EGGS!

Cadburry eggs are back out!! Early too! They're my favorite and I wish they were out year round. But maybe they make more money with it only being out for a certain amount of time verses the whole year, simply because people don't get tired of it. ?


It's interesting to me that some people click immediately or you're just naturally drawn to certain people, and others you're just not at all. What's more interesting are the people you can't figure out why one way or the other. There are people I see regularly that I just don't want to be friends with and don't want to invest a lot of time in. There's nothing wrong with these people, they're not weird, they don't complain all the time, nothing like that, they just clash with me or rub me the wrong way and I can't pinpoint it. There are also people who I want to be around more or get to know better and don't know why. Some are totally opposite of me.

I was drinking Starbucks today while I went to the grocery store. It is not easy to steer a cart with one hand. It's nearly impossible because of the wheel NEVER working right. Don't try this folks. It's not fun.

:-D

Things that make me really excited
1. New games (computer games, iphone games, wii games, etc)
2. Books/ bookstores
3. Little kids / babies
4. Beautiful clouds and sunsets
5. Seeing friends - planned or unplanned
6. Getting letters in the mail or just handed to me
7. Really good TV shows
8. Being really good at something (like my job)
9. Finding something new in the bible or reading it in a different context
10. Seeing answered prayer
11. Seeing my friends happy and succeed
12. Taking good pictures
13. Going on trips of any kind
14. Going on mission trips
15. Flying / the airport
16. Going new places
17. When I order something from amazon or ebay and it comes in the mail
18. Beautiful houses or buildings
19. Surprises (good surprises)/ small happy things in life
20. My birthday / events surrounding my birthday

Birthdays! Speaking of birthdays (no, mine is not soon), I have always loved birthdays because I had parties when I was younger and the presents were fun. I'd sit on the fireplace with all my friends on the floor and open the presents. I still love birthdays - some years I've had dinner with friends or went shopping or to the movies, nothing elaborate, but I still like them. I feel like birthdays are important because it's the one day where we celebrate YOU! You're existance! Cake, ice cream, cards, whatever... It's a fun time! So I don't understand people who don't like birthdays. I think it means getting older to some people, and that's seen as negative. I get it - people don't want to ache as they age or they're not where they wanted to be (in careers or married or whatever), but I don't think of it that way, I just think yay, it's a day to celebrate me / you!

I have this need to win games as far as video games. When my brother and I would play xbox, playstation, or computer games, I played until I won. My dad would join in sometimes... we had a Lion King pinball game on the computer and man it was the best feeling to be number one on the board. I am now the same way with Bejewelled Blitz on facebook or other games - I play til I win. I have to win. It's stupid I know. I can't get it out of me. I'm not as competitive with board games or card games and stuff like that (although uno comes close).

Surprises. I've always appreciated the little things in life. Thank goodness, because it makes normal days better. When I was younger and we went to the mall as a family, my brother and I were allowed to get 1-3 books (depending on the price) at Walden Bookstore each time we went. Oh! The excitement of picking out books!! We'd read in the car home, and since it was dark and we couldn't have the light on, we'd hold them up for the headlights on the car behind us to light up our books as long as we could. We sometimes got icees too. That was a big deal. Not that those were surprises, but they were small things. My dad would randomly buy me a barbie doll or some toy that I'd be excited about. My mom would surprise us by buying us games or a book or something when we went on long road trips, for something to do in the car. Other surprises I've loved are any presents I ever get, unexpected cards, customers at Starbucks who bring us food just to be nice, etc.

Let it rain

Ohhh yes. This is my third post within like 2 hours. Because I feel like it that's why.

And yes, it's 2:34 AM! I never actually get tired, I just make myself go to bed.

