An Adventure

Dear Friends~

Yesterday was officially the first day of the Christmas season. The day is famously known as Black Friday. I have always wanted to participate, at least once, in the famous holiday tradition. So when a friend of mine from the nursing home invited me to go with herself, daughter, and a daughter's friend, I accepted. She said, "I will pick you up at 3 am." I said, "Great, I will be ready!" As I turned and walked away, I thought I was going to faint. 3 AM....that meant I would HAVE to be out of bed by 2 AM...0200...two chimes on the grandfather clock...2...A...M! I have never in my life been up that early. I whole heartily feel that people should not be up at 7am, and if they are, they're crazy.
Before I left work, my last night at the nursing home, my friend reminded me of our early morning meeting time.

When I arrived home I devised a plan of attack. I would stay up really late that night and then get up early Thanksgiving morning. I would get ready for dinner and not take a nap after no matter how bad the turkey coma wanted it to happen. Then, go to be early that night. That was the plan.

I stopped by the living room and talked to my sister long enough for her to help me decided what to wear to dinner, and then went to the basement to watch a couple movies. I was able to watch one movie, and then went to be around 12 am. Not as late as I hoped. Next morning I was up around 830 am, a really good time, for me anyway, and had a small breakfast with my parents, sister, and nieces. When my sister and the girls left, I went to the basement and started to get ready. Because Thanksgiving is such a special holiday to me, it was going to take extra time. I was ready to roll by 1030, reservations were at 1130. We arrived at the restaurant by 1115, and had a wonderful dinner with great conversation. Arrived home around 230pm. I was tired and wanted to take a nap. But I remembered my Black Friday plan of attack...NO NAP. So I busied myself with a task I had been dreading for a long time. When that was finished, I decided that if I stayed in the house, the need for a nap would get to me. So I decided to go outside. I went for a walk...a long and fast paced one. When I returned home, it was around 630 pm and I was getting tired. By 900 pm, I was beat. My eyes were falling shut, and I couldn't stop yawning. I told everyone I was going to bed (never do I remember going to bed before 1000pm). I set my alarm for 200am, and I slept very soundly.

During the night, my alarm started to make such an annoying sound, that I wanted to roll over and throw it across the room. So I violently rolled over in my bed to hurl the evil piece of plastic across the room...until I saw the time...2am. It was time to get up. I looked at the ceiling and told my self what a moron I was in agreeing to take part in this crazy tradition called Black Friday, and rolled out of bed. I ate a little breakfast, and took a shower. At 3am, I was ready and half awake. My friend with her hyper daughter and daughter's friend in the back seat arrived to pick me up. With a quick stop at Kum and Go for bodily fuel, 1 liter bottle of Diet Pepsi for me, and off we went.

We arrived at the Mason City Wal Mart at 345am. I grabbed a cart and perused the ailes until I found what I wanted, and it was on special for Black Friday. Normally $50, it was on sale for $13!! I thought I had died and gone to shopping heaven, there were already around 20 people waiting by the pallet of the item I wanted. It was only 415am and the sale didn't start until 5 am, or so Wal Mart said. So I got comfortable. I picked out a corner on the pallet, that was wrapped in plastic, of my beloved gift, put my arm on it, and waited. For those of you who have read one of my other blogs, know I do not speak highly of waiting. I waited until another anxious shopper decided to jump the gun. Plastic was torn and and the frenzy began. Since I had strategically decided to get comfortable on top of the item I wanted, I tore the plastic and grabbed it, besides, I wasn't the one that started it. Between the flailing arms and abandoned carts, I made it out of the feeding frenzy alive. What a rush. I felt sorry for the employees that were trying to up hold the rules, but what were they going to do?? Actually stop 50 frenzied shoppers...I think not.

Since my mission was accomplished, I, with cell phone in hand, communicated with my friend in helping her find the deals on her gift list plus do a little more personal shopping for myself. I found a shirt and a pair of pants, that I liked, but decided that I would have to try them on at home, and then return them if need be. I was not going to leave behind the $13 item that I had just fought tooth and nail for unattended.

When I was finished shopping, I worked my way to the check out. After seeing the mass of carts and people at the main check out, I opted to go back around the store and get in line at the pharmacy check out. I entered the line by the tooth and hair care, and an hour later, I was just around the corner of the cough drops and on the home stretch, I then looked to see how long the line was behind me, and it was back to the Christmas decorations ( the back of the store). While waiting to check out, myself and the lady behind me became quiet good acquaintances. She was from Clarion, and oddly enough was up at 2am as well. We then people watched together, and one step at a time worked our way to the cash register. To make things go a little faster for me, and therefore the people behind me, I put on my coat before reaching the register. Unzipped my purse and found my wallet. I got to the register. The person was friendly and I paid for my purchase. Before leaving I wished the woman good luck, and left. After the greeter at the front door checked my slip, I was out in the fresh air. Met my friend at the car, and it was only 630am.

As we drove to our last destination, we drove through Burger King for a breakfast sandwich. When we arrived at the store, a fabric store, it was the same thing all over again, but it was with fleece, notions, and quilting fabric. I, myself stayed out if that this time and headed for the yarn, knitting and crocheting isle. I checked out and then played the caddy for my friend as she picked and chose, from the cutting line, the fleece she wanted for her blankets because that line as well, was to the end of the store.

When she was finished checking out, we left and were on the highway riding into the sunrise, an hour and a half later. I arrived home at 9 am, and very tired. I showed off my goods, and then took a nap. Got up and then help mom with the nieces until early evening. I then went to bed at my normal time..1230 am.

Thats my story and sticking to it~
Crystal

Tests

Dear Friends~

Tests come in different ways. Some are hard copies, such as an academic test that a teacher or professor sets in front of you. They also come in ways that you cannot necessarily see. These types of tests are the most difficult, for me anyway. When I cannot see that I am going through a test, life becomes scary and unprecidtable. We need to have faith when going through these tests.

Last Wednesday, I had an interview. I think it really went well. There were two people interviewing, but it did not feel much like an interview. They had questions that I had to think about, but I believe I had good and coherent answers. The interview ran smoothly. Tomorrow, I will receive a phone call telling me whether or not I indeed had the best interview. I will find out if the chose me for the position.

I have been praying very hard about this since I sent the company my resume. I prayed for an interview, and God granted me the request. Since the interview went so well, I have now been praying for God to grant me yet one more desire... the job. As I have been praying for my last desire to be granted, I have also been praying that, if I am denied the position, He help me understand why it wasn't meant to be mine. If I do not get the position, I will be heart broken. It is the type of position I have been looking for since I graduated from college six years ago. I believe it would be the perfect fit.

As I was praying in the car after reading my bible the other day, some verses came to me. I looked them up; they were in the third chapter of Ecclesiates, verses 1-8. Those of you who are not familiar with the bible will probably recognize these verses as well. This it what the say:

To every thing there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
And a time to die;

A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,
And a time to heal;

A time to break down,
And a time to build up;

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn.
And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,
And a time to lose;

A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,
And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;

A time to love,
And a time to hate;

A time of way,
And a time of peace.

To some, this is a wonderful poem from the bible that speaks of life... and it does, but it also means more. In this list of opposites, so eloquently stated, there is another message. Things do not come in our time, but in God's time. Tonight I will pray again for my desire to be granted, but I also will know that it may not be time. With that realization, I have not only gained wisdom, but I will have to walk in faith as well. Faith is the key. Everything other than faith is false.

My prayer for you is that you allow these verses to touch your heart, and then gain the wisdom that comes with the practice of faith.

Blessings~
Crystal