Oh my darling you must be a moving target just like me...

Woozers! I just finished reading Blue Like Jazz!! Holy moly I love that book and can't wait to read it again! I suggest it to everyone out there, it's an amazing read and an amazing book about spiritually! I heart it! and could read it again tomorrow, but I will wait and let it sink in, like you have to do with all good books. So now that I've read all the books I got for Christmas I'm on to my library books, which I went there today and got 2 new ones and had a lovely conversation with the librarian. I love recommending books to people, it vainly makes me feel smarter. ha.

Not much else has been going on. This week has been a crazy week of fellowship with people, which I love of course, but has been wearying me down, slowly but surely.

Reading through Jonah, yes I know it's only 4 chapters! But they carry quite a punch, plus I started going to a new Bible study with the pastor and he's talking about Jonah. He is truly the first pastor I went to regular that I could listen to talk about God forever. There are Christian speakers and authors I could listen to, but this is the 1st time its been a pastor. I feel like I won a prize or something, yes, I know that's dorky. Back to Jonah. It's just been so eye-opening reading through it and studying it.
All my life I have seen Jonah being swallowed by the fish as a punishment, but now reading through it I see it as a beautiful calculated rescue by God. If the fish hadn't come along, Jonah surely would have died in the waves. What a wonderful thought that God commanded and appointed a darn fish to save your life, how humbling! My pastor said something else that I thought was wise. He said, "When we run away from God's purpose, we're running away from Hid presence." I guess I never really thought of it like that. Things like that spoken into my life just give me peace of mind about following God down to Virginia. Guess I had to cos God never moves, I had no choice but to follow...

Enough blog deepness for one night... Tomorrow is a half day! But I have a meeting :(. It won't be bad I just like to and plan on getting lots of work done on half days, that's all. Then after work I'm meeting some other teachers for happy hour. I'm a little nervous because this is the 1st time they've invited me and they didn't ask any of my other secep friends...which has caused a little tension. Oh well. I told them where we were going and said if you wanna come just show up! :D Ok, well I need to go pack my lunch and start a new book! :D

Yes, I did stay up until 1am to finish the book I started reading at 9pm... I know, but bad habits are hard to break. :/

My neighbors are loud, I wish I was mean enough to call the po-po on them! :D

Cos I need to not think, here's a list.
Things I love:
deep conversations
tea
games
reading, duh
adventure
My relentless lover, Jesus :)



Tomorrow is going to be a blessed day, I feel it! I'm just so excited to go back to my church.

It breaks my heart to see you alone...

Well, it's been a nice week, getting back into the swing of things. Next week is going to be crazy. Just cos I have something going on each week night, plus some major work for work, and Sarah is coming all weekend. Which I am excited to see happen.


I went to Ashley and Chris' house this weekend. A FUN FUN FUN time, as usual! Their house is so warm and lovely, I love it! Makes me excited to have my own one day. When I came back cat benatar like sat on my lip for a hour straight just purring and loving on me. She definitely thought I abanded her! Yeah, tonight has been laid back, a hour of sitting and all. Kt and I are starting a contest and I am SO pumped!!

Tonight I finished a book! I love doing that and there was a verse at the end of it, James 1:2-4 and I read it and then read the whole book of James (yes, I know it's short). I just sometimes forget how encouraging James is to read, I must admit it's been a while since I've read all of James and I encouraged soaking it up :) With that wonderful thought I'm off to a bubble bath and to start reading On a Whim! yes, I love to read and like I said busy week next week, so I know less reading...

bob and weave

Some days you just have to admit defeat, lie in bed, and cry... oh well, joy comes in the morning!

inner city pressure.

hey you're part of it!! So I thought I'd do a real new year post. Happy New Year! I have high hopes for this new year and pray our country gets itself together. I have some resolutions. like: start grad school, cook a real meal 2xs a week, save more money, stay organized with my personal paperwork, and open my apartment more to people. So there you go internet folks, my goals. Keep me accountable! So I have a kitty now! Cat Benatar, she's really nice and calm and I enjoy her! She likes to eat a lot though ha, I guess we can be fatties together! She is cute though, life time goal of teaching her how to use the bathroom! Yea, not much else to update on though. School starts up tomorrow. Well I need to go make some lunch.

traditions!

.) Where did you ring in 2008? In Florida, in a van I believe we were driving then, ha.

2.) What was your status by Valentine's Day? alive and single, ha.

3.) Were you in school (anytime this year)? Finished up college, started teaching in a school

4.) How did you earn your keep? group home and teaching

5.) Did you have to go to the hospital? No, I hate going to hospitals...

6.) Did you encounter the police? umm, nope. firefighters...ha

7.) Where did you go on vacation? I guess no where really. I went to Virginia a lot because I eventually moved there, but no real vactions.

8.) What did you purchase that was over $500? apartment? ha, just my rent and school loans... oh I bought new breaks and other junk for my car over $500 all together.

9.) Did you know anybody who got married? Erika and Nate. Hilary and Adam. Kristen.

10.) Do you know anybody who passed away? yeah

11.) Have you run into anybody you graduated high school with? Yeah, not in Virginia (besides Ashley) but when I'm home I do everywhere, a small town.

12.) Did you move anywhere? Norfolk, Virginia.

13.) What sporting events did you go to? Jonnie's soccer games.

14.) What concerts did you go to? Wow, I don't think I went to any this year, well probaly some at college, definitely. I don't think any this summer.

15.) Are you registered to vote? heck yes! Yah Obama!

