There and Back Again

These are for you, Mom. Happy Birthday. I love you.

This is my get-up: my world -saving, hero-maker, transformer-
Submarine, mustang convertable, Airforce One cruiser.

^ And this is what the floor of MY car currently looks like.


     What a week. I’m incredibly stressed. I think college deadlines are much more appealing than looking aimlessly for a job and having a car that’s been broken into, undriveable (due to a shattered window) and a purse that for all I know is in the hands of a terrorist with all of my credit cards, my passport, my social security card and my health insurance card, OH! And my block buster card : ( I’m broke, and I have no way to access my account and I have to wait 7-10 business days to receive all of my new cards. My car needs a new window, so I am barrowing my grandmother’s--- Lincoln—YAY! Such an adolescent beast! I’m grateful for a car to drive, but I like to imagine I’m driving a hot new red mustang convertible down the street instead of a 98 Ford Lincoln. Maybe if it were secretly a transformer that turned me into some world-saving hero it would be a little more exciting. It does what it is supposed to do anyway. Thanks GM. 
  Today is my mother’s birthday. I think it is fascinating that the world knows it and sets off fire-works every year in her honor. I wish my birthday was on the fourth of July. Last night we all had a giant sleep-over at my parent’s house: The entire family, plus me, Martin and Daniel. It’s nice to have a big house where everyone plus a few guests can fit comfortably. My parents hired Daniel and Martin to do some yard work, so after the long day yesterday, they just slept over so they could get up this morning and get back to work. It was nice, we all got “free” food. Okay economics majors I get it, TINSTAAFL. But, it was free for me, except that I had to butter the bread, cut the squash and zucchini and clean up…it was still cash free! Thanks ma and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 
  Today call time for rehearsal is 4:30. We have a big fourth of July concert tonight at Chapel by the Lake, I’m pretty excited about that. I don’t know that I have much else to blab about, but I hope that this was update enough. 

                 Two nights ago, I went to over to my parents house to hang out after finding out that I wouldn’t be able to see the movie that we had planned to see that night. My parents were sitting at the table, I was sitting on the floor by the sliding glass door holding one of the cats. My sister walked in the door with Martin a few minutes after I arrived and we were all being ridiculous as usual. My mom walked out of the room and a few minutes later walked back with her purse and asked if I was ready to go. “Ready to go? Go where?” I asked. “Oh no where.” She finally told me that we were going to go see The Proposal after she initially wouldn’t tell me. Well, the movie was hilarious and super great. My mom, my sister and I were probably the loudest people in the entire theater—what can I say---it was funny! Anyway, right before the movie started my mom got a text/phone call saying that my dad and Martin were going to see transformers again and that my little brother and sister would be seeing a different movie. So everyone was there---just in three different theaters---very amusing. After the movie, my mom put in the Kelly Clarkson CD and its rockin’ and so was my mom---she was playing the air drums and at one point we were coming up to a red light and my sister is like, “Mom, hands on the wheel!” And my mom’s response was, “I have to finish drumming!” We were all dancing and making fools of ourselves and being loud. I’m sure we were creeping out the neighboring drivers—WHAT GREAT FUN!
        Last night, went on a coffee date with Nicole. We both ordered our Vanilla Chai tea Lattes : ) Mmmmm. We chatted for a good 45 minutes about our lives and our boys, you know the typical girl stuff. Then we got into talking about the things that we are struggling with and what we need prayer for. It really was a time of encouragement. I always have a hard time waiting for the next time I’ll get to hang out with Nicole. She always makes me day :) 
          Since last Friday, Ellen and I have been working out. We usually go to her house to lift weights or when it is more convenient we meet at my house and do some conditioning/running. It’s been great. I’m already feeling a lot better and healthier. We started talking about the possibility of running in a 5k or two before she leaves for 11 months starting in January. It’s going to be fun, I’m excited. 
            Last night, I went to bed really discouraged, but this morning I woke up and prayed that the Lord would take my attitude and fix it for me and that he would just encourage me throughout the day. Well, he did. I made lunch and took it over to Wellington Christian for Daniel. He was working there for a few hours today so, we ate together and that was really nice. We had turkey and cheese sandwiches and some Sandies cookies. Afterwards I drove around for a little bit looking for a job. I drove through two or three plazas and didn’t see anything and then I went over to Kobosko’s Plaza where the Greenberries used to be. There is another coffee shop in there that is really nice. I walked around the plaza and went into all the places that would interest me and collected some business cards. One of the shops there was a bridal Salon, so I went in and looked around at the dresses, which were beautiful if I might add! My last stop was the coffee shop, I got a business card and just as I was heading out, I ran into a lady that taught me how to ride a donkey last December for the Singing Christmas tree. We sat there talking for a while and it was great to see her again! Just before she left she handed me a check for a really large amount of money----I wasn’t expecting it and I was really blown away. That was a real blessing and just another sign that the Lord is watching over me. I had some nice face to face conversations with some employers today, so I think I have a shot at some more job opportunities. Today was a good day---and I haven’t even been to choir rehearsal or ultimate Frisbee at Meyer Amphitheater yet!!! Wow! What a great day!
    When you ask God to encourage you, you better believe that he's gonna do it and blow you out of the water. People are not always very good at it, but God sure is! Thank God he uses people like us!