say, "hey, it's a good day!"

A blog post? On a Monday morning? Yup. That's right folks. Thanks for noticing.

I thought I'd catch you all up on life and Operation "Every day is a good day". I can tell you are all excited about this one :)

The end of last week actually went quite well. There is something to be said about only two classes a day. It makes me feel like I'm not really busy...which ultimately is a bad thing for me. Cue Sunday night. I was at church until 9pm, then I came home to do homework...I think I was up until 11pm. Now, 50% of that was actual work. The rest, well...

Whilst at church though, I was able to talk to my friend who helped start Operation "Every day is a good day", and boy, did I lay into him. "Um, was it supposed to be this hard?" I asked him accusingly. I think he actually laughed a bit before he answered. "Yes. At least in the beginning it will be hard. But keep telling yourself, 'Every day is a good day' and eventually you will believe it. Some days you might not feel like it (At this point, he says the catch phrase with a grimace and made it sound like a few choice words were left out...). Say it anyway."
Through this whole exchange, I couldn't help but think of the phrase from 'Elizabethtown': If it wasn't this, it'd be something else. I always thought that was a stupid phrase, but really, I think it fits. If I could have found a parking space this morning, maybe my car would have been dinged in the parking lot (like I would actually notice). If it wasn't that, it could have been something much worse, and there are TONS of things worse than walking five minutes to a parking space, right? Of course right.
Today the Learning Center was (still is!) crazy busy. I had my first appointments of the semester and both went very well. I owe this, not to my insane English grammar & paper writing skills, but to my adjustment in attitude. I came in this morning and did my whole, "Oh poo. I have appointments? Ewww, gross." Then everyone was saying, "Um, Laura? That is your job. This is what we get PAID to do." That's when I realised I was being negative and that I needed a new outlook on life. I tried to pass my negativity off as joking (not sure if they bought it or not), and changed the way I was speaking. As I did this, it changed my attitude as well. Score one for Operation "Every day is a good day".
The rest of my day looks good. Well, except the part where I don't know what time my class starts. I left work in a tizzy after my last appointment, ran upstairs and planned on being a few minutes late for class. I walk in and, except for my professor, there was only one person in class.
" Tom", I say to my professor, "Class starts at two, right?"
"Naw" he says, "Starts at 3.30."
"Aww, crappers", says I.

But hey! I was early for class and THAT is a good thing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

