Our New House!

It's been a few days since I posted, and so much has happened! We stayed Monday night with our aunt and uncle and then I got to spend Tuesday hanging out with our aunt. MMM and I went to lunch at Josie's and it was great to go back there! I'd had so many dreams about the shop while we were gone that it was great to finally see it again and see that it hasn't changed much at all.

My aunt and I worked on looking at houses and then we took a little drive to the park MMM and I got married in. I knew there were going to be so changes to the park so I wanted to check it out and see how different it was. They put in a very nice playground exactly in the spot we had the ceremony. We knew that would happen which is one of the reasons we chose it. We know that we are the only people who will ever get married right there.

We spent two nights with some good friends and really enjoyed the chance to catch up with them. Thank you guys again so much!

On Thursday we got to move into our new house! I'm really excited about living here! We have been crazy busy trying to move all our things inside. Yesterday we even had the help of our friend and MMM's old roommate. We took all three cars and loaded them to the brim! Right as we were loading up it started to snow! It is our first snow this winter, and the first time it's snowed after being married. It was just an unfortunate time for it to snow! Oh well. We got tons of stuff moved in, and now I just have to start unpacking all of them! But for now I am going to relax and stay warm in our cozy bed. It is so nice to have our bed back! Hurray for a new house! I'll try to post pictures soon!

Attitude adjustment?

I was getting close to finishing up work tonight, and customers just kept trickling in! I was getting rather annoyed until there was a break. But then two more ladies came in and my frustration built. Didn't they know I just wanted to go home? Of course, I was very friendly and courteous when they order, but my heart's attitude wasn't in the best shape. The time came to close down, and they were still sitting there. I don't even remember how the subject came up, but I found out that the baby with them was one sister's and the other sister is almost to her due date. So that got me talking about my sister who just yesterday had her very first baby! (Psst! It's a boy!) The more we talked the happier I was. I found out that more of the sisters have very large families, and have used midwives multiple times (like my sister did). It was truly such a blessing to chat with them and hear about their experiences with midwives and who they've worked with here in this area.  I know it's far in the future, but I'm pretty sure that I will want to use a midwife as well. I just see so many benefits to going that route. So again, having the chance to speak with these women was encouraging. It showed me that the things that make me frustrated and annoyed, those things God can use to bless me. Hopefully that will remind me to think of the bright side of every interaction.

Thanksgiving Month - A Blessed Day Eleven

Today was such a wonderful day! Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. I always work Wednesday mornings and I absolutely love them, because it is Wednesday mornings that the ladies from the church's Bible study come beforehand for coffee and cookies. It is most definitely the busiest morning of the week. I have so enjoyed getting to know these wonderful women, and they have been an unending source of encouragement to me. I don't see them beyond the cafe, but yet we keep in touch with each others lives. Every week we get the update and share what is new in our own lives. It is wonderful, and to think I met them just because of where I work. I loves ladies, so I love Wednesdays. Today was especially busy! We had several large orders to take care of, on top of the even larger than normal Wednesday crowd. It was so much fun. I felt so accomplished by the end of my shift.

Another huge blessing from today was visiting M's aunt and uncle who live near by. M's sister came up for the night, so we had a small dinner party. It was great having time to get to know her a little bit more and hang out with his aunt. It's always such a blessing to spend time with their family.

Then immediately after that, M and I had music practice for church, which is, of course, another highlight of my Wednesdays. Music is so important to me, and I love having the chance to enjoy making music with my friends. It is a fabulous time of worship and thanks giving. Ahh, I love it.

It was such a wonderfully blessed day.

Thanksgiving Month - An interesting (9th) day!

