Customers bring the unexpected.

Yesterday was a helluvah day at work.  Got cussed at, non-stop running around, working with a not-so-experience manager, the pen shelf breaking twice and letting 50 boxed of pens fall on the ground... Not the kind of day you want to have again.  I did wear my tie-dye shirt underneath my work shirt, and that made me just a little bit happier, and a little girl told me she liked me earrings, so it wasn't all bad, but you gotta hear this.  This was bad.

A lady came to my register needing to return things she'd bought for someone else who didn't need these things anymore.  She needed to return a lamp, a phone, and a replacement guarantee she'd gotten for the phone.  "Ok, I just need to put this through to the manager," I say.

"You what?!  Son of a bitch!"

Woah, woah. What in the world?!  This came from no where!  She totally didn't look like the kind of woman who would rip my face off...

She continued:  "Don't you have any authority?  Why do you need a manager!  You are SO archaic!!"

I stopped her and said "Ma'am!  That is..."  I didn't finish what I was going go say which was "that is unacceptable!"  I suddenly decided that it would be best just to get this over with as soon as possible.  "Sorry, but I'm just an associate.  Just give me a moment to ask my manager about this."

She slammed the counter and screamed at me about how stupid this was.  This scared me, and I started to shake.  She yelled, "I got out of a sick bed for this!  I'm running a hundred and three degree fever!    Remind me to bypass this store if I ever need office supplies again!!  You mean to tell me you can't just give me my money back?!"

"Ma'am!  Calm down!  Calm down.  I'm trying to explain!  I beg you to try to understand..."

"I would hate to work in a place like this!"

"Yeah, I don't always like it, either."  (Yes, I said it.  Point: Lindsay.)

I continue.  "Have you ever worked in retail ma'am?"

"NO!!  Not if I was starving would I everwork in a place like this!!"

"Then you probably don't understand our protocol, but this is just a procedure, I assure you.  I have to do this with everyone, not just you.  If you'll give me just a moment, I am required to ask my manager about this, and then I'll put it through the register for you, and then everything will be ok."

She finally let me do my job.  When her receipts came out, she asked, "I don't have to sign anything?"

"No, ma'am, we're not that archaic."  (Zinger!  Point: Lindsay Again!)

By the end, the customer was saying that she hoped I didn't catch anything from her.  She also said "thank you" twice.  Maybe she realized that I was trying to help her, maybe she realized she had been an absolute jerk and that no one deserves to be abused like that, or maybe her sickness got out of hand and she's really some super nice kid.  Or maybe she's Newnan's version of Delores Umbridge.  Regardless, I hope I never have to deal with her in that state again.

The next lady in line looked at me when Umbridge left.  "You ok?"

"Just give me a minute..."  I laid my head down on the counter and breathed.  Oy.

I'm surprised at how quickly I bounced back from this traumatizing exchange, though.  I reasoned that Umbridge was sick, and sick people tend to get upset, and she was obviously having a bad day.  God gave me grace for her, and I was able to move on.  Also, just two customers after Umbridge, this really nice man told me how he appreciated me helping him out.  He used my name when he said bye.  That's always a huge thing for me.  I love it.

The rest of the day was very busy.  A little over an hour before we closed, I was pulled aside by Awesome Manager to be briefed on a very irate customer who would be coming in to get a return done.  I was to handle the transaction as quickly and inoffensively as possible.  I felt as if I was being given a bomb and I had to coo it to sleep.  I got nervous about this lady, and when she came in, I did everything I was told to do.  I had to return this first computer upgrade and sell her the correct computer upgrade which was $100 more than the first.  Everything was going smoothly (no yelling), until I told her how much she owed.  Crap.  She said she didn't understand where this new figure came from.  I tried to explain, and then there was a supposed issue with the tax, and then I didn't know why things weren't clicking for her, and then she realized that I'd been running my words together and, therefore, she'd just heard the wrong figure.  Whew!  She paid, and everyone was relieved.  Crisis averted!  The situation was completed and I did exactly what I needed to do, and the customer left content.

