Well... The World Did Not End (351-360)

We're getting closer! Are you nervous? (I'm not. I know how it ends.)


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Don't look now, but there's a bear staring at us.

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In photography, movement is usually a bad thing. Not always.

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I've said before that this is one of my favorite buildings. They made it even prettier for the holiday. (No filters. Just a moving car.)

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My parent's awesome Christmas decorations. That's how I know I'm home.

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Funny story. So we're driving around town, looking at decorations, and I keep saying, "Wow, that one wise man is really cool. Why don't we have a cool wise man, Dad?"

For the record, we do in fact have the cool wise man.

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I do this thing sometimes when I'm taking pictures where I start clicking and I just don't stop. It drives my Dad nuts. On the trip from Madrid to Siguenza (in Spain), I just kept clicking. I can clock how long it took by the time stamps on my photos.

Most of the time, this is unnecessary and somewhat wasteful. But hey, I shoot digital, so that's not really a problem.

I was practicing this particular method at my parent's house on the birds in the backyard. And I took this:

Only I didn't stop there. I just kept snapping. When I reviewed the photos later, I found this:

Which is just way cool.

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As it turns out, we got actual snow this year! It's amazing and looks awesome with Christmas lights.

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I wrap presents really, really well thanks to Hallmark.

My, things are moving along rapidly! I'm down to about $200 a month that I still need. I spoke to the housing director at OMS this morning, and they have an apartment all set up and ready to go for me. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of moving and when all of that will take place. Meanwhile, I'm working quite a bit at Hallmark, and we just had our closing program for Kid's Time. We held a mini carnival for the kids, and they had a great time, though the adults were a slightly exhausted by the end of the evening. My parents are going on a trip starting Sunday, so I'll have the house to myself for a little while, which will be good practice for Greenwood. I just can't believe how quickly things are happening. A lot of the decisions I have to make are contingent upon things I don't know yet, like whether or not I need a new car. The one I have does okay on short trips, but anything longer than a couple hours makes it unhappy and uncooperative. Plus, I have to decide what to take when I move. I have about 400 books that will need a home. And I had no idea how much work it is to be an independent adult! I've also been working on some pre-training exercises for OMS. Oh, and my computer has been out of sorts lately. All of this to say...

God amply provides!

To those of you who understood anything from the last post: Bravo! You're definitely in the minority. :) I think it's one of those cases where I knew what I wanted to say, but said it all at once and in no particular order. Ah, well. Such is an example of how my writing is going these days. I'm never quite sure what is going to come out.

My e-mail inbox is finally showing that there are no new messages, so for the moment, I'm left with only a few things left to do. I've been working for the Census Bureau, which has turned out to be the quintessential government program. Half the time, I think they are making it up as they go along, and the other half is spent twiddling my thumbs waiting for them to give me something to do. But, I am meeting new people and finding out some things about my community that I never knew before, so I suppose it will all balance out in the end.

Otherwise, I continue at Hallmark and with activities at my church. We had four kids accept Christ on Wednesday night, which is incredible, because sometimes I think they aren't even listening to what we tell them. It just shows that we can never really know the influence we are having on someone.

I had the opportunity to speak to a couple new groups, both very rewarding experiences with lots of good questions asked. At one, there were several former missionaries present, so I was able to get some good advice about traveling in foreign countries and gathering information. As the time gets closer, I alternate between feelings of excitement and feelings of extreme doubt. But if I really believe God is in control (and I have to, because what other alternative is there?), then I know everything will work out for the good.

We were discussing Logos in Bible study the other day, so I'd like to leave you with this thought.

Remember: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Logos = Word = Christ

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my WORD that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55: 10-11

This is what happens when I don't update more frequently.

I have too much to tell you, and not enough time to give a proper accounting. These past few weeks have been incredibly busy, both with my work at Hallmark, and especially with my new job.

Yes, you read correctly. I am officially a government employee now, working the 2010 Census. It's a time-consuming job, and I have a suitcase full of forms and manuals that I have to refer to every ten minutes, but it's fascinating work, and I'm enjoying the opportunity to get to know more about my community. My floor isn't faring well under the strain, but I've promised my mother that I'll get it clean at some point in the undetermined future.

