Officially at Frito Lay

When I met Nate he was working at Willow Run as a yard jockey. He moved trailers around the yard, getting them ready to be taken out. He was also working part time at Frito Lay. He really wanted to work full time at Frito Lay, and was hoping having his foot in the door would work out later on.

After almost two years of running loads to potato scraps (from making the potato chips) to nearby farms, Nate was offered a spot as a full time driver. He would not be driving potato scraps any more, but he would deliver potato chips to further locations. He would be able to leave he spot at Willow Run and start his full time career at Frito Lay.

With a promised position, Nate ended his time at Willow Run. Unsure of his start date on the road with Frito Lay, Nate enjoyed some time off during December. It was nice that his schedule was so flexible around the holidays. He was still driving the potato truck part time while waiting to hear about an official start date.

Nate went on the books full time at Frito Lay January 1st. However, he was not driving trucks! He was working as a yard jockey to fill in for a guy that was out for a while. He preferred working as a yard jockey, just like his job at Willow Run. He worked the night shift, but then had three days off during the week. He knew eventually he would have to return to the driver spot he was originally hired for, but then Frito Lay opened up a yard jockey spot!

Nate applied to become a yard jockey and went through the interview process. He waited several weeks to find out what he would be doing long term at Frito Lay. It was hard to make advanced plans knowing that he could be pulled back to be a driver at any time.

Thursday morning Nate was told he would start driving full time next week. It wasn't the position he was hoping for, but he is still glad to begin a career with Frito Lay. The idea of being a driver didn't have much time to sink in though because just yesterday Nate's boss told him they needed him in the yard for two more months while someone else is out due to back problems!

Nate's job has been so back and forth, so I've really had to learn to be flexible. While Nate fills in for the next two months, his schedule will change every week. We'll have to continue to be creative with the time we spend together - like meeting up for breakfast instead of dinner when he's working second shift!

Nate got some new Frito Lay gear to wear to work, so we had fun trying that on last night! He is thankful for his new job, and we are trusting the Lord for His long term plans with Nate's new career.

My First Home-ec Lesson

In honor of Miss Barney's birthday, I decided I would share more about my time in her classroom during my recent trip to Texas.

Hannah mentioned that I could teach a lesson to her first graders while I was down visiting. I thought it would be fun to do a home-ec lesson!

I started off by asking the kids about chocolate chip cookies. I put on my apron and asked if they ever baked cookies with their mom. I showed them measuring cups and spoons, and they told me what ingredients you need to make chocolate chip cookies. I then transitioned to talk about what we were going to make that day - pudding! After you measure out ingredients, they combine, and I tried to explain the reaction that occurs to make instant pudding. Each student got a zip lock bag to put their pudding powder and milk in. Then they mushed it up in the bag until it was pudding-like. Then the fun part came - we cut a hole in one corner so they could eat the pudding straight from the bag! It was fun, and we only had one bag pop!

Afterwards I had students coming up and asking about chocolate chip cookies - they thought we were going to make those next!

It was fun to spend time in the classroom, and now I have some home-ec teacher experience ; )

Carpet and Music!

We had carpet installed in the front room last Thursday!! What a difference this makes as you enter our home! As you can see from this picture, Mom has decided to go with white trim. We will be getting more trim tomorrow to go around the outside of the room. The carpet goes all the way up the stairs and into the upstairs hallway - very nice!

Ask my mom some time about the story behind our new piano! Short version - a friend gave it to us, and we're looking forward to having it tuned and music filling the house again!

We have also painted the bathroom in recent weeks! We're still waiting on a sink and toilet, but we do appreciate having laundry!

And finally a hopeful reminder that there is still life in our neighborhood!

Long-Awaited Weekend

Brittany and I went to visit Heather over the weekend. We had been planning this since New Years! St. Patrick's Day weekend had been marked on our calendars, and then it came and went so fast!

Heather, Brittany, and I were all in youth group together growing up. Since then, Heather has gotten married, and Brittany and I work at not-for-profits. Heather lives in Virginia now with her husband and one-year-old son, Colston. Brittany and I drove down after work on Thursday, and spent the entire weekend with Heather's family in their new home!

Friday morning we headed into Washington, DC. With the recent warm weather, the cherry blossoms were blooming. We wandered the path enjoying the flowers and appreciating the monuments. Our final destination was the new Martin Luther King monument, and we also enjoyed a picnic lunch.

The three of us had been to DC together when we were in Jr. High. It was fun to think back on that trip and the funny memories we made ten years ago!

That evening we skyped with some friends that were not able to make a trip to Virginia - some day we will have a reunion with all of us girls again..real life and in person! If someone gets married, that usually does the trick ; )

I have a thing with spending random holidays with Heather. This time we went to a St. Patrick's Day parade. We made friends with a large leprechaun, made sure to clear the streets twenty minutes before the parade, learned that men should be taught some proper skirt etiquette if they are going to wear a kilt, and enjoyed the sunshine and festivities!

We attempted to learn an Irish jig, but settled for enjoying an Irish dinner! We made soda bread and a beef and veggie meal on mashed potatoes. After some Farkling we ended our day with Mint Green Milkshakes!

