Didn't Even Send a Resume

Wow...I didn't realize how long its been since I have posted! Though not too much has been happening, this month did bring some fun surprises. I have been wondering mostly what I am going to do about the money/job situation in the fall and last week I got my answers. I hadn't really been sending out my resume to any job openings since I wasn't qualified for what was out. Last week however, in one day I received two job offers to places I hadn't even sent a resume to! The first was for the family I babysit randomly for. They decided that they loved me so much, instead of sending their 2 yr old to day care they wanted me to watch her instead. This would bring in about $1000/month which would easily cover everything besides my shop rent. The second offer was from a counseling agency in the area that needs a secretary for a couple of days a week, at the same per hr pay. I decided to pick staying with the family since I am already established there and it offers more hours for a longer time period. It is only until Thanksgiving or so, when she will be old enough to go to a Montessori school, but it will definitely do.

I have only been working on one other project, staining a bunk bed, since the hutch (which turned out fabulous by the way). I am thinking about approaching the landlord about leaving the space since I am not even making enough to cover the rent now DURING tourist season, though I do get a lot of browsers. I am not willing to pay that rent over my apartment and don't want to eat at my savings continually...so keep me in prayer about what to do with this.

I am enjoying the church I go to and they offer most of my social life here at this point. Since I am not into the bar scene, it is hard to meet people my age, as those who are are married with kids, back to school far away, or leaving soon when the tourist jobs close. I realized this when I moved that it was a quiet town, but it still takes some getting used to anyways. As I was saying, the church has been holding some fun things and I am really enjoying it there. Two Sundays ago they had a western sermon with a delicious lunch afterwards. Today I am going to a Pampered Chef party for some dinner and to socialize with the women. If anything I will be eating good!

One not so good thing that happened was the fact that the air mattress I had been sleeping on deciding to deflate while I was sleeping one night. Not a very good nights sleep I must admit. But a woman from church was gracious enough to lend me her air mattress until I could find a bed. I knew I would eventually have to get one, being that I sold mine before I left and could fit one in my car to bring. Today the pastor's wife whom has been a great friend to me called me to say she thinks she found a bed for me (full size) and it was only $1! She saved it for me and I am going to check it out tomorrow to see what I think. I have bought another air mattress in the meantime...actually just 2-3 days ago....so I am going to return it if this one is ok and get my money back. God is certainly providing for me here.

I have not joined any groups yet, though the women's bible study groups are starting up here soon which will be great. I have still been reading, reading, reading, something which having no school or cable/internet at my apartment allows me to do. I am beginning to tell that the season is changing and that fall will soon be here. It is about a month until my birthday and I can't (or maybe I can) wait til it gets here. It just means that Christmas is even closer, a time when I will definitely be coming back for a visit! I will for sure have to think of some stuff to do here in the mean time.

This town has been busy with the Gold Rush Days one weekend and a Pro Bicycling Tournament coming through. Gold Rush Days was a the park and had concerts, booths and food galore. I got stuffed and had another tiger's blood slushy. School also started yesterday, so traffic is slower and kids are now confined to one small area of town. I start classes on Monday (online) and am hoping the next few months go quickly. I am ready to be done!

One last thing...yesterday while I was walking to the library, I had a Snow White moment. While I wasn't exactly singing to the animals, I was walking towards a deer eating next to the street. I slowed down and held my hand out telling the deer to come closer. It actually started walking towards me! It got about a foot from my hand and then I think I got too excited because I laughed. It took off away from me which made me laugh harder because I was so close to petting a deer and I spooked it. O well, maybe another day. As long as it doesn't give me a disease or charge me I think I will be okay...at least that's what I'm telling myself. That is all I have to report for now I think, so be blessed until next time!

Up to my Elbows....

So this week has been going well in terms of things to do! Last week I worked on staining 4 table leaves for a couple's table and they were very pleased with what I did. So much so, that they paid me more than the total I quoted them! I'm hoping that they can get the word out and recommend me to people who need stuff done. This week I have been working on refinishing a hutch/china cabinet for a woman in town. It is probably 5' x 4' x 1.5' and has glass that somewhat moves around (making it more difficult to paint). Yesterday I started by sanding down the whole thing, which took about 2 hrs and my hands were very stiff, sore, and rough by the end of it. Today I wiped it all down and put the first coat of primer on it. It is a bit challenging because the two shelves inside can be lifted up and moved around, but not taken out. I am hoping to be done with this project by Friday, doing a few hours work each day (one step at a time). Another woman might also want me to paint a rocking chair in animal print/pictures for her pregnant daughter, so I'm hoping she calls me back with that!

I am finally done with school for the summer, and turned in my final two Sundays ago. I managed to get an A- in the class despite my crazy summer moving and doing everything else. I now need to sign up for fall classes, which I'm hoping won't kill me. Only 4 classes left to go by May graduation and then I will have my Master's degree! At this point, I don't think I will have any brain power left to continue on to a PhD....not that I have anything I want to go for in that anyways. Still, I have a month left of summer to enjoy with no homework or mandatory reading.

Don't worry though, without many friends my age here or a TV, my library card is getting plenty of use. I probably read about 2-4 books a week, mostly fiction, and have been reading recommended authors' books. If you have one you think I would enjoy, let me know! I also borrow movies here, and have probably watched some of the most ridiculous foreign films out there. Mamma Mia is my top pick (seen about 5 times already) as ABBA is one of my top favs for music. Oh if my life were a musical, I would have fun singing ABBA!

I know the weather around the country had quite a hot spell for awhile, and it was warmer here than usual (or so I was told). We only had a handful of days over 90, with 93 degrees being the highest, but with a low humidity it is not as bad as in the midwest for sure. Mostly we have had rainy afternoons or evenings from the monsoons on the west coast. This is great for our desert-ish landscape though so it's not minded too much. I can't wait for fall to come and I hope there are some trees out here that will change colors.

It is also less than 2 months until my 25th birthday! I almost laughed and cried last night at the fact that I am getting older and not a young kid anymore. I feel that there are many changes, big changes, coming up soon that God has been preparing me for and I can't wait for things to get going! I have already been here 2 months and time is flying by for me to do anything worthwhile before I am a hunched-over retiree hehe. I am still babysitting the 3 kiddos in town, and have found the substitute teaching here will be a no go. I am looking forward to what August brings though, as I know great things are still in store for me. As always, I will keep you in my prayers...just keep me in yours too!