Well, ditch that because we have 9 months to
Last year, when we got back from Maui, Chloe and I were both supposed to have jobs lined up, but neither of us did. We both spent a lot of time job hunting; praying, asking around, submitting applications at anywhere we thought could conceivably consider hiring us (because we were desperate at that point and didn't hardly care if all we could get was a job at a fast food place), anything we could think of.
In the meantime we worked on things we could do from home like the baking business (mainly cinnamon rolls) that Chloe worked on and online work that I was able to do, plus babysitting, doing laundry and cleaning for a family, etc. (I think I covered that stuff in previous posts, but I don't remember.) And we kept praying, a lot.
In January someone told me about a whimsical coffee shop that was supposed to open in Argyle soon and suggested I apply. I sent in my resume as soon as I could and prayed really hard. It would be the perfect job for me (except for nannying, that's the really perfect job), and I got really excited about the idea the more I thought about it. But I also had tons of peace, if that's where God wanted me to be then I would be really excited, but if I never heard anything back I was okay too, knowing that He would have something better.
A full week later I got called and had a short phone interview, followed by a request to come in for an in person interview a couple days later. They asked me to dress whimsically, however I wanted to interpret that. Since I have more than 2 feet of hair, Rapunzel seemed like the obvious choice. I didn't have any mice friends to whip me up a dress or anything, (and I was doing a no-spending-January challenge) so I got creative.
The interview went pretty well, I thought, but I had no idea what to expect. They asked me to come again for another interview a few days later and then they would decide, they told me. So on Friday, after a week of interviews (it felt like), we finished and they asked if I would like to work for them. I almost screamed I was so excited! It took just about all the self-control I had to keep from doing cartwheels down the sidewalk as I went to my car and once I was in it I really did scream.
And thus began my job at Kimzey's Coffee Shop (or Coffee Cottage, that's what I call it). All of February we had barista training, and then in March we opened! I thought I knew a lot about coffee, but after the first day of training I realized I knew nothing and that the process was going to probably turn me into a coffee-snob, as well as make me get over my slight issue with germs since all 28 of us drank out of the same coffee cup all day sampling different coffees. Not kidding. Eight months later I can tell you that it worked! I can drink and eat after most anyone without a third thought (I still might have half of a second thought).
In February Chloe got a job working with horses at a ranch and was equally excited, if not more so, since this was pretty much a dream come true for her. Just as perfect as the coffee shop job was for me, was this job for her and if we traded places we would both die. Probably literally. Instead of a week of interviews, she got a tour of the place and a "when can you start?" so that was awesome! We were both so grateful for God's perfect timing and agreed that the wait was so worth it, being now in jobs that so well suit our personalities and interests, something that neither of us take for granted.
Gabe has continued his gymnastics career and is doing really well! He finished the competition season with 30+ medals and an eight-pack (in addition to a lot of other muscle definition and impressive strength). I think his last meet was in March and he got to travel to south Texas for 2 meets. Competing makes him really nervous and he is very hard on himself, wanting to do everything perfectly, but overall he has learned a lot and is doing great. All Summer he was in the gym 12 hours a week and spent most of his time at home upside down in a handstand, or practicing his tricks. He has his new fall schedule and will start competing again once we get home (we are in Maui right now). He loves to show off for people and flex...a lot...
In addition to working at Kimzey's 20-35 hours a week, I've continued nannying for Kate and Blaire one or two times a week. One day their dog brought me a rat (not a mouse, I know the difference, it was a rat) and dropped it at my feet IN THE HOUSE!!!! After internally freaking out for 30 seconds and wracking my brain trying to figure out what to do next (thankfully it was dead), I put Kate and Blaire in their beds and then went to find the very pleased with herself dog and dragged her over to the rat and eventually got her to pick it up and take it back outside. Then I had to call the neighbor to get some really strong cleaner to kill the germs. The rest of the day the dog was banished outside and I kept the girls away from the spot. Of course, everyone I told said it was probably just a mouse and I should be proud of the dog. So I went on an excursion outside to find proof.
Blaire loves to be close.
I still draw portraits, at the rate I'm going, though, only two a year..... One of Mom and Dad was my Christmas gift to them, but I started it on Christmas Eve, so, uh, obviously it wasn't finished. Here is Dad's eye and I was really not smart and made the whole portrait way too small, that is my finger.
I finally finished it in March,
the whole thing is as big as my hand.
