Not enough time in the day

This is close to utterly ridiculous. Today I need to work 4 hours at the Methodist Archives (sometime between it's open hours of 9-5pm), attend chapel and choir rehearsal (11-1pm), prepare and teach a rocketry and aviation class for an elementary after-school program (2-4:30), read half a book and write a paper before my class from 7-9:30pm. Meals might be nice too, but probably won't work until after 9:30pm. Looking forward to a full-time job rather than juggling this much.

Face Mask

Smelly, dirty, germy, gross, loud, dangerous.

I'm not talking about dirty diapers-- I'm just offering my perspective of NYC.

I can't imagine living there and I definitely can't imagine raising children there. All day I was aching for a hot shower and disinfectant. I've started wondering where I'll be able to get a face mask when swine flu hits us in epidemic proportions this winter... My body's exhausted after last night's dance class and after carrying around a laptop all day in a bookbag as I hiked the city blocks trying to save money. But I'm thankful that I'm done with official responsibilities for a couple days.

I'm also thankful for a fiance who's learning how to cook some really great meals. :-) He's a keeper! (I know you're thinking, "Well, duh!")

Deep Breaths

Admittedly, I'm slightly overwhelmed. I'm a full-time student. Since Eric and I are saving up for the wedding, I've taken every job that comes my way and I'm working part-time at the Church Center for the UN, as a youth group leader, teaching after school classes and as a chapel steward on campus. At some point, I also thought it was a great idea to take three fitness classes a week. And I'm a fiancee planning a wedding and wanting to love on Eric (not like that... well, yes, like that, but not yet!). Where have I dropped the ball? Reading for one of my classes and I haven't gotten back to the potential photographers yet. I also need to clean the kitchen table top and put away some clothes. That's not too bad, right?

My mom's coming this weekend and I'm stoked! We're going to look at dresses, meet up with Eric's mom, see the church and reception hall and just enjoy quality time. Oh, baby. Why am I writing a blog post and not getting my schoolwork done for next week?!?

On a side note, I think four of my friends are pregnant and three friends had their babies within the past year. Congratulations to Miss Erinne (even though I don't think she reads this and I'm sure she wouldn't have time now even if she did)!

Wedding Website

We've got a wedding website! Feel free to check out: http://www.mywedding.com/ericandheathervalosin/index.html
We really need some song suggestions for the reception. :-)

Will you marry me?

A month ago today, Eric proposed to me! I arrived back on the east coast after eight weeks apart on August 8th. Twelve hours after my plane touchdowned, Eric and I were leading worship at a UMC in Plainfield, NJ. We spent the next day at the beach on the Jersey shore and in the evening, I found the first of many clues leading to our engagement. Following a scavenger hunt from North Brunswick, NJ to Hopwood, PA, Eric led me up the mountainside at the camp I've worked at for years in a thunderstorm that arrived just as we did. Standing in the rain with a beach umbrella over our heads looking towards the Great Cross that overlooks four states, Eric admitted that he thought our dinner was under the cross. Thankfully, I had noticed a candlelit dinner at the HOPE Camp pavillion on our walk up (I didn't want to point it out and sound like, "Wow, Eric, look. Someone's having a romantic dinner...") As we trekked back down the flooded path, Eric pointed out white plastic daisies that were along the way and I collected them wondering what it the world our next week of vacation held it store. We enjoyed a picnic dinner, very similar to that of our first date, as the rain died down and by the time we had finished, Eric suggested that we go back up the the cross. We did and as we looked out over the valley, Eric pulled an envelope out of his bag. He said, "I found this over the summer and thought we could open it." He was holding what I thought was the card I had hidden under his seat that was stashed for when he went up to talk to my parents. After my mom told him to check his car for a note, he would find money to go to the batting cages in Weirs Beach, NH... Here we are in western PA about to read what I think is my recommendation to go to the batting cages in NH! But no, he had forged the envelope!! Instead inside was a letter to me that ended, "After dating you for fifteen months and talking with your dad, I don't think you should call me boyfriend anymore..." (What?!?!! Did Dad scare him off? Is he breaking up with me?! ) "You should call me fiance." Whew! Eric was done on one knee holding the ring box and asked me to marry him. I think my response was, "Of course!" :-) Then my best friend, Tricia, came out of the woods with her fiance, both welding cameras and congratulations. AMAZING!

It's been a crazy ride since then-- two days to ourselves, then traveling to see family members along the east coast for a week, then Eric left for a mission trip while I had doctors' appointments, then moving us into respective new homes and starting school and part-time jobs. We're both still settling in and trying to work into a routine. Eventually I'll get a sweet photo up here for you.

Peace

Yay! I'm finally back home with Eric!

Sorry, Amie, my blog will probably resume it's boring monotony now that I'm back on the east coast. However, I'm happy. :-)

So Soon! (3 days, 10 hours to touchdown!)

I want to go home. On Saturday night, I will be hugging Eric after a long two months apart. Time until then can't go fast enough for me.

This summer hasn't been terrible at all. I've learned a lot and have met wonderful people. Hopefully I've been encouraging to them too. Besides wanting to be back with Eric, little things make me exceptionally thankful that this is a temporary situation-- no/little access to a car in a rural setting, a co-worker who thinks it's acceptable to demean me by mockingly noting my age as often as possible, overpriced Oreos and a lack of theatre, singing and kids. :-(

On the positive side, I've made friends, mocassins and a dream-catcher. I've seen buffalo, antelope, praire dogs, horses and wild donkeys. I've managed to avoid the first three tornados on the Rosebud Reservation in the past six years. I've participated in sweat ceremonies and observed a Sun dance. I've read a lot and listened to a lot of people describe their dreams and hopes. I've created by my first promotional video. And I've learned a lot about various forms of Christian service.

Thank goodness I have a few weeks before classes start because I've been studying and writing papers all summer long. A break, especially with Eric and my family, will be amazing!