not quite what I thought...

I stopped by an old friend's house today. We haven't seen each other since she was pregnant and now her baby is 7 months old - so obviously its been a while :-) She and her husband are now on staff at my old church heading up their internationals department, reaching out to immigrants and refugees in our city. Not what they thought they'd end up doing. They were completely sure they'd be in the Middle East by now as missionaries. So I brought her up to speed with what's going on with Kyle (he's been in Central America on a mission trip this week) and me with my new job. The baby interrupted us rather frequently with polite coo's or random squawks or just plain ear-piercing screams. Allergies have been a jerk the last two weeks, and the little guy is teething and chunking up to hit a growth spurt.
At one point my friend looked at me over the rim of her mug filled with Kurdish Chai and said, 'This is NOT what I thought it would be like. Did you think ministry would be this...'
'Normal but not?' I finished for her.
''Yeah. But its so invasive, too! Like, my husband isn't my own, and I am constantly behind the scenes. Like... it never ends, but its so sporadic. I'm afraid I'm getting burned out, which scares me, because we've just started this year!"
We were interrupted by a call from someone from church who needed a more in-depth conversation, so I left with promises of getting back in touch with her soon.

But it has stuck with me. Ministry isn't what i thought it would be. Being a grown up isn't what I thought it would be like. The man God made explicitly clear that I am to be with is nothing like what I thought I would get. But on the other hand, its all RIGHT. It all FITS. Which is why we keep plugging away at it even when it makes no sense or burnout swoops in like an ugly beast.

But my friend and I did come to an important conclusion: its very very VERY important to not try to do it alone. Because its easy to get isolated, and caught up in your own ministry or drama.

Consequently, we've decided a consistent ministry comparison/chai consumption/henna application date is in order on a much more frequent basis.

Let this be a read Bible

August 24, 2001. My best friend Anna Stone gave me a brand new, Extreme Teen Study Bible. IN the first page where you write all this stuff, she wrote, 'because I love you.' After I displayed great joy and mirth at the gift, she explained that she also was giving it to me, in addition to her love, due to the fact that my other Bible was falling apart. I had been given that Bible - a Children's Study Bible - by my Sunday School when I memorized so many verses and had attended so many weeks in a row (I think? Or maybe it was just for my birthday) It was nearing ten years old. I personally didn't feel like it was falling apart; its cover needed washing. The main issue was that it was a Children's Study Bible and I was a teenager and wasn't really sure how to study the Bible at that point. So the Extreme Teen Study Bible really helped.
However, if Anna could see it today, she'd probably dash out the door with no more ado and buy me yet another Bible (I'll take the ESV study Bible, please! Or the Hollman Study Bible. Yeah the ones that could kill someone if you hit them right with them, they are so huge). The poor Extreme Teen study Bible has been through a lot. It has moved back and forth across the United States and overseas with me. It suffered a bad case of mildew when I was in Romania and the pages still have stains and are all crinkly throughout the Book.
My favorite part is all the notes I've written into the margins - in dozens of pens and pencils. My youthful scrawl and loopy penmanship mercifully different now. I have snide retorts, deep questions, prayers, reminders to myself to be obedient or humble or learn to be wise or do better at Scripture Memorization.

I brought another Bible I had purchased for school (as it is about the size of my hand and I am pretty sure
as I get older I won't be able to read the text its so small) to Sunday School a couple of weeks ago. Wouldn't you know it, THIS particular Book was left on the roof of my car one day when I was unlocking the door, and it and my journal went flying off of the roof and ended up getting run over by a truck. The tread marks are still in the back flap to prove it. I made some apology for my Bible (missions major moment: we were always told to show utmost respect for our Bibles when going into other cultures because they did for their holy books and it would impede our progress if we seemed to flippant a religion). The dear old lady just smiled at me and said, 'honey, I found a note in my grandmother's tattered old Bible. It said on the front page, 'let this be a read Bible.' And I just thought that was so neat. Looks like yours is a read Bible!'
Hope so! 'Cause I just feel like they are abused Bibles!
So life comes in weird circles, because I want to invest in some Children's Bibles for my kids in the Children's Church. Wonder what stories their Testaments will tell!

setting up my phone, progress on the office :-)

Today I paged my secretary in my office while sitting in a meeting with another 'professional' in my field and asked her to please bring some information to my office.
I FEEL SO GROWN UP!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
I mean, I have my own EXTENSION on the OFFICE PHONE!!!!
Yes I am being ridiculous. Have we met? Its the little things in life.
 And I made progress in clearing out more stuff. Muahahahaha! Another small victory. I have realized if you celebrate the small good things, the huge stressful things are not so huge. So I'm trying to remember to do that; to celebrate the ordinary.

