The Swing of Things

Hello all!

Now that the craziness of VBS (and the prep that goes with it) is over and I officially have the blues because of it, it's time to get back into the swing of things and pick up my life from the counter where I temporarily put it on hold.

Now if I could only remember what counter that was...

A few things that have happened while I was gone:

- I officially left my teen years behind me and turned 20 on July 17.

- I got a box of Mike and Ikes

- I started wearing makeup (house rule: makeup when you're twenty)

Hardest to tackle after nearly an entire month and a half off is writing. I thought I had a serious case of writer's block at first. Now I think that's folderol.

I'm just rusty.

Odd thing I didn't realize about writing: characters can lose their voices if you don't pay them attention. Now I get the fun job of rediscovering them. I'm putting myself on a write-as-much-as-possible regime to shake off the cramps I've garnered from my laziness.

And I'm going to blog again.

Won't that be fun?

Till next time!

(P.S. And I want that swing in the picture. Can you even
imagine how awesome that would be?!)

Not Dead, Only MIA

I tried to post tonight. I really did. I am so mad at myself for not being able to write a single, blessed thing and I just want to dig a hole and bury myself away until this word-drought ends and my creativity comes back.

I'm not taking a blog break. I'm not redesigning anything. I'm just shriveling up inside because my world of words is crumbling and I can't do anything but watch it fall.

Some of you, I'm sure, know how this feels.

Like the worst thing in the world. Like life suddenly went from color to black and white. Like you just lost ten best friends because they won't speak a civil word to you. Like you've been betrayed by people you thought you could trust.

Yes, I am being over-dramatic.

And this too shall pass.

I promise to post soon.

Thank you for still following; you're all the best.

Love,

VBS!

This time, THIS TIME, ladies, I actually have a good reason for blog-post-nonexistence.

As skit director (which basically means you get really no authoritative say in how the skit is performed or the set is built or how things are going, but it's your responsibility to make sure everyone's scripts are highlighted, everyone's costumes are ready, all the props are present and in order and all that *fun* stuff) I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off gathering this and taking care of that and making a zillion lists that I lose as quickly as I produce, spending almost every night after work designing, constructing and painting the enormous set we use (along with a handful of siblings and a dear friend), and then there are read-throughs, rehearsals, and dress rehearsals. It's been crazy.

And then I'm also the song director - sort of, I suppose - which means that I have to choose all the songs, find all the songs on mp3 to put on a cd for the kids to take home, make powerpoint slides of all the songs and then teach them.

So, that's why I've been off the blog for a while.

But I saved out some pictures for all of you and I shall see if they've uploaded yet.

Hold on a moment, please... =D

Ah, here we are!

The Craft Cave

The hieroglyphs we didn't notice were upside down until too late... 

The Set (the one and only)

Can you spot the out of place hieroglyph? 

With a quick stroke of a brush (and a few touch-ups), the unnamed Egyptian bird becomes a darling quail!

Closeup of the set fountain. =D

That's all for now, folks! I shall try to get another post in before I go camping next week, but we'll see. Can't wait for the Olympics to start!      

Till next time!

I Love Your Blog Award

I guess this is called the I Love Your Blog Award and I've been nominated by Madeline over at Slipping Through Your Fingers. I am honored that she chose my little blog as one of her five choices. 

Rules:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and give the link:
Thank you, Madeline/Maddy/whatever your nickname is!  


2. Tell us why the idea of blogging popped up and why you still write on it.
I was reading a blog that my sister showed me, knew that I loved to write and decided 'why not'? It's become much more than I ever expected, though. I'm very attached to the dear thing and all you lovely followers, so I can't bear not to type away a post when I can - though I've been neglecting things lately.  


