Sapir-Whorf and cocaine

Today I am...

temporarily kicked out of my bedroom.  Rachel and I share a room, and right now she's taking a nap.  I like to listen to music most of the time, and I either hum along or sing to it, and she hates that when she's trying to sleep, so I'm having to relocate for a little while.

so happy that I'm finally done with my anthropology class!  I took my final yesterday, and I think it went really well!  I felt like I should have been more nervous than I was, but it turned out that it was fine.  Though it was an incredibly difficult class, I feel like I learned a lot of interesting things.  The stuff I was actually supposed to remember didn't seem to really stick with me, but I'm retaining a lot of useless, albeit fascinating, information.  For instance:
- did you know that the language you grow up speaking can influence the way your brain works?  It's called the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.  We watched a film about a tribe in Africa focusing on the different words for color in their language, versus in English.  This group only had about five words for color, while we have nine(?).  When showed a circle of squares with nine green squares and one blue, the people in this tribe couldn't really see the difference because, in their language, they use the same word for blue and green.  However, they have two words for different shades of green.  Our teacher showed us the example that they gave to these people of nine squares of green, and then another square that was a different shade.  For the life of me, I couldn't tell which one was different, but these people could because of the language they spoke!
- did you know they used to actually put cocaine in Coca-Cola?  We were learning about coca, the plant that cocaine is made from.  But I kind of feel like the ship had already sailed by the time I learned this since everyone else seemed to know about it already.  But better late than never!

almost done with all my classes.  I just have two more online finals to take, and then I'm done!  Then I have a break for about a month, and it'll start all over again.  I feel like this was such a great semester in terms of learning about things pertaining to my degree--education.  I loved going and observing at schools, I loved my intro to teaching class, and I just had so many opportunities to learn this semester!  God is so good.

looking forward to going tomorrow and visiting the new Bible club that my mom started at a new school a few months ago!  Look at all those Christmas cards to hand out to the kids!  They have about 90 kids from kindergarten to 10th grade, making them the biggest club in this area by far.  God has been working so miraculously there!  Now that I'm done with my classes on Wednesdays, I can actually visit the club. :)

a bit angry at these little guys, who woke me up way too early this morning.

trying to remember to water Ferdinand.  It just slips my mind, but so far he's still alive.

worrying over Jonah.  It's getting so cold here, and since my room is the coldest in the house, I'm kind of worried that he'll get too cold.  But so far he seems to be doing okay--just eating all the time!  He's going to be chunky pretty soon if he keeps this up.

excited about going through this book in our women's Bible study at my church!  My mom really loves this book, so I've been hoping to read it, and I'm so happy that we'll be going through it as a group starting next month!



learning to play this song on the guitar, as well as this one.  This song is why I was kicked out of my room.  I just love it--I've probably heard it twenty times already today!  Rachel was not having that. :)

14 days til Christmas!

weekdate #18

I have enjoyed this past week so immensely.  There have been times of great worship through fellowship and coming together with the church, and times of laughter and fun.

One of the times of laughter was on Wednesday.  Every Wednesday morning I go to observe a class for my intro to teaching class.  This particular Wednesday, my dad was having a young man in our acquaintance assist him at his job.  The man had left his truck at our house and unintentionally blocked my car in the driveway.  But that wasn't going to stop me.  I just slammed on the gas and went backwards over this little hill, shattering some white pole sticking out of the ground in the process.  I hope it wasn't too important.  Anyway, I got out to make sure the car was alright, and didn't pay attention to what was behind me when I got back in.  I mowed our trashcan down before I'd even realized that I hit it.  So that was fun.

This weekend and into the next week, Mark, Luke, and Sara-Grace are visiting.  My family and I had such a good time with them this morning as we visited Heritage Christian Fellowship, where my dad was guest preaching, and Mark was speaking on how his parents and siblings are serving as missionaries in Cameroon.  This evening we had the Bible memorization meeting at the church and we were able to hear some of Mark, Luke, and Sara's songs.  It was such a wonderful time of fellowship.

