[null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzhPOYUEACI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QaQEChaioD0/s320/122410+146.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzhPOYUEACI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QaQEChaioD0/s320/122410+146.jpg"}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBlXDzxohI/AAAAAAAAAFA/M-LiIfhWBlE/s320/122109+017.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBlXDzxohI/AAAAAAAAAFA/M-LiIfhWBlE/s320/122109+017.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBlKCDzoTI/AAAAAAAAAE4/NvOWbMQ1eNs/s320/122109+006.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBlKCDzoTI/AAAAAAAAAE4/NvOWbMQ1eNs/s320/122109+006.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBlCXculdI/AAAAAAAAAEw/BHKBxitdzqc/s320/122009+034.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBlCXculdI/AAAAAAAAAEw/BHKBxitdzqc/s320/122009+034.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBkxT0BMBI/AAAAAAAAAEo/AoCP4dJE0qc/s320/122009+009.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBkxT0BMBI/AAAAAAAAAEo/AoCP4dJE0qc/s320/122009+009.jpg"}, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBkolUtG2I/AAAAAAAAAEg/ettngpqigsk/s320/122009+003.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SzBkolUtG2I/AAAAAAAAAEg/ettngpqigsk/s320/122009+003.jpg"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/Sy3K28wyYdI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/nSfMYMtDFrU/s320/121910+020.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/Sy3K28wyYdI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/nSfMYMtDFrU/s320/121910+020.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/Sy3LAPbBovI/AAAAAAAAAEY/VYQqNmmI0fU/s320/121910+016.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/Sy3LAPbBovI/AAAAAAAAAEY/VYQqNmmI0fU/s320/121910+016.jpg"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SwBo4pikKtI/AAAAAAAAAEE/EICgyBU7zvo/s320/November14+009.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/SwBo4pikKtI/AAAAAAAAAEE/EICgyBU7zvo/s320/November14+009.jpg", "formatted_filename": "November"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/So4-nFg13tI/AAAAAAAAAC8/QjD9Pp2wua8/s320/IMG_0739.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/So4-nFg13tI/AAAAAAAAAC8/QjD9Pp2wua8/s320/IMG_0739.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG"}, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://lifelibertyjoy.blogspot.com/2009/", "unformatted_src": "//2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/S5qa0xR23iI/AAAAAAAAAHg/k9IHGt1YvL8/S220-s80/Photo+on+2010-02-15+at+13.54.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eY8qzhMd0BI/S5qa0xR23iI/AAAAAAAAAHg/k9IHGt1YvL8/S220-s80/Photo+on+2010-02-15+at+13.54.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Photo on   at", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 60}, null]


Chip on my shoulder Oh the joys that Musical Theatre can teach us ;) From Legally Blonde:

This chip on my shoulder
Makes me smarter and bolder
No more whining or blaming
I am reclaiming my pride

I don't really want to go through life with a chip on my shoulder, but I think I'm all about "reclaiming my pride" and "no more whining and blaming."

I'm happy to be vulnerable to the men that deserve it, but for now (singing) I've got a chip on my shoulder, it's the size of a boulder...
Posted by Molly Joy at 10:17 PM No comments: 
A Novice

I'm seriously LOVING photography. It makes me happy and I've seriously had to resist taking my camera to bed with me. (When I was younger my mom got me snow boots for Christmas one year. I loved them SOO much, I slept with them on. So when I say I almost slept with them, it doesn't mean in the sexual way, it means in the "I don't want to spend a minute with out them" sort of way.)

I realized that this is so exciting because I know a lot of people who are photo-fluent. They speak the language, they know what it means and how it relates to pictures. Me, on the other hand, I'm a novice! I know so little about this and it's so exciting to be able to learn from others.

Too many times in my life I've had to prove that I'm not in fact an idiot (like today at the doctors- another story for another time.) So I've had to thrive and strive to prove myself which is super not what I'm about as a woman, but it happens. In turn, photography has allowed me to enjoy my photo-ignorance and to embrace not being good at something.

::sigh:: I love photography.
Posted by Molly Joy at 10:40 PM No comments: Mmm Photos I love my new camera. 
Beware: I have shutter speed... I LOVE photography. Scratch that.
I LOVE good photography.

