rain

Emma and I just got home from Cleburne ( via Dallas) ...as we were turning into my drive I thought...whooooa its been sooo long since I've been home!!

Really its been just a little over a day.

Yesterday was kind of long, though....had to leave Brett at the airport which is just about the most awful thing one can do. I mean, seriously, it was just NO FUN.

It was raining cats and dogs, which had delayed Brett's flight an hour, and after leaving him at the gate Emma and I got in the car....and we cried. Both of us. hehehe....it was all very girlie....but honestly, I'm glad I've got a friend like her that I can cry with and then eat comfort Cracker Barrel food with. THAT is friendship.

I'm tired and I'm wondering if I'm ever going to catch up on rest....I actually think I'm PAST tired....

:-)

Happy.
I have the best friends in all the world.
Emma has only been here for a couple of hours now, most of which we spent sleeping, but honestly...just HAVING her here makes me feel BETTER about life in general.

hello? Anyone home?

Ok, I admit the blogging has been sufficiently less the last week or so, for me anyway, but its not like I've stopped all together, I've taken the TIME and the ENERGY to think up things to say ( however trite they might sound)......but I dont think anyone's reading-so I'll take this time to talk to myself.

A strange turn of events in the last week or so is that I've done precious little journaling...mostly because its extremely late at night before I have even had a moment...so I find that I'm actually TOO TIRED to pick up a pen ( yes, this is a new leve of tireness...I'm lazy, lets not dwell on this)....anyway, I instead have laid in the dark and had thoughts roll around and around in my head...and then usually I've fallen asleep and found that early in the morning the thought will pick up right where it left off and wake me up so that'll give it attention once more.
Its not restful.

And this is why I like journals, people. The words STICK to the page and dont wake me up in the morning!

I just filled out my 2007 calendar-putting everyone's birthdays on the right date...I like to put the person's age too because I'm not good with numbers. Anyway, its shocking how grown-up my friends are becoming.... everyone is turning crazy-adult ages like "25...and 26....and 27....and 29...whooooooa"
In fact, I too am supposedly a grown-up. And that's just scary.
Grown-ups make BIG decisions...and they're like "yeah, that's right...I just made a big decision, what you going to do about it?" with this amazing level of confidence.

Or at least that's what I always thought.

Now, I'm starting to realize most grown-ups are probably more like I am...you know, making decisions and at the same time praying to God that its going to work out.

Yet, at the same time...I'm surprised at how confident I actually am about certain things. Every so often I'll be doing some really mudane task like waiting for water to boil for coffee or something, and its like I give myself this pinch as though to try and wake up from this life....but its real. I dont think I'm going to wake up....

Umm...

Can you tell that I havent been writing in my journal?! This post is all over the place.

Picking Emma up from the airport in just a few hours! YAAAAAAY! I am sooo excited. Not just excited that I get to see her, but I always get this strong feeling when I have visitors-the sense of importance of the time we have together...that its not an accident, not a chance meeting....its PLANNED. Planned by God...and anything planned by God is very exciting, indeed.

random events of the past...while

Post Christmas day I'm taking a moment to think about truly what a wonderful holiday it was this year! I feel truly truly blessed. So, here are my highlights in no particular order...just the order that I think of them as I lay here, trying to get out of bed...

My favorite 'Christmas party' is the one my family has with Steve and Billie ( aka. the second parents)...its pretty much tradition that we just eat Christmas treats and open little presents...but its all very low key and I always ALWAYS laugh a lot! This year was no different and we even had carolers show up at our door at one point ( thanks Yerkes!) which just added to the Christmas cheer!

In the past few days I've played countless games with Brett's family. My personal favorite was Disney Scene it! ( which I got for my Birthday! wooo!), and the best part was that Brett and Josh were freakishly good and could pick a scene from Cinderella in seconds flat. hehehe...so cute.

This year, and I'm not really sure why exactly, but I feel like I've gotten to spend a little bit more quality time with my parents than in the past few years. This made me extremely happy, since my parents are also some of my best friends. Eating on Christmas morning, watching The Christmas story, and hearing Papa laugh and laugh, Anna speaking in third person when she really needed to make a point, sitting by the fire until your clothes started to melt off, watching White Christmas with PawPaw....it was truly wonderful and I treasured every moment.

Last night, we went over to the Hibbard's house to say goodbye to Nancy, who's headed back to Mexico today....I realized as I was there, that in the past....ummmm.....seven years there hasnt been a Christmas that I havent spent at least a little time in the Hibbard house. Only by sheer coincidence did I make it there this year, but I'm glad I did...I dont like messing with tradition. ;-)

And, to be totally honest, I've spent every POSSIBLE moment that I POSSIBLY could with Brett...who seems to have only been here a DAY and is going to leave again on FRIDAY. *sigh* time really does fly when you're having fun. And I suppose its a really good thing that Emma will be here after Brett leaves so I wont have time to feel really good and sorry for myself.

Merry Christmas!

" For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel." ~Luke 2

I honestly wish I could sing the following verses to you as they are in the Messiah...because, I think such words should almost be shouted or sung or SOMETHING. They're that wonderful!

But, here they are, my very favorite favorite Christmas verses...

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, [b] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Is 9:6

I wish you all a blessed Christmas, and may each of you know the personal part of the "us" in this verse....for truly He has come-and for each one of us!

the truth....

So, yes, I know that I should say something profound tonight...you know, more about why Christmas is truly wonderful. The simple truth of the matter is that the Lord fulfilled His promises. For from the beginning, the people of God had been looking for the fulfillment of His promise, the promise of a Saviour. And then one day, and you know what, I bet it seemed like any other day... His son was born into the world....and His promise was fulfilled just like that.

It seems kinda simple really. Simple to the point of radiculous....I mean, its almost like God went OUT of His WAY for Jesus to have a truly humble beginning...I mean, a stable? Seriously? But, it isnt radiculous. Its beautiful. Its beautiful because God need not make a big to-do...He does not need to puff up and have a few parades so that everyone knows how important He is....nope. In fact, His son was a Nazarene. He was probably your everyday jewish guy, probably not much to look at....and for that matter, he wasnt particularly successful or rich either.
Yes, it seems that God didnt care about social status...or being politically correct....or being liked....or cool.
I am saying this because from looking at the Church today it is often very much concerned with all these things....and you'd think it was important or something.
And yes, I am going off on a tangent. But, the night that Jesus was born the only ones that got the memo were a few shepherds...and all the heavenly hosts ( I bet there was no keeping the secret there).
Its beautiful, really, because it reminds me that God does things completely and totally different from how we humans would do it. Understanding His ways are impossible...for we do not have the mind of God. So, what can I know? I can know that there came a day where a little virgin girl named Mary had a baby, and she named Him Jesus, and later He died for my sins.
Its that simple.
Its that Glorious.

my favorite.

