I have many favorite places. One of them I discovered yesterday. Roadside farm stands are amazing! I got a basket of apples and peaches and two ears of corn for 5 dollars. $5!! And they are amazing. So fresh. So delicious. So juicy. And the best part is they were so cheap! How have I never stopped at one before??
One of my favorite parts about being an adult is that I can eat whatever I want for dinner. So tonight I decided to eat freshly harvested corn on the cob and peaches. Best. Dinner. Ever.
I don't have a grill, but I discovered the magical secret to cooking magnificent corn in the microwave. It was the best piece of corn I have ever had. And I would love to share my secret with you.
Magical Microwave Corn on the Cob
-While in the husk, soak it in warm water for 5-7 minutes depending on the size of the ear
-Cook it in the husk in the microwave for 2-4 minutes depending on the size and the microwave (an average size ear in my microwave cooks to perfection in 2 minutes 15 seconds)
-Then husk the corn and cut off the leaves to hold the end (unless you have corn holders)
-Finally I spread butter around the cob and sprinkle lemon pepper on it as well. You can season it to taste as you please
-Then Enjoy!
And if you prefer to eat corn in different forms, maybe this informational video on how to cook popcorn will help you too ;)
Have you seen this video? It's unreal. So surreal. It's a video from the international space station as it orbits the planet at night. Here's what you see...
"This movie begins over the Pacific Ocean and continues over North and South America before entering daylight near Antarctica. Visible cities, countries and landmarks include (in order) Vancouver Island, Victoria, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Phoenix. Multiple cities in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. Mexico City, the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, El Salvador, Lightning in the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon. Also visible is the earths ionosphere (thin yellow line), a satellite (55sec) and the stars of our galaxy."
I seriously can't stop watching this. It's amazing. It really feels like I'm flying. So beautiful. Check it out.
The best jobs are the ones that don't even feel like jobs. I know I haven't even been working for a whole week and have barely even started the honeymoon phase, but I love my job. I am an assistant at Utah Youth Village working in one of their residential treatment facilities for teenage girls. So far I've gotten paid for doing a puzzle, having a dance party, watching a soccer game, cooking, reading, and best of all, talking. Can't beat that! I know the job has difficult parts (like the hours and discipline), but overall, they are just teenage girls who just need love. Plus, it's in what seems like a remote part of the world on a farm with tons of horses. It's a great environment and despite what it feels like, it's not really that far away at all. A new girl came yesterday, so I know it's just going to get harder as she adjusts and more girls come, but it was so clear that God opened this door for me, and it's so clear already that this is a good fit for me.
My job is assisting the live-in staff, but right now, there are no live-in staff. So, needless to say I'm working a lot. But the days pass so quickly it doesn't even seem like I am working. I don't get to see my roommates much, or Josh even, but the Lord provided this job, so hopefully He will still provide for those relationships despite the busyness.
All in all, I find myself loving what I am doing because I know it's a good fit for me. How many people can say that? So grateful :)
The puzzle I did with the girls and my co-worker. Piecing together those brick pieces were a beast!
Josh, my pilot boyfriend, did a fly-over at their soccer game on Saturday. I tried to take a picture of his plane, but I couldn't see the screen. Even though I missed the plane, it's a cool picture anyway!
The view of the campus from our driveway. SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!
On a whim, I applied for a job that sounded interesting over labor day weekend. That Tuesday morning I got a call asking to me to come in that week for an interview. I had the interview last Friday. They asked me on the spot to come in for a second interview. Tuesday (a week after the first call) they called and asked for a copy of my driving record and three references and said they would call soon to set up the second interview. Even though it was moving pretty quickly, I didn't think much of it and figured it would still be another week or so before I really hear any news back.
Well, they called me yesterday confirming they received my driving record and has spoken with two of my references. Then they offered me the job. SAY WHAT??!?!? Yeah, they offered me the job. No second interview. No more hoops to jump through. And they asked me to start today. SAY WHAT??!?!? So, in less than a week and a half I applied for a job, had an interview, got hired, and started work. Wow. Just wow.
This morning when I woke up and read the Bible verse for the day, I was surprised at what I found. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Say What?!?! It's almost as if God whispered to me in that moment that getting this job is a reward for honestly seeking Him (as I wrote about in my last post). Even though I didn't feel as if I found Him, He apparently found me. How amazing!
Since I am jumping in head first and working all weekend, I asked Josh out to breakfast this morning to celebrate and to spend some time together before my life gets too busy. I mentioned that I needed a watch (because mine broke ages ago and it's not likely I'll be able to have my phone on me). So, he took me to Kohls (which has the best sales in the world by the way) and bought me a beautiful sparkly one (on sale, of course) to celebrate my first day of work. He really is the best guy anyone could ever ask for.
So, as I look down at my wrist and wonder what time it is, I realize, it's time to go to work! :D
*And if you're wondering what my job is, don't worry. I'm sure my next post will tell all about it, so check back in a few days for that update.
I was not looking for God when I found Him. I was going about my own business living my own life when He sought me. A commonly quoted verse states that ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Well, I did not ask, I wasn't seeking, and I certainly never knocked.
