Week 1 and a half. Complete. And it's been pretty good. I'm now working in the Special Markets Division working up comps for clients who want their company logo on our watches, sunglasses, etc. That's the short version, the non-design lingo that most general public will comprehend. In addition to working for "Speedy" as it is deemed, I've gotten the priviledge of arranging 600+ watch tins in order on a huge display wall. Great fun... Anyway, we have this employee store at Fossil in which the company stocks items that are overflow or didn't sell or whatever and they discount everything HUGELY for all of us. So I got to go check it last Friday and it reminded me of a favorite elementary moment. Anyone remember Santa's Secret Shop back in the good ole days? I know Mom does because she still has nick-nacks from it displayed at home in all their glory. Since I didn't get into the payroll system at Fossil until this week, I couldn't buy anything last week at the store. It was a mere window shopping experience. Which is fine with me. The pink purses were horrendous. But I remember when December hit in elementary and everyone got their own cardboard gingerbread house bank to save up pennies for Santa's Shop. One day we'd all go to the shop, set up on the gym stage, "just to look" so we'd know what we wanted and how many quarters it would take to get that special "No Place Like Home" plastic window sign, perfect for my Mom's stocking. And after a century had passed, we were finally able to go back and make our purchases. But you had to be quick, for Suzy and Billy also had their eye on the soccer ball eraser that you wanted and there were only so many... And so, the Fossil employee store reminded me of fond memories of Santa's Secret Shop. Thought I'd reminisce a bit.

It's gonna be hard to catch up the last two weeks...Got moved to Richardson on Friday, started work at Fossil on Monday, and it's been fast and furious ever since. My computer isn't hooked up yet, so I'm about to go into deprevation over that. Better posts later. For now...

Things I won't miss about camp:
*sleeping on the breezeway and getting attached by rabid bugs
*sweating constantly, even in the shower
*crucifixion and all that entails
*ham
*middle-of-the-night bathroom runs
*counting kids constantly
*the heat (oh, wait, it was 106 here today...)
*licking my plate
*stairs
*the laundry room

Things I will miss about camp:
*playing with kids
*hiking with Brad into uncharted territory
*soccer games on the weekend
*worship every day
*being surrounded by 40 people my own age all the time
*clean-up and popcorn Friday night
*good conversations
*my best buds
*making lemonade for spa night with Katy
*Matilda, Willy Wonka, and Mike Wizowski
*Lacy's creepy running stories
*off nights with Chris and Stacey-even the unexpected ones!
*letters from home
*Death By Chocolate
*the kids stepping off the bus
*dance parties on the breezeway
*true fellowship
*chair stacking
*seeing kids grow up
*waking up at camp each morning
*pretty much everything not listed above...

Things I have learned since moving/starting work:
*enjoy the years at school, reality sets in soon enough
*get a map of the place you're working if it's big; that way it won't take you forever to find an exit
*if someone asks you for help, you should help them
*if someone wants to do things on their own, you should let them
*there are many, many people in the cubicles next to you who need to know God
*it is good to see/talk to people you haven't in a while
*missions is still on my heart and mind
*illustrator is much like freehand, praise the Lord
*sugar-free pie is just as amazing as with the sugar
*always have an air-vent in your bathroom
*reading is a luxury
*I miss people...a lot
*families take care of each other (thanks for the calls DM)
*it's time to start running
*don't take for granted having friends to go to church with; it's harder starting from scratch
*learning patience is an ongoing task...


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Oh yeah, and I forgot to add that I will miss Grandma's cinnamon rolls and Granny Field's peanut butter cookies :) Feel free to add to the lists...

Camp is officially over. Well, is was on Saturday. There's a lot to be said about the summer. But it hasn't really hit me yet. So I'm moving to Dallas tomorrow, starting my internship on Monday. I'll post more about the summer when I get there. Until then, a quote from Oswald Chambers:

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. Certainty is the mark of the common sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.

Be certain of God today.