To Jump Puddles with the Frogs

Today, it rained. The air smelled good and it felt warm outside. All these things inspired me that I should sit down in a comfy cozy chair and write something profound. But thus, people called in sick and others had better things to do than fry chicken & run register's and lie and tell people it was a pleasure when all they really wanted was to go home. And that is how I came to work a 14 shift known as the longest work day of my entire life | one I do not wish to repeat very soon or often. * smiles. *

I believe that sleeping through one's alarm would be a good indication of an unually hectic day, but thankfully my mother awoke and thought of me. Because of her, I had enough time to get up and out the door at quarter to five this morning. I find it quite impossible to tippy-toe through the house when I've got my shoes on, so Josh is continuously getting on me about making all sorts of awful racket.

In spite of the coffee I had downed halfway to work, I kept nodding off as my car wound it's way around the curving country roads and into town. I turned the radio on, but to no avail. It was a desperate need for sleep and comfort, I tell you! * yawn *

I've never had the pleasure of working anything but FREE breakfast mornings at Chick-fil-a so the change of pace was much appreciated today. It was pretty quiet for the most part.

At four, I was asked to stay an extra hour so someone could go on break. Knowing what a good thing there was to be had in breaks, I agreed to stay. And when five o'clock rolled around I clocked out and was just headed for the door when my manager asked if I could stay longer. And thus, my heart and soul cried Jesus save me now! I need to feel you in this place ... and so forth.

Hours came and went, and I wondered if my legs would eventually succumb to exaustion and drop me right where I stood. Eventually, I lost count of the many Banana Pudding Milkshakes I was making and how many times someone asked for my help.  And then the clock struck nine, and I thought to myself "Has nine o'clock ever been so wonderful?"

Thus, my brain has turned to mush, ya'll. But bed is sounding more amazing to me than you'll ever know, only I'm sitting in the chair & a half and I truly wonder how I'll drag my sleepy self to bed.

Goodnight rainy, wet world that I adore.

Nothing Profound

I just walked in the door, dumped my belongings on the coffee table and made a bee-line for the kitchen. I'd been told there was chinese in the fridge ... this was truly good news. I've been starving half to death all day! So now, I'm sitting on the living room floor eating supper after midnight and thinking how awesome bed is going to be and how absolutely amazing my food is. It's been one crazy day, I hardly know just where to begin honestly. But nevertheless, it was good. * smiles *

• If you asked me how HOME was, I'd sigh happily and say "Home? Oh, it feels amazing." Because I've missed my lovely abode all day and wished very much to be here doing fun stuff, and hanging out with the kiddos. Thus, the smile on my face and all thoughts of everything that next week might hold in the very far off distance.

• Don't you just hate that last piece of Ice that always sticks to the bottom of your cup, and pops you in the mouth after you've shaken it five different ways?

• Break: The time I like to eat my food and enjoy pure silence before throwing myself back out into the mad chicken-loving world of pushy | shovey people who Just Want a Freakin' Bite to Eat! (quote. unquote.) Well that's not how the cookie crumbled tonight, ya'll. It was a sad sort of affair that ended rather badly ... I ate my food to the tune of Grant singing "Hey! I don't wanna work without you, baby!" ending in "So hurry up and eat, woman." I stared at him and said nothing but "Grant." To which he laughed and said "Just kiddin' take all the time ya need." And I thought to myself, "Thank you, because you know I was going to inhale my food and hop back out there lickety split." * winks *

• ... Followed up by Carol talking for a solid 20 minutes without me following a single thing she was saying. I'm serious, the girl was entirely lost to Miss Carol's ramblings. And thus, I felt a little bad.
  
  
• Tonight, Catarino says "You tell me how you been, huh." He's so funny, and yet I feel like a complete idiot because I don't communicate very well -- seeing as my Spanish lacks muchly. So finally I tell him "One word, Catarino. You give me one word a day to learn, mmkay?" He laughed and said "Loco Chica. You smart, you learn alot." Thus, we shook hands and I learned three words. I've got ice and cold, but forgot the third one. Hah! And he thinks I'm smart ... but nevertheless, I shall try until I am deemed an epic failure.

• So this lady seriously came into Chick-fil-A today wearing pj pants. I thought, "Oh well that's all fine and good for you, Ma'am. But really? The pearl necklace and fancy updo sort of maybe clash with your evening wear." And yes, the girl kept these thoughts in her heart and pondered them all the while.

