Bringing back --FrienDay FriDay-- !

I know, I know - It's been a while since I've sent out an update. 

Y'all, I've been so pregnant with potential projects 

- there I go again, with that word play analogy that scares or annoys people ;) 

But here's the kicker - somewhere in the midst of all these 'pregnant with potential' projects I got pregnant with the the human kind of potential too!

Baby Bu "da 3rd" coming December 2018.. 

(and unfortunately, pregnancy and I go together like oil and water :( 

Morning (ie:all-day) sickness is my friend currently, 

and sleep demands my attention during the day and ignores me at night :( 

so if you think of me, say a prayer for a settled stomach, 

a non-foggy head and sleep when it's dark outside! Thanks)

Happy 'new' Frien-Day Fri-Day! 

Soli Deo Gloria

:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "friend" that I run into, 

or a image that is definitive of the my experience with Cru

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

Hey look.. Hey look.. It's me, in the terp bubble! 

I guess there's a first time for everything.. :)

Soli Deo Gloria

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "friend" that I run into, 

or a image that is definitive of the my experience with Cru

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

  

 

So far, Jaelyn's my first co-worker at my "new part-time position" with Cru. She likes to eat, sleep and play while Momma tries to get some things accomplished ;)

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "friend" that I run into, 

or a image that is definitive of the my experience with Cru

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this update out to y'all! No internet at home, and the new routine of "eat, sleep, repeat" for mommy and baby derailed my plans for a "next day announcement". I apologize. So, without further adieu, meet Jaelyn (who graced us with her presence in the dark Sunday morning hours at 5:36am) More details to come in a later post, but for now, enjoy some bonus pictures of her :)

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "friend" that I run into, 

or a image that is definitive of the my experience with Cru

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

While I'm out of town at the training for my new position with Cru, my husband texted me this picture. YAY for running into Friends while out for frozen yogurt! :)

It's always great to run into people you know - esp. long time friends like this couple. They've been family friends since I was 3 (?) and ministry partner supporters since 2003. THANKS so much, Friends, for your partnership in fulfilling the Great Commission in all aspects of life :)

Soli Deo Gloria

:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

During my time here at Valley Forge Christian College, I've had the opportunity to meet new friends, catch up with Kinna (former WWSP student) and observe some of the classes in the Deaf Pastoral Studies Major. :)

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

Reunions of friends from William Woods University are always fun! Talia and Ashley are part of my mainstay of friends to visit in D.C. and both are graduates of the WWU Interpreting program (Talia a year before me, and Ashley 2 years behind me). It's always fun to see where God has taken us year to year. 

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

I know it's suppose to be a picture of a "friend" that I meet, but I met up with many friends when I was at the Epicenter conference Interpreting this past weekend (MLK weekend) and I met new friends, but since I was busy interpreting the whole time, I didn't get a chance to take any pictures myself. This picture was taken by the conference staff and shows me doing what I do - terpin'! :)

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience

 that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

Dennis (in the green jersey) is praying before the students go out on the boardwalk to initiate spiritual conversations, asking people what they believe, and sharing the gospel with them. Azael (in the purple shirt) is translating from LESHO to ASL (since Dennis just moved here from Honduras and uses LESHO), and Cory (in the gray shirt) is translating from ASL to English for Damien (in the white shirt), who is a fellow student, who paired up with Dennis. It seems like a long process, but because Azael and Cory are both skilled interpreters, most people that they approached marveled at the smoothness of the conversations..  Praise the Lord for His gift of languages and community! :D

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience 

that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

The guys on Project hosted a "Women's Appreciation Night" a few weeks back for all the ladies. The picture is a lil grainy because I stole it off of Azael and I's Instagram (if you'd like to follow). After the guys served the girls a full course meal and had a swing-dance lesson, they started playing worship music. I asked the Deaf girls if they would like me to interpret the songs and was was met with an enthusiastic, "YES." I tend to get lost in the worship songs when I sign them and looked up part way through the worship set to see ALMOST ALL of the Hearing students joining the Deaf students in signing the songs. I didn't realize I was leading all of them in ASL worship. It was a humbling and grace-filled moment! :)

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience 

that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

T.J - or TreeJ as he's become known around here - flew back home today.. Only after we made a stop to a local yet hidden beach that is one of my favorites though.. (if I have to go to the beach, I'd pick this one every time..) You'd have thought he'd never seen the ocean before! ;)TreeJ is posing with one of the interpreters "inside jokes" sign of the Awkward Terp. I'm glad T.J. was able to come out for the month he was here, and we're sad he's gone. 

