Monday, August 27, 2007

Dorm rooms, finished travels, and LPL

My siesta prayer warriors,

This will hopefully be the last of my blog posts about my transitioning to South Hamilton, MA, but I thought it only fitting to close with a few more pictures. I cannot believe that the Lord would allow me the blessing of having you on my 22+ hour journey drive here through your divine prayers. I am forever marked by your gracious hearts towards me.

I have found internet access, so will return to you in the next few days with some Jesus :) But for now, I wanted to let those of you who had asked, know how I was doing.

1) I was an absolute vegetable all day yesterday. I needed it in a desperate way though. If I sat still for more than 5 minutes without anyone talking to me, I was going to be on my way to a la-la nap land in no time.
3) It's 75 degrees here today and I feel like I need on jeans and a fleece. Seriously...I've been used to weather above the 100's lately, so this feels cold! Bless me! If anyone has any winter items/shoes/clothing that they care to get rid of, I will gladly take them off your hands. I'm going to have to redo this GA wardrobe I've got.
4) The walls of my dormitory room are so naked it makes me want to cry. I haven't had a chance to unpack yet, and even when I do, I'm not going to find any wall decorations unless Jesus threw some in my bags when I wasn't looking!
5) I keep looking up when people walk by me. And then I remember that I'm not going to recognize any of them, so I emotionally rock between getting the giggles at myself, or getting sad.
6) One of the girls left me a note saying that she had "moved my pop" to another refrigerator. I just stared at it for about 30 seconds trying to figure out what in the world "pop" was. Ooohhhh yea. (Sigh...doesn't she know that everything is called 'Coke.')
7) I met the president's wife of the school my first morning here, which was the sweetest and coolest thing ever. Except for that whole factor of my not having showered yet, still in my pj's, groggy demeanor, stumbling down the stairs, and trying to remember what state I was in at the moment (I'd been through 10 different states in the past 48 hours - it was only fair.) Yea...it was a 'cool' moment for sure. lol
I end with these:

This was one of the three moments of my drive where I sat in traffic for a very long time. I thought this was hysterical. Clearly, you can see that we weren't moving very fast since the sign wasn't even picking up our speed. I think I was hitting 5 mph every once in a while on this one. I applaud their sign efforts for trying.

I got to meet a fellow blogging sister at the RI LPL conference - Darla! How much fun is that!? She and her 15 year old daughter have been two of the many prayer siestas for me, and it was nice to at least be able to hug one of them in person and say 'thank you.'

Sarah, Mandy, and me at the RI LPL

Y'all. This little fellow (praying mantus) was on top of my car when I was leaving Hartford, CT for my last 3.5 hours of driving. I just stared at him, and stood in humbled shock over my sweet Jesus. I knew He was being my Rear Guard. And I know I had the covering of all of your prayers on this new upcoming season. I do not doubt that He was trying to make me smile and give Him His due praise that last morning. So of course I clapped for Him. I 'ooh'ed' and 'awe'd' over my dear Jesus, and felt the lump in my throat over thinking about His visual reminder of the sacrifice of your prayers for me. Know that He loves you dearly - He wanted to give you a praying mantus to say thank you :)

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to have you here!! And yes, I felt like superwoman this morning. Hopefully it will last. :-)

Sharon Brumfield said...

Thank ya Jesus!!!!
Don't be too lonely. He is with you of course--but if you need a visual--you just talk to us. We will be your girls in the box. Anytime you need someone to talk to--turn the box on and talk to us.
You know we miss you and we are praying for you. Some of us might even be seeing what life might have been like if we had walked a different path.:)
Love ya girl!

AK said...

Im so glad things are going well, even though transitions are always difficult! It sounds pretty chilly up there, I think I'd probably just about cry...at least its not humid though it's been awful down here in GA lately! I'll be praying for your strength.

