Spring!

Okay, so it's not really Spring yet, but it feels like it! Actually, it feels like summer. The other day I got home from work and had an hour until my tutoring job and Jen had the sliding door opened and the breeze was coming in and I was just wishing I didn't have have to go and be stuck in a building until it was dark outside. Well God is so good because one of my students didn't show up and so my boss said that I could take the hour off. I grabbed my Bible and headed over to the Starbucks across the street and was able to sit and read outside. Oh it was nice! I read a verse in Hebrews about God's faithfulness and because I was already looking at God's beautiful sunset He created that night, it led me to think about something Eric said at our Bible study ski retreat (which I have yet to blog about). He had made some calculations to figure out that if there are 6 billion people on this earth, and say they sinned against God 5 times a day (even though it's surely way more) than it is a crazy amount of times that God is sinned against per second. I think it was in the 300,000's but probably more. Anyway, it stinks to be sinned against by someone else even a couple times a day, but I can't imagine how it would feel to be sinned against hundreds of thousands times a second! And yet God still holds the universe together. He still loves us, even unbelievers who don't acknowledge Him at all. He could have chosen to flood the earth again, but He is faithful to His promises and that amazes me. God is so good!

Valentine's Day

The best day of the school year! :0)

Cares

Luke 21:34 "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkeness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap."

It's amazing to me how easy it is for us as Christians to get caught up in the "cares of this life." I guess in one sense it's not too amazing with what I know of the sin that is in me, but when I sit and contemplate what I know of God and what I know is in my future, it's downright ridiculous and upsetting. I am extremely grateful for those times when God wakes me up out of a long, apathetic stage in my life where I am not seeing things clearly, blinded by selfishness and pride. I am thankful that "if we are faithless, He remains faithful - for He cannot deny Himself." I am also exceedingly thankful that He answers prayer. God is merciful and gracious and we are so undeserving.

More Second Grader Quotes

They're still cracking me up...

(Okay, so they've been singing this song in class that has a part that says "a beautiful maiden.)
Kathryn: Miss Taylor, Nicola sang, "Kathryn, a beautiful maiden."
Me: Nicola, did you sing "Kathryn, a beautiful maiden?"
Nicola: Mm hmm. (With a sheepish smile.)
Tommy: Nicola's a lady man!
Me: You mean he's a LADIES man.
Tommy: My dad says that I'm a ladies man.
Me: So you flirt with girls?
Tommy: No.
Me: But you're just like Nicola?
Tommy: No way! I'm NEVER like Nicola! I always eat ALL of my sandwich!


Joshua: Miss Taylor, did you know that everyone in the whole world are brothers and sisters in Christ?!
Me: Well, that's true only if they are Christians.
Tommy: Nicola and I are so close we are like brothers, but in Christ, we're like brothers and SISTERS!
(Okay.)

Sunday Morning

My roommates and I had a slightly different morning than we expected. Jen offered to drive us all to church in her car, so we moved some boxes that Megan was bringing for Merilee to the trunk and we were on our way, icy windshield and all. Everything was going fine until we passed Sylmar. We heard the familiar thump thump thump and knew something was wrong. Jen started to get a little worked up but Melissa successfully calmed her down as we pulled over to the shoulder of the freeway.



Thankfully Jen has Triple A, but she was sure that she didn't have a spare tire. The guy she called said that they couldn't bring one so the car would have to be towed somewhere. When the Triple A arrived on the scene he couldn't believe that Jen had never had a spare. He said that he wouldn't have room for more than two of us in his truck, so I called my dad out of church to come and help us. Meanwhile, the Triple A guy lowered the ramp on his truck and said that he had to check something in the trunk.





(At this point I realized that the man looked just like the tow man in "Adventures in Babysitting", gray beard and all...minus the hook.) A few minutes later we hear, "uh...you have a spare back here." Jen hadn't realized that the floor of her trunk lifts up. So I called my dad and told him that he didn't have to come pick two of us up after all and the Triple A guy proceeded to change the tire. This whole time Megan, Melissa and I were cracking jokes. It was pretty fun. We were actually pretty glad that we didn't all have to be separated. It was fun to have a little adventure together.
Seeing as how we had already missed about a half hour of first service, Jen decided that we should just to get the tire changed since you're not supposed to drive to far on the spare. By the time we got to Pep Boys Jen was finally laughing with us and she cracked a joke herself.





