childish adventure

The booty :)

Last night, three of my friends and I decided to be childish and funny and steal the sword collection of some of our most cherished guy friends. They have swords by the door, above the television, in the hall...they are really not that sharp, and really cool to play with...so we got the idea to go pillaging. We, the fair maidens, would seek out the weaponry and replace them with mock versions made of aluminum foil. We would also leave a ransom note that stated something like the following "If ye hot-tubbing gentlemen (they were hot-tubbing at the time) wish to see your weaponry again, you must bring the fair maidens a shrubbery (that's right, we threw in a Monty Python reference). And cook for them. Text thine answer."

So, with the knowledge that they were hot-tubbing and that they leave their door unlocked, we set off on our adventure. We even had an excuse for being there should we be caught in the act...we came bearing taquitos. And by the way, we were. Caught, that is. Jon, one of the two unsuspecting gents, came back up to his place to get a key while we were ransacking the place for weaponry! But he trusted us so much when we simply stated we were dropping off taquitos, he even told us to make ourselves at home. I giggled nervously as he walked around the house, and I tried to make the fact that I was holding the sword "Excalibur" (as I dubbed it) less weird. He went on his merry way back to the steamy land of tubbing and we quickly finished our pillage and RAN!!! It must have been quite a sight watching four women running with swords and sai in hand as we fled the scene.

Victory was ours as we received the text stating "we accept your terms". We took pictures and are currently enjoying the benefits of having weaponry in our midst. What that means, I don't know. But it is pretty cool to say that I have a sword. Ha ha ha. The excitement of the adventure, and the laughter that came as a result, was worth it all. Childish? Yes. Does that matter? No. No harm, no foul, and I hope to get a tasty free meal out of the deal. :) And the gentlemen still love the fair maidens. It's too bad we'll have to give the booty back.

The fair maidens...

...

Sunny days are breaking through
The storms have passed
Though they are never gone
Not so locked into the whirlwinds of life
I look forward to the days ahead
I am seeking new adventure
And I find it just around the corner
Am I prepared?
I will soon find out…

I hope that the adventure spills over
Into all the areas of my life
New chapters turning
New passions burning
Excitement creeping back into my heart
We’ll see how it all plays out
I am not the author, you see

Whispers of promise float by
As I learn to get a hold of them
I am learning to believe what
Has been spoken over me
I am beginning to see through
A different pair of eyes
My heart smiles at the future
Just wait and see

Dust

The following links are to one of my favorite movie shorts called Dust. I'll let it do the talking. May it impact your heart like it did mine. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgwQ8tjuUlA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYt-kYDdwGI&feature=related

language

I had a series of random thoughts today while driving to get some coffee from Starbucks about the English language and how funny it is. Take the word "interested". You can use that in a variety of contexts. It is one word but can be used differently depending on what words you pair with it.
-I am interested in language.
-I am interested in Joe Shmoe.
-We are interested in having you interview for the position.
-I am interested in Joe Shmoe.

The word "love" is also used so much that its meaning is often lost or greatly exaggerated. What is love? "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." People flippantly (including myself) use the word "love" to say that they love tv shows or food or people...but love means so much more than the way it is being used.

I appreciate language. I am trying to learn the Spanish language better than I currently do. I have the privilege of singing worship songs in Spanish, some of which I know better than the English translation! It is a beautiful language..."Suspiro hoy dentro de mi, cada minuto cuento para verte, ven a mi, ven a mi" means roughly "With every breath inside of me, I'm counting every moment til I see you, come to me, come to me".

I don't really have much more to share right now on this subject, but I may re-visit it in the future. Until then, think about what you say and how many times we use the same words to describe completely different situations! It can be very amusing.

change is good...

So, last week I applied for a new position at my work. I have been a QMRP for over three years now and this last year has been particularly tough on me for a variety of reasons. I have been realizing that if I really wanted to keep working for the company I have been working for, something was going to have to change soon. My spark, as my boss told me, was gone. She said it returned when I interviewed for the new position. Today I found out that I got the position! This brings a mixture of feelings- relief, excitement, nervousness, and sadness. I had to tell the people I have been working with that I was moving to a whole new department...trying to help them understand that it had nothing to do with them. That was hard. Starting next month, I am moving from working with residential programs (something I know very well) to vocational services (something I know very little about...). I am stepping into a fairly nebulous position and will be trying to add some structure. Wow. I have a big challenge in front of me. And yet, I know that this is going to give me something to be excited about. And that is what is important to me, being excited about going to work and not just going through the motions. I love what I do, but I am the kind of person who likes to learn new things and try new challenges. So, here I go!

