free time!!

First off, I'd like to thank Mr. Hans for guest blogging. I appreciate him taking the time out to post. I think it really boosted the ratings. It's true, I've been thinking about not blogging anymore, because I feel like I never have anything really interesting to say. But, here I am doing it because I have nothing else to do.

School is over, at least for the next few weeks before I start summer school June 9. It is sooo nice to not have to worry about what all I have to get done. This entire semester I've had that one class (you know, the one I waited until the last minute to finish most of the assignments) looming over my head like a dark cloud (impressive simile, i know). I kept getting further and further behind, and I just was constantly stressed about it. I seriously considered dropping the class, but when I found out that would be $700 down the drain, I decided that Rog and Lyna wouldn't be too happy if I did that. Turns out I made an A in the class. Whew. Seriously, the low standard of A&M Commerce is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

So, with no school, I feel like I have tons of free time now. It's been good... I've been reading this book that you have to read, it's called A Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns. It's about how living out the whole gospel means more than going to church, staying away from the worst sins, and having a private relationship with God. It's really challenging, and he talks about how Jesus talks SO much throughout the Bible about giving to the poor, feeding the hungry, and caring for those in need. It just seems to be too uncomfortable for Christians to have to do that, so we try not to think about it and go about our business and stay in our little bubbles of friends and family. We tell ourselves that there's nothing wrong with that. But God expects a lot more. Basically, if our faith is not seen in the ways that we are tangibly giving to, loving, and caring for people, then it is meaningless. It's super convicting to me, and has really made me think a lot about how I cling to comfort and ease in life. And when I don't have it in my life, I freak out and get all sad. (i.e. this year has been a hard transition and I get sad because I don't have friends to hang out with all the time) There are so many things that can become more important to us than being completely obedient to God...having nice clothes and nice things, having money, being skinny, being busy, friendships and relationships...all of the above for me. I can't tell you how many times I have literally thought, "If I could just buy all new clothes, I would feel so much better about myself" (Ridiculous). Or "If I lost 20 pounds, I would be happy!"... (Totally pathetic). We have to give up everything that we are holding on to so that we can really be open to God's will and fully love and obey Him.

Anyway, you have to read the book, sorry I was on a roll and almost rewrote the whole thing for you to read right here...woopsy...

So yeah, I am enjoying the free time and trying to not totally waste it...this can easily be done by watching countless episodes of Family Feud, The Bonnie Hunt Show, etc...beware of afternoon television.

Speaking of television, I'm going to have even more free time when LOST is over. I'm too excited about the finale. It's going to be so good! Even better, I get to watch it with Rachel Foster and Carol Hogan.

I'm bad at conclusions, so...BYE!

Hello world.

Josh here, guest blogging for Ms. Bryant. Thanks for having me first off. There is no place I'd rather be in cyberspace than right here with whoever is reading this.

So, did you hear about the Energizer Bunny? I guess he was arrested and charged with battery.

I got a job in a Blanket Factory, but it folded.

And finally practice safe eating, always use condiments.

Ok, the monologue is over. If you're still here thanks. Well I guess Leslie said in her last blog that I was working at an upscale movie theater. I'm afraid she wasn't lying. I do work at a movie theater. Its interesting to say the least. I'm trying to think of a funny story about work, but I can't get past the fact that I'm 23, work at a movie theater and live at home. So lets just laugh (or cry) about that.

I'm trying to get a teaching job for next year. I'd like to teach middle school math. I'm not having a whole lot of luck right now. Here's the deal, I had some terrible teachers growing up. So it can get a little frustrating looking for a job. If I took the high school certification test, I could probably get a job easier, but let's be honest, high schoolers are annoying. I kind of forgot about how annoying they are, but then I started working at a movie theater. Then I remembered.

So, I've enjoyed Lost this season a lot. Until last week, I thought that episode was lame. But I was talking to Leslie about it and I said something like "this season has been a lot about Jack's redemption". If you watch Lost, you probably agree, if you don't watch Lost, you probably don't care. Anyways, Leslie has been making fun of me nonstop for it. So I'm just trying to get people on my side by telling you this.

Leslie is thinking about not blogging anymore. So, I'm starting a movement to keep her blogging. Join me and lets keep Leslie online!!!

Thats all I got. Stay Sweet.

My exciting life.

Several important updates for you guys:

1. I drank a Dr. Pepper and this last week has been out of control with the Dr. Peppers. It's shameful. It goes against everything that I have been working towards for the last month.

2. I went to Carrie Burkett's wedding a couple weeks ago and it was sooo great! I got to see some good friends, like Lacey, Drew, Rebecca, Ryan Luna, etc...I'm so excited for Carrie and Andy. The wedding was really sweet.