One of my favorite parts of my job at the Villa is the amount of amazing pictures I get to look at. As a graduation present, I was given my first legit camera. A Canon Rebel EOS with an 18-55 mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS lens and SOMEDAY I'll learn what those numbers mean and how it relates to my pictures. I know the 18-55 mm is the amount of space between the lens and the sensor and it determines how much zoom your camera has. Needless to say, I don't have much zoom comparing my 18mm to oh say... 300? But I'm stoked! Already I'm loving this camera/lens and having a pretty legit hobby. It also gives me some excellent questions to talk over with our preferred partners at the Villa in photography. But be warned, I made 27 albums on facebook in one year with my Sony Cybershot. And now that I have a camera I'm tempted to wear to bed, I make no promises that you won't get sick of reading "Molly Joy has uploaded ___ new photos" on facebook!
Posted by Molly Joy at 10:49 PM 1 comment: 
A random assortment of things

Posted by Molly Joy at 8:04 PM No comments: 

Stupid KNEE!!

You knew this blog post was coming. I even said it was in the last post, so don't blame me.

I am SO frustrated with my knee, the physical therapists and the knee surgeon. I'm sick of wearing my special shoes and they are quickly becoming less and less special to me. I don't have any where to wear them to, but every now and then, a girl needs to wear heals!!

My physical therapist has been half-assing it until tomorrow, when he and I are going to have a serious conversation about WTF is up with my knee. I've experienced MORE pain since starting PT than I have since I quit working out in September.

Keep in mind that I have TWO weddings to work at the end of December, both requiring me to work from 8AM to 1AM. Work meaning cleaning, running around, doing everything for brides, meaning a LOT of standing, walking, and running.

Posted by Molly Joy at 10:03 PM No comments: 
We live today for hope of tomorrow...

I went to church yesterday! And it was GOOD! Aside from the somewhat miserable worship band and the distracting amount of good looking people, there was a message. It was clear, I understood it, and it made me think. Which, isn't that what sermons are meant to do?

The message I got from the sermon was sensible in thinking that Christianity isn't here to denounce what is Earthly, but to use them in a healthy way in our wait for the future. We are meant to enjoy what good things God has given us (friendship, good food and drink) but to not become obsessed with them.

Here's the gist of it:
For those of us who are not beautiful, don't become obsessed with being beautiful, but be content because at some point you will be a beautiful angel.
For those of us who are not rich, don't become obsessed with working because in Heaven we'll have all the riches we could ever want.

It was a great message and I felt comfortable with the people I was surrounded by. No doubt they all have their flaws just as I do, but I felt welcome and like I kinda belonged there! Weird...

Job: Check
Church: Check
Knee: Well... that's another blog for another day...
Posted by Molly Joy at 9:42 PM 2 comments: 

Well, I've got a job. A fantastic one at that! God has blessed me with understanding and amazing supervisors. A job that uses my talents, is challenging and I'm excited to go to daily. One step is out of the way and we're on to tackling the knee situation.

I must say I unloaded on my physical therapist a bit during our first appointment. I think those around me would agree in that I feel stuck. I want to work out more than I think I could explain. Working long hours is best assuaged by running every frustration and any left over energy out subdues my ADHD into submission quite nicely.

He's a nice man, however, I could manage without his affinity for slapping my butt. While I inherently feel a sense of trust with this man, I think it's a little early for "good game"-ing. He does know that I'm at my last wits with my knee pain. My family can attest to my frustration with the knee surgeon that didn't think my two years of knee pain, even post physical therapy, deserved surgery. I know it's not a quick fix, but at least then we'd know for sure what was wrong and would be on a path to fixing it.

I sit here writing this with a sore bum from the PT exercises. Apparently my knee pain stems from a weak butt and hips. Add on that my knee is in the wrong spot because one quad muscle won't activate and we seem to know what the problem is.

Job: check.
Knee: in process
Next up? A social life.
Posted by Molly Joy at 9:50 PM 1 comment: I've applied everywhere.

Out of ~250 applications, I've gotten 3 interviews. 
What am I? 70? 
ADHD and Adderall 
It's not judging if it's true... Okay, tonight was the camel that broke the camel's back. 
A day with snakes... 
Haircuts, knees and other issues 
The Male Feminist Movement 
The Biggest Loser 

Posted by Molly Joy at 10:06 PM No comments: What a tricky little bugger perseverance is. 
Figuring things out... So, after (what seemed like) a long visit to Fort Collins to figure out some issues with my thesis/degree, I enjoyed a nice drive home listening to my favorite pastor- Mark Driscoll.

Earlier that day I had started reading a book called "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat" which I thank Fletcher for suggesting it. Already into the first chapter I've realized that I live heavily out of fear. This wasn't a new realization, but what was new was WHY.

I love my parents deeply, but listening to Mark Driscoll talk about fear, I learned that I have been using my parents as an excuse. I've been using them to define me. I am constantly seeking their approval, I live in constant fear of their disapproval and that is in fact not loving them. "There is a big difference between a fool and a wise person is a fool fears man. A wise person fears God."

