A crazy amount of things have been going on lately and I could probably write a seperate lengthy blog about each of them, but I don't really want to do that! So here is a little update of events and thoughts that I have had over the past few weeks:
- My good friend and former roommate in Atlanta, Nadine, is currently experiencing the loss of a parent. Her mother, Ruby, passed away last week. I only got to meet Ruby once and only spent a short time with her, but even in that short time it didn't take me long to learn that she was such a beautiful, outgoing, and kind person. Just like her daughter! I can't even begin to imagine what Nadine and her family must be feeling right now. Please pray for God's peace and love over them.
- Early Saturday morning my dad was rushed to the hospital for chest pains. Apparently he had a heart attack and he's been in the hospital ever since doing random tests, and today they have told us that he is going to have a double bypass surgery tomorrow. All of the doctors and nurses have been telling us how lucky Dad is to have survived it. It truly is a blessing that he came in on Saturday before it was too late for them to help him. Dad seems to be doing fine, just annoyed that he has to be here! I've been spending a lot of the time here at the hospital with him and it's been a crazy few days. If you could please pray for my Dad's surgery tomorrow, and for a speedy recovery! He is tired of laying in bed! :)
- Since Dad has been in the hospital, my Grandma Shirley (his mom) has come in for back surgery and my little cousin Pate came in because he broke his hand beating a kid up. It's a big sick/injured family reunion at St. Joe's! :)
- Neal Park Potluck has quickly become the favorite part of my week. There is a potluck at Neal Park in downtown Bryan every Saturday (5:00) and Sunday (1:00) that anyone and everyone is invited to. You can bring food if you're able to, and of course everyone can enjoy and eat the food! I've made tons of friends already in the past month and I've been slowly learning how to play 42. Sometimes we play some weird game of volleyball and there is a couple that breaks out some intstruments and plays some good tunes. I always have such a good time! You should come. :)
- A few times a week some friends and I meet up super early in the morning to make breakfast tacos and then take them out to the men who are waiting for jobs downtown. It's been so great meeting the guys and learning some Spanish from them. It's also always a super fun experience making breakfast with these crazy people at 6:00 in the morning. :)
- "We write to and visit our brothers and sisters on death row. You can join us! We meet to discuss, encourage each other, write to our friends, coordinate visits and share experiences. We are open to different ideas for how to be friends with people on death row." This is the description of the group that I have joined with some friends called Friends of Death Row Inmates. We had a first meeting last Wednesday and it was absolutely hilarious. I will write more about it in the future, I'm sure.
- Yesterday I got a cheap flip phone and gave my fancy schmancy phone to my Mom. I'm hoping that now I will spend less time on my phone and more time doing...other things. It's already working because I can barely text with this t9 stuff! :) It also makes it way more difficult for me to do Facebook and Twitter stuff. I think it will be great for me. I've been trying to minimalize a lot of the material things in my life lately and I figured this is another way that I could do it. I need to be prepared for when I go and live in a cave. :) Also I have lost several numbers so text me yours just in case if you want me to have it!
- I've been thinking about not continuing school after this semester is over. I really don't enjoy it, and I know that most people don't, but I honestly have no idea why I'm even in school and it feels like I'm wasting my time. Some friends and family and even my parents are encouraging me to stop going to school and to find something else that I would really love. A lot of friends have been encouraging me to stay in school as well. I'm still undecided. I just keep thinking about what Dr. King said, "You don't have to have a college degree to serve." :)
- I'm still jobless and it's been a drag trying to find one. Please pray that I will find one somehow and soon! I really need one, especially now that my dad won't be able to work overtime for a while and therefore won't get paid as much as usual to help support me and the rest of my family.
- I want to be in a relationship with someone only if our being together is benefitting others in some way. I'm definitely not in a hurry to be in one right now, so if he really cared then he wouldn't mind waiting. :) So thanks for the concerns, random friends and family members, but it's all about the friendship at the moment and I am completely content with that. Marriage is not and will not be the focal point of my life. Just saying.
- My sleeping schedule has been so whack lately! Sleep deprivation for sure.
- Freestyle flowin' has become a hobby of mine.
- Like I have said before, I just want to be used to my full potential. I pray to God that I will be used completely for His will in every second of every day of my life. In Mission Year they always told us to basically ask ourselves this question every time we are making a decision: "How can I best love God and love people in this moment?" I thought it was a little cheesy back then, but I catch myself thinking it more often now than ever. Thank you, God.
So maybe this wasn't as short of an update as I thought it was going to be. Whoops. Also I scanned through it and noticed that I have unintentionally put an intense number of smiley faces randomly throughout the posts. That's about right. :) I am thankful and joyful and blessed even throughout the difficult times and without much sleep. God truly is good and I am the worst blog writer in the world. :)
Peace and Love.
I love you! ya dig???
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