Thursday, March 05, 2009

A Long Awaited Update











It has been quite sometime since I have made any one-way correspondence with my readers, although they probably don't frequent my site any longer since my absence. However, lives change so much in a week and it has been a year or more since I have relayed my happenings. The best news I must share is that on September 13th, 2008 I was married to the love of my life, Benjamin Shockey. The wedding day was absolutely magical and serene. I am so thankful for Benjamin and the love he bestows. He brings me joy each day!

Currently, we are living with Benjamin's parents and attempting to grow our wallets. Benjamin's current profession is that of a baseball player. He is a pitcher and to say that he works hard at what he does would be an understatement. He is out on the field everyday throwing, working out, tweaking his mechanics, running, and completing 400 lunges every other day! It makes me weak in the knees just pondering it! Yes, that was me attempting a little repartee. This is a great example of why he received the Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award from the Golden Baseball League. I'm allowed to boast! I'm his #1 fan and that's what people do when they talk about their heroes! :)

So, you may be asking yourself what I have been doing? Nothing. Again, attempting a little humor. We'll see if you catch on by the end of this post. On the contrary, I have been working part-time (because there is nothing else to be had) and teaching art to a young autistic girl one day a week. I have been painting canvases left and right (please don't make me say, "get it?") and assuming the very difficult job of reading from the Lord of the Rings to Benjamin each night. Yes, you guessed correctly, that's not a difficult job at all! It's been great to discuss the writing with him since I have to put off Graduate school a while longer and I feel as though my brain is turning to mush. My part-time job lacks challenge and therefore I feel utterly useless. Woe is me!

Change is about to happen though and it's received with open arms! Benjamin and I will be moving to California in the beginning of May so that Benjamin can play another season with the California Chico Outlaws! Please don't blame me, they didn't consult me with the name! If they had, it would have been much more literary and fans would have diminished due to lack of understanding. No, that was not a cut on the fans, merely a cut on people who think reading is stupid (cause they're stupid). I'm sorry, that was really boorish! :) I never waste an opportunity to stress that reading is important and I'm not talking about magazines, because we all know that people don't care about politics, literature, and the world, they just care about how they're supposed to look and what Brad, Jen, and Angelina are up to! I'm talking about a book, essay, or manuscript; something that awakens all the brain cells I know you're all storing somewhere in there!

How do I get so off-topic (and don't reply that it's because I'm a girl)? So, Benjamin and I are about to embark upon a mini adventure, but let's hope it turns into much, much more! Let us hope that Benjamin will continually improve in baseball and that he makes it all the way to the majors. That would be something, now wouldn't it? What a ministry that would be! Baseball is quite a different culture of its own and there are definitely men there that need the Lord. I'm thankful that the Lord decides our course and will use us where He needs us most.

Well, I hate to disappoint you all, but that's really all I wanted to relay. I know it's a far cry from being descriptive but really, I think short and sweet is best. Yes, I'm being funny again. Blessings to you all and most definitely keep us in your prayers!

Rachel (Snow) Shockey

Monday, July 16, 2007

This Is How It Goes.

I've been sitting here in the exact same spot and pretty soon this cushion will have my rear written all over it. Watching videos on YouTube of my long-lost home. I'm meloncholy and cold. How does one describe it, this feeling I have? I remember excitement coupled with fear and anxiety. The damp air and the burning back. I remember the sleepless nights, the tears I cried, and the miles I walked. Oh but the sounds and the sights, the familiarity. The people, the cobblestones, the never-ending supply of hot brewed tea. I imagine myself sitting there in my room, at the kitchen table, on the sofa with a book, walking to church each Sunday night; I want that back.

Life's full of choices aye? Wish I could have it all. Wish I could find myself holding onto that pole on bus number 7, climbing that same large hill, and coming home. Guess I'll never be the same. It's so hard to let go...

Monday, June 04, 2007


Monday, March 19, 2007

Yes, I've typed in my journal

I am sadly disappointed in my lack of writing over the course of these two months. I believe that December 15th was my last post and that, my good friends, is a tragedy indeed. I barely find time to convey to my parents the happenings of my life, let alone sit at a computer and type. I promise that I will not bore you with the little details of my life that I so aptly find myself stressing over, but instead I will say that this semester back at Warner has been an adjustment. It is drastically different from my previous semester abroad. The challenges are different, actually-I wouldn't call it different-I would call it all fluff. That's right, fluff is the best word I can come up with at the moment. Instead of reading and writing continually I am working three jobs, have 15 credit hours (and Communication classes require many additional hours for projects), and balancing my church duties as well as my relationships with others. So, there's a lot of stuff, a lot of fluff, or as some like to call it-busy work! Basically what I am saying is that the challenges are much different this semester and drives home even more the desire for graduation! Oh that glorious day! Hahaha

Well...this was a very informational five minutes of typing. I promise it will be better next time, I just wanted everyone to know that I am still alive and kickin'! To be continued . . .

