newest developments

WHEW.

I seem to be saying that a lot these days- and that’s good because…..? Because it means I seem to be doing well at work, I seem to be sleeping better at night (deSPITE the fact that I’m still grinding my teeth and night and my blood pressure seems to rise tremendously when I talk on the phone to certain people [and get emails from certain others..]), I’m running every day and working out (lots of boxing and plyometric stuff- ylech!), and lately I can’t seem to keep on one day without thinking about the next (which again, is good because it means I’m busy!).

So MY news is that I sat down for a meeting today with the Dean of Admissions (or King of Great Things, as I’ve come to know him) and my future advisor…AT SAMFORD!!!! NOT at UAB, like I originally thought was my doom. YAY! A thought occurred to me last week as I was being shuffled back and forth between ”advisors” (and I use that term quite loosely) at UAB, “maybe I should take a look and JUST SEE how long it would take for me to finish at Samford.” I have to weigh out the cost of what it takes to finish there v. the cost of finishing at UAB v. the emotional weight of finishing at both v. the financial cost of all the fringe “accessories” it takes to finish (cards, books, parking, gas to get to school and back, TIME it takes to get to school and back, etc.). [Thank you, God, for placing that idea in my brain.] I went and talked and saw 2 advisors for the cost of 1 meeting. I finally feel like I’m on the right path and can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Apparently, only 11 classes hold me back from my piece of paper that says “SHE FINISHED”. I’m excited- I’m actually excited. For one, I know that I’m THAT close to finally finishing- you could have NEVER told me that I would be “one of those” that doesn’t see things to fruition (especially my education); however, I’ve learned that you can’t say what you will and won’t do in a given situation (excluding religious and moral) until you actually ARE in that situation. Unfortunately, I’ve learned those lessons the hard way…but MAN do I remember those lessons… The second reason I’m excited is I get to take some classes that I might actually like! I get to take Spanish 1 and 2 (which I’ve been wanting to take FOREVER!), Sociology (yep…thinking I’m gonna like that) and something about National American Government (I’ve never really been into politics and learning about why our government does what it does, but I’m excited about it now that I’ve gotten older and WANT to know why our government does what it does!) SO…off I go on the next journey through my life.

Now, Barack Obama… Seriously?! Are we really thinking about electing this clown as the President? As the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES??!  As the President of the greatest country on the planet? As the leader of the free world as we know it and live it every day? Come on… just because the guy is the first black guy to become a democratic candidate for President of the United States or just because he can give a pretty good speech (about WHAT, remind me?) and make you FEEL GOOD absolutely, positively, without ANY DOUBT does NOT mean you automatically vote for him!!! Seriously. What does he stand for? What does he believe (muslim-believing, terrorist-harboring-hand-shaking, abortion-believing, tax-increasing phony, anyone???)? Just because he’s been on the cover of Rolling Stone and been on TV and had interviews w/daytime talk show hosts and seems like he’d be the kind of guy you’d want to kick back and have a beer with on after a long day DOES NOT MAKE HIM THE LEAD CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY! I don’t care if he’s a nice guy, CAN HE DO THE JOB? Can he lead us through the next 4 years and think about the bottom of line of OUR country without getting us into more debt, sending more troops to another war. Terrorism. Gas prices. FOOD prices related to gas rising seemingly exponentially. Foreclosures on homes. Increasing taxes on those who already can’t afford to pay what the government asks them to. Health insurance. Gun control/violence among certain prominent races seemingly more prone to violence and illegal gun use than others. THESE are the things we care about. Well, they’re the things I care about, and I will absolutely NOT be casting MY vote for the first black candidate for President of MY United States. (Does that mean I’ll be voting for McCain? Don’t know- wait and see.)

Thank you all for reading. It’s nice to be able to “vent” and keep y’all updated at the same time. (You may not even care, I don’t know…) 

is anyone else scared?

Scared of $6 and $7 a gallon gasoline? Scared of even higher taxes than what we’re paying now? Scared of who will become the President of our great nation in 161 days??? Scared- well, not so much scared but wondering- if these are the final days…? Earthquakes, seemingly crazy weather (hot, cold, incredibly hot), volcanos, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes. I guess we’ll know soon enough, huh?

On a MUCH lighter note, I got a call today from one of the coolest, most intelligent, most grounded MEN I know…my brother. Our birthday is coming up, so I thought he might be calling to tell me he’s coming in town or something along those lines. He was actually calling to tell me HE IS OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED TO MEDICAL SCHOOL!!Y’all…I’m so excited for him. He’s waited and tried- he’s going to make a fantastic doctor, whatEVER route he decides to take. He’s so good with people, so compassionate yet firm, so understanding yet black and white. I am THRILLED for him.

I also got a call from a dear, sweet friend who IS my sister (if any two people were ever destined to be sisters, it would be the two of us) who informs me she is pregnant with her 3rd baby. She is newly pregnant- and terrified, I’m sure, as it was a huge unplanned shock. Please pray for her emotional stability as she adjusts to this news and tries to plan for the future. As I told her, she does, however, have the Lord of the universe in her corner, on her side, with not only the whole world but HER whole world in His hands and will lead her through whatever is on her horizon.

