Today, I do not have to work. I do not start my bank job until next week and I am not scheduled to work at the bookstore until tomorrow night. So, today is all mine. I have think I have been productive with my day but then that is totally in my opinion.
One of my duties today was going to the grocery store (I miss Hy-Vee and Super Wal-Mart!) Just down the road, the city has built a new grocery store, a local name called Raley's. In comparison to an Iowa store, Raley's are close to a Dahl's. I needed to pick up some items for a dessert that I am making for my parents this weekend and I had run out of Dr. Pepper. (I know some of you are laughing at me right now. My addiction has yet to be conquered.)
Anyway, I am walking through the grocery store looking for my items and this thought went through my head. We Americans are so spoiled and selfish. I am looking at all this food on the shelves and freezers, and I am amazed at how much is there. I began to wonder what happens if the food does not sell, especially the produce and dairy products. I wonder how much food we throw away daily because it has not been bought and then my thoughts went to how many children and families in other countries live without so much as a piece of bread or fruit to eat a day.
Maybe this thought has come from the fact that I have had to watch my pennies lately as I have not had a job and bills coming through. Maybe it connected with the fact that at my bookstore job, I helped to box up several boxes of books that were being sent back to the distributor because those books were not being sold. Suddenly it all seems so wasteful in light of eternity.
This thought also brought about a bigger sense of gratefulness and thankfulness that God has provided shelter, health, food and clothing for me. I am blessed beyond measure compared to many who live daily without so much as a safe shelter to live, food to sustain normal functions, clothing to protect them from the elements, and health.
Hopefully I will continue to live in this sense of gratefulness.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
An interesting experience
I HAVE A JOB! Okay, I have another job. I now have two part-time jobs after ten weeks of searching. When I made the move, I did not think that I would have a hard time finding a job. I knew that I might not get one right away but I did not realize that it would be this hard. Mainly my problem has been that I have been over-qualified for this area so that has been an interesting situation.
I got a job working for a bank and the process has been an interesting time. One process I had to go through was getting my finger prints done. I had to go down to the police station to get this done. I guess there are different processes for fingerprints and I was not sure which ones to get, so I went with the ink process.
I felt so weird in that room, having an unknown man follow through on a process he does every day but I have never done. I had to go through each finger on both hands, then had to do a print of all four fingers and the thumb. After that was done, he put some liquid in my hand to remove the ink from my hands and then I was able to wash it all off.
After watching all those crime shows that criminals getting their finger prints done, I felt odd having my done for a normal reason and realizing that know my fingerprints will be in a database system. All this for a job!!!! Craziness!
I got a job working for a bank and the process has been an interesting time. One process I had to go through was getting my finger prints done. I had to go down to the police station to get this done. I guess there are different processes for fingerprints and I was not sure which ones to get, so I went with the ink process.
I felt so weird in that room, having an unknown man follow through on a process he does every day but I have never done. I had to go through each finger on both hands, then had to do a print of all four fingers and the thumb. After that was done, he put some liquid in my hand to remove the ink from my hands and then I was able to wash it all off.
After watching all those crime shows that criminals getting their finger prints done, I felt odd having my done for a normal reason and realizing that know my fingerprints will be in a database system. All this for a job!!!! Craziness!
The Differences
The Differences...
I love the reaction I get when people here find out that I am not originally from Modesto, California, or the West Coast. I get an even bigger reaction when they find out that I am from the Midwest, especially Iowa. Surprisingly, I find a few relocated Midwesterners here but most of them are native Californians.
One of the questions I get asked the most is what is the difference between here and home (Iowa will always be home to me!). Let me tell you, there are many differences, some very evident and others are subtle.
One of the biggest differences, the landscape! Here the foilage is sparse with very few leafy trees of the oaks and maples. I see very few evergreens but more palm trees. It is not every day that an Iowan drives his or her way to work along the foothills of two mountain ranges.
Then there are the weather reports. I do not hear much talk about humidity but I hear a few words that are uncommon to the Midwest and may not even be part of an Iowan's vocabulary. Seismic activity and elevation..two words that are not integrated into the nightly news in Des Moines but are definitely a must here.
Snow. In most people's minds, California is the land of eternal sunshine and snow is a bad word here. Another major misconception. This past weekend I heard a word that an average Iowan wants to put off hearing for months yet knows that it is inevitable. SNOW!!! This past weekend the forecast held snow predictions. The difference is here is that snow is more based on elevation than the state. The mountains were getting snow than the valleys.
One thing I miss about Iowa is thunderstorms. I loved waking up in the middle of the night to the low rumble of thunder rolling across the skies. I loved having my room illuminated in quick flashes as lightning burst forth from cloud to cloud. Then after a few moments of the thunder and lightning, I hear the patter of the rain as it hit the roof tiles and the street outside. This past weekend, I woke up in the early morning with the sound of familiar patter, rain hitting the roof outside my window.
