My Hope is Built

My early life was spent in a small, country church listening to and singing the old hymns in a Cokesbury hymnal.  I love the words of the songs and how the resonate with our life.  Don't get me wrong, I love a modern praise song that quotes word for word from scripture, but I will never not find a place for a hymn to carry me through.  A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks.  Our company had to make some tough decisions and therefore I lost a handful of co-workers that I had grand hopes of working with for many years.  These were my people.  These are my people.  I enjoyed working with them professionally, I enjoyed chatting with them personally.  And as I work through the change I can't help but lean on some of those old hymns, and know the Truth that lives in them, is the Truth the lives in us.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

And for your enjoyment, a combo of an old hymn with a new twist.  I love how they change the refrain to "Cornerstone" to describe that not only is He a rock, He's the most important rock.

When Technology Makes the Connections Real

Growing up I lived on the same 20 acre plot of land from birth through HS graduation.  My parents still live there.  My sister, she grew up and well, built a house on the original corner of that plot we first lived on.  Me, I always wanted to move.  I wanted to have adventure, see the world.  I moved out when I went to college, came home one Summer and babysat, and that was it.  I was on my own.  I've lived in bug infested apartments, condos with amazing landlords, owned two houses, and followed my love from one coast to the other.  But I've left one thing behind in every move: dear friends.  And as I get older the more I realize just how dear those friendships are to me.  This week has been a constant reminder of those whom my heart adores on that other coast.  I've been reminded that though 3,000 miles separate us physically, part of my heart is still with these people.  I love that technology allows random phone calls from Autumn, chats with Davida, read Annette's blog, send text messages of laughter and encouragement, and cry and laugh and rejoice with each of them (and more!) in their seasons.  And though I may not be as connected to as many people because I don't embrace Facebook, I do know that the connections I have with my friends are intentional and meaningful.  And that is really what it's all about.  

A Garden Update

If you'll remember back to the beginning of the year, one of my goals was to plan a garden that would feed us beyond the growing season.  Well, it's June and the garden is in full force.  Right now we are enjoying salads every day or so with fresh spinach, arugula, and lettuce.  The peas are starting to pod out and the raspberries have made lovely snacks, salad additions, and pancakes.  Here are some shots of what's in store for the rest of the Summer.

 Broccoli before I replanted it for better spacing.

The pea trellis with netting hung.

Peas ready to grow up the netting.

The broccoli is growing and has been spaced appropriately.  We square bed garden (to an extent) and so one plant per square is more appropriate for growth.

 Spinach, perfect for a salad, pesto, or lightly sauteed with some pasta

View from the deck looking over the garden area.  Broccoli plants are the large ones on the left.  Cauliflower goes in a row next to the tall bed.  The tall bed will house carrots.  YUM!

The first pea pod!

The tomatoes are staked.  With the cooler weather here, I might see ripe tomatoes by then end of August.  Thank goodness for the weekly farmer's market!

Why I Don't Facebook

One thing that really annoys my friends is that I'm not on Facebook.  Stop it friends, you know it annoys you because you have to email me photos.  Oh, and I expect personal updates on your lives.  Yep.  I make you email me, and call me, and text me when things are happening in your life.  So yeah, I'm that annoying person who doesn't let you just put in on your Timeline (what the heck is that anyways?) and let me read it in real time.  Oh, you don't want to be that type of friend who gives me actual updates on your life?  Well, then chances are you weren't really a "friend" to begin with.  

