Like A Boss.. Reppin' ASP in Charleston

Yesterday I got to head to Charleston for Wyoming County Day with Carly. It was an incredible experience and it was so cool to be representing an organization that I care so much about.

My day started at 5 AM, I got to finally dress up for work! We left by 6:15 and after a quick turn around for Carly's name tag we were on our way. The drive was filled with the Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, snow, and gorgeous scenery. It's hard to be crabby and tired when your drive is absolutely gorgeous.

We figured out where the guest parking was for the Capitol Building AND where to jump on the shuttle so we wouldn't have to walk numerous blocks to get there. It was pretty impressive. A kind lady in the building showed us how to get to the Upper Rotunda and we set up our table. I don't want to brag, but I think it was the best one there!
                                                Also, we looked mega awesome and classy.

 We met lots of representatives from various organizations and businesses around Wy. Co. and made plenty of new community contacts that I am so stoked to form a relationship with. My favorite happened to be a Public Affairs guy from a coal company, when he offered us money this was my initial response,

After composing myself, and having a conversation with a woman from one of the Community Colleges in Wy. Co., I have started formulating a plan to get community members serving community members, which would definitely inspire some hope here. I hope it all works out, though it might not since every time Carly and I saw him after that we tried to be super flattering,

Though we were REALLY trying to be genuine friends with him as well, there are few people in Wyoming County our age that we relate to. But this is probably an accurate representation of his reaction,

Besides the Coal guy, we met the people in charge of the Wyoming County Historical Museum, who are willing to open the museum for tours to our volunteers! We met women from other non-profits who will be amazing to work with, and one of the Head Honchos for the Hatfield and McCoy Trail Tours. He offered us a free day tour on ATVs!

 I am so beyond stoked for this future venture. I've realized that if you work at a non-profit that is benefiting the community, if you make an effort to be a part of the community and make friends, you will receive lots of perks. Oh, but I forgot the best part! We made a fantastic and new friend who is ONLY TWO YEARS OLDER, and very very awkward. He worked in the basement of the Capitol building and caught our attention by making fun of how two state senators were walking ahead of him. He continued to make awkward statements, tell us about his life, and teach us how to make secure passwords. It was great to laugh that much, and to have a great conversation with a human being who actually realized and accepted his awkwardness.

After hanging out in the Capitol Building, we were invited to the Governor's Mansion! How many people do you know that get to go chill with the governor in his mansion?!? Well, I am now one of them.

We toured the mansion, loved the music, hung out with our new friends/community contacts, and ate lots of "heavy hors d'oeuvres." It was a beautiful and magical experience. There was pasta that was served out of a  WHEEL OF PARMESAN CHEESE! Talk about the greatest experience ever. 

The drive back was uneventful, but I would like to think that Mary and Nicki were definitely jealous of all the swag we got. We received super nice (and huge) umbrellas that say "Wyoming County" on them, neon cups from the EDA, a Wy.Co. sticker, and seat cushions. Talk about hitting the jack pot!

After waiting so long for Wyoming County Day, having it be over is kind of depressing, but it has been so cool to be emailing and planning things out with my new friends. Ironically, Carly and I have gone back to our casual work attire, sporting snapbacks, hoodies, and jeans, very different from our fantastic business attire yesterday.

Look at the pretty, gold roof! It really is the most beautiful Capitol Building that I have ever been in, or seen.

Obvious Happy Note: We get an Easter Break and will be leaving Wyoming County on Thursday, Carly and I have been doing our happy dances and high-fiving as often as we remember!

I just loved every one of these dances! But our roommates always look at us like this,

They don't understand what it's like to be from the Great State of Michigan, and the Awesome Town of Kalamazoo. If they did, they'd want to come back with us too!

If you have successfully made it through my extremely long blog, CONGRATULATIONS! I am quite happy about life and wanted to fill everyone in on the awesomeness that is surrounding me!

Love, Blessings, and Rockets,
Amber

What a Week.

The past few days have been ALL over the place. There's been poor communication, lots of stress, and crazy stuff all over the place. Not my idea of a good time, but I know that it is all helping me to grow and form into a better version of myself.

But through all of this I try to remember who I'm here for and the incredible people that I get to serve and be surrounded by everyday. So, here is a list of things that have made me happy, or realize why I am here over the past week.

1. We had an incredible group of volunteers last week who reminded me of my fraternity boys and knew how to play Euchre.

2. I watched a work crew of volunteers say goodbye to the family they had served and it was such an incredible moment. It was a true testament that serving brings you close to those whom you serve. There were tears and such gratitude on both sides, it helped me to remember how blessed I am to be a part of this work.