However long our feet have walked on this world

We’ve all lived long enough to know

That sometimes life will go our way

And other times it won’t

But still I’ve got this joy inside of me

With each new dawn I do believe to

Say hey, it’s a good day

Even if things aren’t going my way

Jesus is Lord and I am saved

So, say hey, it’s a good day

Circumstance and situations change

You know life can turn on a dime

But there’s a constant hope and peace

That I have come to find

And it’s all because of who God is

And that He is alive and I am His, so

Say hey, it’s a good day

Even if things aren’t going my way

Jesus is Lord and I am saved

So, say hey, it’s a good day

We are all as happy as we make our minds up to be

I have just decided that nothing’s gonna take this joy from me

~FFH "Say hey, it's a good day"~

My Fickle Friend, the Summer Wind

Another semester has started. I already miss my summer!
Now before you start yelling at me, hold on just a second! I was working at the school all summer long! I only had one tiny vacation and...well, now I'm even annoying myself! Never mind.
I was lucky enough to take a ride to see my friends, who live near Hershey World, and spend the weekend away from home and thoughts of school. It was the best! Oh, did I mention my friend is a chef? So not only was I on vacation, I was eating good food whilst on vacation. And lest I forget, there was a Grind 'n' Brew coffee pot in the mix too! Coffee whenever I decided to roll out of bed AND good food. It was a much needed break.
But after I came home Sunday night, I had to think about school. I'm still finding the transition into academia a little bit harder than usual. Perhaps it is because this year is shadowed with the thoughts of a Spring graduation. Perhaps it is because I have, in my mind, the least marketable degree --English with a minor in Philosophy-- and am sure I will be living in a cardboard box. Perhaps it is because I do not trust...
Hard as the transition might be, I'm still the same old me. I just finished typing up a reflection paper. It's due at 3.30--I started it at 8AM. It is now 1pm and I don't really care if it's grammatically correct or not. Huzzah for Senior year.
I'm trying new things this year. Journalism for one. That meets in an hour. Another new thing is my fixing my outlook on life. The phrase is "Every day is a good day". Let me be perfectly frank with you: I am a confirmed cynic. If I don't hate the world before my cup of coffee, I hate it as soon as it wears off. If I still don't hate the world, watch out. There will be an event, any event will do-small or large- that will prompt me into the biggest funk you have ever seen. It could be no parking at school coupled with having to park on the street. It could be the way you looked at me after I tried to say something witty. It could be the way old co-workers treat me. Like I said, it could be anything. But after my weekend away and some advice from a friend, I was inspired to fix my view of things. He didn't exactly mention it would be this hard. He said it had it's problems, but I might be writing him with a refund check in mind for the last few days. That, or a demand for anther weekend vacation in the very near future.
If you see me and I look mad, talk to me. Ask me about the good things happening in my life. When I try to moan about my life, stop me. Seriously. If it takes all year, I will try to like life.

Off to lunch and socializing.
I did it.
That is something good about today.

What good things are happening in YOUR life? Tell a friend or enemy. Make them share one good thing with you too. ...Just humor me, okay?!

straight from God's iPod...

These past few days have been a time for me to re-learn & remember that God is in control of every aspect of my day. It started Sunday, then continued Monday with my muffler. Today and yesterday, I've had some insane swelling around my eyes for no reason. I've been feeling down about this and other things, particularly those to do with applying for a 'real' job. I turned on my Panodra radio this morning and created a new station-Lincoln Brewster. The first song was one I was listening to on Monday, "Today's the Day". Okay, thanks God. You made the day and everything in it. You know it's there, so I shouldn't have to worry. Then the next song, "Enough" from Chris Tomlin. Okaaay...I think I get it, God. You are all I need. You are more than enough for everything I need. I started to think that God was behind my Pandora station, just scrolling through his Heavenly iPod thinking, "How else can I remind Laura that I am with her, looking out for her, keeping her safe & orchestrating her day the way I have planned for it to go? Ah, how 'bout I play Third Day's, "Your Love, Oh Lord"? Sounds like a good plan..."
I have no doubt that this is what He did, because the song that just ended was another Brewster tune that said God would never let go of me. Amen & thank you Lord! Keep me caught in this moment where I am held in Your arms.

Every morning praise I sing to Thee
You're slow to wrath and
Swift to bless my soul
Your love endures unchanging
O hallelujah

CHORUS:
Cover me with Your grace
Shine on me with Your light
Take Your arms hold me tight
Keep me caught in the moment

Every night I pray myself to sleep
I look to You and plead
My soul You'll keep
You endure unchanging
O hallelujah

You've opened my eyes now
The mystery is clear to me
That in You and You alone
I find the love that sets me free

~Lincoln Brewster "Caught in the Moment"~

books, books, and mufflers

I should be grateful for all this down time at work so I can blog...but sometimes I'm not. I've actually been really busy these past few weeks. Instead of working with Inter-library loan, which used to be my main area plus all the shelving, I am learning the fine art of Technical Services this summer--along with the other work in ILL and Circulation. I do mean 'fine art' because a lot of the work is very tedious and I'm staring at a computer screen almost all day. It's not bad all the time--promise! It's been really interesting learning a new department of the library-and there are always some perks with new tasks. I get to look at new books and donated books in some of the work, so that is always a plus!

