"always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." Oscar Wilde

And so begins the next update. My band has a gig this summer, so I've been travelling to Santa Cruz a lot for practice. This picture is of Natural Bridges - one of my favorite beaches.

And that's all I have to say that's good....

"ads are the cave art of the twentieth century" marshall mcluhan

It's official! I'm officially pioneering again. In a couple months, I'll have finished my 8th year after a break of around 10 years. It's definately a scary decision, since I know what can happen after years of pioneering if you let it. I just need to remember to not let it happen! After prayerfully analyzing why I went off the list before, along with why I want to start again, I think I can handle it with Jehovah's help.
My band has a gig in a couple weeks. The same band I've always played with is performing at the wedding of our former violinist. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and generally making tons of noise!
Have you noticed the recent Catholic commercials? Hilarious, if you ask me. The scripture referring to them as "whitewashed graves" comes to mind. Who do they think they're fooling? I feel sorry for those who get blinded by the "liar".
So - in parting, "continue without letup"!

always remember that the future comes one day at a time. dean acheson

Ever feel like your life is like a story in a book? In my storybook, I'm stuck at the beginning, where the reader is waiting for something to happen. Either a foe or a friend, anything to move the story along. That being said, I am happy in my seeming stagnation. I keep busy with spiritual endeavors and hope for the best.
My sister is still doing foster care, mostly for newborns. She'll be picking up a new baby girl tomorrow. It'll be good to have another baby around the house again. Since I don't do the overnight shift at all, I do look forward to it.
So ever onward, here goes....

any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out. anton chekhov

In my quest to become a better driver, I have determined there are 4 kinds of drivers:

1. The Bubble Driver – this driver is the type you see going whatever speed in whatever lane they deem to work for them. They drive as if they are the only driver on the road. You may recognize them at the front of a long line of slow-moving cars (only slow-moving because this driver has determined slow is the speed for him.)

2. Speed Racer – this driver will never touch the brake, at any cost. You will often see them weaving through all lanes of traffic in an effort to go the fastest. (Sometimes in moments of great retribution, you will see one who passed you going 100 on the side of the road, having been pulled over by a Highway Patrolman.)

3. The braker – This driver loves their brake, whether because they are tailgating or because they are driving with two feet. They are often the most confusing to follow because it is difficult to determine whether there is a verifiable need to slow your vehicle.

4. The Aware – This driver is just that-aware of the cars and people and roads around them. They drive with purpose, consistent in their movements, predictable in behavior. They have mastered the skill of defensive driving.

"if you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything." win borden

Hello there again. Another month has gone by so quickly. Today is the first day of spring, too. Time to get out the warmer-weather clothes and hide the thick wool sweaters and boots. It's wonderful to watch the trees blossom, I have got to go to Apple Hill to see the apple trees in full bloom. What a sight that would be! I love the smell of apple blossoms.
If only it would be foggy in a blossoming apple orchard near the ocean. Now THAT would be something! All three of my favorite scents at the same time. I might just suffer from happiness overload.
On the life-front, I've decided to go into business. I am a Cookie Lee representative now, which means I get all my jewelry for a discount, and I get to pass that discount on to others! I'm so excited about it! I'm sure I'll include pictures for that in future. But for now...enjoy spring in all its wonders!

"time flies when you're having fun" unknown

So much has happened since my last post. I've had several new jobs in different cities with different tasks. Last August I decided to move to Sacramento for a fresh start in the job-hunting field. I found a great job at an attorney's office close by. The good part is it's part-time, so I can pioneer!
The next bit of really super news is the french group I was serving with in Milpitas became a congregation September 2008. When I moved to Sacto, I joined the french group here. Beginning February 2009, we are now a congregation! It's so exciting to see the growth of Jehovah's organization. I have included a picture of my new congregation.
I've continued my writing. I'm still working on what I like to call Oakwood for now. I don't think I ever put any part of it up. I'll wait until it's published.
So there you have it, my life for the past three or four years in a nutshell.

"forgive that man, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!" george bernard shaw

Something traumatic happened when I was a very young girl around this time of year twenty-some-odd years ago. Things are finally clicking for me now. I'm understanding myself as well as the situation better. I still have a great deal of hatred for that man, but I'm learning to forgive him. He's sick. Plain and simple.
As we get further and further from perfection and closer and closer to near-failure, humans are bound to mess up in bigger and more explosive ways. Gross immorality is part of that whole "critical times" we experience because of that lack of natural affection, even for our fellow humans. Hatred is easy. Love is hard. To love our fellow humans, along with their faults, opens ourselves to the possibility of hurt. It's normal for us to put up shields. But would it be so bad to hurt every once in a while so we could experience the wonderful feeling of love for our fellow humans?
I think I'm getting there. I have my ministry, which is expanding into a different language field. I love showing people the wonderful truths found in the Bible which release them from Satan's lies. I love seeing them as my future brother or sister. But how can I experience such love for fellow man when I harbour such hatred for that man? I hate what he did to me. I don't want him alive. I want him to pay for what he did. He's alive and hasn't paid for what he did. But I have to remember it's not my place to make him pay or die, that is Jehovah's place. Jehovah knows what happened to me and countless other girls, he will take care of it. It is knowing that which makes me feel better about the situation. Not because Jehovah will exact the ultimate punishment, but because it's not mine to give. That weak side of me wants to make that man feel great pain, but the strong side of me is glad he isn't. His internal torture is more intense than what physical pain could produce. Jehovah knows. Jehovah will take care of it. In the meantime, I learn to forgive. I try to spend each day in a way which brings glory to Jehovah. I try, and one day, I might actually succeed. I look forward to that time when we can serve Jehovah with perfect ability, how he deserves to be served.