I can't believe how quickly this day has gone by. Come to think of it, the week's passed quickly, too.

I've working on various projects, and they've been going well. I think I'm about caught up, so next week I will probably get some more to work on. :o)

Tomorrow morning I'm going over to my Sunday school teacher and his wife's house, along with others in the class, to help them pack. That should be fun!

It's hot out there. It was 104 degrees earlier today!

Well I think I'll get going. I want to go home and rest and maybe go walking before a friend and I hang out and watch a movie.

I'm back. But not for long. It's been one of those afternoons ... although I'm doing much better now!

Tonight I'm going to a women's ministry thing at my church. It sounds like it will be really good! I'm meeting up with a couple of friends so we can sit together.

Ever been in a crowded room and still felt lonely? God has allowed me to go through a number of "lonely" times in my life ... for reasons I may never know this side of heaven.

Last week I turned 27. I would so much like to at least be "dating" the person He has planned for me to marry ... whoever that is. But His timing is PERFECT. I've got to keep believing that.

The cutest little sparrows have found my bird feeder! The one I got birdseed for when my parents were here. Sometimes there are 10 on my balcony at one time! They're so much fun to watch. This morning when I got up, one was feeding another.

I can't believe it's Friday. Wow ... another week has gone by already?

It was a good one ... I think. Looking back, it went by almost too fast for me to remember it!

I had some very interesting experiences, that's for sure. Someone who works at Chick-fila asked me out! Thankfully I was prepared with an answer. I think the Lord really went before me on that! Whew!

And before that happened, someone at Arby's suddenly turned to me and said, "Where did you get your blue eyes?" Is God trying to tell me to stop going to fast food restaurants? :oD

Well it's almost 6 and I'm tired and I'm going home now.

Today was my birthday.

And I felt loved. :o)

In Sunday school this morning, they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me at the end of class. A girl had also brought a carrot cake with cream cheese icing, my favorite. Then she presented me with an adorable gift bag filled with guess what?

Cards!

That's right, each person in the class had written me a card and stuck it in the bag. It was fun to open and read them.

One guy gave me a mother-daughter card. The inside read, "You are a terrific daughter. And I am a proud mother." The outside? "To my little princess." Only Kelly! He's always making us laugh.

After church was lunch at LaHacienda Ranch. (To quote Dave: "You're not allowed to bail.") Where (of course) the servers all came and sang Happy Birthday to me.

It was a nice birthday. And I felt loved.

This is my 255th post.

I'll try to briefly (as if that's even possible for me? :oD) recap the events of the last week.

Thursday, August 5
9:00 P.M.
My parents arrive at my apartment. Their first time to see my new apartment! They're here for the weekend. I've been looking forward to their visit. Tonight after they got in, they were hungry so we got to eat some of the 3-bean soup I had made for them. :o)

Tomorrow we're going to try to find me a new washer machine. Well, that's if my current one can't be fixed or is expensive to fix. Like my dryer, it was a gift to my roommates and I, maybe two years ago. A huge blessing. Now? Well, it may be on its last leg. My trips to the apartment laundry room are getting a little old. (But I'm still grateful for all the use we've gotten out of it --Praise the Lord for His provision!)

Friday, August 6
Mission accomplished.
The washer would have been expensive to fix, so we were able to find a washer on a good sale, rated well by Consumer Reports (used by my dad many a time :o)). When we went to the mall to purchase the washer, we also ate at Chick-fila. I had great coupons for all of us -- buy a drink, get a free southwest chargrilled chicken salad. Now you can't beat THAT. I also had coupons for free cookies (for each of us!) at the Great American Cookie Co. Fun!

We also went to the Ikea store. WOW. That place is HUGE! And quite popular. We didn't buy anything, basically just walked around for over two hours. It's a fun place to be. Much of the decor (although not all) is not particularly my style, but I think my good friend Heather from back home would really like some of it.

DEFINITELY a store I plan to go back to.

When we got back home, we finished eating our cookies, and ... I don't remember what all else we did. I think just stuff around the apartment, though. Tonight we went for a little bit of all-night prayer at the ministry and my parents were able to catch up with some people there. :o)

Saturday, August 7
We did things around the apartment and went to Wal-mart and Target looking for different household items. My parents got me a birthday present at Garden Ridge, a beautiful picture for my dining room! It is pretty big and has kind of muted pinks, blues, etc. And it's a picture of a vase with flowers. My other walls, um, also have flowers on them? What can I say, I'm just a flower person. :o)

Tonight we had a couple of gals from my S.S. class over. We looked at some of their pictures and showed them a couple of short GFA videos about our Bridge of Hope program. It was a wonderful time of laughter and fellowship! My parents enjoyed getting to meet them both. I knew they'd like them!

Sunday, August 8
To be finished tomorrow :o) Heading back to my apartment now.

It's been a nice day.

We writers had two meetings this morning. And I worked on some things. Then I had a nice, relaxing lunch at one of my favorite places (McAlisters) while working on my "To Do" list for the next day or so. :o) Oh, and this afternoon I finished up my other article I was working for to go in our next SEND!.

Now I need to get home and do some more picking up and probably make some 3-bean soup. I have family coming to see me later this week, which will be nice!

TTFN.

I'm back.

I feel very encouraged ... the Lord has been giving me little opportunities here and there to share (even if just a little bit) about the ministry, as well as putting different people and avenues on my heart. What a blessing!

As I sit here writing this from my second-story cubicle in the office, I am watching a couple of birds eagerly peck at a bag (of potato chip crumbs?). Besides it being really cute to watch, I also saw a great spiritual analogy ...

I got to thinking, here they are all excited about this bag. But what if a much bigger bag, with more food, is about to come their way? From their frame of reference, they can't see that. But it doesn't make the possibility any less real.

God's ways and His timing are always best.