We felt a little out of place inside the tire store in our Sunday outfits, but it added to the humor of the morning.



Thankfully, they changed the tire pretty fast and we made it on time to second service. :0)

2nd Grader Quotes

Student: "This is the worst day of my life."
Me: "Why?"
S: "I got a zero on my spelling test."

Different Student: "This is the worst January of my life."

"My one goal is to get my Webkinz a girlfriend by the end of this month."
(A webkinz is an online pet, for those of you who didn't know.)

S: "I LOVE this game!"
Me: "What game are you playing?"
S: "The boys chase us with sticks...and we run."
(They are no longer allowed to run with sticks.)

Two separate notes Becky found on a table:
"I get to take home the turtles today."
"Note to self: take home turtles."

Me: "What are you playing?"
S: "American girl dolls and monsters."
Me: "So the girls are American girl dolls and the boys are the monsters?"
S: "Yeah well it's like on T.V. and movies and stuff...they aren't really dolls!"

S: "Where's the man?"
Me: "What man?"
S: "The man that was on Miss Nenandov's desk...he had innards."
(Becky used to have a see-through little plastic man on her desk with colorful...innards....sometimes the vocabulary of second graders amazes me.)

Second Graders

God was very gracious to me this semester and saved me from a life of boredom. Not that there weren't nice things about not working every day. I am just not very good at being very disciplined without a normal schedule. Anyway, all that to say I am now working as a teacher aid to my good friend, Becky Nenandov. She teaches second grade at a small Christian school that happens to be right next door to my house. I mean that literally. It's pretty nice because on Thursday of last week, my alarm didn't go off and one of my roommates yelled into my room 10 minutes before I had to be at school. It's also pretty nice to walk home for lunch. :0)
I absolutely love the second grade. I liked it during observations in school, and now it's just as fun. They seriously say the funniest things ever. I feel like I laugh through half the day, which is nice because I love to laugh. I was just about to say, "who doesn't", but then I remembered that there are actually people who don't. Including one kid in particular that I tutor. But that's another story.
My job consists of various little responsibilities. Everything from grading papers, getting the trash can out of the boys bathroom and putting it near the lunch tables, teaching a reading group, cutting out things, tying kids shoes, watching the kids on the playground at recess and lunch, those kinds of things. Going into it I thought that watching the kids on the playground would be my least favorite part of the day, but it has actually turned out to be my favorite part! It's the time of day where I have the most interaction with the kids and I don't wind up "managing" them nearly as much as I thought I would have to. It's the one time where they are allowed to be a little crazy and get away with it. They are so creative too! I get to play tetherball and frisbee with them sometimes and swing and push them on the swing, and just stand back and watch them play "American Girl dolls and Monsters." Don't ask. :0)
Oh boy...I'll have to post some quotes up here next time. They might only make me laugh, but oh well.

Maggie vs. Santa

Okay, so I know I have posted a lot about Maggie lately....but she is so cute and funny I just can't help it. The following is a little video I took of Maggie this morning as we were taking down the Christmas decorations. Emily and I absolutely detest my mom's dancing Santa Claus. It's kinda scary and annoying and thankfully, Maggie agreed. I think she really was scared of him because she had no problem chewing on my mom's singing reindeer, but it was like she was scared to actually attack Santa. :0)

Okay, so I'm having trouble uploading the video...but if you go to www.youtube.com/manderstee you can see it.

Maggie Moo

When I first wrote about Maggie on here I had only known her for about a day and I liked her a lot. Now it's been about two months and now that I know her better I don't just like her, I love her! She is a hilarious, fun-loving, cuddly, sweet, fast-growing dog.

The primary characteristic that sticks out though, is her quirkiness. So here is a list:

Top Nine Maggie Quirks

1. Her irrational fear of dark-colored sewage covers. - Every time we come near one on a walk she plants her feet into the ground and won't budge. We have to pull her with her little bum sliding on the pavement. Either that or she runs far around it. She's fine with the light colored ones though..those that blend in with the rest of the sidewalk.

2. Her fear of trash bags. - This one is a little more rational because the noise scares her when my mom or dad takes one out and shakes it open. Nevertheless, it is funny to watch her run in fear.