All throughout this week, I have been filled with such immense joy in the Lord.  I have been struggling for several months now, ever since I got back from Glorieta, with having joy in the Lord.  My biggest regret of my time in Glorieta was my lack of persistence in attending church, and not actively trying to engage in godly fellowship with those around me.  I don't necessarily regret my decision in going to Glorieta.  I had a fantastic summer of meeting new people and experiencing new challenges and blessings.  But the damage to my faith was so great, I would never return to work there.  I feel that I fell so far back in my faith over the summer, and I'm only just now beginning to gain some ground forward again.

God has been so patient and good to me.  He is so kind.  Honestly, His mercy and grace have just been consuming me over the past weeks, and I am overwhelmed.

At the memorization meeting tonight, Mark shared a passage from Isaiah that I was really encouraged by.  For the discouraged, doubting believer:

Isaiah 43:1-7

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.  For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.  Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west.  I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'  And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'  Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

weekdate #017

1. On Tuesday of last week, I went to do my classroom observation.  They had a fire demonstration--fire trucks, lights, the works--so that was a lot of fun.

2. Also on Tuesday, I found an incredible song that I just can't stop listening to.  We sang it at the BSU meeting that night, and I went home to look it up.  Here it is--worship!!!



3. On Wednesday we went to the balloon fiesta.

4. Also on Wednesday I found out that I got a 97 on my anthropology midterm!!!  Yay!!!!!

5. On Saturday my family and I left to go visit my other set of grandparents, as well as some of my aunts and uncles, for the weekend.  We had such a great time seeing everyone!  We got back this afternoon.

6. I found another really good song this week too--"Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher.  Enjoy. :)

 

weekdate #016

1. All day Tuesday I crammed for my anthropology midterm.  I finally finished around 10 PM.

2. Wednesday morning I went for my second day of classroom observation.

3. Then, Wednesday afternoon, I went for my midterm.  I think I did pretty good.  I felt I could have been a bit more prepared, but at least it's over with!

4. Then, Wednesday afternoon, Rachel and I were rear ended for the first time.  There's no damage to our car or anything, but it shook us both up a bit.

5. Thursday, I spent all day doing classroom observation because I'm a bit behind on my hours.  I was able to observe the math and social studies part of the kids' schooling, which I hadn't been able to see before.

6. On Friday Rachel, my mom, and I went to register for our passports.  Rachel and I are planning on going to Mexico for a weekend in November, so we needed to have our passports ready.  It took forever, but at least it's over with now.

7. Saturday morning, my whole family and I left to go visit my grandparents in Ruidoso.  We spent the weekend with them and came back Sunday night.  Hopefully I'll have a post with more pictures and stories up either tonight or tomorrow.

weekdate #015

1. This week was pretty exciting!  First off, on Wednesday I had my first day of classroom observation!  I'm going to an elementary school just a few minutes away from my house, and am with a second grade class.  I had such a great time!  The teacher I'm with is amazing, and not only was I able to watch, I was also able to help some of the kids with a reading assignment.  It was such a blessing; I can't wait to see what happens over the rest of the semester!

2. Also for my intro to teaching class, this week I had to write a paper about my experiences in school: the good, the bad, etc.  I only had three years to glean from--first through third grade--but I really enjoyed writing the paper.  I wrote about a lot of memories from those years that I want to remember for years to come, and it's nice to have that preserved now.

3. On Friday, I left for Inlow with Rachel, Morgan, and the rest of the BSU group I've been attending for my first BSU conference and retreat!  The speaker was Jeff Lewis, and I so enjoyed hearing from him.  Through his teaching he reminded me of my identity in Christ, and how precious that is!



4. While on the retreat, I was introduced to this song by the David Crowder Band.  It's called "After All (Holy)", and I absolutely love it.  I've been playing it on my guitar ever since we got home. :)

5. Today and tomorrow I am in midterm mode!  Huge, nasty, wretched anthropology midterm, here I come! :D

6. I can't believe it's already October!  I love it though--autumn's my favorite season. :)

"The love of Christ compels us"

2 Cor. 5:14 NKJV

weekdate #013

1. This week I have my first Spanish test, and my anthropology midterm is in two weeks (!!!).  This semester is flying by already.  My intro to teaching class starts on Wednesday; so excited!

