Church, life, etc.

Last week I went twice in the mornings to learn how to make videos with Chris Boggess at Northstar. I watched as he talked out loud and he made a video, and then showed me the basics for me to start making one for a recap of our city in Slovakia of the videos he took and the videos I took. It's nice to work on something that is outside of work and that I really enjoy.

During my trip to Washington and in all my time of thinking, praying, journaling, etc. I know that God pointed out some things for me to work on in myself. One is that I am very emotionally driven and that often takes over when logic should instead. When I get down about something, I sulk or withdraw or shut down. That becomes a problem during times like bible study, when afterwords I just want to sit or only talk to one person, but should be talking to others. I really want to focus on other people, new people, etc. There could be others who are hurting and need someone to listen, who are new or lonely or whatever. My focus needs to shift more towards others and less of myself. I also need to have more self-control when my emotions take over, as far as my words to others and my actions to others. At work the other day a guy said my life was boring because I didn't go drinking or to bars, and that he thought I should extend my social setting and make new friends. I about threw something at him and said that his idea of exciting and fun was different than his, and began listing all the stuff I did for fun that he didn't do. I knew his words were meaningless and shouldn't have affected me, but I allowed them to and lashed out, with him staying all calm and thinking it was funny, while I finally had to say, "I'm not talking about this anymore. You aren't going to change my mind and persuade me to drink, and I don't care what you think about my life. This conversation is over." I should have said that at the beginning though instesad of allowing myself to aruge with him.

I'm so glad I am at NorthStar church now. I've always loved the young adults' bible study, it's been the best thing I've ever been to. While I remember hearing someone else say that before I went there, I didn't quite believe it until I was there. It's a mix of all ages and all walks of life, with great leaders and a great setup. I'll admit that being more of an intorvert there are weeks when I'm overwhelmed and don't feel as sociable, but it's still good overall. Helping with the 9th and 10th grade girls so far has started off slow simply because we have such limited time during small groups, but we will be getting together outside of that soon. I'm excited to get to know them more and hope that something I say sticks with them. Services are good...since there are three locations it's a little hard to know where my friends will be sitting, so when I can't find them it's kind of lonely, but during the weeks I find them it's good. :-) The music is of course good, and the sermons are too. I see how people could not like the church simply because of the large size if they weren't involved in some kind of ministry within the church or a small group/bible study though. That's a huge, huge key to church.

Work. Work? Work! A lot of times I don't feel like talking about it. There were 3 months where I worked only 4 days a week which meant less money but more free time, and then to people left so I'm back to 5 days a week. I am thankful for even having a job, thankful for some of the people I work with, thankful I get free starbucks to drink every day, and thankful that it's not hugely stressful, although some days are more than others. I still have no plans for future jobs. I just don't know.

I want kids some day, and that's a bigger reminder when I see cute babies and kids and I think, "I WANT ONE NOW" but then there are days like today when I'm glad I don't have them right now in this time in my life. I can go to Starbucks and read, write, be on the internet, etc. and just do whatever the heck I want to, haha. So, for this time being, I am trying to appreciate where God has me.

Anywho...being busy is always nice, but always slightly hard to deal with time management. Always working on it, making sure I'm doing what's important and not letting unimportant things cover up the important things.

Trip

During my trip to Washington I enjoyed time reading, writing, etc. in a coffee shop / café where my cousins work, while they were working. Contrasting to Starbucks, they were less about speed and more about personal interaction. I went to the fair one day and night where I saw lots of things and ate fair food. I went to a park with beautiful flowers and a waterfront view. We had some nights in where we just hung out at home, watched movies and a comedian, and laughed at things on Pinterest. We went to many coffee shops between Starbucks, Anthem, and Bella Latte. We went to the mall, church, Barnes and Noble, a prayer / worship night, and a tent revival. My cousins and I stayed up til 2:30 almost every morning talking, although one usually fell asleep first.

My flight home was delayed by 5 hours, while I sat in the airport, but I have three seats to myself so I can look out the window, keep my bookbag next to me, and stretch out. That’s a first. Too bad it’s night time now and when we were flying during the light it was over desert looking areas so I couldn’t take many pictures. Who livesout there? Yuck.

During the time we were waiting for the plane, we could see it. It was right there, ready to go, but it had a broken part and they had to wait until a part came in from another plane and then they had to fix it and test it. It was tough knowing that they plane was RIGHT THERE and yet we couldn’t get on it because it wasn’t time. And then I thought, that a metaphor for life right there! There are things in life just within reach, or things you want and might actually be the right thing for you, but it’s not ready or time yet. God has to fix it first and perfect it so you don’t get on early and crash.