When Beauty and the Beast came out, Chloe, me, and several other girls from our church dressed up and went to see it one night. We had a fabulous time and even had enough courage to go into Chick-fil-a in all our finery.
Fresh from the bath.
Sweet, sweet sisters.
Gramma and Grandpa came to see me at work!
Ava has been quite the little entrepreneur this year (although she is growing a lot and isn't that little anymore, her hands and feet are almost as big as mine and she is as tall as I was when I was 14!). She began creating cards and currently has them in two stores, including Kimzey's!
In addition to the adorable cards, Ava has been making sea glass jewelry and is working on a mother's helper business. Right now she is in the process of advertising and conducting costomer surveys, pretty impressive for a 12 year old!
One Sunday night we all worked together to make a Babe's dinner at home, complete with chicken fried steak and amazing biscuits!
When you have no idea your picture is being taken...
My favorite positions at work are drive-thru and in house ordering, I love interacting with people and spreading smiles, because who doesn't smile when someone gives them coffee?!
Inside Kimzey's.
It's yellow! Inside and out, and I love it!!
Kate and Blaire came to see me one day!
For several months Blaire would wake up before Kate
and she and I would doze on the couch together.
Sometimes you have to ditch your afternoon plans and just take your siblings to the library and park instead. (Trust me, you won't regret it.)
When you only want a little bit of ice cream...
because you're going to eat a bowl of Blue Bell at home.
(Let's be real...)
Towards the end of May, Mom and Mia went for a trip to Virginia to see her sister and nephews, and Chloe left for two weeks at Summit Ministries which is the student worldview and leadership conference I went to last summer. I almost went crazy without her, I missed her sooooooo much!!!!
A couple days later, on my way home from work, a lady in her suburban backed into me going 30ish mph as I was waiting to pull onto the road.
It took me a second to realize that the impact I felt and the horrible crunching were from someone hitting me. Then I had to think about what to do next. Eventually I realized I couldn't drive away and put my Rav4 in park, turned it off, and got out. I was terrified the other person was hurt and called to them right away. The lady who hit me I guess had the same concern and once we both knew the other was okay, we looked at my car and my heart sunk. It was worse than I thought it would be. Pieces had come off my car and it was pretty smashed up. My rear light was totally busted. Thankfully, her suburban only had a little of my black paint on her white paint. Her bumper did it's job.
She felt awful and kept apologizing, I was smiling and telling her it was totally fine, no one was hurt, I was okay. (I think it helped me a lot knowing it wasn't my fault.) Those who saw it asked if we were okay and if we needed anything. Outside of God giving me an incredible about of grace, I have no idea how I was so calm. It didn't even occur to me to cry. I'm glad I wasn't upset because it probably would have made the lady feel even worse. She took full responsibility and gave me her number and insurance information. I had never been in an accident before with another person, but I was pretty sure that's all I needed.
I tried to call Dad, but he didn't pick up and I was NOT going to leave a voice message saying I'd been hit, so I drove home, thanking the Lord for watching over me.
I parked and went to see how Dad's morning had been and then asked him to come see my car, saying I'd gotten hit. I guess the way I explained it on our way out didn't make it sound too bad because he had a pretty strong reaction when he saw it.
Insurance said they would take care of it and would get me a rental car. The next day they towed it and because both Mom and Chloe were gone I had access to their vehicles until we got the rental.
Insurance only covered me getting an intermediate something or other, but the rental company was out of those, so they were going to give me a basic(?). Then when they were pulling their last one of those around a warning light came on, so I drove away with a 2017 Toyota Camry, praying I wouldn't hurt it and also feeling really classy. My favorite parts were the leather seats and the bluetooth that connected to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack and Bethel music I had on my phone.
I got to spend a day with Gramma to start a quilt for my hope chest.
Some of Chloe's and my favorite memories from being little involve going to Southlake Town Square with Mom and Dad and getting Jamba Juice to drink by the fountains. Sometimes we threw pennies in it, and we always walked along the edge and put our hands in the water. Usually we did cartwheels in the grass.
I took a walk down memory lane.
Mom, Dad, and I got to go to a wedding for a girl I grew up with. We have been friends with their family for over 20 years. It was really special for us to get to go together and we all cried. At the reception one of my friends dragged me kicking and screaming protesting to the dance floor. She had no mercy and totally pushed me out of my comfort zone. It was kinda fun though. Mom and Dad got off easy.
Happy to get to dress up for the wedding.