We were very rushed all near the end of the day.  We needed to recover the store and help the last customers and try to get them out, but we still had people in the store 15 minutes after we were supposed to close.  They were all waiting to check out, but the cashier was trying to get something done for another customer, and this and that, and things were going as quickly as possible, but it wasn't really working.  One couple needed told us that the TurboTax software was listed as cheaper at Sam's Club.  We do price matching where I work, but we have to have the competitor's advertisement or we need to call and verify their price.  The couple asked if we had a phone book.  Associate #1 said "no," but I told them, "Wait, yes we do."  I ran to where we keep them and brought them over then looked for Sam's number.  It wasn't listed (our Sam's just opened last week), so we went to their website and found the phone number for the store.  They'd closed just an hour before, but maybe someone would pick up, so the lady called and finally got someone to look for their TurboTax price.  While I held the phone and waited for the guy to come back on the line, I checked out one other customer who needed to leave.

After 5 minutes, the Sam's guy still hadn't gotten back on the line, but my manager had come over and told the couple that they could have the TurboTax for the lower price listed on the Sam's website.  The husband told my manager, "This girl should get a raise.  She's gone above and beyond to help us."  My manager (not the awesome one) told them, yes, I was great, and all that stuff, then he went to go get their software for them.  I told the husband thank you.  He said he really appreciated what I went through for them.  I told them I was really glad that they appreciated it, because I'm just trying to do right.  Really, it was awesome that they said these things.  It really shot me up from a stressful day.

I was so glad to leave when it was over.  My manager decided to talk to me to five minutes after we'd already locked the store up and stuff.  Not a good idea, man, but, whatever.

When I got home and found no family, I just wanted to cry and cuss.  I ate a cold dinner instead, hugged them all when they came home from church/dinner, and played piano for a half hour.  That cheered me up a bit.

I go back to work this afternoon.  I hate how I'm not looking forward to it.  Bad attitudes suck.  But, so as not to leave this on a bad note, here's a funny lecture I heard last week from the guy who came in to change our registers:

"No matter what you're going through...  Be it the death of a parent... of a child even... or the amputation of a limb...  If someone says, 'Hey, you lost your mother.  Here's $50,000.'  It'll raise that grief a whole lot.  People say money won't solve all your problems, but it will!  That's a lie!"

Haha! I love it.

What's next.

Congratulations, your file has been transferred to the Placement Department at Footprints Recruiting for potential placement in Korea.
(HUZZAH!) 

To do list:

• Master Korean vowels (I got the 14 consonants already.)
• Scan original degree and get it notarized with an Apostille  (yeah, I still don't know what that is...)
• Get a state level criminal background check with Apostille
• Get fingerprints done at the local jail
• Request (and pay for) an authenticated FBI background check
• Obtain two signed reference letters
• Scan passport photo page
• Fax the Footprints waiver form
• Call Footprints to get a voice sample (My broadcasting skills are shivering in expectancy.)
• Review and learn TESL techniques and stuffs
• Learn how Korean syllables are written (Consonant(s) +  vowel always?)
• Continue to work spicier foods into my diet (Least favorite task for sure)

I hope you're not getting sick of Korea yet...

My interview went fabulously!  I felt comfortable and spoke clearly and articulately (and intelligently!).  By the end of the interview, Joseph, the interviewer, was saying things like "when you're traveling in Korea" and "when you arrive in Korea."  Gah, I was so excited!

When I hung up from the twenty-five minute conversation, I immediately hopped onto the Footprints site and checked out what their forums are saying about Korea and such.  I've learned about the weather, the the language, the living costs, the bathrooms, and on and on.  Now I'm reading about what to bring, and it's just all so exciting.

This part listed under "what food things to bring"was anything but exciting, though:
Cheeses - Korean stores are started to offer more than just processed cheese- the equivalent of Velveeta, cheese in any form is expensive and hard to find. In the import sections of some department stores you may come across the occasional lonely block of cheddar, but it will cost the same as a mid-sized sedan.
:'(  I love cheese.