This is my favorite advent hymn...read the words, they're fabulous.


Come, Thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us: Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born, Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King;
Born to reign in us forever; Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

I just posted this whole post on Brett's blog before I realized I was signed in his account.

So, this afternoon, I was feeling a tad on the overwhelmed side....I think I have this weird combo of my parents two personalities...I live in happy optimistic denial for a long while and then once life builds up I then switch into hard core stress mode.
meh.

Anyway, long story short...I was hating it. I was hating the fact that there are fewer and fewer days until Christmas-one of the two most wonderful holiday celebrations of the whole year! And here I am stressing....So, I came home, washed dishes listened to some praise music and then once my kitchen was relatively presentable I sat down with a Christmas cookie and my Bible... and let me tell you it was like a breath of fresh air.

So, this week I've been trying to bring a little of the meaning of Christmas into each day...but what I could honestly do and be totally happy myself is to just type out Is. 9:6 every day and just leave it at that...because it honestly gives me goosebumps every single time.

But, I'm saving that...hehehe.
Nope, today I was struck by the opening verses of that chapter particularly the second...

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

It reminded me of the Christmas Story that I had read outloud ( sometimes its good to read out loud even if no one is around to listen) to myself earlier in the week from "Corrie's Christmas Memories" ( as you know, its my favorite favorite favorite Christmas book of all time), I got to the Shepherd's account of the events that happened to them in the fields:

Yes, it was as if God had opened a little corner of the veil that we could see and hear a little bit of heaven. But then...they were gone, and it was dark," the boy went on, "so dark...darker than it ever was before. After that heavenly light the earth was so dark-so terribly dark."

I loved that. And wouldnt that be true? Just imagine you've looked straight into a bright light and then its gone...
It made me think what a glorious gift we were given through the Lord Jesus. We were given the Light.
Not, just in tiny little pieces as had been the way up until then...through the prophets and the law, the light would shine with promises for a brief and glorious moment and then it would be gone...

But, then the Light came.

And we have the priviledge to look back and see Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled....we know that that Light came to bring light to the darkness. I am able to sit in my kitchen and meet with Him even now. Because not only did He come. He died. And not only did He die, but He lives. And His light shines on permenently...

So, sure, I just went on a little tangent just now, but can you blame me?

por favor

okie dokie...so as you know I've been putting off and putting off publishing the NHSAA website, because, ummm...the internet is scary and once its there, potentially ANYONE could see it...and thus see my lame errors and pitiful pitiful design ( see? I'm already crying)...and whoa. that would just be bad ;-)

Sooooo....I'm going to give you, my lovely readers the link to my site ( which currently only has an IP address so that its hard to find) and if you have a chance I'd like you to give me the worst of it...there are a few pages that I'd like to totally disregard because I'm still majorly working on them...
The New Membership Form
Brick Plaza
Golf Tourn.

The rest, feel free to bash me until I run away crying (oh, wait..already doing that)..because it would much much better to get constructive criticism from you than from...well, anyone else.

Thanks..

Edit
From the feedback I've already gotten and from looking at the site on various computers myself, it seems that the format, layout, and fonts change with each computer....*sigh* who knows how I will fix this...but keep those comments coming! You guys are very helpful ;-)

learning.

I am not really sure why I cant seem to learn my lesson. But why do I put off the things that stress me out the most, thus creating the inevitable "prolonged stress"?! whhhhy

Meh.

Honestly, I'm not to quick.

Christmas-y truth

So, I watched this on recommendation from Elaine.. and she was right it's kinda cheesy but I was really blessed by the points it made at the end.

sorry its hard to watch for for those of you with dialup connection. :-)

Not what I Deserve

Nancy Drew has nothing on my observation skillz

So, last night, I'd been home for several hours when I went into my bathroom to brush my teeth...and the following events took place ( mostly in my head).

*glance over at the toliet paper*

"Whoa. I'm out of toliet paper. How could did that happen? I really dont remember using up all the tp..."

*Thoughts run wild that possiblities of how this happened*

"-I am sure no one broke into my apartment to use up all the toliet paper, silly."

"Wait! There is red dirt all over my white bathmat! Now, I know that I didnt track in red dirt on my three inch heels there is just no way..."

*I carry bathmat to the laundry room and pull out a new bathmat from the closet*

"Seriously, someone BROKE into my house, used up my toliet paper AND they didnt wipe there feet!! This is insane!"

*I put down the new bathmat and glance upwards..*

"WHOA! I have a new toliet!!!"

...

And yes, it was at this point that all the pieces came together...except for how all the toliet paper got used up-except to say that mystery plummer decided to TRY OUT the new toliet...which, honestly, that's just odd and wrong on so many levels.

The good news is that I have a shiny new toliet...and now all my friends and family can relieve themselves at my house with out great trepidation. Wonderful.

And may this story be lesson to everyone, leave you bathroom without anything embarrassing lying around because you NEVER KNOW when a rouge plummer might break in and switch out your toliet. I was lucky this time around...because let's be honest, the odds that I'll just leave my PJs on the floor where they fall is very VERY probable....I guess luck was just in my favor yesterday.

Oh Christmas...

So, there is no quicker way to loose just about all your Christmas Spirit than to try to do fast Christmas shopping in three inch heels. Not. A. Good. Idea.

But, the truth about next Monday is all in the Birth of a little baby...

THE NATIVITY.

Written in the year 1656.

by Henry Vaughan


PEACE ? and to all the world ? Sure One,
And He the Prince of Peace, hath none !
He travels to be born, and then
Is born to travel more again.
Poor Galilee ! thou canst not be
The place for His Nativity.
His restless mother's call'd away,
And not deliver'd till she pay.

A tax ? 'tis so still ! we can see
The Church thrive in her misery,
And, like her Head at Beth'lem, rise,
When she, oppress'd with troubles, lies.
Rise ?—should all fall, we cannot be
In more extremities than He.
Great Type of passions ! Come what will,
Thy grief exceeds all copies still.
Thou cam'st from Heaven to Earth, that we
Might go from Earth to Heav'n with Thee :
And though Thou found'st no welcome here,
Thou didst provide us mansions there.
A stable was Thy Court, and when
Men turn'd to beasts, beasts would be men :
They were Thy courtiers ; others none ;
And their poor manger was Thy throne.
No swaddling silks Thy limbs did fold,
Though Thou couldst turn Thy rays to gold.
No rockers waited on Thy birth,
No cradles stirr'd, nor songs of mirth ;
But her chaste lap and sacred breast,
Which lodg'd Thee first, did give Thee rest.