Anyways, last night at work, as in Friday night (this post will show as Sunday), it was pouring rain. At work / Starbucks, I said to Adam, "I like the sound of rain, especially when I'm at home in my room, reading a book, or going to sleep." So last night I was trying to go to sleep but my brain would not turn off. I kept thinking about things and was frustrated about some things. The thought crossed my mind, "God...do you hear me? Do you hear my prayers? Do you do anything about it, or are things already decided?" I kept thinking, and then the thought of the conversation about rain came to my mind. I played it like a movie over in my head, and then at that exact moment as I lay in bed it began to pour down rain ubruptly. I felt like God said, "Jennifer. I hear you." The rain poured down and I smiled. I know He hears me. But I don't know how to pray sometimes. I don't exactly know why years of "no" would come about when I feel like it's a legitamate prayer. Anyways, the timing of the rain pouring down abruptly made me smile and know that God hears me.

A ventay? Vanilla? Um, vanilla...vanilla...vanilla...

Katie on drivethrough: Welcome to Starbucks what can I get started for you?
Lady: Uuuuuuummm I want a large....a large....what size is your large?
Katie: Venti.
Lady: Ok, I want a tall vanilla... vanilla... umm, vanillla...
*Me laughing, however not on the headset.*
Katie: ...A tall is our smallest size. So you want a tall?
Lady: Oh. No, ventay. Ok a ventay vanilla....um vanilla... vanilla....
*Oh my gosh. Stop.*
Lady: Ventay vanilla late?
Katie: A venti vanilla late anything else?
Lady: Drives up to the window to pay.
*I'll take that as a no.*


Friends - venti is pronounced ven-tee. Not ven-tay. Not only is it wrong to say ven-tay, it also makes you sound realllly southern. Even if you are really southern, which is fine, ven-tay is the wrong way to say it.

Also, it's called a frappachino, not a frap or a frape (pronounced frapay). I think that's a McDonnolds thing. Some people HATE when people say frap or frape...it doesn't hugely bother me as much as "ventay" but nonetheless, it's still wrong. It's kind of like saying, "Lol" in person, instead of saying, "That's funny" or actully laughing. You're shortening it and it doesn't make sense or make you sound cool.

Hello, my name is Jennifer, and I am a Starbucks snob. Sigh. I am sad this day has come. The peer pressure is unbearable!! I have become one of them!

Kids following me around

Today I got to work early, still dressed in regular clothes because of previous events, and read my kindle. A mom went to the bathroom and told her two girls to sit for a minute. One was about 5, and the other looked about 9. I glanced at them, but that was it. I saw the 5 year old staring at me so when I looked up she said, "Hi. What's your name?" "Jennifer." "Oh. Do you have toys in your house?" I smiled. That's a common question amongst that age, and they're always totally confused when I say no. A house without toys? There should be no such thing!! But I answered, "Kind of. Not the kind of toys you'd play with but I have my kindle," I held it up, "which I read books on, and a computer to play games on." "What else is at your house?" "Clothes, books, food." I said. She thought a moment and said, "Do you have a kitchen?" Her sister rolled her eyes. "Yep, I have a kitchen." I said. The girls' mom came out and the 9 year old said, "Mom, she was asking this girl if she had toys at her house." The mom laughed. "Well thanks for chatting!" she said.

This is a common occurance for me. Parents appologize or get embarassed, but it's seriously totally normal for me. Standing in line, while I work, while I'm in drive through kids roll down the back windows to talk to me, while I'm mopping the floor they follow me, while I am sitting waiting for a table in a waiting area, while I'm eating with friends some kids have just walked up to my table... it's hallarious. I mean, I feel like it'd be one thing if I was purposely smiling at them or waving or something, but I rarely do that. I'm generally just minding my own business when they stare at me or talk to me, so I talk back to them. My mom said it has never happened to her, just me! And I thought maybe it's my long brown hair? Does something about the way I look do something for kids? But no, I sometimes wear it up in a pony tail and they still do the same thing. Perhaps they hear the sound of my voice and it sounds friendly? No, there are times when I'm not talking and they still do the same thing. I can't quite figure it out.

