Scissor Fever

You know that age-old rule, spoken from mother to daughter, and restated by children's books with hidden lessons? Thou Shalt Not Cut Thine Own Hair. It's a well meaning commandment, with the best intentions of protecting girls silky hair from scissors on the loose and keeping salons in business. Maybe I should have obeyed this rule, and not cut my hair at 9:30pm last night. But I didn't, and so...My hair looks fabulous! I did a pretty darn good job, if I do say so. Granted, I like to rock the messy hair look, and I might not have been this pleased if I had wanted something sleek and polished. How did I do this? I really just got scissor fever, and started snipping. First, I cut two inches off of the bottom, and then I cut in layers, beginning at the bottom and working my way up to the crown or the head. I cut the bangs and front in last, and then did a little extra snipping for good measure. I didn't know my home haircut would turn out this well, in fact, I thought it was going to be unbearably hideous, and so I had plans to go to the salon as soon as they opened in the morning and have a professional clean up the mess I had made of my head. I just wanted to see if I could cut my own hair, even if it looked bad. Kind of a courage thing, to prove to myself that hair is just hair. I'm actually really surprised that I don't look like a scarecrow or a ten year old. It's not the best haircut I've ever had, but since I did it myself, I'm not too picky. The picture on the top is the bathroom floor after the fact, and the second is me, post haircut.

 Ta-Da!

View From The Ferris Wheel

 

Last night, I went to the Gallatin County Fair. It was an absolute blast. Here's a picture taken from the top of the Ferris Wheel.

Future Avocado Tree

The first time I saw an avocado tree in real life, I thought it was a pretty genius invention of nature. Not only does it grow a super food, but it is a slender and lush green tree that is quite aesthetically pleasing. I found instructions on how to grow your own from a link on Pinterest.com. The one in my picture will never grow to be the size of the one I saw growing in Ethiopia, but still, it's and avocado tree. That's pretty cool. I had to write the note for it because my family is familiar with the chaos I leave in my wake, and I didn't want them to clean up after me and throw away my baby avocado tree without knowing what it was. It will take weeks to even start a tap root, but I'll try to post another picture of it when it does.

The Super-Cool Plan

Now, my friends, is the time for the great revealing of next years tentative plan. (NOTE: the plans contained herein are in no way definite or concrete, they are merely me acting on what God has told me to do). As many of you know, I had plans to go to Morocco in August, but those plans fell through on June 1st. For awhile I was overwhelmingly depressed, and had no idea of why in the world God would let me be so sad and confused. Things turned around pretty quickly, however, when I began to think, What if I just go to Ethiopia when I turn 18, like I have wanted all along? This idea seemed too good to be true, and so I just prayed about it. The more I prayed, the more possible it began to seem. About a month ago, I contacted a wonderful woman I had met in Ethiopia, and asked her if they needed any help. After a few emails, honest responses to questions, and many days of waiting, I am now filling out an application for a job in Ethiopia, doing the work of my dreams. The application process is super lengthy and involved, but I've found that one will do just about anything for something they love. If hired, the position will be volunteer only, so I will have to raise all of my own support through donations and fundraising. I don't mind though. I'm meant to live in Africa, and God will provide for me. Those two things are clearer to me than anything else in my life right now. I am really hoping to get this job; everything about it seems right, and the process that would usually seems tedious seems almost easy, and is going smoothly. I feel a sense of exhilaration and hope for the future. I am planning to leave in April, but who knows, they might need to wait a little longer in order to get everything I need done. It doesn't matter to me, as long as I am going to Ethiopia. I think about going back everyday, and everyday I seem to miss it more. When Jesus is in control, it is amazing what an impact two weeks can have on an open heart. The ugly picture you see on the top right side is a picture of my computer desk this morning, with all of the application papers so far (not including the five typed pages saved in the computer). If you any of you would be so kind as to say a quick prayer for me, and that God would give me this dream job, it would be greatly appreciated. This is the first step in a highly incredible journey. I'll keep you informed as I find out more details. Thanks for reading!

Finished Henna

This is my henna from Sunday minus the henna paste. Pretty neat!

Sunday Evening Henna!

Got a little carried away with the henna tonight. It's a bit sloppy because of the application technique, but I still think it will turn out alright after I scrape the paste off and put some coconut oil on it. Both feet took me a total of 2 hours-ish. Worth it!

I Am.

I haven't posted in awhile, and reason is because when I come home from work each day, I put on dirty clothes and stalk Facebook and eat, and then go to bed. It's pathetic, I am aware. But I realized the other day that if I want you to read my blog, you'll have to have something to read! Duh. So for awhile, or until I get tired of it, run out of ideas, or forget, I will be posting writing prompts, responding to them myself, and challenging you to write about them, on your blog if you have one, or just in a journal. I'll start things off with a prompt that requires a good bit of self-assessment, and it's called the I Am prompt. For this, you will need to choose just one word that captures as much of you as one word can, and justify it with a bit of writing. I'll go first.
I am brave, and I am nervous. I am loud, and I am quiet. No one person can possibly predict what each day will bring out in me. I am one of the happiest people I know, but I am also at times gripped with the fiercest pangs of sadness and feelings of despair. Some days I wake up and miss the company of friends, and other days I wake up blissfully content in the fact that I will not have to communicate with the outside world face-to-face. Sometimes I think about moving to a big city pulsing with life and interesting people, but more often than that, I wonder about the life of hermits, and how peaceful they must feel, completely secluded from the harshness and letdowns that accompany a life spent in community of others. I feel the most uplifting type of optimism, and the most gut-twisting types of worry and doubt. I am mysterious some days, and open book on others. I am a puzzle with pieces that don't fit together, a mystery novel that ended without a resolution. I am: An enigma.