Excuse me while I ramble.

"How long?" Sohrab asked.

"I don't know.  A while."

Sohrab shrugged and smiled, wider this time.  "I don't mind. I can wait.  It's like the sour apples."

"Sour apples?"

"One time, when I was really little, I climbed a tree and ate the green, sour apples.  My stomach swelled and became hard like a drum, it hurt a lot.  Mother said that if I had just waited for the apples to ripen, I wouldn't have become sick.  So now, whenever I really want something, I try to remember what she said about sour apples."

-The Kite Runner

This song has been stuck in my head all day. I couldn't sleep last night so I just put my iPod on shuffle last night and finished reading the Kite Runner.  This song came on and for some reason, I just broke down crying.  I don't know why.  Maybe it was just the book I was reading.  Sometimes I just think too much.
I dunno.  But now it's stuck in my head.

School is about to start.  I've been ridiculously busy with getting ready and finding a job.  Looks like I'll be teaching art and basic American History.  Neither are official as they are extracurricular classes for little kids.  But still, it's what I want to do for the rest of my life.  So I'm pretty stoked to be able to get a feel for it now.


This semester is going to be pretty busy.  Though I still haven't worked out the kinks, this is roughly what my week will look like:


Monday: Class from 8am-2pm. Dance from 4-8
Tuesday: Work from 9am-3pm. Class from 6-9
Wednesday: Class from 8am-2pm. Dance from 3-5. Bible study at 7.
Thursday: Work from 9am-2pm. Dance at 7.
Friday: Class from 9am-12pm.
Saturday: Dance from 9am-12pm.


Not really sure why I'm blogging this.  More for myself really.  I guess I needed to see it all laid out.  But now that I really look at it, it's not that bad.  Yes, this is one of those "type whatever pops into my head" sort of posts.  I'll probably be doing that a lot now that I won't really have time for a daily photo journal.  Honestly, it can be easier to just ramble.


I don't really know why you people read this, but I'm probably killing whatever reason you have.  Oh well.


Also, while typing this, I got an email notifying me that one of my students has Asperger syndrome. I don't know why, but this makes me excited.  I'm not happy because of his condition. I guess I'm just happy that maybe I'll be able to make a difference in his life.  I don't know.


I guess I'm also excited because I feel like God is telling me something in this.  Recently, I was feeling discouraged regarding my future and what God is calling me to do.  I had a conversation with someone who has been teaching for a really long time and he was telling me how much the system is changing and that I need to be careful when going into this field because there is very little profit and very little chance of actually getting a job.


But after that conversation, a ton of different things happened that made me even more certain than before the conversation took place.  The Sunday following that conversation, my pastor was talking about the importance of children. The importance of teaching them and guiding them and not viewing them as nuisances, but examples of the kind of faith we should have.  I dunno.  It just seemed weird he'd talk about children and teaching right after that conversation.  Then later that week, I was offered a job with teaching and childcare.


I dunno.  Maybe I'm crazy, but I just feel like God is in it.  And I'm really stoked.

August 12.

My brother is having an Eagle Scout project fundraising carwash tomorrow. We helped make signs.

My cat has recently picked up the habit of immediately laying on/falling asleep on any project you're working on, any board game you're playing, or any book you're reading.  Though, it's hard to get annoyed at a cuddly, three legged cat.  He definitely uses it to his advantage.

Mississippi State University.

Drove up to Mississippi with Kyle to help move her into her dorm room. It was fun, but sad. She was homesick the second we arrived. But she's a cool girl, she'll get acclimated quickly.

I tried turning both of these into panoramics, but picture #1 was a complete fail.

BEFORE

AFTER

Haters can hate, but I love this song.

I'll doze off safe and soundly, but I'll miss your arms around me. I'd send a postcard to you, dear, 'cause I wish you were here.  I'll watch the night turn light-blue, but it's not the same without you.  Because it takes two to whisper quietly.

The silence isn't so bad, 'til I look at my hands and feel sad.  Because the spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly. I'll find repose in new ways, though I haven't slept in two days.  'Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone

But drenched in vanilla twilight, I'll sit on the front porch all night; waist-deep in thought because when I think of you, I don't feel so alone.

As many times as I blink, I'll think of you tonight.

August 8.

After a lunch at Olive Garden in honor of Kylethegirl, Kristen (the smiley one on the left) and I headed back to Kyle's place to help finish up the packing.  This evening, Kyle and I decided I will drive up with her to Mississippi tomorrow and help her move into her dorm.  Although I love spontaneity (and road trips with friends), it'll be a little sad at the same time.  But I'm excited for her.  She's going to do really well in school.  I'll post photos all about it once I get back.

I dunno if it is all these goodbyes and whatnot, but I'm feeling ridiculously nostalgic today.

The weekend.

AUGUST 7. Morrison Springs at 8am is a beautiful sight to behold.  After the final dive for my certification, I spent my day with Kylethegirl at the beach.  Yes, that is the unofficial attachment to the end of her name.  I mean, you've got to find some way to differentiate between the thirty bazillion Kyle's we have in PC.

AUGUST 6.  You can never get too much soccer.

AUGUST 5.  After dive class/training from 9am-6pm, I drove to Destin to hang out with Korynne, a friend of my sister's.  Up until now, I had never actually met her, but my sister talks about her all the time.  She called me up and said she was in Florida to visit family, so she thought it'd be cool to meet my family and me as well.  She's a complete sweetheart.  I'm looking forward to hanging out with her one last time before she heads back to Hawaii.

Lame.

Little did I know, my phone separates long texts into individual tiny texts. So much for mobile blogging. I'm gonna have to play around with that a bit.

It's been a pretty good day. Went on my second dive at Morrison Springs. It was freezing. After diving, I joined my youth group at Rob's pool for some burgers, swimming, and the watching/playing of soccer.

It been a while since I've done stuff with my youth group. There were a lot of factors that played into my reluctance to go, but after a conversation I had with a friend, an article I read on Relevant, and a lot of prayer, I felt like I should go back. So, we'll see. I feel like God will work through it. He's been working through a lot lately and I don't want to shut out any opportunity for Him to work in my life.

Anyway, time to wind down, get a shower, drink some tea, eat some Thai food, read a book, and play Super Strikers with my brother.
(WHICH, ACCORDING TO HIM, IS LIKE MARIO FIFA.)