That is one of the top reasons I quit Facebook. Relationships felt too superficial. I was also tired of that onslaught of requests to friend people I went to high school with (did we ever talk?) or to friend people I met at a wedding/party/social event.  Work people, yeah I won't friend you.  There's a balance there that must be kept and if I have to spend all day with you, I don't need you reading my snark on the interweb after hours.  As I started deleting these so-called friends from my friend list, Facebook in their infinite wisdom would suggest to the person that we should be friends and they would resubmit a request (or 2 or 3) that I would decline.  Then Facebook made one of their brilliant security changes that ended up making one of my albums I had marked private to public.  I missed that one.  Then some less than stellar human being stole my pictures and put them on her own wall, claiming my niece as part of her family.  Yeah, that was my breaking point.  So I deactivated my account.  It was almost 2 years ago when I pulled the plug.  Have I missed it?  Occasionally because there are some people who fall into the real friend category who refuse to email me pictures.  I still love them, I just wouldn't recognize their children.  :-)  But I don't miss the drama, I don't miss the time it sucked out of my day, and I don't miss how everything revolved around it.  Because really, is Facebook what it is really about?  I don't think so.  I have friends who rely on Facebook because they have moved around a lot and have several good friends interspersed throughout the world they keep in touch with.  I don't judge you if it works for you and it is your lifeline to keep in contact with people who are special to you.  It just wasn't for me.  

Now that I am not on Facebook, I have scheduled phone calls with AW, she emails me pictures and monologues about her travels and inner thoughts (rather than  brief note on my wall or a truncated Facebook message.) SS and I talk regularly. My friend TH posts pictures of her newly adopted little one on Twitter or her blog so I can keep up with his progress.  She gives me more grief than others because I make her do this extra step, but she rolls with it.  DW, yeah, I email her annoying questions until she writes a blog update for me to read about her kiddos.  P.S. come October wait until you see her oldest in the most beautiful princess dress preceding me down the aisle!  All those other people (I think I was hovering around +/- 200 when I pulled the plug) just weren't that important.  

I've noticed a trend now where people are starting to question if Facebook is healthy for their lives as well.  The following two articles made it across my computer screen yesterday, and while I didn't delete Facebook for all the reasons they did, or go to the effort to make sure their account was wiped as clean as the one guy did, they put their reasons into a much more articulate form than I ever could.  So, if you want more articulated thoughts on why I say no to this online tool, you can check out these articles as well.

http://tentblogger.com/bye-facebook/

http://dsonsblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-im-logging-off-facebookfor-good.html

P.S. Occasionally I say I'm going to create a super-secret-no-one-can-find-me-I-have-to-find-you account, but let's face it.  It's probably not going to happen because Facebook will change a setting, then everyone will find me, and then what was the point.  I'm also not going to create one with my dog's name so I can have one people can't find.  I know a girl who did that.  Works for her, not for me.  Sorry, I don't want my identity tied to that of my canine.  

P.P.S. Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, etc....I don't "like" any of your products enough to need you stalking my life either just so I can have a coupon.  Sorry, go back to the old form of providing coupons and stay out of my personal life.  

Mt. Rainier and the Gondola Ride

It's quite the big deal around these parts of the Pacific Northwest when the sky around Mount Rainier (14,411') is clear and she makes her grand debut.  Last week I told the future Mr. that if it were pretty on Saturday we should drive down to Crystal Mountain Resort and ride the gondola to the top to see the mountain even closer.  My dear friend Abi is visiting from the Charleston area and I thought it would be a fun day trip.  It turned out even  better than I could have imagined.  If you're ever in this area and the day is crystal clear, I suggest this for an outing.

Getting ready to board the gondola for the ride up.

 As you step off the gondola, this is the view you are greeted with.  They have chairs, but the gentleman in the lower right corner brought his own.  He sat there the whole time we were there.  Breathtaking views for an afternoon sit.

The view looking back down at Crystal Mountain Resort.  The gondola path is on the right.

 While there, you can dine at Summit House Restaurant.  We were lucky enough to score a table on the patio and this was our view.  This is the highest restaurant in Washington State.  The food was very good.  Abi got a homemade ginger-ale and it was amazing!

 After lunch we hiked to the top of Grubstake Point (6877') and I got this shot of Mt. Rainier peaking out between the trees.  P.S. and by hiked, I mean it was about a 30' hike up to this point, but is was a higher elevation than the Summit House (6872').