Image: Shankws

If, like me, you're interested in what the Korean fashion scene is like, I recommend checking out this Korean Fashion blog.  There's also a Korean branch of Vogue.  And, I love this spread of sweet, pretty, girly clothes.

Korea is a very image focused culture.  My friend told me of just how vain they are: around 80% of Koreans 20-30 (including guys) have already had plastic surgery.  I've heard foreign teachers have a better chance of getting positions if they're attractive.  And the students aren't shy about what they think of your appearance.  Is it bad that I really, really want to lose some weight before I go over there?  Treadmill, here I come!  I'm also working on strengthening my tolerance for spicy foods.  I only hang out with mild salsa now, and I'm a little frightened of kimchi right now.

I know that I could be making a mistake by planning so much on something that isn't set in stone yet, but, I'm really counting on using this energy to keep me focused on making this dream happen.  I'm not letting myself doubt this right now.  And so, because of course this is going to happen, go ahead and plan!

So here's my other plans:  My BFF Millie's getting married June 25th, and I'm going to live with her for the whole month of June.  July would be taken up with trips to family in other states, trips to see Millie (and her husband!) again for the Harry Potter VII, and then back to Georgia to hang with the people I love here.  It's gonna be good.  And something that's super cool?!  I wouldn't be working in retail anymore!  I'd be able to stop at the end of May!  (Understand that, because this is going all over the internet, I'm not completely exposing my true feelings on the subject.)

And, I looked into Vampire Weekend for the first time a couple weekends ago.  There's this cool I know who kids me about being interested in them just because they were the hipster band for a while there, but, honestly, I like what I've heard.  M79 especially.  And, this song is totally perfect for your next dance party.
Enjoy!

Eep!

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.  We have your interview scheduled for Today, January 25^th at 5:00pm Eastern.

Image: Miguel Perez via National Geographic

Pinterest and Korea

I was introduced to Pinterest by this chica about a month ago, and it's already become a staple for my organization and inspiration.  It's very clean and streamlined, and you don't have to get involved with other people's pins if you don't want to, which is nice.  I've been using it to keep track of recipes, possible bridesmaid dresses, DIY projects, and tattoo ideas, among other things.  Here's my corner of Pinterest.  (It's inundated with bridesmaid dress possibilities right now.)

I totally recommend Pinterest.  Do let me know if you guys join: I'd love to see what things you love!

Image: screenshots of my Pinterest boards

------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, guys, I have begun something with South Korea.  I recently made a friend (crazy story, I should tell you sometime) who just left to teach ESL in Korea for the second time.  She highly recommended this recruiting agency, Footprints, and I registered with them and we started talking.  My plan was, from the beginning, to be placed in a private school (I've heard good things about them vs. not hearing much about public schools), and I was kinda bummed when they told me how few open private school positions there would be for next term.  They suggested checking into public school positions or private school positions in Georgia or Japan.  (The Georgia option was quickly ruled  out by a friend concerned with my safety.)  I emailed Footprints today telling them that I'd liek to go ahead with the process of getting with a public shcool in Korea, and there's always the possibility that a private school job will open up later.  (I also might be able to get a position at a Korean school where one of my other friends works now, but that's not certain yet.)  Their reply came minutes later:

"That sounds good.  When are you free for a telephone interview?"

AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I all of a sudden got really nervous and really excited, and I'm on the edge of my seat thinking that my cell phone's going to ring any second!  Isn't this awesome?!  Things are going to start rolling, friend!  Like, I'm FOR REAL going to go teach ESL!  For a year!  In Asia!  Aw, this is awesome.

So there you have it.  :)

I'm kinda happy.

Let's go to Tennessee.

First of all, have you ever seen a lovelier guitar case?

Via Cool Material

I discovered a new tumblr blog, This Is Appalachia, and I instantly decided I liked it.  Here are some pictures from there that enamor me.