But stay : what light is that doth stream
And drop here in a gilded beam ?
It is Thy star runs page, and brings
Thy tributary Eastern kings.
Lord ! grant some light to us, that we
May with them find the way to Thee !
Behold what mists eclipse the day !
How dark it is ! Shed down one ray,
To guide us out of this sad night,
And say once more, “Let there be light.

Welcome back to Work

Well, so far work hasnt been bad at all this morning, of course, I still havent written my weekly articl for the newspaper yet, but I've got an "idea" of what I will say...and that's pretty much all I need to ramble on for 500 or so words.
Shoot, I do that on my blog more than twice a day ;-)

Anyway, this weekend I did sooo much resting. It was good and probably just what I needed since here until eternity ( or so it seems) is incredibly busy!! We're talking insanely so!!

In fact, of my two week vacation ( mmmmmwwwwwahahahaha! I'm sooo lucky!) I have a friends from afar for ever single day of it!! Incredible. I'm getting excited about all the goodness-but I'm finding Christmas holidays are becoming so very strange. Its like there is no more tradition. There's just newness. Not that newness is BAD, because its NOT. I'm just saying this holiday season is surprising. For instance, if you'd told me LAST year that I'd have Emma and Sam swapping off Texas Duty ( Literally, Emma leaves the day Sam arrives...I dont think they like each other! hehe) I would have been shocked. Come to think of it, I would have also been shocked ( and incredulous) if you'd told me that I'd be soooo excited about Brett coming into town on Wednesday ( YAY!!). I would have been like, "Whatever, he's just that dude I went to high school with who had the cool hair and the sexy voice who ignored me most of the time, big deal."
Well, no, I'd probably have been a little bit more happy than that-afterall, he WAS awfully cool even with the ignoring thing going on ( and I think he was just overwhelmed by my coolness, dont you think?)...
So, yes, a few months ago I wouldnt have known how nice my holidays were going to look...but here they are staring me in the face. But, you know what, I was thinking...last year I felt kinda lonely and sad-for whatever reason-and yet it let me focus on the Meaning of this Christmas Holiday.
And this year, well, I'm waaay more busy and I just pray that I do not loose that...that all the craziness doesnt leave me lacking in mediation. lacking in thankfulness for what "its all about" ( sounds trite, but its true..).

Today I'm starting my Meaning of Christmas Posts...man, wish I could come up with a better name...anyway,maybe I'll come up with something better by this evening... coming soon the count down to Christmas.

a life? apparently not.

I just got this off of Briana's blog...


If you've seen over 110 movies, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 240 movies on this list. Put your score in header and re-post.

() Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
() Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
(X) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story (Heheh, 80s!)
() Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total so far: 6

(x) The Princess Bride
(X) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth (80s again!)
() Saw II
() White Noise
(X) White Oleander
() Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 13

(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 17

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
(X) Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 25

(x) Finding Nemo
(X) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30
(X) I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 30

(X) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(X) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
() KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 36

(X) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(X) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
()The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
() Flubber
Total so far: 40

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
(x) The Secret Window
(X) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
(X) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 46

() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
(X) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 50

() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
(X) Lucky Number Sleven
(X) Ocean's Eleven
(X) Ocean's Twelve ( oceans 13 is coming out! Branden and I got to see the set in LA)
(x) Bourne Identity
() Lone Star
() Bedazzled
() Predator
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total: 56

(X) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Boss' Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
() Frailty
() War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 61

() Best Bet
(X) She's All That
(X) Calendar Girls
(X) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 70

(x) X-Men
(x) X2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
(X) Equilibrium
(X) The Skulls
(X) Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 83

() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
(x) The Notebook
(x) K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old-virgin
Total so far: 88

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ( talk about awesome movies!)
Total so far: 94

() Baseketball
() Hostel
( x) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
() Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
(x) Three Amigos
Total so far: 98

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
() Monster
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Dawn Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 100

() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
(x) Hook ( another great classic)
(x) Chronicle Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Waterworld
Total so far: 103

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
() Wolf Creek
(x) Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 104

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 110

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America World Police
(x) Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
(x) Hannibal

Total movies seen: 116

I would like to thank living in small town during high school...and then I'd like to thank my dorm in NZ for having satalite TV with movie channels for making my title of "one with no life" possible...some of the movies here it is reeeeally embarrassing to admit to seeing. *sigh*
Let's all go read a book.

you kids...

obviously cant handle the very long, very wordy posts....tisktisk.

So here's my day. short.

awoke. laid in bed. ate bread. took bath ( standing is too hard to do for long periods of time).
laid in bed. put on dress. wished that all pants were PJs then I wouldnt have to wear the dress. laid in bed.
got mail for work. sat in car to rest from walking to mail box from car. walked to school office to get key back. walked to my office. sat at desk for long period of time resting from long walk. made phonecalls. watched The O.C. wrote lists for next week.
Went home laid in bed to rest from "hard work". put PJ pants on under dress. laid in bed. ate leftover noodles. laid in bed. watching Devil Wears Prada whilest lying in bed.

darn, better yet...

So, I blame the vicodin...but I was waaaay more savvy with my words last year....so you can go back and read that if you want. Of course, it was about that year...not this year....and this year was even better than last year...so...ummm....nevermind.

too much is too much.

I'm hooooome!!! And while I'm sooo happy to be here with all "my things". I can see why it was a good idea for me to not push this homecoming too quickly! Its sooo much harder to stay still and in bed when I have all sorts of things I could do.

Also, the bathroom is waaaay far away now. *sigh* oh how awful it is to live in such a giant apartment ;-)

In other news, Esther and Christa were FABULOUSLY sweet today and in the midst of all that they had to do today ( take their last two finals!!!) they made me lunch! Honestly, I've got the greatest friends in all the world.

Aunt Donnave has gone home after taking care of me for days. She was truly a wonderful blessing to have as a nurse...and I still every so secretly want to be "just like her when I grow up"...

Now, I am lying quite still in the hopes that I'll feel up to going to Katie's house for a "relaxed dinner" this evening...I know, I know, I probably shouldnt push it...but I want to see Nancy-Cotton! ( not her real name) she's come all the way from Monterrey Mexico and she's been here since monday and I still havent seen her :-(
So, yes, lying quite still....

And I just talked to Louise...and she's MOST PROBABLY coming to visit in February 2008 ( never hurts to plan ahead)....and THAT'S Wonderful news...along with the prospects of Kristy coming to visit THIS february for a few days...I feel like my cup truly runneth over!

Maybe its the drugs, but dont I have wonderful wonderful friends?!

