sermon #2: “great expectations” (John 9)

it was good! of course it was – he never does anything halfway or in mediocrity. =) I was proud of him – the next time he preaches, you all have to come see him.

I’d summarize, but I’d do it very poorly – he said a lot of neat stuff in there.

and… imprecatory preaching. =) not by my David, but by the pastor of the church during communion. it was intense for those of us who knew what was going on. there exists a situation that’s not widely known about, save to the deacons and the pastor, that was addressed in a very blunt manner during the service. without naming names or giving the situation away, the pastor made it very clear that if the people involved were not willing to talk about it in person in private, that he’d confront them from the pulpit. it was done very well – only those of us who knew what was going on had any idea of anything out of the ordinary (except that the pastor was a little fired up), but the people to whom it was directed CAN’T have missed its significance. it was neat to see that side of a pastor’s duties – what *do* you do with congregants who defy Biblical teaching but won’t discuss it?

la comida mexicana de Chalupa fue MUY bien.

translation: Chalupa’s food rocked my tastebuds. Saturday was a lot of fun – it was good to see those folks again (esp. in person) – Chalupa, Steve n’ Rach, Liz (I really get a kick out of Liz – she’s a *riot*), Elaine…

excellent food, a good movie (the Royal Tennenbaums – I liked it infinitely better the second time. I was with a different crowd and didn’t give it a fair shot the first time I saw it), freezing frizolf… good times. Seltz, we only did half a course before we wussed out. good thing, too – my disc is red, and it was starting to get dark.

just as we were deciding to head back to Briarwood, we ran into a couple of Olsen girls who got ticked when we laughed at them, but man… I couldn’t help it. they were the epitome of everything “TU Muffy.” hair perfectly coiffed, perfectly plastered makeup, cutsie little I’m-dressed-down-prissy-style outfits, the works! I wish I’d been carrying my camera – when they turned around and asked what was so funny, I’d have snapped a picture of them. =)

thanks for an awesome Saturday, Chalupa, Steve, Rachel and David.

I’m now officially a sewing maniac. it’s really quite pathetic, and I assure you I’m aware of that. =) sewing in and of itself isn’t necessarily a pathetic activity – it’s what drives you to it that can make you a sad individual. and I am, indeed, a sad individual.

but at least I mastered that machine. it took me ages to get it running.

first, threading the bobbin was kind of a nightmare. it’s a singer 6235 – an ancient sewing machine – that has an auto bobbin winder. not on top or on a post, though – this one winds the bobbin in place. and the bobbin doesn’t look like a normal bobbin. and the bobbin winder is half broken.

once I got that worked around, it took me another good bit of time to figure out how to get the machine threaded and ready to go. had to call my mom – turns out, it was the bobbin mechanism again that was causing all the trouble.

I’d like to tell you that I fixed the machine, but really, I just figured out how to get it to do what I want regardless of its brokenness. =)

anyway, I got lots done last night… I’ve decided to make a quilt. we’ll see how much drive I have to complete it or how much skill I have even if I *do* finish. at least it gives me something to do with my nights home alone. I’m really tired of tv.

for mom: here’s a picture of some of some of the 11 48″ strips (x 3) I sewed together last night.

woohoo! we’re gonna have some serious mexican at Chalupa’s on Saturday. I had planned to spend the whole day “chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool,” but who can pass up food and friends? not me! so sopapillas, here I come!

it was good to see my family – I miss them.

it was such a hectic weekend! so little time to do things. I don’t get to just see my family when I go home – there are always other things to do, other people to see. I’d like to go and just spend that time with my parents and sisters, but there seems to be a neverending stream of people that want to see me and things I have to get done before I leave. plus, I don’t often make that nine hour drive by myself, so there’s already another person around all the time. I’m NOT complaining. I love David’s company (and wouldn’t want to make that trip without him), I don’t feel more loved anywhere on the planet than I do at my parents’, and I wouldn’t miss seeing everyone outside my family for the world! it just makes for a crazy trip and not much QT with the fam, that’s all.

this time, we left at 6:30am and got there in almost record time. Dave immediately cashed out on the couch (thanks for driving and keeping me awake, dude) and I spend a little time with my mom and my aunt. we ate dinner and rushed out to spend 10 minutes with Grandpa before meeting with Sandy and Sally (two dear friends from church who were going to help plan the wedding). we spent 2 hours at Sally’s talking about flowers and the reception. got home exhausted and spent an hour or so with my sisters.

