Resurrection Parade

We went to see the Hunger Games at the dollar theater.  It just made me miss the books.  I suppose that makes the movie a success...?

On our way home we bought:
1) duck eggs
2) Gluten Free Cinnamon rolls
3) carrots

Can you guess which one I was most excited about?!
I've been looking EVERYWHERE for a GF donut.  I love donuts.  LOVE.  I saw them in Russellville and have been unsuccessful in finding them since.  UNTIL TODAY!

(It was yummy.  Don't judge me for having a pre-supper snack.)



Today I got a rejection letter in the mail.  Have I mentioned to you my fear of failure?  Well. Not this time!  I've told a few of you this story... but I think I need it down in writing.  So last semester I applied for a Fellowship for the upcoming year.  Two of my professors encouraged me to apply, and it sounded really interesting, so I did!  It was working with neuro-developmental disorders like autism spectrum and ADHD.  They accept one nutrition student per year, and I was that designated nutrition student! So I applied and was just kind of waiting to hear back.  I even read a few books on ASD, which I really enjoyed.  It really made me think hard about how I treat people.  (Feel free to read "Look Me in the Eye"... great read.)

So anyhow... When Charlie and I were in Louisiana a few weeks ago, I felt like God -very clearly- said to me, "Stephanie. You're not going to get that fellowship.  You learned what I wanted you to learn.  Applying served it's purpose.  But something better is coming along."

Fast forward exactly one week.

I get an email from one of the professors who helped me apply.  She said, "Stephanie.  I have no idea what happened, but they aren't offering you the fellowship.  Don't feel bad, I have no idea what happened.  I'm even on the board!  But I would like to offer you an assistantship with me!"

Wow.  Seriously?!  If God hadn't spoken to me... believeyoume I would have broken down and sobbed.  And when I got my rejection letter in the mail today, I would have broken down and sobbed again.  But I didn't.  I LAUGHED and was filled with appreciation and joy today when I got that letter.  I opened it on our way to the movie, and Charlie laughed and said if God hadn't spoken to me, we would have had to turn around, go home, and spend the rest of the evening tending to my broken little heart.  And he wasn't exaggerating.

This was such a faith-building thing for me.  It reminded me of all the other ways God has worked things out for me.  Like NOT getting into nursing school.  Getting in at Minnesota.  NOT getting sent to Oklahoma, but having the opportunity to learn the nutrition-side to what Charlie does... which is pretty incredible.  I had no idea how much I loved it... but Food Systems is honestly (even though I didn't know it) WHY I went into nutrition.  Or how about how God kept me and Charlie in contact with each other for EIGHT years before we ever met?  What kind of kids do that?

These are the things that build faith and keep up going when we can't see the big picture.  Or the light at the end of the tunnel.  or when we're stuck between a rock and a hard place (whatever idiom you'd like to use.)  It reminds me of "Hind's Feet on High Places" and how Much Afraid picks up a rock at each place she struggles through and later builds an alter with them... remembering EACH thing God has done for her which reminds her to keep trusting... to keep believing... to keep having faith that God is taking everything that is broken and fitting them together in vibrant harmonies, all because of His death, His blood that poured down the cross (Col 1).

Goofy

Over the weekend I emailed a few people for a side-job I have.  I'm trying to collect high-resolution logos for a few different organizations.

This morning I got an email back from one who said she read an article I "co-authored" with a professor at school!  I have no idea who this person is, but I couldn't believe anyone would recognize something like that! She said she enjoyed the article.  (Honestly... calling me a co-author is MORE than generous since all I did was create one of the tables in the article.)  But still.

Tomorrow's Friday!  Hooray!

I wish Pernkie had spent the week with me.  She's such a good companion.

A (nosy) neighbor told Charlie that some of our neighbors have been complaining about how much Rufus barks during the day.  I have a few thoughts on this:
#1) Rufus is a dog.  Dogs bark.
#2) I'm so glad he can stay outside during the day.  11 hours is WAY too many to spend inside unable to go to the bathroom.
#3) This nosy neighbor is sliiiightly passive-aggressive as are a lot of Minnesotans.  When he said neighbors were complaining... what he -meant- is that it's driving him crazy.  But then again, when you never -ever- leave your house, I imagine a lot of things would really get on your nerves.
#4) We're only there for 3 more weeks.

Poor Goofy.  Only his parents love him.  He's such a sweet boy.

firecracker

Wow. Well someone dropped off the face of the earth.

I miss these three.  

I feel bad.  I have been feeling so good lately.  But I must have gotten some contaminated food over the weekend because I feel... well. Like I used to.  I think it was our food processor... or maybe my wooden spoons?  Who knows.  I've got to get this figured out though.  Can't wait till the weekend. 

Happy 4th?

Sorry.  I feel like how Pernky looks in that picture.  I've really had such a fun summer... my internship is awesome.  I really like the work I've been doing.  We had an awesome vacay to see lots of family.  I got a scholarship AND assistantship for next year.  And we think we found a cheap, convenient place to rent.  From a real southerner who says "ya'll", no less.  

I am blessed beyond measure.

Can we tell that to my gluten-hangover, please?  It ALSO needs to be informed of how amazingly, wonderfully blessed I am.

Apples and bananas

Today I drew about 50 apples and bananas on the sidewalk on a mileandahalf loop. I carried a little step stool with me so I could sit on something while I drew them. And oh yeah I was drawing them for an office wide poker walk to encourage physical activity during lunch! I Am SORE! Sitting up and down 50 times plus walking the loop 3 times to make sure the apples took you on the right path... Just pathetic! As I was finishing, a woman walking into the office said, "you're not tall enough, you need a step stool?" I replied, "no.... I'm too tall, I need it to reach the ground!" Haha. Now, my meeting for the afternoon no-showed on me, so I got a big ole coffee and a small fry (to cancel out the 3.5 miles and 500 squats I did). Hoping she'll call me back so I didn't make this drive for nothing. But I'm content. And worn out. but content.

Junk Food

I'm actually not sure how up-to-date this is... but it's SCARY!!

http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/junkfoodquiz.pdf

Take the quiz! Let me know how you did!

a day for the birds

I think the hardest thing about being away from Charlie is not getting to share things with him that I know he would love.

like today... even though I was working, I had 2 hours in between meetings... so I saw...

the WORLD's largest pelican in Pelican Rapids, MN

The WORLD's largest loon in Vergas, MN (where I also sat on a park bench and ate my lunch looking out over the lake)

AND the WORLD's largest turkey in Frazee, MN (where I sat in the shade and read my book for an hour)

Not to mention the very large otter I saw in our very own Fergus Falls, MN earlier this week

Or the BEAUTIFUL library I sat in for a few hours in Perham, MN the other day

It's just so hard... to see things that remind me of Charlie, and to not get to enjoy them with him. We would have had the best day ever today. 

Maybe that's why being so far away from family is so hard for me. To see things that remind you of the people you love, and to not get to enjoy those things with them or appreciate them together is just... sucky. (to use the most descriptive and appropriate word possible.)

busy busy bee

i've been having a good hair week, lately.

I think i am going to see many amazing things on my adventures through rural Minnesota

we're going to stay here.

A nursing home I had an interview at 

beeeeees

i love this picture

we suited up!

I love to watch him work!!

I have been so busy lately! But it's been good and fun, and relatively non-stressful. I think the summer is going to FLY by. One kind of nice thing about me being away for the week is that Charlie and I are ready to seize every moment of the weekend we have together. I think we're off to a good start!

We also found an apartment that we really like, so if you think to, pray we get it! :)

Also, please pray for my Aunt :( she's got a really rough road ahead of her.