Craziness!! I can't believe how much snow we have! We've gotten 8 inches of snow today, on top of a previous 8 inches... and we're supposed to get 8-12 tonight. Ahh, the midwest. I think I'm gonna play in it tomorrow...

I've been down at my sister's place every day this week painting. I think I must have been high, but I decided that because I couldn't afford a whole lot, my gift to her and Brian would be to paint a few rooms in their house while they were away on their honeymoon (fear not, I got permission first). This place has to be over a hundred years old, all hardwood floors... and everything squeaks - you know, the kind of house that has CHaRaCTeR, not just some cookie cut-out. I love it. So one room was seafoam green with a nasty teddy bear border; now it's a beautiful beige that brings out all the wood frames and flooring. And one room was almost a kelly green - nasty, and I'm halfway done with that. And another one is BRiGHT pink... but I don't think I can mess with it. I think the previous owners painted over wallpaper or something like that, and it needs a lot more work than I have the skills to do. So I've been by myself a lot, just down there, listening to music and painting. I've enjoyed myself.

So yeah... not a whole lot happening... we're supposed to go caroling tomorrow night, but with the snow that's supposed to be coming tonight, things are up in the air. I'll be so bummed if we have to cancel it! This isn't any old caroling, this is huge. This is extended family - aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins - and we all pile into 5 or 6 minivans and go around to all my grandparents' friends... it's awesome. And we sound awesome. Then we all go back to my grandma's and have soup. Yum.

So... here's to hoping that I'll be able to go back down to the house tomorrow and finish up at least what I already have started, and that we'll be able to get to my grandma's to sing. I love the snow, but it's gotta stop sometime, right?


Right??

Notwist - Neon Golden

So... I'm in Ohio. The trip was gross - you know, that "four-hour-layover-in-Vegas-and-that-weird-half-sleep-on-the-plane-I-hate-redeye-flights" kind of gross. I'm glad that's over with. When I landed, it was 26° outside. Sick. Now that's gross. Lots of snow on the ground, which is fun.

My roomate called freaking out because our other roomate had a boy alone in her room with the lights off, and it turned into this whole drama because she told her she wasn't comfortable with him sleeping over. Sheesh.

I went to some ReaL thrift stores already today, and I found a lot of good stuff! Most importantly, some cowboy boots and a cool shirt for the square dance tomorrow night. Score.

And I'm really tired and would love to sleep, but some of the bridesmaids are coming over to finish the programs any minute. I don't know how I'm gonna survive the wild and crazy bachlorette party ce soir. Hmm...

This was my entertainment for the evening... and perhaps tomorrow evening as well. We saw 10!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6692779/?GT1=5936

Anybody wanna join??



*edit* We saw ten from the car up on a hill, and then I saw 9 more laying in my bed later that night! How amazing!! I think I'm gonna see what I can see tonight as well... seriously, come with me.

Mariah Carey-Merry Christmas

OH MY GOSH. God is so dang good to me, and I don't even deserve it. Ever.

I had determined a few days ago that if I didn't have a second job lined up before I left for home that I couldn't come back out. I'm just not making enough.... sure, some of that has to do with my spending habits but I'm working on that. So I started the job hunt all over again; I know you all know how annoying that is. Yesterday I stopped by the church offices, which are located off site in a little shopping plaza. Driving through the parking lot, I saw a sign up in front of a store saying that a Paintworks Pottery studio was coming soon - you know, one of those 'paint your own pottery' places. I thought, "Cool! I love places like that! I hope they're not too expensive..." and went on my merry way. However, as I was getting back in to my car after an unsuccessful attempt to catch Mike at the office, I noticed a 'help wanted' sign in the JoAnn Fabrics store. I had no desire to work there, but I felt God prompt me anyway. "You can't afford to be choosy right now..." Okay, okay.... so I go and get an application. Then I thought, why not check out the pottery place while I'm at it? So I walked down, and the door was propped open (cuz they're doing all the construction), so I just stuck my head in to look around. A man greeted me, I asked him whether or not they were to the hiring stage, and he said they were. We exchanged info, his wife called me this morning, and I went in this afternoon for an interview. They loved me!! I got the job! I'll have like, the two coolest jobs EVER - working at a coffee shop and a pottery place!! I'm so stoked... I can work full time at both, and I don't think I'll get too burned out because they're both so fun and laidback and people-oriented. Maybe I'll finally be able to say goodbye to all my financial difficulties! We'll see... but it's just much-needed affirmation that God wants me out here and he's not done with me yet. I'm glad that every now and then, He allows me little glimpses of himself so that I don't loose heart. He's good like that. So yeah... just be praying that all the final stuff goes through alright. Oh - and it's totally fine that I'm going to be gone for the next 2 weeks because they're still building the place, and it lines up with their schedule that way....