• Why is it that simple Common Sense sounds so profound and people desire it like beggars after bread? They just can't get enough of it. But I think of when the tables are reversed and I just want someone to listen to my problems and give me profound words of wisdom aka. tell me what to do when I just don't know. It's nice when people come to you with a problem and you can give them a bible verse about how to handle it. I love that about God's word, I think it's fantastic! * smiling muchly *

• Since we were on the subject of customers anyway, we had this hillbilly redneck guy come walking in and the moment he opened his mouth I dropped my cup of ice and stared in open-mouthed shock. I think our little hick-man must've been in the midst of forsaking some serious gentlemanly roots. He had great diction, and yet he hardly looked the part. I don't even know where one might hale from with vocabulary and pronunciation such as that! All I could think of was Pastor Deatrick standing up in front of class and saying "You've got pretty good diction, boy." in a fake southern drawl as he quoted a man whose name I forget. Ah, he quoted that so very often ... and tonight the remembrance made me laugh.

• Is a possum really dead if it's eyes are still glowing? I wonder this only because I almost hit one on the way home and thought I'd save myself the heartache of feeling bad if wasn't just playing possum.

• My pjs & bed are calling | beckoning | pleading for me and thus, I must go. Tell me how blessed I am to have nine good days all in a row? I love knowing that every day may not always be good, but there's always something good in every day. So I pick out the good stuff, and live on that until the next good thing happens. I'm kind of in like with this ... I'm a big fan of happy thinking, you know. * winks *

I Could Not Do Without Thee

I could not do without  Thee, O Saviour of the lost.

Whose precious blood redeemed  me, at such a tremendous  cost!

Thy righteousness, Thy pardon, Thy precious  blood, must be

my only hope  and comfort, my glory, my plea.

I could not do without Thee, I cannot stand  alone,

I have no strength  or goodness. No wisdom of my own;

But Thou, beloved Savior, art all in all to me.

And weakness will be power  if leaning hard on Thee. For, oh, the way is long,

and I am often  weary, and sigh replaces song: How could I do without  Thee?

Oh God, I do not  know the way;

But Thou knowest, and Thou leadest. And wilt not let me stray.

I could not  do without Thee, O Jesus, Savior dear;

Even when my eyes are holden, I know that Thou art near.

How dreary and how lonely this changeful life  would be,

without the Sweet Communion, The Secret Rest with Thee!

No other friend  can read the spirit's strange deep  longings,

Interpreting its need; No human heart  could enter

each dim recess of mine, and soothe, and hush, and calm  it,

O blessed Lord, but Thine.

For years are fleeting fast, And soon in solemn oneness

The river must be passed; But Thou wilt never leave  me.

And though the waves roll high, I know Thou wilt be near me,

And whisper in the stillness, all  will be well.



Nothing Profound

• Somebody from Champagne, Indiana hacked into my facebook at 5am this morning. Who wants my facebook account at such ungodly hours? I didn't even know there was such a place as Champagne, Indiana.

 

• Due to some pretty crazy wind, half of Charly lost power this afternoon. I was ringing up a customer when the lights flickered. We ignored it, supposing that all would be well. Ten minutes later, the power was out completely. Nothing worked and thus, our chicken loving customers grabbed their food and left. We began to close up the store, washing dishes and keeping visits to the walk-in freezers to a bare minimum. All was fine and dandy until the power came back on almost an hour and a half later when we had finished. Business was pure craziness after that -- hungry peoples came in search of yumminess and good times.

 

• I don't feel as human as I should just now. Eating rabbit food all day is the epitome of eternal hunger & starvation. * sigh *

 

• Some little boy in drive thru asked his dad to tell me he thought I was beautiful. That made me smile, cause the kid was absolutely adorable. He said, "Can we come back someday and be friends?" I told him that sounded like a nice idea, and he grinned from ear to ear.

 

• My favorite question of the day: "So if I won the lottery, would you marry me?" To which I replied, "What do you think?" And thus he said, "Yes?" To which I said, "Not so, Joe." My coworkers make me laugh.

 

• Eventually, I will get a bruise on my side from all the tapping & nudging. Communication is a strange and funny thing between headset and register. I mean really, is it so very difficult to push mute and communicate with me? * smile and wave, boys. smile and wave. *

 

• "Ah! The world." I ask, "What's wrong with the world, Brian?" He says "It patronizes me." I have yet to understand this ...

