Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Memorial Day

Enter alarm at 9:30 am.

Worked from 11-4.
Napped.
Went to store with Anne and Kayla.
Ate s'mores and played four-on-a-couch with a whole MESSA people. Anne, Kayla, Aubrey, Chet, Gus, Megan, Kyle, Chris, Pete, Bagley, Matt, and Noelle.
Talked about bookery and ridiculousness with Anne, Aubrey, Chet, and Gus.

End scene.

I have some footage I'll edit and put up tomorrow. I'm also applying to a newly-opened position at RJ Baskett Middle School! Pray me in! :D

Monday, May 28, 2012


It's 10:42 am and 84 degrees. The high today is a delicious 92 degrees. 

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Harry Potter brings up some philosophizing

The quintessential moment in Harry Potter -- the moment he realizes he must die and walks towards his death. I sobbed as I watched the movie moment with Kayla, Kyla, Anne, and Rachel. I am utterly convinced that self-sacrifice and resurrection are the ULTIMATE plot points. The most epic moves a character could make. I think the depth of these two concepts have been planted far within us. We respect stories like this and love like this and long to be a part of something so... much. So weighty. 

It's ridiculously fascinating that we are. 

A pause occurs in Harry Potter. Right after Harry reveals that he is alive by jumping out of Hagrid's arms, the crowd of people that believed in him stare. When this happened, I said out loud, "GO! He's alive! Move!" The audience wants the "good guys" to react and band behind Harry. 

I pull the "screen" back farther, into big-picture reality, and see a supernatural audience watching the Church as they pause before the reality that Christ is risen. I think heaven spends a lot of time shouting excitedly, "He's alive! MOVE!" knowing that we have a gap of time to make an impact.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Dishes

So yesterday I walked to Midwest Coffee from Jimmy Johns and ended up swapping stories and doing dishes in the back room for a ride home. How fun!

This morning I woke up and did dishes and read. Now I'm going to attempt my first bike ride to Jimmys. So I can do more dishes! Wish me luck!

... Thanks!

:)

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Stewardship: Pre-Carol or Post-Carol Scrooge?

In church, Chris talked about what our "resources" look like. The stuff with which we should be "good stewards." Resources are material, definitely. But they're also very immaterial: our talents, passions, abilities, time.

Through parables, Christ rebuked the man who buried what he was given. He praised the men who used the gifts -- who took risks and emptied what they were given into something that could pan out. God is not interested in our desire to be safe. God has assured mankind that worry is unnecessary. That safety is in Him.

I, therefore, can pour out my gifts. I must give under the mindset that God is an unquenchable supply of everything and will refill me. I am not meant to present little bits of perfection from myself. Those tidbits of help or love or service help my reputation more than they help those whom I am serving. As someone with a lot of gifts, talents, and abilities, I have been given a responsibility. I am meant to risk my reputation of "that person who is good at a lot." I am meant to rely wholly on God so that my priorities stay straight and so that I am renewed.

I've been wanting to get involved in our church in a more central role. I have dreaded the idea that I would be "stuck" into children's church. I've done that for a decade and wanted to teach on a more mature level. I was thinking about this as Chris began to say things like, "We're afraid to offer our services because we're afraid people will have us use our gifts in a way that we don't enjoy. Or that won't work out. And it will make us look bad." That is so true. I want to be used in just the right way to prove that I'm good at what I do. I'm giving this perspective to God. This summer He will purify me of that. I will offer myself without concern of my reputation. The current implications of this will affect how I am involved with my lovely home, my lovely church, and my hopefully-lovely job.

Do you feel stingy with your resources? 
Do you fully invest without concern for your reputation or the possibility of little failures? 
Do you trust that God will renew your resources if you pour them out freely? 
Summer challenge.
Maybe it could turn into a life challenge. :)

Saturday, May 19, 2012

little, vague resolves with great potential

I want to live. Create. Inspire. Teach. Learn. 
I'm not trying to be artistic or poetic or dramatic. I'm just excited to be alive!
Twenty-two years has felt like forever. I'm anticipating sixty more years and that is a lot of time to LIVE.
The truly tricky part is living selflessly. I know the Key to that, though.
I'm anticipating blogs of thankfulness and pursual of God. Keep your eyes open. 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

I'm going to take a second to brag on Mike. Bike riding, catch-playing, picnik-having, movie watching, cafe-discovering, garden browsing, and cinnamon butter munching makes for a delightful day together. Aside from being a great planner and a great spontaneity-er, he is also very good at being patient with my competitiveness and meeting me halfway so I calm down.