I mean, by march of this year I will have had visits from FIVE friends from around the globe. I was talking to Donnave about how very small the world has gotten and how really wonderful that is......I remember how very frightened I was when I first moved back to Nacogdoches ( aka. small town middle of no where) that I would some how "miss out" on all the excitment that the world-travelling bite had left me hungry for....but now, Two Years Later ( yes, two years ago yesterday I cried and cried and cried as I got on that plane in Christchurch New Zealand-pleading with God that He would somehow change His mind and not make me "get lost back in Texas")

But, God abounds in grace...and the past two years I wouldnt trade for ANYTHING....

I had to adjust to the grand USA living again-which is actually more different than one might think.
I came home to family drama that is usually only reserved for Lifetime Movies that you laugh at and say "things like that dont reeeeally happen"!
I was shown the Grace of God over and over again when I reached the "Limit" that I set for myself, thinking that I ABSOLUTELY could NOT go any further than that in faith...when I got to that point, there was just a little bit more to be had.
I dealt with homesickness for New Zealand well up until the middle of this past year...and then one day, God just TOLD ME that I couldnt go back in time and live that life again...and I realized in that moment, that I was ok with that.
And I was.
And a month later God graciously gave me a trip "home" to New Zealand through my generous parents.
So, I went back this time only for a visit, but it was just the way I would have it...and I realized all over again why I loved my friends so much. In fact, I realized they were EVEN better than I had remembered.
Which kind of leaves a little feeling of twinginess when you realize that you dont get to have these wonderful people "close by"...and that always kind of hurts.
But, then again, I have been given the most wonderful friendships back in Texas. I absolutely LOVE the friends that God has brought into my life in the past two years...so many of them, people that I have "known forever"...but who I have re-met...and re-loved all over again in a much more delightful way.
This year God has given me a new job that lets me be far more creative and stretch myself to the point of stress...which brings up all sorts of new lessons about God...leaning on Him for ALL THINGS.
This year has brought a Bible Study of the most wonderful girl friends that I could have asked for...these girls have continued to teach me of struggle and victory and love and laughter..and I absolutely LOVE Mondays because of them.
This year has brought yet another new place to live...and this time all alone. But, its been fun...and perfect for all the things that life has brought for this period of time.
This year has brought visitors......which teaches all sorts of things about "being loose with plans" and even looser with ones personal time and weird ways of doing things...its all about being humble and realizing How far I still have to go to reach my dreams...and yet...along the way I've got GRAND friends to help me get there.
This year has brought pain. A pain that until a few short months ago I didnt really know what it was. And it was very very trying and I found that in moments of pain there is really just you. You and God. That's it. And that's ALL that is really needed.
This year has brought Brett...and while you might argue that he's only been a real part of my life for just a few months...well, you'd totally lose the argument because he's been around since early February at the latest...and he just WOULDNT GO AWAY. Thank goodness...and what lessons it has brought! I have learned more about myself and about the greatness of God from our relationship-through its many little stages- than I could have ever imagined one could.
This year has brought a greater love for my family who are really just my friends who also share the same strange genes...

Now, I'll share a little secret with you ( isnt this fun? when was the last time I had such a long blog post!!?)...when I was finishing up my last semester in New Zealand and I knew that God wanted me to come back to Texas I put a handy-dandy little time frame on that move. I decided that I would stay in Texas until March 2008...and that seemed really really REALLY far off. But, now its just around the corner. And I'm happy to say that I'm going to let my timelimit pass me by...without making a NEW time frame to go on. Its a lot LOT harder to not have set amounts of time to look forward to, and count down to (especially for someone who gets as stir crazy staying in one place as I do), but I honestly feel that if ANYTHING that last two years have taught me that the Plans that the Lord has for us are far far more imaginative and wonderful and hard and stretching and colorful and surprising and heartwrenching and fantastic than I could ever EVER conceve. Which leaves me here...on the brink of another grand year Post-New Zealand....and I am happy. Happy to leave it. Leave it where it has been this whole time.
In Thy Hands, O Lord, I leave it.

I cant.

I'm not going to blog right now because it would come out all wrong. But let me just say THIS about THAT.
I dont like recovery nearly as much as I thought I would.

update...

So, I walked around the kitchen and then I went outside and took in the fresh air....I got myself some peppermint icecream. GOOD JOB, huh?!

Seriously, I am going to be better in NO TIME. Yay!

I should also be mentioned that I have a really sweet boyfriend who has worried about me tons...way more than is deserving.
My Aunt Donnve just called to say she's "almost here"
My landlord called to make sure I was ok because my car hadnt moved in two days ( this is semi-comforting since i DO live alone, and I guess it is good that you have people to go through your trash and make sure you arent dead.)

ANNNNNND.....

Peppermint Icecream is waaaay good.

DISHES! DISHES!!

So, I am currently holed up at my parents house, being waited on hand and foot. In fact, Aunty D is coming this afternoon to care for me further. Awwww....I feel so high maintance! Yet, at the same time...I I pretty much need people to bring me water and food and to change out the DVDs....so there.

Now for too much information! Ya'll ready?! woo.
So, my surgery went well, in that they did find a lot of endometrosis all over my ovaries and verious other places in my reproductive system ( ask to see the picture sometime, its amazing! hehehe...) However, the doctor felt it would cause more harm than good to remove the endo ( it would cause extensive scarring which would just cause MORE endo to grow...boo)...and so now we'll be going a more "agressive medicine" route to control the pain....apparently one way of reducing the pain would be to have children. So, I'm looking into that as we speak. hehehe....can you tell that i'm all loopy and drugged?! No? you mean I always make inappropriate jokes!? oh. nevermind then.

So, now I have some really beautiful bandaids on my tummy...aaaaaannnnd my stomache is all round and poochy because they pumped me up with air so they could stick the camera in and look around. hehe. Its really funny looking actually, and if it wasnt so incredibly sore I think I'd be tempted to punch myself in the stomache to see what would happen to all that air. My throat still really hurts ( it was hard to talk yesterday) because of the tube they put down it during the surgery....annnnnd I feel like passing out every time I get up for any reason.
Yesssss....recovery is super fun! All the lovely people who have prayed for me and come to see me and talked to me-thanks bunches. I feel very loved.

Currently my father is taking care of me-he told me to "yell" when I had dishes that needed taken out of my room...so I yelled "Dishes!" in my raspy voice last night...I thought it was extremely funny at the time. It hurts to laugh. I dont know how funny it actually was...hmmmmmm....vicodin.

details...requests

SooOOoooooo....I'm having surgery around 9:30am tomorrow morning to "diagnois" and this hopefully "remove" ( I shouldnt have put that in quotes! hahaha) any endometrios that might be aimlessly growing inside me at this moment in time. Anyway, your prayers are much coveted since I do have to go under general anesthetic...and that doesnt seem particularly cool.
Other than that I just pray that I finally know without a shadow of a doubt what has been causing me so much pain for all these months.

