Blogging from my IPod touch

Spring Break has been so nice! First I went on a little road trip with Jenna to Ihop in Kansas city. While there we prayed, ate lots of great food (including the cheesecake factory where I got orange chicken and made a comment about us not having a refrigerator), slept, and did a lot of driving!
Since I've been back in Cleveland I've spent time with Joe watching movies like: Footloose, Warrior(which is really good, it actually made me cry), and Brothers. Ashamedly I have not started on my homework but I have designated that for tomorrow. For now it's off to bed. Goodnight to any random person reading this :)

Senior Year

Writing that feels so nice. My plans are to graduate in July 2012. I am having to bust to my butt to have that be a reality but i really want to be done with school. This summer i did my internship to South Africa and it was life changing. God showed me so many things that i didn't know about myself. I was able to do things with His strength that i never thought i could. It was incredible to experience. The whole trip confirmed in me that i can do missions. I should probably mention that I am now single. The whole thing is a long story but for now i think it's best. We shall see what will happen in the future.
Lately i have been waking up and feeling worthless and it's hard for me to get started. Then once i'm up and thinking i know that i am not worthless. I know that God has a purpose for my life and i am sick of the devil getting in the way of that. I have a lot of growing to do but i believe i'm on the right track. I have surrended it all to God, in hopes that He is going to guide this last year at Lee. I am excited to look back on this in a year and see where God has me. :)
                                                             Me and Little Rose
                                           (a little girl i fell in love with in South Africa)

~ Lindsey

My Break Thus Far

Well this past week I have worked 6 out of the 7 days and 5 of those shifts were 8 hour shifts. So I have been pretty much been spending my day at the nursing home. Work has been alright. I really can't complain. Let's see I also read a book the other day. It was called The Christmas Hope and it was really good. I always forget how much I like to read until I start reading a book. Let's see...me letters for South Africa have been sent out and most people know about my trip now. I have been talking about the trip so much! I am very excited for the preparation that will be taking place in the next 5 months or so. But even more than that I am SUPER excited for May to get here.

Well it looks like Christmas has rolled around again and for some reason I have been sick of listening to all the music. I am not normally like that. I love Christmas! But anyways...I am going to do all I can to get in the spirit of Christmas because the big day is quickly approaching.

Another thing I have been doing is listening to The Ramp's CD: Beautiful. It has been my jam! I feel like I have listened to it a 100 times but I love it! <3

Something that has really been bugging me is how paranoid I am at times. Right now I feel like I have been talked about behind my back from some people who are supposed to be close to me( if you are reading this, don't worry i don't mean you). There is a situation in my life that I am trying to figure out right now. I have this friend who really needs a friend right now but everyone has a problem with it because he is a boy and I already have a boyfriend. I am handling the situation the best I know how but apparently I suck at it. Another thing I have been paranoid about it is how Joe and I have been towards each other lately. I'm starting to think something is wrong. (Ugh why am I pouring my heart on here??  idk i just need to talk about it) I feel like we're growing apart. He keeps telling me that it's just because we have different things going on and we just keep missing each other. I'm telling you it has really taken a toll on my mind and emotions lately. Alright well I am done bearing my soul. Thanks for reading! ( If you made it this far)
Lindsey Rae

P.S. Just another elephant picture to brighten the mood a little.

Meet Molly Elizabeth

So today has been adventurous day to say the least. I was awakened by my lovely boyfriend. We went upstairs and there was breakfast awaiting us. It was sooo yummy! Then Joe decided to take a shower so I stayed upstairs and talked to Melissa (my aunt). We had a really nice talk about life and God but I started to notice that it was taking Joe a really long time. So finally I decided to go downstairs to see what the hold up was. I walk in the room and he is sitting on the bed. I said "why did it take you so long?" He said,"I had an accident!" He went on to explain that he flooded the bathroom. He went to take a shower and didn't realize that the curtain was not in the tub. He has gotten punked from my family all day. Anyways...we then finished getting ready and head to PC. When we got home we got to eat potatoe soup made by grandma (sooo good). Then Joe and I had to put the car seat in the car. Definetly easier said than done. It took us 20 min., trying it four different ways until we finally got it. We went to the nursing home to visit and Mason( my nephew) was a little fussy but we still had a nice time.

Joe and Mason playing at the nursing home<3

We left the nursing home and headed to the hospital. When we arrived we were able to meet Miss Molly Elizabeth Cassell, 9 lbs 21 1/2 inches beautiful!