Today was very interesting indeed! I went to work at 11 while it was raining huge raindrops. Those raindrops turned into the biggest snowflakes I think I've ever seen. Everything at my job were going normally and it was a regular busyness. Then at about noon, the lights flickered off for a few seconds. The place was full and dead silent until the lights came back on. We went back to life as usual. Just a few minutes later the lights went out again for real. The place was still pretty full, and we had a couple orders still to make, but we worked that out. We used candles wherever they were necessary. Our customers just hung out and finished their meals like nothing had happened, when it actuality, nearly the entire city and many surrounding towns were experiencing the power outage. It was determined that the power may not be on for quite a while, so we proceeded to close down shop, and just when we were about finished, the power came on. At first it was excited, then it was disappointing (I wanted to go home and do homework =P), then it was just strange. The rest of the day really felt off. The best moment at work was when M surprised me by coming in and hanging out a bit. I love when he does that. Over all, it was a very odd, but good, day at work. God reminded me just how much I love my job, and that alone makes me very thankful.

Thanksgiving Month - Day Five

Something I am in the process of doing is displaying my photography at Josie's, where I work. Of course, my preferred result would be to sell them, but that hasn't happened much yet. That has gotten a bit discouraging at times. I really want my work to be appreciated for what it is. I have received many compliments on them, which helps, but no one has liked them well enough to buy one except for one co-worker. One exciting thing about this experience has been ordering my first business cards ever! I really love them, and just think they are beautiful. Well, my thankful thought for the day comes from that. I looked at work today and a large chunk of my business cards were gone! I know that doesn't necessarily translate into purchases, but that means that each person was impressed even to take a card. It's a simple one tonight, but it meant a lot to me.

Thanksgiving Month - Day Two

Right now it would be easy to think about all the things in my life that was making me anxious and frustrated, so just taking this minute to remember what I'm grateful for is very important.

I've mentioned this many times before, but I'm incredibly thankful for my job. I found the perfect little place to work the day after moving to this town. It has been the source of so many blessings. My focus tonight is definitely food blessings. Whenever I'm around when they have to dump food, I always am allowed to take it home and eat it up before it goes bad. With the combination of working there every day during the lunch hour and the food they send home with me, my grocery bill is nearly cut in half! Saving money is a very big deal in my life right now as I am just now searching for a place to live. Every dollar I can save instead of buying food goes into my savings account for a day when I won't be able to work. Basically, I've been hugely blessed.

Thankful Thursday - Street Fair!

In my town right now there is a street fair going on. It's where a bunch of vendors come and sell arts and crafts, food and drinks...there's also entertainment! It's really a lot of fun, but that also means that my job is a lot busier.

Today was the first day, and I was a bit nervous to start off. My back and neck hurt a lot, I was dizzy, and I had a headache...there were a few times that I was literally concerned I'd simply fall to the ground. Thankfully, that did not happen. The Lord helped me through the day, and He sent some of my favorite customers to lift my spirits.

I ended up working 9 hours today, and it really was a lot of fun, despite not feeling the best. When I was finished, my boss invited me to go with him to the booth his wife was running and get some smoothies (which were delicious, btw)! I'm so glad I changed my plans in order to do that with him. It was a wonderful time just getting to know him better and being able to share with him some things on my mind and get his opinions. I really loved how there was a mutual respect, even though we disagree on many points. It was such a blessing.

I managed to get to my small group in time for some praying, and was even prayed for! I just feel so...wow.. I can't even explain it. It's one of the feelings of just knowing I was in the right place at the right time..

God is so amazing. He really is. He is using me, and only He deserves the glory. It is so amazing to know that God is real, He's everywhere, He's powerful and mighty, He's wonderful, He's the Savior, He's the King! I just can't wait for Him to continue using me. All my thankful thoughts today are of Christ. He sustains, He gives peace, He fills, He gives wisdom freely to those who ask, He is merciful, He is magnificent. Really, there is no end to the praise that is due His name!