 And that seems silly or childish or eccentric or ridiculous to some, and thats okay. Those people are usually more stressed out in life than I want to be. I'm working in a field God prepared for me and me for, but its a huge need and therefore got lots of challenges, baggage, politics and spiritual battles. So anyway. All that to say don't judge me while I have my little party about setting up my phone. And tomorrow I get to set up my own official voice mail! I kind of want to text some people to call me tomorrow just so I'll have some fun voice mails on there... teehee.
I've also discovered I have a gift for finding awesome crafts for kids to do; which gives me an outlet for my creative genius. :-) SOOOO happy. New excuses to dash over to Hobby Lobby! Yaay!

nap time

On the seventh day God rested.
Why do I continuously think that I don't need what God Himself decided to partake of?
The end of August and beginning of September has been wonderful but ridiculously busy. New life changes, adjustments, new coworkers, new job/church/ministry/lifestyle. For the first time ever, I've undertaken carving out a home in this crazy world. And I like it. My boyfriend likes it. My guests like it. My friends of facebook 'like' it, or at least the album of pictures of it (yes that pun was intended). It does look like a grandma's house; the furniture is all wood and there are lace curtains and tablecloths, and my Queen Anne chairs are a soft pink. But I still love it. And it was inexpensive! lol.
My Sunday school teachers so far have loved every idea I've come up with but one, and I am building good relationships in the office of the church I'm working in. I've gone nuts with entertaining and had at least one couple/family over per week that I've been here if not more and fed them good food and gotten lots of compliments on my cooking and decor :-) Its jacked my grocery bill but right now I can afford it and I love being able to finally entertain. I'm slowly discovering more and more missions majors and friends who have graduated Boyce who are still in the area and gotten lots of invitations to come have tea and catch up with friends who have gotten married and expecting or already had babies.
Aaaaand I'm tired.
This week has been the least busy so far, and I think its all catching up to me finally. I don't want it to though; I wish my energy would never run out. But Kyle and I ran some errands today and after the last one I was so tired my eyes started closing by themselves so he told me to put the seat back and lay down for our half hour ride back to the house. So I did and that was the beginning of about a two-hour nap. And I'm still sleepy. Thbbth.
The nice thing is I don't have anything on docket for tomorrow as far as going anywhere or seeing anyone. I do have to teach Sunday school to the older kids and am also doing the first Children's Church this Sunday as well. So at some point I need to put together lessons for those. I really would like to donate all existing material, literature, and curriculum this church has as its all old and out of date and just buy new stuff. But World War Three will ensue if I do that, so I must bide my time and strategize and be patient. 
And I've started laying seeds amongst the powers that be that the kids NEED their own Sunday school room! Kyle did point out that they haven't had their own Sunday School room in this church for about twenty years, so if I don't get it done this month or this year its not the end of the world. I don't think its the end of the world, its just I have cool ideas that I can't do unless we have our own room! And I just don't like the fact that the daycare has taken over the entire children's ministry area and now if Sunday Morning or Wednesday night kids ministry wants to do anything we have to make sure it doesn't conflict with anything the daycare does. Well... in my humble opinion that is not so humble, a church's priority ought to be the kids ministry not the daycare. But that's just me. So anyway.
I know things will naturally progress into a routine, but I wish it would hurry up and i would figure everything out! I need to get this job sorted and settled so I can get a second job to have some cash flow, and I'd also like to not be so exhausted all the time so that I could get back to needlepoint and painting and doing that sort of creative stuffs that is relaxing and satisfying to me.
Sooo stuff is going good but hectic :-)
Nap time is glorious thing!
~PrincessOuch~

curtains finish a room

 Jaci Velasquez was my hero when I was growing up. I remember in an interview she told someone that her favorite thing in life was her new house in Nashville, TN. The main reason? "Its mine. I picked out everything in it." At the time it made NO sense to me. Now it makes PERFECT sense!

 I have been accused of having an 'old lady house,' in that I have antique lamps, there are lace curtains hanging in the windows, and all of my furniture is wood or has wood on it. Max said, 'Yeah it may look like Grandma's house. But everyone LIKES coming to Grandma's house! Its homey!' And besides, vintage is in, right?

