Using X-ray Vision on the Fridge

Does anyone else look in their fridge expecting that maybe this time something new will appear? I realize that I will open mine around meal time to check even though I know full well there is only water jugs, beans, rice, half pieces of fruit and left over asian noodles. But somehow I have an urge to check. Why? Do I really think a dozen eggs will have been laid in there overnight?

At times like this I miss the little corner store on the street...The kind you find overseas whereby you can walk a few yards and by anything individually. Instead, the only solution is to make the treck to the super-mega food institution and battle the horrible west Texas drivers for a parking space (the drivers who are more deranged on the weekends)...I'll just heat up some noodles.

Breaking News

I got a letter today confirming my tentative acceptance to the nursing program starting in January! Now I just need to pass chemistry.

Pardon me while Corinne Bailey Rae and I put on a record to celebrate!

God's Alarm Clock

This morning I was nudged awake with the thought that I really needed to read Psalm 71. I took this to be the Lord since me being wide awake at 5am must be a divine intervention. ;0)) The crisp morning was quiet as I huddled in my sleeping bag. I remembered I had a few dollars left on a starbucks card someone gave me, so I hopped in the car in my sweats (another out of the ordinary action) and drove down the street to grab a coffee. I came back home, read some more and did some chemistry homework.

Last week I was really struggling and wondering if moving really had been a hair brained idea. However, God has continued to remind me of His faithfulness and how He's brought me to this place for healing. On Sunday our pastor was talking about Luke 1 and the difference in circumstances between the 2 families. He meantioned that this town might be like Nazareth in that someone could ask, "does anything good come from..."

The sermon hit me hard as he talked about how we often seek prestige or how our pride is revealed in that we are ashamed at our circumstances. (Neither John or Jesus' family was wrong, but God was just chosing to come to the lowliest place...he was going on to talk about if we're concerned about our pride or what God is doing...whatever situation) Just minutes before I had talked to a doctor and got the usual "ooooo" when we somehow came around to the fact I had been a midwife. (Plus the usual look away and mention that they used an OB) And then their is the whole job situation in which I often feel ashamed to admit where I work.

I can't put it into words well, but it was hitting me at a raw place and for the first time in my life I wept through a sermon. In a good Baptist church they'd be prepared with klenex on the pews in anticipation of a wonderful altercall, but I guess those in the reformed bent don't use such things. =0)) So, by time it was over and time for communion I was one puffy mess. My instinct was to walk out...but um...isn't that pride that I don't want my fellow church people to see that I cried? It was a good sermon in that it had many assurances of forgiveness and hope.

Maybe something good CAN come from this town in the dusty plains...I sure have been blessed!

A Fabulous Friday

The times when I really should have my camera, I never do. Tonight after work Amber picked me up for a night downtown. We went to this fabulous cafe where she works and enjoyed a fruit/chesse bowl and some good acoustic music from a live band. The deeply colored brick/loft motif was so inviting. We chatted about God, life, guys, and training for the triathalon. Wow, I really needed that.

The Aforementioned Pictures

My favorite running track around the reservoir













(there is a sprint triathalon just 1 week before my birthday, so I'm thinking I might take the challenge. We have so many good bike trails here too. )

My studio is starting to look more like home - The study side of the room with my books and computer. (and exercise ball to keep my 6-pack in shape)














The kitchen (now with some things from around the world above the cabinets. See that group of sepia photos on the right? I hope to get some wall length fabric and hang all my black and whites there too. The light behind the sink area is from the bathroom which is right behind.

And lastly the hammock chair I have borrowed from Andrea while she's in Afraica (I've been looking into getting a black hammock, but that will have to wait.

Stay Tuned!

The last 10 days have been full, so I decided to make today my day of rest. I had anticipated going to some sites around town, but after reviewing the sites online I realized maybe this town is a bit dull. =0)) I made it as far as my favorite running track and the movie theater with Della. I took pictures of my places around town and my apartment (now looking more like home). Stay tuned for pictures....um...soon

Another Good End

It's in my work agreement that I was not supposed to be schedualed this morning, but alas I ended up working 9 hours. Looks like its been fixed on following weeks. The day seemed to drag so slow, even with a few distractions of hunting for items in the back. The computer flashes a big ugly sign at you if it thinks you aren't being efficient enough in helping people (lovely, huh?). As I was preparing to leave I could hear the rolls of thunder and the rain beating on the building. People were lined up at the door waiting for their friends to drive up so they would not get wet.

But me...I just let myself get drenched. The clothes needed to be washed anyway and you can always dry hair. I bent my head back a bit to get the full effect and just took in the cool air. I was sorely tempted to splash in some puddles. Do you remember being a kid and wanting to play in the rain? I highly recommend standing in the rain everynow and then. Sure, let the wrinkle-free pants get wet and the mascara runs like mad, but its quite freeing! And unlike many other places your house doesn't flood....there is no raw sewage floating in the flooding street..and in just a few minutes you can change into something warm.

