ToT

It's that time again...when I randomly link up with Chelsea's Ten on Tuesday

1. What is your favorite brand of shoes?
Oh man! So many! See my shoe post for more details.

Flip flops- Kinos

Sandals - Chacos
Sneakers (aka my nursing shoes) - New Balance or Asics.
Running shoes - Vibram FiveFingers

2. How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes?
Probably some time in Kindergarten. I remember being scolded (which was probably just a gentle encouragement, in reality) by my teacher for asking her to tie my shoes all the time.

3. How do you feel about freckles?
Love them! Don't have many myself...mostly just a random smattering on my arms and legs.

4. I can count to ten in ___ languages.
Four. English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole.

5. What is your favorite store-bought ice cream flavor?
Hmmm. I love me some Blue Bell Mint Chocolate (on sale of course!). But really, Mint Choc Chip is my go to flavor, no matter the brand.

6. Were you in ballet or gymnastics as a little girl?
I was in gymnastics for several years and LOVED IT! I wish I had stuck with it for a little longer; my flexibility is severely lacking. But at 5' 9" I'm pretty sure I'm way too tall to be competitive, anyway.

7. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?
Grover! My mom used to have a big board we used to do puzzles on with a picture of Grover. And we had a life-size Grover doll that was my mom's as a kid, I think. He definitely holds the most memories for me.

8. What’s your bedtime?
Whenever I'm tired. Over the summer it was 12 or 1am. Now that I'm working 12s, I've been going to bed at 10 or 11.

9. Do you have any jewelry that you wear every single day?
My earrings. In my lobes I have my mom's gold studs from when she first pierced her ears in college. In cartilage I have a hoop (R ear) and a bar (L ear). I also have my watch on 99.99% of the time.

10. Who is the bug killer in your household?
Me! After taking that bug class before I graduated, I got quite used to creepy crawly bugs. Now my roommates call me when they spy an icky bug they can't get. Not to say I like it but I don't mind it.

Breaking

God is breaking me.

It has been a rough summer, to say the least. I've lost a number of family members due to various medical issues. My life plans A, B, and C have been ripped from my grasp. I moved out of my apartment without a clue as to where I'd be living for this next year; I was essentially homeless. I've struggled with immense loneliness and depression. I've fought with my best friend and had my heart broken. My eyes have seen many tears. I've skipped church more than I've gone. I've been fighting God.

Last night in the midst of gasping-for-air sobbing, I finally opened my Bible. I hadn't even unpacked it since early August, much  less read it any time recently.

I randomly flipped to Psalm 55 and then to Isaiah 3. Reading these passages just caused me to calm down immensely. Especially Isaiah 3:1. "For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water;...". And my commentary in my ESV study bible says this: God takes away whatever keeps his people from him, but only in order that they might enjoy his glory. It suggests severe deprivation (bread and water).

So God has been taking these things, which are good things, until I pursue Him. He knew I was running so He was taking away all the things I was running toward until I finally realized my complete depravity and desperate need for Him.

Now I can't say everything is hunky dory. I definitely still need to fight through some things and actively remember to read the Word or speak to the Father. It's not easy, especially after fighting it for so long. But it's a turning point. Turning to face God.

ToT

Linking up to Ten on Tuesday by Roots and Rings

1. Do you do laundry all at the same time or a load here and there?
I usually do it all at the same time...or at least the same day. Only on a rare occasion do I do loads here and there.

2. What kind of detergent do you use?
For a long time I used All small & mighty free and clear. But just recently I decided to give Tide a chance. I like it but I think I'll still switch back to All.

3. Do you use fabric softener?
Negative

4. Do you use dryer sheets?
Nope

5. Do you iron your own clothes or take them to a cleaner to get pressed?
I iron clothes maybe once a year. I like a low-maintenance wardrobe.

6. Do you like heavy starch or light starch?
Starch? Who starches their clothes anymore?

7. Do you wash all your laundry at once or separate it?
Eh, it depends. I usually just throw it all in. But sometimes I'll separate out towels and jeans because I don't want the rougher materials beating up my clothes more than necessary.

8. How do you separate it? By people or by colors?
Texture, I guess. And sometimes by color.

9. What clothes get hung up and what goes in drawers?
I hang shirts, dresses, and jackets. Everything else gets folded and placed (read: shoved messily) into drawers.

10. Do you use plastic, wire, or wooden hangers? Do they all match?
Plastic hangers. I despise those stupid good-for-nothing wire hangers! Mine are mostly white but I have random colorful ones that I got from my mom's house. Shhhh, don't tell her! ;)