Another Chapter

Well, since my last post it's been well over a year since I wrote. Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it to keep this updated. I know I promise I will try to update it more regularly and then it just doesn't happen. So no more promises. I will update when I feel like it have the time to :)

 Ok, so a quick summary on the events this past year:

We got engaged! My wonderful boyfriend asked me to be his wife on July 25, 2014 and of course I said yes. We decided to get married over his Christmas break from university so it was a whirlwind engagement of not quite 4 months.

We got married December 20, 2014. It was a gorgeous winter wedding which I will post more about in a future post. It was the kind of wedding I've always dreamed about having.

Right after our honeymoon, we moved my belongings out to the midwest to where Josh is going to school. What a change it's been. I've never lived outside of my home state except for a couple of 6 week mission trips. It's been hard being 7 hours away from my family but being married is wonderful. We're enjoying each adventure as it comes our way.

We were able to travel to Ukraine for a visit to see where the hubby grew up. It was wonderful. I'm all about seeing the world and hadn't traveled outside the good ol' USA for a few years so this was a great opportunity.

We are gearing up for another year of school, the infamous senior year. Josh is excited to be done and I am excited too. I've been working in the school's cafeteria and am enjoying being a housewife. We will see what this year has in store. Again, sorry this hasn't been updated in a while. I will try to do better! God bless you all. 

Catching Up

Well, it's glaringly obvious that I have fallen down hard on the job of keeping this blog updated. It's not that I don't want to, life just has a way of getting busier and busier. Ok, that just sounds like I'm making excuses for myself and I am so I will stop :)

 What has been going on in the life of this missionary girl in the making over the past year? For starters, I have gained a new nephew. My oldest sister and her husband had another baby last December. He is now 5 months old and SO stinkin' cute! You can read about her and her life at her blog here: http://fromthelittlewhitehouse.blogspot.com. I never realized what a blessing having nephews to spoil is! Being an aunt is one of my most favorite roles.

 Another big highlight of this past year came this February when I was asked to be in a relationship with a godly man. I am very honored that he chose me and am looking forward to what God has in store for us in the months and years to come.

 Right now, I am learning to rest in the Lord. I am currently not able to work as an EMT because I injured my back while on a call and found out I have at least one herniated disk in my lower back. It's been 2 months now that I've been off of work and it's not looking too hopeful for returning in the near future. God totally took my feet out from under me. He works in mysterious ways but He needed to get my attention. I had been working alot of long hours which is not healthy. Sometimes He uses circumstances that we don't understand to cause us to slow down. Prayers are appreciated for healing and also patience.

 I am going to try to keep this updated more regularly. God is doing a work in my life and heart and sometimes it's good just to write about it. I want to use this blog as a way to encourage people who happen to stumble onto my page. Blessings to you all!

Here's the most recent picture of my family taken on Mother's Day. What a blessing it is to have grown up in a godly family who loves the Lord. I praise God for them!

Me and my boyfriend. Another tremendous blessing from the Lord!

Lancaster County Adventures and an Update on Life

June is almost over and I am just getting around to updating this. I passed my EMT exam and practicals and also the Cell Biology class I was taking. I have been working on the local ambulance, gaining experience and making some new friends. I'm not sure what the Lord has in store for me in the future but as of now, I'm going to be taking Anatomy and Physiology in the fall at the community college.

 This past weekend, I had the opportunity to travel with some of the girls I work with to PA to visit some of their Amish relatives. It was neat to get an unbiased view of how they really live. Trust me, it is NOT how it looks on tv! I learned to drive a horse and buggy and also a standard car. The horse and buggy was way easier! :)

 In other news, the trip to the Republic of Congo that has been in the early planning stages for awhile is finally taking place at the end of December. I am going with my younger sister and our two friends. I am excited because I'll be able to work a lot in the hospital and gain valuable experience. My sister is the communications assistant for the Harvey family while they are in Congo so she is going to get a better understanding of how the hospital works so she can help others with questions. Our two friends Mike and Ryan will be going along to help with the many construction projects at the hospital. These 6 weeks will be a stretching time for all of us and getting us out of our comfort zones. I have been to the jungle 3 times but never with close friends. It will be neat to share the experience with them.

 I have a few things I would appreciate prayer for:

 *The upcoming trip to Congo. Pray that the Lord would provide for our needs. He never has failed and I am confident that He will provide. It's just sometimes the waiting period is hard.

 *My sister and brother-in-law are expecting another little one in December. Pray for a safe pregnancy and delivery.

 *Pray that I will be a witness for the Lord wherever I am, especially at work.

One of the many covered bridges in PA

Here is proof that my friend Ashley and I drove a real horse and buggy :)

I love these girls. What a fun group to go on an adventure with!

Gaining Experience

   Wow, it's been a few months since I last posted on here. The main reason being, I just don't have time for blogging! I've been keeping a crazy schedule lately involving school, EMT classes, and working so there hasn't been a lot of down time.  My EMT class is wrapping up though and a month from today I'll be taking my final exam *GULP*!!! Prayers are appreciated for that. 

 These past 6 months to a year have been a period of waiting on the Lord. I didn't go on a foreign mission trip this summer as I did for the past 3 years and spent it working instead. At times I've been discouraged because I feel like I'm stuck here with my wheels spinning. But the Lord has been teaching me that I need to be serving Him wholeheartedly wherever I'm at, whether it's ministering to orphans in Mexico or flipping eggs at the restaurant where I work. This past year in the States has most definitely not been a waste of my time or God's. It's a season of growing where I'm at and I praise the Lord for that. 

 Some prayer requests:

 *That I would grow where I'm planted right here and right now

 * That I would pass my EMT exams and practicals with flying colors

 * For direction about the next steps

 Prayers are always greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I pray the Lord blesses you all today!

     Me practicing my EMT practical assessment sheets on Olivia while doing a facial. We are so good at multi-tasking :)





    Practicing vitals on my dear friend Jacquie (yes, our smiles were fake and very cheesy!)

Pilot Post

Hi Everyone,
 My name is Abby. I have had a couple of blogs in the past that were specifically about trips I took to Papua New Guinea and then Mexico. But now I'm at a point in my life where I'm not sure how the Lord is leading me. I don't know if He'll take me back to those countries or if I'll have totally new cultures to experience in the future. For right now, I'm taking it one day at a time and seeing where God brings me as I strive to live for Him.
 To get to know a little about me, here is a link to my previous blog:www.mexicobound10.blogspot.com
 I hope you enjoy hearing what the Lord is doing in my life!