* The Lengachers * Matt Sherri Ayrika Drew Madison

8 Months Ago, So Many Changes=)

2010-06-02T23:18:00.005-04:00

Where do I even begin, in 8 months so many great things have happened. Here is a little recap of my life over the past 8 months. That is over a half a year lol. I am sure I will forget some things Sorry=) Hopefully from now I will be better, or at least tell myself that. Here is my Top 10 Things that have happened.

My Number One: I AM ENGAGED! It occured on March 25,2010. The best day I have ever have, since the wedding is not for a year. Waylon Jay Knepp is the lucky guy, my best friend. He showed up early that morning (with the help of Ashley and Brooke) I was completly blind sided. I felt like I was dreaming, I was like Waylon is that you. He asked if I would like breakfast UGHH DOES HE KNOW WHEN A COLLEGE STUDENT WAKES UP lol. Long story short he got down on one knee and popped the question. I started crying and could hear sniffles coming from the door (roomies). They came in congratulated us and seen the problem. RING WAS 1/2 size to small. We tried butter no luck so got online and looked up different techniques others had tried. ALL FAILEd. Needless to say my poor finger was all torn up from many attempts. We will be getting married July 30, 2011=)

My Number Two: I finished my junior year and will be a SENIOR. Seems crazy and just like yesterday I was graduating high school. I will be graduating next May with a major in Elementary/Mild Disability Education. So excited.

My Number Three: I will be student teaching at Loogootee Elementary, I'm not sure which school or teacher but will keep you posted. I am so excited for this part of my life to begin. To finally see what it's like to be a teacher.

My Number Four: Officially moved out of our house, and my last rental house in Vincennes EVER. Kinda a sad day because I loved living with all my roommates through the last three years. My freshmen year I couldn't have asked for a better roommate that helped me through my freshmen year. Second year was a little different it was someone I loved all through high school. Ashley Bough=) We laughed, we cried, we yelled, we shared all emotions with each other. Finally my last year living in the VI neighborhood, Brooke and Ashley. My two best friends in the world.

My Number Five: Went skydiving with my best friend Brooke Elaine Lengacher. For spring break we took a girls trip before we graduated. We had talked about sky diving but was not sure if we would find a reasonable place in Sarasota Florida. WE DID=) The best experience I have experienced. The feeling of jumping out of a plane is something noone can explain unless you have done it. The words I would use would not do it justice.

My Number Six: Asked my four best friends to be a part of our special day. Ashley Bough, Brooke Lengacher, Brittney Wittmer and Autumn Rhoades. I, of course, didn't do it your normal (HEY BE IN MY WEDDING) instead I found horrible bridesmaid dresses put there faces on the dress and wrote a poem to each of them. Seeing their faces opening the content was pricesless. My mini-bride is my beautiful sister Madison, and flower girl is my cousin Sydnee Wittmer, they will be cute little princesses. The colors are orange, green apple, and white. I am trying to get a lot done before school starts back up so far this is what we have completed: 1. Reception Site 2. Expressions by Tina as the photographer very excited for this part of the wedding 3. My dress=) 4. Bridesmaid dresses 5. Found most of my items to use from Shaya Smith. 6. Center pieces. and the list continues=)

My Number Seven: My baby sister turned 6. We celebrated by having a pool party at the house. She invited her friends over to swim then all the family came for dinner and cake after. I took a little trip down memory lane while she was sitting there holding the cake. Remembering her turning 1 and each year after that. Does it seem possible 5 years ago we were adopting her from China.

My Number Eight I am in one of my best friends from high school wedding on July 3rd. Clarrisa Long and Eddie Cornelius. I will be the maid of honor for the this beautiful girl to say I DO. So much fun=)

My Number Nine I have the best summer job a girl could ask for. Babysitting three addorable kids. Jon and Mandy Britton's children one is 6,5, 15 months. So much fun, we have played many hours riding bikes/ her Barbie jeep, scooter races and swimming. I love watching these kids, they keep me on my toes.

My Number Ten: SUMMMER IS HERE=)

Summer Recap and Fall Beginings.... 2009

2009-09-17T00:51:00.003-04:00

Wow, it has been a month or more since I last updated, super sorry. I don’t even know if I can remember what has happened since the last update. I’ll try my best!! Here’s a list of things that I loved about Summer 2009:

1.Summer ended to quickly for my liking, I love them hot summer days where it is miserable to be outside and I feel like we didn’t have many of them=( I am obsessed with being outside as long as my allergies and skin is doing okay that day, stupid allergies/eczema. Summer ended and it was the beginning to a great new school year approaching.

2.I love summer nights spent with the most important people of my life, my wonderful boyfriend, Waylon, and my baby boy Marley and our Maltese Khloe. We spent many nights taking our dogs on walks, playing outside with them, chasing them around the house and just being silly. I also love late night drives, listening to the trees and insects (I know weird) but I enjoy just hanging out under the stars.

3.Another thing I loved this summer was no alarm clock. Do you just love waking up having no idea what time it is, I only get a few more years of this and its REALITY, if any of you don’t know me very well I am a huge night person-DESPISE mornings. I seriously could stay up till 4 or 5 and not have any problems until the middle of the afternoon and need a nap. I require little to no sleep which is sometimes a problem when I’m busy and don’t have much sleep in me. Watch out for Ayrika Lengacher on those days=)

4.I really enjoyed spending time with my family this summer, even if it was just around the house. They mean a lot to me and wouldn’t be the person I am today without them behind me backing me up 100%. Thank you mom and dad!! Madison is now 5 and the best sister I could ever ask for, we are best friends. She used to wait up on me at night just to give me a kiss and tell me she loved me, how sweet right=)

5.I spent a lot of time wishing my best friend was home, but I am getting used to her not being here for the summers. Just sad on those nights you see people on facebook going out with their besties and yours is traveling the states. I am sooo proud of you Brooke Elaine=) I love you with all my heart twin and best friend.

Now on to more recent happenings:

School has officially begun!! Yay. I love school maybe that is why I am going to be a teacher. I never was the type to not want to go to school if I had a choice. I am beginning my third year at Vincennes University majoring in Mild Special/Elementary Ed, it is now a 4 year Bachelor Degree. The first year of students graduated in May and most have successfully been hired at numerous schools-Congratulations. That will hopefully be me come May 2011!!

6.My house is officially done=) Ericka and I painted all the rooms this summer: kitchen, laundry room, hallways, Brooke’s room, living room, bathroom, my room! It is so nice I am in love and so proud of it!! We love our landlord; we hope he will continue to like us through the year. He is now putting up a fence around our house to keep the neighbor dogs/people out of our yard.

7.ROOMIES: could not ask for better roomies, they rock! My roomies are Ashley Brooke and of course Marley and our new pet fish Lilly. Ashley Brooke and I are always doing something and when we are not together we usually text the whole time just to see what’s up. We love taking walks around town dragging Marley because he getting back into shape. There is never a dull moment when all of us are home-just the way I like it.

8.Classes: My classes this semester are going great, I am taking 15 hours. My classes are as followed: Mild Mental Retardation, Assistive Technology, Classroom Management, Emotional Behavior Disorder, and Practicum. All are 300 level classes which require a lot of work and time but great learning opportunities. I am really excited for practicum I will be doing 30 some hours in a Special Education Classroom doing teacher-like activities once a week for the next 10-12 weeks.

