Random

Westward Ho!
I never thought of myself as living in the West, but that seems to be the impression I get out here when I tell people I'm from Wisconsin. They think that it's so far away and so terribly cold all year long. Weirdos. Nonetheless, I am taking a few days break from PA and going to see my family. I can't wait. Other than the fact that Travis and I are going to be apart for four days (this is a first since we've been married!), I can't wait to go. I just spent some time looking at pictures of my family and am so pumped. The excitement is better than Christmas:-)

Funny story-I have some pictures of my family on my desk at work. One of them is Emiley's senior picture. My boss said that she thought it was me at first. Wouldn't that be a little vain! Then she realized it must be my sister. Ha.

Last night we had Mike and Megan Rudolph over for dinner. They are the neatest people. We had such a nice time. Josh and Aneta Farr came a little later, too. They are so cute. The six of us deemed ourselves the short people group. None of us is over 5'7".

The Lord has been giving me some neat ministering opportunities at work and is opening the door to further opportunities with my neighbors. It's so wonderful to be used by the Savior. To God be the glory!

For my family who might be reading this-remember the campground and the green, crowded pool and Dad roller blading down that big hill with us and, um, watching the country line dancers in the arcade? What wonderful memories!

Look What I Found

I absolutely love nature. Now, I'm not one of those tree-huggers or "become one with naturers," but I do have a sincere love for the outdoors. Wisconsin is blessed for many reasons. One reason is the amount of bodies of water it possesses. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state, but it does not have very many lakes at all.
HOWEVER
Travis and I made a recent discovery. Just about twenty minutes due west of our apartment in Harleysville, you will find a town called Green Lane. And, you guessed it, Green Lane has a lake! For some reason, it took us six months to fall upon this discovery. But, better late than never, I have a lake. Here is a picture of me infront of it. Can you tell I am over-joyed?!

New Position

Monday I will start my new position at Peter Becker. I have been slaving away as a CNA for the past couple months. It has been fun, but very tiring. I am looking forward to what lies ahead. I will be working as the main receptionist of the new senior housing apartment complex as well as an additional sales representative on thier marketing committee. The community is building these apartments in two phases. The first half has been completed and the new residents will be moving in July 17. The second phase is still under construction and is in need of purchasing seniors. I am so excited to go to work at 8 and return before 5 every day! I get to see my husband again!
Here is a small idea of where I will be working. It's official name is Maplewood Estates, but some of the residents like to call it the "castle on the hill."

God Provides Again!

The first six months of our marriage, we have made it hither and yon with one vehicle. Again, it was one of those disguised blessings because most often, it just meant that we got to spend some extra time together (traveling). However, the time has come where we are in a place where we can spend a little money on another mode of transportation.
So, two months ago, Travis and I entered the "search for a quality, used car" scene. Travis was diligent to look in several used car magazines, and we stopped at a few used car dealerships to weigh our options. Unfortunately, we found that most of the options were grossly overpriced, but we didn't want to have to turn around and buy another vehicle before we were able. We set our budget and began praying for a certain kind of vehicle look, price, etc. Travis and I both like average size cars that are a little sporty. (I also love sunroofs-This was my deep down desire).
Just like every other Wednesday morning, we recieved our "community update" paper that usually has nothing pertinent within its pages, but something in me (God's providence!) told me to look inside. I flipped to the back and found a used car section. And there it was, our new car! '01 Chrysler Sebring LX. Even though there was no picture, we new it was the right car because the year, miles and price seemed to fit where God was leading and granting peace. We called on it immediately and found out that the man selling it is a retired car dealer. He loves the work and has kept on in the business just for kicks. He turns the cars over for a small profit (aka we get the car for a price $2000 less than the dealerships' overhead costs!). To top it all off, our beautiful new car has a moonroof--wahooo.
No, contrary to popular belief, unlike our Mennonite friends at Horning's Market (our awesome grocery store), we didn't purchase a horse and buggy.
Instead, we bought this.

Campin'

The extended Ulrich family has the tradition of going camping every fourth of July weekend. This being the first summer that we are married became our first opportunity to go on a camping trip together. We had a nice couple days spending time with family and enjoying the activities of camping. I love the smell of campfires. It's invigorating. It just makes me feel like I'm an authentic outdoor rustic. Of course, the bugs could go if it were up to me (and that probably cancels out my rustic authenticity).
Braden and Trent playing in the rocks (our tent in the background).