Ellis
1989
Shelby Lee Adams

The Banks' Family Porch
1987
Shelby Lee Adams

An entrance to a mine in West Virginia
September 1908
Lewis Wickes Hine

Girl sitting on a windowsill
Kentuck, 1964
William Gedney

And, I really like this picture, too, but I'm pretty sure it's from out west, not from Appalachia.

Image: Little Miss Sunshine via Westfalia

  ------------------------------------------------------------

• On the Korean front: I've signed up with a recruiting agency, and they've told me that positions with Korean private schools are very limited (and competitive) for the new school term.  They've recommended looking into other countries or positions with public schools.  I have yet to do my research, but I plan on knocking some of that out today before work.
  
• Don't you think that going to the library to watch Social Network on a laptop with a headphone splitter is one of the cutest, nerdiest dates ever?
  
• For your edification:  "Allow yourself to be compelled. It might just change the world." - Max Andrew Dubinsky

Fill in the Blank Friday - Eet's for fun

If you've ever thought about watching Nacho Libre, go forth with my blessings and know that I highly recommend it for its laughs and quotability.

So anyways...

Here's this week's Blanks from Lauren. 

1. My favorite quote is "The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars." - Francis Schaeffer  OR "Life is a lot like jazz. It's best when you improvise." - George Gershwin  (Those are two out of many, really.)

2. A bad habit I have is not being satisfied with the first outfit I put on.  This is a new thing, and I hate it.  It makes me feel like the bad, annoying kind of girly girl.

3. The first time I felt like a "grown up" was when I had to attend my financial aid exit meeting and realized how long it would take me to pay back my student loans.  My friends and I spent about 10 minutes afterward figuring out ways we could get out of it: marry rich, die, become a teacher for 10 or so years, do nonprofit work for a very long time...

4. Weekends are when I usually get to see my family a lot because Mom doesn't have work and Taylor doesn't have school.  Those two are both doing ministry work with immigrants today, though.  And Dad's at work.  I work in the evening today, so I won't get to see them till tomorrow afternoon.  Bummer.

5. When I was a child, I wished my name was Crystal.  Probably.

6. I wish I would get this Korean private school teaching position for next school year!

7. A secret I have is I had apple pie a la mode for lunch today.  Kinda.   :)

Another Vietnam War story from Gene

Mr. Gene and I met at his place to edit this stories 5 times or so.  Just this Sunday, we got everything finished up, bound, and ready to pass along to a friend of a publisher.  I've heard Mr. Gene say so many times, "You don't know how much I appreciate this."  It's been so good to become friends with him; we've both endeared ourselves to the other so much.  He cares about me like a granddaughter, and I think of him as a granddad.  He'll tell me to be careful over the weekend and on dates and such and tells me that he's had daughters and granddaughters going through life like I am.  He tells me to tell my dad to call him anytime, 24/7, because they both enjoy golfing.  He tells me that it's wonderful how I want to go to Korea, and this is the time to do such things, and we'll have to go get coffee and talk about it when things start settling into place.

It was a sad thing to say good bye on Sunday.  I know I'll see him again, and he told me to be sure to call every once in a while, but, now that we won't be working on his stories, I don't know when I'll see him next.  He blew me a kiss right before we parted.

This story took place at the very end of Mr. Gene's second tour in Vietnam.  I believe this is in the first half of 1969 now.  And, for the record, I think it's much more fun to listen to Mr. Gene tell the story himself than to read it.

The Purple Heart?

Suddenly, Sam’s tour was half past.  LTC Schnibben called Sam and informed him that he was to go on R&R in Hawaii and that Sam should transition his battery to Jim Hinton, who had replaced Jim Spears as Sam’s XO.  Sam and Jim worked themselves through a 100% inventory of all the battery’s supplies and equipment in just two days!  Now, it was only three days before Sam was to go on R&R.  On the first day he moved from Kon Kon Tum down to Phouc Vinh.  Then Ed Balda and he transitioned the S3 position.  Sam was tired, and he turned in early.  He had wonderful dreams of his wife Barbara, and couldn't wait for that last day to start.  Suddenly, enemy rockets were falling in the middle the compound.  Sam leapt from his bed, grabbed his boots and sprinted toward the TOC TOC.  He made it halfway and encountered a row of unforgiving pallets that were being used to bridge across the temporary lake that had formed during the last monsoonal shower.  Sam, in full sprint mode, connected with the pallets and fell ass over teacups into the muddy lake.  Sam arose and limped slowly into the TOC.  There he was greeted by his soon to be Operations Sergeant, Wilson. “What happened to you?”

