the pace quickens...

goodnight! a lot can happen in 11 days...that's how long it's been since i last blogged. lots of folks have been asking me what's next and i've been so busy doing what's next that i have barely had time to breathe...let alone blog about it. i've never been good at telling a short story...i always think i need to include all the details because the story might not be as good without them. if you like short stories...you should probably read a different blog :). so...camp happened...girls camp...and it was full of joy and drama and so many reminders that grace is for everyone. i got stretched and it was good. plus, pretty much my whole family was there and that was my favorite :). after camp i had a day to sleep - hee hee...which i really like - before starting a crazy work week. for those who have missed all the times i've mentioned it before, i'm working at a fabulous historic hotel in a sleepy little town called Dufur. my friends own and run The Balch Hotel and i am blessed to be working for them part-time. i do mostly front desk types of things, but i also help with laundry which means i go up and down 55 stairs multiple times a day :) - i am going to have the best looking legs EVER...ha! - and i also help with whatever needs to be done. it's such a fun job...and my favorite part really is interacting with all of the guests who come through the hotel. chatting with them about where they're from and getting to share some of my own story. the commute isn't ideal - 2 hours from here to there - but sitting on the couch in the hallway between the dining room and the lobby, i just keep thinking how blessed i am to have this job at all. so...i've worked nearly every day this week and even though i'm tired, i get excited knowing i'll be back again on tuesday. and speaking of tuesday...i have a second interview with a hotel in hood river that is going to be re-opening. the columbia gorge hotel is a historic hotel that had to close because the owners could no longer afford to keep it open. the hotel holds a very special place in my heart and every time i would drive by on my way to work (here at the Balch) i would wish for it to be open again. two friends e-mailed me last week and told me that the hotel was going to re-open and one of them mentioned a job fair that was going to be held last Thursday. i went and interviewed with a great woman who wanted me to meet the head of hiring for the department i'd applied for (front desk)...but he was busy. she went and talked to him, came back and said - well, they're just going to take my word for it and they'll call you next week - i left excited at the thought of working at both hotels and was even more excited when i was called the next day for a second interview! :) i'm praying that i'll be able to continue working here for Jeff and Samantha and still work close to full-time at the other hotel. so...there's a lot going on and it's all soooo good. God knows what He's doing all the time and i'm understanding more and more that if i just keep trusting and believing His promises, He will not let me go. ever. please keep praying for my job stuff and also for housing. there are a couple of possibilities in the works...and i'm still moving at the end of the month. i'll try to post again tuesday night...yay!