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience 

that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

Having my cat on project is one of those little blessings to me. The first 2 years I was here interpreting for the summer, I couldn't bring her with me. Last year and this year, I have been able to rent a place that allows pets. I have an extra large dog crate that I keep her in during the day when we are out (so she isn't naughty/doesn't scratch the furniture). She doesn't look happy, but she really goes quite willingly into her crate! She makes me smile :)

FrienDay FriDay :D

FrienDay FriDay is where post a "new friend" that I meet, 

or something that is definitive of the Wildwood experience 

that I would text a picture of to a good friend..

Abby, Abigail, Abz, A-flirty.. it's amazing how many good times are had when you live in close quarters for a short time. Abby was my roommate while she was here the first 2 weeks of Project helping out with the interpreting needs. We dropped her off at the airport this morning, and now she's back at home.. 
We miss her already! :) 

FrienDay FriDay :D

The day has FINALLY arrived! Look who came to visit me!!! :)

My road trip buddy for the drive home arrived 5 days early! Good thing I like having him around.. and good thing he likes to clean - cuz as we wrap up project, he'll be helping me move out of my apt ;)
For those not on our path from Jersey to the Mid-west, let this be your introduction: "Hey, everyone, this is my boyfriend - Auzy!".. 
For those of you in Oklahoma, you'll get to meet him in person sometime during the month of August. YAY!

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

Sorry for the delay - I've not had access to internet for the past 3 days, so here's "FrienDay FriDay" 2 days late ;)

Here in New Jersey - they like stop lights - lots of them.. See for yourself - I've numbered them for you..

The even odder thing is that stop light #2 and #9 are null and void - because it's a ONE WAY street, with cars going "up" (notice the parked cars?)  the street.. 
*shakes head* 
The only thing I can figure is that a policy maker had OCD and thought it better "safe than sorry" when it came to stop lights.. or that the inmates needed something to do.. 
*shrugs*  
*laughs*
Soli Deo Gloria, Friends!
:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

Today, Peter (or Peet's as he has become known to us) flew back home.. He's in the air somewhere over the mid-west as I type this.. 

Before we watched him wade through the security line at the airport, we (Cory, Cara and I) took a moment to pray for our now dear friend that we meet just 6 weeks ago. He was a great help to us in the interpreting department, and could be counted upon to add a soundtrack to our times together while we did interpreter development for he and Cara (our Interns) or just hung out while we formed our own "Interpreter Community" here on Project. 

Covering Peets in Prayer :)

Remember: don't be sad it's over, be happy it happened! We'll miss you, Peets - So glad God brought you out to Wildwood, NJ to hang out with us for the past month and a half. Yay for new and dear friends!

Soli Deo Gloria, Friend
:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

Starting at the 4th of July, every Friday at 10pm until Labor day, they shoot off fireworks here at the Beach.. being that I live 4 blocks from the beach.. they are visible (and able to be heard and felt) from my apartment.. My cat's not toooo thrilled about it, but it is a fun visual to walk out into the street and see this..

"oh, those Wildwood days.. wild, wild, Wildwood days.." (it's a song..)

Soli Deo Gloria

:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

The 20 or so Cru Staff members - that are an integral part of establishing the baseline for the students to spring board off of for the next 5 weeks - left this morning.. Now it's up to the 60 college students to run the meetings, plan the outreaches, and keep the Project going.. :)

Here is a fun lil' video from just before our Project picture was taken and one of the Staff's kids was providing entertainment to all of us as we crammed ourselves into a small space to document this years faces :)

FrienDay FriDay :D

Natalie trying to do the dishes,
while Cory decides he needs to wash his hands..

In honor of the upcoming holiday - my Friend Natalie's iced coffee caught my attention the other day. I bought these star shaped ice cube trays 1) cuz they were a dollar 2) I needed ice cube trays and 3) they were fun (stars are a fav shape and object of mine).. YAY for cool looking ice.. 

and YAY for a fun refreshing-breath-of-fresh-air FRIEND visiting..
and YAY for her sharing her boyfriend (Cory) with me all summer 
(cuz without him here to help with the interpreting needs, the whole thing would self destruct)

Hope your Friday is going well, Friend!

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

FrienDay FriDay :D

It's a WRAP.. :)

..walking down the street, I spotted a recycle bin (it's mandatory to recycle in New Jersey) that was overflowing with 6 rolls of Christmas wrapping paper.. Being a prankster and an opportunist, I swiped them out of the bin, and contemplated who I should "grace with the gift" ;)

Happy "friend" day for Cory and Peter.. 

No worries, they still love me :D

Soli Deo Gloria
:D