I’ve had a lot on my mind lately- a LOT. Most of which I won’t share here for it would put SO much out there that….well, it might scare you- plus it just doesn’t need to be discussed. So if I’ve been weird…now you know why! 

And now, I bid you all adieu. Short, sweet and to the point tonight…

babysitting…and life lately

WHEW.

My life has been NUTS over the past two weeks or so. I’ve been fighting an ear infection AND a sinus infection (thankfully I have friends who can call in cheap medication that typically fixes it [read: amoxiciccilin, the wonder drug]), moving to a new apartment (see below), and then there’s work. EVERY…SINGLE…DAY. I feel like I should be getting paid a LOT more than what I do, but I guess that’s part of paying my dues, right? (Sigh.)

Then there are the great things in life. The little ways God works every day and shows me just how great and gracious and mighty He is. When I get calls from friends I haven’t heard in awhile. When I meet really cool people during my working hours. When I read a verse in my Bible that really hits home- and is right on target for what I’m thinking or feeling at the time.

And then when I get calls to babysit my precious babies! I have a precious little family who I came to through my former life as a personal trainer. She told me in our workout that her daughter had just had her second child, a little boy, and might I be interested in some babysitting. (Of course, I said yes!) The first time I met this sweet family, I fell in love with them- and I’d like to think they with me, as well. For her “safety”, I won’t use their names, but we had a blast and I took to those children, those sweet babies, like they were my own. I adore them, and I have told her time and again, if you come home one night and the kids aren’t there, you know who has them. I have absconded with them and I might consider returning them, but most likely not! They are precious, gorgeous, well-behaved, intelligent children, and we have such a good time together!

That said, mama called me the other day and asked if I could babysit- they had just come back from a week-long vacation with the entire family at the beach (and by entire family, I mean at least 2 more siblings w/ 2 and 3 children of their own, PLUS the grandparents)- so yes, it was a vacation, but all they wanted was a quiet dinner with each other- alone. I was exhausted, but I knew they needed it- and truthfully, I could’ve used the money! I took care of the babies (they have 3 now) while they went to dinner- their oldest, an beautiful, inquisitive, charming little 5 year old girl, began asking me loads of questions that really caught me off guard, but made me appreciate the innocence and purity of a child. Here’s how it went…  

“Miss Jen, are you married?”   “No, baby, I’m not- remember?” (We go through this more often than not.)  “Miss Jen, why aren’t you married?”   “Becuase, angel, I haven’t found the right boy that I want to marry, who loves me and wants to marry me, too.”     ”Well, why not?”      (ME, ASKING THE SAME QUESTION SEEMINGLY EVERY DAY!)    ”Because God hasn’t brought him to me yet, darling.”   (She- inquisitive look, cocking head to side, smiling)    ”Well, why not?”  (Me- trying not to laugh.)     “That’s a good question, sweeheart, I don’t know. I guess…I guess He’s not ready for me to meet him yet. You know, God knows who I’m going to marry- I don’t, so I guess I have to wait on him to let me find him.”      (Me- hoping that was a good enough answer.)   Me- ”What do you think would be some good things to look for in a boy who I thought I might want to marry, huh, angel? What are good things about him?”      “Well, he has to be cute.”   ”Yes, I would love for him to be a cute boy!”   “and he has to know God.”  (I LOVE that she said this- and it was top on her list!) “Yes, he has to love our God.”   ”No, he has to know God.”     “That’s right, angel, he has to know God.”      “And he has to have a really good job.”     ”Yes, I’d love that, too.”      (Screaming) “AND HE HAS TO LOOOOOOVE PUPPY DOGS!”     “Yes, baby, good one! He has to love animals.”    “Especially puppy dogs.”     “Right.”    “And he has to treat you nice.”      “Yes, ma’am, he has to treat me nice, too.”       “Well…where are you gonna find him? At the mall?”          (Me- again trying not to laugh!)          “I don’t know, darling, I guess… I could meet him anywhere. When I’m running, when I’m working, when I go to church, when I go to the mall or-”     ”Or in outer space??!!!!”       ”I guess if I went to outer space, I could meet him there, too, yes, ma’am…” 

I am moved, but I despise moving. I transferred downstairs to an apartment that my managers haven’t been able to rent lately…so I took it! And I painted…and I moved all my stuff… and I got a dear, true friend to help me get the really big, it-takes-two-people-to-move kind of stuff (THANKS, Ryan)… and I almost feel like I’m at home now. It’s the exact same apartment, but flipped…and one floor down, so I don’t have the same view, BUT I don’t have anyone underneath me, I’m on the bottom floor (so my electric bill will be lower, I hope!) and I won’t have to walk up 2 flights up stairs. YAY!

WHEW. I need a vacation.   :)