This is the first meal I’ve cooked that I feel good about so far. We have an induction cooktop and I overdo or underdo everything but oatmeal.

But this is good. Guess the trick to rice is butter, and that wherever veggies are there should also be garlic and onion powders.

My manager is shifting my days off so I have three free days in a row. There’s no rain in the forecast and I’m thrilled. This morning I swept the entire apartment and kitchen area, did a load of laundry, played my guitar, went to the post office, explored more of town, and sat by the water with a scoop of strawberry-mint ice cream. (One of the Acadia shops makes their own ice cream, and so far they’ve given me a free scoop when I’ve come in on days off. Perks!)

I took a nap. I went hiking. I saw an owl in the forest. I sat on a rock and ate a piece of chocolate.

It takes time. That’s my big thought for the day. At ministry training one of the leaders said, “Your third month is going to be great, so why don’t you jump all in and make the whole summer great instead of waiting for things to get better?”

I understand what they were saying, but that’s not how real things work. Real things have to be built. The reason the third month is great is that you kept going when the first two months weren’t.

So I’m trying to get to know people and to learn what this place is. I work hard at work; I laugh as much as possible. I’m even figuring out the cooktop.