Once at church on a Wednesday night, we were all eating dinner and I came and sat down with my dad and a new family. I'd never met them. The little girl, Megan, was 3. She got up from her chair and pulled another chair from another table, with great struggle, right up next to mine and climbed up on the chair. She started talking away. Her parents were confued and said, "She's never done that with anybody else before!" I ended up baby-sitting for them and now she is 9.

Another time I sat in Steak and Shake waiting for a friend to arrive when a family walked in with a girl about 3 or 4. There was only one seat open, right next to me. I heard her say, "I want to go sit next to that girl right there Mommy." I glanced over and saw her pointing at me. Her parents said, "No, stay right here." She started to get mad. "I want to go talk to that girl!!" and finally they let her. She climbed up onto the seat next to me and started talking about her newly painted toenails and her pretty dress and all this stuff, haha! It was too funny. The parents appologized and I said, "It's ok, it happens all the time." When they went to sit down she said goodbye like we were friends.

I'm like Santa Claus. :-)

Oh, ya know, just randomness

Today I had Subway with my friend Mel. Then I went by and got Starbucks (and my tips). I took some pictures at home, ate some Reeses, watched some TV shows on my laptop, was on Pinterest and Facebook, and even though it's 12:36 AM, I still plan on reading some before bed.
I've been watching, "The Lying Games" on abcfamily (WHICH by the way should not be called abc family because none of those shows are good for the whole family), and it's a good show. However, I hate how they end each show with a cliffhanger that makes it SO frustrating to wait for the next week's show!! I watched the pilot and 2nd episode of, "Alcatraz" which is a little more intense of a show than I usually like to watch, but it was still good.

I'm currently reading 2 books at once. 1. "Sarah's Key" about a girl in the holocaust who locked her 4 year old brother away in a secret cabinet when the police came to take her and her mom away, thinking he'd be safe and just come back for him later, but that never happens... I'm not sure what else the book is about really, but I've heard it's good. 2. "Lover of My Soul" about relationships but also about God's love for us and what a big deal it really is, how we often miss it.

Yesterday at work I started to feel terrible. I kept trying to push through it and ignore it, but I started sweating buckets and getting shaky and my stomach hurt so bad. I ended up leaving 2 hours into my 7 hour shift, and I felt bad that I had to leave, but I felt so awful and had a hard time focusing. Thankfully I am better today. I hate feeling like that. Blech.

I'm not sure why I hate to go to bed so much, but I do. I go to sleep fast, sleep deep and long, and hate getting out of bed in the morning, so I DO like to sleep, but I just hate going to bed! I can't figure out why!!

5 months til I go to Slovakia. 4 months til I turn 24.

OCD

Once upon a time I was on the internet way too much and it made me not get as much homework done, or then have to stay up late because I still had homework to do after being online for too long. Now that I haven't had "homework" or student teaching work since last May, it has been nice to not feel bad about being online so much....except that I feel bad because there are books I want to read, I still stay up too late, and things don't get done that should like cleaning my room or other random tasks. Recent studies show that internet addiction causes brain changes similar to cocain or alcohol. Huh!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/internet-addiction-harms-brain-cocaine-050244123.html
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/12/internet-addiction-causes-brain-changes-similar-to-alcohol-and-drugs-study/

Well I knew that because I read a book on it last year. But still. It's kind of ridiculous really. I believe it though.

I also wonder if ocd has any part in that? The need to check your phone or facebook or e-mail over and over all the time...maybe it creates some kind of ocd. I just bought a book (3 minutes ago!) on my kindle about OCD because I'm interested in learning more about it. I know there are some EXTREME cases where people wash their hands until they're bleeding or have to walk in and out of a doorway 7 times before going through it and stuff like that. But are their minor characteristcis? Surely there are. For example, I feel like I have OCD when I look at my split ends on my hair. I see a small section of my hair that has split ends and then proceed to cut them all off just above where it's split, but when I look up I realize I've done it for way too long and it's stupid. But I still do it again the next day. Or when I'm playing games on facebook or my iPhone like Bejeweled Blitz or tetris. I feel the need to win, yes, but more than that I just get stuck on it and keep playing forever. Does that count as ocd?

