Friday Snowday Funday Listday

OverTheTopTitleDay.

1. Apparently it’s the storm of the freaking century outside. It hasn’t snowed in Colorado pretty much all winter, but the day that Jaci and I were going to drive up to Vail and stay at a fancy hotel and pretend to be rich is of course the one day that there is a momentous blizzard of death that closes all roads and mountain passes. Boo. So, you guys, it’s not our fault that we’ve watched so much Lost. Nature made us. The island wanted us to. It was our destiny. We want to avoid going stircrazy/being eaten by the Smoke Monster, though, so if the roads are good enough today, we’re going to head to the spa!

2. Exciting news: I am having a giveaway on the bloggy next week! I’m still working out what’s for grabs, but it will probably include awesome things like gift cards, books, vintage treasures, and Jewish stuff. So, make sure to be back Monday for giveaway details!

3. Jaci and Ashley and I visited the American Girl store here in Denver yesterday. It was wonderful. We both grew up reading the books and yearning for the dolls. Neither of us ever got any of the dolls because our moms were mean/the dolls were ridiculously expensive. But we’d get the catalogs each month and wish and wish, pretending we could get a doll and pick out her outfits. Being in the store today brought up feelings of sweet nostalgia … and a tiny bit of bitterness toward our mothers. But we forgive.

Do you see Kit’s darling little ringer washer? I learned so much about different historical eras reading those books. I learned about Colonial times and rationing during World War II, and the Underground Railroad and Victorian treats and pioneer living. You guys, no wonder I always wanted to live in an earlier era — it’s all I read about as a kid. I was into American Girl back when there were just three girls — Kirsten, Samantha and Molly (I wanted Samantha). Now they have these silly modern-day dolls that you can make to look like yourself. What do you learn about history from those dolls?! Bah hum bug. They have added a lot more historical girls, though. A Native American girl (probably should’ve been the first one anyway), two girls from New Orleans (they wear real hoop skirts!), a 70s-era girl, and a Jewish girl from New York, you guys! She has a tiny menorah! I need to read her books!

American Girl was a such big part of my life growing up. I even had a story published in their magazine when I was 12. They did not give me a doll, though. I got a stupid watch. OK, let’s move on. I’ve spent way too much time talking about dolls…

4. Umm, I think this is awesome. Because it is true.

5. Yesterday I was reading Job 1 in the Bible. Job has lost his possessions, children, everything. He is ruined. Satan has caused him unimaginable pain, and he is devastated. When he hears the news of his children, he falls to the ground in worship and says, “Yahweh gave and Yahweh has taken away. May the name of Yahweh be praised.” How? How did he do it? My prayer today is for the Lord to give us strength to praise him in the difficult times and bring comfort and peace and joy to those who need it today.

6. How do you solve a problem like Maria?

7. (This is Jaci) Clearly, Denise ran out of things to say at number 5, but she continued on with her list anyway and then handed the computer off to me. I don’t actually have anything to say, but am being “forced” into contributing. Sorry. I love reading Denise’s blog every day though, and I always check back late in the day to see if there are any clever/interesting/fun comments, but I don’t know who a lot of the commenters are, so let’s do an experiment. If you read this and if you ever comment, I would like you to tell me who you are. How do you know Denise? If you don’t know her, how did you find her blog? It’ll be a fun, like a get-to-know-you game that doesn’t involve choosing a fruit or animal or super hero. Please play along. (Aren’t you glad Denise ran out of things to say and let me write number 7?)

OK, have a lovely weekend, friends! Make sure to hustle back on Monday to enter the drawing for the Awesome Giveaway of Awesome Awesomeness!

At Least We Made it to Superbowl VIII

FRIENDS.

I wanted to have a bright, fresh post for you on Monday morning, but I was too busy fighting off the purple and gold waves of depression that consumed me on Sunday night. My Vikings had a HEARTBREAKING overtime loss, and so I sobbed myself to sleep  on Sunday as I wrote hate letters to the New Orleans Saints. It has taken me days to recover. But at least I wasn’t quite as upset as this guy.