Saturday, we got up and drove 45 minutes to get our eyes checked and to find some material for a quilt Mom’s working on. we also looked at material to see if we could find something out of which to make my veil. got back that afternoon and made some desserts (too bad YOU couldn’t try my Dad’s blackberry cobbler – boy was THAT good!). had company for dinner, then folks started showing up for a surprise get-together Mom planned. she had some of our closest friends come over and spend some time with us (because we’re newly engaged, I think). that was great! went to bed exhausted, once again. =)

I didn’t sleep well that night – was up off and on all night, walking around, using the bathroom, etc.

got up the next morning and went to church. after church we went to lunch at a mexican place and ran into my middle school band director – random. what’s even stranger is that we ran into a man at the same place who was a Taylor grad! he was an old-school Morris man, so we chatted for a few minutes about the school and how things have changed. it was neat to see someone with whom I have a connection, even though he lives states away and is years older. that’s the first time that’s happened to me.

long drive back, but it’s good to be home. when I got back, Bethany had cleaned the entire apartment! James was sick this weekend. =) it was SO great to walk into a clean home – and I mean CLEAN. it’s been ages since we’ve actually cleaned because we’ve both been so busy or sick or just… gone. yay for great roomies!

I have one of those. it comes every day I don’t get the sugar/caffeine shock offered by a trip to the gas station’s soda machine. it starts at around 2 and moves from the middle of my head to the front. by the end of the day, I’m squinting to see. =)

but today, I brought in a huge nalgene full of tea. it’s half empty, so I only have half a caffeine/sugar headache – the sugar half.

tomorrow we’re going to PA! I’m getting pumped… I like going home. you’re never loved more than when you’re with your family, and lately I’ve been feeling like I need that. bright n’ early tomorrow, David and I are taking off for the great East – well, he’ll be taking off. I’ll be sleeping. =) that’s the penalty for being a morning person. I’ll drive all night if you’ll let me, but forGET me getting up before 10 and driving anywhere. =)

I’d bring you all suveniers, but really… how many of you actually *want* something from PA? I’ll come back with a legally registered/inspected car and a pair of glasses. you can borrow those if you want. =)

today’s the end of my work week! I LOVE long weekends. =) bon voyage, mes ami. (hehe… is that right? I speak spanish, not french. I can pronounce what I wrote very well indeed, but I can’t spell french words for the life of me. too many years studying a phonetic language.)

anyway, I’m outta here. hasta.

nah, don’t get excited, folks. I’m just talking about girls’ night: a movie and some food and drinks at cheeseburger in paradise.

I’m looking forward to it. too often on weeknights I sit and stare at the walls, at my computer monitor, or at the tv. I’m *tired* of not having things to do. between David living elsewhere and having homework, etc., and Bethany dating James, I really don’t have anyone to just “hang” with anymore. I could plan things, and have, but what about those times when you’re just sitting there wishing someone was around to play a game with, to go out to a movie or dinner with, to just… be with?

well, I decided I was done with that. talked to a girlfriend from work, and we’re planning to go out tomorrow night. I think Bethany’s coming, but even if she doesn’t there’ll still be others going. I need to figure out a way to get a life seperate from the people I see most. I didn’t realize how much time I spent with them until lately when I’ve had nothing to do.

the tire that was flat turned out to have a *wicked* looking screw in it… last night, I took it to the mechanics, who told me I needed to replace the tire because the hole was in the side and not in the tread. they plugged it up, moved it to the back (it’s a front-wheel drive car) and told me to get it replaced right away, which I couldn’t because no one was around to give me a ride home from the tire shop. I was pretty bitter… what good are roommates and friends if no one’s around when you need help? at times like that, I really hate living in a different city from my fiance, but really… he wouldn’t have been around to help me, anyway. he was teaching.

anyway, got up this morning and took the car in. thankfully I didn’t have any problems on the way in – it was more than twice as far as I was supposed to have driven on the plug. I had a compressor in my trunk (thanks, Mike!) and I know how to change a tire (thanks, Russ!), but what a pain. plus, it’s cold out. =)

spent most of the morning at the tire shop (no one was around to give me a ride again), but at least they gave me a discount because the tire still had so much tread in it. I paid a little over half of the tire’s original cost. but those dudes didn’t put it where I told them… I have another new tire on the passenger side front, and wanted them to put the new tire from today on the driver side front. they put it driver side rear (where the flat tire was), so now I probably have to pay someone to rotate my tires. punks.

Susan came in a little while ago to “clear the air.” she could sense that I was ticked off about some stuff, so she came in and apologized. that put me in a pretty good mood. I’ve been fuming for days about having to do some stuff over and over again… it’s very frustrating for me. I vented a little to her (kindly, of course) and she at least knows my point of view now. for today, I feel good about it.

so, not too bad of a day, although it started somewhat rockily (at work). at least the tire is fixed. all I have to do now is get an oil change and the tires rotated, and I’m ready to drive 9 hours. I got my insurance info faxed to me, so all is well for the upcoming vehicle inspections and registrations.