 

• I met a modern day Gone with the Wind's Prissy tonight. I swear she must've been related to Butterfly McQueen somewhere down the line.  

 

• Marischino Cherries smell so much better than they taste. I learned this the hard way. * bleck *

Nothing Profound

• Joshy slipped down the stairs, landed on a pencil and ended up with lead in his foot. I discovered further proof my calling is not to be a nurse, when he came limping | alternating between huffing & "ouch" telling me I had to fix it. Unbeknownst to me, pencil wounds really do bleed. Unbeknownst to me, Joshy thinks I work miracles.

• When I got up this morning, I was thinking to myself how awesome it would be if it rained on my day off. And then, on my way to town the sky broke forth in cold wetness and my day was made. I thought it was really nice of God to make it rain today.

• There were alot of people at the DMV in PJ pants. One, I wanted to know why? And secondly, what's that lady got against me smiling for my picture? I like to smile, and it just so happens that if I am pulled over, I'll either be crying or smiling like an idiot. Unfortunately, I'm not doing either one in my license so how is that beneficial?

• I realized today that I have ever so slowly become a fan of classical music. I don't know how I stumbled upon the wonder of heart racing violins, cellos and pianos. But somehow I did. It's only acceptable when I'm in my room though, just enjoying the feeling of nothingness and peace.

• There's a familiar smell in our house that's driving me crazy. It's something I should know, but I don't just yet. It's on the tip of my remembrance, and then it's gone.

• I just love a good dose of happiness, don't you? And positive thinking, besides.

• Tonight, I shed so many tears and laughed until my stomach hurt. It all started when I went to the Garden Alone, when the dew was still on the roses, when Elaina hit record & some guy in Sunglasses sat down at the piano and started to sing ... good times. * many winks *

• Sometimes, words & hugs make good Heart Band-Aids.

• Joshy throws his arms around my neck. "What did you just eat, Brit?" I think for a minute. "Um, Strawberry Shortcake cereal. Why?" The boy grins from ear to ear, "I like your breath. It smells yummy." I laugh bunches. Funny kid, I sure do love him.

Nothing Profound

• Last night in Nursery, I decided we should have one big toy box to put all the toys in. What little kid really thinks to themself, "Let me put the blocks back, before I get out the dollhouse." Not any that I've ever met, let me tell you.

• Went to Applebees after church for my birthday. It was incredibly awesome and spontaneous. I'm a big fan of spontaneity, it delights my soul. We had a sweet Asian Waitress -- Joshy flirted insanely much with her. He liked her accent, there's no denying. * smiles *

• I wonder if I'll ever know Caleb's opinion of Listerine Man. Sometimes the delete button can be a pain, it hides what people really think. Just dropping random hints here of course ...

• "I think too much school work makes you dumb." Says a particular little miss who has such theories that lead is bad for you, so using lead pencils must not be a good thing either.

• Victoria left me a sweet note on register paper and gave it to Jordan yesterday. It made my whole work day a zillion times better. Surprises like that are like spontaneity, they make me happy and so forth.

• The Lost Valentine has to be one of the happiest | saddest chic flicks ever. Makes me cry, but I don't feel terribly sad at the end. It's a weird combination of happy sadness I can't really explain.

• If I'm the middle of something and you're talking to me, you probably won't get anything more than an "Ahmm. Yeah. Mmm." I'm sorry, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

• My multi-tasking skills are going down the drain. Between work & errands and running to church, there just wasn't time for dinner. Eating in the car is high on my list of dislikes, especially when I'm in the middle of rush hour traffic and my phone starts ringing. Thus, polynesian sauce suddenly covered my steering wheel | my phone got tossed on the floor | and I prayed for a miracle. It was a sad sight to see, even for me.

• How'd you like a last name of Knickerbocker? Makes me smile, 'cause all I want to say is "Hey. Hey, Mr. Knickerbocker! I like the way you boppity boppity." Oh, the days of Barney. I'm forever scarred ...

• We decided today that it's a nice thing not to own a credit card. Drea & I would surely do un-smart things, like go to the hateful store deemed Gap and buy all sorts of loveliness that sang "Take me home!" all the day.

• Jackie: "Quit looking at my fish!" I laugh, and hug her. I feel bad for the poor guy on the other side of the counter. "I got a boyfriend. I wouldn't steal your fish, Miss Jackie-O." * smiles *

• I think, guys appreciate when girls speak in complete sentences. Yeah, that's what I think.