3. The way she sleeps with her head in her food dish. - Very subtle indeed.

4. Her love for the metal part of Higgin's old leash. - I think it's mainly that it feels good as she's teething.

5. Her affinity for squeak toys. - She takes one and jumps on to the couch near one of us and starts squeaking and squeaking and squeaking and squeaking until you feel you're going to go crazy! Once I took it and threw it behind the couch and she gave her cute little howl/bark. :0)

6. She steals our shoes and takes them outside through her dog door. - Actually, she'll take anything she can fit through her dog door outside. It's really funny to watch her carry something really large..she moves so quickly with it.

7. She loves to play with Nalgene bottles. - Unfortunately, my mom gave her my nice one from Starbucks without asking.

8. She loves sleeping on her back. - Her paws just go everywhere. What makes it especially funny looking is that her legs are so stinkin' long!

9. If I sit in a chair and lean back she barks at the bottom of the chair leg as it moves back and forth. - She basically freaks out...she lunges for it then backs up and growls. It's so funny!

Weird Dreams

I don't know what it is about sleeping downstairs in the sewing room on an air mattress, near Emily, but I have been having some unusual dreams. Now to those close members in my family, this would come as no surprise to them, since I am known for having strange dreams. But it came as a surprise to me, because I have been sleeping so well the last 4 or 5 months or so, that I've barely been dreaming at all.
Anyway, to get on with the dream. I was in a room with a large bed and I had just killed a snake. Well...I could see that there were about three more large snakes moving around under the covers at the foot of the bed and their heads were as large as dogs. They were coming and at first I thought that I could kill them, but soon I realized I couln't. I jumped off the bed and around this time I realized that my dog Maggie was in the room. I just thought, I had to get out of there and so did Maggie. So who do I try to call on my cell phone? My boss at the tutoring center. Very weird. For some reason I had now closed the door and was outside of the room...I had left Maggie in there! But the phone wouldn't work...and Maggie was going to be eaten....and then I woke up. It was about 5:20 a.m. and unfortunately, the dreams had just begun. I won't recount all of the rest because people might just think me too weird....but anyway...I had driven to work...I am pretty sure...and I realized that somehow I did not have my car, it was in some random parking lot and so I had to call someone to pick me up. All of a sudden, Emily, Jeremy, and Melissa Johnson were there. For some reason, in order to get my car we had to go to a large hotel. We were inside, climbing up the incessant, small stairway and as we neared the top, a man and his little girl, who happened to live there permanently were outside their room. The little girl was on the stairway and so someone lifted me up to get over her and I bumped my head very hard on the ceiling. After that I was in a parking lot with another friend...my car was supposed to be there but it wasn't, but she was picked up by her fiance (this friend was not Kristin Cooley even though some of you may be thinking it was). They left...but for some reason she was suddenly there again with me and we were running to my house. Then all of a sudden we were in my cousin's car...although it wasn't his gigantic truck and my friend was telling me that she didn't think she wanted to marry her fiance after all.
Next we were at my house and I had invited a few friends over...the group that normally hangs out at Anton and Marietjie's on Sunday nights, only none of those people were really there hardly. It was very random people..and when I say random, I mean random. (I really use the word "random" too frequently.) Anyway, we were all crammed into the sewing room that Emily and I happen to be sleeping in, even though in reality...this room could really only hold about 5 people max. (There were about 20 in there.) I went out to the kitchen to talk to my mom and she was asking why there were so many people there, and I said I had no idea because I didn't invite them. Next I walked into my living room and started playing the piano, only I was a prodigy or something. I wasn't even looking at the keys and I was playing a symphony or something. (That part was pretty cool.) Next thing I know, my friend Ellen is coming out of the sewing room telling me that she is going to leave. So I go into the sewing room and everyone is gone! I head back to the living room and Megan Cooley is there...like she had been there all along even though I hadn't realized it. She was telling me that Kristin was moving to Texas, which I thought was strange considering she was getting married in May. Then suddenly we were at the Cooley's old house and we were walking down the hall and there were all these cool paintings on the wall...only they were in sets of two which indicated that Kristin and Megan had taken an art class together which I considered odd since they didn't really seem that into art. I asked Megan how she felt about Kristin moving to Texas and she said she was happy about it and all I knew was that I was sad, and then I woke up.
So there you go....a little insight into my strange brain. At least that's what Emily thinks. This was two nights ago. Last night was much shorter but just as weird. I could fly and I would punish people (?) by taking them and flying over the ocean about 100 yards from the shore and would threaten to throw them in if they didn't do something. I'm pretty sure that's what it was. Weird. Well, I'm kinda hoping I don't dream something so strange tonight.