9.FOOTBALL- Football season is in full throttle now. Drew is now a freshman at North Daviess where he plays JV and some Varsity. Our football team is pretty good this year I am very proud of them. JV is undefeated so proud of my baby brother=) I do not miss a Friday night Football game now that I have a reason to go.
Colts Baby=) enough said. If anyone has extra tickets or wants to sell them LET ME KNOW=)

10.Turkey Trot: Turkey Trot has always been a big part of my life; I must really not have much excitement in my life. I went there when I was little with my daddy to watch the pig wrestling, ride rides and of course eat fair food=) Well this year I was asked to play mud volleyball and for those of you who don’t know me I am not very coordinated in these types of things but of course it was Brooke’s team so I said yeah. Well Saturday comes around and I am all geared up and ready to play, we lost but I feel like we did our best and I actually hit the ball over the net-BE PROUD lol. Waylon and I had so much fun at the Trot this year, we went Saturday all day for volleyball than truck pulls to Sammy Kershaw that night and back Sunday for demos- MY FAVORITE. The weather was beautiful.

11.Tastefully Simple-I am now a consultant for Tastefully Simple, I have my first official party this Sunday I am super nervous but it’s for my roomies mom so least I know everyone going to be there. Anyway I was just saying if any of you like their products or wanting to try them let me know! My website is- www.tastefullysimple.com then find a consultant and type in Lengacher. Once you get there you can check out the products and order online for Fast and Yummy Food=)

That was a lot of stuff, tons I left out and tons I will talk about later I’m sure. I will post pictures soon-no camera cord at school.
Love you all

Where Has the Summer Gone?

2009-08-05T18:48:00.003-04:00

Way past time to update my blog so many things have happened and changed since my awesome trip to Haiti. I will do my best for the recap from over a month ago-WOW.

As many of you know summer is closing fast. Is anyone ready to say goodbye? I could live in the summer all year except for the fact that is not possible. I love all the things that come with summer time, time spent with friends and family, pool parties, cookouts and most important relaxing from the stress that comes with college and classes. I am so thankful summer comes and goes but sad to say goodbye when the month of August rolls around

July was fun and fast it seemed like it started one day and was done the next. It got hard on me the first few weeks knowing Brooke was gone and wasn’t going to return until August but I managed. We text and called each other every weekend to check up on one another-you might say we love each other lol. I had plenty of fun though. Waylon decided it was time to buy a new addition- a boat let’s just add that to all your other purchases and things in the drive way. I still haven’t perfected to ski yet but hopefully that will soon change. Fourth of July was fun we went camping at Boggs with the family. I’m trying to think of other fun things that happened a month ago its bad when I can’t remember what I did on Monday to Friday let alone a whole month OOPS. As many of you know the book called My Sister’s Keeper came out plus the movie, well I was told by many it was a must read just not a must see movie for myself. I started reading and couldn’t put it down, it went everywhere I went and any spare time was spent with my nose in it. Such a realistic book for someone who has had someone close to them experience cancer especially Leukemia. Shay after reading this book I remember those days where you were so sick to sit up and those days you were as happy as a kid on his/her birthday. You were one strong girl that so happened got a horrible disease but YOU didn’t let it stop you. You kept fighting. I do not know though if I emotionally or physically ready to watch the movie, maybe when it comes out I will be that way I can start/stop when I need to take a break. It was time for a girl’s night but everyone had plans besides Ashley Chels and I so we headed up in the Aveo to Vincennes and watched The Ugly Truth=seriously a must see for everyone=) Well that’s about it for my July I’m sure I left out a lot just tired of thinking about it.

IT’s FINALLY AUGUST which means what…… Brooke Elaine Lengacher has arrived back in Daviess County. On Sunday I went to the Gingerich campground and played corn-hole and lost, I don’t play enough to be in their tourneys. We had so much fun though. I love that girl like my other sister. We were separated at birth I believe. I finally got to meet the famous Tia Fuhes and man is she a cutie. This weekend Waylon’s family and about four other families are going to Patoka Lake to camp and boat for the weekend I am so ready for a nice relaxing weekend on the water. Hopefully it don’t rain.

School officially will be beginning quickly, teachers be ready this could be a crazy year for you. To think in two years or more I will be preparing my FIRST classroom for my students to come in and meet me Miss Lengacher for the first time. Just thinking about it gets me nervous, do all future teachers feel like this or question if teaching is the career right for them? I am so proud of the first graduating Education major class of Vincennes University you will all make great teachers. Congratulations to all of you who have completed the four years of lesson planning, presenting, and endless projects and countless hours, everyone is proud.

Talking about school I am looking forward to my third year classes ranging from Practicum, Classroom Management, Organization, Emotional Disabilities, and Mild Mental Disabilities. I finally will be with the same people for the next two years, I am ready for that bond that I seen with the older students at VU. Since I started with a semester under way I have yet to be with the same group each semester. Thinking of school makes me so excited to room with my best friend Brooke and have another fun year with my previous roomie Ash it shall be a fun and exciting year. Last week I could finally say the house was officially finished. Here are some pictures of our house before it was finished; I still need to take some updated ones of all the finished rooms. I can’t wait till Brooke gets to see it.

Well I am finished I have nothing else to fill everyone in, and I doubt anyone really cares about the last two months of my life anyway ha. Let’s be honest I live a pretty normal life. Not much exciting things happen. Hope your all enjoying the last few days and weeks until your children go back to school and get back on schedule.

Love you all

Forever Changed: Haiti 2009

2009-07-08T18:51:00.006-04:00

How do you define poverty?

Does it only relate to third world countries or do you see poverty in the lives of American citizens?

From June 14 through June 24 I experienced poverty unlike anything I have ever seen before. I was one of many to experience the chance to do work in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Imagine getting on a plane in the Miami International Airport, where there is green grass, people walking around in thousand dollar business suits and the impact of what money really is to some people and landing in the “airport” in Haiti. Where was security? Where were the men/women checking to make sure the stuff people were taking was really theirs? Let me just say American airports and Haiti airports = NOT THE SAME AT ALL. You get off the plane and walk to the building, along with everyone else around walking to where they belong. There is only about two flights in/out a day if that on certain days. You would think the airport, people, or something would be the first thing you think of but I first thought of the smell. Haiti is a dirty country and they believe to throw their waste/trash/anything they have they don’t need or use on the street. Okay so think back to Miami to this? Once you’re in the building its one big room, walk through customs- didn’t amount to much besides “How long you here?” Why are you here? then you get your bags off the conveyer belt, walk through a quick security-with the group our size they just let us walk right through then get AMBUSHED by all the Haitian people. Why is it every country thinks American citizens are full of wealth, happiness, so much better lives than them? It was so sad seeing all these people line the walk way out the door-here we are 32 American citizens each with two luggages and two carry on. We looked prepared. This is where my week began!! Hope you enjoy!!

Visualize 31 members of various churches in the Daviess County loading the back of two pickup trucks where there was around 10-15 people in each truck, all trying to hold on to some form of the truck. Back at home we get in trouble for riding in trucks but down there it’s the only way to travel. Traffic was a bit on the scary side no lines, no rules to follow; no stop signs just go at your own risk. Whose ever vehicle is bigger gets the right-a-way. The roads were not your normal roads we see around here, think of the worst dirt-gravel road and times that by about 10. These roads were dirt with trash and tons of awful pot holes. By the end of the week we figured Jon (the missionary) would purposely hit all the major pot holes and then rank our reaction. It was all a game for him.

