So, I haven't really updated my MESP pals of what I decided to do after college. For now, I am choosing the succinct way out. The first link is the program's home page, the second one has a little bio about me and each of my housemates. There is a group picture or two of me on the site.

http://www.rdoac.org/americorps/

http://www.rdoac.org/americorps/member/profiles.php

For those of you not inclined to click on links or copy/paste them, or who just like to hear things first hand, the summary is that I am doing AmeriCorps, sort of a domestic version of the PeaceCorps. I am on Cape Cod, about an hour from where my family lives.

It is sweet. The program I am doing affords me tons of variety in my week. I am gaining tons of useful skills and I love living on the Cape Cod National Seashore with a community of fellow Corps members.
I have had a bunch of "firsts" since graduating college: I purchased my first car, drove a hybrid for the first time, donned neoprine waders to go shellfishing for the first time, ate my first oyster and clam, felled my first tree with a chainsaw, and got my first internship with real responsibility--with the National Park Service.

Things with AmeriCorps are interesting, ever changing, fulfilling, and purposeful. I continue to work retail on weekends in order to pay the bills, which pretty much eats away at my soul and I hate every second, but the rest of the week is so good that it mitigates the damage.

that's all I have time to explain now, but I realized that I hadn't told most or any of you what I was doing since I began in September, so I wanted to share. I'll be with AmeriCorps til July 2007, after that who knows! I have a billion and a half ideas, so we'll see what wins out.

loving you all,
chels

Miriam

Diaa just sent me some pictures of his beautiful baby girl, Miriam. Diaa and Carol were able to get all her paperwork finished early and are flying tomorrow back to Cairo. Pray that they have a safe flight.

Brad and I are off to Bend tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving with his parents. In fact we are also celebrating Christmas on Saturday, since we will be with my family for Christmas. I think we may even have a white "christmas" :-) Hope you all have a relaxing Thanksgiving.
love Emily

an update on Amber

Hello Everyone!!

I have exciting news. I've found a job and a great little apartment in the town of Atkinson, NE. I'm working at a nursing home called the Good Samaritan Center and usually work the evening shift, which is 2-11pm. Let me just say, this job is humbling me more everyday as I realize the end of us all comes so quickly. Many of the residents I talk to can't believe they have lived so long, Upper nineties and hundreds, and many of them don't want to live anymore. There are moments though, when you can capture who they are and it is beautiful. I have cried many times after work, realizing how much impact I have on the residents last days, months and for some 20+ years. It's not for the faint of heart,however. I've been puked on, pooped and peed on, called Jezebell's Satan and worse, yet it has been great. I am so thankful to have this job and a place to live. Living with the possible future in-laws wasn't easy, and many nights I was sleeping on Trevor's couch. One night I even stayed at the nursing home. Being a transient has its perks but they are outweighed by the negatives it seems. Maybe I wouldn't feel that way if I lived in Maui or something, but in small town cattle country it's a little weird.

On the relationship end of things, I never knew it was so much work. It takes work but it is fun having someone know me so well and still accept me. You know what I mean?? I often wonder what I should be doing with my life and feel stressed and threatened by the future, but this job has given me ways to divert some of my energy into new channels. I get to help people, work with a bunch of bitchy women and enjoy my first time living by myself. Life is good and I am so thankful for what I've been given.

Still helping on the ranch on days off. We are breeding cows right now which is a TON of work but entails a lot of riding which I love. It's cold here, little bits of snow, but nothing much yet.

P.S.

My little sis (Tara) and I want to work together this summer, somewhere, either in the states or abroad. Anybody have any good suggestions??

With all my love and thoughts,
Amber

welcome to iowa

Old Man Winter cometh
7-inch snowfall comes 48 hours after 82-degree day

i was going to post the whole article, but figured no one would really care
later
ANdrew

As the giving season nears

The talk of Christmas lists has begun in our family and when my parents sent their Christmas list and they said all they wanted was a gift from this website ((https://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com) Brad and I were intrigued.
Oxfam America features gifts that you can buy for those in need in disaster stricken areas; a camel, water sanitation, books for children on peace or plant a garden.
How it works:
1. You purchase the item
2. The card does to your friend
3. The gift goes to those who need it most.

As we near the time of overspending, overeating and receiving more than we need, this web site has given Brad and me the opportunity to be generous with what God has given us.
love Emily and Brad