 Except for my bathroom. I have a dolphin bathroom. My parents sent me some of the many boxes I have in their attic. I'm trying to get them from there to here but its a slow process. But in the boxes they sent this last time were childhood treasures. My dolphin collection I'd been adding to since I was a wee lass in California up to a teenager was washed and framed and placed in little nooks and gives the bathroom such a fun, young, unique look. My outlet for my deep love of the sea. I love my bathroom! All the plants in it are real too. :-D It is amazing though how relaxing the wood and soft colors are. Its even more amazing how something so simple as hanging curtains changes the look of the room and gives it so much more of a finished feel. Its so nice to have my own PLACE. If I want to hang a picture on this part of the wall, I can. And do. If I'm not sure what to do with it, I can wait. And do. If I want to leave dishes in the sink overnight, I can. And do. If I want my kitchen to be spotless, however, I can clean it knowing it will STAY CLEAN until I mess it up again. It is so refreshing!!!!

 I've had a TON of company over, too. Its nice to be able to have friends come over and make them feel relaxed and feed them good food and then enjoy laughter for hours afterwards. I love entertaining people! Good food on good dishes with good company = a wonderful night to me. It gives both them and me a break from the stresses of our new found adulthood. I know this is the Ministry God has called me to for now at this church for this time, but I also feel a sense of God's calling when showing friends hospitality. The cool thing about my curtains for the living room and my bedroom is that I saw them at the free store on seminary campus while still a student and thought I would save them for when I had my own place. They fit the windows PERFECTLY! I told Gail, 'God picked out my curtains for me!!" The same with the bathroom; Max was browsing a second hand store and saw it. It was just one panel, but he thought it would match my bathroom and it does PERFECTLY!!! So God picked out my curtains!!!! I am so blessed. It is truly the little things in life :-) There have been plenty of bumps in the road on this new journey and season; I've already shed some tears of frustration and overwhelmed-ness, but still overall am just sooooooo blessed. :-)

Getting into the groove... I think

Movie: Ironwill. Will is a teenager getting ready to compete in a cross-country dog sled race, and the local Native Americans are helping him learn how to survive not only the wild, but the wild men he will be interacting with. "How do I know who to trust?" he finally asks. "Trust the dogs. Trust yourself." the old chief tells him.
Except I don't have any dogs, I just have a FISH!!!! At least dogs are fluffy and look at you with big understanding eyes. Fish just glub at you! lol
No its cool its just a little overwhelming, because almost every time I've met a new person in this church for longer than five seconds, they are pulling me into a hallway giving me some 'helpful information' i.e. pushing their agenda. Aaaaaand it kinda sucks because they seem so NICE at first and then its like, aHA, so THATS your angle!!!
But the youth pastor did pull me aside and said, "there's a psalm, I think its Psalm 2, where it says 'the nations cry out.' The context is that a new king has just taken power, which means there is a power vacuum. A new king means new policies, he's a new personalities, no one knows what to expect, everyone is vying for power trying to push their own agenda. I just want to encourage you that David survived, so will you. I forgot how frustrating it was moving into a new ministry till I saw your face last night and then it all came back to me. Don't worry, you'll learn the names and faces and politics of this church. Don't be discouraged.As much as everyone wants to tell you what THEY think ought to happen, God didn't call them to this position He called YOU and this is YOUR ministry right now. If they wanted it that bad they could of applied for it but they didn't. So just remember that. God called you here. You've got muscle so don't worry to do what you need to do."
And I had a meeting with one of the elders of my previous church as a last 'hurrah' before moving membership. He asked lots of questions and best way to describe the church I'm in now is  that its a country church with inner-city dynamics. Brother Andy, the elder, is in his 60's, has a Ph.D. in Josephus or some ancient historian like that, and told me today he has worked with drug addicts and homeless people for several years. 'Listen to people, hear what they have to say, and learn to use phrases that buy you time so you can consider what they are really saying underneath the words they think you want to hear. Trust your gut. Find outside sources you can trust to bounce ideas off of and for objective opinions."So I think today was God saying, 'breathe Rachel its okay."
I've never been part of any church for more than a couple of years at a time. The longest was probably the First Church of the Nazarene in New Mexico, and it was kind of chopped up as we went to another church for a while as well. But all that time, Baptists were kind of the special cousin in Christendom that we were just so glad we weren't part of. I've heard of scary tiny southern baptist churches, and now I am not only part of one but a leader in one! And its exciting but somewhat terrifying.
At first I was like, "I'm gonna grow this ministry and it will be awesome!" Which I still hope for, but I guess I'm tempered down a little to, 'I want this to work for several years. And I want this ministry to grow. But if all I do is make an eternal difference in the lives of the ten kids that are in the ministry now, that's more than enough for me right there.'
In other news, worked in what will be my office but is currently the 'children's ministry resource center,' a.k.a the dump spot for anyone who gets a good deal on crayons. Or the place where all the cardboard backs to pads of paper end up (instead of the trash can!!!) just in case they might be needed for a craft. The secretary and the pastor want to leave all that stuff in there after it becomes my office, and the youth pastor said "Oooooh no. They tried to do that to my office and then its not an office its your desk and phone in the supply closet. MOVE IT. Do not budge on that!"  Which quite frankly there are enough unused classrooms that there is plenty of space for the two bookshelves to go besides my office. Speaking of which,
I HAVE AN OFFICE!!!
I have absolutely no office furniture to put in there as of yet. But I have decided that I am going to have a cool office. I don't know what exactly that means yet, but... anyway :-)
Going to meet the WMU ladies tomorrow morning and work a banquet back on campus for some pocket change ;-)
Enough for now. Going to bed :-)
~Princess Ouch~

