"Wilkins Micawber is a man who is fond of large words, and never uses one when several will do."

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional."

I think this is my new favorite quote....at least for awhile.

still really not looking forward to turning 18 next month, but that I can't really stop. ok, well, I can't stop it at all. I'm not looking forward to more responsibilities, or people treating me more like an adult (being a kid is just fun, you know?), or having to figure out who to vote for, etc.

I AM looking forward to going to Pike Place Market on my birthday for like the whole day. and I'm going to find that gum wall, if it kills me! because it's ridiculous how many times I've been there and not found it (the reason I haven't found it is because I haven't looked for it yet; I always forget).

forgive me if this post is disjointed, because I have that supremely tired/groggy feeling you get after an all-nighter. loooooong week last week, playing piano/keyboard for around 7 hours yesterday, lousy night of very little sleep, and back at the church early this morning. thank God tomorrow is a study day, because I desperately need sleep!

but despite the long weekend right after such a long week, I had a wonderful day - both yesterday and today. yesterday was our Celebration Dinner at the church, and I played Christmas music for a good 3 hours. it went really well and was actually fun.....unfortunately as soon as it was over all the exhaustion hit me and I just felt like dying or something. I just sat from 2:00 until 3:00 - the one hour between finishing piano playing and starting worship practice. thankfully I got to take worship easy this weekend, but even though it was easy we were all SO TIRED last night...I just about fell asleep during the sermon (which was thankfully quite short). we went to Frankie's for pizza afterward but nobody stayed very long (although we did have a good time while we were there).

got to sleep at about 11:00 last night, and woke up at 4:00 this morning for no good reason. you know how it is when you wake up in the middle of the night, really hungry, or really thirsty? it was like that....and then I just tossed and turned for the next hour and a half trying to get back to sleep, which I eventually managed to do. woke up to the alarm clock an hour later and after ten minutes or so dragged myself out of bed.

once I got to church things started going better. we played Christmas music this weekend, and it was a lot of fun. the best part, though, is having the feel of my team back. our bass player is gone this weekend, but Bret is back and that's pretty wonderful. I haven't played with him on the team since the beginning of summer (he took a long break, I went to India, he's missed the last few rotations since then for various reasons). there's something about having him there that just completes the team feeling we have. he adds a chemistry to the band that I've really missed - and he is a very good friend who I've missed just talking to. so it was really nice having him back, even if we were all half-dead this morning from yesterday. :)

my next rotation is December 26-27. I am going to make Christmas cookies. :P

and now, my dear friends, I am going to go read the Mystery of Edwin Drood (because I finished A Christmas Carol!) until I fall asleep.

and no, I still have not changed my calendar.

AND....

IT SNOWED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! verifiably. such a beautiful thing. I love how God takes the dust particles in the air and turns them into something so beautiful for us to enjoy.