Delicious

I bought this yesterday. Mmmm, Chocolate.



I also got a Kansas number to go with it. Mmmm, the midwest...



Actually, that is kind of pretty. But believe me, when the first day of 90 degree weather with humidity sets in, I will have to try very hard to believe that I love living in a sauna.

Some S's

I have been bad about posting, and that is bad. But it's good too, because I have actually been busy, which hasn't happened in ages.

Sara Colon was out here for her Spring Break, and we had so much fun spending time together!

Starbucks has fully infiltrated my life. I am really enjoying it overall so far. The people who work there are all so nice and most of them actually work hard! Which is a change from my previous jobs.

Sleep is not an option when you wake up for a 5 am shift.

Soy lattes for free are more amazing than soy lattes for over 3 dollars.

Saved by Jesus - Easter came and went and it was really fun to have everyone here.

See 'Hot Rod'. It's funny.

Stupid theme to a silly post?

This is How You Remind me of Someday

Bad: Nickelback
Worse: Nickelback times two
Worst/Best: A smash-up of two of their hit songs. Oh wait, there wasn't a lot of smashing up to be done, seeing as they used pretty much the same instrumentation for both songs! Enjoy. And thank Sarah for this quality entertainment.



But for some good music, on May 5th, I get to see the Swell Season perform! Eeee!

Oh, and I got a job. Started it today. Got to love reading manuals, mission statements, and policies. Let's all pray it's better than my last two.

And now that it's officially tomorrow...

I can post this!

I guess I'm easily entertained, but I have watched this a billion times already :o) Sure, the words are quite scandalous. But you cannot deny the hilarity.

Employed

Me: What are you guys gonna be when you grow up?
Micah: A witch!
Tyler: A witch!
Me: A witch?
Micah: Yes! For Halloween. But I don't think I have a witch costume. I have a Thomas costume.

Never a dull moment with the best nephews. I wonder if my new JOB will be as eventful!

Because I start working on Monday. Eeee!

Gabe is a rebellious teenager

As Gabe has gotten older, he has gained some simple freedoms. He can wander the house without being watched at every second, he goes out in the front yard without a leash on, sleeps out of his kennel (and often on my bed) every night. But I must say that while he has come a long way, there are still shenanigans to be had by Gabe.

Yesterday he stole Mom's loofah right out of the shower...twice.
I caught him with 3 or 4 different shoes.
He finds the hugest stick he can outside and then charges into the house with it, creating a good-sized mess for me to clean up.

None of these compares to his most recent escapade, however. Today he managed to get into the laundry room, which also happens to be home of Chloe the cat. And well, I only discovered this in time to take care of the aftermath.

Becoming Kansan

Little by little, I am becoming Kansan.

While I used to rely a lot more on other people to navigate the city, I am now driving more places myself, which helps me learn how to get around better.

I finally went in and got a new Kansas license today. My fourth one in six years! How silly. And expensive. But hey, at least my picture will not be totally outdated.

I am on the verge of having a successful location to run a business. I don't know what it is about myself, but as I talked to my Dad about it last night, he pointed out that he thought I would be acting happier about it. Maybe I am afraid of failure. Maybe I don't want to get my hopes up. Honestly, I feel a little in disbelief that God would just hand me what feels like such a dynamite opportunity. What did I do to earn this? What if I ruin something? Do I really deserve this?

I suppose it is a great reminder of how I really don't deserve anything good that God has blessed me with. But He continues to give because He loves me. Pretty humbling. And no, there are no guarantees when opening a business. Or even when working for someone else. But maybe I need to confidently seize what the Lord has presented me with. I am reminded of Zephaniah 3:17 -
"The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."

Really? He rejoices over us? Over me? And takes delight in me too? Words like that weigh pretty heavy with me lately. I know I am going to continue to make mistakes throughout my life. But how remarkable that His words will stay the same.

Potpourri

Kodi went back to the doctor yesterday and he said there was great improvement! So the medication is probably enough to keep her going, at least for a while. She's still very hobbly and has to keep a very low profile, but we are really happy she is doing better.

In other news, I have spent about 33 of the last 50 or so hours babysitting. First for 5 kids overnight, and now 4 kids for a few hours. I've been a Suburban-driving, pizza-ordering, kid movie-watching fool. (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is very cute, by the way. It just ended really abruptly). Who needs a 'real' job when you can have tax-free odd jobs from day to day?

Well, I do. But only for the health insurance.

Speaking of backbone...

If you think of it, say a little prayer for Kodi this week. Yesterday while she was outside, something triggered a horrible episode of back pain for her and she was either paralyzed or in too much pain to put weight on her back two feet for a while. She was crying and dragging her back legs behind her but let me get close enough to touch her and talk to her. I of course had a meltdown while I tried to figure out what was wrong and realized there was nothing I could do to help her.

Thankfully, she was able to finally walk to the car and I got her to the vet. Her x-rays show some noticeable abnormalities in her back that indicate a degenerative condition she is now on medication for. What we don't know yet is if the medication will be enough for her to live happily or if something like surgery would be required (or even if that would help). I know not everyone may see the value a dog can hold in someone's family but she is definitely part of ours. It's really hard to watch her struggle to walk and we have to force her to stay by herself in the basement so she has as little activity as possible. What is very endearing is to see how sweet and happy she is even in her condition. She's the dog who never stops wagging her tail.

The best case scenario is that the medicine Kodi is taking will be enough to get her walking well and allow her to increase her activity level again. She is only 6, so I really would hope that she has many happy years ahead of her. We're taking her back to the vet in a few days and hopefully will have a better idea of what is to come after that.

Backbone

I hate conflict. I hate confrontation. So much so that I will go to pretty great lengths to avoid it at all costs.

It's almost to an unhealthy extreme. It can get to the point where I am completely backed into a corner, or in other situations left hung out to dry. This at times gets me into even worse situations than what they start out to be, and I only have to fight harder to avoid the inevitable.

Tonight, I was faced with a situation where it would have been easy to be a pushover. To suppress my true feelings and opinions and allow someone else to yank me around. But somewhere in the midst of feeble attempts to weakly push back, I decided I just had to be honest, even if the truth was not something this person wanted to hear. You have to realize, it was like nails screeching slowly and painfully across a chalkboard for me to accomplish such a feat. It was not fun. They did their best to make me feel like the bad guy when all I was trying to do was tell the truth (and in a very gentle and diplomatic way I'll have you know). Even so, I was left feeling bad about it, and I still do a little.

The person might not like my any more. He might not even speak to me again.

...But it's ok. It's ok not to be everyone's best friend and the most likable person if I am sticking to my guns and standing up for myself.

And while I am pretty sure it won't be any easier or pleasant the next time I have to do the same thing...at least I don't have to deal with that situation any more. I feel a little like Pam in 'The Office' when she walks on the bed of coals and then pours her heart out to all of her co-workers at Beach Day. It's a very uncharacteristic that I would feel so liberated, but maybe I am walking a little taller tonight.