Life Attack!

Have you ever had times when you feel like your life is attacking you, everything all at once? I kind of feel that way this week--wedding planning, moving out on Friday (to Michael's parents' house), looking for a job... These are good things, and I feel that God has prepared me for each of them, but it still feels crazy. But I guess when the timing's right, the crazy isn't all that bad. And let's be honest, where Wendie is, there is always a little bit of crazy.

Good Eats from the Weekend

Baked Chicken Breasts with Spinach, Pears, & Blue Cheese
from Whole Foods recipes (except I used apples and gorgonzola)

Ambrosia White Plum iced tea from Zhena's Gypsy Tea

Frozen Honey-Vanilla Mousse with Blackberry Sauce from The Cuisine of California cookbook, purchased on a lovely vacation with my parents on the coast of California in 2005.

I really enjoy cooking. I do have this bad habit of always trying new dishes when company comes over, though. Nine times out of ten my experiments are successful, but my mousse last night was not-so-moussey. More like a pudding, really.

By the way, if any of you happen to stop by at Outback Steakhouse, I highly recommend the Roasted Filet Focaccia Sandwich with "slow-roasted sliced filet, melted provolone cheese and garlic herb aioli on toasted bread. Served with a side of au jus for dipping." And SWEET POTATO FRIES. You must eat the fries, for they are tasty, tasty taters. Michael's parents took us out to eat after church today and we all ordered the sweet potato fries on the side. I have to put a good word in for the place (95th & Quivira), because they comped our entire meal after we waited so long for the food.

Wedding Wells

The new wedding site is up and running. We will try to keep this updated with new info as we go through the process of being engaged to being married--Saturday, October 3, 2009! Hurray!

Here is the address for the wedding blog:

WEDDING WELLS
http://mwmarriage.blogspot.com/

Losing & Gaining

There's something a little disheartening about losing one's money, job, and one's home, eh? Let me explain (it's not quite as dire as it sounds).

Money is scarce right now--I'm sure many of you can relate. For a while, while I was in seminary, I had stipends coming in twice a semester for my involvement as assistant chaplain and in student government. Since I graduated, these no longer exist, and for some reason the loan people want me to start giving them money. Who knew?

Also, by mid-August my job at the seminary library will also be nonexistent since I am not a student there anymore. I am looking at a lot of different job opportunities, but no dice yet. Discerning friends and family remind me that God has something up his divine sleeve for me to do (why else would I have had to struggle through seminary?), but it's hard to search and wait in the meantime. Again, I'm sure many of you can relate! It is unlikely that I will find a ministry position which will support me on its own, so most likely I will be bi-vocational, which is fine. I like variety. But at this point I am looking for just about anything, so please don't harass me too much if I take something which appears to be non-ministry-related ("ministry" is difficult to define anyway, I have decided). Many of my interests include things which are rarely lucrative, like music and writing, so I will be doing those on the side. I am doing those on the side, come to think of it--I've been asked to contribute two chapters to a book that The House Studio (a newer division of Nazarene Publishing House) is working on. The proceeds from this little endeavor will be about enough to buy me gas for a week or two. Hurray!

Finally, I will be moving out of my happy little duplex on Walrond in two weeks. My roommate's brother is moving to town to begin classes at NTS in August, so I'm moving out a little early. It made sense. Michael's parents have offered to let me inhabit their finished basement, which is great. It will save me some money and put me much closer to the good-looking redhead I am to marry. But it will be a little sad to leave the city and the community I've known there for the past 3.5 years. Not to mention the Roasterie!

So, let's take stock. I apparently have enough money to pay for food and shelter, even if all the bills don't get paid. I have a job for a few more weeks, and then I will find another one eventually. I have a place to sleep, and my next roommate (#20) will be a boy! An awesome ginger boy--and I get to adopt his dog! This is exciting. In addition, I have many people in my life who are supportive, even when my life seems insane.

Transition--however drastic it seems--when put into perspective, is really not that bad at all.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive

I am still alive. Kind of. The wedding plans are going swimmingly, but my bills are eating me alive. I just found a "surprise, you were supposed to start repaying your loans in May" bill, which is disheartening. I really need to find a full-time job.

The good news is, I have good friends, good family. And good God.


p.s. Be on the lookout for a wedding blog launch in the next week...