Don't stop, don't give up!

Please. Just watch this. :D
I'm ready to throw in the towel, sell the car I've owned (for all of what, a month?) and grovel until I can get a job in Cedar. Or maybe start selling plasma.
This video should probably be my new mantra. ;)

And then I want you to look at this:

(in case you're wondering, these are cumulonimbus clouds. ;) )

And tell me God doesn't exist. (Silly Ranger man... sure there are hurricanes and bad things. Do you think that gives you license to pretend there isn't a being in charge of it all? If you're right- and you're not- you lose because bad things are more tragic, and good things have little meaning. If I'm right- and I am- then you win. Heavenly Father helps you through trials, and suddenly there are tender mercies everywhere that speak volumes of the love God has for you. ... Just saying.)

Also. I have work stories. (*Breath of relief* this blog has felt odd without an overwhelming abundance of work stories the past few posts.)

A petite woman came through my line, trying so hard to explain in english that she wanted to make her purchase in two separate transactions. She'd get more flustered with each misused word. Finally after some serious charades, we got onto the same page and she pulled out her wallet.

"Your wallet is so cute!" I pointed, and she smiled. Barrier breached. "I love those colors!" Her eyes dropped to her purple wallet, then blushing, "Oh! You are so cute!" A grin spread across her weathered skin. Through the second round of items I tried to speak slowly, and smiled when I had to re-explain what she didn't understand. After a moment of quiet, she spoke up stumbling over the words, "I come a long way from my home. From Thailand..." 

I'm not sure if there was more to the story, or how come she decided to lay that out, but we conversed about why she was here- her friend's niece's wedding- and all the places she had seen. After a few moments, she shuffled on her way. :)

She came back later, and had SheRon (my co-worker) take a picture of her standing with me. I couldn't resist giving her a little hug, she was such a sweet lady, and the book I'm reading lately has made me have a soft(er) spot in my heart for women. (That, and I think Heavenly Father is super aware of my throw in the towel emotions because lately I swear it's been easier to see each person that comes through the VC as a person, a child of God, and I feel this overwhelming love for everyone. It's a little bit amazing.)

Later in the afternoon a woman and her husband came up to my register, the tail end of their conversation becoming audible...
"Well, you almost walked out with it!" The man pointed to a scarf and some post cards in his wife's hands. She looked a little bit like a kicked puppy.

I smile, as he asks, "Is this where we pay?"

"Yes, unless you can run really fast." Smiling at the woman, "I'll give you a ten second head start." That made her burst into the cutest old-lady giggles I've ever heard. Which made me giggle. (I'm positive the rangers think I'm off my rocker at this point in the season. They're mostly correct.)

On their way out, the cute giggling lady (who is now clinging to her husbands arm while he escorts her to the door) turned at told me, "You are so nice! You're the best thing in this store!" 

Ok, so that sounds completely braggatious. But I can't help but love those moments... I doubt people know how much they make my day with remarks like that. 

(Like when the older couple asking a million driving direction questions that I have no idea how to answer came in. Finally I had to tell them I had no clue, they'd have better luck waiting to talk to the ranger, "I'm just the register girl." Smiling, of course. But feeling borderline grumpy and embarrassed. I'm going to study road atlases later. The woman just smiled that typical grandmotherly smile, "No, you're a beautiful register girl!")

And now I'm going to vacate my grandma's room and go read til bedtime! (And maybe after bedtime with a flashlight! Heck, I don't work til 9:45, I'd better party it up! ;) )