• But hey, it's just another day in Paradise. * hearts *

Nothing Profound

• 4 am comes far too early. I sometimes cannot fathom how my family slumbers through all my noisiness as I come in and out of the house before the crack of dawn. My sister must surely hate the fact that her bedroom is beside the front door, I'm forever waking her up to lock it behind me.

• Warm cars on cold, rainy mornings are wondrous things.

• My early morning drive to work, in the dark on empty roads is one of the best parts of my day. I may not like getting up early, but it's peaceful and quiet. I like that. * wink *

• The thought of Chicken Burritos & Spicy Biscuits doesn’t excite me terribly much, but people were pushing and shoving to get to the counter this morning. Billy said, “Congrats on being 5 yrs old, ya’ll.” My sentiments exactly …

• So we’re sitting in the break room discussing our dislike of particular breakfast foods this morning, when Billy says, “You at least like pancakes, don’t you?” Kristin replies, “Yeah, with fruit and cool whip.” I smiled. “Oh yes. That's the best way to eat them." Billy shook his head. “Ya'll must be eating 'em soaked in vodka then. Man.” 

• Crazy peoples. Who ever heard of doing a thing like that?

• Hitting one’s arm on the window ledge of drive-thru is no laughing matter. When you can say nothing but “It’s my pleasure” with a forced smile it is even worse.

• Worked Drive-thru | Front Counter | Bagging & Headset. It was a crazy whirl of activity in my brain all day. Sang dumb silly songs with Sara and had a terrific afternoon, there's something to be said of getting off at the same time. And my how that last half hour always seems to fly in the most awesome of ways.

• I truly think all the hillbilly boys should keep their opinions to themselves. And I'm not even sure how it's possible, but this one guy just about took my breath away. I think he must've showered in Listerine.

• Do you know what it is to swallow a lemon seed through a straw, by accident? I do.

• "The cold wind was blowing crazy wild, it felt like zero degrees!" And truly it might have been, if you're a warm snuggle bug who doesn't particularly care for the cold outdoors. * smiles *

• I randomly want to go swimming in a heated pool. Somehow, I think that would be really awesome right now ... warm | sunny beaches would be twice as nice!

Nothing Profound

• New Pencil Sharpener. My mother is in the kitchen offering free mini demonstrations of how she can turn crummy wooden pencils into sharp pointy objects with which one can poke his siblings.

• And what's that? A 13 yr. warranty. Really? You've got to be kidding me ... we could've saved a lot of money over the years. This is good stuff, ya'll. And no more pulling it out to see if its sharp, there's a light for that. * wink *

• Strawberry Mini Wheats. "I feel like I'm eating Strawberry Shortcake ... like, the doll." This made me laugh, "The doll?" The reply from the kitchen, "Yeah, like more than cereal Strawberry Shortcake." I don't know. I just don't know, but the randomness of it all makes me smile.

• I'm a big fan of how everybody is freaking out over the new milk jugs. I'll admit, they are a bit odd. It's a square jug, that says Vitamin D where it would usually say M-I-L-K. I was thinking, what? They sell vitamins in jugs now? Mom says it's an anti-drink-out-of jug. Really?! Holy Smokes. Save me now! I never knew. I never knew. Ugh.

• Joshy has just informed us that he will live in Africa, and have a porch you can sleep on. Am I supposed to visit often? Will he put me on the porch? In AFRICA, with snakes?

Nothing Profound

• So as I'm driving to work this morning, this white Dodge charger speeds up behind me. I'm thinking "golly molly, if you're in a hurry go around me." My thoughts:

1.  If it were a police car, it would be a dumb thing to speed up 'cause I could see a possible ticket looming in my future.
2.  If he were a police officer, he really could go around.
3.  If it wasn't, then they'd just have to suck it up, buster. I wasn't about to speed on his behalf. 

Turned out to be some teenage guy with a lead foot. Punk.

• Waking up a minute before my alarm saved me one of those lovely little heart attacks, you know the kind? Especially when you fumble around in the dark to turn the obnoxious thing off and wheel and deal your time down to mere seconds.

• It drives me semi-insane when someone's total is anything & one cent, and they give me a $20. Really, you couldn't scrounge around your car for a penny or something? No, no. That's fine, just let me count out all that change for you. * smiles *

• How many places can that "A fool and his money are soon partying" taxi be? Round, round. Get around, it get's around ...

• "If the happiness of one person were to be put into a single glass bottle, it would surely break into a million tiny pieces."