Honestly, I was not surprised by this loss. Any Vikings fan knows that the team will do well up until the game that counts. NFC championship game? Sure, why not?! Superbowl? Now, why would we want to go there?

I will say that the Vikings defense did a great job of slowing down the New Orleans offense. It was all of our offensive fumbles and that last-minute-just-for-fun interception that did us in. But oh well. I’m not mad. It was a fun season, and overall, I think it made me more Christ-like as I learned to love my enemy, Brett Favre.

Anyhoo. I started class up at Den Sem Monday night. I think I’m going to like it — the professor made me laugh out loud at least three times, which is always an excellent sign. Oh, and also, the Bible stuff looks interesting too.

There is something happening next Tuesday that I’m not going to go into detail about right now because the excitement might actually kill me. I’m trying to pace myself so that my level of anticipation doesn’t cause me to have a nerd attack. All I’ll say right now is this: “Ille qui nos omnes servabit.” Like I said — nerd attack.

Here is a thing that is fascinating to me. When poor Job from the Bible found out that he had lost his children, all of his property, and his wealth, he fell down on the ground and worshipped God. Probably not because he wanted to, or because he felt all in love with God, or because he understood what was going on. But he chose to worship the Lord in spite of his circumstances. He tore his clothes in anguish, and he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Wow.

OK, I best be going. It’s been a tough week or so, folks. My Ezekiel passed away, my Vikings lost, and it seems as though everyone has forgotten to buy me those red shoes. Depressing. But, I am going to perk on up because A) I’m awesome and can’t nobody hold me down and B) Refer back to A.

Hope your Wednesday is fantabulous!

Updatey Times

Hello, my sweet dears.

I hope everyone is keeping up on all of their New Jear’s Resolutions. I have resolved to become even more awesome this year, which may seem impossible, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.

So, here is some sad news. Jaci, my kindred from the race of Joseph has abandoned me and run off to Austin to live with cowboys and big-haired people. Also, she got engaged and figured she should live near her soon-to-be-husband. Fine. Whatever.

So my heart is sad that Jaci is gone. But my heart is happy that she is engaged and especially that she is getting married on the 4th of July and will be having a Star Spangled Wedding! Jaci keeps pretending that she’s not OK with our suggestion that her wedding colors be red, white and blue, but we know that she is SO excited by all the ideas we keep sending her. Like this one. And also, this.

And best of all — this.

It’s going to be such a great wedding!

But Sarena and I did gain a great new roommate in our new friend, Jenn! She is super fun and cool, and also an extreme cheat when it comes to card games. Just saying. You probably don’t want to play against her.

So, remember how I hated Brett Favre last August? Yeah, me neither. I have blocked all of those comments about his old man shoulder from my memory, because he has become my favorite ever in the history of the world! The Vikings will be playing New Orleans in the NFC championship this weekend. It’ll be a tough game. I will probably spend most of it screaming and trying not to swear at the TV. Also, I will spend it eating a lot of Pioneer Woman snacks. You know, to support my team… SKOL, Vikings!

My friend, Rebekah, introduced me to this video. It gets a little off-color at the end, but you know what, the system doesn’t own me! Happy Birthday to the ground!

Speaking of NBC, how rude!! I am so with Coco.

So, my next few lessons that I’m writing for the curriculum I’m working on, have to do with Job’s story. I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m always fascinated by his situation. God allows Job to suffer, and He really never answers any of his questions. It’s just the way it is. I’m excited to go a bit deeper into these passages–I’m sure I’ll be reporting on it here with all of my many opinionated opinions. Look forward to that.