The Sun is Shining Again

I still have lots of questions. I don't think I'll ever stop having questions. They still weigh upon me in some ways. Despite this, I'm learning that my God is good and faithful. He is completely capable of taking my burdens upon His back. Yes, I have my own concerns and worries right now, everyone does. But, in the long run, I know that Christ is with me, He loves me, He's proud to have me be part of His family, and He always welcomes me with open arms.
Twice in the last week I have been told that I am "strong"; strong of heart, soul, and mind. I wouldn't have really claimed that for myself, but when it was mentioned I realized I really am strong. I am not strong because of anything I have done, but because Christ has been continuing to mold and shape me into the person He wants me to be. I have faith in Him that no matter what happens, He'll be there. I know I don't need to be afraid, I don't need to let my doubts and concerns dominate my life. I can have hope and joy because my God knows what's best for me!
Some days, when I'm feeling especially low, I'll say "when it rains, it pours", a phrase I'm sure we're all familiar with. Once when I told my boyfriend that, he calmly reminded me that though things may seem bad, the rain will end. The next morning I saw him and thanked him for his patience and declared brightly that the sun was shining again. That has become one of my favorite things to say now. I'm very happy to say that today.
The morning started out a bit rough, with a few different events just tearing me down. I went into work feeling already defeated. But God blessed me in my shift today. He gave me so many encouraging customers. He brought the music leader in, and he started telling my boss what a blessing I'd been for his church. I don't know what is better than feeling appreciated for hard work.
My 'grandpa' came in and said my smile made everything better. I found that though it was a rough day and the past few days, my God is so much bigger, and because of Him, I can have joy!
To top it all off, I had some customers come in who spoke German to each other. I was scared, but I did speak in German with them, and they said I spoke German better than they spoke English (I don't happen to agree, but I appreciated it). It was so exciting to me, I cannot even express it. I was pretty much bouncing off the walls at work, my boss can testify. :P I have been missing Germany dreadfully lately, and it was such a blessing to get just a piece of it here in my own home. *sigh*
To sum up, the rain has been pouring down on me a lot lately, but because of God's grace, the sun is shining again!

Thankful Thursday

Well, I actually remembered it this week! I actually was thinking about it all day. I don't have too much to say tonight, as I am very tired; but I do have some things to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for:

~ My Savior who allows me to be part of His family
~ Being able to feel the urging of the Spirit in a few different scenarios recently
~ Going through the process of growing up, and becoming who I'm supposed to be
~ Realizing the things I need to work on and understanding it could be a long process
~ That my friend is doing a bit better!
~ The wonderful year I've had working at Josie's
~ My boyfriend and his upright character
~ A day off in the midst of a lot of work
~ Having the chance to reorganize all my things
~ Learning how to play pool =P
~ Being able to play piano at the church and at the nursing home, and being appreciated for it
~ Being able to hold a friend's baby for a good amount of time
~ A random customer who is now helping me find a bike for free!

As always, the list could continue...God has very richly blessed me, that is for sure!

One Year and Counting

It's hard to believe, but I've officially been working at Josie's for one year now! The day after I moved up to live with my sister, I went straight down the downtown area and put in applications where my sister suggested. As I was getting to the end of the day I was getting pretty discouraged. No one I spoke with seemed very happy or friendly, and none of them made me feel like (1) they wanted to hire me and (2) I'd want to work for them.
I was just about to give up and go home but decided to go one more block and see if I could find this Josie's that I'd heard a lot about. Lo and behold! There it was, in that one last block. I took a deep breath, and went inside.
I found a girl behind the counter and she greeted me with a big grin and completely full of joy. I immediately felt comfortable in that place. She gave me an application and chatted with me as I filled it out. She even mentioned I should check back in since they were looking to hire immediately!
I left that building with a skip in my step and I called my dad. I told him about my day and said, "I know where I want to work!" I knew right away that this was the place for me.
Then two days later, I got a call from the owner and set up a meeting for the next day. The interview went very well, and I felt very confident. One week later, I got the ground shaking call that I was actually hired. I was so excited!
My first day was so much fun! I only worked for a few hours, just to start off small. I didn't realize it until a few months later, but I actually met one of my close church friends on my first day at Josie's! She had come in with her grandparents. I just think that's really cool.
Over this past year I have had to learn so much and at times it was very overwhelming. I found out very quickly that not only were my coworkers and bosses patient, but they were very kind, forgiving, and encouraging. I've never had a more encouraging work environment, and I couldn't be more thankful for it.
 I made friends quickly with some of the regular customers. I've mentioned some already in Golden Nuggets of Wisdom, Another Look Behind, Joyfulness, and Customer Blessings. I'm very happy to say that Josie (see link) did move back here, and is now a good friend of mine. *wave* Hi Josie!
Meeting all these wonderful people has made such a difference in my life and I am incredibly thankful for them. I love my job completely, and hope to continue there for quite a while! So yay for one year, and here's to many more!

