The cone shaped trees

So I'm sitting at my desk at work right now. I realize that it is not completely smart for me to be staring out my window let alone blogging during work hours. But today, not so different from other days, I can't seem to get down to work. So I stare out the window.
October is my favorite month (especially noticed in So. Cal). The sky actually clears and some days we actually have blue sky rather than brown. We've had 2 big storms in the past couple of weeks and are due for another one any minute. Have I told you I love the rain?
I have the corner office here at work which means I have the best view. I can see the foothills from here, they're only about 1/2 a mile from my office and they are green right now. Some people call them mountains but I know better.
Glendora, the city where I work, is nice. Predominately upper middle class, white Mormons live here and the downtown area (where I work) reflects the people that live here very well. Around this time of year the big tall bushy trees that line the street are essentially shaved and groomed to look like cones rather than their natural rounded shape. And this morning while the sprinkles of rain come and go they are putting the white twinkle lights up. And it will only be a few more days before they start the Christmas music on the street. NO seriously, they have speakers put up in the trees or in the trash cans or something that line the street and they play Christmas music. It's weird. ok nice but still weird. And who thought of trimming the trees to look like cones?
While not working here at work, I should probably clarify-- there is nothing to do-- I for the first time really went over board on this blog thing. I didn't realize how big these things are. There are a few blogs that I read on a normal basis. But today I read so many recent posts of who knows how many people. Thanks Juana for posting everyone's blog on yours. :) I still can't figure out how to do that or even really to get people to even know mine exists.
Cone shaped trees and staring at the foothills seem trivial when I read about the loss of Cory's sister's friend, Crystal. Pray for them.

Small things add up to a Big Day

Do you ever go through your day and you get to the end of it (of course it always ends up being later than I expected) and think through all of the incredibly small but amazingly powerful things happened to you all in one day?
I did today.
I woke up incredibly early for a Sunday morning and headed my way to C.A. (my church) to serve breakfast to incredible volunteers that dilligently serve the kids in my church, the worship teams and the parking lot volunteers. This ministry and I are good friends. As I worked cutting and washing fruit, putting in and taking things out of the oven, etc etc. I got to talk with the head cook, Molly. This woman, though a little scatter brained, blesses everyone around her. Today I was one of her victims. She loved on me all morning and I can't seem to get her words of encouragement and support out of my head. God is good! Later in the morning the 2nd shift came in, Roxanne. Little did I know she would pick my brain about my story and how I came to be where I am and doing what I'm doing. So obviously we talked about food and how we both feel so strongly about this minstry that happens surrounding it. She worked in the restaurant industry for over 20 years. She thought I had what it takes. . .
Let me rephrase-- she told me I could do it. I guess I needed to hear it from someone other than my dad, other than my friends... I got excited.
I don't know I guess I was just reminded that God does good stuff when you pour your life out for people that He cares about.
Wooh, I am loved by the King. How 'bout that?

Caught up with the Night

it's late again. I often have great intentions about getting to bed at a decent hour. But there is something about the night here, it's quiet and almost still, two things that rarely happen in this area.
I talked to a friend today who moved to Colorado Springs a little over a year ago. She loves it there, she lives in a little house by herself in the heart of town. She has hardwood floors and a kitchen window. She asked me about work, and friends, even boys, the normal things, but what really struck me was the fact that told me she missed it here. Which seems weird since most days I can't wait until my time here in L.A is done and I can move on to somewhere different. amazing.
I've seen Garden State twice now in the theater. I really like the film. It's one of those that I think I'll be able to see again and again. I'm not really sure what draws me to the characters or even the story but I like it. And for now that is enough.

That Wonderful Cross

Tonight I sit at my nice desk in my big room that I don't deserve and can hardly afford and wonder, still, what drives me to be where I am, to do what I do everyday, to be so complacent about how I live my life. I seem to be filled with these huge questions and even greater confusion these days... at least 365 of these days, really... I guess Giant Steps really is a good name for this new blog thing. As Giant as these stese seem in this life of mine I am amazed still at the power of the rugged cross that the Savior carried with my name on it. As hard as I try to wrap my head around that concept of Him dying for me to change the way that I live is often too much for me to comprehend. We sang about the Cross tonight, that wonderful Cross. It wasn't wonderful that day that he cried, sweat, bled and died upon it, but the life that came from it is wonderful. May I live this life as he intended with that incredible sacrifice.