• The most tragic thing that happened to me today came in the form of a $40 price tag on possibly some of the most amazing shoes I've ever laid eyes on. Tried them on once, thought "Hmm. I shouldn't ..." took them off and walked away. Five minutes later after walking around the store, very much uninterested in anything else, I tried them on again. And thought to myself, "Oh save my poor wretched soul, I've done a bad thing."

• Why does threatening to poke someone in the eye with a steak knife have to make me laugh? I can't punish an angry 6 year old with a straight face because the whole "I lost me eyeball" scene from Pirates of the Carribean came to mind just then. Oh, the misfortunes of exhausted humor and too much tv ...

• Nation Pam is on your Sam. I've heard this a handful of times as Joshy sits on a pile of couch pillows beside me. Then tells me, "Brit, I can't think of anymore songs." This is tragic, yall. *smiles*

• I hate it when I'm trying to be a good big sister and really lay down the law, and say "You don't like a set bed time? It's not a punishment ... it's called being a 10 year old." and the reply is "I'm not 10! I'm eleven." Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. I believe my point is lost somewhere in forgetting the munchkin's age. *head bang*

What Faith Does

You ask me why I believe like I do

Why I'm so convinced that the Bible is true

I'm here to tell you, it's only because

I've come through enough to see what faith does

Faith sees the invisible, believes the impossible

Receives the incredible, no matter what was

Faith moves the unmovable, proves the unprovable

For anyone willing to trust

Believe and you'll see what faith does.

If there's a mountain that stands in your way

From all you can see, it will be there to stay

God said with the faith of a small mustard seed

That mountain will move, believe and you'll see 

Believe and you'll see what faith does

You'll see what faith does!

Nothing Profound

I just walked in the door from work. I know it's late, and I smell like chicken | ice cream | & sweet tea. I guess I should have changed my clothes first, but once I go down those stairs I'm pretty sure I won't feel like climbing back up any time soon. *smiles*

My second mistake would probably have to be sitting on the living room floor with my laptop. It feels so right that it can't be wrong, but really it's almost one o'clock on a Saturday night and all good people should be in bed. Oh well ...

• Today was just an absolutely awesome day. Nothing but the sunshine made it so fine, but it was lovely nevertheless! I could have bottled all the goodness up.

• Some semi-strangers invited me to their Beach house. I believe it was my personality that won them over. lol I graciously declined ...

• Ventured up to the attic today in search of Ice Cream Cones. Somewhere between up and down the very tall ladder I told myself I would never repeat this act of injustice to mind and body again if I could possibly help it. It looks so very do-able when other people are scrambling up and down it all the time tossing things from shelves, but not so Joe ... I'm really thinking not.

• Saturday night customers sure are something. They never cease to amaze me, honestly. They are an odd funny bunch, tis true.

• Made some friends today at work. I appreciate their fun attitudes and willingness to serve, it makes work more enjoyable!

• Late night at work. But afterwards, we sat around eating Papa Johns and drinking Sweet Iced Tea by the glow of the dim blue lights, laughing about dumb things that happened at work today.

• The warm weather turned cold and windy, the heat in my car was most welcome. As was the quiet and peaceful ride home. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, and the moon was magnificient and BRIGHT!

• Half my family was still up and about when I let myself in. It was nice to see them, especially when they told me they'd saved me a Brownie from supper. Awww ... ooh lah lah. I'm thinking eating chocolate at midnight would fall in the third mistake category.

• I'm looking at the clock and thinking, "Lord have mercy on my soul, I shall be exhausted tomorrow morning."

• My comfy pjs are going to be the best part of my day, I know. *Happy Sigh*

                              Goodnight wonderful world.

                                         

Joy in My Soul

"Every day we’re given small opportunities to bring someone joy that can make a huge difference in the  life of someone else."

Nothing Profound

• Little People are slowly sounding out new words at the kitchen table as they are finishing the last tidbits of school work for the day. I am so proud of them.

• "LIFE: Complicated beyond reason, but that's what makes it so fun."  And how! I smile. It's true, all the little things that frustrate us | make us laugh are part of what makes Life worth living. If my life were like your life, well ... that just wouldn't be a whole lot of fun, now would it?

• "Seven days without laughter make one weak." This makes me smile. I read it twice and thought "Wow. I really do like that an awful lot."

• Sunshine inspires me, just like standing under the starlit sky in the middle of the night inspires me. I crave it | soak it all in | and bottle it up for dark gloomy days.

