40 Fun Things...

1. What is your current obsession?
LOST and ZUMBA…and checking my email…not because I want to, but because I have to!

2. What are you wearing today?
Black and White plaid dress pants, black Ann Taylor smock with a black lace undershirt, black suit jacket, and black dress shoes. Yup, I’m substituting today.

3. What’s for dinner?
Hummm…I have no idea! The question right now would be, What’s For Lunch?? I’m STARVING!!

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Gas for Blue Belle

5. What are you listening to right now?
Dozens of muffled genres of music from headphones and ear-buds jammed into high-school-ers ears-- who are all attempting to make themselves look productive as they stare off into the World Wide Web doing nothing of great value. I’ve decided to join them, obviously. I have gotten up to check, but the teachers who helped prepare me this morning told me to be slack because I was a sub and it wasn’t a huge deal if they ate or played games online. Wow. AND, Do they really think I am that stupid? I get up to make a round and do checks and students click on the minimized links on the start bar – to hide whatever they know they shouldn’t be on from my eyes. HELLO, folks! I am from your generation and I’ve totally done that before! Just get your homework done and then you can play! Jeeze…not that hard…

6. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Maybe on California Coastline or a Victorian-style townhouse in the suburbs of a city.

7. What is one thing you want to change about yourself?
Being more disciplined in my quiet time with God; being more intentional about sharing the gospel with people I’ve know for years and not just living it out, but bringing myself to say things.

8. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I love these types of questions. Man! It’s hard though because I want to go so many places!! Maybe for the next hour I would go back to St. Andrews, Scotland or London. I loved exploring those areas…

9. Which language do you want to learn?
If you know anything about me, languages are my fascination. I love studying them, even if I am not working towards fluency. I guess if I were to learn a language to be fluent in it, I would have to finish up French. I love that language.

10. What’s your favorite quote?
Lately…”Don’t doubt in the dark what God has told you in the Light”, “Are you listening? Keep Running!”

11. Would you cook for me?
PASTA and BREAD. Those are my favorite foods and I’m hoping my hips won’t have to pay too badly for it in the future.

12. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Hmmm, good question. I’ve recently had to think about this, so I guess just not make a huge effort to talk to them, but still be friendly and open. There are some people who, no matter what you say or try to explain, they always think they are right and will go to the ends of the earth trying to prove you wrong. In those situations, I pray a lot for both sides and make a move based on how important the issue was. Sometimes things are better left unsaid.

13. What are you excited about today?
I am super excited today because upon my arrival to the school I was to substitute for, there was some confusion as to where I was going. I ended up going to the ISTEP tutoring center, which wasn’t for regular substitutes. Something didn’t seem quite right, so I went back to the office and the secretary was shocked to see me! She was like, “We’ve been looking for you! And Veronica has, too! She already called another substitute” – but because it wasn’t my fault (the gentleman in charge of the tutoring just assumed I was part of his team, shook my hand, and took me to the tutoring center. I had subbed once at this school before, and I knew the typical process for subbing, and nothing that morning had gone according to what I thought it was to. SO, after we cleared up confusion, I was shown a different classroom – a computer classroom – where I supervised, mostly. THE GREAT NEWS IS…when I went to find the new classroom, I talked to a younger guy who just got off the phone with the secretary, who asked me if I would be interested in a PTC position, or a Full-time subbing position, which is paid a little more and it would be regular. YAY! So, I accepted it, and through the chaos of this morning, I am happy to say that it was worth it. I am now going to be working between two high schools, every other week. YAY! Something consistent, Praise GOD!

14. Who would you like to see right now?
My family. I would love to go out to lunch with my parents and sisters. I miss them.

15. What is your favorite color?
Purple.

16. Give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
Me? Styling tips? Hummm…no jeans from the early 90s or 80s, don’t be afraid of dangly earrings (their fun!), and mascara is great for anyone, including those who don’t ever wear makeup.

17. What is your dream job?
My MATURE dream job is to teach an ESL/BIBLE class and travel for work (possibly present what I’ve learned). My IMMATURE dream job is to be a world tour guide in a hot air balloon.

18. What’s your favorite movie(s)?
Emma or anything Jane Austen (done by BBC, of course), Little Women, Ever After, anything with a GREAT music score.

19. If you had $100 now to spend on something fun, what would you spend it on?
I would take my friends to see a movie and dinner…

20. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Anything I did in middle school or before. No stretchy pants, no radar bangs, no bright pink lipstick. That should’ve been outlawed. Who were we listening to?

21. Who, according to you, is the most over-rated writer?
Maybe the Twilight series? I don’t know. I’ve heard they are really well written, but for me, if it doesn’t have any significant substance for my walk with God, its just another entertainment that I usually forget about…

22. What brings a smile on your face instantly?
An unexpected cup of Starbuck's, a snail-mail note or package, things from my mom in the mail, finding out someone thinks I’m cute…hehe

23. What is one word that you say a lot?
Hummm…I don’t know as of late, but I love the word Über. It is a German word that means “Beyond” and even though I’ve heard it before, I didn’t know what it meant (other than a lot). Because it’s an actual word from another language and not just a made-up slang word, I find it cool. I want to use Über more.

24. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
The one I have right now! I love having side swoop bangs with long layers. I haven’t liked a hair cut like this in a long time! I’d really like to keep it like this.

25. What are you going to do after this?
After this Q:A, I will probably go to lunch, then finish the day subbing. I’m usually not on the computer like this EVER, but it is a computer lab, not really a classroom…then off to the Thompson’s to babysit.

26. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
I talk to someone, read, pray, try to reflect and remember what I’ve done in the past when things like this have come up, call my dad.

27. What makes you go wild?
Fun music, ZUMBA, my best friends

28. What is your favorite genre of music?
I love movie scores, celtic, guitar, instrumental, Christian worship, Nickel Creek, workout music, etc. Really, I should tell you what I don’t like…heavy metal and hate bands…old twangy country…

29. What inspires you?
Hope in the midst of hopelessness. Great stories of faith. Being comfortable on a Saturday when I don’t have to go anywhere. Nature.

30. What do your friends call you most commonly?
Mary Sue

31. Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Coffee... but it has to have cream in it! I also REALLY love Vanilla Hazelnut Tea…it tastes wonderful with a little bit of milk and sugar…YUM.

32. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
I’m not a huge blogger, but I want to be more consistent with it. I guess its finding that freedom in just writing and not caring if you have correct spelling or grammar, which is hard for me…I do love visiting my cousin’s blog (Stephen and Michelle) and the other ones at the bottom of my page when they update! 

33. What is your favorite dessert/sweet?
Hot brownies with vanilla ice cream…I love dessert, so again, ask me what I don’t like…

34. How many tabs are turned on in your browser right now?
Five. Yikes.

35. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
I look really tired. Wow.

36. What is your favorite season?
I love every season for various reasons, but as far a temperature, I love Fall and Spring – I love the 70s...but there is beauty in every season…

37. What is one wish that you really want to see come true?
To be married someday to my best friend.

38. What breaks your heart?
Knowing that people hurt and suffer without Hope…that people actually look back and see time they spent on earth as a waste or worthless. Children who are being hurt or abused. Abused Animal commercials.

39. What's one thing you really want to do in life?
Be genuine: Really live for God, live out and share the Gospel, leave a legacy for my family that they can be blessed by.

40. What’s something you’re looking forward to?
Getting a full-time job, being married, having children…oh! In the here and now? Still Lunch!! In all seriousness, our sunday school's next book of study: High Places on Hind's Feet. It's been on my list for a while now. YES!

A Date with God...

Valentine's day is quickly approaching and this year, as I envisioned the day, I saw it with those warm feelings that you get when you crawl up on a soft couch with a cup of joe or tea with a good book on a snowy, wintry day. Safe and warm. Restful and open for rejuvenation. With the joys of being single, one in particular that I am enjoying is my time. I thought: While everyone is enjoying their significant other and I am still waiting, why don't I spend it with the Most Faithful One that has never dumped me, dropped His confidence in Me or in His plans for Me? So yes, friends, I am planning a private retreat for God and I in celebration of true love for Valentine's Day. Yes, I have a Date with God.

So I began to browse various blogs for ideas, not really honing in on anything too specific, but finding an entire series of linked blogs that were beautifully decorated with Vintage and Renaissance Arts. I wish I could find a tea house to visit and rest at for the day. Antiques and classic pieces of pottery and stone were séanced by the chords of restful piano sonatas and blue French teacup patterns; Most of the blogs were created by older Christian women. I treasured the photos of book cases filled with classic literature, rare tea pots, floral arrangements, quotes by beloved authors like Jane Austen, and proverbs from a hundred tongues making known their divine wisdom. I was enchanted by playlists resplendent with a decadent collection of Four Seasons, Claire De Lune, and other adored classical composers. I searched the websites for clever photographs and encouraging scriptures; as I did, I noticed that after a while, I had only been collecting the scriptures that were fluffy or said something about God loving ME. I avoided all the scriptures that commanded or expected something of me. Why is that? Am I afraid of what God commands or expects of me? Am I trying to avoid it? Why would those women post scriptures like that? Then I thought some more. To these ladies, I'm sure that these scriptures weren’t casting heavy weights upon their hearts like they were for me, but to them, wings of freedom. Why do I avoid the responsibility of those verses? Or at least, why did I have a sudden sting of anxiety when seeing them again? It hadn't been too long since I had last seen them. After all, I am a Daughter of the Most High God. It is my duty and privilege to accompany Him in this Life by making Jesus visible for others. It is my job of giving the Word breath through my life, my life living in sweet surrender. Does this all sound churchy enough now?

I guess I just want to know why we avoid God. I'm sure I'm not the only one. It is more than conviction. I can't really put my finger on it. It's why we put off quiet time because of anxiety. Why we don’t attend special services at church or extra Bible studies or just be with God more. Please, don’t say time. Time’s a wasting. Time flies by. There isn’t enough time. I have tried making time.

I’ve heard it all and I’ve helped justify myself by using those comments. Why can’t we just bring ourselves to God? What are we afraid of? What am I afraid of?

Just some thoughts...