Speaking of suffering, if you haven’t yet, please donate to an organization that is providing relief to Haiti. I recommend Compassion International or World Vision. Also, check out Halogen TV for lots of updates about what you can be doing to help the people of Haiti. I wrote this article for them about products you can buy to help support the earthquake relief efforts. Also, Dan Woolley, the Compassion International worker who was finally found and rescued from an elevator shaft, used to work here at David C. Cook. Many of my co-workers know him, so it was quite tense around here until he was found. Continue to pray for David Hames, a Colorado Springs man who is still missing in Haiti.

OK, I gots to go. I am thinking I should do another fashion faux pas post again soon, because let’s face it, I continue to buy some ugly stuff.

Have a great day!

Here’s The Thing

Here’s the thing: I’ve noticed that I say “Here’s the thing:” a lot when I’m writing. Now I’m all self-conscious about it. Leave me alone.

I was thinking that I should take some pictures of my sweet, little house and my room since our landlord is trying to sell it out from under us and I may be homeless soon. (Does anyone have a spare room? I have tons of furniture, I’m not a very good cleaner, and I will hog the TV.)

Oh, have I not yet mentioned this housing crisis? Our lease is up at the end of September and the owner would like to sell the house if possible. If she can’t sell it, we’ll re-sign our lease. I guess it’s not quite as dramatic as I made it sound.

But seriously, I SO don’t want to move. I hate moving with all of my heart. It’s stressful and forces me to come to terms with all of the crap I have under my bed for no reason, and really, it’s just a very bad time. So, pray that it doesn’t sell. Do not even tell anyone it’s on the market. And for heaven’s sake, don’t talk about it on a blog like I am currently doing. OK, good. I’m glad we’ve got that settled.

Umm, yesterday was apparently winter in Colorado. I think the high was like 55. I had to wear a sweater and put my snow tires on my car.

Why hello, Sawyer. I miss you.

(What are snow tires, even? Do people really exert the energy to change out their tires every season? Mine had to literally blow up as I was driving down the highway for me to finally take the time to get new ones.) It was so cold out yesterday that I was almost even forced to wear my warm suede boots, but then I decided that I’m not brave enough quite yet.

Sadly, I am a giant nerd and I spent a lot of time last night watching Comic Con videos about the upcoming season of “Lost.” Also, I’m not quite sure what Comic Con is, but it looks like some kind of annual nerd convention for fans who know way too much about TV or comics or something. Anyway, “Lost” is going to be so good and I can’t even wait and I am so excited that I cannot even stand how good and exciting and wonderful it will be and I don’t even care if you think I’m a dork because “Lost” is the best show ever in the history of the world and I can’t wait for the final season!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I was a bit comforted to see that there are even bigger “Lost” nerds than me. They were at Comic Con. Camping out. Dressed as “Lost” characters. At least I don’t dress up like people from the show–I’m not that crazy. Although, if there were a black girl on “Lost” who knows. Let’s just be glad there’s not.

I’m bout to get my Friday on, so don’t even try to stop me. We have lots of Focus on the Family Institute students in town for a reunion this weekend, which means seeing old friends and eating lots of free dinners. Win/win.

I’m just starting to read the book of Job in the Bible. It’s such a fascinating book to me. I know a lot of people have a really hard time with it because God allows Job to be afflicted and then, instead of answering Job’s questions, God just yells at him for a couple of chapters. But for some reason, I love it. Job, in all of his questioning, in all of his truly righteous indignation, shuts his mouth when God shows up. Because Job, unlike God, doesn’t know the place the lightning is dispersed. Job doesn’t give orders to the morning or show the dawn its place. God is the one who counts the months until the doe bears her fawn and He is the God who clothes horses with flowing manes. Job doesn’t. We don’t. Which is why God’s non-answer answer to Job’s questions is a comfort to me.

OK, deep breath. God is good and powerful. He has given orders to Friday and it has arrived. Bless Him!

Have a good weekend, pumpkins.

* Art by Marc Chagall

Long Time No See!

FRIENDSIES!!!

