Summer = Something different

I'm not working this summer. I had a hard time figuring out if I should or not, but I decided not to and it's hard not to think I'm disappointing God or being a bad example to others by doing so. I don't understand why I think I HAVE to work. I do tend to enjoy life more, I guess you could say, if I am working or going to school and have results/proof that I did something.

But what does it mean to be pleasing to God? Does it mean working? For some reason part of me really wants to "test the boundaries" of what it means to live for Christ, live in His grace. And right now I still feel I am somewhat of an appendix in the body of Christ because I'm not working and I still don't know how to pray diligently for others although I have a desire to do so, to make an impact in others' lives. It's interesting though, because as one prays for someone else, s/he may never see the results...which as I said earlier I am prone to seek. So prayer is more of a joy and a desire for me than they used to be, knowing that what prayers I do give up to Him are from the heart and they're honest. Wow, Isaiah 58 relates well to how I feel at times. Religious pretense, just doing what I normally do, knowing the whole time that it's not what is best, that I'm not drawing closer to God, but instead confusing myself. It's good to take the time to breath and rest to listen, not rush the time I spend with Him.

I have a daisy, and it's still growing after having planted it a month ago :)

This was the confusing stage (at least to me) of its growth.

This was also new to me, how a leaf was coming out of a seed or something (I could be totally wrong about what those light green parts were), and then the "seed" halves eventually fell off.

This is not the latest picture, but it's getting taller and more interesting every other day :P I like taking care of this plant...can you tell it's the first time I've done it?

It wilted in the heat of my parents truck when they came to take some of my room last weekend when finals were over (yay!).

Whatever chocolate I had in my car melted a little and looks funky, but do you think I care? Mmmm, nope. I made whole wheat waffles this morning and I am please to say they worked out pretty well (and they made almost twice as much as the recipe said they would!). I'm going to attempt to cook meals this summer, and so far I've gotten to peel potatoes, heat up some refried beans, and watch my dad skewer and grill shrimp and scallops :)

Cara mentioned "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair while she was with me in Las Cruces last weekend. And of course I went to Barnes and Noble while we were at the mall (that's where I park every time). I'm not exagerating...did I mention that I really don't like exageration? But, I got the book and it's good so far. I realized how much I dislike fiction, because I'm gullible so I have a hard time reading a realistic fictional book because I'll believe that people's lives are either more messed up than is realistic or are picture-perfect. No thanks!

What to do now is diminish the amount of junk and city of boxes in my room and email people to tell them we're not leaving to Mexico City until July 31st.