I love guac.

I got back about 1:00 this morning from a very quick trip to Sioux Falls for the YoungLife Mission Community Weekend. It was great. I good time of training, fellowship, worship...very refreshing. But also a little stressful, because the trip was kind of the kickoff for the next 3 months of my life...which are going to be just nuts. Very exciting, but pretty much insane. From now until the beginning of July, I literally have something going on every weekend, including the Lammies (some of you know what that is...for the rest of you, I'll post some pictures after next weekend...it's pretty much the biggest thing to hit Rapid since...the Olive Garden...haha. And I get to plan it. It's a real good time) a choir concert, graduation, two weddings, and being out of town four times...a grand total of 31 days. So now I kick it into high gear...which, when it comes down to it, I really love. High gear is my comfort zone. Which brings me back to the YoungLife retreat. The theme of the weekend was "One True Thing." We talked about putting aside everything we chase after...absolutely everything...to seek the face of God. About really boiling it down to what matters, and what doesn't. About Mary and Martha, in Luke 10:40something. If you struggle with an addiction to a full schedule, like I do, that short little story is a real kick in the pants. Go read it. It was a good way for me to head into these next couple of months. And with that, I need to go, because I'm housesitting, and if I don't head out now, I'm going to have some really antsy dogs on my hands. I'm out. Take care.

Ireland. In May.

In honor of the three-days past St. Patrick's Day, I have decided to plan a trip to Ireland in May. Seriously. I'm going to Ireland. In May.

Okay. You got me. I'm not just going because it's St. Patrick's Day. Also I want to celebrate the color green. And what better place to do that than Ireland in May?

What. You don't believe me? Geesh. How many legit reasons does a girl have to have to plan a trip to Ireland in May? Well, believe it or not, I'm going, and I'll show you some pictures when I get back. Promise.

I Don't Need Shoes: Thoughts on the Epidemic of Materialsim

I don't need shoes. I don't need shoes, because I just ordered a pair of custom molded Birkenstock clogs (perhaps the best shoe ever created) from work, and hardly had to pay anything for them - one of the perks of working for a podiatrist. I don't need shoes, because I have at least 32 pairs in my closet - most of which I never wear. I don't need shoes.

I just want shoes.

And so, here I sit, at midnight. Online. Shoe shopping for shoes I don't need, and definitely don't need to be spending money on at this particular time in my life. So I'm not even really shopping to buy. I'm shopping to covet, which is worse. I just look at all the shoes I could be buying, and grow increasingly discontent with the 32 plus pairs of shoes I already have to choose from. It's ridiculous.

Our culture is partly to blame. We live in America in the 21st century. Everyone wants to make a buck, and the media is no moron. Marketing gurus have expertly tapped into brainwashability of our generation and spoon fed us the "can'tlivewithoutit" lie. Electronics, cars, clothes - you name it, we want it. On the other hand, humans (i.e. you and me) are mostly to blame. People are greedy, by nature. We just want stuff. We want to keep up with the Joneses...to have what they have, and then some. It's no new thing. I mean, heck - look at King Solomon. If you want to talk about someone who had alot of stuff...that guy had everything. So whether it's kingdoms or cows or shoes, people have always wanted to hoard stuff, and lots of it.

So, anyway, on the same website where I found the shoes I now think I just have to have, (but never would have know I had to have, had I not been shoe shopping tonight) I ran across a sticker. It reads "Protect me from what I want." Brilliant. I want to buy it, and put it on my wallet, to curb my frivilous spending habits...perhaps it would be a deterent to keep me from buying stuff I don't need. Interesting though, that they want $6.75, plus shipping and handling for the sticker.

I have a bad case of wanderlust...

Now playing in theater #1 (i.e. the family room) "My Little Bro and His Two Best Friends Road-Trip to Cali Last Summer: The Complete Documentary." They went to Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Lake Meade, and Golden Gate Bridge National Parks. They were on the road for two weeks. My senior road trip consisted of Steph and AJ and I spending 5 days in a little cabin at Rafter J Bar campground in Hill City. We were on the road for...oh, about 25 minutes, each way.