A Busy Week

Work has been absolute madness lately!! Seriously, I've worked quite a bit more than usual. I'll usually eat for at least 10-15 minutes for each shift, but lately I've only had about 5 minutes. There's just so much to do! And on top of that, I usually have enough time to sit while frosting cookies, but it's been so busy that I can only frost a cookie or two at a time before having to help someone else. Despite the pressure all the standing has put on my back and neck, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm not as tired now as I was the beginning of last week, so hopefully I'm getting used to it a bit.
I'm surprised that I had to deal with this last summer immediately after being hired. How did I do it? One of the really great things about the current madness is that I've definitely seen how I've grown a lot in my job, and how I handle things much differently now. I don't take things as personally as I did before. And I've learned how to play around and not be serious all the time.
One of the funniest things to happen this week was receiving my very first offer of marriage! My shop barters with the bar next door, we give them cream, they give us ice. So every morning I work, I have to go get a cooler of ice for the day. On Wednesday, I did this as normal, but as I went in, there was a guy standing around have some sort of drink, and he very suddenly began singing a song about me! It went something along the lines of "I'm wearing a black shirt (it's true, I was) , and i have shiny glasses, and I'm wearing an apron (also true), and I'm stealing the ice" then he looked at me and asked if I was stealing the ice, to which I of course said 'no'. Then he began a conversation with me...

Him : Are you from a business?
Me: Yes
Him: Well, you better not tell me where it is unless you want me to come visit you.
Me: Don't worry, my lips are sealed.

Then I don't remember what he said, but he was kinda chatting with me and with his friend at the same time. I was just trying to get out of there before I burst out laughing! But on my way out..

Him: Will you marry me?!?
Me: Nope!

And then I walked out. It was sooo funny. I seriously laughed so hard once I got back to work!

That was probably the funniest thing to happen at work this week. Other than that, I've had lots of new customers, which is always interesting and good. And I've had a chance to get to know my regulars even better! Plus, it's been a great time of encouragement from my bosses. So yay! I love my job. It makes me happy. :D

Thankful Saturday - Whoops!

Man, I can't believe I forgot again this week. That is just wrong. :P This week has been insanely busy, so I guess I'll cut myself some slack. Yesterday alone had enough interesting experiences to write a post on. :P My goodness, I'll have to save it for another day, I have too much to share from last weekend as well! I'll get right to it.

I told you last week how I got to go to the city to go dancing with M, but I don't remember if I told you about staying at a friend's house that weekend? I ended up hanging out with M most of Friday and then heading to my friend's house and there I had sooo much fun! I can't remember the last time I had such a refreshing weekend! God was completely the focus of every day, and thus we had some amazing conversations. We were able to visit a huge professionally landscaped garden, and we (plus one more friend) had a picnic there and just sat in the sun for like 2 hours. It was awesome! I also got to join my friend at her small group meeting, and it was a huge blessing. I even got to visit a really awesome church! And to top the weekend off, I got to ride home with M again and have a really great conversation.

Now for this week. Every day I've worked this week has been insanely busy, and it has been fun, but slightly overwhelming. I have to work today as well, so I'm really looking forward to having the day off tomorrow to recover. A lot of  really great things have happened at work. I had a conversation with my boss that was completely encouraging to me. I've gotten some really funny stories. I've been able to build my relationship with my regular customers as well. And tips have been amazing too. God has definitely been blessing my job, and I know he will continue to do so.  I feel like I'm missing so much, but I'll just fill you in on those later if I remember them. :)

A Reminder

I was at work today, and I wasn't having the best time ever. I'm not feeling the best today, and lately I've had some things that have been pretty stressful and some that have upset me. I found myself being a "Debby-downer" with my co-worker. She listened very patiently and was very sympathetic..but that didn't really help me that much. 