I am SOO thankful to have friends like you who havent told me to shut up or suck it up while I've complained for months on end. I am also soooo thankful that I have prayerful friends. It is a blessing that I dont believe I could live without ;-).

On a brighter note I became really nervous about this surgery last night when I thought of all the possibly loopy things I could say while on drugs. THAT scares me more than anything ;-)

I must REALLY write my newspaper article for work now, talk about waiting till the last minute! meeeh.

morbid?

So, I sat down to have a quiet time and every single verse I read pertained to death.

Ummm...the evening before you have surgery, you start to wonder.... ;-)

But, since the mortality rate for this surgery is really not high. hahaha.
I will instead rejoice in the glory of the Lord tonight for this life is not our own. How beautiful that we could wake up in the Kingdom of Heaven without a care, a pain, a worry....its truly beautiful.

Has anyone read Daily Light for December 8th-10th?! Because seriously, its just STOCK full of good stuff...

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far...
~~
I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and recieve you to Myself that where I am, there you will be also.
~~~
After my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.

And, well, I'm lame so I can't help but quote the Lord of the Rings:


" Is this the End, Gandalf?"

"The journey doesn't end here. Death is another path. One we all must take. The grey curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver grass. And then you see it...."

"What? See what?"

"White shores and beyond...the fair great country and a swift sunrise."

"Well...that isnt so bad, is it?"

" No, no it is not...."


So while tonight I marvel at the beauty of a Death in Christ, I must also pray for a Life in a Christ...oh that I might Live it well.

"edifying"

Just got back from my little overnight trip to Fort Worth with the girls....I just looked at my journal entry that I wrote before I left,

"Things seem to be working out. Why am I surprised? I know you will go before us, keeping us safe. And above all may this be a time that is benefitual. Spiritually edifying..."

I can honestly tell you I couldnt have had such direct answer to prayer! Our trip was great-but not because it was "perfect"...it was great because I have never felt so....mortal....and yet I have also never felt so safe and secure in the hand of God.

The girls and I were driving along, I had just turned onto a different stretch of road and we were going at a fairly fast pass ( the speed limit was 70) when all of a sudden the car in the right lane sped up and past me, then swirved in front of my car ( almost as though he wanted to cut us off), in a split second we would have hit head to head, if the car had not fish tailed away, giving me enough room to move into the right lane...from which we then watched the car flip in the air several times before landing in a ditch full of water....

We pulled over to see the guy climb out of his car..by then tons of cars had pulled over and we were actually in danger of getting stuck...so all we had left to do was to drive on....after saying a prayer for the guy in the wrecked car, and a thanks for saving all of our lives.

Later in the trip ( this is lots less dramatic but still)....we missed our turn to our hotel and found ourselves in the middle of down town Fort Worth, not really knowing where to go or what to do ( the problem with mapquest, is that if you somehow get off your directions there is no way of really getting back except by luck)....but, by a miracle I was able to some how get my barrings enough to get us to a part of town that I "sorta" knew and then got us to our hotel by an alternative route....during this time of aimless driving, I had to turn around on a small side street....in backing up, I saw that a car was parked on the other side of the road and I was aware that I wasnt going to hit said car...but then all of a sudden I heard a scream and I looked harder and saw that there was a women standing by the car all dressed in black...and i was seriously this close to hitting her....we made it to the hotel safe and sound...and you know, we really could have driven from Nacogdoches to Fort Worth without any incident at all...and I would have thanked God and I would have been grateful for his protection etc.
But, it seemed that this Friday night, He decided to SHOW us all the defenses and fortresses He puts up for His children...It seemed that at every turn I saw what could have happened if His hand of Grace had not been there....it was as if He showed all the death, danger and distruction that might touch us at any possible moment- yet, we are His...

The rest of our trip was full of good fun, visiting the crazy "Winter Wonderland" lights place.....where we posed with "decaying Jesus and the Last Super"...ask me about this sometime. good story)....buying FOUR pairs of shoes in the right size! and best of all Thida and my time at Billy Bob's the Biggest Honky Tonk in the world...it was absolutely fantastic, really and I'm glad I could share something so purely texan with her on her last night with me. ( I'm going to miss my little wife ;-) !)

But, ultimately, this weekend I learned more about my Savior and His love for me ( for it is undeniable that He saved my life several times!) and that made the weekend truly wonderful.

I am extremely tired. And my bed has probably missed me...


edit: Because things are always better told lots of different ways, I seriously recommend Christa and Briana's blogs that also talk about what happened....

bloody tired.

I know...profanity....but its true...I got blood taken this morning for my pre-op labs...and I should have eaten something afterwards which I blame on Thida for not thinking of and not making me do. BAD WIFE ;-)

Five girls heading off to Fort Worth this afternoon. I made us a "girls roadtrip" CD last night. And its great, if I DO say so myself...in fact, even if the trip is bad we can at least say that the soundtrack was good ( kinda like that "The Last Kiss" movie which was apparently horribly depressing...but I bought the soundtrack and its fantastic. Point Made).
So, pray that we have fun, more importantly: pray that we're safe, even more importantly pray that we're God focused.

In other news...I should be working extra hard since its my last day at work for a loooong while. Currently, I am pondering whether its possible to may an ENTIRE newspaper article about a past alum who's name was Silver Bells.

Hmmmm....

the countdown.

So, I was pretty sure that pain meds where not working AT. ALL when it came to my pain...until last night when I tried NOT to take anything for the pain...I laid there in bed and it just got worse and worse. I it was really quite incredible actually, and while I paid for it later ( waiting so long to take the meds)...it was also kind of helpful, since every so often you think, "am I just making this up?"

Either i have the best imagination ever...or I'm not.

So, I'm back to being excited about the surgery.

In other news, I've got no other news...except that it was sooo hard to get out of bed this morning, as in near impossible.

So, here's to accomplishing the impossible before 9am.

the latest...

Keeping the stress at bay with the happy help of denial! yaaaaay!
Woke up this morning with the funniest hair EVER. Honestly, I know I dont have to remind you how much I hate my current haircut, but another reason to add to the list is that I can’t do the following without very dire consequences:

Take shower, wash hair, go directly to bed, wake up, look in mirror.

My bangs where not sticking straight up...no...straight OUT...like a visor. It was awesome, and for about two seconds I considered taking a picture. But, honestly, there IS a vanity line and I think that would officially cross it. ;-)

But, as funny as it was...its annoying...I've been doing the wet haired sleep for...my WHOLE LIFE....in fact, in the past the best hair days come from sleep-dried hair. BUT NOW THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM ME.
Also to add insult to injury, my bangs are starting to grow out and getting annoying. But, I REFUSE to get them cut, because I will not relive this evil cycle. ;-)

In other news, I need to write like three articles in the remaining days in the office (they are coming fast to a close). As per usual, I have absolutely no idea what I am going to write about...

good times

Deserving of the Day

Well, its definitely that time again:
Ten Little things that make me happy-

1. Happy endings
2. Lit Candles
3. The sound that heals make on hard floors
4. The window above the sink in my kitchen.
5. Pandora Internet Radio
6. Finding little notes randomly kept for no reason.
7. Pockets of winter coats
8. Old Yearbooks
9. curly hair
10. Cookie Cutters

out of sorts

I dont actually know what "sorts" are exactly. But, I really must be out of them!

It started yesterday afternoon, when Thida and I went to my pre-op doctors appointment. Thank goodness Thida was there, because we had to wait for a whole HOUR in which time we played a LOT of Hangman...anyway, after an hour of waiting they decided that there was NO WAY my doctor could see me today ( this brings me to a very important issue about how Doctor's offices are the only business that can be HORRIBLY unbusinesslike and get away with it. Its dreadful.). So, the lady at the desk starts telling me that the next possible day i can be seen is Friday morning. And so I calmly say that this is not possible since I have to work, and I'm already taking time off from said work to HAVE "surgery"....and that's when it hit me:

Ok, so I'm pretty laidback. I'm pretty fine with not knowing that many details, as long as I will "eventually" know some facts and details at a nice designated time. But, HONESTLY....Friday!?! So, the lady at the desk goes away to find out if I could possibly come in on Thursday morning ( I couldnt)....and after she walked away, I promptly start to cry. You know BIG tears that well up and make you blind.
And to be honest, I didnt care AT. ALL.
Because, as Thida so calmly explained it was ONLY RIGHT that I know what was going to happen to me with more than just JUST TWO DAYS to mentally prepare.
So, when the office lady who had only been "civil" up to this point came back and saw me with my big poor-me tears,she immediately changed her "I cant help you" tune and came up with a better game plan.

Thida and I then had to wait for ANOTHER hour for the nurse to come and talk to me about the basic procedures of the surgery ( I still have to go back on Friday to see the actual doctor).

It was dreadfully upsetting. And I'm still upset to a certain degree, and I dont even really know why...the surgery is really simple and I am still SOOOOO excited about having it, anything to get rid of this pain...


But, life just seems to be building up over my head and this morning I woke up worrying about taking Thida to Fort Worth on Friday...hoping that everyone who's coming along for the ride, would have fun. Wondering how we were ever going to get anything accomplished leaving at 4pm since its a pretty longish drive....

And then it seems that on top of that more confusing life decisions I've made in the last few months have all of a sudden started to become even moooore confusing... I dont trust my decisions...I dont trust my brain at all.

...

Wait...

Is it possible that I am actually going crazy?!

Is this what it's like?!

And you wake up...

And you think. WHOOOA. What am I doing??!

I'm officially stressed, and wondering how things are going to turn out.

So much to do, so many problems to be solved.
~~~

