some things I still want to do while I’m here.  I haven’t done any hiking, so this weekend I plan on hiking up to Dawson Trotman’s grave and also hike the “Lady Bug” trail.  I’ve heard that both trails have wonderful views of the Glen and of Colorado Springs! Boy oh boy, I’m excited!!