And if you're on top of a mountain looking over at another pretty mountain, you might as well have some fun with the 'rock' you wear every day.  :-)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Take me out to the crowds. 

Seriously, it's one of the few times I like crowded places.

Buy me some take-out Chinese food and garlic fries.

Love me some bbq pork, duck, and fries topped with so much garlic the apple slices at the end are so refreshing.

Picture some yummy food here...I was too hungry to consider taking a picture.

I don't care if I never get back

Really, I could do this every day.  Except I'd need a more comfortable seat.

For it's root, root, root for the home team

The Mariners are the team to cheer for out here.  I'll always be a Braves fan at heart.

If they don't win it's a shame (They won!)

We missed the perfect game by a few days, but I'll always remember where I was when I heard the news.  Cake tasting...yum!

For it's 1, 2, 3 strikes you're out at the old ball game.

After the game, the kids (future nephews) got to run around the bases.  A highlight for them!

Brain Dump

• The Olympics.  I love them.  I loathe NBC's coverage, CNNs insistence on putting spoilers on the home page as breaking news, and the lack of attention to the actual games and more on jumping around and showing stupid commercials for Fall programming.

• However, I am looking forward to Fall shows coming back on.  Revenge, you are a dish best served in my living room on a weekly basis and not just during the regular season.  I miss you.

• I have been watching the new Dallas.  I remember watching the original Dallas at my babysitter's house.  I remember loving JR back then.  Some things never change.

• Amazon Prime instant movie and tv show viewing on my ipad.  Yes, Please, and Thank You!  I had just lamented to my friend Adam the other day that it was the thing I missed the most on the ipad versus an Android tablet.  Complain and Amazon delivers apparently.  I'll take it!  I highly recommend Downton Abbey and The West Wing.  Fine dramas at my fingertips.  Love!

• Speaking of my love of Amazon, a few weeks ago I realized all my socks were wearing out, the elastic wouldn't keep them above my shoes, and I now live in the country which means no specialty running stores.  Naturally I panicked and then tried some from Wal-Mart.  Yeah, not so much.  Then I remembered I have Amazon Prime so online I went.  New socks in two days.  Score!  

• Speaking of geek toys, I now own an iphone and a Droid.  I'm leaning toward loving the Droid more. It has a keyboard.  Call me old, but I like the keyboard.  Typing on a screen just leaves me frazzled and stressed and something that is supposed to help my life should not stress me out.  Oh and I'm still on unlimited data so I can create a wireless hotspot at any time and not worry about my bill.  Yeah, I kinda like that feature as well.  

• Two Thursday ago I was able to change my plane tickets and fly to Seattle a day early and surprise the future Mr.  It was fun.  Especially watching him try to figure out how I was texting him a picture of the event he was at real time.  Our whole relationship has been while dating long distance so surprises are hard since it's all planned around plane schedules.  Quite possibly one of my favorite moments of our relationship ever. 

• Moving...it's expensive.  Especially when it's cross country and involves transporting a vehicle.  Forget a registry, donations to U-Haul would be more appropriate.  Kidding.  Sort of.

• I miss my juicer.  Kind of wishing I had made room for it in my suitcase.  Or shipped it seperately.  Call me crazy, but I love juicing vegetables and fruits (beet + carrot + apple + spinach = really tasty) and drinking them for breakfast and lunch.  My waistline sure appreciated them too.

The Longest Day of my Life

Today is the longest daylight hours of the year.  I am in Canada.  The days are longer here than in the Southern United States.  Therefore today is the longest day of my life.  And the shortest night.

I have just confirmed for all my random readers exactly how much of a dork I am.  You are welcome.

Thursday Thankfulness

This morning I sent an email to my music BFF with the subject line "Food."  It has encompassed my craving for an amazing Mediterranean restaurant near her, bacon of the month clubs (Praise the LORD for the New Testament), and finally this recipe which is on repeat at my house.  I suggest a Pinot Grigio.