2. Last Tuesday I went to a BSU college Bible study.  It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the teaching, so I think I'll keep going with Rachel.

3. Then on Wednesday Rachel and I went to another college Bible study that's starting up out where we live.  Unfortunately, since we have a class starting next week it was our only chance to be able to go, but it was really good!

4. Saturday night was the Bible memorization meeting with the Living Word Initiative.  It was so good to see everyone. :)

5. Today is my mom's birthday!  Yay!

6. Chloe and I had a photo shoot tonight. :) Enjoy!

weekdate #012

1. On Wednesday this week, I bought myself a turtle!  After writing about how I've always wanted one in this post, I decided to just get one!  His name is Jonah. :)

2. Tomorrow Ellie and Chloe start school, so tonight we all went to look at their classrooms and meet the teachers!  It was fun. :)

3. I've been getting settled into my classes this week.  I never did get into Modern Music Appreciation, but that's ok; I'll have enough on my plate once I get a job and all my classes start full-swing.

4. I can't believe it's already September!  It seems like this year just started. :)

5. It is becoming incredibly difficult to think of things that happened for these weekdates...Sunday was our first church service meeting back in the sanctuary after all the hail and rain damaged the building a few weeks ago.  It was nice!

weekdate #011

1. Not a whole lot happened last week.  Rachel, Ellie, and I spent some time together before we started school--Rachel and I this week, and Ellie next week.

2. Friday was Rachel and I's 19th birthday!  Our family all went out for dinner at Macaroni Grill.  It was delicious!

3. My parents gave me some roses for my birthday.

4. And a friend of mine gave me a ring.  It's really beautiful. :)

5. Yesterday my classes for my sophomore year began.  I'm taking Anthropology 101, Spanish 2, Western Civilization 2, Introduction to Teaching, and I'm trying to get into Modern Music Appreciation 1.

These are only the books for two of my classes. :)

6. My only class that's in-class for now is Anthropology.  I'll be going for the Intro to Teaching, but that doesn't start for another few weeks.  My anthropology teacher is a trip; I have a feeling it'll be a very challenging class in terms of standing up for what I believe.

weekdate #010

1. This week I have been adjusting to being back home.  It's really strange to be back.  Everything at home is exactly the same as when I left, so it's almost like this summer never happened.

2. I'm back to sleeping normally in my own bed.  I woke up on Tuesday (?) and had no idea where I was, but otherwise it was a pretty easy transition.

3. On Monday Rachel, Ellie, and I went to ABQ for some shopping.  Santa Fe has nothing on ABQ when it comes to places to shop; it's nice to be back.

4. I took Ellie and Chloe to see Ice Age 4 this week too.  It was really good!  I'm not sure if that was the final movie of the series?  It seems like making a fifth would be going a bit too far.

5. On Thursday I went with Rachel to a Bible study in town.  It was really good!

6. On Friday Rachel, Ellie, and I went back up to Glorieta to see a friend of ours.  We all went to Santa Fe to the plaza again.

7. Saturday was the church Bible memorization meeting.  It was so good to see everyone, and encouraged me to renew my re-memorization of 1 Timothy.

8. I probably spent four days this week trying to write my 20 random things post.  It is hard thinking of 20 random things about myself!

9. Yesterday we had some really strange weather out here.  We actually saw a funnel cloud!  That is incredible for where I live since it's so mountainous.

10. I am so excited for my birthday this Friday!

 Hurray for my 400th post!

weekdate #009

1. After over two months, I'll finally be starting these weekdates again!  I'm home from Glorieta as of yesterday.

2. On Wednesday night I went out to dinner at Rooftop Pizzeria with two girls I worked with, and I went again on Friday with a bigger group of people.  It was delicious!

3. I worked from last Saturday till Thursday, had Friday off, and had my final day on Saturday.  On Saturday I learned how to de-shell and de-vein shrimp!

4. On Saturday night we had our staff banquet.  Everyone dressed up and we had dinner together.  We watched a slideshow that one of the guys on staff had made.

