It's What I Do

Many people are quite shocked to hear that I work at a factory, and on top of that I work at an ammunition factory. It's really not that big of a deal to me, in fact I kind of like the job. The work can get REALLY tedious sometimes, but other than that, I have a lot of fun working there!

Yesterday I was doing the most dangerous job, making the lead balls for the shells. I took a few pictures and thought I'd post them for all to see. As time goes on I'm sure I'll take more pictures of the various tasks that I do.

These first two pictures are of the ball making machines (I don't know what else to call them). Large hunks of lead are placed in the top of the machine and are melted. The melting point of lead is 621.5 degrees Fahrenheit. As the lead melts any impurities rise to the top, which, depending on what is in there, gives off a rainbow effect, it's kinda cool!

Once the lead is heated the lead is then poured into molds for the balls. This tends to take quite awhile, because only two balls at a time can be made. Depending on which machine is used it takes between 3 and 7 seconds per 2 balls. Maybe that doesn't sound like much, but when there are several hundred or a thousand balls to make, it takes FOREVER.


*****This first machine is the fastest. All that is needed is to fill the molds, wait for the lead to harden and then pull the lever, and wahlah! two balls are made. It is also the safest of the machines.

*****The second machine is the most dangerous and hardest to work, for several reason. First of all, the lead pot is much lower, which makes it easier for lead to come in contact with me! Not a good thing! Secondly, it requires much more hands on with the heat and lead. Sitting on top of the machine is a set of molds. I have to take that and place it under the machine and pull a lever to fill up the mold. After the mold is filled I wait until the lead is hardened, about 2 seconds. I then have to hit a lever with a rod to break the mold open and the balls then fall out.

Sometimes the balls are deformed in some way and lead gets onto parts of the mold where it shouldn't be. This is where it gets really dangerous. I have to use a little screw driver to scrape the hot lead off the mold. I usually am wearing leather gloves, but for this part I have to take the gloves off because they get in the way. So pretty much my bare hand is maybe 4 inches from over 600 degree metal! One wrong move and I could be burned pretty badly!


*****I have to wear safety glasses, a leather apron, and gloves! It's a funny picture, I know, and I laugh every time I have to put on that wonderful outfit, but at least I haven't hurt myself yet!

Love Never Fails

Love is not proud,
Love does not boast,
Love after all
Matters the most.

Love does not run,
Love does not hide,
Love does not keep,
Locked inside.

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you.

Love will sustain,
Love will provide,
Love will not cease
At the end of time.

Love will protect,
Love always hopes,
Love still believes
When you don't.

Love is the arms that are holding you,
Love never fails you.

When my heart won't make a sound,
When I can't turn back around,
When the sky is falling down,
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this.

Love is right here,
Love is alive
Love is the way,
The truth, the life

Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to,
Love never fails you.

~Brandon Heath

So Good!

The past week in-a-half have been pretty amazing! Not only has everything with Kyle been pretty awesome but God has also been blessing in other ways as well.

I was offered 40 hours a week at the ammunition factory for the summer. That will be a HUGE help. Between that and working several hours a week at LEE's I'll be pretty busy and making pretty decent money, which will make my financial situation fairly easy for the following semester. ;) I was able to quit my job at McAlister's because of that which will make my stress level go down somewhat!

Also in the past week or so several people have given me money to help with my school bill! As of tomorrow morning I will not owe the college anything, and I'll actually be a little bit ahead!! God is SOOOO GOOD! He's taught me a lot about trusting in Him, and it's not been an easy thing to do, but it was a well taught lesson and I'm glad He was willing to take the time to teach it to me.


Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

~John H. Sammis

Well....

This weekend my entire life took a turn for the better. It was quite an unexpected turn, but I'm not complaining! ;)

As I said in my previous blog post, Kyle was coming to my house over the weekend. Well, he came, and things went a lot better than either one of us expected. We had a really good time Friday evening, going to the jail Bible study and then my entire family stayed up until after midnight just talking and having a good time. Saturday morning we went to the jail ministry planning meeting which was at a coffee shop, and Kyle had his first latte! He liked it!! :) That afternoon we went target practicing. Yet another first for Kyle. He did really well, I think it's just beginners luck! :P That afternoon we did some shopping, and another stop at the coffee shop! ;) Saturday night we had some friends over for a birthday party for dad. We had a nice meal, and good cake, and then played Apples to Apples.