Once Chloe returned from Summit we were able to have her graduation ceremony at our house. It was so special to have 52 of our family and friends there to celebrate her accomplishments with us.
All the girls wanted me to do their hair, Chloe included. So two hours later I concluded I had probably arranged at least 7 feet of hair between the 4 of us sisters.
Horses + books = Chloe
She picked a really good dessert.
Sharing special thoughts.
Mia delivering the congratulations speech she wrote.
Grandfathers praying blessings.
Christian got to go on an 8 weeks missions trip with Teen Missions International this summer. Before he left we went out to dinner at Babe's (we didn't want to do all the work of making it ourselves this time).
Gabe and Mia being cute before we left.
A few days later he headed out.
Blaire turned 1!
After one of our small group gatherings at our house, one of our photographer friends took pictures of Chloe and me.
One week this summer our Hawaiian friend Caeley came to visit. She and Ava had so much fun together and one day Mom and I took the two of them to Waco.
Warming their faces with chicken biscuits.
We left at 6:00 in the morning and it still took us over 3 hours to get there.
Of course we went to Magnolia.
Swings are so relaxing.
And Common Grounds because, coffee.
We enjoyed walking around some antique malls as well and eating good food at a tea house. Caeley said all the wide open space on the drive was like a movie.
When Chloe bakes anything.
Christian had two weeks in Florida at "Boot Camp" with his team of 12 and his 3 leaders. After lots of good training for being on the mission field, including sleeping in a tent, having no technology whatsoever, bathing and washing clothes in a bucket, and running an obstacle course daily, they loaded up in an old bus with no air conditioning and started driving to Arizona to work for 5 weeks on an Indian reservation. Their route just so happened to pass right by us and they got to stop for the afternoon on July 4!
The bus.
We were all so excited to get to see Christian and to get to meet his team. The main leaders were a couple with 4 children who stayed with the team the whole time. It was a very full bus. As many of our extend family that could, came to help us prepare food for 50ish people for lunch and dinner.
The team arrived around 1:00 and were excited to eat and jump in the pool. We borrowed a volleyball net from a neighbor and had fun playing that some. It was so fun to get to know the team and leaders and hear about their first two weeks. They were all so excited to shower and get their travel clothes washed before they left around 7:00, I think.
We got to clean up and debrief with family, then enjoy the 360 degree firework show on the horizon that lasted until midnight.
I took this laying in my bed.
Seven weeks and two days after I got hit,
I finally got my car back!
I was so happy to have it back, especially since they almost
totalled it. (That's when I cried.)
You know you live in Texas when the driver
uses hot-pads on the steering wheel.
My small group buddy.
I love the sunsets we see!
Begger Blaire, you'd think I never feed her.
Kate came to see me at Kimzey's again and got her own "coffee".
Mom and the littles went on a road trip for a week or so leaving just Chloe, Dad, and me at home. We all had grand ideas about how productive we would be while they were gone. It certainly was very, very quiet. After they left on Sunday Dad and I got to sit in the living room and just talk for hours which was so sweet.
Chloe and I went out to see "Wonder Woman" together when it came out and then met Dad for dinner at Chipotle. We both really enjoyed the movie, even though she understood it better than I did. Probably because she had her eyes open more than I did.
We watched a movie most every evening and never ate dinner before 8:00. Dad and I missed lunch every day, even though Chloe told us to eat. Oh, and there was some ice cream...
The following weekend Chloe and I headed out for our first sister road trip. We drove to Georgetown to spend time with friends we hadn't seen in about 4 years.
It was really fun to reconnect with the family. We had dinner, played games, went for a very dark walk, and taught each other different types of dancing; they knew how to waltz, we knew how to swing dance.
The next morning I got up pretty early, because I work mornings at a coffee shop and am almost always up early now. I tried to sneak outside to read my Bible, but the youngest found me and kept me company until everyone else was up. It's okay, he was pretty cute and I enjoyed the morning light.
The main event we had come down for was a barge party on the lake with a church group. Neither Chloe nor I had ever been on the lake before.
We had a lot of fun, although swimming in water that we couldn't see through was kind of disconcerting, especially since the fish liked nibbling on us, and I get scared easily, especially when people swim underneath me. Thankfully my screaming is evidently entertaining, hence the effort on the part of others to startle me.
The main way to get into the water was jumping off the top deck, which was fun and terrifying at the same time. Chloe made me very proud when she jumped over and over again, even getting second place with the biggest cannon ball.
