Saturday, December 19, 2009
Heather's Graduation (we're all done!!)
We were sooo happy to celebrate with Heather on this great accomplishment in her life. Even though Heather was thrilled to get her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology, I think my parents were more excited that all of their children have received an undergraduate degree and come out of college debt free! We had a wonderful day of celebrating, with meeting some of her friends at a small party honoring her, walking the campus to see where she goes to class everyday, and cheer her on as she received her degree. Heather will be going on to pursue her master's degree at Clarion University next semester. We are so proud of you Heather!!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Daddy McD, Ph. D
Check out that hood!!
Where did all of your money go Mom and Dad?? All your kids are graduates!!
The whole family!!
The official graduate!!
Getting "hooded" 
Look at all those graduates. Hard to believe that was me 6 months ago!
Processing into the ceremony...
It was beautifully decorated for Christmas!
Today was a very special day for my dad. I know he has been anticipating this day for a long time now! We celebrated with him as he officially received his Ph. D in Rhetoric and Philosophy at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He has been diligently working for almost 4 years (most of time he held a full-time job as well) to complete this prestegious degree. His official thesis and dissertation as listed in the program was Presence and Voice: Understanding the Tensions Over the American Church's Rhetorical Relationship to Its Culture Through the Writings of Origen, Chrysostom, and Augustine. HOLY COW! (Don't really know what much of that means...) He is one smart cookie, and we were all very excited to celebrate and rejoice with him.
We got up super early to drive to Pittsburgh and arrive at the Baccalaureate on time. It was a beautiful service and was perfect for this season. After that, we were quickly on our way to the Polumbo Center where the graduation ceremony was held. The commencement ceremony wasn't very long (only 2 hours), but it was very nice. The campus pastor closed the service with an appropriate prayer saying, "Bless us as we go in peace, and Lord, please give all of the new graduates a really good job. That pays well. Thank you." Everyone chuckled.
I am really proud of my dad. He is so smart and loves to learn, grasp, and teach others about material that is very difficult to understand. I know that whatever he pursues next in his career, he will be utterly successful.
Monday, December 14, 2009
An Early Christmas Present
Dear friends and family,
As of today, I am no longer "unemployed." I have officially accepted a position at the Verizon Corporate Center near Pittsburgh, PA as a customer service representative. I don't really know how to describe all of the feelings that have hit me today. Relief, happiness, and joy are just a few! It has been almost 6 months to the day since I drove from Disney to my home in Butler. Wow, there have been alot of things that have happened since then!
I don't really know how to say thank you. I know so many of you have been on your knees specifically praying for a job for me. It is an overwhelming feeling to know that people were in prayer daily for such a concern of mine. I now can see that God answers prayers. My faith has been tested alot during this time-asking the questions, "Why, How, When, and Where God?" Needless to say, I am learning more and more everyday that our Lord is Sovereign over all. He listens to the prayers of His people and answers them in His time.
I am grateful for this opportunity and plan to work as hard as I can to make it worthwhile. Thank you for rejoicing with me!!
On another note-today is Paul Shadday's (Joe's dad) birthday! He is a very special man, and I know his family loves and respects him very much. I am thankful for the impact he has had on my life in such a short time of knowing him. Happy Birthday Poppy!
As of today, I am no longer "unemployed." I have officially accepted a position at the Verizon Corporate Center near Pittsburgh, PA as a customer service representative. I don't really know how to describe all of the feelings that have hit me today. Relief, happiness, and joy are just a few! It has been almost 6 months to the day since I drove from Disney to my home in Butler. Wow, there have been alot of things that have happened since then!
I don't really know how to say thank you. I know so many of you have been on your knees specifically praying for a job for me. It is an overwhelming feeling to know that people were in prayer daily for such a concern of mine. I now can see that God answers prayers. My faith has been tested alot during this time-asking the questions, "Why, How, When, and Where God?" Needless to say, I am learning more and more everyday that our Lord is Sovereign over all. He listens to the prayers of His people and answers them in His time.
I am grateful for this opportunity and plan to work as hard as I can to make it worthwhile. Thank you for rejoicing with me!!
On another note-today is Paul Shadday's (Joe's dad) birthday! He is a very special man, and I know his family loves and respects him very much. I am thankful for the impact he has had on my life in such a short time of knowing him. Happy Birthday Poppy!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Goodies with my Grandmas
(pictures coming soon-I can't find a way to upload them from my camera's memory!)
