30

well I made it through my birthday w/ no gag gifts or "over the hill" gifts! YEAH!!!!! My birthday was uneventful. I celebrated with my family Monday night. Last night I had church so didn't plan anything. I did get an unexpected call from my friends at school. They remembered my birthday! It made my night. I had a bad day due to things going wrong from the moment I got up. It wasn't that I was turning 30 it was as if there was a full moon and nothing was working. I will say though I had a fairly decent hair day yesterday.
30 is going to be a year of adventure and full of surprises. I hope this year takes it's time in going by!

Goodbye part2

Today was bittersweet. It was my last day at work. This morning it was a rush around the hospital to get my dismissal papers signed. I wore comfortable shoes that were cute but the more I walked the more my feet hurt once I got back to my desk. Talk about feet burning! Throughout the day I was fine finishing what I could on my projects. Then about 45 min before I left...I could feel the tears coming on. Here we go...me the emotional one. I held them back. As I walked down the hall to leave they started to come back. Why do I need to cry? I'd only worked here 2 months. I did have a good relationship w/ my boss and co-workers, and I did enjoy working there. As I got on the bus...I thought they weren't going to stop this time. Am I emotional because I realize my time is rapidly approaching for me to leave? Luckily didn't shed a tear but I know they're coming.

Last Meal

Today mom and I were out shopping and we discussed what to eat for dinner. I thought "I haven't had sloppy joes in a while" so we decided on that. Then I thought about chicken and dumplings, or a bacon sandwich. We decided just to make this week meal that I like and probably may not get while I'm gone. So we jokingly called it "Last meal" how morbid.
My car looks so pretty and smells good. I scrubbed it down, and for some reason it picked up some tar some where along the way. What a pain. But it looks beautiful. Ready for someone to buy. Long day ahead of me tomorrow. Oh, we got those space saving bags...the one where you suck the air out of....helps quite a bit in packing. I'm able to take both my pillows now.

Update on arrival

I thought I would get to meet one of the roommates and travel by train into the city. However we discovered we got our days mixed up and are arriving on separate days. The three of us are arriving one day apart. So Lisa arrives first, then me, then Simone. We will be sharing an apartment at first. They talk like we might have different arrangements later on after the school semester gets started. Either way is fine with me. Sharing an apartment is probably good for me and it will be like living in a dorm just in an apartment. I am praying my car sells. It would really help out with finances. Especially with the college loans. I wonder if they have bagels and cream cheese there? New food....yummm yummmm yummmm.

Flight of the wasp

Last night I went out to eat with mom and her friends Tex and Betty. We went to Texas Roadhouse (and that was an event in itself....don't even get me started on that). Let me just say if you have a party of 4 check in once 3 are there. Otherwise you have to wait until the 4th one arrives even if you are going to go ahead an order an appetizer. I was not a happy camper last night. I was tired and hungry! I will not comment on the rest of the events that happened to us while there. However the food was good, and the Ribs were to die for. Finger lickin, nothing left on the bone good! So I had to go to the bathroom but it was not in a convenient place so I just decided it wasn't that bad of an issue. Therefore when I got home....It was an issue. I walked through the garage door and on the floor of the laundry room I saw this brown blob. The lights were off and I thought it was a spider. I turned the lights on and much to my surprise it was a wasp. YIKES! I had to make a choice, do I leave it there and hope that it doesn't move so I can make it to the bathroom, or do I take the chance and try to kill it first. Keep in mind this is getting to be a serious issue and I'm about to start doing the dance. He looked a little warn down. Maybe because it was a bit cool in the house. I thought about stepping on him with my shoe but it was a thin flip flop. didn't want the stinger going through my foot. I went back into the garage but couldn't fine the wasp spray. I thought if anything maybe the spider spray would stun it enough that I could then kill it with another shoe. So I came back in but stood far enough away that I had a good pathway to get out if need be. I sprayed that sucker and he begin to toss and turn landing on his back. I held off but then he began to turn over...."Oh, no you don't!" I said and I sprayed some more. (luckily this spray didn't smell) The wasp was finally dazed and confused. I ran to get a heel with a thicker soul. Then I saw one of my shoes in the kitchen. The soul wasn't as thick as I was wanting but more sturdy than what I had on. Down with the wasp! I got in there squatted down and WHAM! The shoe hit the tile floor echoing throughout the room, I lifted the shoe up and it wasn't smashed! This will not do as he could still be alive! WHAM! I hit it again. Lifted the shoe up and he was hanging on to the soul. Oh no you don't! WHAM! This time I put more pressure on the shoe smashing the wasp into a flattened mess. Then I gracefully stood up with pride for I had killed the wasp! and then I ran to the bathroom!

good news

While I haven't received all my answers God has given me some. I couldn't remember if I had sent in the ins. form or not. If I didn't I have no idea what I did with it. At any rate they were able to email it to me and I filled it out and emailed it back. So....I'm covered if anything happens....like who knows, falling down a ski hill....
You know....hard boiled eggs just aren't as good without salt and pepper. OOOOHHHHH deviled eggs would be really good. Lunch time!

God is AWESOME!