“I tripped over those damn pallets.  I think I broke my big toe,” said Sam through gritted teeth.  A medic appeared, almost mysteriously, and examined the now swollen metatarsal.

“It’s for sure broken,” pronounced the medic.  “I’ve got to fill out this form so they can award you a Purple Heart.”

“I don’t want a medal for tripping over a ##@#$ pallet. Now go out there and find someone who’s really hurt.  Sarge, how about sending someone over to my hooch and fetch me a clean set of fatigues?”

The rockets had ceased falling and the new day was being gloriously revealed by its artist.  Sam had a big day planned and it all pointed to 3 PM when his plane would leave Vietnam for Hawaii.  His first task would be to secure a chopper and fly to Vung Tau to visit the PX there.  He hoped to find a pair of sneakers that he could cut out the top and rest his mangled toe.  It only took of 30 minutes to find a shoe that would suffice.  He also picked up a present for his wife, a beautiful diamond ring.  She would fuss but, in all honesty, love it.

Work and exciting plans

I have all but hated working at my job lately. Yes, I said it, and yes, I mean it. Poor management does a lot to hurt the store and its employees. Let me say that working with Bryan College's SGA for two years spoiled me with excellent leadership.

Last week's snow and ice craziness which put my sister out of school for a whole week put me into a predicament of confusion which had no defined hub of communication. Time was disrespected and wasted, animosity was born, and resentment festered. The hard part is, I know that the manager in question won't be changing many of his actions or thoughts, but at least his actions and thought won't be called forth like they were during the ice storm. He will stay the same, but the conditions are going to get better.

My awesome manager returned from vacation today.

And the angels sang.

My coworker, J, asked if I was okay. "Yeah, I'm fine, why?"
"You just look something something's bothering you."
"Oh. No, nothing's bothering me, but, you know what? Since of all that crap that happened last week, I know that I haven't enjoyed working here, like, at all. I don't smile like I used to. I don't care about the customers like I used to. And, I don't like it."
"Well, awesome manager's back, now."
"Yes. I'm smiling now."

I have had to goad myself into what used to be the normal customer service attitude lately. I did this today when I asked a grumpy old man if I could help him find anything. He'd been looking for monthly tabbed dividers for his binder. I came and showed him where they were and helped him get the right ones. He very matter-f-factly said thank you and told me, "You've been very helpful." Guys, that did it. That one comment reminded me of how I like being helpful.  I love hearing those words.  I love the feeling I get from making something work or finding something that's perfect for the customer.  Who knows if this man really cared about his tabbed dividers or not, but I suddenly did, and, for a burst of 3 minutes, I cared about everyone in the store.  It was a pretty remarkable shift in perspective.  I liked it.

Shortly after this episode, a friend's father who frequently finds me in the store came in.  I called to him, and we chatted for a good while.  He began by telling me that I need to get promoted to a manager's position.  Believe it or not, he doesn't think that my poor manager does a good job, either.  He monologued for 4 minutes on the importance and the techniques of customer service.  (He's knows what he's talking about.)  When he finished, he asked about my family and such, and then, near the end, I reminded him that, you know Mr. Luis, I won't be in retail forever.  In fact, I'm planning on getting a new job in August.  I'm planning on moving to South Korea to teach English as a Second Language for a year in a private Korean school.  Yes.  Yes, I am.

This is the first time I've mentioned it to the "public."  I've been keeping it a secret because a) I wasn't sure if it was plausible; b) I don't want to say I'm going to do something then not follow through; and c) it's so early in the game, how do you know, Lindsay, if this is really going to happen or not?  Well, I'm telling you anyway!  I'm going to go for this for as long as I can, as long as doors stay open, and hopefully I'll be in Korea by the end of it!