In my time at home, I've been trying to figure out what exactly it is that I want to be doing. It's hard to find a job you love when you don't know what that is. I'm happy to say that I think I'm at least on the right path. I love event planning, I love working IN education without actually being a teacher, and I love being in the University setting. So after some good thinking and trying to decide what uses the gifts God has given me and what I can do to glorify God, I'm going to pursue my master's in Student Affairs and Higher Ed. I know that if this is what God intends for me, he will make the rough paths smooth!

In the mean time I'm still pursuing jobs, still trying to get silly CSU to recognize that I've finished school, and still pursuing God. And I'm learning some awesome things in the process.
Posted by Molly Joy at 2:31 PM 1 comment: 
My Day with Dunder Mifflin So yesterday was my "all day interview" with The Marketing Group. Let's make two notes about this last sentence: 1. I put all day interview in quotes because it wasn't much of an interview; more like a hostage situation. 2. The Marketing Group uses the word marketing quite loosely.

I was met by Mr. David Wilson who told me to come with him. He then whisked me away in his falling-apart Saab and we were off to Denver to meet some managers about their paper supply. At this point it was 9:10am and already thoughts of Dunder Mifflin had entered my mind and wondered which quirky salesperson I was going to spend my day with. It turns out, even a day with Dwight K. Schrute would have been more interesting than Mr. David Wilson.

He quickly changed his mind and decided we would go to Colorado Springs first and instructs me to take out something to write on because he will be quizzing me through out the day. I slightly panicked only because I'd be stuck in a car with a strange man for a little over an hour and thoughts of being abandoned in Colorado Springs and being forced to walk back to Denver in order to lose weight so the entire office could get five additional vacation days had begun to enter my mind. (Yes, more Office references.)

After a day in Colorado Springs (not just the morning like David kept assuring me it would be) we came back to Denver in a very silent car. "Why," you ask? Well, during our afternoon, we had been, in David's words, "Introducing ourselves" to local office managers in large buildings. However one receptionist believed we were in fact soliciting (which he was) and David gave her a little back talk. She threatened to call security if we didn't leave. I believe I even saw her pick up the phone when she saw us go "introduce ourselves" to the office next to them.

So after a horrible day, I was then asked to fill out another stupid survey before my last stupid interview. (Seriously. I don't think these people understand what happens in real interviews.) This is where Josh was going to interview me. Let me paint you a picture of Josh- think of that guy in the fraternity who's overweight, outdrinks every body and is most likely to kick a puppy and high five everyone after he does it. He spends some time bragging about himself (which his list of accomplishments isn't even comparable to the list of things I had completed in the day prior... yay laundry) and then asks me what my weaknesses are. I gave him some good ones that I thought would deter him from actually hiring me and at the time thought they worked.

The frat king sent me on my way and I spent the entire walk to the car quietly cursing how I had spent my day. I came home to a delicious sunshine wheat and amazing dinner from my mom (what a blessed woman she is and the only highlight to a horribe day!) At seven o'clock I got a call offering me a position with them and tipsy/slightly drunk Molly said she needed time to think about it, realizing that would be a phone conversation for calm and collected (and sober) Molly.

This day helped me realize some good things about what I want to do so it wasn't a 100% loss, but this blog is already quite lengthy and we'll leave those revelations for another day.
Posted by Molly Joy at 3:00 PM No comments: 
Something worth doing

Everyday, I go to careerbuilder.com and try to find some job to devote my time to. I've even tried applying to a cosmetology school and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. After receiving a small scholarship before I was even accepted to RMCAD, I have to admit one nagging thought:

How does any of this glorify God and the gifts he has given me?

Yeah, I could go back to school and be a licensed Interior Designer, I could work in event planning, and I could be someone's assistant (actually, I can't- turns out I'm over and under qualified at the same time.) but how is me working for a Fortune 500 company going to help me live a life that is worthy of Jesus dying for it?

Other people I get- I am happy to say that I find more inspiration to praise God after listening to my friend, Fletcher's music or looking at his art, I see friends that are using the workplace to show God's profound impact on their lives, and I even have friends enduring slight misery with the program Teach for America.

So in case I didn't have enough standards for my future, I've added another one that MUST be met: It must be worth doing.
Posted by Molly Joy at 11:06 PM 2 comments: 

What lawyer has a hotmail account as their work email? I have a confession:
I'm afraid of pretty much everything. 
A Spain Update 
Joy: Lesson Number One Molly Joy