A few days ago, I found a kit of Christmas goodies that I though would be a fun treat to make with my grandmas. After church, I baked a batch of rice krispie treats and waited for the right time to go to Newhaven (the assisted living facility where they live). My mom and dad came too-and we were ready to decorate Christmas treats out of rice krispies!
We had a great time decorating, and we even gave them out to some of the other residents and friends of my grandmothers. It was so nice to have time to spend with them before Christmas, and I really enjoyed getting to do a fun activity with them. I have so many memories of baking Christmas goodies with my grandmas growing up. I know that they are not physically able to do that anymore, so I really enjoyed bringing the treats to them!
A few days ago, I found a kit of Christmas goodies that I though would be a fun treat to make with my grandmas. After church, I baked a batch of rice krispie treats and waited for the right time to go to Newhaven (the assisted living facility where they live). My mom and dad came too-and we were ready to decorate Christmas treats out of rice krispies!
We had a great time decorating, and we even gave them out to some of the other residents and friends of my grandmothers. It was so nice to have time to spend with them before Christmas, and I really enjoyed getting to do a fun activity with them. I have so many memories of baking Christmas goodies with my grandmas growing up. I know that they are not physically able to do that anymore, so I really enjoyed bringing the treats to them!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas Cookie Baking
Tonight, my mom and I decided to start making Christmas cookies. Every year, she usually makes a wide assortment of our favorite treats for the holiday season. Unfortunatly, since I have been in college for the past 4 years, I didn't get home until close to Christmas Eve and missed most of the baking. However, this year, I am in the house and able to help out! I love making all of the different types of cookies, treats, and party mixes. We started with Christmas cut-out cookies, the most essential of all holiday treats. The cookies are not decorated yet, since we only started with the dough and the baking tonight. It is always so hard for me to let the cookies survive to the decorating. Even without the icing, they look so delicious! I enjoyed spending time with my mom and getting to participate in some of the festivites this year so far.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Let It Be Said of Us
It has been 6 months since I moved home to Butler from completing my internship at Disney and finishing college. Wow, time sure flies! It seems as though I move to Florida just yesterday and that graduation just occurred. Moving home has been difficult for a variety of reasons. Many changes happened while I was in college and away at Disney. However, I am so thankful for loving parents who have opened their arms and welcomed me back into their house after being gone for 4 years.
One of the changes has been especially hard to cope with. When I first moved to Anderson, I had the ability to do something I have never done before in my life: choose a church home. It was so nice to know that wherever I went, no one would know who I was, who my dad was, or try to be nice to me because of my dad's position. I finally chose a church home after my freshman year and loved being involved with the music and college program.
It has been interesting being at home. For my entire life, I equated being at home with going to a church every Sunday in which my father was the senior pastor. Whatever church he pastored, we were always in the building from early morning to late at night. Throughout my childhood, my family spent many hours working in the nursery, preparing special music for Sunday morning, or putting together bulletins and slideshows for worship. Going home this time was different. We no longer have a church home-and to make it even more interesting-we still live in the same town in which my father was a pastor. I have had a very difficult time learning to cope with not being "known" as the pastor's daughter.
I started attending a church somewhat regularly called Community Alliance Church. They have great worship, and their faith is so sincere. The doctrines that this church projects are not always equal to the ones that I grew up learning, but I know that the people are very genuine and love the Lord (which is the most important). Today, the pastor talked about a subject that struck me. He focused his sermon on living our salvation to the fullest. We were chosen as God's children, and who are we to walk around in contempt and depression about life's woes? God has given us one life to live, and He holds the master plan for my life in His hands. Life is never easy: it never has been (since the Fall of Man) and never will be (until the Second Coming). However, God chose me to be a blessing in this life and to bless others with the love, kindness, grace, and mercy He has given me so freely. At the end of the service, the pastor showed a video with the song "The Blessing" playing in the background. The song touched me immensly. I may not think that Butler, PA is where I need to be right now, but in God's master plan, He knows that this is the only place He wants me to be. So in the midst of it all, I will chose to be a blessing to those all around me.
Phillippians 4:11b "...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
Look up this song on youtube or on i-tunes. It will make you think twice about the attitude you portray day to day! I know it did for me!