Throughout the week we worked on different projects Jon and Beth needed us to do or finish what other groups couldn’t finish. The men were mostly in charge of creating welded together poles to create a garden on top of the orphanage they work from. Us college girls and other women mostly worked with the Vacation Bible School for the children that stayed at their orphanage and the nannies children that came. All through the week we were also having a Nanny Seminar on child safety and other child related topics. The topics ranged from Child Development, Child Activities, Hygiene, Abuse, Protection Tips, and different syndromes children can acquire from bad parenting. Brooke Lengacher and I taught the Child Activities/Development Class which was geared for children aged birth to twelve. We had no idea what to talk about until getting down to Haiti and talking to Beth. As we began the class the women were not interested to say the least so we changed gears and started talking strictly activities. They loved it!! We created butterflies using popsicle sticks and coffee filters, made homemade play-dough and had a contest who could create the most original play dough creation. Man they loved doing these activities, and we’re very excited to try all the new things with their children back at the orphanage.

Graci

You think kids are cute around here wait till you have 40-50 all around you with those big brown eyes, beautiful hair and a smile created by the one and only God. These children will have an ever ending place in my heart and hopefully one day I will be able to adopt one of them for myself. One night as I was talking to mom I just simply asked if we had the money or support right now to adopt again, that answer came to quick Not Right Now. I was devastated but God and I both know one day it will happen maybe not for the Lengacher family but for my own family. These children that live in the orphanage we worked in have an amazing Christian family waiting patiently in the United States. The process to adopt from that specific orphanage is a lot different than your typical one, they make the family come their twice. Once to have a one-on-one interview then another to pick up their child and take them back to the United States to be loved by many. The children all know who their future parents are, some had books about their new family others had pillows full of pictures. It was so touching walking in their rooms and seeing all the memories these families will one day do together. There were defiantly lots of tear shed being around these children, a life changing experience.

So as the week was coming to end my body decided something I had ate, drank, got into somehow was not good for Ayrika Lengacher. I spent most of the last few days on a cot making frequent trips to the bathroom and not being able to keep anything down. I was one of the five lucky ones who got into something that just didn’t agree with us. Try getting sick in an airplane with lots of turbulence- NOT FUN. I was thinking I was getting better but I was wrong I actually have been sick for the last 19 days. I had many tests run trying to find something in my system that was causing me to be so sick. Well I had enough on Monday July 6 my mother took me to the Daviess Community Hospital ER and we waited for almost 3 hours to be called- I was very agitated and uncomfortable. AYRIKA D. LENGACHER your turn- I don’t think I ever been so happy to hear my name be called. It was an interesting night according to my mom. Remember haven’t kept anything down since June 20th- meaning very weak and nothing in system. I remember IV going in and the medicine but after that it’s all a blur. I turned green and was out. Lucky all my tests they ran came back negative besides receiving the dreadful news of UTI and lots of bacteria in my system. We finally left the ER around 2 am. That’s a long time I don’t recall much of. If that’s how drugs make you feel you can count me out=) I got home and slept pretty much the whole next day.

It is Wednesday and I can officially say I think the sick feeling is over=) Praise God. I can now eat little amounts and keep it all down. Thank you for all the prayers and texts from everyone. I love you all.

I also want to say thank you so much for everyone’s support for allowing me to go on this mission trip. Thanks to my family, friends, and loved ones who prayed from day one too day ten.

THANK YOU!!

Officially Summer Bash and The Moments Before I Leave

2009-06-12T07:56:00.003-04:00

So Brooke and I were thinking one day how much fun it would be to have a summer bash party and a going away party around the pool with the people that mean the most to us. After we return home from Haiti Brooke is taking off again for 8 weeks=(What am I going to do without my best friend for a whole summer again, I mean last summer she left me for China now a camp couselor. I am so proud of the things God is putting in her life at such a perfect time. It finally happened last Sunday afternoon about 10 girls showed up with food and bathing suits. God granted us a beautiful day to play corn-hole, lay out and for those that water temp don't matter swim. The water was only about 60 something due to the cold nights we have been having. Oh yeah and the day I sent out the invitations our pool heater exploded.. So it was so cold but after laying out and getting all hot it felt wonderful!! Unfortuntaly some girls could not come and they were greatly missed, but there will be more. I am so glad God has put each one of these girls in my life, I officially feel like I belong somewhere in this place we call life. I didn't officially know these girls till we started college, funny thing they went to BR and I went to ND hung out with the same people just never really got to know them in HS. Man I should have!! I have so much fun with them now, and we share so many memories in the short amount of time we have been friends.Thank you girls!! Here are some pictures from our party, enjoy!!

All of us enjoyin the sunshine!!

We Love Each Other and Our Hippie Friend Brooke!!

ROOMIES 2009=) So Excited

The Love of My Life

The "LOOK CUTE" Picture

Okay so we officially got the key to our house for next year and it is looking so cute already. Our landlord Jerry is amazing, he let us paint the house how we wanted so Ericka and I got busy this past week and painted the kitchen and laundry room and the trim. We decided on a minty green for those two rooms, a tan for living room, rose colored for the bathroom and each one of us is painting a new color in our bedrooms. Our house is going to be AMAZING!!

Okay well Haiti Mission Trip 2009 is hours away. We are leaving New Hope Chrisitian Church at 11 pm Sunday night, I mean we are talking hours/days no longer weeks/months. Time has flown by I just hope we are all prepared to see what God has in store for us. I can't wait to go but I always have a hard time leaving just for the fear of something happening back at home. Thank you all though who have prayed for this trip to happen and for the donations I have recieved. Love you all!!

Take Care

One Year Later.....

2009-06-05T11:03:00.004-04:00

Have you ever looked back on the previous years and wonder why some things happened or why other things didn’t happen instead? Well on June 2, 2009 is one of the days I wish wouldn’t have occurred. A former graduate at North Daviess fought the battle of leukemia through her junior and senior year until she couldn’t fight any longer. On June 2 Shay Elyssa Fischer had passed to go be with her Lord and Savior.

It was a long hard process for Shay and surrounding family and friends, we knew the day was coming we just was not prepared to deal with another classmates death. As we helped raise money and go on random visits to Riley Children’s Hospital we continued to grow closer as a class because the last classmate was taken without any warning, Rebecca Arnold-Ellis.

Shay was a fighter that was not willing to give up until the last couple months before her death. Shay was diagnosed with leukemia in the spring of 2007. She was missed greatly during the months she was gone from school, lucky her in a way to be able to miss school and not deal with the senior year drama. She unfortunately had to miss our senior year prom but the people that meant the most to her decided to take a little mini prom the day after to visit her. Her date Daniel Worford went and took her beautiful flowers, the nurses even set up a special room with decorations and music for the fellow friends to dance around and enjoy the atmosphere. Shay was blessed she got to wear her beautiful prom dress, got her hair done and even took professional pictures to remember the day. Shay got to walk through graduation ceremony with us as a class. It was such a happy time as a class to sit down and remember the times we shared together the good and the bad. As I sit here to write this blog entry my heart hurts.

My heart hurts for many reasons, one I never told Shay how much of an inspiration she was to me or others, I would randomly text her and she would be so full of life and joy even in the pain her cancer was causing. What a blessing it was to have her in my life for the short time she was allowed. Another reason no one but God knew when her final day was going to be and for that I am blessed but in a way sadden because no one got to say their good byes but maybe that was what God thought Shay could handle and the people around her. Personally saying good bye for the last time is a difficult thing to do whereas the person being taken is very difficult but you don’t have the time where you know she/he is not going to make it to live the next couple hours.
Over the last year a lot of smiles, a lot of laughs and a lot of tears have been shed in the moments when Shay is brought up into conversation. Shay truly was an inspiration to have in your life; she inspired those that met her just once or the ones who weren’t so lucky to ever meet her.