I've been interested in teaching ESL since my senior year of high school (2005-2006).  In fact, I decided to major in communication studies at Bryan College because I thought it would be best in preparing me for my then-dream-job: ESL teacher and missionary and possibly a translator on the side.  I'd originally wanted to go to Russia or Mexico because I've been there before, but, really, I'm excited to learn about and to explore any country and culture.  I'd lost sight of this dream during college when life's changed told me I would be getting married and wouldn't be able to just leave the country and, later, that I had to get a real job.  Well, take that, society, self-defeating thoughts, and ex-dreams!  I'm leaving the country!

Besides my resolve, nothing's in stone yet.  I plan to keep you updated, and I believe that doing so will help keep me accountable to this plan.  If I tell you about my dream, I'll be much more prone to follow up on the dream.  So there you have it!  I'm going to South Korea!  For a year!  I hope!

Via Crwflags

I cannot help but love this.

From Hipster to Hippie from GeeksareSexy.

Image: Split Reason

Newspaper nails

Using this tutorial, I finally tried the newspaper nail thing!  I loved it.  The whole project took about a half hour for me to do.  I just used clear polish as a base, then stuck on the small strips of paper, layering as desired, then put two coats of the clear polish on top to even out the bumps and valleys on the surface.  The newspaper came away from my nails quite a bit, and I had to keep sticking them back to the nail with the polish.  After two or three days, that got annoying, so I took the whole thing off.  It was sure was ballin' while it lasted, though.

It's true.

You know it.

Fill in the Blank Friday - Happiness

Here are this week's blanks from Laura:

1. I feel happy when I am with people who enjoy me for exactly who I am; when I'm playing with my dog, well, any dog; when I see a friend again after a long time; and when there is sunshine.

2. I get silly when I'm quoting A Very Potter Musical, Homestarrunner, MadTV, and SNL skits.


3. Something that makes me sad is movies.  Sad movies.  And thinking about missing out on my sister's first year of college (I'm planning on being away for a while).  And hearing about trafficking victims before they're rescued.


4. Something that makes me annoyed is co-workers not cleaning up their messes and customers who expect me to do their shopping for them.


5. A time I've been truly surprised was when my parents gave me a mandolin for my birthday.  I had no idea!

6. I am so thankful for my sister.  As I've gotten older (and supposedly more mature), she's become more and more dear to me.  Life would suck without her.  In fact, when she moves out of the house for college next fall, I'm high tailing it out of here.  Not because I don't like my parents.  I love those two, but, home's not home without Taylor.


7. I feel loved when people give me long, meaningful hugs and when people call me out on ways I'm hurting myself or others.


Here are some other things that make me happy:

What's not to love here?
Via: Dexknows 

This illustration by Arthur Rackham.  I've always loved it.
Via: Dearest Kelsey

Tasty things.
Image: Siobhan via Hello Flower

Adventure.
In a library, no less!
Via Compulsively Compiled via A Lovely Being

Pianos.
Playing them, specifically.

My family.

My British family!

My Bryan family!

The guts!

And, for good measure, this photo makes me happy, too.  I think it's so very beautiful.
(Uncredited photos taken by myself, passing strangers, friends on Facebook, or Elizabeth's mom)

Bookcases and baking

When I was in ninth grade, I had to do a construction project for my Physical Science class.  Some people did models of bridges or pyramids.  I built a bookcase with my dad.  I've kept the bookcase in my room since then, filling it with my treasures.  It's become full.  I talked to Dad about me looking for another one at thrift stores.  He'd built bookcase for the office/for Mom recently, and he told me he'd make me a new one if I couldn't find anything that would work.  I didn't find anything that would work.

This is the bookcase Dad made for me.  On the back, he carved a sweet message about hoping that the books that fill the shelves will encourage and challenge me.  I love that man.

That's Dad's "it works!" face on the bottom right.

