my accomplishments.

As of Wednesday around 1:00pm, I officially turned in the last assignment for my capstone class in order to receive my Masters.  This means that the 33 pager is done, as well as the presentation that goes with it and my final reflection of the class.  One more class down!

Unfortunately, I still have one class left to finish...so close, yet still quite a bit to do.  I have two more classes to attend and four papers to write.  Yes, four papes for the same class due on the same day.  Dumb, right?  I need to get started on them soon (as in this weekend, probably...ok probably not) so I'm not stuck doing them all at the last second.  Because I would totally do that, knowing my track record.  Although, to be fair, I've finished my other two classes this semester between 2 and 4 weeks early, so who knows :)

The last two days have been as dull as possible for me.  Yesterday I literally staying in my pjs all day, just working (as in sitting at my desk all day, wishing I was doing something else).  Today again I stayed home, although I did shower and get dressed, and thought about everything I would rather be doing than working.  I don't think it helped. 

Things I would rather be doing (in no particular order):
Reading
Seeing friends
Disneyland
Magic Mountain
Seeing family
Bowling
Crocheting
Going to the movies
Learning to quilt
Watching paint dry

I have the overwhelming desire to go do something, anything.  Tomorrow I'm going to do something.  I just don't know what quite yet.

Hope your Cince de Mayo was terrific.  We "celebrated" by eating Baja Fresh in the car in the church parking lot.  My parents were going to a meeting, I was there for the free food company. 

good news.

Saw this earlier this week:

(please excuse the nasty windshield)

There may be hope for us yet!

my answer came.

I had my interview Monday morning and was told I would find out either way by Tuesday.  I spent all day with that phone attached to me.  I finally got the call last night at 9pm that I had been both anxiously waiting for and dreading.  I knew in my gut that it wasn't the answer I wanted.  And when I heard the words "I wish I was calling with better news" my heart sank.

Even though I'd been preparing myself all day, I was disappointed.  At that moment it was final.  The hardest part was that when I heard I had an interview, I tried not to get too excited, but it was the very first time that I allowed myself to imagine having my own classroom and students.  And that's what hurt the most.

I'd been praying all along though, that no matter the answer, I would trust God.  His answer was no this time.  So I'll keep waiting, and trusting, and hopefully not waiting too much longer...

(23 days)

another month gone.

I'm pretty sure I say this every month, but seriously, how is April already over?  It seemed to fly by.  My two weeks off of work probably didn't help that either, because it really doesn't seem like it's been very long at all. 

In other news, today I participated in my church's community outreach called Love Bakersfield.  We go out into the surrounding community, mostly based at a nearby park, and provide free services and help to the people that need it.  Many things are done, including giving away clothes, groceries, and books to the families.  There was a booth for bike repair and car maintenace going on in the church parking lot.  The station I was part of was giving people free haircuts.  My mom and I were the "receptionists" for people wanting to get their hair cut and getting them to the people actually doing the cutting.  It might not sound like hard work, but we were both quite tired from the day.  It was probably a combo of standing most of the day and being out in the sun that did me in.  I was going to take pictures, but, well, I forgot.  Actually, my camera got left in the car, so I have a good excuse.

Hope you were able to bless someone else today!

(26 days)

last night's dream.

Last night I had one of the strangest dreams I can ever remember having.  Here's some highlights:

I was in a mall, two-stories with high ceilings.  (Strange note: This exact mall was in a dream I had a couple of weeks ago) My mom got a package delivered to her while shopping (that's some pretty good service!), which she opened.  It was a little black piece of something, like a piece of coal.  A note with it said, "Your father is dead.  Find the black pearl."  As she pulled the "coal" out of the box, a couple of feathers came out with it.  She threw it on the ground, apparently having handled such a substance before, and it became a black bird straight out of the cartoons with pointy white feathers on the top of its head.  It didn't fly, it bounced.  And when you touched it, you bounced too.

[I don't remember what happened next]

Next thing I know, we are climbing up stairs to see a friend's new apartment.  She was so proud of her new place.  It was one big room, and in order to pay the rent, she had to have 11 other people live there too.  Lining the walls were two bunk beds, and then this "bunk bed-esque" thing, that looked like mattresses in drawers, which slept 5 people all stacked up together.  (I'm hoping their rent was less!)

We then drove to get something to eat, through a series of one way streets.  It was apparently the best place to eat in town, but the location changed every week, so it could be difficult to find.

Suddenly I'm back in the mall and looking for my grandma.  But, we can't get to her because she is on the other side and there was a parade in the middle. 

[There were some other crazy things that happened, that I unfortunately don't remember now.  I should have written it down right when I woke up.]

The next part of was the strangest part of all.  I dreamt that I woke up from this strange dream and was telling somebody about it, but I was really still dreaming.  I was even aware that my shoulder was hurting, told them about it, but was really still dreaming.  I woke up (for real this time) and by shoulder, neck, and back were all extremely sore from how I was sleeping.  Or maybe it was from all that bouncing.

the problem with spring break.

The problem with Spring Break as a substitute teacher is two-fold:

1) You are forced to take a week off of work and not get paid for it.
2) The teachers are all rested up and there isn't much demand for subs the week after.

It's a good thing I have lots of homework to get done this week.  So, really it's a good thing.  Really.

(29 days)

he is risen.

Easter. What a day to celebrate!

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(I Cor. 15:55-56)


Today dawned with my dad waking up with a severe sore throat and cold.  Mom, Lindsay and I went to church, which was a good service.  We came back home, finished preparations for lunch, and then I sat around for awhile. Literally just sat.

Lunch was...how should I put it? Awkward.  My dad stayed upstairs, so it was Mom, Lindsay, and I, as well as my grandma, great aunt, great uncle, and Lindsay's boyfriend Liam.  The "old folks" basically ate silently for the meal, not contributing to the conversation.  Occasionally my grandma would ask my great aunt a question (loudly), to which she couldn't hear, grandma repeated, and so it went on. 

I couldn't finish eating fast enough and start cleaning up.  Dishes done.  Dyed some eggs (mine were ugly, as usual).  Sat around and did nothing for awhile.  Grandma left.  Lindsay and Liam left.  Aunt and uncle went out to their trailer.  I went upstairs.  Did a little online browsing/shopping.  Sat around for awhile.  Had some dinner.  Decided that doing some work would be more entertaining than nothing, so I went back upstairs.  Went downstairs and crocheted while the family talked at the table.  Watched Amazing Race.  And, now this. 

Not the most exciting of days, that's for sure.  But what a day to celebrate!

(32 days)