5. After the banquet on Saturday we all learned to square dance!  It was a lot of fun, if a bit confusing.

6. Sunday morning I woke up early to help some of my friends pack their cars and then see them off.

7. Since Rachel and I had all day to leave and only an hour to drive, we decided to head to Santa Fe one last time with a friend of ours.  We got to explore some art galleries (so amazing!), and then we just kind of wandered around the plaza.

7. After our last meal with the staff that's staying, we went to the prayer garden one last time.  I only went two times over the entire summer; I wish I had gone a lot more!

8. It was hard to sleep last night!  My bed at Glorieta faced a different way than mine at home does, and it was a lot harder.

9. Today I unpacked and got re-settled here at home.  Then tonight we had dinner together.

10. It's really hard to adjust to being home!  But I'll be used to it in a couple of days. :)

weekdate #008

Like I said a few posts ago...these probably won't actually be weekly.  But I'm going to try!  We'll see how it goes.

1. Today marks one week of being in Glorieta!  To say it's been kind of overwhelming would be an understatement, but overall this change is good.  Praise God!

2. On Tuesday I started my job training, and did that for three days.  Next Tuesday through Thursday I'll have my final job training before a couple thousand students start arriving. :E

3. Yesterday my family came to visit us!  It was so great to see them.  It was our last time to see our dad before he goes to Cameroon (!!!).  So now we have a car for a few weeks, which is awesome.  Freedom!

4. Also yesterday most of the staff went to the challenge course here at Glorieta.  I went on the giant swing twice, and I actually went all the way to the top!  I've never done that before, and it was terrifying, but it was a lot of fun!  I also went on the zipline, which is always great.

5. Also yesterday, we had a campfire by the lake at night, except there's a ban on fires here, so we just gathered around a stack of wood. :) It was fun though; we sang a bunch of funny songs and danced around to some of them.

6. Today we had "Campus Beautification".  Rachel and I raked leaves for most of the day in the prayer garden, but I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to rake leaves at!

7. Tomorrow we have the morning off, so we're going to church in Santa Fe!

8. I started my first education class last week.  It's really fun so far!  The book is called "The Developing Child", so basically throughout the semester I'll just be learning about how kids grow up.  Right now I'm learning about prenatal development, birth, and early infancy.  I've never taken such a fun class!

9. We have to walk everywhere here, so it was kind of scary today to actually drive on the highway.  It felt like we were going so fast!

10. While raking leaves today, I saw more centipedes at once than I've ever seen in my life! Blegh.

Glorieta!

Hi everyone!

Well, I think it's pretty obvious that weekdates might not be happening "weekly" while I'm here.  I can't get internet in my room, and it's kind of a hassle to bring my laptop and plug and everything to a wifi spot, at least on a set day every week.  So my weekdates might be all over the place for a few months.

I am really enjoying my time here so far.  I'm rooming with Rachel, which is awesome, and we both feel very comfortable in our room.  I haven't taken any pictures of the room as a whole so far, but I'll try to sometime this week.

Here's my bed.

The dresser on the left is mine, where I'm keeping most of my stuff.  I brought my guitar too, and I'm really glad I did; I was able to play a bunch of songs yesterday during some free time.

We have two closets, but we didn't bring enough clothes to fill even one, so the other one is mostly for storage.

Next to my bed I taped up my pictures of Djamsel and Majoie, a drawing Chloe made for me, and a card from my mom.

I love this picture of Chloe, so I attached it to my mirror, where I can see it every day.

And here's just some of the stuff on my dresser.

On our first day here, Sunday, we first had a worship service before playing a bunch of games all morning and afternoon.  They were team building games that helped us all get to know each other, and also helped us learn everyone's names.  It was a lot of fun.

Yesterday, Monday, we mostly just went over camp rules, guidelines, stuff about our job positions, etc.  It was more of a boring day, but we were able to get outside and play some games in the afternoon, so that was fun.

Today I have my first job training at 1.  I'm going to be working in the dining hall, which is apparently one of the harder positions, but still good.

There are people from all over the world here: Poland, Portugal, China, Tanzania, Mexico, and Czechoslovakia, as well as all over the United States.  I've really enjoyed getting to know the people from China--Bart, Yia, and Alvin.  They're so passionate about their faith, and they're not afraid to show it.  I've had some great, encouraging conversations with them.

