I forgot to do my previous assignment a couple of weeks ago. Oops...
This week's prompt is
"Getting students to participate in a small group is like..."
stapling Jell-O to a tree. In the middle of summer.
This semester I have tried to host Bible study for some of our upperclassmen, but no one has come to any of our studies. A lot of students are over committed in their time, so it's not too surprising that many can't make it to Bible study. Most are seniors, too, so I'm sure college applications and trying to get a last semester of good grades is causing some stress.
I did try to meet with the cross country girls after school each Tuesday for four weeks. The first hang out time, a few girls came. Earlier that morning though at practice the team had gotten in to a verbal fight, which is probably a reason why some didn't show up. The following times a girl or two would come. But each Tuesday, whoever came, I had a great time talking to them about their relationship with God or their questions about who God is, what did Jesus do. I'm trying to brainstorm how to continue or follow up these meetings or if I should.
My hopes for this Winter is to have a Bible study with a few of the winter sports in session. Possibly soccer, softball, track, basketball. Who knows! I do have a few open doors with a couple of the teams already. Please pray fruitful things would come of that!
Update time:
Sushi Cravings and my friend Elliott
Sushi Cravings
I have yet to find a great sushi restaurant like I did in South Carolina. Back on Hardscrabble Rd there's a hole in the wall place called Wasabi. Me, mom, and my neighbors go there once or twice or sometimes three times a month. The staff know us and constantly bring us new things to try, on the house. But don't get me wrong, there are some awesome places here! One of my favs is downtown called Sushi Zushi. I went just last night for birthday dinner with some friends. The 40 minute drive at night, seeing all the city lights was well worth it.
I wouldn't say searching for a new sushi favorite in Dallas has been a hardship of life. Though I will warn you Target and Sprouts's attempts at sushi, no bueno. Probably my favorite is Sake Toro. It's a small place on the corner of downtown Frisco off of Main and Coleman. The atmosphere is nice on most days except Friday nights.
It's becoming a tradition to visit Sake Toro every 2-3 weeks, when I can afford it, just to sit down, process the past couple of weeks, and talk to the Lord. I call it my date with Jesus. Some would argue this is just a fanciful phrase I use to steal away and stuff my stomach with sushi deliciousness. But I really do enjoy the time because I can get away from the apartment where everything needs cleaning or fixing and just talk to God. I tried to do this a couple of Fridays ago, and I made the decision late in the evening. At about 8 o'clock, I turn left on to Coleman where all of the trees are lit now, and lights hang from one side to the other from the tops of the fancy condos above the restaurants. I found a parallel spot just across the street and got out of the car. I took a few moments to admire the lights and put on a few layers, though it was just a few feet away. I opened the door only to be welcomed by rap music and a busy little place! Needless to say my date withJesus was mildly distracting, but I still enjoyed all the edamame I could eat and a couple of rolls of sushi while discussing the week with God.
Aside from my hobby of sushi eating, I'm trying to spend at least a day or two doing my other top hobby, riding. Lately I've been exercising a pony that was born at the farm. He's 5 years old, a dappled grey welsh, and answers to the name of Elliott. He could be the cutest thing I have seen! I'll post a picture. I may have mentioned this before, but Elliott is my fellow chiropractic buddy. He and I both have issues with our shoulders, so he sees the equine chiro and I see the human chiro. We sympathize with each other's aches by massages. I'll give him a good shoulder rub, and if I turn my back to him just the right way, he can reach his neck around and nuzzle my tight muscles. It's adorable.
Just a week ago, I was excited for the opportunity to show Elliott for Susan, the owner of the farm. Just two days before the big day, we got news from the Farrier that Elliott needed time off and extensive rehab time to build more muscles. After 3 months of working him slowly back in to a routine, it seemed as though nothing had helped. It kind of crushed me to know our hard work and mutual back massages were pointless. The semi-good news, Susan found me a new pony to work with and show that Sunday. Her name is Fiona and I rode her that day and the next to get her ready. She was a mess. She had been out in the pasture for a few months with no one to work her, and it had just rained the other day so she was covered in dry mud. At the show we ended up doing pretty well. We had quite a few major mistakes, but our last jumping course was almost clear of major faults.
As for Elliott, we had the chiropractor come out to evaluate him. Of course his opinion differed from the farrier's, so we're riding Elliott again but doing different exercises to build the right set of muscles. I got to ride him Thursday and loved it. This pony has the personality of an energetic, outgoing five year old child! I'll probably ride him here and there while exercising Fiona who because of no exercise recently looks like she's ready to birth triplets. I'll have to take a picture of her. She's got quite a large personality, too. And she's precious! SEE mom... I told you horses weren't just a phase!!! :)
