Danish's week off

I am currently watching Futurama with Danish and chillin' to the max. We got back from a very eventful weekend trip to Austin late last night. My brother was excited to return to UT and we spent the greater part of Saturday helping him get settled, buying groceries, and taking him out to eat at Torchy's Tacos. I ordered a Migas Taco (eggs, green chilies, crisp corn tortillas, pico de gallo, avocado, and shredded cheese on flour tortilla) and The Democrat (shredded beef barbacoa and onions, topped off with fresh avocado, queso fresco, cilantro and a lime wedge served on a corn tortilla with green salsa). I didn't think I could finish them as the tacos were very compact, but I devoured them.

Later that night we rode the bus to Trudy's. Apparently they are famous for their Mexican Martinis, served in a full-sized shaker and each patron is cut off at two. I could only handle one.

The next morning, we attended service at The Austin Stone with my brother and his friend. The message was awesome and the change of scenery much appreciated. The message was about how Jesus, although fully God, took on the flesh of man and faced every temptation yet did not sin. Because of this, He is able to sympathize alongside us and is ready and willing to offer us guidance when we ask for it. "Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." Hebrews 4:14-16.

After church, we had lunch at Madam Mam's; I ordered the Guay Teaw Nuer Puey - stew beef slices with with rice vermicelli in beef soup. It was so yummy, and I added a lot of chilli sauce which gave it a nice kick. We said goodbye to my brother and his friend; it was bittersweet as I was hopeful that he would do well in school and maintain integrity - I felt like my parents. We then went swimming at Barton Springs, a natural spring constructed into what looks like a giant swimming pool. The water was so refreshing! I can see how my friends wouldn't want to swim in it due to the abundant aquatic life in the water, but that summer scorch was definitely extinguished in that frigid water. I think I am usually feverish for no reason (perpetual PMS), so cooling down by immersing my entire body in that water was the perfect remedy for the day's high temperature.

Swimming brought upon an appetite which was satisfied by some Texas home cooking from Hoover's Cooking. The Red, White, & Bleu burger was juicy and huge, and the Jalapeno Creamed Spinach was so rich and flavorful. A pleasant eatery ending to a weekend of good eats and fun activities. We headed back to Dallas and arrived home at precisely 11:30pm. The only rude encounter before finally going to bed was the disgusting cockroach hanging on the shower curtain when I went into the bathroom to pee. By the time I had woken Danish up and equipped him with the roach spray, the little vermin was nowhere to be found. He liberally sprayed the corners and edges anyway to quiet my uneasiness. I. Hate. Cockroaches.

I have some good news! I've been cleared to take my NCLEX! Praise God. I've scheduled my test for Thursday, September 2 - the soonest date possible. I've never been so ready to get my license...I am almost a Registered Nurse. First I couldn't imagine the day I would graduate nursing school (let alone college); now the prospect of being a real nurse is presently blowing my mind. I'm so thankful!

Leo & Joy

I have a student I tutor twice and week and he recently got a puppy...this is a bad thing because his family has a hard time making ends meet as it is. It seems a bit much for them to decide to take care of another 'child' in their tiny apartment...it's a bit much for me. Well, the puppy keeps growing and it pains me to see it cramped up in his original tiny puppy kennel.

I have another student in the exact same situation who also got a puppy! Apparently the puppy caught a cold and the vet bill came out to be $600. I know they can't afford that. These boys are great kids, but I just don't see them caring for the dogs as intimately as I'd imagine a girl would. Or maybe they can.

I think what's happened is that these hard-working parents realized they aren't spending enough time with their only child and got them puppies in hopes to appease their boredom/loneliness. But the summer is over now...who will take care of these puppies? I hope they find them good homes. They are not incompetent people by any means; some people are just not cut out to own pets.

Back

I hurt my back trying to pick Danish up this weekend. Not sure what compelled me to do so, I think I was just being silly. You're not even trying, he said. I think I made the classic mistake of locking my knees and jerking my back. Needless to say, his 195lb frame did not budge while I keeled over in shock and pain.

I was told I can't just 'create' food and that the whole family would benefit from my following a recipe. The glutinous entity in the crock pot is my rendition of a rice casserole. It's really not that bad...add a little sriracha sauce, the chicken is quite flavorful, not bad at all. It's just that I made so much of it. I'm looking at the receipt from last night's grocery store trip: sandwich things, hot dogs, alfredo sauce, nectarines, frozen chicken, frozen pizzas, and tampons. Luckily my sister often picks things up from the store and also makes dinners a few times a week.

Back to studying and work!

Prayer

Tonight, I've been awakened to the profound meaning of prayer - praying, knowing God listens. I admit to praying while simultaneously doubting whether my words ever reach God, or if they are merely bouncing off the ceiling and walls. Not only so, but having prayers answered immediately seems so unlikely that I could see how one could believe it is but coincidence when circumstances change for the better. I hope you can agree with me that it would be ridiculous for man to serve a god who is much like a gumball machine, where you drop in a coin and get a gumball. Furthermore, how are we certain that we always know what is best for us? The last time I acted on what I thought was best for me, I landed in the slammer. With that being said, there is not one prayer God leaves unaddressed - the only thing is they are answered at the proper time.

