rambling of recent happenings

This last week has been busy but it has been so fun! Plus I got 5 hours of overtime which is always nice.......... On Monday, I enjoyed a family dinner with some cool friends. They are from different churches around here, but just generally passionate, genuine people that I really enjoy being around. They go together to talk about Jesus on the ASU campus, pray together, and stuff like that, just on their own because they want to. Every Monday they have dinner at the home of one of the guys with his parents. I joined them this week, and then also sat outside and talked while it rained a cool rain with a nice breeze-- it was glorious. Then on Tuesday I met my friend Naomi for coffee at 5:30, and ended up talking, going to get Taco Bell, and then walking to a fish pond she used to frequent as a child, and hanging out until 11 before we knew what had happened. I so enjoyed my time with her. On Thursday after small group, Bonnie and I went in pursuit of the lighting (it is "monsoon season" here... which doesn't mean we get a lot of rain, but that there are crazy weather systems involving lots of clouds, wind, lightning, and often blowing dust)... we sat in her car and watched the lightning bolts reflect off the saguaro cactus, and watched the dust blow under the street lights, and then breathed as much rain smell as possible, and she took lots of pictures. Last night I hung out with Jessica M and Kellie at the house where Jessica is house-sitting. We swam in their pool (yes!) and then planed DDR in their theater room with a wall of a television screen. NICE! And I also finished my "classroom" training this week for volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. I get to start on-the-job training this week! I'm also training to become a manager at Chipotle... who knows how long I'll be there, so I may as well start the process, right? And that is all that is happening. I'm getting really excited for my trip to Colorado in a couple weeks for Bethany's wedding...

Well, big news... I have been offered my first nursing job. But actually the news isn't that big, because as I will explain, it seems it's only "kind of" a nursing job. It is seasonal (about 2 months) giving flu shots and swine flu vaccinations for a traveling immunization clinic at Wal-Marts, CVSs, and Frys. It's supposed to be very flexible, I'll get to sign up online for the clinics I want... but this also means they may be hiring a ton of people and there won't be enough hours for anyone... but if I get any hours, it will pay a lot better than Chipotle!

I had an interview this week for another part-time (but year-round, and with the possibility of becoming a full-time) position. Hoping it goes well.

Loving the Celtic Book of Daily Prayer I just got!!

Also loving lolcats... here's one of my favorites.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

awesomeness of late

Last Thursday, it was right between my birthday and my friend Bonnie's birthday. Bonnie, being her cool self, planned a girly road trip up to Sedona. Sedona is known for being cooler than Phoenix (and by that, I mean lower temperatures and a "hip," new-agey environment. It's kind of like Boulder to Denver.) It was gorgeous and refreshing. AND we went to Slide Rock, a State Park on the creek with a "slick natural water chute." We jumped in, waded, and went down the water slide several times. Plus we ate the carrot cake that I made and celebrated birthdays. This is Naomi, Jessica, and Bonnie at a "scenic overlook."

On Tuesday it was my birthday. It was a wonderful day! I so enjoyed the people I spent time with and doing new things with them. My day included: going to breakfast at Joe's Farm Grill with Ephrem, having Chic-fil-A with Amanda and Hannah, and then browsing Bookman's. (I had never been there before and was enthralled... plus I got a copy of The Brothers Karamazov from 1950 for free!) THEN Amanda and I browsed a wonderful new thrift store (and I found two good shirts for cheap, wonderful!) and also had the best Gelato ever (cantaloupe flavored... and it really is the best- and I've sampled at least 10 gelato shops in Italy). THEN we had the dinner I planned with everyone at Gilbert Pizza. It was a great turnout from church friends, a great opportunity for everyone to be together. Here's a picture of half of the table.

I didn't have plans for afterward, was thinking about going to a movie or something. I'm still not sure how it happened exactly, but it was arranged for everyone to go hang out at Jim's house afterward. And there was a wonderful cake compliments of Christian, and wine with some berries compliments of Jim.

I was so surprised and felt so special that they had gone to the trouble. Then we all sat in the living room and several people shared "Evidences of Grace" in my life, and experience which was rather awkward and uncomfortable for me, but very encouraging. And then a few people prayed for me, which was of course a huge blessing to me. On the whole, the day was a joy.

What's going on?

I love this picture, and to me it begs the caption- "What's going on?"

