Busy day.

Today I won a game of Settlers ofCatan.

And asked for--and was granted--a Skype job interview.

And was covered with trash juice.

And dealt with a middle school girl's seizure at church.

Today was a beautiful, busy day.

Uhhh, pho...

Today some friends dragged me downtown after church (ok, so I went willingly) to have my first bowl of pho [said 'fuh,' apparently]. Tasty stuff (although I still think Thai is my favorite!), although I'm still not quite sure why we had to drive all the way downtown for it; I'm pretty sure there's pho places a LOT closer to home. But it all worked out...after lunch I dragged them (ok, so they went willingly too) a few blocks over to an eco-friendly street fair a friend from work told me about Friday. We got some free stuff (Clif Bars, recycled-money pencils, mint plants...), met some interesting people, and then loaded up our cars with LOADS of musty and dusty old books that the used bookstore across the street was clearing out. All in all, it was definitely an unexpected way to spend my Sunday afternoon, but I kinda loved it.

Mysterious.

Tonight I did something I would rather not disclose on the internet. Nothing bad, nothing wrong, just something I don't necessarily want to throw out into the universe for the taking. But let's just say that if you knew me in high school, or even college, you would probably be shocked and awed and maybe just a little bit proud of me.

Earlier today two work friends told me I was looking great with my new haircut and few pounds I've dropped...then they both asked--separately--if I was in love! I wish...

Just a little bit ago I had a random thought I've never even considered before: "Maybe I'll take dance lessons this summer, just for fun..." This from ME--who once had a pro-dancing friend tell me with a meaningful look in her eye, "Some people just don't have it..."

I think I'm growing. I don't know what it's all leading up to, but it makes me excited.

Cold feet.

Tonight was the moment I've been waiting for since October: Andy Grammer was back in town, and I had tickets to see him again! So, along with 3 sisters and 1 friend, I headed out to Hollywood on a Tuesday night. And he did not disappoint; every song was a sweet morsel of positive, poppy goodness that I sang along with wholeheartedly. This time I knew WAY more than 2 songs, and I sang out to let Andy know. Fan-freaking-tastic night!

There was one little thing I wish I'dve done differently, though. I WISH I'dve gone up and said hi to Bruno Mars! Because after straining to see him across the room for who knows how long, and deciding that if he walked by, ONE of us needed to go ask if he was who we thought he was, we didn't. While we were standing in the merch line he walked up and was standing something like 3 feet away...and somehow, while none of us were too shy to stop staring, none of us had the guts either to go up and say something either. And when we got home and did a bit more stalking to confirm our suspicions, I kind of kicked myself for missing out on that memorable moment. Next time. Next time there WILL be a story to tell.

Hands off.

Ok, so I know every time I go get a haircut I use that as my "tiny danger" for the day. Really, it's something that's always scared me to do! But today was different. Today I went in to see Audrey and, instead of just doing the same old, same old, I told her, "I want to do something different...nothing drastic, but not what I usually do. What do you think?" and I let her get to work. I've always dreamed about doing that, but never actually had the guts for it. But today I did, and so far, I'm loving the result!

Abundace of grace.

Today I spoke in front of 250+ people for nearly an hour straight. Me--once shy, quiet, homeschooled, terrified-of-public-speaking me. And you know what, it went great. It made me stop and realize just how far I've come, just how far God has brought me. I'm still not there yet--wherever there might be--but one thing's for sure: I'm not who I used to be. And that's awesome. And it kind of blows my mind, and makes me want to worship.

I was reading Romans 5 today and came across a verse, or I guess more specifically a phrase in a verse that really stood out to me...

"For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." [Rom. 5:17]

Abundance of grace. I really like that. It really seems to fit my life. Everything I have, everything I've done, is only because of the grace of God. And not just a little bit of it--an ABUNDANCE of it. He's positively overflowing with an endless supply of this free gift I don't deserve! And that blows my mind. And that REALLY makes me want to worship.

Lights out.

Went to Disneyland with the fam today for a few hours, and although things started out great (I got my best score EVER on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters!!!) by ride #2 they went downhill. FAST.

Indiana Jones. One of my favorite rides in the park, it always feels like an adventure! Today definitely was, although NOT the kind of adventure I was used to. Jumping in line with my sister and a stroller pass in hand, we breezed through the first half of the wait before getting added to the regular queue. Still, things were moving quickly enough--until they weren't. Then they told us the ride was broken, they weren't sure why, but we were welcomed to wait it out. Less than 5 minutes later, we were moving again--yay!! Then, as we were making our final descent, I misstepped onto a landing and totally rolled my ankle with a sickening popopopopopop! Yeah, it hurt, but I didn't want to make a scene so yeah, I kept moving--until I couldn't. Suddenly the world started spinning, things started getting dark and, as much as I tried to convince my sister (and myself) otherwise, blacked out. Woke up with my face leaning against the wall, sister with a death grip on my right arm, strange man keeping me from tumbling down the rest of the stairs on my left. Then I woke in a crouch with my back against the wall, and this time the strange man offered me his wife's water bottle. Then we were ready to jump in a jeep, it was all I could do to put one blind foot in front of the other as my sister half-led, half-carried me to an empty wheelchair, where I promptly collapsed yet again. So much for not making a scene...

Blacking out at Disneyland. Definitely a new adventure for me. Definitely NOT one I'd like to do again anytime soon!