Because I have no intentions of producing offspring just yet, I have no idea how disheartening it would be to be barren. A character in the Bible named Elizabeth was barren. In those days, a woman's value was largely measured by her ability to bear children; therefore, to be aging and without children often led to personal hardship and public shame. Nevertheless, even during this time, she and her husband Zechariah remained faithful and blameless (blameless does not mean sinless, but that they were free from willful sins - intentional sins). Zechariah, being a prist, was often experiencing God in ways that perhaps Elizabeth could not, possibly leaving her very lonely. One day, an angel appeared to Zechariah telling him Elizabeth will bear a child in her old age and they were to name the baby John, who will eventually become the messenger for Jesus. When Zechariah expressed disbelief, the angel responded with, "...it will come true at their proper time" (Luke 1:20). Sure enough, John came into the picture and paved the way for Jesus' arrival.

I relate to the heavy feeling of frustration and diappointment when things that seem to come easily to others doesn't come easily to me. For example, it seems unfair when a coke addict becomes pregnant then abandons her baby in an elevator, while a loving, nurturing woman finds herself barren. Or when a person who has been praying for very a long time to meet the right person sees their friend, who prayed all but 30 minutes, walk down the aisle. In my case, I struggle with the fact that I am still without a job. This is petty, but truth be told I've Facebook blocked everyone I've gone to nursing school with because I don't particularly want to see their status updates about their new jobs. I'm happy for them, but at the same time I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

However, the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah encourages me to remain faithful in prayer during this waiting period. I love that prayer is what characterizes my relationship with God. What separates us from God is but this natural world, a thin veil that will be lifted in the end. God answers in the proper time...when I get a job, it will be because He willed for it to occur at the exact time that will fulfill my purpose. And God never receives more glory than when we can say beyond question, "The Lord has done this for me."

Garlic

Isn't garlic good for your heart? I'm having a bowl of crock pot chicken stew at the moment, and somewhat procrastinating on the call-backs I have to make for all the voice mails I've reached this week. Drag!

I went to happy hour last night with the girls to celebrate Meagan's homecoming from the Phillipines. I'm impressed at the way she has changed - her perspective of Southeast Asia. She originally had her reservations in taking the position at her job because she knew she would be leaving behind all the luxuries and conveniences of the good ol' US. One thing I was pleased to hear was of her getting used to eating healthier there and having difficulty adjusting to the processed foods here; she had a few negative things to say about the quality of food in the Phillipines, and rightly so because the sanitation is atrocious. I'm happy that she has gained some cultural awareness and is enjoying her time there. Apparently next year she may be traveling to Australia and London, which she excitedly talked about last night.

Speaking of Southeast Asia, my parents are wrapping up their first week of training in Richmond, Virginia. They are one of about 5 other couples who have grown children as opposed to little ones, and my mom wrote and said there were as many as 20 kiddos running around over there! So far I'm very excited for them and I haven't begun to miss them too much. I know they are in God's hands - the best hands you can be in! I can't wait to be able to send them care packages when they are in Indonesia. I remember so vividly when we were younger and would squeal with delight as we opened up the care packages sent to us by the thoughtful people at IMB - American candy, hot chocolate mixes, movies, and a card that said we were in their prayers...so sweet!

Tonight, Danish and I are Fort Worth bound. Hank very kindly paid for a hotel room for us to be there for the rehearsal dinner tonight and groom's brunch tomorrow! How awesome is that? It's coming to look like their wedding is definitely costing them a pretty penny! I'm sure it will be beautiful! Here is a picture of Danish and Hank, who was a groomsman at our wedding:

I'll post just a couple of pictures of our newly arranged house, too. I wish we had remembered to take 'before' pictures to compare how much space we've created. Just imagine things looking 10 times more cluttered than this:

Master bedroomSister's bedroomHallway from the entranceDad's "cave", now a second living roomLiving room
I need to get back to work if I'm going to have any time to head over to the apartment to clean before turning in the key. I think the chicken stew may have had one too many cloves of garlic...

Thursday

I wish I had more of a personality.

Highrise

So this call job is a little difficult because of the fact that people do not like to give out company information, even if it's for research. It's understandable; I act the same way to telemarketers. Also, it doesn't feel very pleasant being hung up on mid-sentence. At any rate, I'm grateful for the opportunity to work part-time as I await contact from the hospitals I've applied to. My odds of working as a nurse at the moment are slim to none, but there is a possibility I may be able to work as a tech until my ATT arrives.

In other news, we are moving this weekend into my parent's house. They leave for Richmond, Virginia early Tuesday morning. Unbelievable.