Jodie and Abby came up with the idea of having a birthday party for me even though I live 2,000 miles away, so we video Skyped it!

Mom with my nephew, Evan. Jodie is in the background.

Abby drew a map to my house. Notice that all roads lead to it. :)

Dad got in on the fun, and April, my brother's house guest, was still trying to figure it all out.

My birthday cake (actually a cherry cordial ice cream cake- I APPROVE!) with Abby singing.

Abby and Evan blow out my candles.

FUN DAY! Thanks, family, for making this birthday very fun!!

 Well, October 1st has come and gone and thanks to the grace of God and my generous parents, I have survived financially. My credit cards a bit bruised, but they can be repaired over time.

I now feel like one of those people who lived through the Depression...cringing when I have to pay a little more than usual (Jiffy Lube- if you haven't had it serviced since March, expect that it needs extra love), still reluctant to spend anything. I guess that is a good thing. The lingering fear of want pushes me toward better discipline.

Next Sunday is my birthday. I plan to explore California Adventure. It is the companion park to Disneyland, which I have been to 3 or 4 times. I have not ever been to California Advenure, so I am excited to be an explorer for a day.

I met Donald Miller (again) on Monday. My friend Susan Isaacs opens for him on his book tour. I am trying to figure out how to see them again  before the tour ends in December, but they are on a tour bus in the midwest and I am definitely not there right now. We shall see....maybe when I fly back for Thanksgiving I can make a stop in a different city...

Ugh. Does anyone in the world have this? I think I am in the only profession that pays on a 10 month salary. It is a new thing for me. It is killing me.

School started this week (and went very well, to be honest), but I've actually been at school for the last month getting ready. There is always lots of stuff to buy- paper, materials, laminating, candy... but after a month and a half of work, we won't get paid until October 1st.

I know, I know. I should save better. I should budget more. I should grow my own food. I should live in a tent.  I should trap wild animals and eat them. But what happened last year is that I had a serious paycut in January that dropped my salary by about $12,000 after a 6 month period. Who can budget for THAT?

The bright side: it is giving me a chance to trust God for provision. It is giving me a chance to be blessed by others. It is humbling and everyone needs more of that. It helps me improve my begging skills at the Farmers' Market ("Are you going to throw that away? I'll take it for you!").

Alrighty. Off to hunt and gather the fat of the land of Uptown Whittier. Or not.