I just finished working four days and am SO looking forward to having both Saturday and Sunday off. I got lucky. Of course these kids don't have school on Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday (seriously, are these children EVER in school?), buuuut I still happily look forward to my two precious days off. My plans:
sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep in (this is me jumping for joy about being able to get some precious and rare beauty sleep...and NOT having to set my alarm!)
work out
get a haircut (hopefully...maybe chop it off?)
hang out with this friend and enjoy going to church
I am just plugging away at these job applications, praying that God opens doors! I am trying to have a better attitude while I'm working here and patiently waiting. Well, at least I'm trying to be patient. I asked for some time off the beginning of February to fly out to Washington. If that gets approved, I will visit Stephanie and hopefully give out some resumes in person.
I did have a good day at work yesterday. I was encouraged by one boy in particular who was unusually welcoming and open with me. I enjoyed him a lot and there was a lot more laughter and unity at work than there has been recently...a small blessing during a challenging time for me. I also spent time with a good friend after work. It was so refreshing to catch up and just love each other through listening and sharing life's most recent hardships and praises. Relationships are SO important!! I have been so convicted of this and have been trying to be more intentional about spending time with people. I think I've written about this before, but God has really been pressing this on my heart, making it worth mentioning again.
[Mankind is no island]
I saw this video on another person's blog and fell in love with it. The video aroused so many emotions in myself. How can you not be convicted after watching this? We were meant to live in fellowship and harmony with one another, building each other up and loving like God has first loved us. Maybe that means giving someone the benefit of the doubt sometimes. Assumptions can be hurtful and are just a sorry excuse to not take the time to understand. Let's be more understanding, quick to forgive, filled with compassion and generous with love.
Today I went snowboarding with my sister. I'll admit that I was a little apprehensive about it because the first two times I went, it proved to be a challenging sport and I remember being SO sore afterwards. Kristen and I were also nervous about the weather (last time, the car slipped on the ice LUCKILY, while we were on the side of the road next to the wall).
Buuuut, the weather turned out to be perfect. It wasn't too cold and the sun was out, giving us perfect visibility. We were also surprised to find that it was not crowded at all. Booyah.
Speaking of the weather, there was a thin layer of ice on my car when I left Chino at 745am this morning. I actually used my ice scraper that I got while living in Indiana. Crazy.
Taking advantage of the gorgeous view while driving up the mountain. It was crazy windy.
A picture together.
Going up the ski lifts!
We stopped for a quick lunch break, shoving down food and Gatorade so we could get back out to the snow.
The view at the top of the lifts was amazing and because there were so few people, it was really quiet and a lot of snow was untouched.
I was done before Kristen, barely getting down the last slope because I was so tired. I sat down to read and wait for Kristen to finish getting some rides in, but she joined me soon after. She made it down two mores slopes before deciding to call it a day. We were/are exhausted. But never too exhausted to take great pictures like this.
So when Kristen and I took a break for lunch, I walked by a woman who looked like Tori Spelling. I didn't really think much of it until Kristen mentioned the same thought. Yes, it was definitly Tori Spelling AND her whole family! And yes, I was quite star-struck. Kristen and I were surprised that they had come to Snow Valley to snowboard/ski and we were also surprised that people weren't hounding them. Some girls came up to take a picture with Tori Spelling's husband, Dean McDermott. An attractive man, I will admit (and a lot taller/bigger in person!) If I was braver and didn't mind being "that" annoying person, I would have gotten a picture with them. But, because I didn't want to interrupt their little family vacation, I just creepily stalked them instead.
And then Kristen took a video.
We kept waiting for the perfect turnout to stop and take some pictures of the beautiful sunset. When we got out of the car, we were nearly BLOWN OVER by the wind! It was so freaking cold and incredibly windy. We snapped a couple pictures and ran back to the car.
dearradio stations, Please stop playing the same songs over and over. It's overkill to play the same song sixty thousand times a day.
dearStarbucks, Thank you for existing.
dear2011, Be kind to me. Bring me new adventures, fun memories, lots of pictures.
dearWashington, Please let me find a job in your state. This whole job process thing has been pretty unproductive and it's frustrating. I don't want to be frustrated.
dearweather, I would love it if you stayed cold forever. Summer doesn't have to exist, does it?
dearlittle green Saturn, I realize that you have traveled over 150,000 miles and you've done good. Hang in there because I need you.
dearbody, Keep going to the gym. It's good for you.
dearJodi Picoult, I have read all sixteen of your books. I hope you're working on another one because I don't know what to do with myself these days. You are an incredible author.
dearApril 15, Please come slowly. I'm not ready to turn 24 yet.
dearscrapbooking, My love for you is great, even though you can sometimes be expensive. You help me to relax, to express my creativity, and to make my memories something tangible.
I have been SO tired lately and I don't know what is going on with me. I feel so lazy and lethargic, frustrated that I'm stuck in this job I've already mentally checked out of and discouraged about not seeing any new opportunities in my near future. I hate starting the new year already feeling defeated. I've got to keep my head up.
