wow, I haven't updated for a month and a half!! so much has happened... went to Arkansas on the mission trip, which was amazing. We painted houses, played w/ kids at the Boys' and Girls' Club, and helped out at a Special Olympics event. Overall, it was just incredible to be serving God with no obvious benefit to myself...yet, He showed me his presence and love in new ways each day. :) I had been feeling a bit distant from him before the trip, but I really learned a lot about myself and who I want to be while we were down there. I will especially remember...the nasty locker room showers, how to say "boon-vle", my little girl Lexi, my friend Ruby from Special Olympics, our freezing cold sleeping area, the joy of sharing a room with 20 other girls, Cody's overalls, Ryan's amazing sermons...and God's incredible provision.
Since the mission trip, I've been working 30 hours a week, waitressing at Perkin's on Lyndale. It's good money most of the time...on Sunday morning I made over $90 in tips! :) But it's incredibly stressful sometimes and at least once a day I usually feel like crying when I'm there! I just have a difficult time dealing with angry customers, especially when there's nothing I can do about it and we only have three cooks, two of which don't know what they're doing!!! lol...obviously, it's a bit annoying sometimes. Last night was pretty bad b/c Tuesdays usually aren't busy, but this Tuesday everyone decided to come to Perkin's and we were soo understaffed...and then I got off late and didn't think I'd be able to see Kyle...until he pulled up next to me in the parking lot just as I was pulling out!!! :) What a wonderful amazing boy. Other than working, I've pretty much been hanging out w/ Kyle, since Claire and Laura are gone and Mags is working. We've had plenty of good times, working in Mary's yard, hanging out at L. Harriet, shopping, etc... I still can't believe God's amazing goodness in giving me Kyle. :) I never imagined that life could even be this good.
I guess school is starting to stress me out a little bit... my parents recently bought a house in Edina to fix up and sell again...so, now it's on the market. But, if the house doesn't sell in the next few months, I'm not going to have enough money for school. So, prayers would be much appreciated. I can always take out a loan if needed, but I was hoping not to have to do that!! I think it's ironic that I thought I'd have plenty of money for school this year...and now it looks like I'll have to be pretty careful. I'm also not looking forward to my friends leaving... it will be so strange to have to start over, when I know that I really can't hope to find friends as incredible as the ones I've got now. At least I know Kyle will be with me!! :) And Laura will be pretty close by. :)
Anyways, that's most of my life for the past month. I'm sure that the next month will be full of lots of good times, laughter, tears, goodbyes, and new friends! ...and I'll hopefully see all of you before I'm off to good old Roseville, MN! :)