I made Ninjabread cookies for my friends for Christmas.  It was a new experience for me; I'd never made cookies from scratch before.  I used so much flour, I was worried they'd be awful.  Most of the reviews I got from my buddies said they were pretty good, and Dad loved them, but I do agree with one recipient about the texture being a little strange.

This one was supposed to be a ninja holding a katana, but he looked more like Voldemort when I finished with him.  Sent that one off to Millie.  :)

The Fish Garden

 A few weeks ago, before Christmas, I stopped in at The Fish Garden, a fish and pond store.  I've bee curious about the place for years and I was glad to finally check it out for the first time.  It's an eclectic and intriguing place with its aquariums and pools and the black dog that hangs out there.  I roamed the shop without being spoken to, and that was fine.  I was just killing time and wanted to see what there was.  The coolest thing I saw was a lion fish that was for sale.  I didn't know they were usually sold like that!  There were lots of other exotic fish and chorals and shrimps and things.


I didn't want to leave because I hadn't gotten to talk to anybody, and these people seemed like the interesting sort.  As I was on my way out, though, the store phone rang.  Here's what I heard: "Hello, Fish Garden.  No, this is a fish store.  No, just fish.  Bye."
"Sounds like a strange conversation," I said.
 "I've gotten this twice this week!" he said.  "I'll answer the phone, and they'll ask, 'are you a pet store?'  No, just a fish store.  'So do you sell puppies?'  No, just fish.  And this time?  'Are you a pet store?' No, we're a fish store.  'Do you sell birds?'  No, just fish!"
Good times.

  ------------------------------------------------------------

I'm still working on growing out my hair and my bangs, and it's still in the aggravating stage.  I've found a new reason to keep up the hard work of letting it grow, though.  I would love to have a VW van, you see, and I've promised that dream van that, if it ever comes to me, I will wear a hippie headband [in public] at least once a month.  (I've always wanted to try those.)  Hippie headbands look best to me when they're with long hair and grown bangs.  Thus, I will not cut my hair.

It's silly, yes, but I don't mind.

Via Marie Claire

Passion 2011: ATL

All-but-required listening (or Songs that express my heart):

"With Everything" by Hillsong United 

"Our God" by Chris Tomlin

Guys!  I was given such a great blessing last weekend!  I got to go to two nights of Passion for free!  I got to go last year to the Hillsong United concert only, and my soul burst apart.  I was nearly overwhelmed by the truths and the beauty that was flung every where from every person.  The entire Phillips Arena was full of hearts jumping and dancing for Jesus.  The surging stimulation of my mind and my senses was much more than I had anticipated.  More than once I had to sit in my seat and just be still.  Now let me tell you.  Sitting there, listening to thousands of young humans singing and shouting to their Love, it was incredible.  As if the words of the songs weren't moving enough...  I couldn't help but cry.

from "Hosanna"
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

And I got to go again this year!  I got to hear John Piper speak on Jesus being at the bottom of your joy.  He began with this question: Do you love God because He makes much of you or because He makes much of you to make much of Himself?  The facts are that, yes, God does make so much of you.  Piper told us of just seven remarkable ways God loves us and treats us with grace and esteem.  Did you ever realize that He does these things so that we will glorify Him, though?  I don't think I did, or at least I didn't until I heard this.

I took copious notes, but the gist is either Jesus Christ is the foundation, the very bottom, of your joy, or you are.  Another theme of the entire Passion experience is refocusing our generation to bringing Jesus fame. I have been faced with how focused I am on myself.  I want to look cool.  I want to look smart.  Hip, pretty, put together, deep.  Those things are fine, but that's what I'm focused on.  Myself.  My efforts are rarely focused on making Jesus look cool, smart, awesome, beautiful, etc.

I think I'm glad to know that God's not finished changing my heart and refining my soul yet, because this has got to be different.

Louie Giglio spoke on carrying names.  He said Passion would never hold a session on how to carry a name; we already know how to do that.  Think Apple, North Face, Anthropologie, Forever 21, Chacos, Toms, Lady Gaga, Mumford and Sons, Nike, Louis Vuitton.  I'll talk on and on about my favorite artists' music, but how often does Jesus come up in my conversation?