Later on, she made a comment that she just heard a story on the radio about a girl who was having doubts about her faith, and this story made my co-worker sad. As she told me that I feel like a light bulb went off over my head. No, I wasn't having doubts about my faith, but I wasn't really living it. I allowed my focus to be shifted from God to this world..and that will only ever bring trouble. I thanked her for her comment and said that I needed to hear it. God is still good, no matter what I'm going through. 

Right now I'm going through The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, and though I haven't agreed with everything he's said, some have really stood out to me as wisdom. One of those things was when he was talking Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes." 

He said that this doesn't mean we'll all have 'happy endings' here on earth. Things might not go well (or what we consider well) for us during our life. But throughout it all, God is using it for eternal good. And that just makes everything worth it.

Customer Blessings

     Work this morning brought something amazing with it. All things were going as normal until a lady walked in and came up to order. She informed me that she is looking to move back to the Windy City and if that happens, she's already planning on becoming a regular! :) Seeing as I had little to do this morning, I felt free to engage in conversation with her, and what a blessing it was. I learned how when she lived here before, she would pass by this corner shop (before it was Josie's Corner) and want to buy it and make it into a coffee shop. On a return visit, she happened by the shop and was surprised to find not only a coffee shop (just like she wanted), but incredibly, she found her name right on the door. Right in my shop was a lady named Josie. While the name Josie is not all that uncommon, it was more than coincidence that hers is the same as my work place.
   Our conversation continued in-between serving different customers and I got to know her a little bit more. I learned how she had gone through a season of many trials, and how God has healed her completely. What an extraordinary testimony she has. We also discussed how I moved here and what an astounding blessing this city has been for me over the past 5 months. The amazing difference in me since moving up here is hard to describe. While we were talking she mentioned that I needed to start a blog! Well, that's taken care of, and now she is making a spotlight appearance.
  I don't feel like I can adequately explain what my time with her meant. Her positivity, enthusiasm, interest, and sweetness are all to be admired. It was truly such a blessing to meet this real-life Josie, and I sincerely hope that she does move back to the area!
  Josie, if you are reading this, thank you for blessing my morning more than you can know. And I hope to see you again very soon. =)

Golden Nuggets of Wisdom

I love Wednesdays at work. Every Wednesday morning I have a large group of women from a local church who come in for coffee and cookies before their Bible study. There are a few women that I have really gotten to know, and they are always interested in how my life is going. One in particular (we'll call her "J") , has been so encouraging to me over the past few weeks. J always has a smile on her face and is continually asking about the latest news in my life. She makes me very happy. =)

Another lady who came in today was sitting by herself reading her Bible. From there we were able to discuss her reading Esther, and how she enjoys reading Job. She then went on to explains some things to me, which though I may have thought of them before this point, also gave me a chance to relearn them.

Job 1:1
¹ In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

Job was a man of honorable status. His character was such that God put him on display before Satan in verse 8, where He said:

⁸ Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." 

So, it would appear that as Job was a man of such an upright character, we should strive to imitate him. And yet, while God speaks highly of Job, we also find Him giving Job an attitude adjustment once we get to chapter 38.

 ¹ Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:  ² "Who is this that darkens my counsel
       with words without knowledge?
 ³ Brace yourself like a man;
       I will question you,
       and you shall answer me.
 ⁴ "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
       Tell me, if you understand.
 ⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
       Who stretched a measuring line across it?


I love that in verse 5: "surely you know!" Oh the sarcasm this suggests; that Job would truly know such things as this.

³³ Do you know the laws of the heavens?
       Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?  ³⁴ "Can you raise your voice to the clouds
       and cover yourself with a flood of water?
 ³⁵ Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
       Do they report to you, 'Here we are'? 

 How awesome to think that God has this power!