And other random tasks that require focus and repition - once I get into it, I'm stuck and I have to continue / finish. I remember in high school when I worked at Firehouse Subs, one day I was asked to portion meat - we put a handful of ham / turkey/ etc. onto a scale and it had to measure out to some exact number, then we'd roll it up and stick it in a bin, 3 wide by 5 high or something like that, so when they stuck the bin into the fridge part, the workers just pulled it out to make the sandwhich. Well one day I started and just kept going. Someone said, "Want to switch for a while?" "No, I'm good," I said, and did it for like 4 hours or something crazy. Same with labeling stickers on books when I worked at a bookstore. And when a new person makes a facebook, I like going through all my pictures to tag them in my pictures - it takes forever, but I feel like I have to do it and like to do it.

Ocd? Or not ocd? It's helpful in jobs, but not helpful in general life stuff.

A few pictures I took today with my new camera

A few pictures from my new camera that I took today. Pretty sure if you click on the pictures you can see them bigger.

(Looking in the hole of a fence post)

If you are mad, go away. Don't show up at Starbucks.

Customer lady: irritated tone I'm looking for this cup in purple. Do you have it?
Me: Well, I'm not sure...all we have is on the shelf over there so if it's not there we don't have it.
Lady: That's NOT what I asked. I asked if this cup came in purple!
Me: Ok, well I personally do not know. Have you checked the website? I can ask some of my coworkers in a minute when they're not busy if you want me to.
Lady: No, I'll just look online. I want to return this cup anyways, it was a gift and I don't like it in green.
Me: I called my shift leader over to do the return
Shift leader: Our system only allows us to do returns with the original receipt.
Lady: It was a gift!! I don't have the receipt! Can she take a picture of it, will that work so she can send it to me right now?
Shift leader: No, we have to have a copy of it for our records.
Lady: Fine. Forget it.

I mean dang people! If you are in a bad mood, do not go into stores or out in public. Sit in your car or in your room and cool out. It is not my fault that I don't know every product that Starbucks has. Nor is it my shift leader's fault that the computer system/corporate rules will not allow us to return random items without a receipt.

Today I got my new camera. It's fancy dancy. But since it's big, it won't fit in my purse like my current smaller camera, so I will have to be intentional about taking it places, and it will not fit in my pocket. I am excited to take pictures tomorrow, not sure where I'm going yet.

I hate to do laundry. It's silly really, because it's not like I hand wash things or hang them up to dry like they do in Kenya, and it's not like I have to do it every day or every other day like people with kids. But I just hate doing it. And then I hate putting them away. I don't have enough room in my closet and drawers. Which is a sad problem to have..... too many clothes, not enough space. I am going to give a bunch of them to Wellspring soon. I feel so selfish with full drawers, full closet, and a full laundry basket of clean clothes. I know people have walk-in closets with more clothes than me, but I guess going to Kenya or reading the bible and knowing how un-imporant such things are really strikes me.

Go all out

I pretty much know nothing about Tim Tebow except that he's a football player and a Christian, and that the media or people in general don't like him because of that, because he is so open about being a Christian or something. I've heard people say ,"All they talk about is christian stuff" or "You know, they're one of those 'super christians' who go all out and try to save the world" in a tone that suggests they're ridiculous for acting that way. I've been made fun of or told that I have virgin ears, I'm a goody-goody, and that I'm too closed-minded for following the Bible instesad of the world. I've been asked why I would only marry a strong Christian and no one else. But let me tell you, there are not enough people in the world who are bold in their faith, in the way the live their lives, in their following Jesus. There ARE people who are killed and tortured for being a Christian in other countries - doesn't that say something? Maybe in America it's crazy to post too much Christian stuff on our facebook or talk about it too much, but there are people who die for it in other countries.