At the park an old lady passed us and said, "Picture perfect" and that defines my whole day.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I liked working alongside Kayla today. Just being buddies. I liked biking through scorching heat with a 1,000 pound pack on my back on a broken bike with Rachel -- that was a memory.

I liked listening to Mike's new knowledge about Albert Einstein's life and works.

I liked exchanging stories with Anne and Matt -- the night owl club.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Pound cake cooks quickly on the outside and slowly on the inside. Why.

Prep

Garlic, sauce, zest, batter is all cleaned up.

A lemon pound cake is in the oven. Steak is marinading in the fridge. Michael is coming tomorrow. :]

Saturday, May 12, 2012

III


Mike and I have been dating for a year now. Three of the most profound lessons I have learned are

1. Want to know more. Don't simplify a beautifully complex, growing, changing person.


2. Notice the small things. Re-discover what you once thought fascinating.


3. Be selflessly loving. Just always.


Mike doesn't make any of these things hard to do. God also helps quite a bit. :]

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Exhausted

A 4-hour class followed by 5 hours of work. It's productive, but I'm a little beat. I'm exhausted.

I need to make the most of my evenings. I'm going to make some Personal Objectives for May term and some Personal Objectives for the summer.

After the 22nd, I'll have an established work schedule between the bookstore and the sandwich shop. I also want to create a garden, sew a quilt, establish half a dozen relationships, write regularly, and read daily. Acquisition of transportation and fall employment will also commence.

Mike's driving up Monday and staying Tuesday! :]

Monday, May 7, 2012

We've got a good thing

Rachel, Anne, Kayla, and I are creeping in a car outside of the student center. Because we don't have internet. And are ordering internet. Over the internet.

Hey, kids! Do you know your strengths from the StrengthsFinder assessment? Here's a pdf that categorizes the strengths. For those who don't use the StrengthsFinder leadership edition, this might be new information.

Speaking of personality things: Catherine and Jessica, our house mates for the month of May, are AWESOME. They're both Woo and Communication and Catherine is also Individualization. Catherine is an ENFJ and Jessica is an ENTJ. They're great.


Saturday, May 5, 2012

I yard saled this morning with Kayla and Rachel. Thank goodness for their motivation to get up. I want to get up, I do. But I need someone with large motivational forearms to lift me over the wall of sleepy-ness that guards me from consciousness... did you follow all the metaphors? Come back to the main trail with me: they woke me up, made me coffee, and drove me places with them. I love them for it. Especially because I got some WICKED shelves. They're not carved ivory or anything, but they'll hold books, craft supplies, and office supplies beautifully. My favorite things. :]

I covered a shift today at work -- I was there from noon til' 11 pm. The highlight of the day was an emergency fix in the landscaping outside of the store. A sprinkler line got cut and at one point I was kneeling in mud with a loose knob spraying water at me in the dark. It was like an awkwardly bad movie. But one that ends well. The water got shut off.

The house is coming together. I talked to Michael. :] I cashed my paycheck and payed an electric bill deposit. Life is delightfully normal. 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Thankful Thoughts from Harmon House*

We're moving in and everything looks nuts. Our living room, however, is going to be DA BEST.


I love decorating. I love May(Play) term. I love learning how to save energy, reduce waste, and manage money. I LOVE warm nights. I love biking. I love having a full morning and an open afternoon of possibility. I love quilting. I love gardening. I love my housemates. I love coffee. I love naps. I love leisure reading. I love Disney movies. I love talking to Michael.

*Harmon House does not currently have internets, so Anne, Kendra, and I are actually sitting in the dark outside of the closed student center, mackin' on the wireless. I love being 22.