I have absolutely no excuse for not blogging for the last 600 years. I mean, I did start a new job, so there’s less time to sit around on the couch and write Judge Mathis updates. But still. This is completely unacceptable. I humbly ask for your forgiveness, which you should grant me. It’s probably what Jesus would want you to do. Just saying.

Anyway, I am three weeks into my new job. Still adjusting and such — I am quite the Sunday school curriculum editor. Remember all of the flannelgraphs from the good old Sunday school days? That’s what I’m working with every day, baby. Jealous?

What else is new? My park and rec softball team is 5 and 1. That’s like our best record ever. We’re attributing it to our new bat and our spiffy new t-shirts.

Also, our garden is slowly becoming victorious! It’s taken our tomato sprouts forever and ever, mainly because our house is so freezing. But we have like ten wittle bitty baby sprouts right now! They are so darling. This picture is before they all started coming up, but just imagine lots of little green lives in that soil. The peppers are a whole different story so far. They are not sprouting. They’re supposed to take longer than the tomatoes, though, so we’ll see.

Also, I am supposedly running a half marathon in two weeks. Please don’t make me! It is seriously killing me. I’ve done one once before and, don’t get me wrong, it was horrible. But this one is so much worse. Apparently my body is about 90 years old. I have to wear a knee brace, my back is constantly killing me, my ankles hurt. Also, I got slammed in the shin with a softball tonight (this could have been avoided if I had simply fielded the ball correctly, but that was too much to ask), so I now have a huge lump on my shin. And I have to run 11 miles tomorrow. Poor, poor, poor me.

I’ve had so many things I’ve wanted to tell you during the last few weeks, but now I’ve forgotten them all. It’s my own fault. Hey, I hosted a Passover Seder for the fourth year! I love it. My friend Micah blogged about it, so you should go read about it over there. Every single person should celebrate Passover. It’s way cool. Also celebrated Easter at our house and it was good times. Pastel polka dot plates, an Easter bunny, an egg hunt, and lots of food. Also, a snow storm.

OK, that has to be all for now because I’ve got to do some Bible study homework, ice my shin and commence dreading tomorrow’s run.

Leave me a comment to let me know how you’ve been!

Fresh, Snowy Perspective

People, it is a new day! There are things to do, people to see, places to go. I may be jobless, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a productive life.

For example, I got up much earlier today so that I could watch more fulfilling television, such as Regis and Kelly. Their cheery attitudes and fresh perspective on beautiful baby contests is invigorating.

Also, I woke up to a snowy day! It’s falling gently and swiftly, and it puts me in the Christmas spirit. It also reminds me that my tires are nearly bald and I will probably get into a horrible accident on my way to Chick-Fil-A today. But, that is a downer type of attitude, so I am going to ignore my impending doom and instead point at the snow and say “ooh, pretty”!

If I make it to lunch without dying, I then have to brave my way through the snow to my second job interview with a local ministry! Woo hoo! Please pray that it goes well and that I am able to wow my interviewer with my vast knowledge of Judge Mathis’ court rulings.

The day only gets better from there. My department at my former job (weird!) is so great, and they’re still allowing us in on all of the Christmas festivities. We’re going to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra and then we’re getting chocolate fondue. I am super excited for two reasons, 1) Trans Siberian Orchestra is awesomely amazing, and 2) chocolate.

In other exciting news, I bought a new computer last night! Now, I know I don’t have a job and all, but this was not a splurge purchase. I figured that a prolific blogger like me should probably have her own computer. Just a thought. The computer was actually pretty cheap, and also, it is pretty nifty. Forget your old black or white or silver computers of the ancient past — mine comes in spring green! Spiff city! I will give all the exciting details of my new computer when it arrives in 3-5 days.

What other boring things can I tell you? I watched a good movie last night called Lars and the Real Girl. You should check out Matthew’s review of it. It was quite excellent in a random, weird way. I suggest renting it/buying it for me for Christmas.

OK, well I’ve got important things to do like watching the snow fall and practicing some chocolate-eating before the real event tonight. Enjoy your day!