Cracking Down Before School Starts

This past week Dan and I ran a few errands in preparation for both of our classes starting. I start this week and he starts next week. For those of you that don't know Dan is teaching four freshman classes, one sophomore, and one advanced freshman course. To my surprise the freshman book sets available at Dan's school were written within the last 10-15 years. Here's some of what they have: The Kite Runner, Speak, The Uglies, and Fahrenheit 451. NONE of these books would have been available when I was in high school! They are too recent! What happened to Of Mice and Men, Pride and Prejudice, and The Grapes of Wrath? I was disappointed.

On Monday I went to drop off my server applications at the Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Just as I was about to head home I spotted another restaurant and was prompted to stop at this place:

Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon

I filled out an application and asked to speak with a manager. After glancing over my application the manager commented on my complete lack of serving experience. At that time the only response I could think of was "yes..." She must have felt good about me because she asked me to come back Wednesday to ask for the Chris.

Wednesday arrived and I went to Lone Star expecting to schedule an interview. I was wrong indeed! I shook hands with Chris, the hiring manager, who then led me to a table that had a folder, an apron, and a shirt. Apparently I was hired without knowing it! What an amazing blessing! I was so grateful and slightly shocked because the other new-hire sitting at the table had to go through two interviews.

My first two days have been hectic and slightly overwhelming. I owe that to starting on a Friday and Saturday night (the two busiest nights for restaurants). The other negative about working these two nights was that you don't get any breaks because you're too busy! By the time I got home last night at 10pm the last thing I wanted to do was cook something. I am ashamed to admit that Dan and I went to McYummy's aka McDonald's and ordered a large order of fries with this:

 
Please do not be alarmed! We did not finish it all in one sitting! AND this is not a usual habit of ours.

Back to working as a server: I never realized the amount of multi-tasking that is required for servers to have. This job will stretch me but I am ready for the challenge. I know it will help improve my ability to multi-task. Here's me on my second day:

Since I'm training right now I don't make any tips. The servers only get paid $3.50/hour with the expectation that tips will make up for the rest of the amount. Luckily, I only have three more days of training and then hopefully I will be on my own making good money!

Tuesday night Dan and I had dinner at Donald and Val's with the sister missionaries. We had YUMMY hot dogs with baked beans and chips. The baked beans were delicious! For dessert I brought a fruit pizza that was easy to make.

Fruit Pizza

I put grapes and canned peaches on one side for Dan so he could enjoy the pizza as well. The things I do for my sweet husband! Just kidding :-) I know he would do the same for me.

Dan and I both had such a great time that I completely forgot to take any pictures! We are planning on inviting Donald and Val to our place for dinner sometime next week. They enjoy video games so we might break out Rock Band!

We purchased a washer and dryer off of Craigslist this week. The washer works great but the dryer takes over an hour to dry one load of laundry. That's the risk you take with getting something off of Craigslist, I guess.

Dan and I both are enjoying the huge amount of space our duplex has. I have space to do yoga and Dan has space to build LEGO without being in the middle of any walkways. The second bedroom is definitely coming in handy:

Another thing we have been experiencing frequently that does not occur as much in Oregon.... THUNDERSTORMS!!! Here's a clip of one I took. It's a little long sorry.

Today at church we had combined Relief Society and Priesthood. The lesson was from the Spring 2010 General Conference. We watched Elder Uchtdorf's talk, "You Are My Hands." If you have not read or listened to it I highly recommend it. He explains the importance of reaching out to others and that as members we should welcome and love all of God's children despite the way they act, dress, look, and speak. If we choose to be compassionate, charitable, and loving to everyone, just as the Savior was, we will touch the hearts of others and strengthen our spirits.

A priesthood  leader told a story of when he was on his mission in Romania he and his companion passed a shepherd herding sheep. They stopped and spoke with him about herding sheep. He explained that he knows each and every one of his sheep and they know him. He even has names for each of them. When one elder asked him to prove it, the shepherd made out a distinctive call and one single sheep walked out of the line and stood next to the shepherd. The shepherd then patted the sheep on the head. That same elder then asked the shepherd to prove it again and the elder picked out a black sheep that was far up in the herd. The shepherd then made another distinctive call. The black sheep that the elder had pointed to then walk out of the line and stood next to the shepherd. The shepherd patted the black sheep's head. The priesthood leader then reminded us that just like the shepherd he met on his mission, the Savior knows each and every one of us by name and he loves us. What a blessing that is!

To know that there's always someone who cares about you when you feel like no one else does. He knows when you are happy, sad, angry, and frustrated. When you experience challenges in life He sees them and wants so badly to help you get through them so that you can be happy again. But often times we forget that we can always call upon the Lord to take our troubles into His hands. Just as we pray to Lord for help, we also need to be available to help and be a support to others.

I hope you are having a good Sunday :-)