Really, what's not to love about an email chain related to food.  Unless you back up to yesterday where we had an email chain about "Les Miserables", actresses who do controversial roles to get Hollywood's attention, and our love of all things Broadway.

Of course then you could back up two days to our chat where her boss made her pack up her things, walked her to a coffee shop, bought her drink and told her to work there the rest of the day.

So, today I am thankful for gmail.  And friendship rooted in music, food, theater, and a deep love of our Lord.  And for the fact that this friendship was grown and strengthened through gchat when we were living half a world a way from each other and keeps us in contact now that we are in the same time zone.  

Quick Update & Intentional Giving #2

Yes, I'm alive.  Very much alive, very much ENGAGED, but more to come on that.  I promise not to bore you with details you don't care about, but I will give you some details.  Like I bet you want to see a picture of the Mr.  Am I right?  Yeah, I thought so.  You'd probably also like to know that I no longer live in the low country.  Yeah, updates, updates, updates.  However, it is more imperative that I do an intentional giving update first because you can participate and have a chance to win an ipad 2!

In my last post I talked about supporting my friends who were adopting internationally.  This time I want to focus on a couple who are adopting domestically.  I love that I have people in my life that God is guiding down the same road but through different paths.  It's always amazing to see Him work out who He wants to raise the baby in China and the baby down the street.  Like Peter & Tanya, I met Matt & Tricia through church.  Tricia is a rock star when it comes to helping with the children's ministry and she has now taken over my beloved job of scheduling the volunteers.  (Saying extra prayers for you Tricia!)  Even if you can't make a donation now, take the time to stop and pray for those families who are waiting on babies with paper pregnancies and even lift up those who have just brought new ones home as they acclimate themselves to a new environment and lifestyle.

So until the next post be thinking of ways you can pay it forward, with even the simplest thing like holding open a door for someone.  

A Tale of Two Country Mice

This morning I got up at 6:15 and knowing I had a lot to do, decided to get started on my day.  I made my coffee and a bowl of oatmeal and sat down at the dining room table to get some work done.  I was hitting send on an email when I saw a mouse dart next to me along the baseboards and go into a corner behind some bags.  I thought "Great, there are mice in the house (again*.)"  So I go into the kitchen to see if I can see the mouse in the corner or if there's a hole in the baseboards that it went into.  The reason I do this is because I have some poison I could stick in the hole then some stuff to seal the hole.

Now that I am relocated to the kitchen looking into the dining room, I see nothing.  Of course.  And that's when #2 darts out from under the stove and heads toward the refrigerator.  Right. Next. To. My. Foot.  I screamed.  And ran to the living room and called my dad.  He's the only person I knew who would be awake around 7 in the morning so it seemed logical.  And he laughed at me.  I knew he would, but I still needed to talk to someone for I feared I was nearing heart-attack status.  I mean a mouse just ran Right. Next. To. My. Foot. And I was wearing houseshoes.  Like those are going to protect my toes.

So while I'm standing in the big living room talking to my dad mouse #2 runs AT ME.  I am not even kidding.  So I screamed.  And I said "It's running around, it's running around."  My dad (ever the intelligent one) says "Are you talking to me?"  "YES!  Who the heck else would I be talking to?"  Um, for those of you who are confused, I don't make it a habit of talking to mice who are running at me.  So the mice turns and runs into the computer desk (which was slightly funny) and then runs onto the hearth where I quit following it.

At this point, I wrap up the conversation with my dad and go take a shower.  Because if there's one thing I know, if have a heart attack and die due to these mice, I don't want to smell when Britt** gets here for the body.

* For those of you who don't know me in real life, we had a mouse infestation in the garage and house at my grandparents this fall and dealt with it for the better part of a week trying to get cracks and holes sealed and replacing seals along doors.  We thought it was under control.  It is not.

