Ahhh, Panera

So here I sit at one of my most favorite-est places in the world. I like it when there are people to share it with, but today it's good too. I'm alone, but yet not alone. I'm aware of all the people around me: the college girls softball team with laughter and smiles, the dad with his daughters hanging out on a Saturday afternoon, elderly couples, and elderly women talking and drinking coffee. What a wide range of people! Panera reaches all age groups. I'm listening to KLOVE online so my mind is flooded with praises as I look around. Every once in a while I look outside and see three men dressed as Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty. They must be selling something. Tax help maybe. I'm also aware of the presence of the Lord. Partly because some famous Christian singer just whispered in my ear how the Lord is always with me no matter where I go. Maybe Sara Groves will whisper in my ear soon. That would be heavenly. I used to come to Panera with my girlfriends when I was in college. So, I also like to come to Panera to feel young and reminiscent.

Spring break has been great.
I've done a lot of relaxing--enjoying the break from an alarm. I love staying up late and sleeping in. I wish I could drag myself out of bed earlier. When family changes come, there will be time for early rising, so I'm enjoying sleeping in for now. (no, I'm not hinting at anything.)
Over break Luke and I have been attending practices. Track practice everyday at 1 PM. Also, play practice every night at 7 PM. Tonight is the first performance of our play. I'm ready. There is a Sunday afternoon performance too. I'll honestly miss the excuse to see my friends and family when it's all over. I won't miss all the extra driving we've had to do to get to practices. We bought our Saturn Vue last May (over Ebay!); it is now almost one year later and we've put about 20,000 miles on the Vue. I'm enjoying the Vue, but I'm not sure that's normal to put on that many miles in just one year. I heard somewhere that 10,ooo miles is normal. So, we're trying to cut back. We also haven't bought groceries besides milk and bread and hygiene necessities for like 2 months. We're using up everything in our cupboards. It's like a game. When Luke's mom heard this she started inviting us over for dinner more frequently. I hope she knows she's only contributing to our goal to see how long we can go. :) We're very thankful for her generosity.

Also over break: I got a part-time job for the summer. There is a shop in Moville that sells bakery type food. Most of their business is baking and then shipping pasteries to other businesses. They have regular employees that need to take time off in the summer to take care of their kids, so they need someone to cover those shifts. I volunteered, and over the phone I got the job. I'm thinking it's going to be very part-time. If I worked the whole time they were open the most I would work is Tues-Fri. 8:30-3:30. I don't think they'll need me the whole time, however. I'm praising God today because He provided a way for me to make some money, no matter how part-time it might be. I'm praying today for Luke to be able to find something he will really enjoy and feel satisfied with. "Jehovah-Jireh" means "The Lord our Provider". Lately I've been leaning on that heavily.

I could keep writing and telling, because that's what Panera does to me, but I will stop.
Here's to more times at Panera, and more alarm-less sleep coming in June.
Maybe next time I'm here I'll be with friends.
Anyone?
You never know what will happen when you're here. Man in a kilt? Men in Statue of Liberty costumes?