So what's up with some of those people? The ones who die for it? The ones that are "too Christian"? Why do the spend thousands of dollars to go overseas to serve and spread the word about Jesus? Who would give away clothes they like and money they've earned so that people could get out of sex trade in Atlanta or have food in the middle of nowhere in Kenya? Why is it such a big deal, can't you just believe Jesus exists and you're "good to go?" Ticket into heaven - check. Right?

Let me tell you. Following God, not just believeing He exists, should be everything to a Christian. It should not be an afterthought, in second place, when it's convenient, or when it's Sunday. God did not call us to live a life based on fitting in with the culture's standards or getting the coolest stuff. The people who truly followed Jesus in the bible left their jobs and their families to follow Him. In the Old Testament people did the same. Following God is not a one time decision and then you've got a ticket into heaven. It is a relationship with God.

James 2: 14-24
¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

Our actions or good deeds are not what gets us into heaven or gets us on God's "good side," but because of our relationship with God our actions reflect that. When you love a friend, you go out of your way to do things for them or spend time with them. Same with spouses or family members. Same with God. So if you're not doing those things, chances are you're not aware of God's deep love for you. Plus He asks us to do those things in the bible. He says to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, go all over the world to spread the good news of God. "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Jesus said this as one of the last things he said on earth (Mark 16:15).

There are people who "over-do it" in their Christian walk because it is SO IMPORTANT. There is an awesome, all powerful God who created everything that exists, who loves us, and who sent Jesus into the world to DIE for us and all our sins so that we could one day go to heaven instead of Hell. And oh yes, that's pretty important too. Heaven and hell. It can be talked about too much, but also too little. But it's a true thing. And when you realize it, it's a huge thing. It's not God "sending" people to Hell, it's people chosing to not go to heaven...which in turn is them going to hell by their own choice. Quite frankly it doesn't matter if you understand it or agree with it...it's the way it is. It's a fact, not just an opinion or a belief. And the only way to heaven is Jesus. John 14:6 - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, the life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me.'" (Emphisis added was mine.) 1 John 5:11-12, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 

When I get to heaven and see that people I knew on earth went to Hell, I don't want to think, "Man, I didn't tell them enough. I didn't speak up." I want to at least feel I did what I could to express the urgency and the beauty of the situation.

And if you are a "Christmas-Easter Christian" - don't be. Your twice a year attendance does nothing really. I KNOW that it's hard to go to church sometimes. It's a day you could sleep in, do other stuff, etc. There are some crazy people at churches, there are annoying people, there are hypocrytes (yep, but they're everywhere in life), there is drama, there are disagreements, there are times when you don't get something out of it, there are times when people are fake. You might have to work on Sundays, or do school work or travel. Going to church is only the start though. Bible studies are important. Serving is important. And then, wherever you are in life, you should be a Christian right there. Through all the difficulties of not having enough time or whatever your hang up about church is, because I have my own as well, it is still so important because that is where we learn, grow, and are encouraged by others. It's doing what God asked us too as well - worship Him and serve others.

Slovakia, camera, Starbucks, book

I was going to go to Kenya this July for my 3rd mission trip there after not going for 3 years, but long story short I have decided to go to Slovakia instead with my young adults' bible study from North Star Church at the end of June to mid July! It's been on my mind for the past 2 years and I always said I would go "some day" but decided now is as good a time as ever. Bittersweet that I'm not going to Kenya, but I have a lifetime ahead of me to take mission trips there and other places. I am very excited about this trip and what God will do there!

I bought a new camera the other day and it will come in next Friday. It's a nicer camera than my current one, so I am excited for it to come! Also glad I'll have it to take to Slovakia!

At Starbucks this week I've made more drinks on my own which is good. I'm glad I can do that because it's hard when I can only do the cash registar and someone orders 10 drinks, and then I stand there idle as one other person makes all the drinks frantically. I'm really thankful for most of the people I work with....they are funny, fun to talk to, and nice to me. 