I screamed the first time I jumped and then had to get up my courage to go again, this time announcing I wouldn't not scream, but when I got up there and started to jump and one of the guys yelled, "I'll catch you!" I screamed, "NOOOO!" and flailed very ungracefully, despite the fact that he was nowhere near me. The entire group said it was the best moment of the entire 5 hours we were out there.
A few days later Kate and Blaire came to swim with us which was so fun and incredibly cute.
After 5 weeks on the mission field, Christian's team drove back to Florida and stopped at our house again, this time for overnight. It was so awesome to get to see all of them again and hear some about their experiences. They had all grown really close.
We fed them and they swam again and got real showers and clean clothes. The girls and leaders' family slept next door and all the boys and a leader slept all over our living room. Before bed they had their routine exercise and wrestling time, which Gabe enjoyed taking part in and us girls gladly excused ourselves from.
The next morning our whole house smelled like boys. Thankfully these boys like showers and LOVE body spray (maybe a little too much). It wasn't bad, but it was funny, and very unusual for our mostly girl house.
They spent the morning with us and then headed out around 11:00 after lots of pictures and hugs and some tears and a lot of noise. All the girls wanted me to braid their hair to keep them cool, which was really fun for me.
He grew!
A bizarre sunset. This was during a storm.
I got to put together and teach several Bullet Journal Basics classes at Kimzey's. So many people have asked about how I do mine and after the 12th person, it occurred to me a class could be a good idea. It was so much fun for me to work on!
When Chloe and I have a girl's night.
Sunshine at Kimzey's.
When you work at a coffee shop
and they send you home with day old
treats they can't serve anymore.
Coffee while I work on my college class for the fall, economics.
Chloe and I both are taking one online class this semester and I took a summer class. We are continuing to take them as we have time and can afford them.
Kimzey's has started doing a Tuesday morning reading hour for kids and they asked me to be the reader! I haven't lost my voice doing it yet, but it's been close! I love the hugs I get and feel bad when I can't let them sit in my lap. One day we read the same four books 2.5 times through!
I have several photographer friends and I enjoy helping them out,
so I get free pictures!
These aren't actually my boots and they were too big,
but Justin Boots saw this picture on my friend's Instagram
and asked if they could use it on their website.
So now I am a boot model!
(Sort of.)
Studying after work, because, coffee.
Anytime I eat anything. (Yes, I share.)
Another girl's night! Captain America is about
the only Marvel Movie I sort of get.
A long time ago, 16 years to be exact ish, I cut Chloe's long hair and gave her a bob. In my defense, I had no idea cutting hair changed how it looked. I saw Mom get her hair cut and it never looked any different, so when I cut Chloe's hair and saw it fall off, I was surprised. She took over and made it way worse and I did try to stop her... Anyways, we both got in trouble and I never cut her hair again. (Or mine.) Well, she decided to cut her own hair, but cutting your own hair is hard and I begged to fix it. She finally agreed.
Her "don't mess this up face".
She told me not to bob it when I picked up the scissors.
When I started I thought, "Oh, this is actually way harder than I thought it would be..." Halfway through I got the hang of it and said out loud, "Hey, this looks pretty good!" Chloe said, "Uh, you should not sound surprised..."
We were both pleased with the result!
I'm still babysitting for Nana and Grandfather's small group. I had to take a break during the spring semester because of a night class, but I went straight back as soon as I could.
Baby Ethan has joined the group!
Blaire and Ethan, 1 year old and 2.5 months old.
All in all 2017 has been really good so far! Dad and Mom had their birthdays this summer and continue to do a wonderful job raising us. Dad is doing great with his work designing custom homes. Mom is fabulously managing our home and supporting Dad. They still lead a small group for church and bless people with their wisdom and insight.
Gabe is 10 now and in fifth grade, doing gymnastics, and still loving legos and history stories. He has also joined the rest of his siblings in the love to read club and has taken over Christian's business of pulling peoples' trash cans to the curb and back for them.
Mia just turned 8 and is very tall. She is technically in third grade, but she is doing fourth grade math and fifth grade reading... She loves everyone and really wants a job. She thinks a lot and reads a lot.
Chloe just turned 19 so we are both the same age right now! She has her job at the ranch and her class and still loves reading and writing.
Christian will be 17 soon and is now 5'11" and still growing. After arriving home from his missions trip, which he really enjoyed, he got a job working as an assistant to one of our neighbors in his business and is enjoying that. He and Ava both will do stuff with speech and debate again this year.