Her mom had set up a sight for people to read kind of like BlogSpot but CaringBridge it was the neatest things, we could write comments, look at pictures, read what Shay was doing that day. Shelley kept us updated on every possible way or the frequent text messages we would get saying what she had accomplished that particular day. Shelley is a wonderful person and realizes now why Shay was the way she was- beautiful, kind, loving and most important God loving.
Shay you are greatly missed by many and loved by all. You were a blessing and I am so glad I can say I will see you again!

Shay Elyssa Fischer

Blessings do occur in the lives of many on a day-to-day basis and I am so glad they do. The Senior Class of 2007 has three wonderful students that will never be forgotten. Who would have thought by the age of 20 you would have lost one classmate let alone three. It has been a hard couple years for us but in many ways it has helped us realize we need to live for the day because who knows when our last is coming. Thank you Jesus for showing our class you are real and you do know our futures and when it will end.

Another important person in the life of so many people is little Andon Knepp. As I was walking through the cemetery at Berea I noticed his grave and my heart went out to Ryan Chelsa and Brycen and for the family around them. I pray God is with you and take care of your family. I pray that through this difficult time you can find healing and love through the people around you. I love you!

Andon Joseph Knepp

Memories

2009-05-13T23:02:00.004-04:00

Does anyone else have days where it just seems like today you were not supposed to get out of bed because nothing is going like it usually does? Lately it has been occuring a lot and I'm not sure why. I think a lot of it has to do with being here at school alone unless my new very good friend is here, Ericka. I don't know where I was hiding all year to just have really gotten to know her the last semester and she is a blessing to have. Yesterday we had so much fun we spent the whole day together, painted her new room, got nails done, made dinner than cookies for our new favorite neighbor. We have so much in common yet so different, she is the new friend I need in my life, thank you Jesus!!

But anyway I was just thinking of important people in my life that I do not take time out of the day to say thank you or that I love them. Don't get me wrong there is more than a couple but the ones I going to talk about are my dad and my grandma and the late but remembered grandpa.
Oh my am I a "Daddy's Girl" or what. I have always been and always will be. Lately we have grown together more and I love it. We just have this special bond that I wish with all my heart every daughter and dad could experience. Thank you daddy for always believing in me and never giving up on any of my dreams. You have inspired me to never give up and encourage those around me. I love you! I will never forget our weekly roadtrips to Raber's or to get donuts at Donut Hill, those are precious memories I will never forget even though I complained all the time about them ha!! Thanks to Hannah I now have a song dedicated to you on how thankful I really am towards you.

"Butterfly Fly Away" Miley Cyrus

You tuck me in,Turn out the light

Kept me safe and sound at night

Little girls depend on things like that

Brush my teeth and comp my hair

had to drive me everywhere

you were always there when I looked back

And when I couldn't sleep at night

Scare things wouldn't turn out right

you would hold my hand and sing to me

Caterpillar in the tree, how you wonder who you'll be

can't go far but you can always dream

Wish you may and wish you might

Don't you worry hold on tight

I promise you there will come a day

Butterfly Fly AwayButterfly Fly Away

Flap your wing now you cant stayTake those dreams and make them all come trueButterfly Fly Away (butterfly fly away)We been waiting for this dayAll along and know just what to do

Butterfly,

Butterfly Fly Away

Another important person in my life is my grandma, she doesn't realize just how much she has inspired me to be the girl I am today. My grandma helped raise me, she experienced my firsts as a toddler, my first car, my first date, my proms and graduates and hope one day my wedding. I am happy to have such a wonderful lady in my life. Everyday we know one of us will make the phone call to see how each other are. I visit her every chance I get when I go home or stop in for that quick snack or potty break before work. Sometimes she will even make me some fast supper or favorite dessert if I give her a heads up!! I love her so much. I do not tell her enough just how much she has helped me become the young woman I am today but thank you grandma. As I was thinking of grandma I thought of Kellie Picklers song, "My Angel" even though that is about her grandma no longer being around it describes our relationship. Here is my favorite verse from the song,

You were like my mother

You were my best friend

You were everything I want to be

And all the good inside of me

There's never been

Never been another

That loved me like you did

My grandmother, my angel

My angel

Lastly my beloved and amazing grandpa. How do I miss him, it has been since November 2005. He was a father, grandpa and friend to many people. He had a positive outlook on life even through the final days before his stroke. I will never forget going into the hospital room the last time to say goodbye or kissing you the last time. I wish you could have met Madison you would love her, and Waylon his dad is always telling me how I had such a wonderful grandpa and all his times he talked or seen you how happy you were. It is so funny they actually bought my grandpa old work van and I have fought long and hard to not sell it but the time has come where the "Work Van" is no longer going to be around=( I will never forget going to pick that up in Bloomington and you taking me to Steak n Shake that day. I love you so much grandpa, you are missed and loved by many.

Home Sweet Home

2009-04-28T10:19:00.004-04:00

Do you ever feel like you just belong somewhere other than where you currently are? Well over the last year my family decided it was time for change. A change was needed and helpful until the day came we no longer felt anything was happening with this change. My family decided after about 18 years it was time to leave our Church and begin seeking where God wanted us, he decided Antioch Christian Church in Washington. What an amazing, uplifting church it is just was not for me at all. I was not getting much out of it almost like a drag on a weekly basis, and how sad it is to think that way but I did not feel I belonged there. So after attending Antioch for about a year or little more one day we decided we would try our new church-THANK YOU JESUS for making us go that Sunday. That Sunday was amazing, worship was breathtaking, the sermon spoke right to my heart and I could feel God's presence again. After deep considerations we decided to keep trying it and just see where God takes us. Well, this past Sunday after a wonderful message given by Chris Miller about Grace my mom walked to the front to Richard and broke down. I knew the moment she stood this is where I could call home again. Richard was very accepting and happy for our families decision and I hope everyone else in the congregation was as welcoming. Our family all came up to be prayed for and asked anyone who was willing to help our family through this to come to, it was beatiful to see all our "old" friends join us. I finally feel like I am home. Home Sweet Home.

Well I officially have only seven more days of class of my sophomore year. How exciting!! I am so glad I have the love and support around me on them difficult days when I feel like I would not suceed in the teacher environment but however I believe God would not have put me in the Special/Elementary major if he did not feel I was capable. To those who have encouraged me over the last two years, thank you so much.

Another important event is approaching soon...... In approxiamently 47 days my Haiti Mission Team will be boarding the plane and leaving for a week to serve in Haiti. How exciting! I just keep thinking how all my mission trips have went and been breath taking but I truely believe this one is going to rock because God has put me with a team so amazing and fun it is going to be one spiritual week serving our God. Thanks also to all those who have contributed and supported me both by prayers and money, it shows there are good people out in this messed up world! I love you all.

Last week Ashley Sarah and I got all country-fied and cowgirly and headed to Evansville for a AWESOME concert. Taylor Swift Fearless Tour 2009 opening night! Even though I caused us to get lost not on purpose just because I wasn't paying attention and drove right by Roberts Stadium-don't ask me how. And with Ashley's scary driving at times I'm suprised me made it-I mean we only blew about 1 or 2 red lights, changed lanes a couple times without looking but WHO CARES. We had a blast!! We loved every minute of it*

She did the waterfall, can you believe it?

Before the concert started!!

We Love You, Taylor*!

I started my new job last Friday night at Bucktale Lodge in Washington. It is the old Dogwood that was at Glendale just with a new name! I am a waitress and host. Well last night was my first time EVER waitressing and with only about 1 or 2 mistakes I finally think I got the hang of it, however it was a Monday night who knows if I can keep up on like a Friday or Saturday lol!!