• I can be a bum for a whole entire day, doing nothing and absolutely loving it. I appreciate my one day off like no other day of the week. I don't care what day it happens to fall on, I just love a good day with sunshiney goodness, where I can randomly complain because I am bored for a change.

• My friend despitheth me much for abandoning her to the aches and pains of Baptist History alone. That is not something I wish to take up but alas, I know I must. *long sigh*

• Sissy jumped on the trampoline until she could jump no more. I forgot how much fun you can have.

• Today will be a GREAT day!

God's Been Good

Lately I've been looking back, along this winding road.

To the old familiar markers of all the mercies I have known,

I know it may sound simple but it's more than a cliche.

There's no better way to tell you, than to say that

God's been good in my life.

I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night.

And though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could.

'Cause through it all, God's been so very good!

Times replay, and I can see that I've cried some bitter tears.

But I felt His arms around me, as I faced my greatest fears.

You see, I've had my gains than losses. I've known more joy than hurt.

As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved ...

For God has been my Father, my Savior and my Friend.

His love was my beginning, and His love will be my end.

I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is!

But the best that I can say it is this,

God's been so very good!

Nothing Profound

• 12 hours in shoes = long day for a country girl.

• Yogurt | Oreo Crumble | & Strawberries are pure happiness.

• Unfortunately, I don’t appreciate free food as much as the people on the other side of the counter.

• The downside of getting off at 5 would definitely be the traffic. *sigh*

• Catarino brightened my day -- “You have a rough day, yeah?” I nod my head, he smiles and says “You get off soon and get some sunshine, little chica.”

• Miss Jackie: “Jordan! Come own down heah and get this box foe me.” Jordan: "I'm comin', woman! ... actin' like you're two feet tall or something." Miss Jackie: "Don't be messing with me, boy. I come over there and ..." Jordan: "And what? haha! Here, old woman, get down before you break your back or something."

         * It's little tidbits of conversation like this that make me laugh all day long.

• I love how Mom wakes me up and says "Brittany, it's almost eight-thirty." likes its three o'clock in the afternoon. I think I'll never catch up on all my sleep, thus my new motto: Eat | Sleep | & Be Merry TODAY for tomorrow it's back to work.

• Samuel found out it's my day off today. "Brit, do you like working at Chick-fil-A?" I told him I do sometimes. His solution to the problem? "I think you should just put on a green tutu and entertain the customers. I bet that'd be fun." I laughed, uncontrollably.

• I am so looking forward to Summer time. I want to see all shades of greens and blues when I look out my window and feel warm sunshine surrounding me. I want to wear flipflips more than real shoes, and hear the crickets chirp.

• Secondly, I suddenly want to go the Beach!

Nothing Profound

• I just stumbled upon this wonderful new thing called Google Translate. I shall sing it's praises for just awhile now, because it's so cool.
• Attempting Polish is a riot. I know this because we found a random polish website today. We were reading it out loud and being dumb. Suddenly, I found this little button to translate ... and vwalah! We were in business. haha!
• My sister just saw a picture of Justin Bieber. She said, "Wow, he looks a little out there." I laugh. Of course he's a little out there ... It's Justin Bieber! *gag*
• Working 4-11 tonight and wishing I had two days off instead of just one.
• The squeaking appliance will be the death of me. Sounds a little bit like a puppy got stuck in the dryer ...
• The house is cold. I wish I could park myself near the woodstove for the rest of the day and think happy warm thoughts.
• The girls and I made a Dunkin' run this morning. Woke up, no cereal. We threw on our clothes and hopped in the car. It was fun stuff, and it probably isn't every day that the old man working the drive-thru see's not one but four girls with messy hair and mismatched clothes. haha! jk
• The donuts were Heart shaped for Valentines. How cute is that?! I hear Papa Johns has heart shaped Pizzas, too! Who wouldn't love that? How do you slice it, I wonder?