The one thing that I have noticed and it bothers me a lot is the commercials that are being aired during prime-time and during regular shows that children can watch. Most of them are sexual in nature, especially about male enhancement. To me it just does not seem correct that such commercials should be aired as common thought without the effect to children. Then on the flip side, they have a commercial being aired about celibacy, children asking their parents to teach them to stay pure until marriage.
Life is different here but each place has its own beauty and promise.
I love the reaction I get when people here find out that I am not originally from Modesto, California, or the West Coast. I get an even bigger reaction when they find out that I am from the Midwest, especially Iowa. Surprisingly, I find a few relocated Midwesterners here but most of them are native Californians.
One of the questions I get asked the most is what is the difference between here and home (Iowa will always be home to me!). Let me tell you, there are many differences, some very evident and others are subtle.
One of the biggest differences, the landscape! Here the foilage is sparse with very few leafy trees of the oaks and maples. I see very few evergreens but more palm trees. It is not every day that an Iowan drives his or her way to work along the foothills of two mountain ranges.
Then there are the weather reports. I do not hear much talk about humidity but I hear a few words that are uncommon to the Midwest and may not even be part of an Iowan's vocabulary. Seismic activity and elevation..two words that are not integrated into the nightly news in Des Moines but are definitely a must here.
Snow. In most people's minds, California is the land of eternal sunshine and snow is a bad word here. Another major misconception. This past weekend I heard a word that an average Iowan wants to put off hearing for months yet knows that it is inevitable. SNOW!!! This past weekend the forecast held snow predictions. The difference is here is that snow is more based on elevation than the state. The mountains were getting snow than the valleys.
One thing I miss about Iowa is thunderstorms. I loved waking up in the middle of the night to the low rumble of thunder rolling across the skies. I loved having my room illuminated in quick flashes as lightning burst forth from cloud to cloud. Then after a few moments of the thunder and lightning, I hear the patter of the rain as it hit the roof tiles and the street outside. This past weekend, I woke up in the early morning with the sound of familiar patter, rain hitting the roof outside my window.
The one thing that I have noticed and it bothers me a lot is the commercials that are being aired during prime-time and during regular shows that children can watch. Most of them are sexual in nature, especially about male enhancement. To me it just does not seem correct that such commercials should be aired as common thought without the effect to children. Then on the flip side, they have a commercial being aired about celibacy, children asking their parents to teach them to stay pure until marriage.
Life is different here but each place has its own beauty and promise.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Faith, the Confident Belief
Faith… Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
• Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1
Faith. It is a word that I throw around in my everyday conversation. I used it when I taught others about God and the example of great people before us. I knew what faith is. It takes a lot to trust that God is God and that He sent His son to die on the cross. Faith shines bright when God has answered someone’s prayer and hope rises in those who are holding onto a promise.
Then I hear words of others who took a step of “faith”, sure of the hope they had that God told them to step and certain that God was with them. Their stories are amazing and awe-inspiring and hope filling. When I hear other faith stories, I desire my own story of faith and the fulfillment of God’s faithfulness to my obedience, my faith.
The one thing that is often times missed in the end stories are the moments of wondering, tears, and pleading with God to come through. The hardships are often times left out or diminished in light of God’s glory. I understand why. When God does something amazing in my life, all the agony, tears, and hardship that brought me to the moment fades in the light of God.
The past several weeks have been a trying time for me and my family. I knew without a doubt that I have made the right decision and that I obeyed God’s prodding, but the timing of answered prayer has not come in my timing. And it is testing my faith to its seems.
One of the trials that I am going through with my family is our house in Iowa. In the past, God has given us homes and sold our homes. We packed up the Iowa house and with beaming faith, we left it, believing that God will sell it. Of course, our time table is quite different than God’s. It has not sold yet and beyond that, we have had incidents from our neighbor and the city. The latest incident is our garage. It is officially condemned which means we have to tear it down and at least put up two retaining walls. That requires money which we are tight in that area.
The other one is jobs. I honestly did not think I would struggle hard to find a job but I am. Most of the places have not called me back. Others have told me that I am overqualified. I was offered a position at Target but they never called me back. I did get a job at a bookstore but that is in question if I pursue a full-time job.
So now it is getting tight and each day seems tighter than before. As each day passes, the conscious decision to trust God that He will not forsake us gets hard because my humanity wants to take over and somehow find a solution. Yet I am in a position to see God do something amazing and awesome in my life. The waiting is hard. The trusting is hard. My humanity threatens my faith but I have to let go. I have to choose to trust that God is bigger than me and that my situation is minor compared to other things. It is difficult to be so casual about it and let it go when fear knocks on my heart daily. But one day, I pray and hope that I can share with you the amazing story of how God was faithful to us as I stepped out in faith upon His direction.
• Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1
Faith. It is a word that I throw around in my everyday conversation. I used it when I taught others about God and the example of great people before us. I knew what faith is. It takes a lot to trust that God is God and that He sent His son to die on the cross. Faith shines bright when God has answered someone’s prayer and hope rises in those who are holding onto a promise.
Then I hear words of others who took a step of “faith”, sure of the hope they had that God told them to step and certain that God was with them. Their stories are amazing and awe-inspiring and hope filling. When I hear other faith stories, I desire my own story of faith and the fulfillment of God’s faithfulness to my obedience, my faith.
The one thing that is often times missed in the end stories are the moments of wondering, tears, and pleading with God to come through. The hardships are often times left out or diminished in light of God’s glory. I understand why. When God does something amazing in my life, all the agony, tears, and hardship that brought me to the moment fades in the light of God.
The past several weeks have been a trying time for me and my family. I knew without a doubt that I have made the right decision and that I obeyed God’s prodding, but the timing of answered prayer has not come in my timing. And it is testing my faith to its seems.
One of the trials that I am going through with my family is our house in Iowa. In the past, God has given us homes and sold our homes. We packed up the Iowa house and with beaming faith, we left it, believing that God will sell it. Of course, our time table is quite different than God’s. It has not sold yet and beyond that, we have had incidents from our neighbor and the city. The latest incident is our garage. It is officially condemned which means we have to tear it down and at least put up two retaining walls. That requires money which we are tight in that area.
The other one is jobs. I honestly did not think I would struggle hard to find a job but I am. Most of the places have not called me back. Others have told me that I am overqualified. I was offered a position at Target but they never called me back. I did get a job at a bookstore but that is in question if I pursue a full-time job.
So now it is getting tight and each day seems tighter than before. As each day passes, the conscious decision to trust God that He will not forsake us gets hard because my humanity wants to take over and somehow find a solution. Yet I am in a position to see God do something amazing and awesome in my life. The waiting is hard. The trusting is hard. My humanity threatens my faith but I have to let go. I have to choose to trust that God is bigger than me and that my situation is minor compared to other things. It is difficult to be so casual about it and let it go when fear knocks on my heart daily. But one day, I pray and hope that I can share with you the amazing story of how God was faithful to us as I stepped out in faith upon His direction.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
San Francisco
I don't know what it is about this city, but I enjoy visiting it every chance I have. This past weekend, my parents and I journeyed over to the city. The pulse, the energy, the city itself is so much fun to be surrounded by it all.
We made the day into an adventure so we decided to take the ferry from Oakland into Pier 41 in San Francisco. The Bay Bridge or Oakland Bridge was closed for the holiday weekend. They had removed 300 feet of bridge so they could replace it. But the ferry ride was so much fun! Being out on the water and pulling into the piers at the Ferry Building and Port of San Francisco and Pier 41 made the day perfect before it even began.
We walked Pier 39 which is one of the biggest tourist place in San Francisco. A person can rent bikes to tour the city or ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Other activities include buying tickets for cruises along the bay, tour of Alcatraz Prison, ferries to Angel Island or Sausilito and other options.
If you listen closely, you can probably hear almost every language in the world. People from all over the world come there to visit and their native language mixed with the regulars makes this place a virtual world in itself. I have heard Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and other languages by just walking the pier.
The biggest attraction at this pier are not the fancy tourist stores, the boats, the restaurants but more a native of the bay. The sea lions. They have their own homes in the pier and they are so fascinating to watch.
More than 50+ sea lions call Pier 39 their home. The city has placed floating ramps for these animals to lay out in the sun or sleep. You can hear their honking across the pier so you know they are there. Once you are there, you will see a mirade of responses of the sea lions. Some are sleeping, others are sunning. Some are standing on their fins honking at the visitors while others are fighting against one another. Some slip into the water while others jump onto the ramps. The one thing that cracks me up is their fighting. This past weekend, I watch two sea lions play King of the Mountian on one ramp. They were the only two on the ramp and yet one sea lion would not share it with another. They would shove, push, butt the other one until one of the fell off. It was quite an interesting site.
This time they had babies at the ramps. I watched one little sea lion swim through the water. He got to the ramp in front of me. He wanted so badly to get on it but I do not know if he was just too tired or the ramp was too high. He would put his head on the corner and just sit there for a moment. The a little fin would come up on the ramp, yet he just could not get up. He finally went to another corner that was resting in the water and pulled himself up on the ramp. He found a spot to rest on the ramp and stayed there.
Ferry ride. Great lunch. Sourdough bread. Just walking the strip. Watching the fog roll in throughout the bay. It was a great day. I love San Francisco.
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