My baby boy is no longer a little baby but growing into something so addorable who couldn't love him! Marley is now almost 5 months old and loving every minute of it. Everyone thinks I baby him to much, or treat him more like a child than a dog but hey he likes it!!

Mr. Marley at 5 months !!

Past Time of Update

2009-04-01T17:52:00.002-04:00

Wow guys sorry it has been almost a month since I last got on here and lots of things have happened in these three weeks since my last blog.
*~First off, Florida was AMAZING. It was so nice to be there and relax by the pool or have the sand between your toes at the beach. The only problem this time at the beach was all the CRAZY college kids, when I think beach I think relaxation not running around acting crazy. Oh well they had their kind of fun and I had mine lol. It was so good to see Waylon's family down there we don't get to see them often. The weather was breathtaking, about 85 and up during the day then get down in the low 6os at night which I didn't care. *~
**Second, school. School is KILLING ME I really do feel like. Last week I got about 16-20 hours from Sunday-Friday. I keep thinking of why I am doing this and it makes me happy. I can not wait till that day I walk into my first Classroom and the students get to meet their new teacher Miss Lengacher. Sorry I know how annoying and doubt you care but I am excited !! I am down to 17 days left of actual school days which means SEE YA LATER LIFE.
I have decided to take my first actual on-campus summer class from May 11-June 1 which I am excited bc I will be staying down here till then=) **
~~Another important thing we finally SIGNED our house for next year, if any of you know me or the problems we went through to get a house this was a GREAT day in Ayrika's Life. I don't know how many landlords I called, how many houses I looked at until we finally found the one we all agreed on and the right number of rooms. Thank you Jesus!! ~~
~* I am getting so excited for my mission trip quickly coming we leave on June 15 and return June 24. The support just keeps coming and I thank God for that because that is not something I have time to be working on right now but God is taking care of me and providing. Thank you to all those who have supported me already and still providing me the ability to make this trip happen. God has called our group and myself to Haiti to proclaim His name to the world. What an awesome God!
** This past weekend was a much needed thing for me and so many of the girls! Brooke, Steph, Emily, Chels and myself decided we needed a girls night which included dinner at Mi Pueblo, going back to Chels opening up her old photo books and remembering old times. Even though I wasn't in any of the pictures yet some of the ND girls/guys were we still haven't figured out that how we weren't friends but everyone else was?Now we are always together crazy. But anyway looking at them pictures and seeing the enjoyment they went through school made me want my little girl(in the future) to have those types of friends. Ones that stay with you from the time you meet to the time you die. Everyone needs friendships that last a lifetime. Lucky for me I have found those friendships in a later part of my life, thank you girls for always being there for me! I love you all.
Don't you all just love this weather besides the rain. Ash and I have been taking walks usually more than one every night just to get out of the apartment and venture through the VU campus life lol!!
Well this is enough right now, I hope your all having a wonderful week!!

Midterm Week...Exciting but Stressful

2009-03-05T22:08:00.002-05:00

Another week has been completed toward that big celebration day, only in about 2 years=) Then I will really be celebrating. This particular week was very stressful full of studying, packing, making sure everything got done before the big take off date. I am so excited I am leaving in 18 hours for Sarasota, Fl. Where it is high 70s low 80s right now and could get up to high 80s by next week, thank you Jesus!! Just what I need, the beautiful sunshine and the white sand between my toes.. NO OCEAN for me though....

I do not understand why teachers make midterm week so stressful and busy because we go all semester not doing anything then all of a sudden they get teacher happy and make everything possible due on this particular week. Not very smart. Don't worry I will probably be the same way one day when I am teaching and then look back and realize how bad it really was to be on the other side. I only had two midterms not so bad you think but one was ETHICS which me and ethics do not get along well, so that seemed more like a couple tests to study for than just one. The other was in my Cultural Diversity class which I love=)

Well my SB has officially started and let me tell you I am super duper excited.

I will be back later, my mom currently needs the computer and if I am not I will let you all know how wonderful my week was in the beautiful sunshine=)
Have a safe week!!

Major Catch Up

2009-02-17T18:05:00.003-05:00

* So it's been about two weeks since I last been on this, I feel like I am not very good blogger. I read some of the girls and they blog about every two days Oh Well=) Sorry!!*

I have recently decided this summer I am going to restart my love for missions and travel to Port-au-Prince Haiti from June 15-23=) I am so excited. I am going with a group from New Hope in Washington and falling in love with my group plus all my girls~ Brooke Chels Alyssa Steph it will be one week of memories with us crazy girls together! Last Friday evening we had a Valentines Dinner for couples and families. On Thursday we all got to New Hope around 4 to begin the food process and decorations= MY 2 FAVORITE THINGS to d0 Bake and Decorate. I helped make 12 lasagnas, cakes, do the dishes, and set up for a rexaling and enjoyable meal for families and friends. Friday night was here and gone before we had much time to enjoy it. We served around 100 people raising almost 1300 dollars- Thank you Jesus! Thank you mom and dad for coming to support us it was great to see you there!! Love you both so much.

Well this week is crazy, I am majorly stressed and will continue to be for the NEXT 2 weeks, yeah you heard me STRESSED! You know me who says every week I am going to study on the weekend or attempt to finish last minute homework but yet again NOTHING. People I see on the weekens start MAKING me do something productive on the weekend my body can't handle this during the week. This is the run down for this week-
Monday: finish chapters in Methods, finish chapters in Evaluation, quiz in Ethics (HATE THIS CLASS) Tuesday: Read 3 stories for Cultural Diversity Wednesday: HUGE EVALUATION TEST over 4 chapters 160 pages of reading, 8 page study guide= ME VERY STRESSED, read 2 chapters for Ethics and finally Thursday: Final Draft of 5 page paper due and Friday= hopefully subbing=)
Pray for me this week but as I said before this will be Ayrika's life until March 5.

So I don't know how many Bachelor fans there is out there but oh my is it getting good=) Last night he picked the last TWO- Molly and my favorite Melissa. Ash and I already decided we are driving to Chels house the week of the finale to enjoy the company of all the other Bachelor Fanatics (Chels, Brooke, Alyssa, Steph, Rhonda, and whoever else will show up that night=) I am trying to decide on a thing I can make for us all to wear that night, any ideas? I was thinking something with a rose but not sure yet..let me hear some ideas. Yes, I will make time to create some craft or food=)

In 16 days I will be heading to FLORIDA to enjoy some much needed SUN=) Plus that means my 2nd year of school is half way over. How scary to think about in two more years I will have graduated COLLEGE- yes mom GRADUATED!! Don't tear up on me now lol... yeah right thats my job in the family. I am so excited to hear my name and walk to get that second diplmoa with a certificate until I pass the Praxis series=)

Latest on dogs in the Lengacher household....
Last week on Thursday I get this awful call from my mom, she is crying and all she says is she got ran over and not going to make it. Of course first thing that pops in my mind is Madison.... I start getting chocked up but than realize she meant Callie, my mom's Standard Poodle. What a relief but still very sad. So my family went to Petersburg and bought another one but this time a boy so now all three are boys!!

Marley gets his first big boy hair cut Thursday and I am so happy=) I can't wait to take pictures.. I mean he is my baby boy!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and please be safe. I love you all!!