Sunday we went to church and then had people over for lunch. One of the guys that came over, Kevin Bronson, is a world champion in karate. He has told my parents in the past, and told me that if anyone ever tries to hurt me, he'll take care of them. So he decided to show Kyle how he could die in a second. It was pretty exciting!! We kinda relaxed for the afternoon and then went to church that evening.

Awhile back I had had the crazy idea of going to Steak 'n Shake at 2 am for their "happy hour". So Samuel, Kyle, and I stayed up until then. Samuel was busy playing on his computer, and Kyle and I got to just sit and talk without any interruptions for almost 4 solid hours. It was amazing. Steak 'n Shake was awesome! We were the only people in the restaurant! It was crazy! :)

Monday dad and I both had a doctors appointment at an orthopedic doctor. So we were all up and around fairly early. The night before Kyle and I had both come to the realization that there was more than just friendship between the 2 of us. (I KNOW it took me longer to realize it than it took him). So Monday morning he talked to dad, and asked for his permission to date me. :) Dad said, "Yes!" And then Kyle asked me, and I also said, "Yes!" So it's official! We're both really happy, as are both of our families. It's pretty amazing!

*****Monday we baked...and licked the beaters!*****

*****Kyle and Hannah*****

It's Been Awhile...

I just recently realized how long it's been since I posted about the happenings of my life. Probably because the happenings of my life haven't been all that exciting lately, but I will at least attempt to give you a few details of my rather bland existence.

School has been going pretty well. I'm enjoying all of my classes, however, I'm once again struggling in science this semester. I'm taking Biology, which is a subject I love, but for whatever reason I'm having a hard time getting good grades. US History II is by far my favorite class. This semester is pretty much focused on 20th century history, which is very interesting. My instructor LOVES history, therefore the class is jammed packed with all sorts of historical facts. It's not exactly taught in the most traditional way, but I've learned more in that class than in any of my other history classes. My other classes are also going well, nothing extremely out of the ordinary happening in them.

Work is not going as well as I was hoping it would be. I'm working 2 jobs, but I'm simply not getting enough hours/money to make ends meet. So I'm in the hunt for another job. I had a really good interview at a trucking warehouse on Friday, I'm supposed to hear back from them this week, and I have an interview set up tomorrow at a place that manufactures ammunition for police officers. I had a phone interview today, and pretty much the guy said that when I come in tomorrow to fill out the application, and meet them, if they like me and I like them then it's a deal and I can start ASAP. It has really good pay, and I could get a raise in 90 days! If I can get both jobs then I'll quit my other 2 jobs, but if I can only get one or the other, then I'm going to have to keep my other 2 jobs. So pretty much I'll be working either 2 or 3 jobs through out the rest of the semester. Oh the joy! Either way it's looking more and more like I'll be staying down here in the Louisville area for the summer. I really want to go home, but it's better to stay down here where I have work versus going home where I have none. I'm hoping to be able to go home for a vacation at some point, but if any of you guys so desire to come down here and visit me, I won't be complaining! (hint, hint)

Next on the list: social life, or rather a lack of social life. Pretty much since I started working 2 jobs I haven't had as much of a social life, mainly because I work Friday nights and all day on Saturday. I've managed to hit up a few college and high school basketball games, which have been quite delightful, and I did get to watch the Super Bowl, even though my beloved Colt's lost. But other than that, chillaxin with the girls has been pretty much non-existent.

In family news I'm going home for a visit in 11 days! THAT is exciting! I haven't been home since Christmas break, and I'm ready to get away from school and be home. Daddy is turning 50 on March 6 (Shhh...don't tell him I said anything) so we are gonna have a little birthday party for him. Really, it's nothing exciting, just a family affair, but it's still gonna be nice to be able to celebrate it with him - even if it is a few days late. Also, Kyle is on Spring break, so he's coming out for the weekend. It will be a blast, and I'm sure it will be WAY too short!

In family ministry news, Samuel is getting on a plane tomorrow to fly to Florida. He is going to Missionary Flights International in Fort Pierce. He'll be spending time learning all sorts of missionary aviation stuff from them, as well as going to Haiti for a few days! Please pray for his safety, and that the Lord will use this in his life to draw Samuel closer to Him. Also, pray for mom as she will have to put him on the plane from Detroit to FL all by himself! ;)
Next weekend my parents are going to Illinois for some Reformers Unanimous training. They are hoping that this will give them more insight to the jail ministry, and working with people who have some pretty heavy addictions.

So that's been my life lately. Hopefully soon I will be posting about what the Lord has personally been doing in my life. It's been pretty rough, but through it all He has taught me a lot and is continuing the lessons.