While we were there we got to witness Mason's first interactions with his little sister.

And finally I held Miss Molly for the first time!!! Oh and I'd just like to mention she has my nose. :)

What a lovely day! Now technically it's Thanksgiving. Soooo Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I hope it's a blessed day! Thanks for reading,

Lindsey Rae

things just got serious

So Thursday night I had another meeting for my internship. This made our second meeting. In this meeting our placements were chosen. I am officially going to be living in South Africa for 10 weeks this coming summer. I am really excited to finally know. But then comes where it became so serious to me... we will be gone from may 10 til july 20. OH MY GEE! I won't be in America for the whole month of june. AND an interesting thing is all my besties will more than likely be out of the country this summer too. But only one other will be gone for 10 weeks. Joe will only be gone for 3 1/2 weeks, which means in that time it will be near impossible to contact him. sad day. I also got to see pictures from people who went last year and I know that I am going to be changed forever. *aside from being completely changed* I hope I see an elephant. haha

On to another thought...Thanksgiving is coming up and I am sooo excited. I LOVE Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. Last year's was kinda lame though so I'm hoping this years will make up for it. Joe is spending it with me and my family. Also I am hoping to see lots of family and maybe some friends too. Some of my favorite things about Thanksgiving are: my house is always so warm, it smells like food, I always watch the macy's parade while helping my grandma, [after my family gets there] eating the food ( specifically turkey, cream style corn, mashed potatoes, and gravy(it's always incredible), and finally putting up the christmas tree with my cousin Catie. Here is a picture from Thanksgiving 2008.

So my wonderful boyfriend just got back from a big road trip with a friend. I missed him while he was gone but I don't think I realized how much I actually missed him until he got back. I really think that spending time apart for awhile renewed our relationship. It's weird I feel like we've been apart for weeks when it's only been a few days. This break will be great! Anyways I should stop rambling and start studying for espanol examen. I'll keep updating on South Africa.

Thanks for reading!

Lindsey Rae



Significance of elephants to me

So I'm pretty much obsessed with elephants. I have many figurines, folders, and even my bed buddy is an elephant (his name is Elliott). Now you may be wondering why. Well let me explain...

Seven years ago my beautiful mother passed away. She LOVED elephants!! Once she called me while she was out and said" Lindsey, I'm bringing home a pet!" I was so excited thinking she was going to bring home a puppy. When she got home she was empty handed. I didn't get it until I looked down and saw her elephant family tattoo wrapped around her leg. I was shocked and must admit that now looking back it was funny. That was one thing she was good at, making me laugh. I miss her so much! Sometimes it seems like she was never here. It seems like I just dreamed about her and never really interacted with her. I know this isn't true and is actually a horrible thing to think. I just wish she wasn't taken from me so soon. She missed everything, like my 16th birthday, my first car, my first heartbreak(which I definitely needed her for), my proms, my high school graduation, my first day of college and she'll miss even more very important events. Not having her here for those things was hard but I think the hardest of all is just that I can't talk to her whenever I want. Life isn't the same without her. I would love to see her again, to hug her, to talk to her and to tell her that I love her. I would love for her to meet Joe and my friends. I just can't believe it's been so long, it seems as if it was just yesterday that I lost her and at the same time it feels like a life time ago. So this blog is in her memory. If I could say one thing to her I'd say," Mom I miss you more everyday. Sometimes when my life is falling apart I just want to tell you about it.And I want to hear you tell me it'll be ok. But I know that you are so happy with Jesus and I would never want to take that away from you. I love you Mom and save a spot for me!"

Thanks for reading,

Lindsey Rae

Future Plans

I am currently in college studying to be a missionary. Part of the requirements of the program is to go on a 10 week internship. The internship will take place the summer of 2011. This seems like I have plenty of time but when i think about all that I have to do it seems very near. I am actually hoping to go to South Africa.

 I'm not really sure of the details of what I will be doing while I am there but there are some things that I am already kinda nervous about. I tend to be a picky eater, by picky I mean i don't like fruit at all.

Also there are other things I have trouble eating. Let's just say I have a horrible gag reflex and lots of things gross me out. It's really something that I would like to overcome before I go because I do not want something like food to hinder what God wants to do. I'll keep you all updated on my progress and possibly about other things going on in my life. Thanks for reading!