** The people who own the funeral home are friends of the family so yes, we are on a first name basis with them.

P.S. It's over an hour later and my blood pressure is still elevated.  I know this because I normally have low to normal blood pressure and at this moment I can FEEL it pumping through my veins.  I've earned a second dose of caffeine today because I know once I calm down I'm going to be exhausted.

Lots of Love

A couple of years ago my niece grew her hair out and donated it to "Lots" of Love.  That was how she understood us saying Locks of Love.  Those who know me IRL also know that I have been growing my hair out.  What started of as more of something that was a burden (finding someone who can cut my hair the way I like it is hard, especially with the natural wave it enjoys) turned into me also growing my hair out.  My philosphy on this was "Why not?"  I mean let's think about this.  I'm in my early 30s, I am physically well, and I can grow my hair out.  Some child out there is young, not physically well, and has no hair.  Why wouldn't I became the bigger question.  So I grew it.  And grew it.  And grew it some more.  My hair is really think, yet appears thin.  So it was a lot of hair on my head.  And I am not a girly girl, so out came the hot rollers if I needed it to have any body or style.  And for the first time in my life I had long hair.  Wowsers, what a difference long hair is.  Flashback a couple of weeks ago and I decided to go in for a trim.  Just for kicks and giggles I had the lady measure my hair.  When she said it was long enough to donate and I wouldn't be bald as a result, I finally decided it was ok.  And this is what I'll be sending in to "Lots" of Love to help someone who otherwise would not have hair.

Note: If I pull out the curl, it measures over 12 inches.  Wowsers!

Also, there is no after picture.  If you know me IRL you know I don't do well with having my picture made.  So you'll just have to wait until I'm felling "worldly pretty" and then I'll see what I can do.

I Love My Hair

If you know anything at all about me you know two things: I am low maintenance and I have high maintenance hair.  It's a naturally kinky/curly/frizzy mess that's about 6 inches longer than I normally keep it. Each hair is actually thin but there are so many of them I am considered to have thick hair.  Yeah, I know it doesn't look like it, but tell that to the hair dresser who always had to mix up extra color back in the day because they underestimated the thickness.

Anyways, I have never "loved" my hair.  I had one good haircut the Summer after my senior year of high school but the hairdresser couldn't even replicate it 6 weeks later.  She was an "artist" and never did listen to me.  Needless to say I moved on.  I can dry it straight in the winter, but once Summer rolls around I just have to succumb to ponytails and frizzies.  I've tried every over the counter product on the market and they all fail to deliver.

So back up a couple of years and my dear friend Autumn comes home from a two year stay in the tropics of Asia.  And she comes home with stick straight hair that DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BLOW DRIED.  WHAT?  I mean, she has the naturally curly hair just like me.  How did this happen?  (Cue mucho jealous music here because I was.  I wanted her hair.)

So I started doing some research because I figured it would cost me way too much money to fly to the tropics of Asia to have this done.  I am all about travel, but since I no longer had a good reason to go there now that she was stateside I needed to find a plan B.  I started doing some research and came across some options that were both pricey and seemed as if they would do permanent damage to my hair.  Since the main reason my hair is so long now is because I want to donate it, I figured doing damage to it would not be beneficial to my goal.

Cue current day.  I learned about Keratin hair treatments.  I learned that they don't damage your hair and they are really expensive.  Another thing to know about me.  I will drop money on a nice meal, but I am low maintenance.  Therefore my hair shouldn't be expensive.  Well, thanks to Living Social I got a deal.  A Keratin treatment at a salon I had been perusing their website showed up in my inbox one morning and I jumped on it.  I waited until the weather started getting humid and booked my appointment.  My research told me this would last 6-8 weeks.  I needed it to get me through July at least but due to travel I needed to make my appointment in May.  So I did.  And after 3 hours of sitting in a chair having my hair soaked in the treatment then dried and flat ironed I had straight hair.