- Catchin Up -

2009-02-04T22:53:00.003-05:00

Well, its been so long since I have been on here. I started blogging with the intent of doing it often but you see how long that lasted. It's not even that I don't have things to talk about just not enough time in the day to get it done, then when I go back to write I don't remember what happened the last couple days...OOPS. Oh well I still enjoy reading everyone's and occasionally working on my own=)

Last Monday my roommate Ash Marlee and I watched as the snow fell..the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time. Marlee loved it, he loved how he could dig his nose into the ground and come up with it all wet and white..it was darling=) Needless to say we were very suprised that Kevin Orpurt got the snow correct!! Around 6:30 am everyday I take Marlee out to use the potty and the snow was everywhere..he didn't really like it so much now because everytime he stepped he fell down and couldn't get back on top of the snow, I thought it was funny. Tuesday we had a delay=) It was amazing NO CLASSES TILL 12. The weather continued with snow/ice/and freezing cold. Annie ended up staying with us..we had so much fun, ordered pizza, and lots of wine=) Wednesday woke up with a text around 7 with NO SCHOOL AT ALL, I mean it has been a long time since VU cancelled class, but I wasn't complaining. But the thing was our vehicles were not going ANYWHERE so I call my daddy to save the day! Thank you dad. It took him almost four hours round trip to take Ash Annie and Marlee and me home. THANK U =) It was a long weekend for me=) No class Wednesday, Thursday Friday, plus Super Bowl Weekend=)
On Friday my dad had his rotary cuff replaced, a very quick procedure but very long and painful recovery. He is to be held up in the house for 6 weeks so glad I am not home with him everyday he is not the laid up type person. Good better soon daddy! Love you and praying for your recovery.
Weekend was very fun and relaxing I felt like a little girl again with no car Waylon had to come pick me up bring me home then on Saturday and Sunday mom took me there dropped me off told me be careful and love you. I figured she would be like call when ready to pick up=) Thanks mom and Waylon for being so helpful this weekend since my car was stuck.
Between Ash and I we have our fair share of TV shows we watch every week. The Bachelor is my favorite, first season to watch thanks to Brooke and Chels=) I love Melissa on the show hopefully she will be one of the last two. After The Bachelor is Secret Life of an American Teenager=) American Idol Tuesday and Wednesday and GREY'S Anatomy on Thursday! We don't usually watch much else TV but it's so funny we never miss an episode. We are losers without a life
This semester is going to be stressful even though I'm not taking many hours just a lot of work. I love my Cultural Diversity class it is so interesting plus my professor does an amazing job. Also, Brooke and I thought we would be cool and take a Snow Skiing class, so every Tuesday Brooke Ashlee Willis and I drive to Paoli it is so much fun just a lot of time. We are usually gone from about 3-10 then come home and do homework=) Well last night I just was not mentally there my thoughts were elsewhere. Before our class began I was informed of a friend that I have gotten to know over the last few years had lost her baby, you will be missed by many Andon. You had two wonderful parents that loved you and would have given you the best of everything. Thinking of you Chelsa Ryan and Brycen. Anyway so I was not dealing well and went down one slope landed right on my tailbone-I have had my share of hurting my tailebone and it killed me. Throughout the night I fell more than I have in the last three weeks put together. My last fall I wasn't sure if I was getting up, I fell landed right on my shoulder heard it POP, scraped my back and did something weird to my ankle. I couldn't move my shoulder for anything I just kept praying hoping nothing serious would be wrong for I had no idea what I would do with school and homework with a hurt shoulder. Sleeping was not an option due to pain so this morning went to doctor, first thing was rotary cuff, second dislocated third tore something serious..Offically began freaking out, but after x-rays and doctor examining everything he thinks it is just bruised=) THANK U JESUS.
So that was me getting caught up on a few things that have been going on in my life=) Not very interesting just living a boring college life :)
Love you all have a great weekend=) Be safe

Blog Awards Addictions

2009-01-22T18:23:00.003-05:00

Brittany Miller tagged me- thanks! We don't hang out very often except when I'm around Brooke and them girls. I don't know her very well but I do think of her as a great person and friend. I also know she would do anything to help out someone in need! I love you Britt!

Here's the rules!

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

First off I will pass it on to:

*Cami Jeffers

*Brittany Clark

*Chelsa Knepp

*Abbie Lynn

*Sarah Chapin

My Addictions:

1. Reading- I love to read! I would rather be reading then doing anything else. I love curling up on a couch and reading all day drinking hot chocolate! It is my way of relaxing and being lazy.

2. Subbing- I love being called to sub, even if it happens at 5 in the morning for a week! I am going majoring in Elementary/Mild Intervention Education just trying to get a feel for both areas before the big day I am applying for the best job for me! It is so funny I never wanted to be a teacher until the second semester of my senior year, before then it was always something in fashion or interior design. I am so glad God laid on my heart to study Education. The kids are just so addorable and I must say I have a heart for them and their education.

3. The Beach- My favorite place to be besides my back yard laying out. I love the sun and the beach just HATE the ocean part. I know how weird I love going to the beach just won't step foot into the ocean.

4. Marlee- My new Toy Poodle. He is not just a dog but more like my own child. My roommate Ashley thinks I have him to spoiled but the way I see it is I don't have children nor neices or nephews so I spoil my baby! He is darling by the way!

5. My family, friends and boyfriend- They are all amazing. There are days I call my mom 4 or 5 times a day just to say hey whats up- I know sad lol. But she has always been there for me through it all and its helpful calling her up before a big test or long day just to have her say something encouraging. My friends I have some of the best friends- Brooke my best friend and future ROOMIE=) I love her so much and it has been the best two years of college spending it with her. I am so happy we are both going into Education-one day we will be able to call one another after a long difficult day at school and talk about it! My boyfriend of three years has been there for through difficult and fun times, I am so thankful to have him in my life. I love you all so much.

I know only supposed to list 5 but I just have one more addicition I didn't want to leave out.

6. Memories- Memories of the past with the people that are no longer in my life is a big reason I make through those difficult days when I am feeling worthless. I hear my grandpa saying you can do it Ayrika, don't give up! Or when I am driving bored out of my mind and start laughing thinking of Becca and all the memories we had driving together. Or the quiet days when I think of how much she missed out on in high school, college or her career. Also Shay the girl who always had a smile on even when she was suffering in a much bigger way than I can explain or think of! I will never forget the people who meant the most to me! I love you all.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks Britt for picking me for Blog Award!

*Christmas Parties 2008

2008-12-28T18:47:00.006-05:00

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.

*Christmas is always a busy time of the year for people all over, there is your last minute shopping, staying up late after the kids are sleeping to wrap their gifts and trying to keep the little ones guessing about their gifts. I loved being able to help mom now knowing most of the time what my presents are going to be. Christmas is about more than what gifts we receive or the gifts we give it is about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I always love going to church in December and hearing all the neat stories on the birth of baby Jesus. I have been hearing them since I was a child but it still so fascinating to learn all about the people involved with the birth. Today during our last December sermon we reviewed all the people involved in making the birth of Jesus so special. It is so amazing how special this child's birth is after all these years, I mean imagine being Mary and Joseph an realizing your son would one day be the one who saved our lifes today. I am amazed to say the least.

*Parties, Parties and More Parties.... I am thankful but sad these are all over for yet another year. On Sunday afternoon Waylon's dad side got together to celebrate Christmas since everyone was home beside Dennis-we missed you buddy. It was a fun and relaxing partyy. We had delicious food=) On Tuesday December 23 we went to Uncle Tim's house for the Lengacher side Christmas Party. It was a fun night of seeing family we do not see on a everyday basis. We had so much fun, we never know what kind of game Tim and Dena will come up with to involve the whole family. This year they had all kinds of dollar gifts two pairs of gloves and a timer- we had no idea what the outcome would involve. The rules included: put the gloves on and try to open the gift before the timer went off. The rules didn't seem so hard until you started unwrapping some of the gifts were wrapped three or four times before the actual gift. Needless to say I NEVER got a gift lol. I am not talented in those type of games.

