Frost advisory

I've been so busy since the Fair that I've totally forgotten to update! To begin with, the State Fair was a TON of fun. We (my friends and I) ran into Marjorie Johnson. I let her know that she came to my foods class in high school and that I still have and use her cinnamon roll recipe. She was SO sweet (and exactly the same way she is on Leno!) and excited about that! She also invited me to her book signing on this Friday (I'm totally going). I had already wanted her cookbook, and am so excited to get it signed. :)

Before going to the Fair, though, my mom, sister, brother and I went to the cemetery b/c it was the day before my dad's birthday. I was extremely emotional all of last week as a result. It's terribly hard to just be "normal" on days like that. His birthday is always the worst. Even worse than the anniversary of his death. I miss him terribly and wish things were "normal" again, but this "new normal" we have isn't so strange anymore. Plus, what is "normal" anyway?

I've been wrestling with the notion of being "happy" for about a month now. Maybe it was my dad's impending birthday, maybe it's that I HAVEN'T FOUND A JOB YET, maybe it's placing my hope in things (like a new job) in things more than I thought and less on God and His Word (my intention), or maybe it's upcoming anniversary of Payton's death.

A few weeks ago Abby mentioned the idea of "happiness" I never mentioned it to her, but it really did resonate with me. I want the "pretty life" too, and I need to deal (and not in a begrudgingly way) with the fact that I don't have what I want (a new job, a place of my own, a husband, babies, then another new job of staying home with my kids- could I get greedier?) because of God's sovereignty and plan for my life. Maybe someday He will bring those things into my life, but right now they are not His best for me. That's hard sometimes and frustrating, but that's where I need to rest. In His plan and in His grip.

I had another job interview yesterday. They all go SO well, and we (my interviewer and I) hit it off and everyone says they are so impressed with me, my skills, and my resume. Then, I make it to the next round of interviews and things go well again. But, they hire someone else. Fan-flippin-tastic. It's so frustrating. I don't know yet if I "made it" to the next round for this job, but the interview did go well (though I did find my self thinking my interviewer- single and a Christian- was cute! What's wrong with me???). But, then, after the interview, I got so frustrated again because my pessimistic self got all down about how "of course I won't get it".

I was reminded then of Job. He was stripped away of so many things and yet he praised God continually! Yes, he poured his heart out, yes he wondered why, but He knew God was still there. Job 2:10 says "...Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?..." I so often want the good things and not the "bad". I see myself in a new phase of life- and have been for a while- and I just want the rest of my life to start. I want the things that I don't want to be gone (my dad still alive, this "transition" phase to be over) and I want the things I do want to be here already (a new job... yada, yada...insert previous obnoxious, greedy list...) but I need to accept all of it and live my life fully in a way that's Glorifying to God.

I had a review at work this last week, and seriously, it couldn't have gone better. But I still need something new for a variety of reasons, so clearly I am sick because I know they want the best for me and they want to help me find something (it's a nonprofit w/ not a lot of funding and they can't give me something full-time and salaried even though I do 40+ hrs of work crammed very quickly into 20+ hrs to save them money. It's just not an option to make it full-time right now for them, so whatever). Things are going well and I'm where God wants me right now, I'm just very anxious for the next thing to start, but I need to be patient!!!

I don't know if all of this made sense, but that's where I'm at right now. Suffice it to say that it's easy to praise God when things are going well, but I am getting a little drained praising Him when things aren't going well. I'm working on it, but I am a work in progress.

On a more fun note, I've been thrifting a bit more lately and have found some AMAZING deals! My vintage Pyrex collection is growing and it's so fun to find great pieces!

Finally, on a disturbing note, my arch nemesis announced a frost advisory tonight. It's a bit north of the Twin Cities, but still, a frost advisory in September???? What the heck! I think I need to move away from the north!

Rough Day

So, this morning, I got a (not so) great wake-up call. I didn't get the job. And, once again, I let it ruin my day. I hate when I do that. I allow Satan to use circumstances to affect my mood. That shouldn't be. I've just been such an Eyore lately and I hate it.

I know that God has something better for me out there, I know that God has a plan for my life- how many times have I encouraged other people with that, yet I am finding it a hard to believe it for myself.

So... in an avoidance effort, I followed Abby's lead and took a few "personality" quizzes to distract myself.

#1- This one is wierd... Me? Balanced? I certainly don't think so very often. Especailly today.

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - encorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

#2- This was also weird, b/c it was the same as Abby. I thought it was going to say somethign like Milan or Vennice. Wrong again!

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

#3- I just did the MB type thing, so I didn't do it again. I always get the same thing: ESFJ.