Prayer

I really love going to night church and last night especially. It was the second part of a two part sermon that John did and I missed the first one, so I was glad he did a review. It was on God's sufficient grace in trials and it was so uplifting. It was one of those messages where I feel like I just want to sit there forever and stay in that frame of mind. It's so easy to get up and get involved in a conversation with somebody that doesn't have anything to do with the message and then forget what you just heard. Anyway, we were reminded about how we are often driven to times of intense prayer when we are faced with a very difficult trial and, in a way, it's a sad commentary on our lives that it takes something like an extremely difficult trial to bring us to that point of such dependence on God.
This reminded me of something that I have been thinking and reading about recently. God tells us all throughout the Bible to pray to Him and to bring our requests before Him. To bring everything before Him. And He tells us that if we ask Him anything in His name (according to His will) He hears us and answers us.

Matthew 7:11 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
Luke 11:13 "...how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Matthew 21:22 "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you."
John 16:24 "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us..."
James 1:5-6 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
1 John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him."

Again, why do I not come more often to God in prayer?! He has given us who know Him every spiritual blessing. I find it extremely encouraging, for example, that it is God's will that people be saved. It's also His will that I tell others about Him. If I pray that He would give me boldness to evangelize for His name's sake, and I pray for wisdom in this area with no doubting, then He promises to answer! He hears us! If I am seeking to honor Him in my life, in regards to a job, and I pray that He lead me and guide me to do what He wants me to do...and I pray about this with faith, He will answer! It's so comforting to know this! And I hope that anyone reading this may be encouraged as well. God is faithful!

Sister Day

So, my sister is pretty brilliant. Mariejtie and I joke about how people think we are creative, but we really just steal ideas from other people or places (like our pumpkin...that ironically won "most creative). But anyway...my sister is creative in the true sense of the word. She came up with Sister Day. She felt that since there is a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, why not have a Sister Day? (If any of you want to steal this idea, you could have a Sibling's Day too. :0)

Emily thought that since both of our birthday's are in May and her's is the 16th and mine is the 26th, than Sister Day needed to be on November 6th. (The month that is halfway to May and a day that still had a 6 in it.) Emily also said that presents must be involved.

We started off the morning with breakfast at Egg Plantation and I got my favorite meal there. One of my favorite meals of all time actually. Strawberry and Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast. Oh my! It's good. :0) I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of it, but oh well! Here are some pics of Egg Plantation.

After Egg Plantation, Emily did have to go to one class to take a quiz. I ran home and finished getting her present ready. I didn't have much wrapping stuff so I kind of threw it together.

After her class, she rushed over to pick me up and we drove over to the mall to see the movie, Dan in Real Life. It was so good. It was one of those movies that you leave just thinking, "what a great movie." It was the first time I had seen Steve Carrel (or however you spell his last name) play a normal person. It was kind of a comedy drama. He was still funny, just in a different way. Anyway, I would recommend it for sure. It was pretty clean too. We actually opened our presents in the dark theater before it started. I got Emily a necklace and headscarf thingy and I decorated a frame for her. (Again, a stolen idea.)

Emily got me the new Rascal Flatts CD, but seriously, the most precious thing she gave me was a poem that she wrote. I may embarrass her but I have to write it on here. She is seriously really good I think. She based it off of three pictures of us when we were little.

Head bending down, mouth open in speech, Who is she talking to so intently? Sitting in a cardboard box, wide grin, Who is she being so silly with? Arm around a shoulder, a protective grasp, Who is she caring for so sweetly?

Her sister looks up and understands, Her sister grows up to be like her, Her sister sits beside her in a box, Her sister grows up to laugh with her, Her sisters' is the protected shoulder, Her sister grows up to depend on her

You still teach me now, Things more important than speech, We still giggle when life is funny, But we experience the hard times too, You still look out for me, That's what sisters do

Anyway, I thought it was incredibly sweet. That was my favorite present. (But the CD is pretty cool too. :0)

After the movie we went and got lunch at Panda Express. Yum! We split chow mein and orange chicken so we could fit in some Pink Berry. So delicious.

The day was so fun! Haley, even if you don't agree, in my mind the day was completely pakkish. My sister is the coolest. It's definitely going to be an annual event!

Maggie Pictures

Here are some more pictures of Maggie. They are mainly for my dad. She has already grown!

