Memorial Day Weekend

What a wonderful weekend:) I was not anticipating having such a good time, but it was better than I expected. To some up how I have felt this weekend it would be blessed. I felt so many blessings this weekend, and thank God for them. Friday I worked until 6, and then afterwards I went to Lisa's condo. Hannah Schick, Hannah Martin, and Jaylyn Knobloch were all there also. We sat around and talked for a long time, and then made smoothies and popcorn. After that we played a couple of rounds of Hit or Miss. It's a really fun game. We stayed pretty late, but that's ok, because it was the weekend. I got up at 6:15 on Saturday, because I had to open at the bank. Since I didn't go to Rittman for the invite, I went to Eureka on Saturday night. It was a nice evening. Invites tend to wear me out, probably because I am very introverted, but I thoroughly enjoy them. Sunday was a pretty normal day at church. I helped Tonya Martin teach Sunday School. She teaches 1st grade, so that was pretty interesting. There are a few rowdy boys in her class, but it makes it exciting. My twin cousins Colton and Connor Wagenbach are in that class, and I'm not sure how they felt about their cousin teaching them:) I teach Tessa's class VBS next week, so we'll see how that goes. Princeville's graduation was Sunday so I went. I sat by Jaylyn, and we both commented on how strange it felt to be back. I know both of us were so glad to be done with high school, and college has really been a great experience(much better than high school). We saw a few of our classmates, and old teachers. It really is such a strange feeling. Probably because you really don't have anything in common anymore. I went to Kristy Kieser's graduation open house. Lisa, Hannah Martin, and Whitney Streitmatter came over afterwards to get changed and then we were going to go fishing at the Murphy Farm. So I headed out there in my car with all the fishing gear. Victoria Stoller was already there, but when I got there it really started raining. Victoria sat in my car awhile and we had a really good talk. Then we decided it would be best to go home, so we did. Jaylyn came over after the party, and so did Claire and 3 of her friends. Me and Victoria made a skillet cookie, which if you have never made one you are really missing out on a sweet part of life:) Then we sat around and watched my younger sisters show off:) We played some games and such. It was raining super hard by then and Dad started getting nervous, so we all did too:) We had to clean up everything off the floor in case our basement flooded. I told our friends to think of it was a work team project. All of them left except for Victoria, because her parents thought it would be safer if she stayed over night with us, which was completely fine. She slept in Rhea's room with Tessa. Today(Monday) I got to sleep in. How I love sleeping in:) Around lunch time, Claire and I headed up to Ben and Katie's to help with the kid's. They were all home from school, so we played with them for most of the afternoon. We got to meet our new cousin Ellie Caroline. She is only a couple of days old, and is the sweetest thing ever. I always forget how small newborns are, and how precious they are. On the way home, we stopped at Steve and Betsy's to meet another new cousin, Josie Shae. She was born Sunday, so she is only 1 day old. She is quite darling also. They both have dark hair, which is so cute! This makes for 21 girls and 5 boys in the Endress family. We got home, and I ate some supper before heading out to the Murphy Farm to fish. Since it rained on us on Sunday, I wanted to still go some other time. Victoria, and Katie Schick came too. Although we didn't catch anything, we had an amazing time being out in God's creation, and having talks to strengthen our relationship with Christ. It was such a peaceful night. We found a small rowboat and some oars, so we took it out to the middle of the pond. It was absolutely amazing. Everything was really still, and it was just perfect. I felt so blessed by my friends, and family this weekend. I have so much to be thankful for!

The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Psalm 64:10

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lately, I have been thinking of the faithfulness of God. Mostly because God has called me to a slightly different road than I was on before. No huge changes. I made the decision(with God's leading) to quit school. I had a wonderful time while I was there, and made so many deep, christian friendships that I will not forget! But, I felt led to something else. When I started off school last fall, I didn't feel completely at peace going to school, and in fact I was dreading it. I only went, because I didn't see any other option since I didn't have a job at the time. By the time second semester rolled around, I was enjoying college, so I kept going. It wasn't until a month or two ago that I really felt God telling me that this isn't where I am suppose to be. So I prayed about it, and I often opened to verses about faith. For myself, this was a difficult decision, because I didn't understand why I need to quite. I also had made so many friendships, and it would be hard not to see those people as often as I did. If you know me well, I often complained about people who didn't go to college. So naturally, I didn't want to quit. Things weren't going well in school though, and partially it was probably my fault for taking on such a big load this last semester. After I did make the decision, it was difficult telling people. Especially my mom. My parents paid for half of my college tuition, so I felt bad quitting after only a year. I think it was hard at first on my mom, since she didn't finish school either and wishes she had. I truly think God has changed her heart though, for which I am very thankful. I was super nervous to tell my friends about it also, because around here, it seems like everyone is kind of expected to go to college. So far, it's gone pretty well. Only one person asked me if they could make me change my mind:) I said probably not. I am thankful for a good job, and that is what I am planning on doing, unless God opens other doors. I also just got another job at a preschool that a lady for our church runs. I will help her out at least one day a week, and it's super nice, because she lives less than 5 minutes from us:) I honestly have felt a huge burden being lifted off my back since I have made the decision. I have learned so much of God's faithfulness in these past couple of months. It is so encouraging that no matter what road we are on, God is there beside us, because he is faithful. I'm so thankful for His leading in my life, because who knows where I would be if I tried to do it on me own!

It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lamentations 3:22-25