A couple days ago I paid T.J. Maxx a visit and made a big purchase for myself - a pair of snowpants! Now I am not a big fan of snow, which is good since we don't get too many dumping of white fluff in Indianapolis. But for the few times that we do get snow, I thought it would be nice to be properly equipped. So when I saw these nice Columbia pants for 34.99 I thought I'd snatch them up. I'm planning on these lasting me for the rest of my life. And now, Matt and Sonya, I am prepared to visit you over Christmas if the opportunity arises! However, I'm still in need of a pair of snowboots that fit. Last week in my Bible study I was reading John chapter 5. As some of you may know, verse 4 is left out but I did not realize this and it just blew my mind. The verse itself and the fact that it was left out caused a lengthy discussion between mom, Nealy and I. Here are the verses so you'll know what I'm talking about.
"Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people
used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease he had. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.'" (Verse 4 is in italics)So what really blew my mind was this whole angel of the Lord stirring up the water and these invalids being healed. Nealy said she remembers Sunday school stories about this but I most certainly don't remember reading this or hearing any stories about this. It all just sounded a little strange to me. I believe that God can heal people in whatever way He chooses but this method is quite different than any of the other ways seen in the Bible. Verse 4 does make verse 7 (the invalid's response to Jesus asking him if he'd like to be well) more understandable. So I don't know if verse 4 is true or not, if you have an opinion on the matter, please share your insight. Even though I didn't really understand the verse, I did find an amusing thought from it. I had this image of an angel flying in over the pool on a cloud pulling a gigantic spoon out of his robe, extending it into the pool and giving it a good mix. In the meantime I saw all of the blind and lame people pushing, shoving and stumbling over each other as they raced toward the pool to see who could get in first. This may not be good of me, but I had a nice chuckle.... or healthy laugh, as this image passed through my mind.
On Saturday I went to a friend's to have some real English tea. She's from the UK and had just gotten back from a visit home and was stocked up with good English tea. Honestly, I didn't notice much difference but I did thoroughly enjoy the tea all the same. Something else that she brought back from the UK that I am thoroughly excited about are these Happy Hippos that you see above. I first experienced these delightful little snacks when I was spending my semester in Italy. I absolutely loved these things! There are two variations: the first has a creamy milk and hazelnut filling with a thin, wafery shell. The other is milk and cocoa inside and both look like cute little hippos. You just can't go wrong with these things! I was so disappointed when I got back home and couldn't find these things anywhere. When Laura left for England she asked if I wanted her to bring anything back. I didn't remember seeing happy hippos when I was in London but thought I'd ask her if she'd seen them at home. And fortunately she had!
Since meeting Laura a couple months ago, I have been drinking a lot more tea. In fact one week instead of drinking my usual morning cup of coffee each day, I drank tea. And I do especially enjoy drinking it the British way - with milk. While I do like English breakfast tea, I think one of my new favorite teas is Earl Grey.
About four or five weeks ago I finally got another job! I am now employed by the Picture People, a photography studio in the Greenwood Park Mall. The picture on the left is what I look like at work... kind of.
Today I have been having some serious meat cravings, specifically a delectable steamed bagel sandwich from theRipple Bagel & Deli in Broad Ripple. I have only been here twice and both times I have gotten the evil doer: roast beef, cream cheese, smoke 'em out cheddar, sprouts, mustard and mayo on a sunflower bagel. It's terribly amazing and I want it right now! I think I could also settle for a couple cream cheese smothered baby pickles wrapped in ham. 
Speaking of pickles, I decided to open my horizons and follow dad's example by putting some bread and butter pickles on my burger. And I have decided that I am officially a fan!