Now, don't get me wrong. We had some good times on that "camping" trip. We biked the Mikelson Trail, fished in Sheridan Lake, fought alot about who had the better outdoor cooking skills, purchased my most prized material possession at a antique/junk shop (a 7 foot suit of armour - $200) and played cards with campground maintenance boys. But still - road trip? I commuted farther to school three days a week last semester.

"Why," you may ask, "the downscaled trip?" And here is the answer. Because AJ and Steph and I are girls. That's why, if I remember correctly. There was a bit of financial limit, as well, but I'm pretty sure that even if we had had extra money, our parents wouldn't have let us take off. Of course, they were just looking out for us. Which is probably good, since we had (read: I have) a tendency to think that I'm invincible. And when I have daughters, I probably won't let them head for California with their friends when they are 18 either. Nonetheless, I don't think I've entirely gotten over that whole situation yet. I still resent my parents for it...just a teeny tiny bit. Which is my explanation for why I wake up every morning and have to remind myself that I have responsibilites and commitments and bills to pay, and can't just run off on little jaunts here and there.

I really shouldn't be worrying about it right now, though. I'll be out and about plenty over the next couple of months. But as of this minute, I'm just itching to go somewhere. How about Disneyworld? Or New Mexico? Boston? Patience Marci, patience.

Silly me, I thought it might be Spring!

Snow angels. Snow forts. Snow cones. Snow men. Snow day???? Could we be so lucky? Nah. It's only been snowing ALL DAY. I mean, heck, we've only got some 18 inches of heavy, slushy white stuff. Us South Dakotan's are hardy folk. It takes at least 36 inches to slow us down. Well, work or no work, it's gorgeous out there.

So anyway, last night, Nick and I went to the "Slow Roasted Songwriters 2006" show at the Dahl. Basically, it was a 3 1/2 hour conglomeration of the "best of" Dunn Bro's weekly open mic, with a fabulous jam session of sorts as the finale. One heck of a good time, if I do say so myself. My personal favorite was Amanda Conway, an incredibly talented young songwriter/guitarplayer/musician. She's fantastic...and has a cute new haircut, to boot. I swear, I'd think she was great even if I hadn't know her since she was 12. If you ever get a chance to hear her play, don't miss it. (Shameless plug...I know.)

I used to go to stuff like this all the time, back in the day. Back before I was trying to actually graduate from college. I had forgotten how much I missed live music, the local arts scene, and all the intruiging people that come with the package. I had forgetten how, when I was about 19, I wanted more than anything to be a crazy guitar playing chick. Funny how you can want something very badly, but you have to prioritize and other things you want a little more float to the top of the list. Huh. Well, that's my pensive thought for the evening. I'd have more, but I'm surrounded by people, and having a hard time writing and not watching the evening news. So with that, I'm out.

You unlearn something old every day.

Hi. I'm back.

I apologize for my absence. I've been trying to figure out how life works for people who have routines, and I've pretty much determined that that's not something you can learn. Either you're a routine person, or you're not. I'm not. I'm not making that transition well this semester. As you may have noticed, I even tried giving up my 2 a.m. journaling habit, but it's been all in vain. I still can't get on a normal schedule.

I wish I could say that I've returned after all this time with some large amount of wisdom, but really all I've learned in the least few weeks is that I have even less figured out than I thought I did. Which wasn't much to begin with. This isn't a bad thing, necessarily. Not knowing anything. It's got it's perks. It teaches you to be humble. It teaches you to trust other people. Scary. It teaches you that God is sovereign, and He's under no obligation to let you in on his immeadiate plan if he doesn't want to. He can do whatever He wants, and He's still righteous and perfect.

Yep. That, kids, is all I've got.