I can now let my hair air dry (a little wavy, but no frizz!) or I can blowdry it almost perfectly straight.  If I want it to look super straight I can use the flat iron but for the most part it's easy, peasy, 1-2-3sy.  And frizzies?  Yeah, they went bye-bye too.  So, if you have problem hair and you can find a Groupon, I highly recommend the Keratin hair straightening.  The best part is, my stylist said if I take good care of it (ie use the good shampoo) it could last 3+ months.  Now that's what I'm talking about!   

The Good, The Bad, and the Sad

There's a big thing in my life right now that consumes way more of my thoughts than it should.  And I pray about it.  And I've talked to my friends about it.  But unfortunately I'm still a few weeks away from knowing how it is going to turn out.  And while I wait it weighs so heavy on my heart.  It could be a very good thing or it could be a very bad thing.  I try not to dwell on it, and I'm fully prepared for the outcome to be bad.  Even though there is a part of me that is hoping for the good.  And maybe bad isn't the right word.  Because it won't really be bad, it will just leave me sad.  I am so hoping for the good, while living in the reality of the sad.  And I know that even if I end up sad when the decisions are made, I'll still know I'm right where God wants me and that there are lessons for me to learn in everything I go through.  So, may it be good, may it be bad, or may it be sad, let me learn and grow as God intends me to, and may I end up a better person in the end.

Plans

Mish-mash. Is that even a word? It basically describes my brain right now. It's a mish-mash of wondering. Wondering what I'll be doing 6 months from now. Wondering where I'll be 6 months from now. I know one thing. If you had asked me at 18 where I'd be at 31, it would not be here. It would not be the sole provider for my family of 1. It would not be 5 hours from my family. And it most certainly would not be worrying about if I would have a job in a year. I've been out of college for 8 years now. And I'm on my second job, not by choice. It's hard. It's a lot harder than I tell anyone. And as much as I have not worried about my status before, it's heavy on my heart and mind these days. I wish so often that I had someone to go home to at the end of the day. Someone to hold me and tell me it will be ok. Someone to celebrate the highs with and someone to talk to when the lows hit. And I do have Someone. I have the Someone. He's always there to listen, but so often I don't want to talk to Him. And that's what I need to work on. I need to work on turning my problems over to Him first and foremost. Because no matter what happens, no matter where I am or what I am doing, He is in control. He knows the path my life will take. And really, that's all that matters.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes Life Takes Us Full Circle

I was looking for a specific blog post the other day and I ran across this one. So appropriate for my life right now. This time I took a risk and let the person in. And then I got hurt. And instead of walking away, I've let them hang around as part of my life from afar. Part of it is because I know that in a few months I will gain some benefit from this person. Part of it is because this person fascinates me. And part of it is because it gives me hope that there are people out there who share some of my same quirks.

But I know that in a few months I'll also say goodbye and walk away knowing it's what I have to do.

My New Family

So, in my previous entry I introduced you to some people who have been part of my extended family for a period of time long enough that they are pretty much stuck with me. Sorry guys!

Now for the new members of my family.

Mike, Whitney, and the boys -- You can meet them here. They are the leaders of my community group. And we also went to the same college. While Mike and Whitney met and fell in love, I didn't know either of them. Whitney and I knew some mutual friends and Mike and I made to sure take every class in the College of Business. But alas, 8 years after we graduated our paths crossed and I love these two dearly. It's great to have people in our present who can also understand part of our past. Mike and I share some similar sentiments of our time at TTU so we can relate on what warped us during those college years. Whitney is a bookworm so it's always fun to share books and discuss what we read. Top if all of with a shared love of Christ and it's win/win. Plus they are about to have a baby (any. day. now) and we all know how much I love babies!