3. Describe a usual day of your life:
I generally get up at 5:30 or 6, depending on whether or not I'm running, and then eat breakfast, and go to my office job. I work there until 11:30 and then eat lunch and go to my caregiver job. I stay there until 4:00 most days and then go home where, depending on the day, I either leave again to attend a scheduled activity or stay home and read, write, or whatever else I feel like doing. It's the life of the working populace, I'm afraid! =D


4. The best collaboration with a blogger?
I don't collaborate, I'm afraid. I am rather exclusive with my blog. Don't know what I'd ask anyone else to write about, come to think of it. 


5. The worst collaboration with a blogger?
Don't collaborate, don't run into 'worsts'!


6. Explain what this blog means to you:
Much more than I meant for it to at first. I like sharing my thoughts - MY thoughts - on books and culture and things that I care about. I like sharing my writing and knowing other people read it. I like having my own space to air my own opinions and know that if people agree they follow. I also like the bevy of friends I've met and seeing what they write and sharing interests and ideas. It's fun!

Till next time!

And Here We Go...

Got the word a few days ago that I'll be starting my new job as my Dad's secretary on Monday.

*squeal*

Half of me is excited and half of me is wondering if I'll be able to do everything he needs me to. I've been learning how to make spreadsheets on Microsoft Excel (hee-huh-hee-huh) and trying to figure out all that confusing stuff. Hopefully Dad won't ask me to do really crazy things with that program. Eek!

Other than that, I've sent out a few applications to nursing homes (no word yet from either, though I don't think they're hiring the positions I'm applying for...) and I have a few new leads to other opportunities. =D So far, I'm cautiously moving around in that arena and trying not to get too involved. *sheepish smile*

Right now I'm just trying to keep the fact that I've put my future in God's hands and that where He leads is the best place to follow at the forefront of my mind and not worry about the future and the concerns of growing up and going out into the world. :-/

I found an incredible bit of a verse in the Psalms a few days ago and thought I'd share it. It's so immensely encouraging right now!

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way... - Psalm 142:3a (emphasis added)

'Till next time!

How Your American Girl Doll Shaped the Rest of Your Life

For those of my followers who adore American Girl and own at least one doll, this link is a fun and very true read! (Especially if you own one of the original American Girls ending at Addy)

And for those of you who don't own the dear things, it is still a well-written article and very funny (and there is a nice little piece at the end for you guys too!)

Enjoy!

'Till next time,

Week in Review

Sweet mother of mercy; I survived!

Four days of clinicals are in my past and I can now stay up later than 9:30 and turn off my 5 a.m. alarm.

Such luxury.

And just when I was getting used to these hours...

Truly though, I'm very satisfied. I am eons more confident about the vocation and though nursing home care is probably not what I want to go into, I've realized that I do enjoy the job (though how those overworked CNAs manage nine or ten residents in the morning is quite beyond my comprehension).

I suppose I could do a rundown of how I spent those eight hours every day, but my journal was already bored by that. I'll just do some highlights.

Monday: when the resident I was caring for told herself over and over where I was so that she could tell me when I got back that she remembered where I had gone. She really was a dear; winking and smiling and waving at me. :)

Tuesday: when one of the residents at my table at lunch gave me one of her birthday cookies after we sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She was so sweet about it.

Wednesday: when the usually ornery resident that I was assigned to with my partner was an angel the whole shift and I got a chance to become more proficient in the use of mechanical lifts and take on more of a responsibility role with a complete assist resident who couldn't walk.

When I had an opportunity to follow a CNA around and help with her tasks and chat with her, which, in turn gave me many experiences that I would otherwise have missed.

When I got to play my flute for the residents at lunch. :)


Thursday: my partner and I were able to care for two residents and get them both to breakfast on time. I was able to dress a patient completely on my own and get a few more experiences that I really wanted to practice.

When one of the patients on the Alzheimer's floor told me that she enjoyed talking to me because I had "some brains". I'm still not sure if I should regard it as a compliment or an insult... Lol.

So that pretty much sums up my week! I'm going to relax tonight with my brother's birthday meal and Arsenic and Old Lace.

'Till next time,