Monday, November 23, 2009

Who I am

I have been looking for a new job since May. That is 6 1/2 months! (But, hey, who's counting?!) There are many reasons why; normal ones, annoying ones, but The main reason is that I feel like a big girl needs a big girl job.

I am 24, and still a waitress. Yes, I graduated from college. Yes, I am skilled at many other things but, I am your loser waitress who is stressing her head off trying to make you happy with the greasy food.

Then...lately, I've begun to think deeper about it all. I've been applying to (more recently) four or five different positions a week and, in 6 months two people have called me back. Maybe, God doesn't want me to have a different job right now. Maybe He's trying to teach me something through all of this.

I have been defining myself by the part time job I hold; "I'm just a waitress." "No, that's not what I went to school for but- 'it is what it is'!"

How could I have been selling myself short for so long? I am not "just" a waitress. I just waitress to pay the bills! What I am doing- what I love doing- what I went to school for- is serving as much as I can in my church.

I will teach anything they need me to teach.
I will plan and operate teen activities.
I will edit the newsletter.
I will write and direct the Christmas play.
I will do that and more because it is what my Savior has called me to do.

So, from now on, ask me what I do.
"I am a servant of Christ. And, I love (almost) every minute of it!"

Love to all!
Lizzi

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Ugly, Ugly Gaps


So! How does everyone like my new layout and design??? I think its rather pretty :)

Our youth pastor preached last night to the entire congregation about prayer in an unconventional manner.
He began showing pictures of young children missing teeth, then hockey players missing teeth the old men and women in third world countries with gaps and decay.
He looked up the word "cease" in his Bible dictionary and one of the definitions is "a space or a gap." So, he determined that we should be "praying without gaps." Praying once a day is like missing your front teeth. Looking at those pictures made me assess my prayer life.

I used to have conversations with God every time I was in the car alone. Now, I keep hitting the power button on the radio and singing away.
I used to write in my prayer journal daily, I almost couldn't sleep without filling a page of thoughts and concerns. Now, I just set my alarm- and sleep; never thinking twice about it.
Lately, I have often found myself saying "I'll keep you in my prayer" knowing my conscience is saying- "Fat Chance!"

My prayer life is missing its front teeth. WE HAVE A GAP! I'll be working on that.

Now, How ugly is your prayer life???

Love to all!
Lizzi

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Memories

A year and a half ago my best friend, with whom I shared a tiny apartment in Santiago, Chile; and I would get up on Saturday mornings and make banana pancakes. Whether at 8am or noon (she preferred noon and I, eight) we had banana pancakes to celebrate our one morning off.

Now we live in different houses in different states doing different jobs. We planned to relive an old memory and once again meet for breakfast and make banana pancakes.

I arrived at her house hungry enough to eat a dozen banana flecked pancakes only to find that she did not have bananas. We had strawberry and chocolate chip pancakes (which I enjoyed much more), made with bisquick (which we definitely did not use in Chile.) We also used Aunt Jemima syrup which has to be imported in the grocery stores in Santiago and costs about $8 a bottle.

After pancakes we baked a cake, a beautiful, four layer whipped filling and strawberry masterpiece; another thing we did not find possible in Chile as their cocoa made chocolate cake taste more like brown bread. Finally we looked at wedding books (she is hoping to have a wedding sometime soon) and chatted about jobs and boyfriends and such.


So, In short, We planned to relive a memory, but, instead- We Made a New One!
Which makes me realize traipsing about the world isn't essential in making unforgettable moments.

Love to all!
Lizzi