I'll probably try and post here once a week, but I might have some opportunity to do it more often; we'll just have to see.  Have a great day!

today's the day!

Today Rachel and I are moving to Glorieta!  It is so weird to actually be leaving for a few months, even if we will be able to visit.  It's amazing how much stuff I have to bring. :)

I wanted to kind of document this summer, so I bought myself a camera!  I only got it yesterday, and I got the memory card today, so I wanted to share some of the first pictures I've taken.

My lovely mother, who is sick today! :(, made Rachel and I each two quilts.  This first one of mine has a bunch of different squares with quotes about hope and rejoicing and singing.

This one is my graduation quilt.  My mom sent out squares of fabric to all my friends and family and they each wrote something encouraging on their square.  It's so awesome to be able to read all of them!

This one is from Elizabeth.

And this one is from Rachel, the lovely fiancee (!!!) of Jeremy!

I don't know about weekdates; this is, I'm going to try to do one every week, but I don't know if they'll be on Mondays anymore.  I definitely think this Monday isn't going to work, but we'll see!  I'll talk to you all as soon as I can!

weekdate #006

Funny story to come. :)

1. I missed my Monday weekdate this week because I went to visit my grandparents for a few days, and I couldn't connect to their internet while I was there.  Hopefully I'll get a post up with some pics of what we did while we were there sometime today!

2. My last day at McDs was Friday!

3. On Tuesday Rachel, Ellie, and I went to town and saw The Avengers.  It was really good!  I love movies like that, with lots of explosions and catastrophes. :)

4. Chloe lost her first top tooth!


5. Getting ready for Glorieta.  Soooooo soon!


6. Friday and Saturday was the Ongoing Reformation conference.  I only went to the Saturday part because I worked all day Friday, but going on Saturday was really fun.  My dad's sermon was my favorite, but I'm probably biased. :)


7. I've been going on a hymn-craze lately.  At the conference we sang one I hadn't heard before; it's called "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior".  I think it's based off of the story in the Bible where the blind man called out to Jesus as He was going by, and I thought it's a cool story behind the song because the song was written by Fanny Crosby, and she was blind too.


8. I'm slowly making my way through The Circle series by Ted Dekker.  Slowly, because I lost "Red" for a few months and finally found it on Sunday.  I like Ted Dekker's writing style--he really makes you think.


9. Getting ready for summer classes to start on Monday!

10. So thankful for my mom (happy late Mother's Day!).

weekdate #005

1. This week was absolutely packed with busyness.  For starters, I'm done with my freshman year of college, and I got straight A's!  God was so good throughout this year.  He is so faithful!

2. On Tuesday Rachel and I went to the zoo.  It was a lot of fun!

3. Also on Tuesday was Ellie's Varsity awards night.  It was so great to see all those people from Varsity that I haven't seen for a year.

4. Friday and Saturday night was Ellie's play!  It was a blast. 

5. Yesterday I did the prelude at church.  I thought it went really well, which is nice, because I've messed up pretty badly on the last two. :)

6. Yesterday afternoon Rachel, Ellie, and I went to play tennis and just hang out.  It was so much fun, especially because Rachel and I will be leaving soon and there won't be many more times like that.

7. Hannah graduated from high school this week.  Congrats, Hannah!

8. Sunday school yesterday was kind of an impromptu discussion about trials and suffering.  I find discussions like that really encouraging; it reminds me of why we go through difficult things, and also how good it is to get to the other side.

9. My dad is leaving for Cameroon in about a month!

10. Looking forward to my last week of work!

weekdate #004

1. Today I am studying for my finals this week!  I have my two hardest--history and Spanish--tomorrow, and sociology on Thursday.  My history's actually not as hard as I thought it'd be because we're allowed to have a 4x6 index card with notes on it, front and back.  I don't think I've ever written that small!