I picked up this kids chapter book at the store the other day, probably for 8-11 year olds, and it looked cute. I read kids chapter books sometimes because they're usually creative and fun, and I keep them for my possible-someday classroom. Well as I started reading it, I thought, "What the heck?! This is terrible!" and I don't even want to give it away because it's bad and I threw it away. Yes, I threw the book away. It's not a good feeling, but it's bad! The concept is good, and it's creative, but at the beginning it talks about how a baby was put in a basket and put out to sea and some black birds came and pecked the baby's eyes out so now it's blind. When the boy is older and he's traveling with some magical creature to find a lost kingdom, more black birds come and attack and kill their guide by pecking him to death! And all this stuff where I don't think kids should read it! It's gross! Gah! 

Starbucks and such

Bam. It is 2012.

At the end of each night at Starbucks we get rid of the food that has expired - most of it expires each day. As much as fits into 2 bins goes to an organization that picks it up each day so that is not wasted which is nice, but the rest goes straight in the trash. It makes me cringe each time. Mostly because of Kenya. To explain to them how much food is wasted is crazy. Not that we could ship it to them. And then I think about homeless shelters or just homeless people in general in Atlanta....

I finally started being able to make Frappachinos. Score. And some of the hot drinks.

I am a rule follower. I follow rules whether people are watching or not - partly because you're supposed to, and partly because I'm always afraid of getting caught / in trouble anyways. So when people get irritated that I follow the rules, I get irritated back. Like I'm the one being annoying because I follow the rules. I don't say anything when people break the rules unless it's major, so why should people say anything when I follow them? You might get away with something 300 times, but that 301th time you get caught. A cop pulls out behind some tree you didn't see, you forget to cover your tracks, you didn't realize someone else was watching you, or a consequence happens that you didn't get the first 300 times. I'm just saying. Apparently I "break the rules" by following the rules. Yeah, I'm just cool like that.

I sat in Panera Bread the other day, waiting for the people to arrive that I was eating with, and I listened to this lady tell another lady about her time at Starbucks and the mistake they made. They fixed it, but she said, "You know, there's a bunch of young teenagers working in there." Uh, no. You have to be 18 and older to work there. Yes 18 and 19 is still teenagers (which is so weird because they're also "adults") but people in their 20's aren't teenagers. And a lot of people forget that we're human and we're taking orders and making drinks as FAST AS POSSIBLE, because heaven forbid you wait 4 whole minutes for your drink. I mean sometimes we run out of brewed coffee and have to make more, and it takes 5 minutes, and it's like they stand there and it's awkward because it's unfortunante that they have to wait that long. And people come back in (or call in if they were through drivethrough) and complain. We give new drinks to people for free if we messed up, it's not like we charge again, and I know it sucks when you the wrong thing in drivethrough, but still. Life goes on.

I'm glad all the shows I like come back on again soon...a lot stopped for the month of December.

I found some free kindle books that I actually wanted to read, and bought some with the kindle gift card my parents gave me for Christmas, so now I have a lot of new books and I don't know which to read first! Ooh!

Working 1-9 or 3-11 makes me stay up really late and just be online (facebook and pinterest), play games on my iphone (words with friends, hanging with friends, family feud and friends, and others), and read books. I wake up around noon most days.  On my days off is when I see other people, go to bible study, run errands, etc.

It's January. With the year ahead and plans already being made for the summer, the anxiety of looking for a teaching job is creeping up again. With being in Kenya in July, I know that it will be harder to look / go to interviews. And do I want to teach? I know the money would be nice, because staying at Starbucks will never provide enough money that I need in the long run. But the "safety" of staying there is already poking at me. That if I can just learn things well enough, I can stay. I know there's no need to worry, plan, or decide anything for the next few months, but it's still in the back of my mind.