It was a wonderful, balmy 38 degrees outside and we were ready to play. We went to Collier Drugstore and Josh ogled vintage camera equipment. Then we went to Dickson Street Bookstore (or Labyrinth, as my dad says) and shopped. I love that place! They had rearranged the kids books and I found loads of books to take home with me…but only bought one for me and one for a friend (this time). I also got to show Josh around most of the store…he had never made it past the photography books up front! I had a blast. After that we headed over to Mellow Mushroom and ate some delicious pizza.

We made it home and watched the movie Josh rented: The Social Network. Though I believe it should really be called: The Social (Justin Timberlake!) Network. Seriously. There was altogether too much of him in that movie. I think my opinion is partially shaped by the fact that the character he played was a smarmy, money-grubbing sleaze-bucket. There was one scene where Guy-who-looks-like-Michael-Cera and New Spiderman were having an intense conversation and Justin Timberlake kept popping up– he was completely unnecessary to the scene at that point. I half expected them to cut to him and he’d be dressed in a cup-o-soup costume singing, “Give it on up to Homelessville.” But I liked: 1. New British Spiderman, Andrew Garfield. He did a very good job and played the most sympathetic character in the bunch. 2. The dialogue, which was paced like a Gilmore Girls episode. I think that is Aaron Sorkin’s style.  3.  That they made a Karate Kid joke about the twin blonde crew rowers who were whiny villains, and had the whiny villains make it themselves.  That was my favorite of several witty, fun jokes.  4. The psycho girlfriend was on the Disney channel.   Over all it was an enjoyable movie. I’m not betting on the story to be reliably true and I didn’t find it inspirational or uplifting but I wasn’t expecting  Stand and Deliver.  This was more like Summer School (plus Gilmore Girls and now with more depositions! I couldn’t find the video for that one but it’s still fun. Not included, “EMILY: Hang on a second, Lorelai. I just want to skip to the Ben Hur reference.”)

Here you go:

1. Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Bobby McFerrin
2. I Believe in a Thing Called Love
The Darkness
Best part of this one? The way he yells, “Guitar!” Right before the guitar solo.
3. Mercy
Duffy
4. Jungle Drum
Emiliana Torrini
5. My Life
Billy Joel

Complicated

Busy

Wonderful

Exciting

Mundane

Hilarious

Emotional

Fun

Fulfilling

Challenging

Happy

Things necessary to survive:

Coffee

Sleep

Compromise and Flexibility

Grace and Forgiveness

Prayer

Bacon

A sense of humor

I’ve been so busy lately with the business of living that reflection has taken a back seat.  I’ll aim to find more time to be contemplative.  For now this sleepy girl is contemplating a mug of tea and restful slumber.

Prince is currently set to release his latest album, “20Ten,” for free through various European print media, including the Daily Mirror and its Scottish affiliate, the Daily Record. Fans can snag their copy this Saturday via the different press outlets, but you they certainly won’t find any of the new material online.

Prince has banned both YouTube and iTunes from using his music, calling the web obsolete.

“The Internet’s like MTV,” he told the mirror. “At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers and that can’t be good for you” You can read the full article here.

So after that alarming bit of “wisdom”…I’m going to see what else Prince has to say about the world that might help us in these trying times.  He is obviously full of them, well…you get my drift. So here goes:

Are we gonna let the elevator
Bring us down, oh, no let’s go
Let’s go crazy, let’s get nuts
Look for the purple banana
‘Til they put us in the truck, let’s go

(Let’s Go Crazy 1984)

Little red corvette
baby
you’re much too fast

(1982)

If I gave you diamonds and pearls
Would you be a happy boy or a girl
If I could I would give you the world
But all I can do is just offer you my love

(1991…my problem is the ambiguity. If he doesn’t know. Well, in my book that’s odd)

Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world?

(1995…finally he gets one right! )

Joshua is off to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch for Dude Days. He’s having a blast with a bunch of guys doing guy stuff, and they got there during a snowstorm. Very manly. I sent Josh off with my car so I’m camped at his place to do all my crafting and other projects.