rather randomness

I have handwashed three loads of dishes, eaten brunch, caught up with my american and taiwanese roomates, and read an article in the 'country living' magazine that was sent here to try and get us to subscribe to it. I also read an article on yahoo! news about fish dying in the northern midwest high plains states (hows THAT for a detailed description!). My taiwanese roommate is bemoaning the fact that fish prices will probably go up at Kroger. She is vegetarian except for eating fish. (does that still count as vegetarian?)
And now I'm ready for a nap.
The church personnel meeting is going to vote tomorrow night about if they want me to work for them or not. The pastor is very optimistic that I will get hired, so right now I've done all I can do as far as being visible, displaying my skills with kids and adults, and voicing vision and plans for programs to leave alone or start in the church. Now its just waiting.
Another roommate spent the summer in England doing an internship and she had one girl stay in her spot for the month of June and other in July. I think the June girl washed the sheets but the July girl definitely didn't. So right now I'm debating: do I drive across town and do laundry for 'free' but spend gas money, or spend the same amount in gas in quarters to use the washing machine and dryer downstairs?
Aaaand I work at 5 in the dish room on campus.
So a good day.
I still want a nap.
I know the reason why I want a nap is because my allergies are going nuts and its making my head all fuzzy.
I should go outside and play with my plants.
And then go wash sheets.

This is a very boring post, but I figured I really should write SOMETHING. Hopefully I didn't cause you to fall asleep by the end of it. I really don't know why I picked this picture, either, but I am apparently in a very random mood. So hopefully you enjoy the picture of me playing international dress-up with my boyfriend ;-)

update

I realized the other day that I hadn't posted anything since May (hey that rhymed!) and a lot has happened since then.
 I'll confess I felt a little lost after graduation. My boyfriend was awesome at bearing with me through my mood swings of feeling completely carefree and liberated to raw panic and desperation of 'what do I do next?!'
He is very good at finding the balance of listening while I vent, offering sage advice, holding me and encouraging me, and finally just distracting me from whatever crisis (perceived or real) I'm currently reeling from by just going out and doing something fun.

]So for example we went to Mammoth cave, and we bee-bopped around visiting friends and family. Its been good to be able to keep in touch with so many different people. We had dinner with my good friends Sam and Svitlana Gantt. Kyle's met them but never for very long, so this was the first time for all of us to hang out. We had a blast, which was awesome because it was one of the first times for him to have a really good time hanging out with friends of mine from the Seminary. He's hung out with friends of mine from Boyce, but not the Seminary. So this was good on a lot of different levels.

I've also been able to see family a whole lot more this summer which has been GREAT! And my grandpa and I danced together at a friend's wedding anniversary. That was one of my most favorite memories of this summer, and maybe of this year. Yes, including Graduation. :-)

AAAAAND I have a job offer!!! To work as a Children's minister at a small church on the outskirts of Louisville. Its nothing glamorous but it has a LOT of potential and a lot of what they are looking for and open to are direct answers to prayer. Kyle and I visited a church and were visiting with the pastor afterwards who made an offhand comment about the need in the church. I said I was looking for job/ministry opportunities and the pastor said to send him my resume. I got it to him the next day and by the end of the week he was calling a committee in the church to consider me for the new Children's minister!!!!

