The God that doesn't use the same color twice...

So, today, I have taken up my hand at painting. I like it, it's fun and challenging and makes the time go fast. But at the same time, it's very frustrating. And I was gonna stop at 3, and then 4, but I didn't want the colors to dry up so I'm still at it and and it's stupid 5 and goodness gracious is this hard work! Why I thought of this as a good Christmas present idea I'm not sure. Oh well. It's different than a fleece which I've gotten for my brother-in-law for 2 straight years.

So today, Olivia apparently dangled chicken lunch meat over my head around noon, then saw on my blog that I had gone to bed quite late and let me sleep in til 2. We showered and got dressed and headed out to the mall. It was a friggen huge mall. Two stories. Which meant we had to ride the escalators. I hate escalators. So does she. We spent way too much time walking way too much to spend way too much money. But this year I am actually going to pay for everyone's Christmas presents with my own money. Which means I'll pretty much be broke. Sweet. But it was time for this next step in independence. I may or may not have also bought myself a couple Christmas presents. I didn't really tell anyone what I wanted for Christmas, so I figured I could help my mom out a little bit. Gah! And I didn't realize until tonight that I bought my sister two big Christmas presents. Totally forgot about the one I bought last night. So, uh, sweet. Maybe I'll help my mom out for another daughter too. But anyways.

At 8:30 we, Olivia in particular, decided that we were starving. So we went to an Asian Cuisine called XO in downtown Grand Rapids, and it was A-mazing. Best of both worlds. I got Pad Thai and a California Roll. Two of my favorites from two different countries in the same continent that you don't normally find in the same restaurant. SO good. Ha, and it was like Olivia and I were on a date. They even lit a candle to set the mood. Ha I lol'd. Olivia's so proud that I actually request sushi now. My taste buds/psyche have come a long way since the Mwakanandi's first took me out for sushi. I tried a cucumber roll. You can't get much less harmless than that. I took a bite instead of putting the whole thing in my mouth and the cucumber flung out. I also inquired as to what the substance that covered the roll was and Liv and her mom tried to convince me it was lettuce though I was pretty sure it was seaweed. I didn't buy their lettuce claim, especially since this was not the first time they would have lied to me about what I was eating, so I asked the waiter what it was and he said it was seaweed. I didn't have the mental strength to eat seaweed. So my nibble of projectile-cucumber roll was all I ate that time. Now, I request to go eat it. And I really like it. Next step is the raw stuff, though I honestly doubt I'll ever get to that point.

We came back and watched Elf while I painted a birdhouse, and then watched some cake baking show with douche bag, cocky, competing bakers while I worked on this other painting. Liv went to bed over 3 hours ago. That really just makes me realize how long I've been working on this dang painting. Erg. He better like it...

So a few weeks ago, a lady started a Bible Study for Strippers at my church. Not that my church has a lot of strippers, but that's just where they meet for it. My mom went and I really think the whole thing is pretty cool. But they interviewed the lady who's running it and it's possibly going to be on NPR. I seriously think it's awesome. I'm gonna go next Thursday with my mom. Here's the link for the interview.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1739698

I think this is one of the coolest things I've ever heard. That's the kind of love I want to be a part of.

Wellllll I'm off to bed now. Peace and blessings. And sushi.