But tonight I am asking, seeking, and knocking, desperate to connect with my Lord. But I hear nothing in reply. Why is it that when I am hiding God seeks me, and when I seek Him I feel He hides His face and voice? I have felt so distant from God for some time. I know He has not gotten further away, but I have become more distracted. So, why is it when I finally lay aside all of my distractions, I don't see Him? I am reading and praying and yearning to feel God's touch on my heart. I know that my relationship with God does not depend on feelings, but relies on faith. But I long for another moment where I feel Him near. I am seeking but I feel as if He is hiding.
In my desire to find anything even resembling God tonight, I stumbled upon Romans 9 which eventually lead me (through footnotes) to Isaiah 65:1. "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me, I was found by those who did not seek me." This immediately resonated with my beginnings as a believer in Jesus. I heard myself pleading with Him in that moment: "God, why are we playing Hide and Seek? Why do you seek me when I am hiding and hide when I seek You? Can't the Ask, Seek, Knock verse in Matthew be my reality tonight? I am trying so hard to connect with you. Please respond to me. Please let me know that you are still there, that you haven't forgotten your daughter even though my thoughts have turned from you. I need you always, but especially now."
And it suits that the next verse I read stated that finding God "does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy" (Romans 9:16). Go figure that it doesn't matter how hard I seek or how desperately I want to find, I can't control when or how God reveals Himself*. I just have to pray for His mercy that He will. So, as much as it feels like it, this is not a game of Hide and Seek, but more a lifestyle of Pray and Wait. I think I'll need more patience for this one...
* (And I think it's ironic that in showing me He is not required to reveal Himself, He revealed Himself. I love God's humor.)
How can we sum this up? All those people who didn't seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as He straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. they were so absorbed in their "God Projects" that they didn't notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock int he middle of the road. And so they stumbled into Him and went sprawling. Isaiah gives us the metaphor for pulling all of this together: Careful! I've put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can't get around. But the stone is me! If you're looking for me, You'll find me on the way, not in the way.
Yup, that's right. I killed it. It looks horrible. And I feel even worse.
At the beginning of summer, Josh surprised me with a beautiful Orchid which only had three blooms at the time. It survived and thrived through all of my moves this summer. I took good care of it, watering it with love (and water of course), and keeping it in just the right amount of indirect sunlight. At it's heyday it had seven beautiful blooms! The one week I was away from the love fern was the hottest week of the summer. It was so hot inside my parents' house that all the flowers wilted and three fell to an untimely death. But as soon as I returned, it got better. Much better. Another flower even began to bloom (I must be magical). Now I have been living in a basement for over a month and it has been perched in my window, not too hot, not too cold, and with just enough sunlight and water that it has remained very happy. Until this week.
The other day I got home to find that all the flowers were wilting again. I did everything I could, but they all died. Only one is left, hanging on, barely alive, but mostly dead. I am horrified! How could I let the fragrantly beautiful representation of our love die?!? I feel like a terrible girlfriend.
So today I researched an orchid site to help me revive my poor little plant, and I learned that most Orchids only bloom 2-3 months at a time. Mine bloomed for 5 months! I suddenly felt much better. It also helped to know that most Orchids bloom 2-3 times a year, so I only have to look at a seemingly dead plant for another few months before it (hopefully) comes back to life.
Thank goodness our love fern isn't an actual manifestation of our relationship, otherwise it'd be bad news for me and Josh!
If you want to learn more about Orchids too, go here. If you have been asking yourself, "What the heck is a love fern??!?" watch How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and go here.
As of today (over a month living in my new place), I finally feel like I am at home. I don't have all of my walls decorated, but I do have all the elements in my room to make it feel complete. I am surrounded my images of those I love, I have curtains to hide my neatly organized closet, and a couch to cushion my bottom. Ahhhhhh..... Finally feels good to relax in here! :)
Not only is my room finally situated, but today while I was running errands, I ran into someone I knew!!! That is the true mark of having a community.
Still no news on the job front, but at least I'll have a comfortable place to sit tight and wait. Ahhhhhhhh... :)
I heard a sermon this past weekend on what it means to be grateful. Honestly, I don't remember exactly what the pastor said, but it got me thinking about what I am grateful for. I can get so caught up in so much else, that I often forget. So, I began to think about it in church and started to cry. I've been thinking a lot about it since and decided I needed to write a list. So, this is my abridged list, because today, I could go on forever and ever...
Jesus and his gift of free Life
God's unending forgiveness and sovereignty
The ability to pray freely and be heard unconditionally
That my parents are alive (two of them were caught in the Joplin tornado in May)
A loving family
Three wonderful parents
Mary and her powerful and unending prayers
Josh and his physical, emotional, and spiritual protection over me
Jackie and her unconditional truth, grace, and love
Julie and her pioneer ministry and determination to declare the Gospel with her life
Amazing friendships that transcend time and proximity
My family in Christ
A place to live and enough money to survive
Political and spiritual freedom
Those who have served to protect this country at all times, especially the last decade
Time to think today about what I am grateful for
People who have interest in possibly wanting to hire me
Sunshine, mountains, flowers, and a beautiful city
A place where I can fully relax
Books and my passion for reading
My education and training to write well
Getting to share my heart and thoughts with you through this blog
People willing and wanting to read my blog (Thanks!)