Speaking of books, the Friends of the Library book sale is the weekend!!!! I can't wait! I've been looking forward to this thing for over a year. Last year, I think I got 15 books for $20 -- and 90% were hardback! It was like Christmas! I have a new book bag to take with me and I hope it's enough! While I'd love to spend all my money there, I must save some of it for car payments. This brings up a whole other chapter in my life this summer, one I'm not very happy with. My UGLY 1991 Ford Tempo (affectionately named Viper by the one and only Heather Kiss.) has been givin' me grief for almost 5 months. First it was the expensive inspection (which I'm still paying off). Then, it didn't want to start right away. It wasn't the starter, because if you jiggled the gear shift and waited a while it eventually started. This got increasingly worse and after a visit to the best garage man ever, Viper was once again starting like clockwork. I've also been keeping an eye on the gasket head (I think that's what it is anyway) which probably needs to be replaced. Then, to put the proverbial 'icing on the cake', my muffler fell off Monday night. Well, it would be more accurate to say my muffler rusted off, because that is exactly what happened. After trying to get it off (and failing--but boy did I try!), a very nice man came over to my car and we had this conversation:

MAN: Hey, I see your muffler's hanging off your car there.

ME: (to self: No, really? Thanks!!!!! Is that what the large 'clunk' was about 30 min ago?)

(what I actually said) Yeah, it is.

MAN: Want me to give you a hand with it?

ME: Sure that would be great!

[2.5 seconds later]

MAN: (holding muffler in one hand) Where do you want it?

ME: (facepalm female fail) Let me get the trunk.

So now, for the second time in my life, my muffler is riding around in my trunk. But God has a plan, and worked out a way for it to get fixed this week WITHOUT the massive garage bill. Yay!

And really, that bit, the bit where God provided for me, has been the best part of my week. Even though, in order for that to happen, my muffler had to fall off first.

another day, another dollar...er, make that 50 cents

Another delightful day at work! (Yes, read that one: Another slow day with not much to do at work.) Today though, I am more than glad for it! I spent yesterday with Sonya, Jason and Meagan at Dorney Park and I am so extremely exhausted!
The day started sorta early (okay, so I guess leaving the house at 9AM isn't THAT early...) but since I didn't have to drive, it wasn't that bad. We made it to the park shortly after it had opened and it felt EMPTY! No, seriously, it was really empty. We went to the Ferris wheel first (I know, high thrills) to plan out our day and when we got there we all said, "Wait...is this ride open? No one is in line! Is there even a ride operator here??" The ride was open and there was a person (actually, two persons! I bet they had fun all day!) to operate the ride, even though it was a super boring one. We spent the ride contemplating the empty-ness of the park and comparing it to the one at Knoebels, that we didn't do a lot of planning.
We hit the Talon and a bunch of other roller coasters next. Even Sonya went on some! But, as Jason noted later in the day, "Sonya screams." This is very true, but we love her so it's okay. Jason doesn't ride the ones that spin around a lot, so after we did the Tilt-a-Whirl and a crazy one called the Enterprise (it made Sonya and Meagan Vulcans), we let Jason pick a ride. He picked the Log Flume. We all (at least us girls) had the one from Knoebels in our minds but when we left, well, let's just say it isn't the same! You got wet on this one BEFORE you get half way through it and no where near the last big plunge! I mean, there was a water fall on this one! I don't think we let Jason pick the next ride after that one.
Following our lunch at Burger Barn (where I was the only one who got a chicken wrap) we did the paddle boats at the edge of the park. This was the most exercise (besides walking the park) we got all day. It wasn't just me--it was really tough to paddle! After that, we were all pretty tired so we plotted out the last few rides we wanted to ride again. Steel Force was the last roller coaster of the day. Meagan and Sonya took a nap while me and Jason took our last 'high thrill ride'. (I'm not making this thrill level thing up. It's how Dorney classifies their rides. Seriously, look it up.) What they forgot to tell us was that after a certain time, they turn the coasters on 'turbo force' which makes them 10 times crazier than normal! We had trouble walking after that one. It shook us up, gave us headaches, and if it hadn't been for the seat belts and lap bars, we would have been riding home in an ambulance.
We made it home, all in one piece, and hung out by Jason's pool for a while. When we finally got to my house, I felt like I had been up all night writing a paper. I was so tired that I almost passed out on the living room floor. And let's not talk about how hard it was getting up for work today. Ugh. And while I'm dying for another cup of coffee, I picked up a book called "Buzzed" that dealt with all kinds of addictions, including caffeine. I learn that caffeine from coffee can affect the weight of my unborn baby, hurt my heart in excess and possible hinder my future efforts to have children. Score. Now I have a headache, am falling asleep AND have the seed of fear planted in my subconscious about future consumption of coffee. Thank you, you mighty printed word.
The day at work continues to be slow, but it's okay. I have a devotional to write for the church's advent collection due 30 June. I know. I can sense the shock in you all as you think, "Laura, you have 7 days still! Way to work ahead!" Let me stop that right now: I'm going on vacation this Friday, so it must be done by Thursday. See? I'm still the same old me :)