Titus got all excited, thinking I was going to feed him. :)

2. It's been sunny and hot here lately.  I can't believe it's already May tomorrow!

3. I've been going on a Hillsong United craze over these last few days.  Here's one of my favorite songs by them.

 

4. I've also recorded a few songs this week.  I put up one yesterday, "Give Me Jesus", which is one of my favorite songs.  Yesterday I recorded "Nearer, My God, To Thee", which I just think is one of the greatest hymns ever.  It was originally written by Sarah Flower Adams, a woman who dreamed of becoming an actress.  Her health was frail, so she couldn't do this, and she took to writing hymns with her sister Eliza, who wrote the music for her.

* One day in 1841, their pastor, Rev. William Johnson Fox of London's South Place Unitarian church, paid a visit.  He was compiling a church hymnbook and he wanted to include some of their hymns. He further mentioned that he was frustrated at his inability to find a hymn to go along with the upcoming Sunday's message, which was from the story of Jacob at Bethel in Genesis 28:20-22.

   Sarah offered to write a hymn based on those verses.  For the rest of the week she poured over the passage, visualizing Jacob's sleeping with a stone for his pillow as he dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven.  The following Sunday, South Place Unitarian Church sang Sarah's "Nearer, My God, To Thee."

5. Last night was my last prayer meeting before Rachel and I go to Glorieta.  It was such a precious time.

6. I finished reading Numbers today!  I know God has a purpose in every book in His Word, but sometimes it's hard to find the purpose, especially in the first couple books with all the laws and rules.  Something I learned in Numbers, though, is that God always provides for His people.  They had to offer two lambs every day, year after year, so that there was a continual burnt offering, and God always provided enough so that they could worship Him rightly and still provide for their families.

7. I'm done with math and philosophy!

8. Ellie's play is this weekend.  I'm so excited!

9. Ellie and I also went to see a different play, "Fiddler on the Roof", on Friday night.  It was great!  I liked the movie a lot, but there's just something about seeing a play on it that's well done and with people I know.

10. On Thursday Rachel and I went to Genghis Grill for lunch.  Yum!

(sorry about the crappy cellphone pic)

* excerpt taken from "Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World's Greatest Hymn Stories" by Robert Morgan, pages 114-115

weekdate #003

1. This past week I've been really busy with homework, especially getting ready for finals next week.  I was supposed to have a math exam last Thursday, but my teacher graciously allowed it to be a take home.  My math final is on Thursday, and over the weekend I've been preparing study sheets for my other three weeks that will be on the 1st and the 3rd.

2. On Wednesday my family and I went to the botanic gardens.  It was so beautiful!  We're going to try and go again next month when everything's blooming and before Rachel and I...

3. go to Glorieta!  In February, Rachel and I were both hired to work at Glorieta (this is where my youth group and I went for Regeneration last summer) for the summer, from the end of May to the second week of August.  We'll be living there all summer, but it's only about an hour away from home so hopefully we'll be able to visit occasionally.  I'm really nervous about moving out for the summer, but I'm also so excited to see what God will do!  Only one more month!

4. The weather has just been so beautiful lately.  Rachel and I are trying to walk a lot more than drive at school; there are a lot of places close enough that we can walk to.  It's a lot of fun!

5. Work on Friday was CRAZY.  It's spring break around here, and it's really obvious at McDs!  I only have two more full days before quitting before Glorieta!

6. Saturday night was my church's memorization group (Living Word Initiative) meeting.  It was so great!  I feel like I'm really treasuring my church family lately since I know I won't really be seeing them over the summer.  Saturday's meeting was a huge encouragement to me.

7. I rearranged my wall where I had Djamsel's picture hanging up so I could put Majoie's up too.  I put this quote in the middle because it reminds me of how God's going to provide for me so I can provide for them, however long He sees fit.

8. Speaking of Majoie, I'm going to try and write my first letter to her tonight!  I am still just so excited that I'm able to sponsor her.  I loved having a little boy to sponsor, and now I have a little girl too! :) God is so good!

9. This week I have discovered coffee!  I'm liking a walking advertisement. :)

10. Like I said in my last Everyday's Thanksgiving post, I've been going through "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.  I really liked one of his tips in the book where it says that you should smile at people as genuinely as possible, really focusing on them and acting happy to see them.  So I've been trying to do that this week, and it's amazing what an effect it has on people!  I've really enjoyed seeing how, even with just a smile, you can really make someone's day better.