....I'm alive!  I know, I haven't posted in forever.  I doubt that anyone knows that this blog exists.  However, when the blogging bug bites...the blogging bug bites.  And the blogging bug has bitten.  I wouldn't even know where to start to catch ya'll up on the last...how many months?! I know, it's been a while.  God has worked marvelous things in my life, and it's been a tad bit busy.  OK, a lot.

So many new things have happened!  A couple months ago, I stepped up as a manager at work, and we just opened a new store in a bigger town that I've been managing at.  It's been really stressful at times - early mornings, late nights, much overtime, and even more coffee.  But I have learned much, it's been a great experience, and I am thankful!  Plus, I have an awesome team, and I do love my job!  I'm a bit burnt out right now, but I took this week off to recover and refresh, and life is good. :)

College and school has kind of been at a standstill the last few months with the craziness of work.  I did several classes over the summer, and may start some this winter - but I haven't decided if I'm up for that yet or not. ;)

Joe and I are going on 7 months of dating, and in January it will be one year since we met!  It gets sweeter every day.  We laugh together, we finish each other's sentences, we think the same things, we have adventures together, we drink coffee together, and sometimes we cry together.  We've had our share of bumps in the road, and it hasn't all been easy - in fact, sometimes it's been really hard  - but it has been blessed.  I fall for him more every day - he is so sweet and so good to me.  God has been growing us individually and as a couple, and it's been absolutely incredible to see how far He has brought us!  We're excited for whatever He has for us in the future.

God has done things in my heart that I cannot even explain.  I am realizing more and more what an awesome God I serve, and it's truly humbling that He would want to use me.  He has stretched me and pushed me out of my comfort zones in many ways.  It's scary, but it is a good place to be - because I am forced to rely on a power greater than my (very puny) own.  Eventually I will have the time to type up the testimony of God's working in my life over the last 6 months, but for now, all I can say is He is doing awesome things, and this is just the beginning!

I hope to start blogging more in the future - but for now, I'm going to curl up with a book, and probably another cup of coffee.  :)