Thank you God!!

Led Zepplin II

Iron and Wine was beyond amazing... cuz I know all of you were wondering. I'll put some pics up eventually.

I get paid tomorrow. Praise Jesus.

Work was awesome today. My boss loves me. Not enough to pay me more, but enough to laugh at all my jokes. Even the bad ones.

The old men at work want to hook me up with this cute guy that comes in a lot. He came in today, and they teased me, and my face turned bright bright red. Sheesh.

6 Days!! What am I gonna do when I get back? No more car, not enough $$... If you have money, send it to me, and God will love you more. He will. I promise. Six days. Love.

Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July

Teehee... Sunday afternoons.... the best. We led worship this morning and it was awesome. The guys I sang with are such amazing musicians - makes me so comfortable on stage, knowing that they're on top of everything. Always a pleasure, boys! It's cold and rainy today, so what else is there to do but curl up on the couch and watch a movie? I made some tomato soup, and checked out a classic Christmas movie... and fell asleep before it ended. I LOVE Sunday afternoon naps. And now it's time to go eat again! Yes! 11 Days!!

Jimmy Eat World*Clarity

Here comes the flow...

So I was watching one of my 2 favorite shows tonight, 'Without a Trace' (the other being 'Alias'). I had already seen it, but I remembered being moved by it in the past, so I decided to watch it again. Even knowing how everything turned out in the end, I still cried my eyes out. Not just a tear trickling down my cheek, but actual crying. This particular episode was about a boy, tortured and teased by his classmates, who staged his own kidnapping from school and was going to kill himself. I remember watching the events unfold the first time I saw it; I remember in particular my sister Megan and her reaction to it. We both were sitting in the living room, crying, watching the cops search for him. And we were both thinking, "Get there. Get there in time." [Now, I apologize that this much of your time is being taken up with me talking about a TV show...] But... because of who I am, and the way my heart works, I can't take myself out of the story. I see this boy, who's hardly even a teenager yet, and he hates himself. And all his peers hate him and make fun of him... and they don't see him. And it's those people - the ones who are overlooked and passed off... I should love them. I should help them. And I don't.

I mean, think about it in your own life: how many people do you know that are 'hard to love' or 'annoying' or just... hardly there at all? We all see them, but we don't think about them. And we all assume that 'somebody else' loves them. What if nobody does? Or what if only their parents do? What if they feel like nobody in the world cares about them? And instead of maybe being that one person who takes the time to get to know who they are, we get added to the list of people who don't give a rip. Sure, we're "nice" and "polite." But we don't really love them... not in the way they need us to. How many hurting people do we see and think that 'it's not my business' and walk on? Or maybe we don't think we have anything to offer... but they don't really want answers from us. They want a soul. A living, breathing, genuine human being that will come alongside them and love them and listen to them... and just be with them. Gosh... to think: how many people have I walked past who needed me... and I was 'too busy' or 'not comfortable' or just plain blind...

That's a tv show worth watching: one that draws you in line with the heart of Jesus.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on us, because the LORD has anointed us to preach good news to the poor. He has sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who morn..."