16.) If so, did you do your patriotic duty on Nov. 4th? Yes I did I waited in line for like 4 hours! The joys of big city living.

17.) Where do you live now?Norfolk, VA

18.) Describe your birthday. umm, I don't remember I suppose it was fun. I think Sarah came to celebrate it with me

19.) What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?Finish college, get a job I love, MOVE TO VIRGINIA!

20.) What is one thing you regretted this year? Not being more out going...yeah that's kinda it. Maybe savoring college life more.

21.) What's something you learned about yourself? I'm capable of taking care of myself, I learned a lot this year...not all I'd like to share.

22.) Any new additions to your family? Cat Benatar, I just got the cat, but I guess I got it in 2009, not 2008.

23.) What was your best month? December was amazing, but May held new experiences, options, and adventures!

24.) What from pop culture will you remember 2008 by? To much!

25.) How would you rate this year with a scale from 1 (shitty) to 10 (excellent)? 9.8

Happy New Year!

Well I had a nice New Year! At the moment I have 3 solid resolutions and I've already accomplished one, ha. Well my dear friend Kt helped with that one. Yeah, this break has felt like 2 months long in a good way though. Which means I've done SO much each day I can't believe it's only been 2 weeks! So nuts. The rest of my plans this week includes picking up my new best friend, lunch with Abbie, dinner at the social club, and trying to cram all the stuff I have in my car... I am really nervous about that last part!! REAL nervous, I'm a good packer, but not THAT good. Well now I have to head back to Elma's house to pick up some stuff. Plus get a shower and take a nap! So happy 2009, I think it's gonna be an awesome year. I feel like I'm at a really wonderful place right now in my life. Just so many blessings shower over me each day! I'm really happy and proud of the choices I made in 2008 and I hope 2009 is just as wonderful. So I think I may take a cue from the wonderful Donald Miller and map out some things. Ok I'm off to some things. Much love.

home home

so. 1. when I'm home I get less sleep. 2. I spend more money. 3. I have more energy! :D


I love being home though because I get to see all the people I love and enjoy!

yeah nothing much else to update. I bought some lucky bambo today!! Maybe it will bring me luck! I'm going to try to transplant it into an awesome flower pot I have. My batteries in my camera has been dead all break. Makes me sad I wasn't able to take a lot of pictures...


Other updates I totally rocked a half pony tail today, even if Michael told me it was weird. Maybe I'll rock it tomorrow. This morning I got a quick shower and didn't even brush my hair before I went to church, ha! So I needed to pull it up somehow, so it looked somewhat bearable. ok, random hair story.


"What's the craziest thing you've ever seen"
"Me getting hit by a truck..."

wow, that makes me laugh. Maybe I'm evil.

So I went to see the Ben Button movie. I decided I don't really like it... In the end I know I'd never watch it again. For the record. Maybe it's just that I really don't like Brad Pitt. Oh gosh there's a commercial for it on tv now. "One of the best movies of this decade." umm heck no! But it's not like my opinion really matters.

Well I should get to bed, I have a semi-busy day tomorrow...

It's Christmas time!

What a wonderful Christmas it has been so far. I've gotten to see and hang out with people I haven't seen in a long time, it has been such a blessing. Plus I love giving people gifts!!! Well we're going to my grandma's for Christmas lunch and then I'm going to Kt's for dinner to celebrate with my friends and exchange gifts with them. It has been crazy being home! I've done so much every single day and I'm a little whipped out, to be honest. Friday I'm going to my gram B.'s and aunt peggy's, then Jonnie has a soccer tournament. Saturday I'm hanging out with JILL! (haven't seen her since last Christmas) and then going to Brewser's with my brothers. Sunday I'm going to church and after that I don't know... those are my plans up to the weekend...

So in a certain situation I've like completely change my view. weird how that can happen I suppose...who knows what will come of it, I guess all you can do is pray.


Merry Christmas!!

You look so defeated lying there in your new twin size bed

For the record that girl was not in church today.

So today after church I went to lunch with some people from church. And I arrived there at the same time with the one lady, Paula. We pulled in and this guy came up to us and said ladies can I have some money for gas because my car ran out of gas on the highway and I need to get to Newport News, and he was holding a gas can. Paula was like searching all around for cash. I knew I had cash and like started walking away. SHE went into her car and found the man some cash. So I guiltily went into my wallet and pulled out 3 bucks for him. I think could sense what was going on inside my head. She turned to me and said, "You know that was probaly a scam right there. But it doesn't matter Elise because our hearts where in the right place and that's all God cares about." Talk about a WOW moment. It was just one of those moments which really woke me up and made me step back and reflect. Just something I'll never forgot, because in situations with people I know I'm always like oh well it's not my place to judge them, but I didn't realize in this situation how I was judging a total stranger. If I had to sit on God's throne and judge I would screw the whole world up!


Oh yeah. Sunday School was nice today, well the end really touched my heart. We were broken up in guy and girl groups talking about different things then sharing. Well at the end we decided to pray for each other. It was just really nice because I finally admitted that I'm homesick. But it was nice having people pray for me about it. I know there are a ton of people who are always praying for me, but there's always something special hearing another person pray aloud for you.

Lunch was nice. The painting party was great! I only stayed a few hours though because I realized I still have some paperwork to get done and my ed. specialist is coming in tomorrow...**groan** Nothing against him, just to many people in the room makes the kids crazy. ha.

It should be a good day though. I love that I'm excited about going to work, even on a Monday!! :D Tomorrow after work we're having our staff Christmas party. It's after school, so it should be nice! Ok, I'm heading to bed for sure!