A Friendship Takes Work to Grow

We run through an obstacle course,
High and low, with ease and with force.
We travel up mountains with beautiful views
And walk through dark valleys with no shoes.
An ebb and flow,
A yes and no,
A stop and go.
I don’t know what I feel
But it’s real.
It’s hard to put into words as it is usually a heartache
But sometimes it takes a break
And is a touch of relief with peace.
When does this all cease?
Is it worth it?
Sometimes I feel like I’ve been hit
By a few trucks.
Man that sucks.
I can’t pinpoint why
I even try.
Wise people in my life say to let it all go
But no
Something in me pushes to continue on this road
Where the load
Is both a joy and a strain.
I praise God through the sun and through the rain
Because He knows what’s going on
Even when my hope is gone.
For now I will put this battle on hold.
I just don’t know if I’m sold
On the idea of having a friend who
Doesn’t want to know much about my life besides through
Facebook statuses or a tweet.
And if seeing me a few times makes you want to retreat,
Why should I try?
Sigh.
So I will hold back for now.
If you want to be real friends you have to learn how
To care.
To ask questions. To be there.
To cheer when I fly,
To hug me when I cry.
Real friends live life together.
So whether
You and I get to that point or not,
It’s up to you and I know that’s a lot
To consider but my heart
Is too big to be half-friends with someone because part
Of my personality is to go all out in things that I do.
It’s time for me to emotionally run away from you.
If you change your mind let me know.
A friendship takes work to grow.
 

Starbucks: People before they get their coffee

Customer: Do you have a drink called my tie macchiato?
Me: No... we have a caramel macchiato.
Customer: No, that's no it.
Me: Uhhh, chai tea?
Customer: No. Are you sure there's not a my tie? Hold on, let me call my friend. *calls* Ok, it's a caramel macchiato.

Customer: I'll have a grande mocha frappachino.
Me: Ok. *takes the money, pushes the button, etc*
Customer: Oh, a white mocha frappachino.
Ugh, seriously? It throws off our inventory when you add or change things after it's rung up.

Me: Your total is $2.07
Customer: *hands me a $5*
Me: *I push the button and start getting out the change*
Customer: Oh wait, I have change. *hands me a quarter.*
Me: *what the heck?!* Hold on, I have to get a calculator.

Customer: I'll have an iced pumpkin spice macchiato.
Me: Uh, well we don't really make it like that... macchiato means layered, so it would be pumpkin spice on the bottom, then the milk, and the shots on top.
Customer: Yeah, but I just stir it up.
Me: So then it's just an iced pumpkin spice latte. Macchiato means shots go on top. Stirred up is just a regular latte.
Customer: But I always say it that way.
Me: Well....I mean, it's wrong. If you stir it up, then it's no longer a macchiato.

Customer: When I buy the white mocha it's cheaper than the pumpkin spice latte. Did you ring it up differently?
Me: No...I guess it's more expensive because it's a holiday drink.
Customer: Well that doesn't make any sense!
Me: *long pause* Well I don't really know, I'm just guessing. Anyways I can't change the price.

Customer: I'll have a cold ice cappachino.
Me: Ok, it's called a frappachnio. Cappachinos are hot. What size would you like?
Customer: How much is it?
Me: You have to tell me a size for me to give you a price.
Customer: Medium.
Me: And what flavor would you like?
Customer: Oh I don't know, I just want the ice one.
Me: Yes, they're all iced like smoothies or milkshakes, but there is one that is just coffee, but there are also lots of flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and more.
Customer: Oh I don't know, just the ice cold cappachino. That's all I know.
Me: No, it's called frappachino. Ok, so a grande coffee frappachino, your total is....
*FACE PALM*

Customer at drivethru window: What kind of mugs do you have?
Me: Lots of kinds.
Customer: Can you bring some so I can see what they are?
Me: I mean, there's tons. Hot ones, cold ones... what kind are you looking for?
Customer: Do you have any with flowers on them?
Me: Uhhh.... let me go look.
*GET out of your car and come look yourself!!!!*
Me: Here are three of them with flowers.
Customer: Oh. I don't like any of those, do you have any with other designs?
Me: Yes, but there's a line behind you waiting.... (hinting that she should come in)
Customer: I can pull up then and you can just bring them to me outside.
*Oh, yes! More than one person has done this! I understand there are people who can't get out of their cars for reasons like having kids in the car that they don't want to wake or get out, but that is not a time to look for a mug, or be picky!!!*