Awesome!

Yay!

For the first time in my life, I have completed job applications for organizations where I am not already going to school. After receiving all the reference letters I needed, I finished filling out my online applications, and they should see them on Monday. I hope it's not too late, but I know God has something for me to do this year that won't involve sitting on the couch all day. : )

I hope to get a job as a paraprofessional, maybe special ed, at one of several schools in the area. I decided not to pursue full-time classroom teaching just yet.

Whatever happens, it feels like everything from here on out will be an adventure!

Upon First Waking Up

The other day after waking up and going in to brush my teeth, the image in the mirror made me laugh heartily. So I took a picture. Now in looking at it again, it looks eerily similar to that guy with the quiff.

My Hair Isn't Called Anything

For weeks I have been proclaiming, "I have to get my hair cut!" However, it has taken a while to reach the next step of going through with it. But after several pep talks from different members of my family, (Becky, what's the worst that could happen?) I decided to do it. I actually really liked how it turned out, but after a couple days I decided the bangs were too long. So we tried to cut them a little bit, but I haven't been able to figure out what to do with them at this length either. Maybe the length is too short this time.

Anyways, I have been pinning them back, since that is easier than trying to style them. Curiously enough, I could find no name for this type of hairstyle.

After much searching, I did find the word "quiff."

But in looking for pictures of a quiff, I seriously could only find ones like this:


which is highly inaccurate.


Another word that occasionally popped up was "pompadour."

Again, the pictures didn't seem to be what I was looking for. Well, first he is a guy, as was the previous subject, and also that is not what mine looks like at all.


Actually, this last one I came across is a little closer, except it is way neater and straighter and sleeker. And it is very tight and looks uncomfortable. But it's a very vague picture of what I was going for, believe it or not, in the pictures in my previous post. It is possibly almost the only picture of a woman anywhere on the internet that corresponds to the word "quiff" and actually looks normal.



I have wanted to have bangs since I was in highschool, and it has never worked out very well the few times that I tried it, but I actually liked the result this time, so maybe I am getting closer. : ) With some practice, I'll figure out what to do with them so they don't have to live on in invisible ambiguity.

Toast

Tonight we sat on the porch drinking cold coffee and eating cinnamon sugar toast. I remember loving that when I was a kid, the toast not the coffee. : ) I think it has butter on it too, because it is a little bit moist and chewy. Still good!



Julie and I...where's my toast?



...and Kara



...all three of us, yay!



Kara captured the lovely sunset tonight.

Things I'm Learning (Part 2)

...while reading "Get Out of That Pit!" by Beth Moore.

The Bible is our ultimate authority in life. I would never challenge that fact. We should read it more than any other book and it is a huge way we know God. But I think it is helpful sometimes to listen in on someone else's thoughts and encouragement when they share what they have learned, especially if it's Biblically solid.

Around one o'clock in the morning a few days ago, I finished the last chapter with tears in my eyes. God has saved us for freedom, and according to Him it's possible, even expected. Freedom from chronic procrastination? Apparently so. Freedom from consistent fear of the future? I believe that is God's intention. Of course I'll always sin, but there is a difference. There is sinning and moving on, and then there's walking in darkness stuck in the same old place.

But it takes some effort, which is why I often only get as far as good intentions. Because I want God to change me without any waiting and learning, without having to submit my will. I want instant results. But the reality is that I have to be involved in the process, to seek God, to agree with Him that I cannot stay where I am.

"While you wait for God to work and to manifest your sure deliverance, you wrap yourself around Him as tightly as you possibly can...Bind yourself to Him with everything you've got so that you will ultimately - inevitably - go anywhere He goes...God does not make His home in a pit. Bound to [Him], neither will you." (Moore)


"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:1-2


"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

Tipped the Jet Ski, Not the Canoe

Some of you may remember the lake there in Camdenton that we used sometimes in the summer on furlough. Everything is so blue and dark green! We have about two more weeks of enjoying it right now before we move to Kansas City, where it is still very green, but of course we won't live this close to a lake.

A couple weeks ago we spent the afternoon with my Uncle Marv and family on his pontoon boat. They brought the jet ski, and I decided to try it first riding behind my dad. That seemed to work fine, so then we decided to trade places. I got in the water, and then tried to cimb back on, which ended with the jet ski upside down and my dad in the water with me. We got it upright again, and finally managed to get back on and I was in front. Surely this would be easier than driving a car, which I've found to be fairly perplexing!

Anyways, I tried making it go forward at an appropriate speed as well as steering, but it was more like jolt...jolt... fast...slow...jolt all while trying not to tip over again. I ended up convincing my dad to take over from behind me, since his arms were long enough to reach. After several suggestions from him which I could not seem to implement, I pleaded "You do it!"

My all-encompassing lack of coordination was thus confirmed, although they said it would have been easier if I was by myself.
Maybe that was the problem. : )

Today we went out on the water in a canoe, successfully I might add, and I decided that it is my preferred mode of water travel. It is very simple, no starting and stopping, just lots of paddling or drifting. You can't tip it over unless you try really hard. Yay!

The jet ski thing suddenly reminded me of my relationship with God, not that everything has to be made into an object lesson, but it occurred to me, so I'll just say it.
I want to be involved in my life, and focused, but not in control. : )

The Trip

When we were driving up here, we passed these windmills, and I thought it might be fun to be tied to one of the blades and be flung around and around, kind of like a roller coaster. As we got closer, I realized it would be highly dangerous and probably deadly. Oh well, it was a nice thought. : )



I think this is the road heading to the mission property. If you've ever been there, you might recognize it. Unless I'm wrong, which is quite possible.



This is one view from our house, and on the far right is a bench and a picnic table close to the water. I like to sit there and read.




It has been very refreshing to be surrounded by so much green and water and quiet. I think we will all be ready to be back on a schedule after this little "vacation." In the meantime it is a very nice change of pace.

A Prayer

From "The Valley of Vision," a collection of puritan prayers.


...Though my sins rise to heaven, thy merits soar above them;
Though unrighteousness weighs me down to hell, thy righteousness exalts me to thy throne...

...All things in me call for my rejection,
All things in thee plead for my acceptance...

...I am guilty, but pardoned,
lost, but saved,
wandering, but found,
sinning, but cleansed.
Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,
Keep me always clinging to thy cross,
Flood me every moment with descending grace....