Sitting in a fast food restaurant for dinner I noticed something, single people read when they eat. Staying in Milwaukee for the night for a class the next day, I went out to eat dinner. Sitting at the table alone eating, I pulled out my book to read. Turning the page I looked around the restaurant. In front of me a single guy was reading the paper, behind me an older gentleman was reading a book. Now my question is why? Why do single people eating in a restaurant read? Is it to make it less awkward for them? Possibly to avoid looking around and being noticeably alone? I think it is to avoid or fill the void of conversation that normally is there. Instead of talking to someone else who is obviously not there, we read.

It has been over a month since I last posted anything, so I figured I better post at least something. Schools are out and I have the whole summer off. No more calls at 5:30-6:00 to see if I can work. No more uncertainty as to when/if I will work that day. This also means the only income I will have is from my part time job at Family Christian Stores. Just enough to get by on for the summer in addition to my savings. I have been able to save enough money to take three classes this summer. I have a class that is two days long and starts on Wednesday and then another class that is three weeks long at the end of July through the second week in August. The other class I am working on is an independent class that I have a year to complete. The only thing I have left to do now in order to renew my teaching license is find a teaching job. I had two interviews so far, but did not get either job. I just keep plowing along filling out applications and mailing them all out. It is rather expensive, but you have to spend money to make money as Eddie always says.

AH, Spring!

I love spring. It has to be my favorite season, autumn is a close second. The weather is usually mild, no heat waves yet and cold snaps are over. The world becomes colorful again with the bloom of May flowers and the green leaves gracing the trees once more. New life is born to most animals this time of year. Driving to church the fields are dotted with new born calves, lambs, and colts. The birds fly back to nest and sing in the trees every night and morning. The sun rises earlier each day and sets later each night. I don't think I could ever live in Alaska to much darkness in winter, but summer would be great 24 hours of daylight, although . . . sleeping might be more difficult with all the sunlight. I like living were the season change live the ebb and flow of the tide.

Saturday Errands

I think that I have figured out one reason I'm single; I'm not very observant of guys flirting with me. I spent the day with Rachel running some errands. We got the oil changed, went grocery shopping, and then had to run to the hardware store to buy more nails. According to Rachel two of the three errands resulted in guys flirting with me. Now I must be pretty dense as I didn't notice anything. They were friendly, but that was all I noticed. Each time Rachel told me the minute we walked out the door that the guy was flirting.

Summer Classes

To renew my teacher's license I need to take 6 semester credits as well as an environmental class. One class that I want to take is 3 credits and offered over the summer for three weeks in July. This one class will cost me a little over $1,100. As a substitute teacher I have no idea when and if I will work during the month. Due to this, my income varies greatly month to month, so saving money can be a little difficult since I also have student loans to pay as well as car insurance. This evening I checked my savings balance and I have finally saved enough to take this class in July. I can't afford to drive to class every day and I can't afford a hotel for three weeks, so I still have more saving to do. But at least I can now afford to take the class, just not to eat or live during the three weeks. Could I live in my car? :)

Complete in Christ

I was reading on Colossians tonight and was struck by two very simple verses. "For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him. . ." Colossians 1:9-10. We are complete in him! How freeing is it to know that we are made complete in him. Nothing I can do, say, or accomplish can complete me, it is only in Christ that I am complete. Our world is constantly seeking to be complete. We are searching for something to fulfill us; make us feel complete, whole, and worth while. We are searching for something that we know is missing in our lives. We are not satisfied with what we have. We are always on the look out for that next new thing to make us happy and fulfilled, whether it be a new job, a new relationship, or a new toy we bought at the store. All these things leave us feeling unsatisfied. The new, bright shiny luster is soon lost and we are once again looking for that thing to complete us, but it is only Christ that can complete us. Plum, a christian band, has a song that speaks about a God shaped hole in all of us that only God can fill (complete). If I keep looking for something or someone else to fill this hole in my life I will continually be disappointed. Only God can fill that missing hole in our lives. We just have to open and willing to let Him fill that hole.

Missing Macedonia

I've gotten a little "home sick" for Macedonia the past few days. I miss my friends that I made and all the sights and sounds of the big city. Don't get me wrong, I love my little town and the quiet, but some times I just want to be around a mass of people and just watch them interact without participating. I loved the cafes around center. I could get a cup of coffee and just sit and watch everyone around me. I also miss walking around the Bit Bazaar and Old Town. Hearing the mingling of languages and the smells of the produce. I miss walking down the old uneven cobblestone streets and looking in all the store windows. The Kale on the hill over looking the town and the steps down to the Vardar, where I would sit and watch the people cross over on the old stone bridge. The best part was that I could walk anywhere in town or take the bus if I got tired.