Here's a little something I thought you might need:

Sweet Tea from a microwave:
Sugar (several cups depending on how sweet you need it lol)

A Pitcher (or an empty large gallonish gatoraide or juice bottle w/ a lid works even better)

A GLASS liquid measuring cup

Water and Tea Bags

Directions:
1. Fill the measuring cup up with water (which would be a/b a cuppish) 2. Put 2 tea bags in it (the normal sized ones) 3. Place the cup with the bags in it in the microwave for 3 minutes 4. Fill the bottle 1/2 up with tapwater and add the sugar 5. When the tea finishes pour it in the sugar water, then finish filling up the bottle with more water. 6. Shake Well and refrigerate

Angela Baylis said...

Hi Shelly~
I hope you still remember me... the one you wrote a LONG e-mail to in Michigan??

Anyway... I hope you adjust to the cool weather! If you send me your address I would LOVE to send you a fleece!!! Seriously, you will need it! Is there anything else you need????? E-mail me to let me know!

Pop isn't half as good as sweet tea! (And remember, I am from Michigan!) I'm just fixin to prentend I'm from the south!

Take good care of yourself!
Love,
Angie xoxo

connorcolesmom said...

I love the pictures and yes girl you need the rest!!
What do you need clothes wise and I will get some together for you.
E-mail me your size :)
Love you
Kim

Little Steps Of Faith said...

Can't help you with clothes...something about being a FL orange, and um, not really having a winter lol:)

Ang

Kelly S. said...

Having lived in the south my whole life I am feeling your pain. My stepfather is a transplant from Ohio and we get tickled at him all the time for saying "pop". Yes, everything is "Coke". With your sweet smile and contagious personality, I am sure you will know and be loved by everyone very soon. Until then you have your "imaginary" friends of which I am proud to be one!!
Recap on LPL looked awesome. Again I am jealous. However, Deeper Still did work out for me!! hope it does for you too.

Joanne said...

I was very excited to meet you at the RI LPL event. I always read your comments on Beth & Travis' sites. What can I say, I enjoy them and look forward to hearing what you have to say. I didn't realize you could have your own blog, how cool, I'll have to continue checking in! I can't believe your in Hamilton,MA. I grew up in that area and miss it. I'm very familiar with the seminary there and my family attended the North Shore Community Babtist Church in Bev. Farms. I met my husband there and that's the church we got married in... I would love to get together with you if you have time and feel up to it! PLEASE let me know. My e-mail address is jfkimball@msn.com, and phone #603-387-0067 if you ever need anything.
With love,
Joanne from NH

a boy a girl and a pug said...

Yeah girl you made it. So hope you're loving it. Also, is it rude to ask, but I am dying to know where you got that fantastic brown top!

Keep us updated.

Anonymous said...

I found your blog on the LPM blog (sometimes when I get bored I go to comments and check out the links). Anyway, I have visited you several times in the past few months. I am from Tennessee so I can totally relate to your 'culture shock' in Boston. It is so difficult to be in a new place where you dont know anyone. I laughed out loud when I read about the note and the girl moving your "pop". I had to think about it for a minute myself. Like GA, here in TN everything is a Coke too. The place may be strange to you, but God is faithful. Remember how He guided the Israelites from a cloud above them? He took care of their every need in a mighty way and He will do the same for you. I will pray for your transistion and for friends to make your journey sweeter. The great thing is that your Best Friend is already there!

Unknown said...

Welcome to the North, Shelly! If I had realized you'd be passing through my neck of the woods I would have met you with some hot chocolate ;-) I'm glad you're here!

THE SMITHS said...

So glad that things are going well! I'm so excited for you... you're going to seminary, how amazing?! And the praying mantis... that beautiful Godstop... we are truly His Beloved. He is so faithful!

Speaking Thru Me Ministries said...

did i hear you mgiht be coming to Deeper still???????? surely you are not ready for that kind of drive..........again. if so, let's hook up!! love to hug your neck!!

talk soon!