the girl who lived in the library...

Summer is now in full swing --and I have the pay checks to prove it! Well, I have the pay-stubs to prove it. Not quite the same thing, unfortunately.
Meagan came home the last day of finals week and I did my happy-to-see-you dance for her...as I wrote the conclusion for my last paper and headed out the door with a folder full of final papers to hand in. It is great having her home, though she is working like a ton and I hardly see her. She is going back to school next week to work at a theatre camp, but will be home again about a month before school starts. :)
My summer has been full of work, work, reading, and work. I started work the Monday after finals week, which seemed like a good idea at the time. It has all worked out though, and I would have just been lazing about if I had started work a week later. I made amazing book progress in those first two weeks of work. Finished "The Boneman's Daughter" (a birthday present) in 2 days! It is a must read for all of you DekKer fans! Also finished "The Historian", a much better alternative to the Twilight saga as it is about REAL vampires. That is, unless you like light and fluffy romance a la Stephanie Meyer.
Since Meagan is going to be gone over our regular family vacation time, we all (including Jason) took a bus trip to Cape May. I had a fantastic time, even if I did get a little burnt. Oh well. Cape May is a great little town that, of course, made me miss Brighton. Though, I must say, sand beaches are easier to walk on even if they are 10 times messier! Pictures to follow!
Lately, I've been listening to Leon Jackson, the winner of Britain's X-Factor. My dear friend Rachel got his CD whilst we were in London and shared it with me. Now all it does is remind me of Room 1.50 and King's Cross in Islington. So, excuse me while I go down memory lane, finish up my day at work, and then head out for the long-awaited girls night with Debbs.

I don't know if you can see

The changes that have come over me

In these last few days I've been afraid

That I might drift away

So I've been telling old stories singing songs

That make me think about where I came from

And that's the reason why I seem so far away today

So let me tell you that I love you

That I think about you all the time

Caledonia you're calling me

And now I'm going home

And if I should become a stranger

You know that it would make me more than sad

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

~Leon Jackson, Caledonia~

Quiet before the Storm

The end of semester is here! Whoo Hoo! I am so glad it's almost over, but I really wish I didn't have to write all these papers! Yesterday was my first final and I was writing about vampires, Frankenstein, and Ghosts for almost 2 hours. Yeah...that one was not so much fun. Today is my last final exam, and I must say, I'm a bit worried about this one. It should be a breeze, but...
Then the real work starts: paper writing. I have to write 1.5 more papers (it sounds less threatening to say it this way. If I said I had two papers, it sounds like I haven't done any work which just isn't true!) by Thursday at 5pm. I know it's do-able, but I really hate the stress associated with cranking out 4,000 words worth of paper.
As soon as school is over (!), I'll get back on here and give a proper update that will include summer things and most importantly, news of sister coming HOME! It's be waaaay too long!
Off to finish the coffee and pray that the sunshine stays!