Saying goodbye to the not-so-sandy days at Seaside

After a beach vacation, the usual reminder of good times comes in the form of specks of sand wedged into the crevices of bags and shoes. 

After working at a place called Seaside, I can't say that I've found any sand. But I certainly have memories! I left my employment in a waterpark gift shop to head back to school for fall. In honor of a request by a co-worker to have an "article written", I decided to write a blog post about my times at Seaside this summer!

So here are my top five summer memories from working at this place:

1) Parking lot tie-dye: Yep, we made tie-dye shirts in the work parking lot. Not something you get to do with most jobs! It was a fun time!

2) IHOP outings: I tried IHOP for the first time, and then for a second time. They were tasty and entertaining nights out with co-workers. I definitely had a side of laughs to go with those pancakes.

3) Laps around the store: We had a lot of rain and cool weather this summer, so my fellow associates and I got quite a bit of exercise. That exercise was walking around the store fixing racks of clothing, sweeping any little piece of debris, and finding all sorts of ways to productively pass the time. And maybe chatting every now and then... :)

4) Bucket hat swag: One awesome perk of working in the waterpark was getting to wear a super-cool bucket hat. Maybe super-cool is an exaggeration, but nevertheless, it was a fun addition to a simple uniform!

5) Finding a boyfriend: Just kidding! Had to throw that in the list because a silly co-worker was bound and determined to set me up with a random park guest. It would have been dreadfully awkward, but the thought of it sure was funny!

Thanks to my co-workers for a great summer job experience. Best wishes for all of your futures!

Rain or shine, God will provide!

Whether it be money or free time, I know God will provide through the wacky weather we've had this summer!

I was in a funk for the past few days, but thanks to my wonderful mother's words of truth, I am out of it now! After four days straight of no work, I was feeling really anxious and worried about the size of my upcoming paycheck. I was initially thrilled to have easily found a job for this summer. However, those initial feelings of excitement turned into confusion quite quickly! What did God have in mind by making it pour buckets of rain just one week into the job? The weather shut down opportunities to work in the local waterpark for multiple days in a row. Would this become a trend for the rest of the summer? 

I panicked and started searching for second jobs, different workplaces, online/at-home jobs, and even different positions within my current workplace. I tried anything and everything I could to fight back against the rain's attempt to keep me out of work. Thank goodness Mom stepped in at that point to set me straight! She reminded me that all would work out fine in the end. Mom eased my fears of not being financially stable and provided hope for better weather and time to pick up additional shifts the rest of the summer. 

I now realize the rain may not have been what I had envisioned, but it is exactly what God had in mind. Although He wasn't going to make it rain money, He certainly provided just what I needed to grow as a friend and a member of my family. I had the time to text and spend time with friends with which I had lost touch, the opportunity to play a long game of Monopoly after an evening at the pool with my sister, and enough of a break in the rain to go on a leisurely walk with my mom. 

Those experiences mean more than the dollar bills I could have earned in that time. God truly has a plan and knows what is best for us. He might not be providing the money I expected, but I know He will take care of me.

Scripture reminds us that we can always trust in God's timing and plan. 

"The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest." -Psalm 85:12

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." -Deuteronomy 32:4

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." -Psalm 55:22

I might not be seeing money now, but I am going to choose to rejoice in what I am being given in this time! God is going to care for us and bring glory to His kingdom in whatever way He chooses. We might not always understand, but we can trust that He will provide!

Summer Adventures: Cupcakes, Booktalks, and Horse Racing

Hey Readers!

Hope your day was just as exciting as mine. I'd like to think today kicked off what will officially be a summer of adventures!

My best friend and I started fulfilling the items on our bucket list with stop #1 at Gigi's Cupcakes. Take a look at these beauties! So much icing!

On the way, we also began discussing  our summer read, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I feel so blessed to have this sister in Christ with which to discuss God's amazing love and how to pursue a deeper relationship with Him. I am sure snippets of what I am learning through these booktalks will seep into my writing over the next few weeks.

And as if that is not enough excitement for one day, I have a cool announcement...summer travel plans have been made!

Only God could have arranged for this travel experience to take place. He provided all of the connections, the resources, and the courage to say "yes" to the opportunity. I'm thrilled to see what I learn and do while in the New Jersey/NYC area for a long weekend in August. I will be attending the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop, which occurs with the Hambletonian's harness horse racing at the Meadowlands Racetrack. 

A relative who is an editor for a harness racing magazine noticed my interest in writing and made all the connections I need to participate, for free! She has been a huge blessing as my sponsor and I look forward to reporting on the races with her at the Hambletonian. It is crazy to think that my recently begun attempt at blogging could lead to such an amazing opportunity to learn from professional writers and to meet people from different walks of life. The horse racing world is relatively new to me, so I am curious to see what this community of people teaches me. Please pray for God to guide me as I venture through the airport, conduct interviews, and write articles during this experience. I cannot even imagine the doors this experience may open, whether it be through the connections I make or the skills I develop. 

God is so good. I pray that you all have a blessed summer, full of joy in His goodness, mercy, and grace.