If only I could get a job now where I took online quizzes! ;)

ESFJ

I usually think these things are like horoscopes- vauge enough to fit anyone, but yikes- this was actually pretty darn close.

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first.A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change.You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project.You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. In love, you value harmony and mutual understanding.You will apologize or give someone the benefit of the doubt, if it means getting over a fight sooner. At work, you are good at building relationships and connecting with people.You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher. How you see yourself: Organized, dependable, co-operative When other people don't get you, they see you as: Opinionated, critical, and know-it-all.

Yikes!

Gosh, it's been a busy couple of weeks! As Abby said, I just need to keep posting! I know. I know. As she also said, People just need to get to know me. So, here goes.

- Olive is my grandma's name.
- I think it's pretty.
- My real name is spelled so bizarrely that if I told you it and you knew where I lived, you'd easily be able to find me and chop my little body in to many littler pieces.
- I don't want that.
- So, I took on Olive as a blogging moniker.
- I think Olive can be just the name, or sounds like "I live" sometimes.
- Is that weird?
- You can call me Olive.
- I am 26.
- I am single.
- Part of me wishes I wasn't.
- Someday, I want to be married and have kids.
- I love kids.
- I live in Minneapolis, MN.
- See? Now you know where I live.
- I work in the non-profit industry.
- I was a missionary after college.
- I live with my mom and sister.
- Yeah, I know.
- I'm moving out (again) soon.
- I moved in to save money.
- And then my dad got sick.
- I stayed to help out after he died.
- I miss him a lot.
- But I know he's at peace now.
- I want a fun, cute apartment I can decorate.
- I want a new job also.
- When I get a new job, I'll move out.
- I had an interview today.
- I really want the job.
- It'd be doing events at a Christian University/Seminary.
- I get nervous about these things and have a hard time trusting God.
- I want to trust God with ALL areas of my life.
- It's hard sometimes.
- I am short.
- That was random.
- I love to sew.
- And craft.
- Basically, I wish I was Martha Stewart.
- Or, worked for her.
- I'd apply if she didn't freakin' live in NY.
- I wish she lived near a beach.
- I'd be there in a second.
- I'm a bit of a clean/neat freak.
- My mom and sister call me Monk.
- They're joking.
- I'm REALLY not that bad.
- I only have a few eccentricities.
- Like, I all the switches on a light switch panel to face the same way.
- Or, I can't sleep if my closet door is open.
- I like things to be straight.
- Crooked freaks me out.
- Especially in pictures.
- That's about it for my Monk tendencies.
- I just think Monk is HYSTERICAL.
- And sad.
- I am the oldest of 3.
- My brother is a year and a half younger than me.
- My sister is 8 1/2 years younger than me.
- I remember pretty much all of her life.
- I saw ALL of her birth.
- I cut the umbilical cord when she was born.
- She's graduating from high school on Thursday.
- That makes me want to cry.
- When she was born in 1989, I remember thinking that I'd be SO old in 2007 and that we'd probably have flying cars.
- Why? Because Back to the Future II told me so.
- I'm sad my dad will miss her graduating.
- I can't believe she's almost an adult.
- I hope she doesn't get married before me.
- Seriously.
- I'm one of the only single people left from my group of college friends.
- There was one more.
- He met a girl on eHarmony.
- That seems weird to me.
- I think it removes the "pursuing" aspect.
- And, it seems desperate.
- I know that's not really true, it's just my opinion currently.
- My opinion may change.
- I still never want to do eHarmony.
- I want to marry a funny man.
- I doubt funny translates over eHarmony.
- Mostly, I want to marry a man who LOVES Jesus.
- And loves the lost.
- And loving LOST wouldn't hurt either.
- But that one's not a deal breaker.
- I love LOST.
- Have you read my blog before?
- I also love babies.
- And kids.
- I don't work with kids.
- I'm afraid I'd be burned out and not like them so freakin' much.
- So I'm a babysitter extraordinaire to many family friends.
- It's a good baby fix for me.
- My cousin is pregnant for the 2ND time in a year and a half.
- Another cousin just had a baby.
- His name is Henry August.
- August is one of my favorite names for a boy.
- Abby has a son named August.
- I also like her 1st daughter's name a LOT.
- I'm not sure how to pronounce her 2ND daughter's name.
- I like it though.
- Is that weird?
- Most names I like for my now fictional children start with an "A"
- I wish I didn't think of those things.
- Until I get married.
- I also think about my wedding.
- Again, I wish I didn't.
- It's another area I need to trust God in.
- I am motivated by the Great Commission in my life.
- I want everyone to hear about God's plan for their lives.
- It's late.
- I have to work in the morning.
- I should go to bed.
- I'll be back sooner than a week and a half this time.
- I promise.