3. Got to start a garden with Carly on Sunday, which is incredible. But while we were digging, hammering, etc., a woman pulled her car over just to thank us for the work that we are doing in the county. She had tears in her eyes as she spoke of all the pain and suffering in Wyoming County, and how she knew that we had made a choice to move down here to make a difference and to instill hope. It was true affirmation to have a complete stranger stop her car just to thank us, though we've never fixed her home, and will probably never run into her again.

This is before I broke my shovel...

4. I love my siblings. I got to Skype with Mason on Sunday night and it was so great to talk to my baby brother, who isn't really a baby anymore. He always stuns me with his "wise beyond his years" wisdom. He reminded me that life isn't always going to be perfect, to stay positive, and love the life that I have. This chat also include a lot of laughs and Anchorman quotes (of course!). It was exactly what I needed.

 Isn't he so handsome?

5. I have an incredibly wise mother. She gives the best advice on how to handle any given situation, even if that's not the way that I wanted to go about whatever problem. I took her advice this week, along with another of my roommates and it went over way better than if I would have gone about everything my way.

6. I love spending time with my roommates, any of them. It's always fun, lighthearted, and uplifting. Carly and I are extremely alike in about a thousand ways, so it gets a little scary sometimes, but at least we have each other to laugh at our jokes. Nicki is an incredible soul, who is actually a misplaced hippie just looking for her forest and yurt. While Mary has the energy enough for 100 five year-old kids, with ADD, which is a VERY good thing. She actually makes us be social in life when we think we want to sleep.

Who wouldn't want to bond with this group of crazy hellions?

7. In January I found this County Info Day thing at the Capitol and registered our Center for it. Carly and I are going on Monday and I cannot express my excitement. It will be a great day to talk to WV politicians about ASP and the work that we are doing in Wyoming County.

Can't wait to spend Monday and the long drive to and from K-zoo with this girl!

8. THEN, three days later, I get to head back to Kalamazoo for an Easter Break. I cannot wait to go home, be in the land of cell phone reception, and to be with my friends and grandparents. It will be great to get a break and to be able to spend some much needed time with some of the most uplifting people in my life.

9. I get to help my best friend in the whole entire world go wedding dress shopping while I'm home. It's a terrifying, yet exciting, thing. I cried when she tried her first one on in December. Hopefully I can keep my composure during this outing. :)

Well, that's my life. The good, the struggles (kind of), and the joys that my life happens to be filled with. It's really hard to let the negatives get you down when you are surrounded by gorgeous scenery, amazing community contacts, volunteers, and families to serve. It's always incredible to know that I have a family that loves me (and misses me), along with friends who haven't forgotten about me entirely. ;)

Some videos to brighten YOUR day:
I love Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, plus this song is so up tempo.

One of my favorite 90s Bands redoing their most favorite song better than the original.

And finally, a video to make you laugh. Poor brother can't be a single lady :(

Love, Blessings, and Rockets,

Amber

After All This Time.

After forever, I have finally decided that it might be a good idea for me to start blogging again, not that I was ever that avid with it anyways. Well, except for with Xanga, because that was as legit as AIM as a 12 year old. One of my roommates is incredible at keeping up with her blog and it makes me feel like a definite under achiever.

Anyways, LIFE UPDATE.

I live in Appalachia (App-a-latch-a), more specifically in Wyoming County, West Virginia. I am surrounded by mountains, rivers, and all sorts of trees that will be turning green any day now. I work for a non-profit that fixes homes in the county and through it I have met incredible volunteers and families.

Sometimes my job is like this:

But most of the time it's pretty awesome:

Though, this is also an accurate fact:

I have three fantastic roommates/co-workers who make my days great, a church branch who loves on me constantly, and I get to serve people in one of the most gorgeous areas in the world.

If only I was closer to the amazing family that I have and my fantastic friends who are still great enough to keep in touch during my stint in no man's land. Having no cell phone service has been tough to get use to, but I'm starting to wonder if I will ever be so connected to one again once I'm back in the land of Cell Phone Reception.

But I do get little miracles and spurts of awesomeness. Like Friday when I drove to Beckley to get groceries for our new volunteers. Not only was it a beautiful day, the windows were down, I had a great driving playlist, caffeine, and I finally found the one thing I wait the entire year for STARBURST JELLY BEANS. Be still my soul, that was a perfectly happy and content Amber Renee.

A lot of other really great moments and memories have already happened here over the last few months, and I am positive that many more will take place before my Fellowship is done. Also, with a new found love for tumblr, I will have to do a lot more gifs. They make my life almost as happy as pinterest does.

Love, Blessings, & Rockets,
Amber