I've been absent from my keyboard quite a while, for reasons. A few reasons really, and I wouldn't be me if I didn't share them.
Reason #1: A wedding.
Reason #2: My brother's wedding
Reason #3: Another brother's wedding.
Reason #4: A busy job.
Reason #5: That was also a soul-sucker.
Reason #6: A dear friend's wedding.
Reason #7: A welcome job change!
Reason #7: A loss.
Reason #8: Another best friend/sister's wedding.
Reason #9: A few additional jobs.....
My dance card has been pretty full this year.
Weddings Galore
It seems like everybody got married this year - it's practically been one long extended party! I have been so happy for the matches my people are making, and meeting all of the fantastic people that are getting married into my circles. Throughout it all, the couples have been considerate, low-maintainance, and focused on laying a solid foundation for marriage. It's been amazing to watch people I've loved since childhood step into a new phase with such grace and joy!
Several years ago, a friend mentioned to me that she had only ever attended one wedding - as a child. I was blown away! Ever since that conversation I've kept a tally of every wedding I've ever been to. As of this May, I've been to 50 weddings, culminating with one that was especially memorable!
Work... WORK. Work? Work!
At this point you must have guessed that I have pretty mixed reviews about work this year. I was lucky to land a full-time position during the wedding season. Unfortunately, while my wardrobe improved, my savings account didn't. On a deeper level, retail is a dangerous beast. Your mind steeps in the idea that you need, and your needs can be met with things. As soon as I could, I got my Oregon Teaching License (hooray!!) and began substituting.
This began what I call my "manna period." Substitute work was sparse, but I got enough to keep me floating until the end of the year. As soon as school ended, I started teaching voice lessons. Then I began working at Starbucks, picking up more hours as voice lessons petered out. After a few months, the strain of barely tying ends together started to get to me. Then God said, "Manna," and I laughed instantly.* Here I had ASKED to get out of retail, and God had provided me with just enough work to get by. I wrapped up my whining and shifted my focus into prayer for direction.
And the direction about my next phase? "Soon."
What does that mean? I have very little idea. There's a sense that I'm standing at a Y in the road. Maybe there's a husband and children in the future. Maybe there's another country to live in, or an unexpected career change. All I know for sure it that it's coming soon, and I need to be ready.
This past year has been challenging in deep, constant ways. I think of this old show tune and laugh at its utter determination to see a silver lining where there is none. When you're at rock bottom, you can only go up!
Hey look me over,
Lend me an ear -
Fresh out of clover,
Mortgaged up to here.
But don't pass the plate, folks,
Don't pass the cup -
I figure whenever you're down and out
The only way is up,
And I'll be up - like a rosebud,
High on the vine!
Don't thumb yer nose, bud,
Take a tip from mine,
I'm a little bit short of the elbow room,
So let me get me some,
And look out world,
Here I come!
*Manna: Long long ago, the enslaved Israelites cried out for God to save them from the Egyptian. So He did, miraculously stealing them away across the desert to the Promised Land. They were FREE...but they were whiners. God took them on a scenic route through a desert, and soon they ran out of food. The people talked to Moses, Moses talked to God, and God sent them....something. 'Manna' translates to "What is it?" which is what the Israelites called the new mystery food. After several years of manna, they were REALLY tired of and whined to Moses for meat. Moses talked to God, and God said, 'Really guys? I'm sending you mystery super-food EVERY DAY! You want meat? Fine. Enjoy more than you want.' Then the camp was swarmed with so much quail that after boiling it, broiling it, baking it, sauteing it, making pan fried quail, deep fried quail, stir-fried quail, pineapple quail, coconut quail, pepper quail, quail soup, quail stew, quail salad, quail and potatoes, quail burgers, and quail sandwiches, the Israelites ran out of recipes and prayed for God to get rid of that business.
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