Friday, December 15, 2006

My Continued Life After Oxford

It's hard to believe that in just a day it will be a week since I flew away from England. When I wake up in the morning, I keep expecting to open my eyes and see my blue comforter or the high ceilings in my room at The Vines. I went walking in the drizzle to Warner's campus and I donned my raincoat and flipped open my umbrella, but it wasn't the same. I expected to see the cobblestone pathways and the little narrow streets that wind up-and-down and side-to-side. Instead I saw the flat, bleached-out pavement and palm trees of Florida. I don't miss the crowds and the smoke but I miss the quaintness of Oxford, and I miss walking in the drizzle.

As it is, life goes on. I had a nightmare last night that I still had papers to write for Oxford. Thankfully, Benjamin had yummy pancakes waiting for me to cheer me up! :) It's been so nice to come and stay with the Shockeys for a while before Benjamin and I head for Ohio. I have missed them all so much. I don't think I've laughed so hard in one day as I did yesterday. Benjamin and Daniel are so hilariously entertaining and it's fun to join their stupidity. :) Benjamin gave me two birthday gifts today: runts (my favorite candy) and Leigh Nash's new cd, Blue on Blue (Benjamin and I love the song, My Idea of Heaven). He is so sweet; they were the perfect gifts! :)

I'm looking forward to this next semester back at Warner. I am taking an independent study with Dr. Sheneman on English Theory. I attended a lecture at Oxford called Practicing Criticism so Dr. S thought it would be good to teach me more. I didn't know what the lecturer was saying half the time, so it will be good to study it one-on-one with Dr. S. Please be praying for my living arrangements, I don't know where Warner can put me on-campus and I don't know of anywhere off-campus that I could live and it be affordable and pleasant. Well, I've spent enough time on the computer today, I will save whatever else I have to say for the next journal entry. May you all have a blessed week! :)

Friday, December 08, 2006

Reflections of Oxford

It has finally come: freedom from my studies at Oxford! :) It has been the most strenuous and the most unbelievable experience that I've had thus far. Easy will never be the word to describe my time here. It has been a stressful time, full of tears and sleepless days. The amount of work and the time in which to accomplish it has been my most challenging task; but the knowledge and experiences I take back with me were worth it. I must say that my scheduled professional massage sounds so amazingly wonderful! :)

One thing that I have learned this term is to truly glorify God in everything, even school work. Whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord! I must say that I haven't always taken that approach, especially when I was literally shaking with stress. God wants us to glorify Him by being diligent students in our studies but there comes a point when it can detract from God. That point was my enemy. I desire to find my Lord in everything and I have found Him in prayer. On those nights when I was completely distraught and angry at my work, my only release was prayer. My favorite experience this semester was when I walked to tutorials and lectures and spent the time in prayer. I realize that you were all going on with your lives while I've been away; you were never far from my thoughts. Prayer was my most precious connection to all of you during this term. To my utmost sadness I hardly read my Bible this term; but my times of prayer and reflection were just as meaningful and encouraging. God has shown me again how communion with Him through prayer is just as important as the reading of His holy word.

I am so excited to hear what you all have done in my time away and I am excited to share my stories with you, whenever asked. I look forward to seeing you all soon! May you be truly blessed! Break out the lights and bring in the cheer for Christmas is almost here!!!!

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Life on the run

I'm sorry that I haven't been posting anything lately. I am so overwhelmed with work that I have only enough time to write for my papers. I will be done in two weeks! I am very excited to be done and say that I survived a semester at Oxford! :)

I have some more photos, so please follow the links to my new facebook albums:

This is my album from the weekend trip to Austria with my friend, Danielle:

http://warner.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001577&l=c768a&id=186300065

This is my album of my baby nephew, Hayden Michael Snow, born on my birthday!!!:

http://warner.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001587&l=d7f1c&id=186300065

This is my album of SCIO's Thanksgiving celebration (11-25-2006):

http://warner.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001631&l=ab7b5&id=186300065


I hope you enjoy the photos! I will be able to tell you about the events later, either in person or through my journalling. :) Love to all! Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!!

Always in Christ Jesus Our Lord,
Rachel