My job is not the only new adventure I have embarked on this year...and I know it won't be the last! I started my cell group and I am learning how to reach out to people through it. I am back on the worship team, which I love. Change is good. God is using it to stretch me and show me that He wants to use me to do amazing things. It is a blessing to lead people to Jesus and watch Him transform their lives. It is a delight to serve God and a challenge to let go of all that I have been holding on to. It is worth it. I am learning to lean harder on the one who I should depend on the most. And He is meeting me, even as I stumble through the learning process. He is so full of grace and mercy. And I am seeing it is not about me. It is about Him using me to fulfill His dreams on earth. And I am enjoying all that he is teaching me. Thanks be to God for all He is doing!!! Yes, change is good. :)

monopoly

Who knew that the game of Monopoly could be so fun? I spent last night with a group of close friends and the board game...and a variety of music playing in the background. We spent two quality hours playing and talking and laughing. I realized how much I enjoy spending time with people. If I didn't have to go to work and get up early, I could have stayed longer, just enjoying the people I love.

And two nights before that, we ate spaghetti and sat at a table. No movies or computers or cell phones to distract us. Just time and company. I loved every minute of it.

More and more I want to slow down and enjoy those around me...I have spent too much time running around crazy and stressed. I look forward to more of these moments. :)

important!

Here is a link that talks about a recent decision from the state of California's courts which states that children cannot be home-schooled unless their parent is a credentialed teacher. This affects many, many families, and came out of nowhere. Please read the information at this link to find out more. This essentially takes away the right of the parent to choose how their child is educated. The case this was based upon does not accurately reflect a majority of families who choose to home-school.

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ca/200803030.asp

Thanks!

feelings...

I have been feeling rather tired lately. I think my body has been fighting off sickness pretty hard, AND we just had the time change. Why? There are a lot of theories out there, but this particular time change usually leaves me tired. But it all started Saturday when I pretty much took naps all day in between spurts of activity. So weird. I just couldn't stay awake.



And today I went to work, and thankfully got a lot done but there were a few moments when I felt like this...


It is a good thing that even though my feelings try really hard to dictate to me how to live, that I am an overcomer, not living by sight (or feelings...). I have a purpose and I am meant to live that out no matter how things look. So, here is how my spirit feels...

laughing

I love laughing. I got to enjoy some laughter with friends tonight over a burger at Carl's Jr. I like to make people laugh, and to let out a good laugh over something funny others say. I firmly believe that God has a sense of humor, and that He uses it as a blessing, especially in my life.

It is hard to recapture a funny moment...because a lot of the time the punchline is simply funny because of the surrounding circumstances. My roommate is downstairs making a spanish video for class. I can hear lots of laughter. I think that anytime one makes a spanish video, it's funny. There is something about accents and foreign languages that when you combine that with a video camera and the average "joe's" acting skills, out comes lots of laughter.

I like to surround myself with funny people. I am often too serious for my own good, and when I am around funny people, I let go and enjoy myself...as I was meant to. I am going to include a few funny lines down below that have made me laugh recently. Enjoy!

*I was walking by a dry cleaner at three a.m., and it said "Sorry, we're closed." You don't have to be sorry. It's three a.m., and you're a dry cleaner. It would be ridiculous for me to expect you to be open. I'm not gonna walk by at ten and say, "Hey, I walked by at three, you guys were closed. Someone owes me an apology. This jacket would be halfway done!" -Mitch Hedburg

*I like escalators because an escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. You'll never see an Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience. We apologize that you can still..get up there. -Mitch Hedburg

*I like rice. Rice is great when you're hungry and you want 2,000 of something. -Mitch Hedburg

*He was hit by a Dodge, which I found funny and ironic. -Dane Cook

*I.D. badges are long overdue. Security in this office park is a joke. Last year, I came to work with my spud gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day, with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged? -Dwight Schrute (the Office)

*Would I rather be feared or loved? Um, easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me. -Michael Scott (the Office)

a few of my favorite things...

Inspired by Katie and her comment on how awesome google images are, I have compiled a photo list of some of my favorite things using images googled. Enjoy!!!

dancing!

sticking my feet in the sand :)

warm fireplaces

eating chocolate, yum...

rain and umbrellas in the rain

laughing really hard!

playing guitar and writing songs

flowers that are bright and colorful :)

singing, lalalalalala!

reading interesting books and magazines

cameras

There are moments in my life when I seriously wish I had a camera or a video camera in my pocket, where I could just take it out (without being seen) and capture a moment. Like when my roommate and I ran out of our house in mismatched outfits we threw on after sleeping in to go beg the workers to let us drive our cars out (otherwise we would have been carless for two days!). Like when I have driven home to find a man on the corner of the sidewalk dancing. Like when the clouds are amazing in the sky or there is a beautiful sunset. Like when friends are being funny and doing impressions or dances that happen only once in a great while...all those moments that make me smile or laugh out loud...

I don't have said camera, but I wish I did. :)