So, here we have a man worthy of imitation, and yet even he is brought low by the magnificence of God. How much more so will we be brought low when we are faced with the glory of the Lord God on His throne! 

Josie's Corner

If you are ever up in my area, and you just happen to be a bit hungry, thirsty, or just have a sweet tooth; I know exactly where you should go!

With seats inside and out, there's no way you won't be satisfied.

Why don't you come with me now for a little tour? There's Josie, showing us the way.

First you will see our little window cubbie. A nice, intimate area to enjoy a friend's company. Featured here, and throughout, is artwork done locally. The artists change now and then to get more exposure.

Now we'll go into the main area of the cafe.

Here is a glimpse of the deliciousness that will greet you. We have a cookie case filled to the brim, and a complete menu of lunch and drinks for you to pick from.

You've now become an intimate friend, as you are currently behind the counter. From this angle you can see the coziness of the decorations, and also more of our seating area.

This is what Josie's is all based on. Grandma Josie who had no recipes, influenced generations after her in the art of making baked goods. Way to go, Grandma Josie! That is her original apron hanging there.

Perhaps if you are lucky, you will see my smiling face from behind the counter, ready and willing to take your order.

I will go to all lengths to make your stay a pleasant one.  :D

I hope you enjoyed your mini tour of Josie's Corner, but I hope even more that you will stop by and see us in person!

How I had a Satisfied Saturday!

My day started out a bit rough at work. I wasn't as fast as I felt I needed to be, I had forgotten something important the night before, and generally had such a low confidence in what I was capable of doing. I get to be that way: always knocking myself down. Once you get started beating yourself up, it's really hard to stop. So, my shift continued in this manner and I just kept feeling worse and worse. I felt like I was useless to my bosses, and that I wouldn't have worked enough by the end of my shift!

It turned out to be one of the steadiest Saturdays shifts I've had, and I knew that they had even more to do than usual. I asked my boss if I could be off the clock but still stay to help out. She very willingly accepted my help and said that she would pay me for it. If you could have seen me, I think you would have seen a dramatic change in my attitude in just those few minutes. During my actual shift, I didn't feel like I was serving my boss at all: but, God gave me the opportunity to serve my boss in a time where I had the right to leave if I wanted to. I truly felt like I was serving her then, and that made all the difference.

I believe that God has giving me the gift of service. I don't think I can be much happier than when I am helping someone when I don't need to be. If I am helping because I have to be, I can sometimes serve with a wrong attitude; but God is gracious and gives me opportunities to serve with the right attitude.

I don't know if I can explain exactly what I mean, but I'm going to try here. In Psalm 37:4 it says:            

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

So, I think that God gives us different gifts. The more we delight in Him, the more the desire of our heart is to serve Him, and using our gifts is our best way of serving Him. So, He gives us the opportunities to serve Him using our spiritual gifts.  This should make us very happy, right? Yup! I hadn't really thought about it before yesterday, but that is what I think right now. And this makes me want to go out and FIND ways to use the spiritual gifts God has given me! What greater gift could I give to God than to live my life for Him?

So, on my own, I had a very Stressful Saturday. 

By God's grace, I had a very Satisfied Saturday!