Music
Art
Intellect
Strength and weaknesses
Desire to live a legacy
My life, God's protection, and God's provision
Ability to see what God has saved me from and what He's saving me for
There's so much more, but for the sake of time and space, I'll leave it at this... for now...
Have you seen Tangled? The Disney movie about Rapunzel?? Remember the beginning scene??? Well, If you don't remember or haven't seen the movie you should go watch it. Right now. But in case time and life does not allow for that, I have included a video of that scene below. And have you read my thoughts about how that movie applies to my life? If you haven't, you can read them here. But I digress.
I am currently unemployed and looking for a job. I've only been in this situation for a little over a month, but it has felt like forever. Mainly because an average day in my life is much like that scene in Tangled. So, I invite you to step into my life for a moment to enlighten yourself about the average day in the life of the unemployed Amie Lou...
1) I wake up whenever I happen to rouse into consciousness (and depending on how late I was chatting with my roommates the night before, that could really be any time from 7am-10am).
2) Then I groggily look at the apps on my phone to read the Bible verses of the day and say a prayer for my sanity and productivity.
3) I mosey up the stairs to start brewing my coffee and while waiting, check my email on my phone to see if anyone sent me an email offering me a job during the course of the night. So far, no one has. But I look expectantly every morning anyway.
4) I drink my coffee and peruse Twitter for any life updates or breaking news in the world. And I am always amazed at how much I can learn from 160 characters.
5) Then, I search my routine job sites and find that only 8 jobs had been posted since I checked it the day before. And I am usually not qualified for any of them.
6,7,8,9,10,11,12,etc.....) So, then I usually make my bed 3 or 4 times, browse facebook for a while, read a book or two, paint my toenails, do Zumba, vacuum the floor, wash all the dishes in the kitchen (clean and dirty), look down at my toes, decide to re-paint my nails, clean the bathroom, re-organize my closet, search for jobs again and find no new postings, watch a movie, knit a sweater, check my email hoping for a job offer, stare at the wall and wonder why it's painted such a weird color, daydream about better colors to paint the walls if the landlord would let us, look down at my toes and decided that if I can't repaint the walls I'll re-paint my toes (again), watch YouTube videos like a 'bauss' (that's for you Josh), search for jobs again and still find no new postings, check my LinkedIn profile to see how many possible employers may have looked at my page, be disappointed that no one who may want to hire me has viewed it, bake muffins to cheer me up, eat muffins realizing lunch was hours ago, browse facebook again to see what my friends are doing around the world, check my email again hoping for an interview, go the gym and literally have my butt kicked in the exercise class, lay on the floor as the muscles in my body explode, see my toes and decided to re-paint them (yet again), search for jobs again and not find anything worth applying for, re-wash all the dishes, bleach the sink, clean the bathroom again, take a shower, shampoo the carpets (that one's for you Dad. Are you paying attention? ;)), light a candle and watch the flame dance, read how to make candles, realize I would have to leave the house to get candle-making supplies, decide it's not worth it, re-paint my toenails instead, make an elaborate dinner with whatever I find in laying around, search for jobs again, find nothing was posted since I last checked, hear my roommates come home, talk and giggle with them about how I entertained myself that day, check my email hoping for anything, get ready for bed, browse facebook one last time, and then I brush and brush and brush and brush my hair and wonder when will I get a job.... (Okay, maybe I only brush it once or twice, but watch the video for a frame of reference)
Everyone has been telling me to enjoy this time while I have it, but painting my toenails 5 or 6 times a day is wearing me down. It wasn't so bad before school started and all my roommates were home with me all day, but it's kind of boring being the basement bum all by myself. Hopefully I will be able to write a post soon about the average day in life of Amie Lou's job.... Ahhhhhh.... That would be nice :)
And for a full reenactment of my average day, check out this video. It's amazingly accurate...
*I don't know what country this video came from, but it's great quality and still sung in English. Enjoy. And when you can, watch the full movie. Or maybe I'll watch it for you today :)
My roommate and her boyfriend went to St. George with his family for Labor Day weekend, so the rest of us get to puppy-sit Nick's adorable canine, LeLu. Yesterday I went to the neighborhood Starbucks with a friend. Because this neighborhood is so dog-friendly, I decided to bring LeLu to hang out with us over coffee.
Because she is still a puppy, LeLu was very excited and wanted to meet everyone sitting on the patio at Starbucks. Then she whined for a while because there was another dog that didn't want to play with her, and then she was whining because the birds were singing, but then she calmed down and slept at my feet for a while in the sunshine. Then on the way home, she couldn't see out the windows of my car, so she decided to get a better seat.
Oh, what it would be like to live as a dog. According to LeLu, it's quite the life...
I have many favorite places. One of them I discovered yesterday. Roadside farm stands are amazing! I got a basket of apples and peaches and two ears of corn for 5 dollars. $5!! And they are amazing. So fresh. So delicious. So juicy. And the best part is they were so cheap! How have I never stopped at one before??
