Daybook: Aug 8

I love reading Elizabeth Foss's beautiful blog and I enjoy the "daybook" entries she does weekly. I thought I'd copy for the day, if for no other reason than to reflect a bit and have to look back on... Most of the prompts are straight from hers and some I added.

Outside My Window

The Wheaton train station and the ever-familiar sight of the street next to Caribou. Getting a window table here is one of my favorite things and I have spent more hours at them over the last four years than I could ever count.

I am Listening to

At the moment, just coffee shop talk drifting by. A few minutes ago, it was Deb Talan on my iPod.

I am Wearing

Black tank top, jean shorts, Tevas which thankfully I just found under my bed.

I am So Grateful for

• A wonderful catch-up breakfast with Sarah yesterday, passing through Chicago on her cross-country road trip.
  

• God being greater than my emotional ups and downs. It is easy in these days for me to think that I will always be such a victim to moods, tears, lack of energy, and I am grateful that God is stabler than me, faithful to me when I am unstable, and that "how I feel is not who I am".

I'm Pondering

Friendship. How grateful I am for it, what makes some work, its place in the post-graduate life, how to pursue it in a non-selfish, God-honoring, and healthy way.

I am Reading

I am in the middle of like eight things at the moment. I think I really need to structure in some committed reading time daily or at least weekly to make sure I am a) reading and b) finishing things. Over the last month, it's included the awesome biography There Is No Me Without You (about the AIDS crisis in Ethiopia and the importance of adoption), Loves Me Loves Me Not which is so thought-provoking and helps me love God more, and the audiobook version of Walk Two Moons, an old childhood favorite which has all the amazing deep character development and life truths of the BEST children's lit. I don't know if I'll ever love adult fiction as much as children's.

I am Thinking

See "pondering". Also about how I'm annoyed at myself for being so emotional. And about how I want to go into this work week rested, with a good attitude, ready to lesson plan creatively and with energy and truly put heart and joy into loving these kids and families as much as they deserve to be loved and served.

I am Creating

I've spent the last couple of hours working on a long encouragement letter to someone who completely deserves it. Also I'm trying to make my bedroom look pretty... more framed pictures (of people I love!), and I lost the quilt covers in favor of plain white duvets.

I am Missing
Being able to make spontaneous errand runs, hang-outs, dinners with Rachael (sob!!). I wanted to go to Target today and it hit me for the first time for REAL that she's really not here. She left for her amazing organic farm adventure this week. Matt, preemptively... he left for his amazing DC adventure today.

On my iPod

My playlist at the moment includes Steve Slagg, Shane & Shane, Rosie Thomas, and Over the Rhine.

Towards Being Faithful In This Time

I know that walking or being in some form of action makes it easier for me to pray, and I've fought against that lately because I'm lazy and it's more convenient to be able to pray sitting on my couch in my house for half an hour before I leave for work than having to do something (plus it's been too hot to walk). But last night I gave up and admitted that's what I need, and drove to campus and just walked around for an hour talking with God about multiple things. It was wonderful. I'm going to try to do the exact same thing multiple times this week. It works, and if something works for prayer, we should keep doing it, yeah?

One Thing I Love About My Job Right Now

Feeling like I can actually make a difference in a few of the families' lives. Two-year-old giggles. Praying for the families. Speaking Spanish. Whoops, that was more than one.

One Thing I Love About My Living Situation Right Now

Well, it's quiet because my roommates are away. I miss them. (Kendra wrote an interesting description of our living situation here :-)). I love the garden in the backyard, the fact that everyone thinks the house is adorable, and all the natural light.

One Thing I Love About Wheaton Life Right Now

Caribou :-)

One Thing I Love About My Church Right Now

Um, everything. OK... today there was violin and cello during worship. And we took Communion. And I saw a favorite professor and I'm having dinner at her house next week. And I love my church.

I am Hoping and Praying

To have a good and joyful and hard-working attitude this week.

From the Kitchen

I made artichoke-chicken for dinner on Friday when the Hiltibran clan and Steve came over (which was so so fun). A super simple Trader Joe's recipe. Yum.

One of my Favorite Things

Friends.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

Work, trying to pray, a sleepover with sweet Christine and hopefully meeting up with miss Mary Gallagher... and it's my birthday!

A Couple Picture Thoughts:

• My sweet roommates- they like each other :-) On our new beautiful deck!
• And me with my wonderful friends Christine and Meghan at a really fun hang-out at Meg and Josh's apartment last week. Meghan and Josh are rocking newlywed life by having us all over a lot :-). I love it. It's been a wonderful part of summer.