Chocolatine, Friends, and Maggie!

At the beginning of this weekend, I was a little bummed, because I wasn't going on the camping trip to the Sequoia's with a group from Bible study. And while I am still a bit sad that I missed it, God still blessed me with a great weekend! On Friday night I went to Mariejtie's with Megan and Rebekah and we saw one of my all time favorite movies (musicals for sure), Singin' in the Rain. Classic. We had In-n-Out, had a great time chatting, and watched the movie. My favorite part was watching Mariejtie laugh over the "microphone" scene. It might have appeared that I was laughing at the movie...but I was cracking up over how much Mariejtie was cracking up. I'm talking knee slapping, hold your stomach laughter. :0) I greatly appreciate the fact that she enjoyed it as much as I did. I wound up spending the night too, so that if an intruder came in, I would be the first person to be shot and it would warn Mariejtie. Her words, not mine. (As you may have guessed, Anton wasn't there, but he was on the camping trip.) The funny thing is...I really did have a dream that night that I got shot. But that's another story in itself.
The next great thing about this weekend is that my family got a new dog, Maggie. She is a Wheaten Terrier and let me just tell you, it was love at first sight! Some of you may know that our dog we owned for 14 years, Higgins, is gone. We had to have him put to sleep. I wasn't sure if I would want another dog so soon, but we really all did. It just felt like something was missing from our house. I also wasn't sure how I would feel about having a girl dog. But I just adore Maggie! She is so sweet and friendly and funny. She loves to have you pick her up...she is in her nibbling stage, but she loves to lick your face. She pounces and bounces around everywhere...and she's already pretty obedient. I mean...how could you not love her little, cute face? Here is my first picture with her the day we picked her up. :0)

Checking out her new home.

She is just precious!
The other fun part of the weekend was going to Chocolatine with Haley and Mariejtie on Sunday after church! Haley had told us about this place, a very "pakish" French cafe owned by a true French couple named Hugo and Sabrina. Their friend from France, who is here for an internship, served us. The food was soooo good! We ordered different things and tried out each other's meals and they were all delicious! We also ordered a few desserts....that are all made right there....and they were scrumptious as well! Thanks again Haley!

I knew this place was the real deal because I found a tea towel there that I bought for my mom in Marseilles! I was way excited!

I just thank God for wonderful friends and conversation and for blessing us with fun times together!

Halloween Greeting

Today I came to the realization that I have had this blog for at least a year, because as I was walking up to the front door of my parent's house, I noticed that our neighbor's graveyard was all set up, the topic of my post last Halloween.

I went to my parent's house tonight for a few reasons...one was that the cul-de-sac across from our house was throwing a mini-potluck dinner, which meant a free meal. Hardly any students showed up to tutoring today because of Halloween, so I only worked an hour and then headed on home just in time to eat. It was a tad awkward because we don't know anyone in the cul-de-sac these days and they all have younger kids. This random kid dressed up as Buzz Lightyear came up to me and asked if he could have a drink. I was kinda thinking, "I'm not your mom, kid' but I headed over to the lemonade pitcher. Another man was already pouring a drink and Buzz tried to take his cup, but I told him to hold on. I think Buzz should have actually dressed up as a camel. As soon as Em and I were done eating we headed on home.

For some reason, I like going home on Halloween to pass out candy to the kids. I don't know why because tonight I found out that I am the worst Halloween greeter on earth. I should have remembered last year when the kids came to the door and shouted out "Trick or treat?!" I would answer "trick" and they looked back at me with blank stares. My mom and my dad are the best at greeting the trick-or-treaters and Emily isn't bad herself. Everytime they answered the door I heard exclamations of "What a cute outfit!" or "Well hello there, who are you supposed to be?" The first time it was my turn to answer the door I heard the kids yelling "Merry Christmas!" before I even opened it. So as I put some candy in their bags I told them they were a bit early. My family mocked me incessantly for being a mean greeter. I just had trouble thinking of what to say to the kids and making it sound sincere at the same time. You'd think I would be better at this considering that I would like to be an elementary school teacher.

Later on tonight, I was thinking over how strange the whole concept of Halloween is. You buy a bunch of candy (which isn't cheap!) to pass out to a bunch of kids that you have never met, that are dressed up as Spiderman and Transformers.