 Its not final yet so prayers are still appreciated. But it is looking very positive!!!! So thats been a huge relief but also somewhat intimidating. I've never done anything on this kind of scale, but I know that if God wants me to do it He will give me the grace and discipline to do it well!
Kyle and I have been talking on a more serious note about future plans but no dates or blings as of yet for those who are curious ;-) Belieeeeeve me, it will NOT be a secrete if/when a big question gets asked ;-)

And that is all the news I have for tonight :-)
~Princess Ouch~

as promised, pictures

 As promised, pictures :-)

 Fairy-like tea party I picked up in Disney World for a song.

 Found these very awesome flower pots and so bought some flowers to put in them. I realized the majority of my plants are edible and while nutritious and the foliage is nice, I kind of want some colors to break up the green.

 My tea party with Lavender!

 The big pots have 'bush beans' which are very stalk-y but don't have the tentacle whoojingles to climb anything so I know they aren't pole beans; and the big big pot has broccoli in it. It used to have beans but some critter at them :-(

 All together now! And finally, I loved this sign. Didn't buy it but may paint it on something in the near future ;-)

Memorial day weekend

Saturday: pretty much all day at the AT&T store trying to figure out contracts and phones. By all day I mean literally ALL DAY. Blech.
Sunday: Last sermon by Max, Kyle's dad, at his church. Farewell party that evening. It is amazing how draining keeping an upbeat attitude and happy countenance can be amongst all the nasty church politics sometimes, but we made it through.
Sunday: drove back to 'Ville, dropped roomie off at airport for internship in England, dropped by to check on Amber who has been sick since we got back from Disney World. was able to drag her out of bed and we got Fazoli's where she told me she was thinking of buying a house, would I like ot move in with her if/when she does so? HECK YAH! Then we went to two stores and I impulse bought some fabric thta was on sale. Great quality, great price, I just didn't realize how expensive cloth is these days!! So glad for the purchase just still miffed I already spent $35 and still don't have all that I need for a quilt. I have a great start, but... blah.
My garden is growing!!! So excited. WIl post pictures l8r.
Going to bed now. 

BEACH TIME!!!

My boyfriend totally needs to learn how to do this:

 Amber and I went to New Semerna beach today!!!

 I haven't been to the beach in about 10 years, so it was SOOO nice to be back!

 We got these glasses-straws at Graduation so decided to bring them and use them :-)

 Voila

 Ok here's me looking happy on the beach but rather blurry

 here's me in the water on the beach not blurry but with the sun in my eyes so squinting and messing up my poze and sticking out my tummy... lols but you get to see my way cool swimming suit :-)

 not happy at all... TOTALLY JAZZED!!!

Amber's way of enjoying the beach

Able to dream again!

 Yesterday we went to the Magic Kingdom. Amber's mom is paying for all of this as her graduation gift. Amber keeps looking at me saying, "Thank you so much for coming with me! This is so much more fun with you here!" and I keep telling her, 'you keep making it sound like I  am doing the favor to you! You've got it backwards! Thanks for bringing me along!!'

 We were ridiculous. We spent about an hour and a half just on Main Street looking at stuff and shops and the little hidden surprises Disney has hidden everywhere you look. And we kept looking at each other going, 'Hey! We're GRADUATED! We're ADULTS! We're in DISNEY UNSUPERVISED!!!' and reveling in the freedom, acting like little kids when we wanted and mature adults when we wanted and it was AWESOME. Speaking of little kids, there were plenty of those and we spent a good amount of time just watching them - trying very hard to do so in a non-creepy way of course ;-)
(can you see the ducklings in the picture below?)

 We found Graduation-hat-Mickey Ears. They were overpriced, of course, but we wore them ALL DAY LONG and random people would shout "CONGRATULATIONS!" at us so it was worth it. We are totally wearing them the rest of the week. We made friends with this little girl and her dad in Tomorrowland at the Monsters Inc laugh floor - which was actually very well done and funny. It was a stand-up comedy show. We made her smile while we waited in line by pretending that since she was dressed like Belle from Beauty and the Beast she really WAS Belle and her dad wasn't sure if he was the Beast, Gueston, or just her Bodyguard. So we had fun with that :-)

 We did Tomorrowland last, (my pictures are all out of order. Sorry) and did the Buzz-lightyear ride and I creamed Amber in the shooting competition. Then we went to Space Mountain. Its an indoor roller-coaster almost completely in the dark. I screamed the entire three minutes. I'm usually not a screamer or whatever on rides - I bottle everything in until I explode - but we got off and I turned to Amber and said, 'Man it felt good to just scream for three minutes.' She had screamed occasionally too but mostly just laughed at my squawking and howling. "Dude it feels good to be EXCITED and happy about something!" she retorted. Yeah ain't that the truth.