3. Josh is now a workaholic. He got a job at an upscale movie theater/restaurant, Gold Class Cinema (where movies alone cost $29. SICK.) and then the food is all fancy and stuff. Anyway, the last couple weeks, he has been working like 11-12 hour shifts. Sometimes he doesn't get home until 1:30am! So I have barely seen him at all this week! A hard worker, that Josh Hans is.

4. I'm [probably] going to have a job this summer babysitting a 14 yr old girl who has reactive attachment disorder and is bipolar. Should be interesting. I'm meeting her this Saturday.

5. LOST last night was devastating. People died, and I cried. That's what happened.

6. Five people I know got engaged this weekend (including my roommate). That's crazy.

7. Please leave me a comment. I gave you 6 options to comment on! And yes, I am begging. I'm not above it.

k, BYE!

My body hurts.

The "eating plan" that I told you about is officially over...overall, we did really good following the rules. We are still trying to eat a lot better, and drink a lot less sugary drinks, but we aren't being quite as strict on the rules. Josh has been doing REALLY good, and he's been working out 5 days a week for the last month. He's lost 11 pounds! We won't talk about how much I lost, because it's not impressive at all. Anyway, I haven't been working out at all because I convince myself every day that I don't have time to...but these are lies!!! So on Monday, I started running again. Every muscle in my legs hurts...it really hurts to walk. I'm sooo out of shape. But if I'm going to the beach at the end of the summer, I better get it together so I can look good in my modest full-coverage tankini!

Can we talk about how much I hate jeans? I mean, I guess they're my top choice of what to wear (besides sweatpants or pajama pants, but I'm told I can't wear those in public) but I have the hardest time finding jeans that don't stretch out or shrink, or aren't too short or too long. But last week, something amazing happened. I went to Gap and got a pair of jeans that are comfortable, that fit, and that are long enough! I present to you 1969 Curvy Jeans:

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=48598&vid=1&pid=673949&scid=673949002

If you're wondering, yes, that IS a picture of my body wearing the jeans.

New Friends!!!!

So Josh and I went to a small group tonight in Frisco through our new church, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship. I was really nervous to go, because let's be honest, these things can be super awkward. It's a group of about 14 people (6 married couples and 2 dating couples) that are all in their twenties. They were SO funny and great. I was such a dork because I laughed at just about everything this one girl said...she reminded me of a cross between Rachel Foster and Jenny Davis--so you know she's awesome.

I'm excited too because they are really genuine and very open and honest with each other when we split up to share prayer requests. I just feel like they get me and they understand where I'm at in life...and also, I feel like they could teach me a lot because they've been there.

So thankful for answered prayers.

On Tuesday night, I got a text message from a number I didn't recognize that said "Hay. LIVE LAUGH LEARN" .... I immediately laughed and thought it was Laura maybe texting from someone else's phone or something. Then right after that, I got a call from that number, and it was Montay, the girl I mentored a few years ago in College Station!

It was so crazy because I've been thinking about her a lot lately. I have been feeling really sad and guilty because I had this perfect opportunity through mentoring to talk about Jesus with her, and I didn't. I mean, I think I was a good role model and I think she liked me pretty well, but I totally blew that opportunity. So I've just been thinking about that a lot lately and how I don't want to be like that in my life. It's not enough to just be a sweet person that isn't willing to tell other people about Christ because it might be uncomfortable.

So then she calls me--it was really good to catch up with her, and I told her next time I'm in College Station, we should get together.. So now I'm praying that God would show me what I need to do and how I can talk to her...but more than that, I'm praying that she comes to know Christ, whether that involves me or not.

I'm title-less

I now have 5 jobs.

1. Subbing on Wednesdays and Thursdays
2. Babysitting for the Dempsey family on Mondays and Tuesdays
3. Working at church preschool 15 hours a week
4. Working with Laura
5. Babysitting every other Friday for another family

Plus, I've been getting quite a few other babysitting jobs here and there lately. Sooo...I'm practically a millionaire. And did I mention I'm getting 8 bucks back on my taxes? I know, you're jealous, I get it.

It's day 13 of our 30-day eating plan, and I'm still going strong! I don't think I've violated any of the rules at all. Who knew I had so much willpower? I sure didn't.

Josh and I have officially found a church that we want to join! It's Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton...it's about a 20 minute drive. It's a pretty big church, but I feel like they are so genuine and the people we've met so far have been really nice. The pastor's sermons are all straight from the Bible and we really trust him and think he has a lot of wisdom...so, that's exciting. I'm excited to meet new people and get involved.

In other news, I'm officially adding a person to my "Celebrities I Would Marry" list: Andy Samberg. How was he not on there before?? And yes, I've told Josh, and he totally understands. By the way, the other celebrities I would marry would be Chris Martin (duh), John Krasinski, and Conan O'Brien.

k, BYE!