Holy Cow! Where have I been?

Sorry! I just realized today that it has been a long time since I've last updated this. Do you know how much you've missed in the past fifteen days?!?

I've started grad school...It's a little scary, but I think I can survive it. I have already completed several assignments on time, and somehow I'm even managing to work a little ahead of schedule. Amazing, I know.

I moved! Yeah, that's right. I managed the giant leap of seven whole miles from Platteville to Belmont. I'm pretty much all settled now except for the all important wall hangings and such. Luckily my mom is coming back for a long weekend to help me finish up some things. Thanks, Mom!

I get my internet connection tomorrow afternoon barring any major issues with the installation. So, you should find more frequent posts after that.

I have tons of new photos to share with you. They will also be posted after the internet installation has been completed.

So there's the quick update. Nothing you probably didn't already know.

More on the Mysteries of Life

Funny. Just a few hours ago I wrote a heartfelt entry about the mystery of God and how I knew there was something just around the bend waiting for me. But tonight, for some strange reason, much of that feeling is gone. It may just be fatigue or a little loneliness (romance movies do that to a girl), but right now I just feel tired, maybe a little empty. In a matter of hours I have been unexplainedly drained.

How could something so silly like forgetting laundry in the washer for an hour or not getting to Wal-Mart make me feel so crabby? I truly hate being crabby, whiny, complainy...People notice that just as much as someone who is incessantly happy, joyful. Trust me. There are certain acquaintances in my life that don't seem to know what joy is. I would hate to be one of those people. How awful.

So, tonight, as I continue to furrow my brow without explanation, I pray for peace.

My dad had an interesting thought tonight. He told me of a man who ended all his conversations with, "Make it a good day!" rather than "Have a good day!" We do have the choice after all. When I feel bitterness or measly grumpiness creeping up on me, am I not the only one to tell it to get lost?

From great day, to grumpy evening, to beautiful night, I will know that this has been a great day. And the mysteries continue tomorrow, God willing. Beautiful mystery.

Some Days

There are some days when I think that maybe my life is just a little too dull for things like blogging, get-togethers to update friends on life, Christmas letters... But then there are days when I take time to review all the exciting things that are really going on in life.

Let's review.

-I am currently gainfully employed at UWP.
-I will be shifting jobs slightly for the summer, moving from full-time to part-time temporarily.
-I will soon resume nannying for my favorite kids ever.
-In two weeks, I will have a new place of residence in the booming city of Belmont.
-In two weeks, I will have begun a graduate degree through UWL.
-Sand volleyball starts up in three weeks, my favorite non-competitive sport.
-I have successfully survived my first full year of living off-campus (paying bills, rent, etc. on time.)
-I have seen my family more times in the past year than possibly all four years of my undergraduate career combined.

Ok, so to you, maybe this list just reminds you of how dull my life real may be, but to me, this is a thriving list of change, growth, and fantasticness. I read that list and breathe in deep the goodness of life. Every time I open my mouth to complain, or in most cases, after a complaint has been made, I stop an remember just how many reasons I have not to complain, or be bitter. And when I hear others complain about the general ho-hum-ness of life, spouses, jobs, events, etc. it makes me remember even more how much I am blessed.

You know, the past few years have not exactly been a time of spiritual growth for me. Without the help of small groups, the accountability that comes with that, without a good study to follow, or even the time to join a Sunday school class, I've been pretty stagnant. And I believe that that happens sometimes in a Christian's life, and that's ok. But there's been something stirring inside me. A few of you may understand what I'm talking about, that feeling that something is coming, something is changing. That sort of butterfly feeling that catches you off guard at random times throughout the day.

I absolutely love the mystery of God. This used to be (and occasionally still is) something that frustrated me. God, why won't you tell me what I'm supposed to do? Can't You please reveal what my future will hold? But what would life be without the mystery of the plan? To be so predictable that we can plan out every year of our lives to the last detail...where's the excitement in that? Right now, I love that life is open ended. I know there's a plan, and I will fit into it just as God designed. That is the beauty of it all.