Next bit of news - I may be in Greenwood earlier than I thought. This is privileged information, so I don't know what will come of it, but there is a chance that I'll be able to get started on things without having my full support raised. Things are happening in this world, and we can't really wait any longer to get the word out. This has caused some reshuffling and has prompted a lot of prayer, as I don't know what this will entail. Whatever happens, I'm thinking I'll definitely be attending CROSS-training in July and take my first trip before the year is out. Praise God!

Otherwise, things are going well. I had to buy a new calendar the other day so I could keep track of everything and know where I have to be. I have another meeting tonight, but before I'm out the door, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of me. You are all wonderful, and I can't express enough gratitude for all you've done. As I've been doing quite frequently lately, I'll let Paul explain it for me.

Philippians 4:10-20

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. You sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

New Year = ?

Happy belated New Year!

Don't you hate when you have a whole thing planned about what you're going to write, and then you go off to work or shopping, and you come back and can't remember it?

Me, too.

So, what have I been up to lately? Well, the production of The Twelve Voice of Christmas that we did at my church went really well. I've been studying more about Mary since that night, and I have to say, she's an inspiring lady. I'm thinking of starting a(nother) book. That would make seven in the works. I really need to finish one someday.

Christmas was pretty good when you don't think about the kidney stone I had, the lack of family I visited, and the hours I worked. BUT, to counteract that, I was on vicodin for a few days, I saw my family after Christmas, and I get paid by the hour. So I guess everything worked out in the end.

In case you haven't remembered, 2010 is a census year, and I applied a couple of weeks ago to be an enumerator. As it turns out, I may get an even better job, so be praying that it works out. Hallmark is being very supportive about giving me time off to train. The census job is a short one, but I could really use the extra money.

In other news, my birthday is on Saturday. I have received many lovely birthday cards from people, and I think it's going to be a good day. If only I could stop feeling so old...

My parents are currently in Honduras winding down General Conference for the UB Church. I may be working on a project related to that when they get back, about which I'm very excited.

If it sounds like I'm pretty busy now, I am, which is good, because I hate sitting around the house with nothing to do. That's probably why this blog never gets updated. I'm never in one place long enough. But this is my break between work and teaching the kiddies at church tonight, so I'm making the most of it.

I hope you all received your New Year's card and update from me. If you didn't, let me know so I can get you on my list.

Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.

If I were any more relaxed, I'd be in dreamland

I'm listening to very mellow music right now, so blame that if I occasionally get maudlin or space out. Not that you would be able to tell the latter. I usually start rambling if that happens, and I don't think it would be that obvi...

Never mind.

It's been a somewhat eventful week for me. I spoke last Sunday at Monroe UB, which was a lovely experience. They have very nice people, and I felt so welcome! Thanks, Tina, for being awesome and letting me pick on you. :)

I've been taking on more responsibilities at work, which is both a blessing, because it means more hours, but also slightly nerve-wracking because there is more of which to keep track. (Sometimes I wish I weren't so focused on grammar. Things sound better when you aren't worried about prepositions and capitalization. And I'm doing it again.) I really enjoy the people I work with, and the people who come in always have good stories.

Ooo...my parents have a fire going in our fireplace, and I can smell it outside. (I'm in my room upstairs, but the window is open. Actually, it kind of smells like they are burning the house down. Should I be worried?)

I've been told that the DVD's of the historical presentation from Conference are 50% completed. They've been formatted, but now they need to be multiplied. Stay tuned for news on how to get those.

I got really wound up on Thursday/Friday, so my father took me out to lunch and we had a chat about life, the universe, and everything. (Hence the mellow/rambly/spaced-out-ness now.) Aren't fathers wonderful?

Okay, I think that's it. Be sure to check the links for missionary updates. Neal and Carol Brinneman have also sent out an update about their work with JAARS. Let me know if you'd like to be on their e-mail list.

If you'd like to know what I was listening to, here you go:

Parce Mihi Domine - Jan Garbarek & The Hilliard Ensemble - Officium

Kyrie (from Mass for Double Chorus) - Robert Shaw - A Capella