Madison new toy!

Ayrika with Charlotte Russe

gift card and frame

*On Christmas Eve I celebrated Christmas at Waylon's families house, it was an exciting and eventful night! We had all kinds of yummy food made by his mom and sisters!! I love when we all get together you never know what is going to happen next! We had so much fun opening gifts. His mom kept saying I didn't need all this stuff because we draw names but all of us got her and his dad some sort of gift, it was neat. I was so happy Waylon got me the Open Heart Necklace by Jane Seymour, plus a Tony Romo jersey- I am now a Cowboy fan since every Sunday or night they play we watch it ha. It was funny though I got a Colt's blanket from his mom and that jersey from him! I bought Waylon all clothes plus a few things that have no come in but they can be anniversary gifts=) Leanna and Sheldon just had their first baby Brianna it was so cute having such a little one at the party, plus it's always fun buying for a baby! Than of course we had to play some sort of game- its a must everytime we are together, we played Dominos. My dad and I used to play all the time but hadn't played in years it was fun to bring back old memories. Later on Christmas Eve my family has always opened one gift and this one gift is always Jammies to wear that night so we have Christmas Jammies on Christmas Morning! Here are some pictures of us opening this gift and modeling them!

My Chrismtas present last

year from Waylon, a Maltese!!

Us kids opening gifts

*Christmas morning finally came, Madi was so happy Santa actually stopped Drew and I had her convienced Santa wasn't going to make it to our house, were mean we know!! We all had a wonderful Christmas morning, after we open gifts we always have biscuits and gravy since we don't eat till later that night! We all got exactly what we wanted I got a Wii Drew got Xbox 360 and Madison got a DS plus a Horsey game to go with it. For lunch Waylon and I went to his mom's family side for lunch. I couldn't eat much even though the food looked and smelled amazing=) Later that evening the crazy Wittmer side came over to celebrate the Wittmer Christmas. It just isn't quite the same without Gramps being there, he always brought laughter and smiles to us kids faces. He always teased us about something and made sure we all got exactly what we wanted! He was an amazing husband, father, grandpa and most of all person I looked up to! Miss you Gramps! The Wittmer's always bring laughter and loudness to the house, we get together with my moms brother Kevin and his two daughters from Virgina we see only twice a year which is always great to see family!

Madi and new DS

Ayrika with Wii!!

Drew with X-Box 360

Uncle Tom and Uncle Buzz

eating some of the yummy food

*This Christmas has been one I will never forget, the memories are unforgetable! Thank you everyone for all the amazing gifts-I love you very much and thankful you are all in my life today to share the holidays with!

The Three Cooks for the Wittmers=)

*The official days of Christmas are slowly drifting away, it's always a sad day when we put up all our decorations for yet another year. Specially this year with Madison she just did not realize why the Christmas tree and decorations had to go bye bye. She kept saying but mom I haven't made snowmen yet or played in the snow-so clearly she did not understand it is still winter just no longer Christmas, it was so cute though cause it really hurt her feelings.

* Holiday Season *

2008-12-17T10:45:00.011-05:00

*~ Sorry it has been so long with finals, packing up the apartment and Christmas shopping I feel like all I do is run. I am so glad finals week is over and another semester behind me~ Only 2 and a half more years and I will hopefully become a teacher=) That is a wonderful thought. Finals week is always so stressful for me not only with classes but meaning I have to get my stuff out of my apartment to take home. That was a mess. Poor Brooke rode home with me that day and had to sit on top of the dash, luckily we did not wreck=) We joked how next year it will be living together, and I will have tons more clothes to wear everyday with her there, this girl loves to shop. My last day was Dec 12 and do not go back till January 12, praise God, but now I just have to figure out what I am going to do for a month. Luckily this week I have kept pretty busy but doubt it is like that from now with no Elementary/High Schools open.*~

*~ Over this semester I have been doing my Observation class through Barr-Reeve I have been working in sixth grade with Mrs. Craney. At BR they switch classes so at times I would have Mrs. Craney home room and other times of the day I had Mrs. Sluders. Mrs. Craney teaches reading, all english and some social studies related items while Mrs. Sluder does the math and science portion. It really is a neat thing to get the students ready for the new ways of jr. high. I have had the pleasure of working with these students I have really loved getting to know some of them better and meeting alot of new students. This group of students is wonderful very well-behaved and seem interested in school. I have been pleased by working with this group of kids and a special teacher she taught me a lot about what it takes to be a succesful teacher. On Friday December 19 is the Christmas Party, I am so excited to be able to be apart of the groups party. I made goodie bags up for the students to take home with a note to tell them thanks for being such a great observation class. Classes like this make me realize why I want to become a teacher. It will be sad tomorrow to know it is my last day being Miss Lengacher in their classroom. Here are some pictures of them decorating the classroom and both class pictures *~

Mrs. Sluder's 6th Mrs. Craney's 6th Grade

Grade Class Class

I love this time of year, Christmas and summer are my two favorite things in a year. I am all done Christmas shopping except for stocking stuffer items, hopefully that won't take long. We put up our trees about a month ago, it's so fun with a little one around. Madi is starting to understand what all happens during Christmas, she loves all the presents she seems to think they are all hers no matter where we are. She is a big help with everything, she loves to be doing whatever momma or sissy is doing. I have included some pictures of her decorating the trees and getting the house Christmas Ready!

Madison with her puppy Khloe

Decorating the downstairs tree

-Thanksgiving Break-

2008-12-05T21:21:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since I wrote on here, it just seems like life is to busy to sit down and write about it right now. When I first thought about blogging, I'm like how hard could it be to write everyday or more than once a week-now I see why not many people want to start. It is so difficult and time consuming to sit down and write it, but I do love to be able to let people know what is going on in our lives.

I only had school Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday night I came home for a much needed massage by Wanda at Amber Jo's, it felt pretty amazing. On Wednesday was my last day at the YMCA Day Care, I was sad to leave my kids. It just was not going to work with finals approaching and Christmas Break. I will have to stop in to visit them sometime.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break, it was great to come home from Wednesday night to Sunday night, it was a much needed break. Even though it wasn't to long it was good to be able to visit with family and relax. Thanksgiving Day is a tradition, dad and Drew get up go hunting while the girls "Mom Madi and Myself" try to get the house all decorated for the approaching holiday. It is so much fun because Madison is loving this Christmas Season, she keeps asking questions from previous years and what we do for Christmas. Later that afternoon we went to my uncle Terry and Susans house for the Wittmer side Thanksgiving Dinner. The Wittmer Clan never has a dull moment, with Madi and Sydney running around, people laughing telling old stories about growing up or different things that have happened to us. I love the Wittmers, it just don't feel the same without Grandpa there. He was always our turkey cutter, now I believe Terry normally does it.

Finally, Black Friday you know the most crazy day to attempt to shop we decided to take Madison- a four year old that gets cranky while shopping with Mom and Sissy. We left our house around 5 with Madi sleeping in her jammies, woke her up went into Wal-Mart and she about flipped out. It was almost funny, seeing all the people running around looking for certain sale items. Madison did not understand why so many people were at her favorite store when it was still dark outside lol. I did get almost finished thankfully. Mom bought a new TV for the upstairs meaning I get that TV for my room since my TV is in my apartment. Thank you Mom! Needless to say our shopping day did not last long.

