Modifications.

I am modifying the goal of this blog. Again. Bear with me. Bare? Bear. [giggle] Not bare. Anyway.

I still think attempting more gratefulness is good goal for me to have, however, this once a week deal I'm doing is not stretching me to see God's hand in everyday. So, therefore, I will be beginning my 365 Days of Thanks (Doesn't it sounds like the name for a PBS telethon?) or 365DOT for you hipsters. I'm on my computer everyday anyway so this shouldn't be that difficult...

Please feel free to participate, whether through your own blog, on note cards around the house, by leaving a comment, or keeping a journal. If you do, I won't even make you call your efforts 365DOT. It's so lame.

Right now I'm thankful for Wurther's Originals. No, that's not my entry for today. That will actually come a little later, because I'm weird. (I would explain, but I don't really want you to know how weird I am.)

Tonight I am going to a sleep over. I think I already mentioned that. Did I? Anyway, I am. With a lot of young girls. It's for gro, the ministry started for girls ages 10-12ish. We're going to watch a movie (I'm crossing my fingers for Anne of Green Gables!) and then uh...sleep. Well, I am in charge of snacks and the breakfast for tomorrow morning. Snacks will be popcorn, etc. junky foods their parents don't let them eat. For breakfast we're making omelets in ziplock baggies. Oh yes! I shall let you know how it goes. I haven't tested it...hmmm...hopefully it works. We can always get donuts if it doesn't. Blah.

On a side note (which really isn't aside at all...), I'm currently furious. (Fury might be a little extreme, but I so rarely get to be furious that I thought now would be a fun time to try it!) At whom, you ask? Webster. Well, not Webster himself, he's dead you know. It's those people working for Merriam-Webster that have my bonnet all knotty. They have added almost 100 words to the dictionary. Words like "shawarma!" Yes. I totally support that. But puh-lease! They have also included "frenemy," "staycation," and--oh how my insides churn!--"locavore."

I'm still upset about "mcjob."

Also, I bought a green 2000 Toyota Camry. I call him Benny.

Mercy #3

My glasses.

At 18 I learned that I am nearsighted with an astigmatism and would always need corrective lenses in order to see clearly. Last year I developed an eye infection that prevents me from wearing contacts. Apparently, contacts and my allergies don't mingle in a friendly manner.

At 22 I have learned to be grateful for my glasses. Oh sure, I accepted it without (much) complaining, and I wished that I could comfortably wear contacts, but I didn't really mope about. However, I don't think it ever occurred to me to be thankful for my glasses. They enable me to see God's creation around me with clarity. They prevent headaches and don't bother my eyes. They might someday correct my astigmatism permanently. Because of them I can read, and I love to read. Heck, they're even a fashion statement!

Today, I am going to be grateful to God for my glasses, even when they refuse to stay up on my nose and I appear dorky by pushing them up every other minute. What a blessing!

In other news...

It's JULY! Oh my goodness oh my goodness.

Um. What is there to say about July? I didn't watch any fireworks on the 4th. Is that so very lame? After seeing the show at the Mines, all other shows are just blah. People. Go to the fireworks show at the Mines during E-Days. Seriously. Go.

I am in the process of looking to buy a newer car. I love little Hans (my '95 Saturn) but he is just getting old. I might pass him on to DJ and upgrade to a newer Toyota or Honda, or something that will probably last until the end of the earth. We shall see!

Oh! My new glasses are in. I bought them a little over a week ago and they had to order the lenses, but I just received a call that they are ready for pickup. I think I shall do that on my way to work today. Yayayayayay! They're awful pretty. Kind of a copper color with a floral filigree on the arms. Yaaaaay!

I saw Ghost of Girlfriends Past last night. Do not go see that movie. It is so very awful. So very. In so many ways. Except for the father of the bride's speech...that was crazy funny. Anyway.

In the way of movies, however, do see Benny & Joon. All together now: Awwwww. It was actually a really cute story.

Ahhhhh! I must dress!

A time to read and a time to blog about reading.

Ah! I love to read. So here is my reading list, feel free to suggest books that you particularly like.

(I will be keeping this updated. Titles crossed out have been read.)

_ A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Recommended by David)

I really enjoyed this book and would heartily recommended it to anyone who would like to read some Sherlock Holmes.

_ Marley and Me by John Grogan

_ Darcy's Passions by Regina Jeffers

_ The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

_ The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

_ The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

_ Hinds Feet On High Placess by Hannah Hurnard

Excellent, excellent analogy. Read it!