Nothing Profound

• Eleven hour shifts are terrible. But it was nice getting to know more of my coworkers.
• Apparently, I am just the right size for lots of random stuff.
• When its 28 degrees outside and I'm working drive-thru, I really don't want to know how you're doing or discuss how cold it is. I just want you to take your food and scoot, but I'm smiling through my chattering teeth and telling you what a pleasure it is to serve you. I DO love it, but it's just real cold.
• Ever seen a chocolate milkshake go flying through the air? I have. It's like an enormous tasty mess that makes you laugh.
• I miss my roommates. I wish we could sit on the floor and eat Pizza in our pajamas again.
• I was dead to the world for three hours today. I turned my phone off and slept like a rock. Yeah, that’s the good stuff.
• Day off. I could say a million and five good things about those!
• "It's a lifestyle choice, ya'll. Don't be hatin'." That's going to make me smile for a long time to come.
• Oh I see the Moon, and the Moon sees me. The Moon shines down on one I want to see. So God bless the Moon and God bless Me. God bless the one I'm longing to see.
• Woke up insanely early, fell asleep incredibly late this week. Coffee was my strongest supporter and the greatest of friends.
• I drove on Snowy white, iced over roads at midnight for the first time in my life. It was an experience I shall not wish to repeat very soon.
• My phone has only charged for a combined 32 minutes all week long. I've barely had time to use that lovely little device of convenience. I think it missed me.
• Returned BLESSINGS are something special. Makes one feel warm inside; like the world is good and people are even better than they're cracked up to be.
• Valentines Day is in 4 days. When I actually sit down long enough to think about it, I think the world should be decked out in all shades of Pink & Red until then. And confetti hearts and xoxoxo's should be thrown from the sky.
  

Just Playing Possum

A little brown ball of fur scampered across the road. I slowed down, squinting into the headlights thinking Oh! Is that our cat? What’s she doing all the way over here, I wonder.



I watched the furry thing dash off into the wood line, and just as suddenly as it appeared and disappeared, a second thing came running across the road in a mad dash. I had no time to swerve or stop or … anything!

If I didn’t know any better, I could’ve sworn my eyes closed instinctively for the splittest of seconds as a sickening thud sounded beneath my car.

“Oh no!” I covered my mouth. “No. I didn’t …”

All three of the girls asked, “What was that?!” in unison. I drove a little bit further down the road and then turned around. I don’t know why I thought it would make me feel better, but I had to turn around and see if maybe, hopefully I hadn’t really hit the poor thing.

“Oh Kenna, look.” I wailed, hunching over the steering wheel.

“A raccoon? Really, you’re freaking out for a raccoon.” She didn’t seem terribly bothered over the fact I had indeed played part of murderer. Here I am feeling terrible about what I’d just done and she’s blowing it off like its no big deal.

“Well maybe,” she leaned over looking like she was about to reason with me. “Yeah! They play dead like possums, ya know?”

“No they don’t!” I shrieked, stopping the car completely. I held my breath waiting for it to get up and move. I was sadly disappointed when it’s little body rose up and down in hard quick motions and then it ever so slowly rolled over with its paws in the air. That was it
That really did it. It pulled every last heartstring I had. I felt like a loser.

“Ohhhh girls, I really did kill it.”

“Yeah, well …” Elaina shrugged her shoulders in the backseat. “I guess we can just turn around again and wait for it to get up. Or die.”

Smart tail. Like I’m going to do that. “No! I don’t wanna know if it’s really dead. Maybe we should get daddy to come back and put it out of it’s misery or something.”

“It’s dead, it’s dead. You really killed it. How could you?!!!!!” Abs covered her mouth in mock disbelief. She thought the whole thing was funny too. What was with these people? Had they no heart?

“Shutup, Abigail.” Kenna and I snapped at the same time, then I added. “I feel bad enough, thanks.”



So my little happy-go-lucky drive home from church only turned into epic failure. Nice.

We only stuck around for a few more minutes, just long enough to watch the thing sort of revive itself and leave me semi-happily wondering hoping that just maybe … raccoons really did play possum too. ;)



The moment we got home and started walking toward the house, Mckenna grabbed my arm and said, "Look, Brit!"

I glance up at the night sky for a moment, wondering what she's pointing to. The sky is a gorgeous shade of dark blue, making the stars sparkle especially bright. "Oh yeah, it's really something."

"A star just went up to heaven for your little raccoon buddy. Hahaha!"

I look back at her, laughing. "Dork face."

"Yeah. Yeah. What? I'm trying to make you feel better." She grinned back.