We all went to church the next morning, and then went out for lunch before Brittany and I headed home.

I always enjoy seeing friends at their own place and getting a peek into their lives!

Reading and Learning Together

For the past three years I've had a goal to read a certain number of books each year. I enjoy reading when I have the time, and many times the books I read prompt a lot of thought and discussion.

Nate on the other hand is not a reader. When he says, "I read today," that means he was reading the Bible - pretty much the only book he reads.

When I was thinking of new and different activities Nate and I could do together, I thought books would be good to bring up new conversations and topics to discuss that interested us. However, I knew Nate would probably not read a book on his own, so I suggested we read together. He was up for my latest idea, and we actually picked two books to start with.

Two of my professors had recently written a book on money and marriage. I had been given a copy, and Nate and I started reading Cheap Love. Nate admits he tries to live cheap, so I figured he'd appreciate the insight Erv and Carrie Starr have to share.

Cheap Love goes through Erv and Carrie's dating years, wedding, honeymoon, and first ten years of marriage with children, house hunting, and other decisions they have to make along the way. The book is a reminder to make wise financial decisions, but still generously love those around you!

We recently finished this book and will continue to read our other book. Reading brings some focus to our time together and opens up good discussion. Cheap Love offered some tips as Nate and I look to our future and even now as we look to spend our time and money well. I think this book gave Nate confidence to continue his cheap lifestyle!

A Day Off with the Ullmans

After putting in extra hours for the Dessert Celebration, I had some comp time hours to take at work. I wasted no time, and after Friday's big event, I took Monday off from work!

Nate and I don't have a day off that is the same. I have Friday-Sunday off while he has Monday-Wednesday off. This gets tricky when we want to travel.

With me taking Monday off, we headed to his grandparents after church on Sunday. I hadn't been there since Labor Day, and we had been wanting to go this winter. Grandma and Grandpa Ullman live up past Cobelskill - northeast of Binghamton (about an hour and a half depending on who is driving!).

After a simple dinner, Nate and I went to prayer meeting at his grandparent's church, and then came home and played a few rounds of Uno. I had heard that Grandma was a big game player! I did not play any card games with her back in September, so Uno was fun, and I also played some Quiddler with her throughout our visit as well - I'm always up for a game!

Grandpa put Nate to work the next morning with projects around the house. Grandma spared me from the dirty work and took me shopping! We went to a flower and gift shop with lots of decorative items. My mom's birthday was coming up, so I got her some new spring decorations. Then Grandma drove the long way home to show me more of the area and where her and Grandpa grew up. They met each other in elementary school and will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in the fall!

After Nate finished his projects, we went with Grandpa on a four wheeler ride through the woods. We stopped by his little cabin and checked out some of his tree stands. We might have to come back during deer season! It was a pleasant day to spend outside, and it was just nice to relax after such a busy week at work.

Nate and I drove home after dinner. Car rides together are always great for some good conversations, singing together to songs on the radio, laughing, and appreciating extended time spent together.

Dessert Celebration

The staff and I at Life Choices Center have been planning and preparing for our Dessert Celebration for months! We invited our donors and supporters to come gain a better understanding of what we do in the community.

Guests rotated through four interactive stations to learn about the different programs we offer our clients. Afterward, there were tons of tasty treats to choose from - bringing the Dessert into the Celebration! One of our pregnant clients came that night and our guests were able to see a live ultrasound on the big screen! Our client found out that night [in front of almost 300 people!] that she is having a boy! Many of our guests found this "window to the womb" amazing and inspiring as he was moving around and waving at us!

Our guests also got to "meet" some of our clients as we showed a video interviewing some recent clients. As guests got a better sense of the lives of those we serve, we invited them to get involved as we expand to reach those in the Owego area. This is an exciting step for Life Choices Center as we seek to spread our services to another needy area.

Our goal for the Dessert Celebration was to raise awareness among our donors and supporters. We want them to be familiar with what we do and how they can be involved - prayers, volunteering, and financial support. We also had a kid's program this year - hoping to Inspire Life in the next generation.

It was a long and exhausting day for those of us who oversaw the whole night, but we were thrilled to share our story with so many people! We were encouraged by those who came out and counted the night as a success!

Creativity and Organization

You've probably heard about the differences between your left brain and your right brain. I've always thought of myself as being more logical and left brained, but since starting my job, I have had to use more of my right brain!

We have a big event coming up this weekend at work, and I've had to put a lot of creativity into preparing for it. I have enjoyed stretching myself, but this week is crunch week where all the final details have to fall into place - that's the part I love - the details and organization of the left brain!

I like trying to think ahead to the problems we will face on Friday while we are setting up for the event. I try to think of them ahead of time so I can pre-solve them and bring anything we will need for our solution! We have already had to problem solve several times this week, and it's fun to combine the right and left brain to practically think about a creative solution!

Fully Surrender

I was reminded of this song this other day on the radio. Click the music to make it larger and read the words. Reflect on your own life and determine if you are truly surrendering it all to Him!