Anyway, at least we had an enjoyable time watching a classic Hitchcock movie. (Despite the fact that it was interrupted every five minutes by the doorbell.)

It's that time of year!

Fall is officially here (okay, so not officially, but in my opinion it is) and I am beyond excited! Fall is my favorite season. Well, when spring is here I sometimes think that that is my favorite season, but really, I think it's fall. Or I should say Autumn. I really like the name, Autumn. I think it's the nicest sounding season name. When I hear the word, Autumn, I think of a red, crisp leaf.

So it only began to feel like autumn on Tuesday. It was a little chilly in the morning, and that familiar crispness in the air arrived. Then on Wednesday, I awoke to gray clouds.....and I got to wear.....a sweater! Oh it was wonderful. But I actually felt the first hint of autumn this past weekend when I was at Starbucks with Emily. I decided to order a hot drink because I was just tired of ordering cold ones. I bought a Pumkin Spice Latte....one of my all time favorites. I took a sip, and it was amazing! The sip embodied Autumn! I closed my eyes and took another sip, and even though it didn't appear to be true...I could hear the wind howling outside and the leaves on all of the trees were instantly red and gold, and I was wearing a sweater.

Today the crispness was there again in the air and the sky was the bluest blue and the clouds were huge, puffy, and very white. It was my favorite sky. I couldn't help but look at it and think of our amazing God! I am so thankful that He created Autumn.

Returns

I am really bad at taking things back to stores. The return/exchange area of a store scares me. I don't exactly know what it is. Even if something is damaged, I don't like taking it back. I'm pretty sure the main issue at hand is that I assume the person working behind the counter will think that I was really the person who damaged the item. Or that my reason for taking back the item isn't good enough.

On Wednesday I actually had two return experiences. In the morning, I took back my friend's rug to the store. I didn't mind driving down to Ikea. I really love that store actually. However, that is another blog in itself. Anyway, my friend gave me her debit card that she used to buy it and that is when the first fear came into play. I thought, that isn't my name on that card. What if they ask me for I.D.? What if they don't believe me that my friend really asked me to take back the rug for her? I just knew that I would not be the one driving back to my friend's house with the rug, but that I would be riding home in a cop car.

Well, I got to Ikea, I took a number and I sat down and waited with great anticipation. I played Sudoku on my phone in order to distract myself. I heard a ding and looked up at the number on the screen. It was a 32. I looked down at my ticket. Same number. I slowly walked up to the counter with the rug. The lady asked why I was bringing it back. With my eyes on the counter I mumbled out something along the lines of it not being the right size or color for the room. Apparently this was a good enough answer. Whew! Then she asked if I wanted the money back in cash. New panic moment! I pulled out the card and told her that it had been paid with it. Then she said she would give me cash back since it was paid with a debit card. Another whew! But then, she passed me the receipt and told me to sign! Moment of truth. I told her that I was bringing it back for a friend so was it okay if I signed my name? "Sure, no problem." Third and final whew! Now I could go upstairs and happily meander through the showroom looking at all the beautfiful furniture and decorator items. :0)

Well that was my first return. The second one was the hideous black top I had bought at Macy's with a birthday gift card. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. I blame it on the fitting room mirrors. My roommate agreed that I needed to take it back. The only problem was I had ripped off the tag and thrown away the receipt.

I seriously have a disease of some form in this area. As soon as I bring a clothing item home I immediately rip off the tags. I can't even say how many times I have regretted this move. Thankfully I found the tag, but no receipt. Because the tag wasn't attached I assumed they wouldn't take it back. So the top sat on my desk for about a month. Once in awhile I would look at it and think, "I need to try and take that back", but to no avail.

Finally, on the day I took back the rug, I thought I might as well get it all over with. So I went to Macy's. Surprisingly, she took it back, but not without proper humiliation. "Next time, the tag will need to be attached." Next time? You really think you are going to be here the next time I take something back? What are you going to do, put a hidden camera on me to make sure that I keep all tags attached from now on? Anyway...the humiliation is another reason why I hate returns.

Well, sorry if that was the most boring piece of literature that you ever read. But my sister didn't want to keep looking at that giant spider picture.

Mini Heart Attack

That's what I had this morning first thing after I woke up. The sink was getting a bit overloaded with dishes and so I decided to clean up. I picked up a cereal bowl and out crawled the spider who just lost her husband. Okay, so maybe it wasn't actually a black widow, but it was large. Definitely one of the most gynormous spiders I have ever seen in a house.