 Its funny because people will say, 'Wow! You are graduates! you are adults! Time to step into the real world, right?' and then we'll all laugh and say, 'Yeah thats why we came to DISNEY the week after Graduation!!!' But its been awesome. Going to rides I remember and seeing all the fun old characters I used to love and dream about from the Disney stories and remembering the old games my sister and cousin and I would play with our dolls etc. And remembering what it felt like to be carefree and happy and young again. I know Disney is the cesspool of materialism, but quite frankly its been a huge relief to just relax for a couple of days and get my dream-machine fixed up and re-tuned.

 Another funny story: yesterday we went to dinner at Disney Studios and one of the security guards asked if I was a character. I said know but I wouldn't mind being one and then there was this huge crack of thunder from one of Florida's obligatory daily rainstorms. The security guard laughed and said, 'that was God giving you your cue: GO work at Disney World!" We all laughed. I think I would LOVE working as a character for a summer. No plans to pick up an application or anything though ;-)

 Amber has been an amazing tour guide, pointing out 'hidden mickeys' and explaining the histories and back stories of certain rides etc. She keeps asking if she's boring me or ruining things for me and I'm like, 'are you crazy?! No! This is awesome!' My own private tour guide :-D

 The other thing that is so dang AWESOME is that I'M IN FLORIDA AGAIN!!! Grandma used to take me and my sister in the summer to her Condo for about a week per summer but I haven't been in about 10 years due to her focusing on younger cousins which is fine. But I didn't realize how much I missed it. Just the weather, the way the water tastes, the exotic wildlife EVERYWHERE (like we saw a cool lizard at the bus stop and the herons and ibises perching on all the outside vendors) and the way the air is just wet but in a unique humid sort of way. We are planning on going to the beach on Thursday if it doesn't rain us out. Shoot I don't care if it does rain, I haven't been to the beach in 10 years I want to go!!!

 The nice thing about going as an adult is that there is no one to tell you 'no' to things that make amazing memories but aren't technically worth it 1. financially or 2. nutritionally. Like Mickey Head Ice Cream. $3.50 worth of pure goodness, however its about the same amount of money as I usually spend on lunch. Not to worry, simply substitute the mouses head for lunch. You eat a huge breakfast with characters and a huge dinner in a 50's cafe and play play play in between stopping only for ice cream!

 Not sure that this will be our plan of attack every day but for our first day in Disney World it was totally an amazing idea ;-)

 This breakfast was awesome. The food was amazing and the characters did a great job. It was so fun to see the little kids and their reactions to the characters. The babies especially were fascinated and just could not figure out why these huge stuffed animals kept trying to kiss them and hold them and why mom and dad kept wanting their picture taken with them. The characters did enough to keep mom and dad satisfied but not freak the babies out. Then when they got to our table they would kiss our hands and dance with us while the picture was being taken :-) Our waitress was SUPER friendly and nice as well. Did I mention the food was amazing?

Thats all for now. :-)

All done!

Farewell Boyce! 

I am GRADUATED!!!!!

pre-graduation blues

I've been studying since my last post and am feeling slightly overwhelmed with the amount of information on the study guide. Along with various aspects of theology, there's a lot of names and dates regarding pagan scientists, christian scientist/theologians, and their contributions or detriments to the doctrine of creation. AAAAAGH!
So I am comforting myself with the Piano Guy's amazing music and envisioning myself on the beach a week from Thursday:

....and I saw someone else's blog today. What they wrote really made me mad. And then sad. And then back and forth. I really wish this was how I could be when people who are supposed to have my back act stupid:

With silver bells and cockle shells!