"Let it Be Said of Us" -John Waller
Let it be said of us while we walked among the living
Let it be said of us by the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us that we lived to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us that we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us by the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life
This day you set life, you set death right before us, this day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now and we willchoose to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us that our hearts belonged to Jesus
Let it be said of us that we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us that our heritage is blessing for life
One of the changes has been especially hard to cope with. When I first moved to Anderson, I had the ability to do something I have never done before in my life: choose a church home. It was so nice to know that wherever I went, no one would know who I was, who my dad was, or try to be nice to me because of my dad's position. I finally chose a church home after my freshman year and loved being involved with the music and college program.
It has been interesting being at home. For my entire life, I equated being at home with going to a church every Sunday in which my father was the senior pastor. Whatever church he pastored, we were always in the building from early morning to late at night. Throughout my childhood, my family spent many hours working in the nursery, preparing special music for Sunday morning, or putting together bulletins and slideshows for worship. Going home this time was different. We no longer have a church home-and to make it even more interesting-we still live in the same town in which my father was a pastor. I have had a very difficult time learning to cope with not being "known" as the pastor's daughter.
I started attending a church somewhat regularly called Community Alliance Church. They have great worship, and their faith is so sincere. The doctrines that this church projects are not always equal to the ones that I grew up learning, but I know that the people are very genuine and love the Lord (which is the most important). Today, the pastor talked about a subject that struck me. He focused his sermon on living our salvation to the fullest. We were chosen as God's children, and who are we to walk around in contempt and depression about life's woes? God has given us one life to live, and He holds the master plan for my life in His hands. Life is never easy: it never has been (since the Fall of Man) and never will be (until the Second Coming). However, God chose me to be a blessing in this life and to bless others with the love, kindness, grace, and mercy He has given me so freely. At the end of the service, the pastor showed a video with the song "The Blessing" playing in the background. The song touched me immensly. I may not think that Butler, PA is where I need to be right now, but in God's master plan, He knows that this is the only place He wants me to be. So in the midst of it all, I will chose to be a blessing to those all around me.
Phillippians 4:11b "...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
Look up this song on youtube or on i-tunes. It will make you think twice about the attitude you portray day to day! I know it did for me!
"Let it Be Said of Us" -John Waller
Let it be said of us while we walked among the living
Let it be said of us by the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us that we lived to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us that we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us by the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life
This day you set life, you set death right before us, this day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now and we willchoose to be a blessing for life
Let it be said of us that our hearts belonged to Jesus
Let it be said of us that we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us that our heritage is blessing for life
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Dinner with Mandy
Even Texas Roadhouse was decorated for Christmas!Tonight, Mandy and I met for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It has been a while since we have been able to get together because she is so busy at school and teaching violin lessons! We had such a great time talking and catching up. The food was great too! We even ran in to a few friends of ours from high school and our summer camp job that we worked at for the past 3 summers. It is so strange to see people that I know from high school and to see how far we have come from that point. I really enjoy spending time with Mandy and am thankful for a friendship like the one we have!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...
My little college tree. It's just the right size!So...Christmas has definitely started at the McDaniel's. Just yesterday, we decided to pull out all of the decorations and put them up around the house. While in the basement, I found all of my decorations from my apartment last year! Even though I don't have much space in my room for a tree, I decided to squeeze it in next to my but window. I couldn't help but want to see and play with all of the wonderful ornaments that I have received and collected over the past few years. I am convinced that is one of my favorite parts of putting up decorations-pulling out each ornament and remembering the story behind it. It's also fun to push buttons and watch the ornaments play Christmas songs or light up the dark. I am thrilled for Christmas this year!!!
On another note, I had my last interview with Verizon today. I had applied about a week and a half ago for a Representative position in their Cranberry office, just outside of Pittsburgh. They offer great benefits, including phone discounts and tuition assistance if I wanted to go back and get a Master's degree (which I have been thinking about!). They are also a very large company, that would afford me the availability to move and transfer to different locations. I feel pretty confident about the job, and am looking forward to hearing from them next week. I am so thankful that God has given me a peace about the situation, and I am looking forward to all He has in store for the upcoming months!!
On another note, I had my last interview with Verizon today. I had applied about a week and a half ago for a Representative position in their Cranberry office, just outside of Pittsburgh. They offer great benefits, including phone discounts and tuition assistance if I wanted to go back and get a Master's degree (which I have been thinking about!). They are also a very large company, that would afford me the availability to move and transfer to different locations. I feel pretty confident about the job, and am looking forward to hearing from them next week. I am so thankful that God has given me a peace about the situation, and I am looking forward to all He has in store for the upcoming months!!
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