But, you know what? Its December...and something to look forward to is the Christmas posts that will be coming the week before Christmas. Last year, my dear friend Tabitha came up with the most wonderful idea...she sent me emails every day during the last week before Christmas-each one a small devotion of the true meaning of the Christmas season. This year I'm joining in the fun...because it was absolutely one of the greatest blessing of the last Christmas season.

Thinking back on last Christmas...when I found myself crying on my living room couch in the middle of Christmas day...the lesson for the year was to get rid of all my past perceptions of christmas...and start afresh. Because, I dont know about you...but the older you get the more you're going to face the imperfections of life. I'm going to guess that everyone reading this has SOMETHING that they're worried/stressed/mildly disturbed over. And the very commercial aspects of Christmas has given this false perception of euphoria...as though magically Christmas is going to mask all of those imperfections-for one whole day. But, its just not going to happen.


But, the fantastic thing about realizing that is that I now long for the true joy of Christmas a whole lot more. Time off from work,Presents, Lights, Food, Carols... even family...none of these things are really going to do it for me.
The longing for something better will never go away, but changing the avenue of where I search for the answer to my longing...that's the difference.

And that is why this Christmas season I will be trying my very very hardest to meditate on the truest meaning of this holiday and then try to share those thoughts with you...

Of course, I would love to have more than just a week's worth of mediations to share...so, if you have something that you would like to add, shoot me an email and I'll put it on the agenda and maybe we can get started on this earlier than the 18th! How does that sound?

In other news...its my last week of work before the Big Day. WOO! One week!!! Who's excited?! MEEEEEE!
Who has a lot of work to do before then?! Meeeeeeee!

meta-what?

Metaphysical poetry....I dig it.

I was reminded of this fact when I started reading this book last week...which is mystical poetry....and that's pretty much metaphysical......and so tonight I was sent searching for my Metaphysical poets from my university days......

Henry Vaughn.....John Donne....George Herbert....

I do realize these are dusty old british poets from the 17th century....but their poetry makes me cry.

And then this....

....O that thou shouldst give dust a tongue
To cry to Thee,
and then not hear it crying! All day long
My heart was in my knee
But no hearing.

Therefore my soul lay out of sight,
Untuned, unstrung;
My feeble spirit, unable to look right,
Like a nipped blossom, hung
Discontented.
O cheer and tune my heartless breast;
Defer no time,
That so thy favors granting my request,
They and my mind may chime
and mend my rhyme (from "Denial" ~George Herbert)

I feel like that is the cry of so many at the moment, and its a comfort to see that it isnt a new development.
But, neither is this:

Great God, our lowliness takes heart to play
Beneath the shadow of Thy state;
The only comfort of our littleness
Is that Thou art so great.... ( from another Frederick Faber poem...)

all kinds o-fun

Because I'm really lame I put up a countdown counter till my surgery. hehe.
I've had the questions pouring in about exactly WHAT is going to happen to me-and while there isnt super much I can tell at this point ( the doctor is not in the habit of volunteering information, and I am not in the habit of asking for it.)

I will say this, I find it really really cool ( in an odd sort of way) that Emma had this surgery only a few months ago and therefore can tell me more than most people can. So, hopefully, it wont be all that bad...with pain medication and the forced-resting I should be good to go in about a week. And HOPEFULLY they will clear out some of the endometrosis that is plaguing me and we can all go on our happy way.

Last night it actually WOKE ME UP in the wee morning hours to remind me of its presence. Poor Thida I hope I wasnt moaning or anything annoying like that. I left her watching Grey's Anatomy at a very early evening hour last night so I could go lie on my bed in that blissful medicated state I've become so familiar with....

