Awe...The Memories

I had a long day, night, week...After digging my hand thievishly into my sisters box of Honey Nut Chex, all my stresses were carried away. I know, I know...You are probably thinking, "Your sister has her OWN box of cereal" and maybe you are also wondering how one little bite of a breakfast cereal could make it all better. I will tell you how: It took me back to a time in my grandmothers kitchen when I was 12 where I decided I really liked Chex. Now this of course was way before the array of different chex flavors was introduced to our cereal isle. I remember that day like it was yesterday...It was a late night snack while g'ma was asleep and we attempted to make her french toast and polish my uncles toes while he was in dream land.

I remember that night, while indulging in my tasty snack, how much my mom liked the cereal (hints why she bought it). And of course...one memory leads to another and so on and so on. Any thought of my mother and grandmother can make any bad day good! So there you have it...My chain of memories

Who wants a massage?

I started Massage therapy school this week. My wonderful schedule is Massage 1 starting at 9a.m. and going until 3 p.m. and Anatomy from 6p.m. until 9p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first week went well, a lot of introduction of stuff which was a huge bore (I am not going to lie)…
I think I am going to blog my experiences through the next year as far as massage school…They say to embrace this time because it’s going to fly by. Is that a promise? Even before I started I wanted it to be over. I am excited to learn massage and all that comes with it, but can I be honest here and say I was enjoying my ‘lax’ lifestyle I had before? Working 3.5 days (at the most) was quite enjoyable especially with the cash flow that came with it. Taking Ty jamba juice on a regular basis and having coffee with friends whenever was nice too.
All of a sudden I have one day a week off which will be done doing the loads of homework I have, no more church on Tuesdays which will in turn make me give up my shift at the recreation center (the one I have held for almost 3 years) so I can go to church…or do homework on Sundays. Which is the greater sacrifice right?
But beyond all this complaining let me say that I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue my education, especially now, before I have children and greater responsibilities. I hope I can use my knowledge to benefit the people in my life and people I have yet to meet. Also, I am grateful for my support system particularly Ty. Right now I look to him most for support and he has most definitely shown that he is there for me…and that he is proud of me. That statement right there gives me the faith that this is good, and he is right there with me :-)

The Holy One a Flame...

Today I was called into work early to do a two-hour long pedicure which I usually cring over. But today I was ok with doing it...partly because I could use the money and partly for reasons which would be revealed later. The woman ended up being 30-minutes late but when she sat down in my pedicure chair, she handed me a small pink candle. She said, "this is for you, I thought it smelled nice" How sweet is that?!

As I continued on with the service and the usual questions (Do you live around here? What do you do for a living?) the conversation came more easily than expected. We found out that we graduated from the same high school and she currently lives near where I go to church...and she (Susan) had heard of TNL, So cool! She kept looking at my cross necklace and finally she made the statement that declared it all...Susan informed me that she bought that candle last week and before she came in this morning she felt God was telling her to bring that candle in and give it to me, once she met me she started to understand more. She said God wanted me to know that he was with me and that he loved me.

These are the days I love my job...it was a good day :-)

Grace and James 3: The topic lately

I think most people will agree with me that our lives are very relational…and with relationships (most relationships) come communication, sacrifice and grace to name a few. Without these things, I think relationships struggle and sometimes fail. But why wouldn’t you give all of these things in a relationship? It seems to me that if you want to be in a relationship with someone, you will give your all or else what’s the point?
But in reality this is rarely the case. Let me be the first to admit that I am not very good in relationships. When one relationship is at its best, it seems others are not so much. And when I feel I have great conversations with one person, the words are lacking with someone else. I truly wish I could be one of those (whoever that may be) who are good at relationships...
The reason for this blog is because someone very dear to my heart has questioned me about some relationships and how I treat others, which in turn made me question it myself. He started off saying the way I talk to my sisters is terrible and rude and not needed. My reply (or excuse) was that is just how we speak to each other, its normal in my household. And to be honest…I didn’t realize that although it truly was how I was brought up, it is also very much an excuse. It’s not ok to open my mouth and scream bad words back at my sister when she loses her temper. That won’t get anything solved (I sound like my parents…weird). But at the same time I feel the need to stand up for myself when I am being put down or yelled at. Ok, but then I think about the times I initiate the conversation in a rude manner…which is more times than not. I should really work on that, I should be graceful. Maybe it will rub off…
What amazes me most is that I can talk to a friend or even a complete stranger with a peaceful tongue and go to my own sisters and start a fight…Something I need to work on. Something that inspired me:
James 3:9-12~ 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
I owe many thanks to that dear person who suggested that I show some grace when I speak to people, especially my sisters. And that sometimes I need to sacrifice my own pride to do this. He also showed me that not even he has perfected this task as he shook his fist in anger at the driver in front of him after murmuring some not-so-graceful words…we are all human.

Can't get much closer to God than where we are...

I am seriously on cloud nine. Especially after this past weekend. Ty and I went "backpacking" which really turned into us sipping coffee with the "upwardly mobile" in Aspen and Glenwood and then car camping in Buena Vista. Although I was looking forward to my first backpacking trip I was more looking forward to a wonderful weekend with Ty. I didn't care what we did or where we ended up.

I think it was a great weekend for us to embrace the wonderful things God gave us...including each other. It was also a good time to get to know each other and get a little more comfortable with each other (and with ourselves to be completely honest). I didn't wear my make-up the entire time. That was good...but of course once I got home I put it right back on. I am working and praying about that!

Other points worth bringing up...A deer watched me pee...that was an experience. I bought a wonderful new coat in Aspen. And the backpacking food from REI is quite tasty. (My boyfriend is quite the chef i might add) Also, I realize I have very wonderful friends, including Rachel for letting me borrow her backpack, Nickie for letting us borrow her tent and outerwear and Matt for letting me borrow his sleeping bag.
And then back to reality....sigh....

Getting Started

I created this blog thing so I can write down my thoughts...here are my thoughts about this: I think its broken. Everytime I click on a button it goes to a 'page not found' screen! GRRR...this is not supposed to be frustrating. Maybe this is a sign. Maybe I am just not meant to be a blogger...Test 1