Ava is 12, but will be 13 by the end of the year. She is in seventh grade and is enjoying working on her business.
I've been pondering...
The journey is the destination. Not turning 21, not graduating, not getting married, not becoming rich, not having everything you want, not tomorrow, not yesterday, the whole process. I'm learning how to change my perspective on life with this in mind. The season I am in I will only be in one time. Once I move on from here I can't come back. And while looking back to enjoy the memories and remember the lessons is good, I have to enjoy the experience of right now.
The simplest things in life give me so much joy; rays of shimmering sunlight and pearl tinted buttercups especially.
Something that the Lord has repeatedly placed on my heart the past two weeks is to enjoy each moment as I am experiencing it and not to be in a hurry for the next thing. Even in the midst of so much going on in my life right now, when I focus on being present in the moment and choose to enjoy it (even if I'm studying or waiting in traffic or cleaning up a mess) I find that there IS joy everywhere and simple things can be special.
I feel like I'm always stressed, almost no matter what my circumstances are. Being a worrier is not my "badge of honor", it's part of my struggle and I pray daily for God's peace to replace my tendencies to be worried or stressed. I KNOW He is faithful, and I've EXPERIENCED that faithfulness many times, but He is still working things in me. I'm so far from perfect, but by His amazing love and grace He sees me through the "lens" of Christ who has taken all my sin and shame!
Focusing on what's right in front of me and choosing to enjoy it has reduced some of my stress. It's hard to enjoy time spent at work (for example) if I'm worrying about studying for the test I have to take later. Worrying about it does nothing and I miss out on the opportunity to connect with those around me because my mind is cluttered with frazzled, worried thoughts.
I don't know if this will be encouraging to any of you, but I hope it is. Enjoy the moments right in front of you, connect with the people around you, don't miss the things the Lord might want to show you, and smile because that can change someone's day.
The Herd: Quoted
"What kind of eggs are you going to have this morning?" -Mom
"Chicken..." -Mia sighing dramatically
"I don't know, I'll have to check the wedding- I mean- the weather." -Me
"Kate and Blaire should be your flower girls, Lydia!" -Ava
"Yeah, and you should curl all your golden locks, and put flowers in it, and wear a beautiful dress, and then you will be perfect for your wedding." -Gabe
"Y'all know that this event will not be taking place for at least two years, considering the fact that I haven't even met the guy yet, right?" -Me
"Yeah, we know. But HURRY UP!!" -Gabe
"Ava, come braid my hair." -Christian
"I don't think Gabe wants to go to Disney." -Mom
"Mother, you shouldn't just assume that!" -Probably Chloe
"Well he didn't want to eat dinner..." -Mom
"The only thing dinner and Disney have in common is the letter d." -Me
"And I and n and e." -Chloe
"I tried." -Me
"Gabe was actually way better at physical contact and won the fight." -Gabe
"Physical combat." -Ava
"I know what I want to be when I grow up, a goober driver!" -Mia
"An Uber driver?" -Mom
"These have been professionally iced, sprinkled, and impaled." -Ava talking about the cupcakes she made.
"Some people have work tomorrow." -Chloe protesting staying up late.
"Just you." -Me
"And dad. And mom has to function." -Chloe
"I like that. I don't have to work, just function." -Mom
"Your hair is out one window and in the next." -Ava as I am leaning back to take a picture of Chloe in the car.
"As soon as I took a shower the sun came out!" -Me
"Yeah I wish you had taken one sooner then we could have gone swimming way earlier today." -Dad
"Stop! This is the oldest I have ever felt in my entire life!" -Uncle Phil as Gabe finished showing off at a family gathering.
"This is the oldest you have ever been!" -Me
"If I ever have three pigs I am going to name them breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they are just so good!" -Gabe completely out of the blue (and we almost never eat pig products).
"Did you just marry Da- oh, no you didn't, he didn't have any back then." -Gabe starting to ask Mom if she married Dad because of his muscles.
"I was thinking maybe we could snuggle for a little bit." -Mia to Mom.
"You had your eyes closed during Wonder Woman?" -Chloe
"Well yeah!" -Me
"There was nothing to be sacred of!" -Chloe
"Uh, blood!" -Me
"There's wasn't even that much..." -Chloe
"Well I wound't know, my eyes were closed!" -Me
k so I read the whole thing XD
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