A Good Friend of Mine

I sighed audibly as Ms. Noble told me of Taite's choice to keep the baby after all.  I had watched, through Diane Noble's eyes as Taite went through two agonizing months where she sought to end her "problem" while her boyfriend was away at medical school.  He would be none the wiser and she would be happier.  I went through the same heartache and pain as Taite's grandmother and hoped against hope that the soon-to-be-mother would change her mind and begin a new lifestyle.

A good book is like a dear friend.  One of my burning passions is that of reading.  I cannot tell you how much joy reading brings to my soul!  When I read a well-written piece, I completely lose myself in the story, getting caught up in the middle of whatever strife occurs.  While reading, my emotions often mirror those portrayed in the tale.  I sometimes wonder what would happen if I wore a mood ring while reading and how often it would change colors...  :)

I am appalled at how little modern day America picks up a book and reads for pleasure instead of for school.  If you were to walk into Walmart and ask the first person you saw what they enjoy doing in their free time, the answer would most likely be a mumbled phrase about playing World of War Craft, Halo, or something to that pitiful effect.

I used to read all the all the time, but now I find little room in my day for anything other than work.  I have decided to put a stop to that and take advantage of my school-free semester.  I'm going to begin to read with as much gusto and passion as I once had. 

Join me!  I think you'll find many good friends just sitting on the shelf, waiting to be discovered!

Guacamole Queen

I was rather hard pressed for hours at work this week, being scheduled for only 18.5 hours.  Now, for a gal who took the semester off in order to work hard and save up for the rest of her college career, this just wasn't going to fly.  The Lord saw my plight, so by His good grace I shall hit the 40 hour mark tomorrow afternoon!

I am foot-weary and tired, but oh so thankful for the work.  Sometimes, you just have to look a little harder for the hours you need!  I was able to pick up a shift on Tuesday, and was able to spend several hours in the produce department selling guacamole.  Yes, my dear friends, I wear my hair net proudly as I hand out samples and ladel pound upon pound of the green goodness into tubs to sell.  As soon as I finish up my shift on the register, I head over to produce, don my hair net, wheel out my little cart, and get ready for another couple of hours at work.  I. Love. It.  It's actually been my favorite part of the day!  :)

Thanks to the extra hours spent in produce, I was able to get full-time hours with my part-time job.

Yes, I will get to college one $5.99 tub of guacamole at a time!

Confused Much?

Yes.  I am still in Central Texas.  Yes.  This means that I have not moved away to Dallas.  Yes.  I am delaying the start of my college sophomore year.  Yes.  I am returning to school in the spring.

It's going to be odd, this fall semester.  It will be the first fall semester I've had since the age of 3 where I will not be doing school of some sort.  Yes, if you're counting, that was 14 years ago.  o.0

Instead, I will be spending my time working.  My parents and I decided that the wisest course of action to take is to make my bank account happier before leaving.  =)

I have mixed feelings about this.  Once I finally made the decision to stay for another semester, I felt an instant sense of relief!  This gives me more time to save up, buy some of the things I will be needing for the apartment, and prepare my mind to leave home for the first time in my life.  I'm also glad that I'll get to spend more precious time with my dear, dear family whom I will miss terribly!

On the other hand, I will have to work full time.  This means punching in PLU codes right and left, smiling at the customer and saying, "please push 'yes.'  It's asking you if the amount is okay, not if you want cash back."  It means selling camel menthol light 100's and marlboro special blends.  It means running gallons of milk back to dairy to exchange the 2% for the whole milk.  It means pushing carts in the parking lot until I don't believe it possible to sweat any harder.  It means getting a manager override every time some lady comes in with 100 coupons.  It means asking the questions, "how are y'all today," and "did you find everything alright?" a million times in one hour.  It means staying calm when a customer is flying off the handle because the sign next to the cabbage said "2 for $1" and it's ringing up incorrectly (even though we sell those by weight and not quantity).

I love my job, but full time is pushing it a bit ...  without God's grace, that is.  God really convicted me today in the way I view people in general, which was good, because without that conviction I think my job would be way too draining for me.

Nonetheless, I am very glad that I'll be at home for another couple of months.  God has been so gracious to get me thus far, and I know that He will lead me faithfully onward towards His goals for my life.  God is just so amazing, y'all!  I'm overwhelmed with the knowledge that He loves me with His perfect love, giving me this extra time with my family.  How can you keep yourself from loving Someone who loves you so dearly?

Anyway, that's sort of what's going on in my life of late.  The plans have changed drastically since I wrote last.  I'll definitely keep everyone up to date as to how everything goes this fall.

Until next time, soli deo gloria!

Exciting Times

NOTE:  This is sort of a repost of yesterday, but with slightly different content.  Blogger was being dumb and wouldn't let me edit.  Actually, in order for me to not have to say all the same things as I said as yesterday, this might have completely different content altogether.  With that being said, read on. :) 

Criswell.  A tiny, two-building campus in the heart of downtown Dallas.  This is the 400-student Bible college that I am trying desperately to get into for this coming fall semester.

When my older brother applied at LeTourneau University a month before classes were to start, I vowed to myself and my parents that I would never send them into that sort of mad scramble!  But seeing as I was going to live at home while attending college, I didn't think this would be that big of a deal.

Fast forward to Thursday.

My parents and I visited Criswell.  We had the best tour of the tiny campus!  We learned all about why it was founded, their core values, what classes and professors were like, etc.  Strangely enough, as my dad will tell you, the final detail that made the decision for me was the living quarters.  The college is now holding apartments only a few blocks away from campus for the students.  It would be 4 students to each 2 bedroom apartment, complete with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and 2 full bathrooms.  No dorms for me!  I loved that it would have a "home" feel to it ... especially since one of my biggest concerns was moving away from home.

Yesterday, I spent my time filling out the application, writing the admissions essay, getting forms filled out
by other people, running to the bank, etc.  It was a long day, but fulfilling.

I'm excited!  I can't wait to study with professors who graduated from Yale and Harvard!  I'm excited about having to filter everything -- WITH MY CLASSMATES -- through a Biblical worldview and through careful scrutiny.  This is definitely a step up from the community college of my freshman year.  I'm excited to get to spend time with a college filled with people who are serious about their faith and are serious about their lives.  This is almost too good to be true!

Just like any adventure or change I've undergone in the past, this one is not without fear.  I'm nervous about not knowing anyone there.  I'm nervous about my roommates ...will we get along?  I'm nervous about my classes ... will they be too rigorous?

But through it all, God will be faithful.

And it's not quite a done deal yet.  There are still some things to work out (like financial aid), but if this is where God wants me to be, then everything will fall into place.  I'm going to move forward as if this is His plan for my life, and if it's not, then I'm assuming there will be a roadblock.

To God alone be the glory!  Soli Deo Gloria!