Josie's

On Wednesdays, I work from 6:45am-2:00pm, so this morning I woke up at 5:45am to get ready. It was really tough to get up after such a short night of sleep. Especially considering how ill I felt last night after dance, but I survived. Work was stressful the instant I arrived as I noticed a to-do list from my boss to add to my normal routine.
The biggest problem was definitely the buckwheat pancakes! I checked to make sure we had some batter, and when I couldn't see the normal container, I decided to make it for the first time! Suffice it to say, it was stressful trying to find everything in the main kitchen. The main kitchen is not my territory, except the dish sink, and that being the case, I have no idea where everything is! I managed to get the batter finished before it was needed, which was a great relief. It ended up that there was some batter already made, just in a different bucket than normal!
After that stressful moment, everything got a lot better! Today was very busy over the lunch hour. I think that was the busiest I have ever managed on my own out front. It would be natural for me to get all stressed and rushed when there is a line of people waiting. Thankfully, I was able to remain calm and pleasant to everyone, even when I was accused of charging too much. I can't think of a single mistake that I made, and that truly is a first! I have never felt so good about a shift. I made nearly $15 in tips, which might not seem like much, but part of the was split between three of us!
I think the best part of my day was when my co-worker specifically said that I did a really good job handling the whole line of people. It's not often that they consider it to be a busy day, and to hear them admit to that, and be appreciative of the work I've done; well, it's just really encouraging.
Next week is my two month anniversary and my boss has set up a time to discuss the past two months. I'm a little nervous to see what she says, but I don't think they will fire me by any means. It will be interesting to see what is brought up. Hopefully it will remain positive, since I'll still have half a shift to work that day!
Though my shift was good, it was also really tiring. I didn't take a break until 1:45, when I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich. So, once I got home, it was too much of a stretch to feel myself falling asleep. I ended up taking a 2 1/2 hour nap, and boy, did I need it! The rest of the night has been spent baking with my sister and talking with a good friend.

Tomorrow is potentially a big day for me! I have my appointment with audiology/ENT in order to discern what is causing my frequent dizziness. I can't deny a certain nervousness about what they will tell me, but hopefully it will be a simple fix. I really want to be normal! Besides, I can't dance lindy-hop when I am dizzy, and my birthday dance is a lindy!! So, this must change, and quickly. I need to practice lindy before my birthday, that way it will be good enough to show you guys! :D Here's to hoping! Your prayers for tomorrow are definitely appreciated.

My New Job!

The day after I arrived here up North, I started applying for jobs in the downtown. I wasn't feeling the most confident as I came to the end of my day's list. I didn't feel like I had filled the applications out very well, and honestly didn't know who would ever hire me! I almost gave up and turned back, but then I saw one of the businesses in the distance. My sister was especially encouraged by that cafe/bakery, and she really wanted me to apply there, so I figured- "I'm here..might as well!"
I walked in and was greeted by the happiest person I had seen all day! She was enthusiastic when she gave me the application. It was the first time that day that I really felt comfortable. She even told me that there was a position open, and that I should call back in a few days and talk to the manager. I walked out of that cafe feeling so hopeful and excited!
It was a thrill and an utter surprise to me when I got a call from the manager the very next day! The interview was set up and I was ecstatic. The interview probably only lasted 15 minutes, but I felt that I had been honest and open, and that I had done a good enough job. I knew there were other applicants, so it was just a matter of waiting.
Nearly a week later, I received a phone call from my former boss when she informed me of the extremely positive conversation she had with the bakery's manager! It was so nice to hear how my former boss appreciated the service I had given her. That was encouraging in itself. The manager called me the day after to officially offer me the position. I could not contain my excitement!
I went in yesterday to meet the other workers and to get a feel for the system. It was truly enjoyable. I loved talking to the husband. Oh, this is a family owned business, so the husband does most of the baking and cooking, and the wife does everything else. She showed me around the building and explained a bit of what I would be doing.
Today was my first training day, and I worked for three and a half hours. I was a bit nervous going in, but all the workers put me at ease right away. I just floated around for the majority of the time. I asked questions and got lots of answers! Whenever they didn't have something for me to do right away, I would go back and wash more dishes.
The most nerve-wracking thing I did was frost some cookies. I am not a culinary master AT ALL!!! I'm not physically artsy, and I've never been a good frost-er...but, I did it! And I felt more comfortable the more I did it, and I had a few that actually turned out pretty well; the others were just mediocre. I'm looking forward to the day that I can just whip out the frosting and be finished in short order. They were very encouraging despite my deficiencies. :P 
I have tomorrow off, but will go back on Friday from 7-2pm. It will be an early morning, but better than Germany! :P I'm really looking forward to working on Friday. I had so much fun talking with all of them and serving people again. I love to serve people! Serving makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile and being a positive spot in peoples' days.
That is my job update!