So I've no idea if it lived or died. It wasn't in the road the next day but you never know if it just crawled its way off the road and died in some ditch. Least I've got such an awesome sister to teach me about such things as raccoons playing possum, hmm? ;)

Nothing Profound

• First week at work -- A little catastrophic for my taste, but once I get in the groove of things it'll be great. I'm going to keep telling myself this.
• Drive-thru can be fun. First you'll stand there like an idiot, freezing until you remember there's a jacket in the back.
• People are unique and funny. This I love, makes the world go around.
• My mouth actually hurts today. Too much talking | too much laughing | too much expression.
• I'm tired. Like real tired ... like maybe I could stay in one spot for the rest of the night and not even bother doing anything productive.
• I still have no idea what the heck people are telling me in Spanish, but I smile and nod my head and say something like "Ahmm? yeah. Then I walk away feeling like an idiot.
• Every time I work drive-thru, I ask myself "How many times have I said hello and my pleasure tonight?"
• Two of my coworkers think I'm married. I'm laughing | smiling | etc.
• Fun sarcasm has to be one of the best things on earth, it sure does brighten my day.
• I can greet the day before the sun, when the gas stations are still closed and stoplights turn for no apparent reason.
• People really DO get out of bed to get free food at 6 in the morning! I didn't really think they did until handfuls of people in PJ's shuffled through the double glass doors looking like they're walking in the sleep!
• I almost wish that maybe I would have taken Spanish a little more seriously. I didn't know what it was not to be a able to communicate with people! I have no concept of how much of what I say is understood. I stand there yacking about this and that. Then five minutes later, they shrug and say "No comprende, little chica." 

          This is the extent of our relationship for the time being, but a smile speaks volumes in any language. I'm thankful for this,

•    I wondered for a moment today, as I was standing in the walk-in freezer watching my breath form little clouds, what English sounds like to someone who doesn't speak it.
• I now respond to Little Chica | Sugar Baby | Pal.
• It would be a huge blessing if people could take obvious hints. The end.
• My God is greater. My God is stronger. My God is higher than any other. Every day, this amazes me!
• I met a little girl today with the same birthday as mine. Smiles.

A Real Strange Notion

Strange? you ask.

Yes, strange.

It suddenly hit me as I was reading a very awesome book about a widow whose husband left her a puppy when he died. Oh yes, its fairly tragic but I'm loving the book thus far and random bits of it even make me laugh. So much so that, as I'm curled up on the couch in my favorite hoodie and laughing, my siblings pause the TV just long enough to glare at me like I've lost my ever-loving senses.

Yes, Yes. The girl apologizes over and over for being immature and interrupting the tv show, whatever it may have been. No worries, all manners and sweetness cling to me most days whether I wish them to or not. hah!

Anyways, I digress ...

I suddenly thought how awesome would it be to get a dog? Or rather, a puppy. A cute scrunchy-faced, lick-you-to-death puppy. Something to lay at the foot of your bed with and tease as you wiggled your foot under the covers or bark at you when the sunshine streamed into your window.

Don't bother reminding me that less than a month ago, I also wanted to go outside and do something incredibly dumb with my two legs and possibly break my only-est neck. Would it help to know that it's raining outside and the siblings and I were even discussing puppies over supper tonight?

We truly were. One of the girls started talking about the kinds of dogs we would all have someday when we grow up.

So ... I may or may not have randomly decided I might want a Puppy.

But it would have to be cute, and stay inside and be almost maintenance free. Yes, I'm still dreaming.

Then I googled adorable puppy pictures, found none and was soon cured of the insatable desire to obtain a new pet. Almost. Because I'm still living out in the boondocks, still connecting with the world by way of dial-up, and still watching as new puppy pictures download ever so slowly onto my screen.

I laugh.

I'm only teasing. It was a strange notion that quickly faded, but still ... it was a thought.

Just wondering how ...

Oh dear world,

How could you willingly | knowingly bring such pain and suffering on yourselves? I asked myself this question many many times between the hours of 5am and 3pm.

Behold. The second worst migraine in my LIFE!

... and I was thinking about all those people who go out and get drunk, knowing how they're going to feel the next day. Hating life & stumbling around in the sunshine like an idiot, wanting to be sick.

For 10 hours every little noise, every little sound, every small ounce and inkling of light were monumentous horrors for me. Head banging | Gut wrenching horrors.

I'm sure you really could liken it to a hangover. Only, I had no part in getting myself to where I was. It was an unwelcome surprise that left me reeling in its wake. And oh brother, did I want to just give up the ghost and die. Right there on the spot, I did.

But I'm slowly coming back around, thankfully. The head is doing less of that banging stuff, and while I wouldn't necessarily go picnicking with a bunch of 3 year olds just yet, I'm feeling alot better.

* happy sigh *