Tyler opening his Veggie Tale video birthday present.


Barb and Rich are finally coming to the completion of many long months of house construction. Here, Travis and I were enjoying the new wood floor and storage bureau.

Barb has tons of beautiful flowers in her yard. Here's a couple pictures of some of that beauty. One of my favorites-hydrangea and Emiley's favorite-callalily:-)

Unveil that Love!

When Travis and I got married, we received a book on marriage that my former pastor's wife had purchased for us as a wedding gift. Her daughter told me that Mrs. Taylor thinks this book is, perhaps, the best available book on marriage. Due to the fact that I highly regard this woman's wisdom and advice, that immediately caused me to want to read it. Gradually, I've been wittling away at its pages. The book is entitled Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage To Make Us Holy More Than To Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas. I've read through about a third of it and have been challenged many times. In fact, I highly recommend it to anyone married or planning to be married.
Today, the book addressed an issue of the heart. Marriage demands vulnerability, and any relationship, for that matter, demands vulnerability. Because of past hurts, our human natures tends to "bottle up" and not want to let anyone in. Placing people at a distance, we make them prove their allegiance. Why do we do this? To protect ourselves, but in doing so, we forgo the joys of love. True love does not have walls. "Love seeketh not her own." YOU MUST BE GENUINE AND OPEN IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRUST YOU AND THE SAVIOUR YOU ARE OFFERING. Notice C.S. Lewis and his sarcasm concerning the ludacricy of this casket heart.
If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless-- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impentrable, irredeemable.

Missionaries are Great

Monday evening, we had the Hockmans over. They were in the area visiting family, so we took the opportunity to fellowship with one of our teachers and his wife. This was kinda a new experience for us, but it was very nice. They visited the Zimmers in Palau back during Spring Break. I was just dying to see their photos. Suprisingly, Palau is almost identical to Guam. Almost all of thier stories about Palau paralleled with some experience I had while on Guam last summer (except for swimming in a lake with millions of jellyfish-you'll have to ask Mr. H about that one!). One thing they mentioned, though, startled me. I guess during the Zimmer's commissioning service, the mission board director stated that Palau is the most demonic place he has ever visited. Wow! That's a scary realization. Please pray for the John and Jamie Zimmer family. They are real people like you and me, who just happen to be serving God on a remote island in the Pacific rather than in the comforts of our country.

A Poem For Every Minister of Christ

Please read past the familiar verses of this time-honored hymn. It's words are rich and will pierce to the innermost place of your heart if you allow it to. This is ministry that will change lives.

A WORKER’S PRAYER
Frances Havergal

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thy erring children, lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the Rock and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou doest impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.

O fill me with They fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where;
Until Thy blessed Face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

Unparalleled Riches

We had some neato missionaries in our church service on Sunday night. They have an awesome ministry to the network leaders of the "underground church" in China. Travis and I are waiting for the Lord to show us the type of ministry that He wants us to conduct on the mission field some day. The Fox family's teaching ministry was very appealing. I guess we shall see where this leads us.
The Christian life is such an adventure. I have this contact at work who can not understand why I would "waste" my potential in life to spend it as a "poor" missionary. In a nutshell, he keeps telling me to make more of myself. What he doesn't understand is that I have all I will ever need or truly want fulfilled in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am "rich" in Him.

Psalm 34:9-10

Aren't you glad that we have a God whose faithfullnes fills our lives day in and day out?!! As many of you know, I have been working second shift for the past month and it has been difficult because Travis and I are not able to spend much time together. Well, we brought this need to the Lord and waited for Him to open some new doors. Now that I have my certification (yeah! I passed the state exam, yesterday) it grants me a broader spectrum of possibilities. I spent several days in hot pursuit of a few jobs only to wake up one morning and recieve two offers from a non-pursued company. God is so good. He has promised to provide. I was reading today's Proverb and was reminded that "the righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul." As I desire the will of God in my life, He will lead. He will grant His desires. He will provide a way. Only a couple more weeks of second shift!!!!