Quick Takes!

Attempting to get back into the swing of things by linking up with Jen and the other faithfuls. Here's hoping I can come up with 7 things that have been going on with me lately!

1. Work started about a month ago, and it's going really well! I've had plenty to do to keep me busy, which is a huge blessing because my manager originally told me that they probably wouldn't have much for me to work on. I'm just glad I'm not reading software manuals like I was during the internship! Plus it's been a huge joy getting to know my coworkers more. I've been trying to challenge myself to learn more about each of them and have a more substantial conversation than "Hi Jessica, how are you? I'm great, how are you?" Fridays are really slow in the office and hardly anyone actually comes in, so I spent a good chunk of the morning basically hanging out in one of my coworker's offices and discussing what it's like having 9 bosses and how that really works as a staff accountant.

2. Enough about work (though I really am glad it's going well). After a year of being back home, I've finally managed to find a young adult group!!! Talk about an answer to a prayer. I could probably write a whole post about it, and maybe one of these days I will, but I'll just stick to the basics for now. I went on a retreat the last weekend of July, got to know a couple of the girls, and started going to the young adult group they're a part of every Thursday night. I can't even tell you how much of a difference this has made; I've become pretty close with two of the women and have been invited to so many different activities as a result. I had been longing for that community and that feeling of being included in a group for so long, and I couldn't be happier with how God answered that prayer.

3. I think I'm finally in the last college course I'll ever have to take and I'm so ready to be done! Taking all these classes post-graduation has confirmed that I don't desire a master's degree. College was great for those first 5 years, but I'm perfectly content never to pay for another textbook again! Though this is probably due to the fact that my current class isn't going so hot. I guess that's what I get for signing up for a course called "Advanced Accounting," right? ;)

4. I started reading The Underland Chronicles last week. It's a five-book series written by the same author as The Hunger Games, and I really like 'em! Basically, it's the story of this young boy who discovers a land under our own and somehow finds himself constantly tangled up in the affairs of this Underland. They're young adult books (or maybe younger....haha), but they have some pretty profound messages in them, like self-sacrificing love, compassion, forgiveness, etc. If you're looking for a quick, easy read, I highly recommend them!

5. I seem to be running out of things to talk about...(which is why I haven't been blogging lately). Every time I sit down to start typing about something, nothing comes out the way I want it to or I simply can't think of anything to say. Not sure what the deal is but that's the way the cookie is crumbling.

6. Oh! I'm running in my first 5k ever on Sunday (unless you count the time when I was 9 or 10 and my mom signed us up for one and I had to quit probably less than a mile in. hahaha. I do not). I'm not sure I'll actually be able to run the whole thing since I had to put my training on hold due to the whole sprained-ankle-ligaments debacle, but I think some of my friends will have to walk too so I'm not too worried. Plus it's at the zoo so we'll get to run past all of the animals!

7. Now go watch this video and remember how amazing you are :)

7 Quick Takes (12)

Linking up with Jen and her minions for another round of Friday fun.

1. I started two more classes this week, for a total of 3 for now. Next week I'll add another, and the week after that, I'll tack on one more. I'm verrrrrrry quickly beginning to question what the heck I was thinking when I signed up for all this work...tax research takes up way more time than I'd like it to!

2. I somehow managed to get myself on the elliptical every day this week! How did I do it you ask?Well, I've taken to rewarding myself for exercising of course. Though I think I need a new system because eating a bowl of ice cream after using the elliptical for 45 minutes feels like it's negating any sort of progress I may have made...

3. My love of SVU has been rekindled. It's not that I ever didn't like it. I just got a little burnt out after taking part in every marathon the show had one year (read: anytime I turned the TV on, SVU was on). Oddly enough, this behavior led to a little thing I like to call burn out, so I did the only sensible thing I could think of--went on a two year hiatus. (Oh, you know how to do things outside of the extremes? Do share.) But now it's back and I feel another addiction starting.

4. I just got a text from a friend asking me if I want to read an encyclical with her each week. Um yes. Yes I do. First up: Mulieris Dignitatem. I.Can't.Wait.

5. If you're looking for a good book to read, I definitely recommend And the Mountains Echoed. It's by the same author as The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, neither of which I've read but I've heard they're both great, too! I would try to describe it, but that's not something I excel at...my summaries usually go something like this: "well, it's a story. And it's about a family. And how that family interacts with each other. And it's a little sad but also really endearing." That doesn't make you want to read it? How odd. (but still go read it!!!)

6. Is candy crush saga something I should be playing?

7. My family and I played this game at my uncle's party this past weekend and couldn't stop cracking up. Well worth the 99 cents!