Working Girl

So........ I have a job!

Not only THAT it is an absolutely fabulous job!

I get to work here. *smiles*

My boss is one of the sweetest and most passionate women I've ever met, full of encouragement and initiative.

The teenagers I work with are hilarious and devoted to our cause of bringing healthy and interesting activities to my hometown's community and neighboring townships.

We have available:
Pottery studio (with kiln)
Art studio for: Painting, Arts and Crafts, and more
Sewing Studio
Gymnasium
Stage and Theatre program for: teaching kids about theatre AND putting on AMAZING shows.
(Soon to be) Culinary Arts program with retro style café
Tech lab
Film programs
Recording studio
Youth Advisory Councils

We work with elementary, middles school, and high school students.

Friend us on Facebook
Follow us on twitter

I'm SO excited to be a part of this opportunity to create amazing programs for my local communities.

Peace world!

How the bl**p did I end up here?

*image from here


Have you ever asked yourself that?

I am very aware of how easy it is to get lost in the physical world (aka while driving/in a foreign country etc).

But I'm talking about life here, people.

At 23, this is not where I pictured myself. I can't say that I'm starving or homeless or lacking for comforts that some people kill for, I'm simply stunned at where I ended up compared to where I thought I'd be.

Even more stunning, is that it's harder then I thought it would be for my dreams not to come true.

I guess that's just the idealist in me? Though I don't think that imagining myself with a job and an apartment, possibly even being in a relationship with a guy I'm crazy about (though that may be stretching it).

Stupid feelings. I need to stop letting them rule my life (according to my therapist at least).

Sleep well, foks.

Where in the world is...

I've decided to make a Very Important List.
In no particular order!

Cities in which I think I could live:

Chicago, IL

Grand Rapids, MI

Ashland, OR

Savannah, GA

St. Louis, MO

Maybe that's where I should try looking for work...

Side by side income

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/astenzel7 is full of beautiful products like this:

On a PERSONAL note I'm going to be arranging a fresh picked bouquet of flowers every week for the rest of summer. Just because.
Take a peek at this week's arrangment!

Peace out baby!

Where I'm at.

*foto courtesy of flickr

I find that lately I feel caged in a lot of ways, that foto is simply a beautiful illustration of one specific way.

There are certain times in my life that I find myself OVER-adjusting for each situation, instead of merely expressing myself as I see fit.

So here goes (an honest list) of what is currently caged: *My heart (obviamente) *My appetite *My future *My relationships with males *My relationship with my mother(familia en total) *My happiness

*le sigh*

I recently received both the dramatic AND melodramatic cards during an Apples to Apples game.

¿qué perfecto, no?

No comprendí, no comprendo, no comprenderé

I love my Savior.

I try as much as possible, though I am always learning and growing, to live my life to the glory of God, to please my Savior, and to be an example and encouragement to those around me.

I was born and have been raised LCMS Lutheran, that also includes baptism and confirmation in the LCMS Lutheran faith.

I went to an LCMS Lutheran grade school/church.

I went to an LCMS Lutheran high school.

My faith came alive when I was a junior in high school thanks in big part to the senior level theology teacher who constantly pushed us (in a good way) to live out our faith more and more as we grew and matured.

I did NOT go to an LCMS Lutheran college. I went to an "independent" Lutheran college.

At that college, I went to church, chapel, a Christian Fellowship. I led bible studies, and service projects. I worshipped, I sinned, I failed, and I was bathed in grace (Still am praise Jesus).

I now teach at my former high school. With that high school teacher who greatly blessed my life, and I respect as a teacher, a father, and a Christian brother.

Every once in a while, I have a brief exchange with that teacher, in which a shot is taken at my college. It is implied that I have fallen from my faith/my standing as a child of God, in a joking manner that has too much of a bite in it to be solely a joke.

I have just realized that it is the Devil's constant desire to divide and separate Christians through any means possible. Unfortunately, I believe that this is so often overlooked in and amongst ourselves.

Why are we allowing Satan the opportunity to use our own actions to hurt and cause our brothers and sisters as make our way through life in a fallen world? Isn't it hard enough with the world and society and our sinful nature beating us down every day? Why can we not encourage as well as speak truth that is biblically based into one another's lives?

No comprendí, no comprendo, no comprenderé.

Amanda N. Stenzel

Alleluia!

A blessed Easter to you all!




Mucho Amor!