Luckily, she gets a weird nerdy medical kick out of watching medical shows. ;-)

Changing the subject: The weather has dropped at LEAST 15 degrees since I arrived at work today...its insane. I mean, really quite COLD.
AND it started raining just as I was pulling into work and so I looked around my car for one of my two umbrellas...no where to be found.

Had to run in the rain. Graceful. I'm sure.

Arrived in my office to find BOTH umbrellas sitting helpfully by the door. boo.

Excited.

So, to be honest, I am really really excited about my surgery.
I've been in a lot of pain tonight, and to be honest there are times when I'd like to just RIP out my insides to make myself feel better.

Ugg.

But, isnt it exciting that my whining about this pain might be over FOREVER by the middle of December?!

sweeeeet

Good times, Thida went to Houston today ( in fact, she's still not home)...she DID get her ticket to Tennesse. Which means that she'll be taking her Thida-Awesomeness to the only other "T" state in the USA.
Woo. I'm so excited for her. I've always felt that trips were something that were MORE than just "fun" and just "sight seeing"...God has always given me really wonderful unexpected life lessons via every trip I've been on.
Of course, she's leaving me....which is sad....so those Tennesse people had better APPRECIATE my sacrifice. ;-)

Opposites

So, SOME people have mentioned that Thida and I were wearing a LOT of makeup to the Imogen Heap concert ( not to mention any names)-and I'm not at all implying that there was Judgment in their tone. no not at all.
But... *i* would like to point out that...concerts REQUIRE more makeup...just because of the possible sweating...and the whole "low lighting" situation...meaning you just need to PAINT YOUR FACE ON. And therefore, there is NOTHING WRONG with wearing "lots of makeup."


Anyway to counteract the "pointed" observation, Thida snapped this picture of the two of us a few days ago....we had just woken up and gotten dressed and I was literally standing in front of the mirror putting my hair in braids when she took the photo.
We have no make up on.
Not even chapstick.
And this is very normal.

And we were definitely a 2 out of ten. So there you go...once again, I prove that my blog has more bad pictures of myself than good....



Thida has given permission for me to publish this photo...and you know what, personally...I like this photo better anyway.
I mean, THAT'S how i see myself...and yes, that's kinda vain I guess...but its true. So now you know what I actually think of myself.

good or bad.
I'm a two. ;-)

it actually works.

So, today, I had roses and chocolates delivered to my office.

And I'm speechless...with what to say about how that made me feel.

Well, I take that back, its actually really easy to come up with....but also extremely mushy, and I try to keep mushiness to a minimum on this blog.

So, think of something mushy and sappy...and go with that.

I'm about to go tell my entire board of directors that with holiday ( that cant be avoided) and my surgery recovery...I will be working a grand total of 9 days in December.

Wish me luck.

Better yet, pray.

Edit:

So, the prayers worked. My meeting went really really well...and no one seemed to care at all that I was missing so much work and that they were basically paying me to do nothing ( hahaha!)...but seriously, all the praise made me blush and makes me want to work harder so that I wont make them all liars.

Also, amazing and stupideous answer to prayer: One of my board members invited a technology support guy from SFA to the meeting and he's going to help me work out all the kinks on the website!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!! SERIOUSLY! Wonderful.

Oh. And did I mention that Thida rocks the cooking world?! ( I found yummy fried rice waiting on the stove after my meeting) She's a fabulous house guest...if I need to write recommendations I will. ;-) Her future husband is going to be SOOO lucky. ;-)

fight the dreary...

I'm kicking myself that I didnt take pictures of my Christmas decorations last night, because you're right...they WOULD be a nice way to start this dreary Tuesday...but We'll all have to wait for that-maybe my lunch break will happen today?

Anyway, today is going to be frightfully busy, so this is what I'm fighting the dreary with this morning:

One Grande Latte.
One piece of pecan coffee cake.
Emails from friends.
My new pencil skirt ( there is NO WAY to feel un-pretty in a pencil skirt...its impossible.)
Thida's habit of making bacon at all hours of the day. Cute.
The Promises of God. Renewed.

Blessings today, dear friends

busy-ness

Whoa. So, I have to be out of work for at least a week after my surgery...i didnt think it would be that long! Honestly, I'm starting to freak out about my board meeting tomorrow...I realize that they wont fire me, but I think they are going to WANT to. :-(

meeeh.

Plus, at the moment I'm trying really hard not to take on Thida's current ticketing stresses, but its hard not too...plus...well....I dont know, I just feel dreary.

Luckily, I've got a few back up plans to make me smile...

winter wonderland.

I've decorated for Christmas....I love my all my decorations-most of which I got between 1992-1996. Those were good years for the christmas decorations.

Especially my milk carton Santa Head...it looks fantastic on my front door.

And I have to say I dont think you can ever really grow out of the kiddie decorations. I think that's really what Christmas decorating is about anyway...the smell of melted wax and cinnamon....

So, I'm ready...let the holiday season begin!

Where's Waldo

So, I was talking to someone tonight and I said pretty much word for word the following: "Wow, I feel so sorry for because its so easy to see that they are miserable, and while they do realize they are miserable...they are looking for the solution in ALL the wrong places! They think that YOU will somehow fill up the big hole that they realize they have! When we both know only God can fix that miserableness. "

And then, later, I was praying with Thida...and it was like, God slapped me upside the head with that earlier comment....because isnt that what I do too? Constantly looking....constantly searching, filling up my time...my space....my thoughts....my actions....its all busy, busy, busy-trying to fill up that hole.

When really everything I need is in Jesus Christ. Its all there.

My life so often looks like a where's waldo picture...some of those little people look deceptively like Waldo...but when you look closely its just a red and white stripped scarf...and not the real deal. Oh, that I would just STOP the search for all the counterfeit Jesus's...and focus on the real deal.

I am a lost sheep, I am a wayward discipe, I am a common harlot

Once Upon a Time: Girls Night

So, last night, "the girls" and I had an anti-thanksgiving dinner ( aka. we were tired of starch foods in all shapes and forms and Thida was about to DIE if she didnt have "fruits and veggies RIGHT NOW". )

Off we went to Wal Mart and then home to cut up veggies.


Then we went crazy with the cooking....going so far as to put APPLES in our vegetables ( because we are brave and creative).

( and NO that wasnt posed, I look like that when I cook...)

I used my china ( because this was a special occasion)...and the table looked adorable.


We then did the usual "pose for a picture around the table" thing...which turned out rather well...even though Thida wasnt actually sitting on a chair.

After dinner the only thing to be done was to play SingStar for hours...which we did...and just because the pictures dont look like we're having fun doesnt mean it wasnt SUPER AWESOME.