As Beth Moore would say "lets just give God some praise! Doesn't he deserve the praise?" I logged in tonight and one of my emails from half.com said I had made a sale. I was confused. I had just mailed 2 books that I had put up for sale earlier in the week (which by the way, God provided a sale on those the first day they were posted! AMEN!) So I was concerned it was an overlook and double sale on one of the books. As I read the email I realized it was one of the books from last semester. I had put up for sale a couple of months ago. I thought once it passed 30 dys if it wasn't sold it was taken off.....God provides and in unexpected ways sometimes! PRAISE GOD! Things are tight right now with paying bills and not working a full load every week. But he has been faithful. And another way he provided for me was allowing me to complete a project at work that I had had trouble with before. He guided me the whole way through it, I made minimal mistakes and I was able to correct the errors. I felt so good! I put an add in the paper to sell my car. It should run this weekend. I'm lost though as I have never sold my own car before. I've always traded in. I asked my boss for some advice he was under the impression you can't sell the car if you don't have the title. I have 4 pymnts left. I checked on the DMV site but it was of no help. I sent an email to Ford so I'm waiting for a reply. One of those "Be still and let God be in control!' I'm also dealing with waiting and having patience with headquarters....Needing answers, sending an email, haven't heard responses. Tonight we finished lesson 9 in the Bible study. She talked about "wounds" that need to be binded by God. A lot of times we don't let God bind these wounds, therefor they don't "heal". She quoted Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah vs. 5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. vs. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.

Happy Birthday to me....7 more days

Don't you just love the "birthday clubs" you sign up for at restaurants.... When it's your birthday they all send you "freebies" at the same time. I'm just about sick of eating out and I tend to dread this time of year because everyone wants to take you out for your birthday.... Don't get me wrong...I appreciate the thought....just get tired of eating out.
Anyway...I opened my email and found my "birthday greetings" from Carinos and Red Lobster. I got excited about Carinos. I could taste the Tierre Mi Su the rich cream with a hint of java and lady fingers dusted with coco. Then there's the Canoli filled with a sweet cream cheese with a surprise of chocolate chips and drizzled with chocolate sauce. I was literally salivating at the mouth. HEAVEN!!!! But come to find out there offer was just for a free appetizer....C'mon guys....an appetizer? We're celebrating birthdays.....Dessert I say! So then I read Red Lobsters deal and theirs was okay....$5 off but you have to buy 2 dinners. so really, you're only getting $2.50 off each dinner. I guess every little bit helps. I could go for some lobster or jumbo shrimp cocktail. Man, and all I brought for lunch today was a hot dog. :(

Full Moon

Seems to be one of those days where nothing is going right! I keep praying that things will start working (computers at work), but it's in limbo still. so frustrating!

Saying Goodbye part 1

Since I'm leaving after labor day I chose to start saying my "goodbyes" now, as I'm sure people will be busy that weekend. This weekend was the weekend to eat out. While I did enjoy the food I'm looking forward to cooking Rosemary chicken tonight w/ mashed potatos and brocoli! YUMMMM!!!!!! Saturday night I had dinner with Tif, Eric, Guss, & Kevin. I had a lot of fun as they did to, analyzing me. ha ha. It was all done in love and only God knows the type of man I need and if it's his will, then someday I'll be married. They all agree I'm "high maintance" as does Amanda from church. I'm going to miss them as they're going to miss me and my off the wall comments and animated stories.
Sunday was my official last Sunday at my church. Next Sunday I'm going to spend a fully day at Samaratano Iglesia. We gave our report on Ecuador. After church my sunday school class went out to eat I had fun. I love doing that but when you have a big group, you don't get to talk to everyone at the table. I'll have pics of all these up on my website once I get it hosted. I haven't cried yet, but I'm sure on Sunday 9/4 whoever I say goodbye to I'll cry then. Pray that God will give me someone to talk to on the plane....I don't want to be crying a lot, and I know saying goodbye to my family will start the tears. I'm so emotional :)

Thoughts about Ecuador Part 1

Last night (August 4) I went with my new friends and Stan (missionary) to do street ministry. This week was not what I expected. We had little contact with the Ecuadorians in the form of ministry. God had plans for each of us. Each of us had different jobs to complete for the week. We were all tired and stressed. I felt like I had not accomplished anything. I longed to be with the Ecuadorians. (I expected more of commission unto Mexico) I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at the street. Elisabeth and Ledia handed me tracks to pass out and Anderson (speaks some English) went over them with me in Spanish. I was nervous but the more I spoke the more comfortable I became and the more eye contact I could make. I had trouble understanding the peoples spanish. After a while some kids gathered around me. I got down on there level (sat on the street actually) and taught them some spanish songs I knew and they sang to me. most of them were catholic. I told them about Jesus, the cross, sin, and prayer. I told them I would pray for them every day. I got the cutest picture of them. It was an awesome time and God knew what I needed. It was so precious. Oh did i tell you they sang for me? When I got back to the room I was so wound up from the events I couldn't sleep, so as I began to translate this letter into spanish I listened to my cds and one of the songs played that had gone through my head on the way home for the street. " But for your grace I could not be saved, but for your grace I would go my own way I'm forever greatful that you have been faithful to me Lord..." I just began to weep. What an awesome trip this turned out to be.

Whistle!

2 wks and I'm on my way....Time is flying! I remember waking up Monday morning thinking "where did the weekend go?" and now it's Friday, the weekend is here again. So much to do....So little time. This weekend I'm eating out every day! I'm getting a little tired of eating out. Tonight was dinner with mom and friends, tomorrow is dinner with friends from school and Sunday is lunch with friends from church. I talked with one of my soon to be roommates. She's arriving the same day as me. We decided to meet at the airport then take the train in to the city.