Monday, November 24

Wish List

With the 2 month school break that I'm facing in a week, my head is partly spinning thinking about my final paper/project and partly thinking about how I will fill my time during December and January, since I'm skipping the next class.

So here is my wish list for all the things I hope to accomplish during that time:
--crochet one baby blanket and scarf
--clean my poor neglected apt which was been crying for attention for months (this includes throwing out oodles of junk that I don't need!)
--re-read Harry Potter series (not a necessity but would enjoy it!)
--finally clean my car...won't even think to mention how long it's been!
--create a "ministry resume"
--help out more with the youth group, with planning or whatever is needed
--email people I've neglected to let them know I'm alive and still care!
--save money...this is a prayer request and "to-do" item...sigh...

I'll let you know how my list goes...but first I need to survive this week and finish my paper!

Saturday, November 22

Food On My Mind

I like to cook and bake. In fact, I find that as a full-time worker and part-time student, along with my other obligations, cooking/baking tends to be a bit of stress relief for me. Typically its an hour or two of my Saturday that I get to do something that I enjoy...a break from my homework. So I find, in my desire to be done with my current class, that I am thinking a lot about what I should make next.

Here's where things stand thus far:
Last Monday (I took the day off work), I made Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Sandwiches...2 PB cookies with a PB/cream cheese/brown sugar spread and Strawberry Jam on the inside. I made this for my Bible Study group.

Today, I just threw Banana Bread into the oven, which I'll take to a party tomorrow evening.
Also today, I'm making Snickerdoodles for the youth group that I help with...to celebrate the youth pastor's birthday.

Probably on December 5th or 6th, I'll be making Nanaimo Bars for a Christmas party at my parent's house. It will be the first time I've tried making Nanaimo Bars...the recipe I'm going to use seems pretty easy...can't wait!

Just to show that I am more than just a sugar-person, I'm also planning on trying out the Fresh Corn with Wild Rice recipe that I found on The Pioneer Woman, a favorite blog of mine.

Enjoy...I know I will!

Wednesday, November 19

Dreams

I am a dreamer. No, I'm not talking about day-dreams (although I am this as well)...

I am a night dreamer...I regularly have vivid dreams that I can remember the next day. In fact, it's a more "unusual" night if I don't end up dreaming. What impacts me the most about my dreams is that I occasionally (once every two months approx.) will dream of random people. People from my past who I don't see, don't contact, and don't normally think about. And yet, these people randomly invade my dreams.

I'm also a person who believes that God allows things to happen for a reason and that He can speak to us through dreams. While I'm not quite sure God has ever directly spoken to me through a dream, I've decided that the only logical reason that I would randomly dream of someone is because the Lord wants me to pray for them. So that's what I do. I should say that I don't put much stock in what my dreams are about just about the people involved.

The somewhat frustrating thing is that those people fill my thoughts the entire next day and I diligently pray for them throughout the day, all the while wondering how they are doing and what is going on in their lives. About half of them, I have no means to contact them outside of performing a major search...and plus, what would I say..."Hey you! I know we haven't talked since 4th grade but I had a dream about you last night and was wondering how you are..."

Okay, that actually doesn't sound too bad but still that would be super awkward to say to a guy...especially a married guy.

I enjoy being a dreamer...they add excitement to my life. I don't mind praying for people either...hopefully God uses my prayers to encourage or touch those people, wherever they are at. I just find the whole dream-thing interesting.

Sunday, November 16

Attitude

walt emerson said,
"what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us"

every once and a while it is worthwhile to reflect into what is it that lies within us...within me.
i know i want it to be joy, peace, compassion, humility, and love that is at the core of my being, but is that the case?

sometimes i trip or resist or fight those qualities and reflect selfishness, pride, insensitivity and discontentment...but i don't want those to define or shape me.

i want to be always changing to become a better person...a better version of who i am...a person who reflects the righteousness of GOD. it is he is who lies within me...he is who can make me a better person.

Tuesday, November 11

Family Week

I attend two churches every Sunday! Yep, two! I've been attending "My" church since I was 9 (almost 20 years) and love it there...they are family. But I started the "New" church only about two months ago for one of my school assignments and haven't left. I like the new church...small but good. But anyways, this post is about my church.

This week is family week...one week of the year where they cancel all programs to allow families to spend time together. As a single person, I say "hallelujah!" Seriously! You might think I'd be sad, lonely, or emotional because I have no family to spend time with unless I could somehow convince my younger brother to ditch his friends and hang out with me...slim chance of that! But instead, I rejoice! Here's why...the one weekday evening that I actually have something planned at my church, is now available for anything I wish!

I could (and should) invest that time in my homework.
I could go to the new church for a young adult Bible Study...get to know more people.
I could call up other friends and justify a coffee time!
I could even justify spending the whole night watching TV.

The options are boundless...how will I spend the two extra hours my church has just given me??? Sigh...oh bliss!

Wednesday, November 5

Fired

I work for a food brokerage company. This means we are paid by certain companies who supply ingredients to perform a service for them, which involves submitting orders, trying to find new customers, filter complaints, and get paperwork. It's an interesting job...didn't know this type of job existed before I walked in the door.

Anyhow, our company got fired yesterday by one supplier that I work closely with. "It wasn't personal," they are firing a few of their brokers. Part of the reason might just be that with this economy, companies are trying find ways to maximize profits or it could just be bureaucratic leadership at its best.

Yesterday I was surprised but today I'm struggling with my anger. It's nobody's fault here and honestly I can't blame the supplier. I think I am more hurt than anything...there's nothing that can be done...I just need to adjust my attitude.