Seriously, this is pathetic.

Blogging about it won't fix anything.  Be sure, though, that prayer and action will be happening in regards to my life not reflecting God's glory as it should.  God is merciful, more than we could ever imagine, and I'm so thankful.  He's not through with me yet.  No need to despair.  I'm broken, but redeemable.  So very redeemable.

------------------------------------------------------------

The music and the speaking at Passion were excellent in all respects.  I had no trouble melding with the songs and the messages they raised up.  When Louie talked of the "Do Something Now" facet of Passion and he said that we could donate money to so many people who need it, when he said we could donate money to fund rescue missions in the Philippines to rescue sex trafficking victims, I was absolutely and completely in sync.  When we got to the Do Something Now area and I finally got to the IJM booth, I was so pumped.  The display we were funneled through did much to sober me, but I was so very, very excited to get in the donating line afterward.  Friend Hope said, "the line moves fast.  It's not bad."  Well the line had gotten much longer since she'd gone through 15 minutes before.  Much, much longer.  Guys.  This was a Disney World worthy line of university students waiting to give their textbook money to rescue precious lives from disgrace and injustice!  I've never been happier to stand in a long line!!  I stepped out of line a couple times to take pictures. I saw many others do the same.

It was so wild.  There were so many dudes and chicas, all waiting for the same thing, all with the same love and purpose, all caught in the energy of what they were doing and the excitement of being a part of something so beautiful.  So many!  When it was my turn, I literally skipped up to the register and handed over my credit card, smiling so big the whole time.

Other ministries students could donate to included giving food to children in South Africa, loans to business owners in Afghanistan, towels and socks to homeless folks in Atlanta (the line of bundled towels was just as long as the IJM line!), building homes for families in Haiti, building wells in India, and sending Bibles to I believe a South American country.  I wish I could remember better because I'm sure I'm leaving out a few, but I do remember this: we raised more than a million dollars!  Let me rephrase.  God's people gave more than a million dollars to further His kingdom all over the world!!  How amazing and lovely and exciting is that?!

My photography professor says the best camera is the one you have with you.  I had my camera phone.

1.3 Mega pixels all the way!

That left-most table shows how much feeds the average American family of four.  The next table shows how much feeds the typical family of five in South Africa.  Wow.
Bottom right shows some of the donated towels.

The top left and bottom right pictures show some of the IJM line.  They were taken at different times, and people were being turned away when the stations had to close for the night.  When people donated, they would get a Polaroid taken of them and they'd put it on the wall.  It was a great sight.  I loved it.

Our God rocks.  To put it lightly.

Hello again, friends!

I took a week-long break form the internet, just to prove to myself that the wireless world will still turn without me.  I wanted to spend more time with my family, reading (Bible and others), and playing piano.  Nothing climactic happened, but I did see Inception which was pretty cool.  I also learned that the internet sure as heck isn't the only thing I waste my time on.  I have since removed all the games from my iPod.

I'll be filling you in on some of the things I did do this week bit by bit.  I will tell you now that I finally saw Inception!  Oh man, guys, that is one awesome movie!  So glad I finally saw it!  Can't wait to see it again!

------------------------------------------------------------

I enjoy the outdoors.  This one autumn day my freshman year of college, I found a pretty leaf on the ground and decided to bring it inside.  In fact, I decided to bring many leaves inside.  My roommate's suspicions of my peculiarity were magnified when she came home that day and found a forest taped to our door.

When winter came, I exchanged the fall leaves for juniper sprigs.  The evergreens added a nice, cozy vibe to the hall, I thought.  The next year I cut English ivy for our door posts in the winter and then brought in honeysuckle vines when spring came.  Senior year I'd not only brought in three potted plants (and I was trying to grow an avocado seed, too), but I brought in a whole tree.  A dead one, and a small one, but we had a tree in our room for a week or two.

So I'm all out of college, and I have no roommate, and this is what my room looks like now.

But look, I'm not the only one!