pieces

Hey all. Well, we’re leaving tomorrow, and I didn’t have time to post pictures of the costumes or their construction (will do when we get back - along with tons of other pics I’m sure), but I wanted to leave you with a list of what we’re bringing.

Jack:
Ragetti (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Simon Tam (Firefly/Serenity)
Star Trek Uniform (Wrath of Khan era)
This shirt from Star Trek

Marci:
Marge Simpson
Kaylee Frye (Firefly/Serenity)
Spaceballs: The Dragon*Con Costume

“If this religion bores you, then you aren’t doing it right.”

He has a way of saying things that are simple, and so true. It’s Wednesday, and I still remember that quote from Sunday morning. That’s one thing that I have noticed recently about myself. The sermons and small groups discussions are sticking. Not that the lessons didn’t vaguely get through before, but, especially with the small group, I am remembering specific passages and lessons and find myself comparing different books and chapters of the Bible in ways I’ve never been able to before. I’m not sure if it’s the people, the study method, or some combination of both, or if it’s just that I feel so comfortable and real within the group that I really take part in discussions.

It might surprise some people in the group to know that I wasn’t always this outgoing. In fact, I used to be a wallflower in group discussions. I was okay one-on-one, and after TAing in grad school and teaching at CTY I became decent at presentations, but with anywhere from just three or four people to a classroom-sized group, I would hang back and not say much. So this experience of really being part of the discussion is basically brand new. I talk a lot in small group, and I talk a lot in my Portuguese classes. But before that, not so much. So maybe that’s why it’s sticking. I’m being real, and throwing things out there. And I’m learning. And growing. And hopefully changing, although in certain parts of my life I have a lot of changing left to do.

But I’m open to it. And I’m not bored. Complacent sometimes, but out of laziness, not boredom. There is a passion, but I’m waiting for inspiration, and waiting to find a schedule and a rhythm, which is not only unnecessary, it’s also downright silly. This fire doesn’t need fuel; it will burn on its own if I just let it. The point is not be perfect timing, settling into a pattern, quiet peace. It’s about reaching out, taking risks, having faith. I’ve grown roots in this marriage, this small group, this church, this city. It’s now time to branch out.

The body really is an amazing thing. You can push it far past exhaustion, and somehow your brain knows to hang on, and then when you are finally able to relax, you sleep for days, and the side effects of the medication you are on suddenly some back full force, and you are forced to stop, and forced to rest.

At least that’s how I work.

I was hoping to rejoin the land of the living after last weekend. However, my exhaustion, coupled with the fact that I increased my Accutane dosage, caused me to get so sick that I didn’t leave the house at all last weekend, and I’m still not 100% 9 days later.

But I am feeling better everyday, and game night Friday was fantastic (despite losing the poker game - we will have a rematch, Daniel). And I’ve been able to attck my next project - Dragon*Con costumes. As I finish them, I will post pictures.

A friend did it, and I think it’s neat.

Go here and choose 5-6 words that you think describe me.

Thanks!

My class is over (yay!) - the professor gave us the option of taking our final today right after we took our fifth test (instead of taking it on Monday night), and I’m glad I took him up on it, because I can now enjoy the weekend without feeling guilty for not studying enough, when studying wasn’t really all that necessary for this particular exam.

Does that make sense? Is the above at all a valid sentence? I don’t so much care about either of those questions right now, as all I want to do is sleep. Hopefully, by next weekend I’ll feel like myself again.

Oh, and the class was awesome. I’m not sure how much my vocabulary improved in just five weeks, but I can now think more quickly about how I’m going to say something, conjugate verbs in just a second or two, and I’m starting to get comfortable with some of the colloquialisms that allow me to understand native speakers at their native speed.

I’m looking forward to my Brazilian Lit class this fall.

That only meets twice a week.

And doesn’t start for three.