_ The Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

They are just some fun little short stories that make you happy if you enjoy Harry Potter.

_ Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg

_ Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet

_ Five Who Changed The World by Daniel Akin (Recommended by Dr. Albert Mohler)

_ The Pilrim's Progress by John Bunyan

_ Beethoven, Bach and the Boys by David W. Barber

A fun way to learn music history! I really liked this book.

_ Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

_ Catch 22 by Joseph Keller

_ Articles of War by Nick Arvin

I thought it a well written view of war, though definitely for more mature audiences. I can't say that I would recommend it willy-nilly based on the heaviness of the violence and some other content choices, however.

_ The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed it, but it addresses some mature themes regarding growing up and racism so would more best suited for a mature reader.

_ Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry (Recommended by Todd and Annie)

_ To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (Recommended by Anna)

_ Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Recommended by Pippin)

_ Skin by Ted Dekker

_ Sinner by Ted Dekker

_ Kiss by Ted Dekker

It was an interesting book. I wouldn't say that it's my favorite Dekker book by any stretch, but it was an interesting concept. Highly unrealistic, but fun.

_ My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

I really enjoyed this book and am eager to see the movie. I would not recommend it widely, however, based on some of the content choices the author made. It is an excellent drama dealing with some very heavy moral issues in a sensitive yet in-your-face way, but has those unfortunate flaws.

_ A Damsel in Distress by P.G. Wodehouse (Recommended by the girltalk ladies)

Mercy #2

A job that I enjoy.

It is such a blessing to be working doing something that I enjoy.

You may not be familiar with Gymboree Play and Music, so let me enlighten you...

It is a place for children and their parents to come play on safe and frequently changing gym equipment, to participate in classes where music and movement facilitate learning, and where we always have a full supply of bubbles.

We offer different classes for different ages groups of children. There are 7 Levels that a child falls under bases on age. Believe it or not, we offer classes starting practically at birth. Age 0 mos to 5 years. I kid you not. We also have family classes that allow parents with multiple children to be in a mixed level class. I teach the Play and Learn classes right now, Levels 2-5 plus a family class. So I'm teaching kids anywhere from 6mos to 5 years old. I also assist in our drop-off summer camp. In the fall I will be teaching Music classes, and School Skills classes to the preschool aged children.

Working there has been a blast. It's almost constant moving and dancing and singing and playing and I really enjoy it. The dynamics of working with kids and their parents can be a little strange at times, but most parents actually make it a lot of fun.

I most enjoy teaching the Level 2 (6-10 mos) and Level 4 (16-22 mos) classes, though teaching in the summer camp for preschoolers came most naturally after my time in a preschool. It has been such a joy to see the bright smiles on the children, and to see how the parents in the classes get to interact and bond with their children.

I work in an area that serves a higher economic status so we have a lot of parents that spend little time with their children outside of the class, and nannies. It is so fun to see the elated grins of children when their parents get excited about the ball that they threw, or that they climbed the ladder.

There are so many bright faces there; I truly enjoy my job.

Here it goes again.

(Anyone else imagining 4 oddly-clad men dancing on treadmills right now?)

It has been quite some time since I last posted on here; life has been a whirlwind. It is too much to go over in detail so let's sum up, shall we? (That was in honor of you Mr. Patinkin!)

I got a job at Gymboree.

I missed a flight.

I rode first class.

I attended Next.

I nearly killed my sister and my boyfriend during a somewhat lengthy delay in Baltimore.

My job at the preschool ended.

My job as a mother's helper ended.

I saw the Star Trek movie. Twice.

I saw a lot of other movies far too numerous to name.

I finished training at Gymboree.

My grandparents moved to Denver.

I ate pizza with my grandparents.

That is pretty much the gist of things, anyway.

Moving on.

I have decided to try something new with this dear old blog. Ah, but no I shall not be foregoing my infrequent life updates, worry your little hearts not! I will, however, be (attempting to...) posting on here more frequently in the form of brief (or--at times--excruciatingly long) updates illustrating how I see God's mercy in my life.

That's really all I have to say about that. And my laptop's battery is dying so I'd better hurry this up....

Mercy #1

(yay dorky headlines!)

My daddy. He is the best and you can't have him. Seriously, though, I have been more than blessed by him through my entire life; his faith, humility, servant's heart, and love. I could write a thesis on why his is my number 1 mercy, but will spare you my long winded attempts at writing. Just know, I could never do him justice. He is my daddy and I love him.

And now I must go, before I lose everything....