I’m looking forward to going home.

it was, indeed, a busy weekend. (I like that word, indeed. it’s perfect in quite a few contexts, and makes things sound more certain. and if there’s anything I like, it’s certainty.)

the cake tastings were kind of fun. the first was at Crawford’s Bakery (dumb website, but beautiful and reasonably priced cakes) – and boy, did we enjoy *that*! that was some yummy cake. the second bakery we went to was a little german bakery. the cake got better as it thawed, but they only do ONE design on the cakes. you can decide what pillars you want – plain, big cherubs, or swans – but you can only get one design. so, that’s out, I think.

they tried to sell us pots and pans at the product demo. we got out unscathed with a voucher for free hotel stay at one of 25 US locations or free resort stay in Mexico, the DR, or the Bahamas. we’ll see how we’ll use that, but it was worth the sales pitch. =)

then we went to see Finding Neverland, which I loved. it was a neat look at imagination, finding joy despite/within the drudgery of everyday life… I’d like to watch it again.

we didn’t make it to the club – which is good, because the folks we were supposed to meet didn’t either. =)

the next day, we lazed about then got ready in a mad rush at the last minute. =) we met Dave’s friends at the Galaxy theater and watched Constantine. I liked it – David did not. it was entertaining, and amusing. NOT a horror flick, like the ads made it seem – just suspenseful. the theology was a combo of Catholic dogma (specifically the bit where you go to hell if you commit suicide), some heresy about Christ being killed with the soldier’s spear instead of by suffocation on the cross, some eastern “balance of good and evil” thought, and some “you can work your way into heaven” theology. it was just… interesting. I liked it, *despite* Keanu Reeves.

next, an impromptu stop at the Shane Co. to look at wedding rings. I had an idea that I like more and more about how to do my own wedding ring – I want to get two. I’d like to get two tiny bands to put on either side of my engagement ring. the ring is beautiful – I don’t want to draw attention away from it by having diamonds on the wedding band – and I want to have a symmetrical look. so, knowing what I wanted to look at first, we walked in. it was funny. the lady who was with us asked if I wanted diamonds in the band right off – and when I answered that I did not, she immediately took me to the cheapest ring in the store. =) I laughed… it happened to be what I wanted (because I want two small, plain rings), but her snobby assumption was probably that I just couldn’t afford anything but a cheap ring. to be fair, I *did* show up in jeans, while all the other girls there were in dressed in level 4 gear with tons of makeup and perfectly coiffed… coifs. =)

then the evening with Anne and Russ. we had a good time there – lots of laughing, lots of catching up. I went there to tell them that we were engaged, and managed to forget to tell them until later in the evening. it finally came out when I was talking about the cake tasting of the day before… =)

we ended up getting back to Indy late enough that we just stayed the night here. in the morning, we got up and drove to Anderson. I was going to drive up seperately, but we found out that I had a flat tire and didn’t have time to deal with it, so we drove up together in David’s car.

church was interesting… his church does things differently than others I’ve been in. they do communion every Sunday during Lent, and the way they do it makes me uncomfortable (it’s just a preference thing, I imagine). they have a specific time in the service for communion, but it’s “go when you are ready” style. they have two bars with kneelers attached to them at the front (I hesitate to call them altars, but that’s what they call them) where you can, when you’re “ready”, go kneel to receive communion. the only problem is that you have to come by the center aisle and leave by the sides (for traffic flow). that means you have to climb over people no matter when you go – unless, of course, your whole row is ready at the same time. I like the idea of having time to pray and reflect before communion, but I like to have it given to me so that I don’t have to disrupt others… make sense? it’s not bad, just awkward and not the best for a large service… I think.

then we went out to lunch with Dave’s parents and brother. I had a good time talking with Randy – he doesn’t seem to think that what he says is that important, but I think he’s great. I like listening to him talk, and I hope I’ll get more of a chance the longer I’m with D.

Shawn came over that evening. we had pizza and apple crisp (thanks, Anne, for that amazingly easy and delicious recipe!) and just chilled. caught up and played some Settlers. I love hanging out with Shawn – he’s been such a great friend. =) it was good times.

then… back to Indy, where I promptly collapsed. I had Mike pick me up this morning because of the flat tire, so once I deal with that, my weekend will be over. finally. =)

*this just in*

David just heard from one of the professors at Taylor. they’re setting up an interview for him. =) record time… he sent in the app last week, and already he’s doing the final phases… more news as we get it.

smitty (12:54:43 PM): big plans for the weekend?
me (12:54:56 PM): yeah. you could say that.
me (12:56:12 PM): cake tastings at different bakeries at 3 and at 5, product demo to win a “free honeymoon” at 6:15, movie with large group of friends at 7:55, club at 10:30. tomorrow, movie at 1:10 with different group of friends, afternoon/evening with anne and russ, spending night at Dave’s parents. Sunday, going to church with the to-be-in-laws, then spending the evening with an out of town friend.

busy busy busy me.