 I was good. I practiced self-restraint. A few weeks ago, this was the extent of my plant collection. Yeah thats it. Just two basil plants, a house plant, and an aloe vera (the other aloe vera is a previous room mate's and she still hasn't come to pick it up yet!) However, the one basil somehow died, and then I kept walking by beautiful gardens in our neighborhood, or seeing picturesque places like this at Ms. Pat's house:

 Amber hasn't been feeling all that great lately, both physically and emotionally, so I bought her flowers and left them as a surprise on her doorstep. I knew she wanted hydrangeas and I found them at Trader Joe's while I was grocery shopping for half of what the plant nursery was selling them for, so I bought her some. She is going to plant them in the garden plot to the right of her front door.

 See? Aren't they perty? However, this set off my plant-lust.

 Now in my defense I already owned all these by this point, and the majority were grown from seeds that I bought over a month ago. There are Bush Beans (which I thought were pole beans. Woops. Read the package next time, don't just look at the picture!!) The seedlings on the far left are Cucumbers, as well as Lemon Verbena, Rosemary, and Sweet Peas in with the Bush Beans.

 And then on the other end of the porch the two planters on either side is Lettuce, and the pots in the middle are Lavender which I started from seeds for the first time. Dude they take FOREVER to grow from seeds!!!

 See? Teeny baby Lavender!!!

 And here's me herbs: Closest to furthest: Rosemary, the pot that's empty is actually Columbine that hasn't sprouted yet (okay so not all herbs) my Lemon Verbena and Basil. Yeah I move the plants around off the ledge and back onto it depending on how hard the wind is blowing.

 Here's the Bush Beans and Sweet Peas. This one is okay, but in the other pots this size there were two bean plants and two sweet peas growing. I knew that wasn't going to go well for very long before they started crowding each other out. Well I thought I had enough pots to house everything, but I knew I needed more potting soil. So I started out for Walgreens this morning as I knew they had potting soil and I wasn't feeling good so I didn't want to go too far from home.

 Well, there was a nursery about half the distance to my house than Walgreens, and I knew they would have potting soil. So I pulled over and checked. And wouldn't you know it they had herbs for half the price I had been getting them. And I found CURRY! I don't usually cook with Curry but it was really fragrant and unique, so I bought one. And then they had large, beautiful Lavender so I bought some of that, as well as two more Rosemary plants. My late grandfather was able to coax his Rosemary into huge beautiful plants that he then planted under his wife's kitchen window. I LOVE that idea. I don't want to plant the rosemary at my current residence but I'm hoping if I baby it and keep it in a pot until I have more permanent residence it will be established enough that I can do the same thing. Or just have huge potted Rosemary. I know in Tennessee it will grow out of doors and be a perennial but I think Kentucky is too cold, so I might just have to keep it potted. 

 So I brought all my goods (including 2 bags of potting soil - waaaay cheaper than at Walgreens as I'm sure you can imagine) and realized I now did not have enough pots. My room mate Amber (different from Hydrangea Amber) came home, saw all the foliage and said, 'Mary Mary, quite contrary, how your garden GROWS, and grows, and grows! Girl where did all this come from?' So I confessed and told her my predicament. 'I need accountability. I need to go to the big nursery and get more pots because the little one was out. But I'm afraid I'll get the itch again and will buy more plants!' 'Oh girl I'll go with you. I'll keep you accountable. I'll yell 'PUT IT DOWN! We ain't got no more room!!'"

 Well as SOON as I parked and she got out of the car and saw all the beautiful blooms, she said, "oh crap. I'm getting the itch too! This is not good!" She has an Aloe Vera plant (its a popular gift in these parts, apparently!) that desperately needed repotting. And of course this nursery not only had regular terracotta pots but amazing pottery pots that were three times the price for fru-fru gardeners. So we spent 3x's the time I thought we would as she walked back and forth between the pretty pots and the terracotta pots. Finally I suggested she paint the terracotta pot and she caved. I also got a hanging planter for my indoor plant, and she liked that idea so started perusing the hanging pots. However they were $20. So I talked her into leaving and we left with pots and some miracle grow plant food.

 Here is what the Aloe Vera planter looked like when she finished it. She painted it black and then spray-painted silver flacks onto it. As you can see, we have enough Aloe Vera to last us a while!!

 Well we went back to the smaller nursery to get potting soil and she found a hanging Fuchsia for $17.00 so she bought that. And here is our lovely porch, way too much $$ and two hours later:
 

Now I need to STOP playing and get this study guide done for my Theology 1 Final on Tuesday!!! :-D However, like I said, whenever I garden there is something incredibly refreshing and RIGHT about it :-)