Watch out for the flying banana peel...they can hurt.

This week has been good. I have met alot of people that work at Sycamore and they were all very nice to me. To be honest it was a little boring at times because I was observing. However, this next week I will actually train for my job so it should be at least busier.

Thursday night was warm so Jeff and I went to the Farmers Market. I was so excited bc I didn't have to bundle up. He was coming in town from a conference so we met downtown. I was a little frustrated bc parking is tricky, but once I saw him standing there with flowers in hand. .......it was all good. We ate at firestone, my absolutely favorite tri-tip sandwich, and then we walked the streets. We ended up with a 6 pound bag of clementines and a flat of strawberries...all for about twelve bucks. The fruit tastes so good. Reminds me of choir tour in Salinas.

Friday, Jeff met me at work and we ate at the Gardens Restruant. I get a discount since I'm an employee. It was a pretty day. We sat outside, ate alot, and laughed at how messy we are. The sirloin burger is really good. After work I came home and visited with Susie. (Be praying for her, they found a mass in her pancrease..she has an MRI on Monday.) Jeff and I decided to go to Barnes and Noble and chill for the night. But he wanted to stop by the auto parts store first. As he got back in the car I was finishing a banana. Since I had seen him throw an orange peel out earlier and say "it biodegratable"...I thought I would do the same. He ducked down and I flung it so that it would fly out his window. SLAP......HEHE BANANA PEELS MAKE THAT NOISE WHEN FLUNG ONTO SKIN....Jeff came up just in time to get smacked across the face. I laughed so hard....even now it makes me laugh. If only you could have seen his face. And then he is all...."what are you thinking...you can't throw a banana peel out the window!" I didn't really see the difference but I laughed forever on that.

Today we went to look at a truck just for fun. Turns out the guy used to be a pastor...it was fun to visit with him. And again be reminded that even though I "feel" alone sometimes...there are so many brothers and sisters in Christ around every corner. It is fun to be apart of God's family. Its big and diverse...and always growing and changing.

Day 1 on the job.

So besides kicking the dog's water this morning and spilling everywhere....Melodee changing clothes at the last minute. Everything went pretty smoothly.....basically I will travel the whole hotel to get an idea of what ever dept/person does. THEN next week I start training on my job. Interesting. God continues to remind me that so many need him......and as I hear their stories my heart hurts. Wondering do you know Christ? So maybe one day...I can share the ultimate story with them. The story of Jesus' love. For now I'm going to make a quick run to the store and then go home, maybe go for a walk, or just sit and listen to the secrets of the waves...and eat dinner with Jeff.

By the way, yesterday marked one month. So far so good. =)

Even weeds have flowers.

This weekend, I have been sad. What started out as a good sunny weekend, has turned into tears. Stupid. I keep trying to put my finger on it and come up with everything is new. And the only thing that is not new, is Jeff. So I just want to be with Jeff 24/7 but I can't bc he has school and big papers to write. I know this in my head but in my heart I struggle. I (being a girl) cry when he leaves or I drive home. I guess bc I don't feel like I have anything that is "mine." I don't have a place to just be...and then I got mad and upset yesterday bc I went to the beach to just sit in the sun and listen....I got mad bc it was freakin cold. I had on a sweatshirt and was still cold and yet to my amazement there are really stupid people in the water...which is also butt cold. So I sat there curled up in a tight ball bc I was cold........and finally decided to swing. There are swings right on the beach. It helped some but by the time Jeff got there (he ran ...I drove) I was sad and upset. And then the thoughts came....it is different here, and what about this job...I will probably hate it, what am I doing, and what the heck I don't even know what I want to be.......and on and on....so I cried. and then I cried more bc I ruined Jeff's day. This morning I awoke with the same feeling of tears...showered and went to church. I was late but oh well......I need to just be in church. I at least fit there...or it at least feels more normal.

Then I get mad at myself, Melodee you are stupid. Life is good. You live in a beautiful place, have a boyfriend that loves you and a god that cares for you. Get over yourself and be happy. So I write..and read...and try to listen. I don't have any answers but observations.

Yesterday I was sad ..thinking, sitting outside Jeff's place, asking God please...just let me see a window of you...of who you want me to be...help me to notice.....open my heart to you. Ok the only thing I notice were the weeds. Ugly weeds popping thru the concrete.....weeds are stupid. (by the way everything in my mind is "stupid" right now)....and then i noticed "even weeds have flowers." There were tiny yellow buds just waiting to open soon. I don't know if it is from God or just a Melodee moment but that is what I come back to.....This life is hard and annoying at times and we don't like when we don't know the plan.....or how things look or feel. Everything can seem so wrong.....lets face it People pull weeds. Bc they grow in places that they are not suppose to be but usually they keep coming back.......so even though my fears and doubts are ugly and keep resurfacing.....doesn't mean good can't be seen. Even the weeds in your life can point to God.....remind you of the good. Romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of those who love God." All things...even stupid tears, and stupid jobs, and stupid cold beaches and strangers you live with........sigh....even the junk in your heart and life can show you a truth about God or His word. Yes even weeds have flowers and as I drive and see a ditch full of flowers.....it is beautiful and reminds me to God cares and creates beauty. I think He may be saying...."hey dork...why don't you consider the lilies of the field.....and the bird of the air......do i not care for them.........don't worry silly girl. Just trust in my word and believe in my power. I got this."

So I ask God to help me not to cry but to see the good and trust in good. I ask that he protect my mind, and heart from satan..and his lies. Help me to see and believe truth.....and for today help me to have simple joy and peace. So I go with prayers in my mind and I will turn on some happy music in my jeep, find a sunny place, and rest. Hopefully by tongiht when I see Jeff, I will have found my "happy thought"

Stairs down the block that lead to a very small beach that is beautiful. Full of wonderful rock formations. 

The Freemont. Seriously this is the cutest movie theatre ever. The ticket booth is one person outside. And if you look close enough you can see a "Dee Dodridge" bike. Downtown is way cute. 

Close up to show off his good looks. By the way Blue has one blue eye and one brown. 

Blue faces northeast. You see there are mountains on one side of me and the coast on the other. God is good 

Blue looking south. Pismo Beach is in the distance. 

Interview was a trip

So yesterday I get the call to come and interview with the GM of Sycamore Springs. So I suit up, do my hair, and put on some heels. He comes to meet me and asks if we can talk in the restruant. Sure. (Now looking back I remember a girl mopping or something.) Yep you guessed it: a new shinning slick hardwood floor and Melodee's heels..not a good combination. My back foot flew out from under me. So (without thinking of course) I reached out for his arm (he was ahead me) and grabbed hold. I didn't wax but I instantly crack up laughing. Cool I almost wiped out. So much for being graceful. Good thing I didn't go for waitress. I didn't hear a word he said for about 5 minutes bc I just wanted to laugh really hard out loud.

Anyway so you would think I'm going for vice president here...they take their interviewing seriously. Anyway they are checking references (which seriously should have already been done) and then I should have a job. Praise. I have mixed feeling but I think its bc I just keep thinking ...this isn't my dream job. I don't know what I want to be ....and then I think I just need a job. You know go to work and come home. And good news I would not have to work weekends. Nice real nice. In the meantime, I am doing some extra work for Susie. A huge blessing. God is good and provides.

I'm trying to figure out how to upload picts .....but we will see how that works out.=) Big love ..melodee