Good End to the Day

After work I got a text inviting me to a large game of team charades hosted by a friend and some of the kids from Wednesday night Bible study. There is nothing better than to end a day in roars...literally roars of laughter. I came home and typed rough drafts of my psych papers. There may not be a lot in this dusty side of the state, yet each day it seems there are little blessings along the way.

World Series

On my break I watched Oakland take an early lead...however, when I got home I had congratulatory emails letting me know....

DETROIT TIGERS are in the WORLD SERIES

I Missed The Office: Take 2

Well...once again I missed The Office. This evening was the appointed night for gathering to pray over and commission Andrea and Danae as they head off to Africa. You really can't say "sorry, gotta watch the office - can't go pray over you as you embark on this AMAZING experience - anoint your ownself with oil"

Once again I was disappointed in the lousy thrift stores in this town when I found they charge more than $20 for a used VCR (a new one is $40 at the store). Besides, I don't even know if a VCR works with my 5". In what...11 months it will come out on DVD! (And Della and Amber can help me laugh through all the ones I missed)

A Dream and An Email

I had a dream last night that I just decided to fly a southern island where I first lived in Asia because I was missing it so much. Susan (my supervisor in my first clinic) met me and asked why I hadn't brought taco seasoning from the US. =0)) It appeared I had just boarded the plane - no luggage or anything.

Then this morning Northwest emailed me to let me know I could use my airmiles to buy a roundtrip ticket for $670 if I go before the end of November...sorely tempting.

Broken and Healing...

Sometimes I drag my feet on Wednesday night to attend the campus Bible study even though it has had a huge impact on my life in the last 2 months. Tonight was one of those nights. However, I pushed myself to go and as we all sang the new version of "On Jordan's Stormy Banks" and together proclaimed "I am bound! I bound! I am bound for the Promised land!" I realized this was the best place to be!

The teaching tonight was on the Godly woman and I realize as I continue to grow that I am so broken and in need of God's tranformation. After my last blog musings I remembered Bro. Lawrence who was stuck in the kitchen of the monestary and learned to "practice being in the presence of the Lord" even in the mundane task.

Afterward I sipped coffee with some freshman girls. I wondered what advice I had to offer as they shared their boy issues. (they are all amazingly beautiful and constantly approached by guys) Maybe the one thing I can assure them of is that I've found God faithful through all the ups and downs and He cares for us more than we could ever imagine. He wants the very best for us.

Of Life and Vintage Stores...

This weekend I drove about 2 1/2 hours north to crash my friends family reunion (well...not exactly I was invited) On Saturday we slipped out with her brother to browse some vintage shops. Unfortuately the downtown area was mostly closed for the day, so we could only look through a few antique shops. We found some marvelous ladies hats from about the 40's. I had just been reading Emily Posts 1940 ed section on clothing and mused that it might be fun to wear gloves and hats (though in cowboy country I'm sure I'd stick out)

Tomorrow is Big-Comprehensive-Terror-Of-All-Terrors Chemistry Exam II. My spare time is consumed in my books hoping something will sink in. (And on the phone Andrea reminds me I promised to take something less than a 4.0 on one class this semester...um...we have that covered for SURE.) Slowly I've identified the smart kids in class and boldly approach them multiple times per week for help. (besides my email tutors) They just weren't the ones I was expected....like the kid behind and slightly to the side of me that always comes in his hunting camo, yet knows so much more about chem than me. Or the guy with the spiked hair and earings?

My hours of stocking shelves have continued to motivate me to finish school. My trainer at work is a 17 year old kid who talks so incredibly fast and legally has to be out by 10pm. He was rattling off codes like mad and I made a mental not to bring a notepad next time cuz I can't keep up with everything. I'm slowly getting to hear peoples stories. A lot of these folks have families and work 2-3 jobs. I know Jesus is here, but sometimes as I'm in asiles by myself for hours I wonder where he's working. And me...I'm just the new chick who doesn't know anything. "Can I help you find something?"

What You Miss on Thursday Night

Well, orientation was short and I will go back in the morning. Many girls were musing missing Greys Anatomy. (why? I mean I can predict someone slept with someone, someone wanted to sleep with someone, and someone overreacted to a medical situation) As we watched a "team building" video on enthusism using the example of a fish market (complete with cheezy animated titles) I watched the clock move to 7:30...THE OFFICE TIME. But then I realized, this could all be a scene of the Office. This is the exactly the type video Micheal would use in orientation.

Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work i go

I'm getting ready for my first night of work. I can't believe I'm nervous. I'd like Patricia to know (and my other former coworkers) that in their honor I am wearing floating pearls under my uniform. Just a few hours ago the FD called to see if I had found out whether I was accepted to the nursing program. If not, they wanted me to come in. God sure does work in mysterious ways.