The puppies are all gone and settled into new homes. The other dogs are happy with the additional attention they are now receiving:) Shin and Kibo are still separated because last time I attepted a reunion, Shin took to nipping at the not-quite-healed portion of Kibo's shell again. I rationalize that if I try again once she is fully healed, the outcome may be different.

Not much is going on in my life. I am forcing myself to stay put and BE. Part of me is eager to move on to some new adventure... if it's not nursing, then maybe Grad School, or teaching English in Hong Kong, who knows? But that's the thing, I lack direction and clarity, or even sustained desire in one direction. So I'm trying not to be so impatient. And enjoy today. It's so daily.

I'm also seeking out some outlet for service. I have been waiting too long for a job to establish a schedule and location within Phoenix for me, thinking that then I would find a place to volunteer. But I do not want to wait any longer... my life is not only my job, but I do want my life to involve service. Anyway, I'm still thinking, but considering the Pregnancy Resource Center.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Here are some blogs I read: http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/
http://www.stoptryingharder.com/alans-blog
http://rawchristianity.wordpress.com/category/mission/
I've also started reading Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, most every day I remember.

I've also joined a gym here. I've been going regularly for a few weeks now. I especially like the Body Flow class, which is some combination of Yoga/Tai Chi/Pilates. I'm surprised how much I like it, and the difference I've already noticed in my balance:)

And that, my dear readers, is what is going on:)

2 blogs in 1 day, oh my

today I am grateful for a lot... but after having the opportunity to talk to so many of them in the past few days, I would like to express my gratitude for the amazing (far-away) friends that I have.

It's not that I don't have friends here. I have made some, and am becoming better friends with them. It was a great day last Saturday when I realized I had the night off, and invited friends over for pizza and games. The first event of that kind (my initiating and inviting rather than joining) during my time here, so that was nice.

But as I'm forming and deepening friendships here, and still trying to figure out what is going on in life, it is so nice to still have some kind of "community" with people I know and love... and who know and love me-- friends that I am not as "close" to, but still seem to understand me. It has been such a blessing to have their friendship as a "constant" in my life. Even though I miss them tremendously. That was too many "quotes" for one paragraph. But you get the idea.

seriously though

It has been nice and cool here. The past couple days it has been cloudy, and today it is sunny but only 85. Far cry from Colorado, with golf-sized hail and tornadoes. I must admit, however, that I rather wish I was enjoying the Gulf winds in Panama City, where the rest of my family is visiting my grandparents. I wish I were with them. Funny thing is, I'm not exactly sure why I'm not. Because I can't afford to take a week off work, I suppose. Or a plane ticket. But there has been a lot of questioning in my heart lately, mostly around the question, "Why am I here?(!?!)"

Perhaps a good explanation for my not finding a nursing job despite all my best efforts is that I'm running square into a closed door. Maybe this isn't the "right thing." But man, I sure wish I knew what the "right thing" is. It's so confusing. I still firmly believe God directed me here. And he has provided for me along the way, that is for certain. But now what?

I think of Abraham... God promised he would be the father of a great nation... and then God was silent for years and years, while Abraham waited with no kids and had to trust. God also told Abraham to pick up and leave the land of his fathers... but Abraham didn't see the "why" for awhile there either... I guess Abraham didn't see it at all in his lifetime, really.

I think of him and it's easier for me to trust. Not exactly easy, but easier.

it's late

I just got home from an interesting night of exploring a bunch of free art exhibits in Phoenix. Kind of. Actually spent half the night trying get my part of the group to meet up with the rest of the group. Silly.

But I would just like to say that I am very appreciative of the way things worked out in that... having my car stolen moved me to purchase "comprehensive" car insurance. It's pretty inexpensive given my current zip code. This also includes full glass coverage. The very next day after calling the insurance company, a rock hit my windshield on the highway and left a spot and then quickly a big crack. It was glaring and ugly, and probably not very safe. But now I have a new windshield. And I didn't have to pay anything. I just had quick conversation with the agent, and initialed when they came to my house to replace it. How nice is THAT.

Now, for something not-so-nice... I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I really am tired of it. Especially the looks of "what could possibly be wrong with you since you can't find a job?" that accompany it. But if one more person tells me, "But I thought there was a huge demand for nurses," one more time, I might have an aneurysm.

The end. Time to sleep.