One of my roommates was still sleeping peacefully in the next room and so I had been trying to keep it down, but on seeing the spider I yelled out in a panic. I don't care how many times you saw Charlotte's Web as a kid, your first reaction on seeing a spider of that size is KILL. Or else run away screaming like a little girl. Mine was of the first nature. You can't just let something like that have free reign of the house. I mustered up all the courage I was able to and proceeded to hack the thing to pieces with a large cooking spoon. Spider legs were splayed all over the sink. It was a nasty job and for about ten minutes afterward I felt like things were crawling on me.

Mom and Dad

As you can see below…I just moved out of my parents house a few days ago, and it may seem silly to most of you out there…well the few people who may stumble across this blog from time to time…but I already miss my parents. Now it may seem silly because I am still only living 15 minutes away from them, so I can see them anytime I want…but still, it’s true.

As I’ve been sitting here by myself, alone, in this empty new house, :0) I’ve been thinking about how much I take my parents for granted. (I really don’t like using such common place words “take for granted” to describe that, but that’s all I can come up with for the moment.) My parents love each other, they love me, and most importantly they love the Lord. That right there is enough to praise God for. Nowadays there is probably a very small percentage of parents you could say that about. I’m already way more blessed than a lot of people out there. Yet somehow I still manage to complain about my parents sometimes. How ridiculous!

I haven’t had much time to notice it yet, but I have already started to see since I’ve moved out, how much things cost, and my parents were willing to spend a lot of time and money to raise me. They even consider it a joy! They give me godly, helpful advice that I don’t always want to listen to, because I stupidly think that I know better than them. Their rules and such played no part at all in the decision to move out, but nonetheless, I didn’t always want to follow them. Yet they had certain rules in place only because they love me and sought to teach me how to make wise decisions.

And I know that there were times where I wanted to hide my face in embarrassment over some of the things they would say or do when my friends were or even weren’t around…and now those are some of the things I miss the most. Those are the things that make my parents funny and fun!

I’ve just got to say…I love my parents! Mike and Jackie….Dad and Mom…..Poppala and Mother of Pearl (their card shark names….don’t ask). God knew what He was doing when He gave them to me.

For all of you out there who don’t take time to thank God regularly for the parents He gave you, stop and do it! He has commanded us to honor our parents and He has told us to thank Him for everything. And James 1:17 says that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

And parents are a good reminder to us of our perfect, loving, heavenly Father! So thank Him too for the fact that He has adopted you as a son if you have put your trust in Him!

Tennis Shoes and Pasta

Those were the last two things I had to get from my house that I naturally forgot to bring to my new place. Yep, for those of you who don’t know, I moved out. Back in the days when I moved in and out of my dorm at Master’s, I always had to make about 50 trips back home in order to get the random things I forgot. It was no different this time. Except this time, I didn’t move back into a dorm, but into a small house to live with three of my friends from church.

It was kind of a sudden move. No, I am not trying to run away from my parents. I’m very close with my family…it was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. (Even though I’m only 15 minutes away.) My roommates used to live in an apartment, but the owner recently sold it and they were forced to move out. Their fourth roommate did not move with them so they needed a new one. We had talked about me moving in with them eventually; some day…I just didn’t think it would be this soon.

I also thought this would be a good time to learn how to manage money. I have never had to pay for too many things living at home, so I don’t really feel like I have learned how to do finances very well. I think it will be a good time to learn how to be content with the things God has blessed me with. I won’t have much money to buy things other than what I truly need. Tutoring and substitute teaching doesn’t pay too much. If any of you think about it, you can be praying that I will truly be wise with the money God entrusts to me.

Part of the fun of moving into a new room is the chance to decorate! I really love decorating…and I think that if I could ever run my own little side business, I would sell refinished furniture. My mom and I went to a thrift store in Sunland and found a little dresser and a roll-top desk for practically nothing and fixed them up with new paint and knobs. It was so much fun!

Everything kind of seems weird to me right now. Not going back to school, moving into a new place, waiting for calls for subbing… :0) I never really like change at first, but I know it usually winds up good. I am thankful for the opportunity to draw closer to the Lord in a time where I need to rely on Him. Well, I always need to rely on Him, but this time it is in a slightly different way. He is faithful and good and has promised to never leave me or forsake me. Isn’t that such an amazing promise?! I think so.