Sorry, I guess I got a little lengthy, but there's just a feeling in my heart. It needed an attempt to be expressed.

Every Project Takes a Weirdy

I have recently started a new project in life. (At this point, a few of you are thinking, "Why in the world would you start another project? Aren't two jobs, a volleyball team, grad school, and moving enough?" But I really like projects.)

I have joined the planning committee for the Habitat for Humanity Women's Build. Women from across Grant county will be coming together for the next year and a half planning, organizing, learning, and building a new home for a needy family in the area. How cool is that? Now, being realistic, there are many men that will be instrumental in the project. For instance, how many female contractors or subcontractors do you know in the county? Can you think of one? How about any county? The answer is no. There aren't many female cement pourers, carpenters, plumbers, or electricians out there. So, men will be definitely helping, but it's the women who will be in there getting their hands dirty, learning the trade of home-building, framing, siding, roofing, finishing...How cool.

If anyone is interested in helping (either in the planning, learning a new trade, leading a crew or committee, or actually building that house) please let me know. I'd love to have a huge crew of amazing women working hard to help a family out. Give me a call or shoot me an email.

As it turns out, the director of Grant counties Habitat is kind of a weirdy. Not so much a weirdy as just a disorganized space cadet. It made me laugh at our first meeting last night because she kept saying, "I love organizing things...I just love it," as another pile of papers fell off the table, or she needed to run to her office one more time for something. (Ladies, she really needs our help!) :)

Anyway, new endeavors are always fun. Join in!

Good Advice

The best advice that I have received in a while was from the IT personnel at UW-La Crosse.

I emailed the Information Technology Office with a dilemma of not being able log into my email after changing my password. Lucky me. I clearly described who I was, what my problem was, all the usual items to include. I received the following email in return:

Lindsey, Unfortunately for security reasons you will have to stop by room 103 of the Wing Technology Center with a photo ID for us to reset your password. Sorry for any inconveniences. Thanks. ITS Support Center

Sweet. Thanks for that. Sure let me drive on up there to reset my password...Just what I want to spend an entire day doing. Two minutes later, I received the following email:

Lindsey, After sending you my previous e-mail I noticed that you are an online grad student. In this case you may give us a call so that we can reset your password, but we will have to ask you a few security questions.Sorry for the confusion with my previous e-mail. Thanks. ITS Support Center

Ha, thanks pal. :) Needless to say, all is well now, and I do not anticipate changing my password again...ever.

May?

On a completely unrelated note from the previous post...can anyone believe that it's really May already? I mean seriously.

Cell Phone, Oh Cell Phone...

So, five long years have past that I have called la Ville de Platte (um...that's Platteville for those of you who don't speak French...or whatever language that may be) home. And in those five years, I have always kept my Iowa local cell phone number. Convenient to those that call me most (Mom, that would be you), but not so convenient to the Plattevillians who want to get ahold of me without paying something like 49 cents per minute to chat. And who can blame them. My wisdom is surely not worth 49 cents per minute.

So, yesterday, I took a leap. I went into the local Radio Shack, and signed up for my own cell phone. The cord has been cut, the damage done. There's no turning back. But for the next few weeks, as I try frantically to tell everyone I know to call my new number (which shouldn't take too long, I don't know all that many people), I will have three phones to keep track of. Original cell phone, which has treated me well all through my higher education, Home phone line, which was only created as a desperate plea to hold a free Internet connection, and New cell phone, which hopefully soon with be my one and only phone.

So, in an effort to clear up the confusion, please call the following number (unless you are Mom and Dad, which is probably 50% of my current subscribers): 608-330-0903. Mom and Dad, you can continue to call my old number for a while since, well, you're paying for it. :)

Countdown 'til moving day: 23 days! (That reminds me, I better get packing.)