Hello from Oklahoma! Back in June, I accepted a job to work at Happy Hands Education Center, starting the Aug. 7. So much of this post happened in OK. For the privacy of the children that I'm working with, I'm not allowed to share photos of them publicly.
Here's a recap of my August 2023, but starting with pictures from the last Sunday of July.
I snapped this picture of my friend Alexa and I as we headed out to pick up kids for church, one last time together. I'm so thankful for Alexa and what God is doing in her life! She's been such a blessing.
It was so sad to me, for that to be my last time picking up those kids and telling them how much Jesus loves them. I'm thankful to have been a part of this ministry at Burlington Bible Church for several years.
We had the Stetlers over for Sunday dinner that day, and my brother Tim was with us as well, to help me move to OK.
We had such a sweet time with these dear folks. When we moved to KY they just welcomed us with open arms, and have been such a blessing in our lives ever since. I love them so much.
My last Sunday evening at church the ladies gathered around me for prayer. It means so much to me to have so many precious ladies in my life, caring, loving, praying for, and supporting me as I go on to this next chapter that God has for me.
Said so many hard goodbyes that Sunday evening after church. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful church family that makes saying goodbye so hard. <3 These girls are so special to me.
July 31, my dad, brother Tim, and I loaded up everything in my dad's van and a rented trailer.
So thankful Tim was willing and able to fly out to help us!
That evening, supper with Tim and my brother Jason and his wife.
Aug. 1, leaving my sweet home in KY.
Growing up, we've driven by this place numerous times, but never stopped before. :)
Aug. 2, we moved into my apt. Mother papered the cabinets for me, while the rest of us unloaded everything in the 106* - HOT Oklahoma heat!
Lunch time!
Mother and my niece Charissa did lots of dishes and put things away in my kitchen.
My family left early in the morning Aug. 3 to head back home.
I've really been enjoying Crepe Myrtles everywhere around here through the month.
My first guests after settling in - Darrell Lee and Lizzie Stetler family came by for an hour or so on their way through town. So good to see some familiar faces!
A few days after moving in and getting settled, I got the opportunity to carpool with new OK church friends to Branson, MO, where my KY church youth group was coming to go to Lambert's Cafe and Sight N Sound Theatre. It was a crazy adventure weekend, to say the least, but it was such a heart hug from God, to see so many friends so soon after moving away from them.
I got to Lambert's first, and was thrilled to see the GBS bus pull in, which the youth group was traveling in.
Supper with these dear friends, the Strouds.
The other adults on the youth group's trip.
You would've thought I'd not seen these people in years, instead of 5 days! :D
At a coffee shop with some of the group the next morning.
Sight N Sound Theatre was a new experience for many of the youth.
The whole group.
We got to see Esther - it was very good!
Leaving the KY group, traveling to KS with this sweet family, the Arenders.
Sunday with old and new friends in KS, then I had to say goodbyes again and head back to OK.
Some pictures of the inside of my apartment. I'm so thankful for this place that God worked out all the details for, and that it is nice overall! Thankful for many sweet gifts from friends and family as well.
My living room
Dining room
Bedroom, featuring a new quilt from Mother.
Leaving for my first day at my new job. The first week was just training, getting to know the other staff at the school, and getting familiar with the classroom and teacher who I'm working with.
Yes, I'm wearing a jacket in this pic. It has been over 100 degrees much of the 4 weeks I've lived here now, but that morning it was quite chilly and damp, so I wore a jacket for a bit. :D
The sweet lady I get to work as an Assistant Teacher to. She is an amazing teacher and I'm learning so much from her.
This is outside our classroom. We are the Goldfish class.
I spent the 2nd weekend of Aug. with my friends in OK City. It was so fun to be with Janaye before she headed back to school at GBS a few days later.
We played music together and games.
Sunday at their church. We played a violin song together.
Sunday dinner at the Stetler's home.
One evening during the week I got out my bike and explored my new neighborhoods a little more. It felt so good to ride again.
I'm so thankful to be able to watch sunrises from my living room!
The 3rd weekend of August, I went to Joplin to see my brother and his family. We had a fun day together that included helping them get a new fridge inside their house and the old one out, swimming with my nieces and nephew, and playing with the kids.
They took me out to eat at a Mexican restaurant before I drove back home that evening.
Aug. 20, the Collingsworth family had a concert near where I live, so I got to attend that.
Behind the scenes: it was so good to see a familiar face from GBS, my friend Katrin, who was traveling with the C family.
Another sunrise.
2nd guests in my home: two coworkers from the school came over for supper and games!
3rd guests in my home: my brother Jeffrey and his wife Lesa got to spend two nights and a day with me while traveling through. We had such a sweet time together.
Sunday blues and smiles
Sunday afternoon games. This is my Jenga game that I used as a guestbook for my graduation party. We had fun looking over everyone's notes as we played the game.
A small supper together.
I've gotten to take several walks at a nearby park.
I've also been doing some sketching in the evenings.
These drawings will hopefully be illustrations for a book someday soon.
Please do not steal these drawings, done by Emily Albertson. Thank you.