I’m currently listening to a new find of mine from amazon.com’s list of $5 albums. Taller Children by Elizabeth and the Catapult.   Think Patty Griffin, Fiona Apple, Carole King and Stevie Nicks and a few others I can’t quite put my finger on just yet. Very fun.

It may be a bit sparse on the posts over here for the next couple months but I’ll try to do better than the past month!

Here’s how it happened:

Joshua asked me to dinner for Friday night, but didn’t tell me where we were going. We both went to the fitness center after work. I had brought a bunch of stuff to get ready and I curled my hair (quite the undertaking but he was taking me on a mysterious date).

We drove to the Bentonville square which is all done up in white lights. He told me that we were going to eat at Table Mesa which is one of our favorite restaurants.  Josh parked on the far side from the restaurant, told me he had a present for me and sat me down on a bench with a wrapped gift.  I could tell by the feel of it that it was a picture frame. So I slowly unwrapped it wrong side up to buy him some time since he’d gone to his car for a moment.  He came back and I opened this:

On the matting he had written, “Marry Me” with the date and his signature.  I practically yelled, “YES!” and when I looked up he was kneeling with the ring box opened. I squealed– loudly.  Joshua laughed and said, “I haven’t asked you yet.”  Me: “But it says right here!”  He laughed again and said, “I love you. Will you marry me?”  To which I again replied yes, laughing and held out my hand.

Once that was settled he sat down beside me on the bench and we kissed and laughed. Joshua told me how he had been running around for the past two days prepping. We enjoyed the lights and then realized that we were both really hungry so we headed over to the restaurant.

Just as we walked in the door who should we see but Derek and Kiplyn Horn.  Derek is the pastor for the single’s ministry at our church, Fellowship Bible Church.  So we went over and shared the good news.

Dinner was wonderful we had an appetizer, carnitas and cocktails. Derek and Kiplyn were very kind and had desserts sent over to our table.  Joshua wanted to start planning right away so we talked wedding planning a bit over dinner.

To cap off the evening we headed to Borders for some Christmas shopping (I also picked up a Bride’s magazine, naturally).  Then we met up with our friends the Barans and the Burtons.  It was fun to share such a wonderful event with people who are so dear to me.

It looks to be a whirlwind engagement– I’ll keep you updated.  I am very blessed!

Joshua: Thank you. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you.

God has it all taken care of and I need not fret.  I started my new job the last day I received severance pay. I never had to live off of unemployment insurance, I have no gap in employment and I didn’t have to work anything out about my student loans– all bills paid in full on time. That was an amazing blessing and though I was prepared for things to be much more difficult– it worked out perfectly.

I know who I am, and I’m glad to be me. I spoke openly about my faith in interviews and how serving God by loving others is my motivation for work.  And surprise! It was well-received.

I may not see very far ahead, but I can see where I’ve been and where I am. I did not realize two years ago what working at Samaritan Community Center would be for me– seminary, missions field practice and quirky family all rolled into one. I have changed and become more myself because of the experience. I can see now that my time there has prepared me for where I am now. And I have to grand scheme or 5-year plan to credit with this– it is all God’s providential hand guiding (and  at times shoving)me to where He wants me. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

The “tactics” and resources I used in finding work:

1. I prayed. A lot. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

2.I made a list of places and people I should contact the very day I was laid off. May have been in shock at the time, but it proved useful.

3. I took some time to evaluate, mostly using this book: The Job Hunters Survival Guide

4. I made business personal. “Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”  I went door to door handing in applications, I called people, I sent resumes (last resort), I contacted friends, acquaintances and anyone I could think of to help me in my search. I used the knowledge I had about my field and community to find my niche.

5. I slept in. (It’s in that book)  There have to be some positive angles to not having a job. I was a well-rested but hard-working unemployed woman.

Thank you all who prayed for me and encouraged me in my job search! You are a blessing! You may collect your hugs whenever I next see you.

I am very thankful to be working at the NWA Women’s Shelter and I’m excited to see what God has in store.