Benji, Lauren, B and baby -- Lauren was the first person to really welcome me into River Church. She's the cutest thing you've ever seen. Really, I've never seen her look bad even when she was moving boxes into their (super-cute) new house. Benji played minor league baseball so it's like having a mini-celebrity in our midst every week. Just kidding, he's in no way conceited. It's awesome to get to talk to someone who got to live out a childhood dream of being in the leagues (even if it wasn't the big leagues.) They bring a real heart for their friends to grow closer in their faith and it's great to hear how God is moving in those relationships each week.

Stephen, Annette, and the kids -- I told you to read Annette's blog a few posts ago. Guys, I'm sorry, I should have said it was for the girls. It's true. It's really not guys reading material. I apologize. I never leave this couple's presence without truly seeing something so God-like and God-minded. I know they have no idea what impact they have made on me and words could not even begin to desribe it. I watch them constantly be obidient to God's calling even if it means wondering how the dollars will stretch the entire month, but knowing that they are where they are supposed to be and that's the ultimate goal. To be where we are supposed to be, no matter the circumstances. And the circumstances, they will show up. Just ask Stephen or Annette. They'll tell you.

And there are so many more. Danna and Corey, Candise, Zhenya, Todd and Lori, and more. To say I have been blessed is an understatement. This group of people has finally made the place I've lived for the past 2 1/2 years finally feel like it might be home to me.

Thought don't think I've forgotten you Tennessee...

Monday Musings

1. I had 5 cubic yards of mulch delivered on Friday. As of tonight there are still 5 cubic yards of mulch piled on my parking pad. Tomorrow that pile will hopefully shrink by at least .5 cubic yards.
2. I hate weeds. Seriously, they are a thorn in my side. Thankfully I have not encountered any with thorns so that is not a literal thorn in my side.
3. There are bats in my attic. They will not leave. I'm becoming anti-bat because they are doing nothing to help the mosquito population.
4. I have mosquito bites. So many I have lost count. Including one I got between my pointer and middle fingers walking to my car the other day. I hate mosquitoes.
5. My pastor's oldest daughter M completely made my day the other day when she ran up to me at Wal-Mart, made me pick her up, then had to hug me and talk to me the whole way out the store. Love that kid. She also wanted to come home with me last night, but she doesn't want to live with me. She's going to give me her little sister N though.
6. I love all my kids at church. Seriously. Every single, stinking one of them. And some of them, well they wear diapers and they stink. Literally. But PTL for Huggies and wetwipes. They can redeem their cute, snuggliness.
7. I have booked a trip here for later this year:
8. I am on vacation tomorrow. Guess what that means? Yep, I have to log on and check some jobs for work to make sure people do their jobs. But I refused to do so today because it's a holiday. I checked my email for critical items and that is all. Go me.

Life Lessons

This year I have had an interesting encounter with an adult in my life. We don't see eye to eye with each other and thus we will never be best friends. But alas, we should still act like adults. This person when given the chance has chosen not to act their age. I was reflecting on this today because I just don't understand how some people can act the way they do. And then God gave me a reflection. I think some people are placed in our lives so that we can learn to be better people by not being as they are. I by no means will ever appear to be perfect as I am far from it. However, I sometimes realize that I see how other adults are acting and I catch myself saying a prayer that God will allow me to catch myself before I ever handle myself in the way they do.

Sometimes

As I sit here in a hotel room in the midwest I have too much time to think sometimes.

And sometimes those thoughts go like this:

What if there was someone waiting for me when I got home, who had missed me all week.

What if there was someone to call me in the evenings and let me vent and share my frustrations a well as share how much I have been surprised at what we have accomplished this week. And just to share life with in general.

What if there was someone to remind me that when all seems hopeless that there is Hope.

What if there was someone to text me randomly during the day just to say hello because I was on their mind. Or good night because I was the last thing on their mind.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind being single, most of the time. I have opportunities my married friends don't have. And I know that a perfect relationship would not encompass all of the above, all of the time. But sometimes, just sometimes I wish I had that chance. The chance to experience at least some of it.