As a family we took time to say what we were thankful for because it is so important to realize how fortunate we really are!

* I am especially thankful for my parents-they are the best people I have ever met. I look at them and I see how I want to be one day to my children. They have always been there to support us in our decisions, never missed a school activity or game. I always knew I could look up in the crowd and see my parents cheering for me! Thank you mom and dad for being awesome people!

* Waylon, my boyfriend, I am so thankful to have in my life. He has been there for me through the good times and the difficult times. Thank you Waylon for being that special someone to me! Love you

* Drew and Madison, I do not even know where to begin. We have the most amazing relationship for any brother and sisters. I love being around you and so blessed to have you in my life. I thank God daily Madi was placed in my life.

* My personal Lord and Savior, how thankful I am to look at the beautiful things in my life and know you placed them there. Marsha Clarke did an amazing job on Sunday making me realize just how thankful I need to be on a daily basis on what YOU have created. How beautiful it is to think that you created the different colors in the sky, all the different shades in a flower. I mean how often do we think about all the different things God has created with his hands. I am at awe to think of it, it is truely a beautiful thing. Thank you Jesus for being that awesome!

* Brooke, my best friend of only about two years has been there for me when I thought my world was falling apart. She is the most amazing person I have ever met, she is truely a woman of God. I am so thankful for going into the same profession and hopefully teach at the same school or close to keep our friendship and share teaching strategies. She has been there for me through the great times but also the difficult times. I always know when something is not going right I can count on her to say something uplifting or just be like "uh I'm sorry I do not know what to say" no matter what her reply is it makes me feel better. Thank you Brooke for being that friend I always dreamed of! I am so thankful to have you in my life. Love you

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving!
Remember to be thankful of all the things you have in your life!!

A Beautiful Thing We Call Life

2008-11-25T09:54:00.001-05:00

* Life is not always a box of chocolates but I love thinking how perfect and beautiful everything in life is, just think about things the beautiful sun rise seeing all the colors God chose that specific morning to wake us up or how beautiful the evening time is. God created all things on this Earth for us to realize he created everything and is in control of everything in our lives.

*RIP Rebecca Elizabeth*

* This weekend was a difficult one for me and so many others in the Daviess County area, it was three years ago on Saturday that our beautiful angel was taken away from us and joined Our Heavenly Father in Heaven. What an amazing thought to think about she is no longer suffering from the worldly things but rejoicing and dancing with the "Big Guy Upstairs". Rebecca Elizabeth Arnold "Ellis" was a beautiful young women living her life moment by moment until that day where her life was taken away from her in a car accident. From that day forward I knew life would never be the same, I no longer had the friend in my life, never ride to school together or have that friend to talk about life with. She was so beautiful, I love the thought of her in Heaven watching over us all, telling God to protect us from what lies ahead of us! You are an angel and greatly missed by everyone! I cannot wait to see you one day!

Us girls making picture boards for the funeral. You were beautiful!

* I will never forget the lunch we had at my house only 8 days before the wreck, we made spaghetti and Texas Toast, that was a fun day. I remember on the day of your wreck you went around telling us all you loved us, hugged us that one last time almost as if God was preparing you for your last day on Earth with your friends. I will never forget later that afternoon getting the dreadful call you had been in a serious accident and being life-lined to Indy. I am so glad I was able to go up to Indy that night to see you and be with your family. That whole week is a blur for the class of 2007, we sat together at school or someones house until the early morning hours sharing different memories of you, we laughed at times but most of all we cried a lot because we didn't know how a class would survive this in the middle of our Junior year, it was difficult. We all just kept thinking she was going to miss so many things in her life most importantly graduation, proms, wedding day, having her own children being that perfect mother but we cannot control what happens in our life.

Becca,Kristen, Bethany, Kylie and Ayrika going to sectional!

* We need to live day-to-day living for God and no one else because we never know when our time is going to come. God already has planned out when and how we will be taken from this life which is scary but amazing at the same time to think He knows when, where, how we will die. Very scary. Rebecca continues to live in our lives, when I am walking around and see something that makes me think Becca must have had something to do with that. You were a special angel sent by God to change the Class of 2007, thank you so much! I love you Becca!

2008-11-16T00:25:00.001-05:00

As we begin to start a new week I hope this week I can stay sick free! It is so hard being sick away from home without someone there to take care of you. Needless to say, I needed my mom this week! My roommate and I both suffered this week from the flu, it is always true the person who receives the sickness gets it worse than the one who gave it. How unfair. I had the flu from Tuesday morning to Thursday morning. Oh well, praise God I am no longer sick with the flu.
Last night a bunch of us girls got together to celebrate my best friend's birthday, it was a much needed night for many of us!! The night consisted of supper, old memories, chit chatting away, gifts and of course DESSERT my favorite. It was a good time for us girls just to get together, relax and enjoy one another company! I always love getting together with them girls, they are defiantly the best! I'm sure I will have some pretty interesting pictures to post here shortly. Thanks girls for a much needed night of laughing=)
I wish I had a way with words like some people who blog, I just can't seem to think what to write next. Maybe next time I will have something interesting to write about until then have a great night.

Begining to my ramblings and Lengacher moments!

2008-11-10T20:02:00.000-05:00

Well.. The Lengacher's are finally starting to blog. I never thought I would say that, with the way my dad is he does not understand one thing dealing with a computer but hopefully that will all change. I always wanted to do a blog I just wasn't sure what to do mine over since I do not have a family yet so I thought it would be good for us as a family to do one of these. My name is Ayrika and I am twenty years old. I am currently at Vincennes University majoring in Special and Elementary Education, needless to say I love it. I cannot wait to become a teacher, I graduate from VU in two years. Hopefully I will be able to find a teaching job so I can continue to do what I love. My daddy is Matt, he runs his own business Lengacher Steel Construction. There are two crews that he runs, his brother is in charge of the other. He is the best dad, he has always been involved in all our life's. I always knew if something was wrong I could call my dad and he would let me know what to do. I love you daddy! My mom, Sherri, is awesome. Her love for her family is amazing and her love for the Lord is overflowing. She has to be OCD about cleaning, I have never walked in our house with it being dirty, even with all of us kids or dad. She is awesome! My brother, Drew, is thirteen. He is very athletic involved in three sports, basketball, baseball and football his favorite! He cracks me up, you never know what he is going to do or say. We all thought this would be our family till the end of time until one day my parents decided they wanted to add to the Lengacher's. In 2004, we started working on the adoption paperwork, we decided to adopt from China. As a family, we were so excited to have another little one running around the house, plus I was so excited to have a baby sister. It was one crazy year, with people coming over inspecting our house, interviewing each of us, then waiting for the time for my parent's to leave for China. That was a difficult time because "our" parent's were gone for two and half weeks leaving us with grandma. We planned a suprise Welcome Home Party for them, but the thing was Madison was terrified of us and everything around her beside mom and dad, very upsetting to someone who has been waiting a year to meet my new sister. Through this whole journey of adding to our family I have been so thankful for her being my baby sister. She is now four and a true blessing. She loves going to the Washington Catholic pre-school, gymnastics and spending her Saturday's enjoying her "sissy time". Needless to say, she does not go anywhere without getting attention. Although, we all thought our family was done growing or adding to the wonderful Lord decided he wasn't done yet with the Lengachers and wanted us to have one more and maybe one day add another! (HINT MOM/DAD I want another brother or sister). We have a pretty normal family that I love with all my heart. I thank God daily how he blessed me with these wonderful people he put in my life.