And just to prove it...here's the action version...




And then we all went to bed and slept like angels. The end.

The very thought...

I received a fabulous little book for my birthday, The Christian Book of Mystical Verse compiled by A.W. Tozer...

I love it so far...I often feel like my own lack of imagination keeps me from expressing the depths of my thoughts...the width of my feelings for the Lord. To be totally honest, I am continually trumped and therefore must just about ALWAYS turn to others for help. Luckily, Others have been given Divine Help...and thus I am constantly quoting song lyrics, psalms, verses, poetry and literary quotes to desparately fill up all the thoughts and feelings I cannot express....but in that, I find great delight. For, I feel as though I am having my quiet time not just with the Lord...but King David is there...and Rich Mullins is there...and today....today Frederick William Faber ( Lived: 1814-1863) is here. Here with me, saying that which I coulld not.

Here is a little of the goodness that I read today...I wanted to quote the whole thing, but I felt like you might not read it all and that would bother me ;-)


The thought of God, the thought of Thee,
Who liest in my heart,
And yet beyond imagined space
Outstretched and present art,-
The thought of Thee, above, below
Around me and within,
Is more to me than health and wealth
Or love of kith and kin.

The thought of God is like the tree
Beneath whose shade I lie,
And watch the fleets of snowy clouds
Sail o'er the silent sky...

It is a thought which ever makes
Life's sweetest smiles from tears,
And is a daybreak to our hopes,
A sunset to our fears;

One while it bids the tears to flow,
Then wipes them from the eyes,
Most often fills our souls with joy,
And always sanctifies.

Within a thought so a great, our souls
Little and modest grow,
And, by its vastness awed, we learn
The art of walking slow....

To think of Thee is almost prayer,
And is outspoken praise;
And pain can even passive thoughts
To actual worship raise.....

(Read the rest sometime ( on page 13-14)....)

no false advertisment

So, today, I told Brett that he didnt have to worry...I dont just put "pretty pictures" of myself on my blog...and I dont wear lots of makeup for the SOLE purpose of making sure that what you see...is what you get (isnt he lucky?) :

Soooo....here you go:

this is me. exactly as I am.



( or at least as I am when I'm trying to say the word "no" in the new zealand accent).

while I wait...

So, Thida is on the phone at the moment...and she talks sorta loud when she gets excited ;-) I dont think she'd mind me saying that! hahaha...
She sounds happy.

soooo... while I wait, here's a picture of us before the Imogen Heap concert. Thida is so disgustingly cute, dont you think? I mean, seriously...would you ever EVER say no to that smile?!


Yup, I didnt think so...

In other news, I am waaaay glad we have no plans tomorrow...my wisdom tooth hurts, and I am way worn out from all the fun we've had today.


I could really use a quiet time with God too...I feel like its been forever. When in reality its been about 48 hours. But, heck, that is kinda like forever when you look at it. *sigh* Sometimes the holidays have that "I'm too busy" thing connected to them that is so nasty.

Ok, I'm going to get out my ipod and turn my music up and hang out with God....

Holiday cheer...

Thanks to all the beautiful people who sent well wishes my way for my Birthday....because it was fabulous! :-)

First I have to say, shopping with Thida....always an experience. ;-) But she does know how to sniff out the bargains and so help you if you get in the way of saving a dime! hahaha!
But, by the time we were through spending a small fortune we had dinner and then had to head straight to the Imogen Heap concert...which was...woooooonderful.

We were a tad late, but came in on the opening act...which was this kid, Levi Weaver, who with the help of a loop machine was able to create quite the little one man music making machine...he's got some nice lyrics too...and while I was mildly impressed...my mind was TOTALLY blown with the NEXT act: Kid Beyond...this guy started off with your "basic" beat box routine ( which for those of you who dont know, he makes sounds like drums and the like with his mouth.) and i say "basic"...because i have NEVER heard anything so fantastic...then, using a loop-box he did the cover of Wondering Stars...and it was AMAZING.

So, yes...then there was Imogen...who, I am not afraid to admit I have a TOTAL girlcrush on....she is ADORABLE...and TALENTED....and it was a total high to see her perform.

Great birthday concert...

BUT NO...my Birthday celebration was NOT over yet...because....this morning, we woke up to find that the Houston Thanksgiving Day parade went RIGHT UNDER our window....in fact, we were stuck in Houston until it had gone by!! So Thida and I sat in a large ( rather comfy!) window seal eatting breakfast and watching a parade with the best view ever!

Yeah for a nice ending to our little birthday trip....

Now, we are home...and what I reeeeeally need is a shower so I can properly appreciate my thanksgiving foods ;-)


Thanks again for the love....you guys are great!!!

good enough to eat...

So, I got a great birthday present from Christa at Bible Study tonight....chocolate body wash. I smell good enough to eat right now, seriously....its amazing.

And speaking of Bible Study, I cant tell you how much I love those girls! Seriously, my heart just wells up with praise that I get to hang out with them every week....hearing their prayers and their hearts is truly the most beautiful gift. To be honest I find myself wanting the best for the SO BADLY that it hurts, and then I remember that God loves them that much more...and that HE wants the best for them even more than me....whew. Its hard to fathom!

I am posting tonight because tomorrow is going to be super busy at work...some how fitting a whole weeks worth of work into two days has very bad effects..meeeh.

I am also hoping for the best because I've been in a LOT of pain today, so much so that I almost passed out in Wal Mart, and poor Thida had to miss out on a true american shopping experience because of my lame pain and dizziness. double boo.
On that note, however, my doctor has scheduled me for surgery on the 11th of December....to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what they are going to do...but I trust it'll make me feel better? right?!
Anyway, to be honest my biggest desire right now is not necessarily worrying about something so "far off" as surgery, but instead, I would just like to have a nice pain free birthday ( ONE DAYYYYYY!) and maybe some nice pain free time with Thida so she doesnt have to spend all her time watching me lie on my couch. Yeah, that would be nice for everyone involved. ;-)

I have to interject here to say that I SERIOUSLY smell like something you should eat. Its kinda weird to be honest, but in a really yummy kinda of a way...but also distracting. hehehe.

write by numbers

you know...instead of paint by numbers. Get it? Clever, huh?

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

Anyway, last night I was discussing ( yet again, because its one of my favorite topics right now) how I really dont like the number 23. And I decided that it was because I think the number "3" is ugly. Which, Brett told me meant that I was a BAD PERSON because "three" is a very holy number...you know the trinity...three days and then Jesus rose from the grave etc. etc.

So, later on, and by later on I mean many many hours later I was WIDE AWAKE at 3am- and I realized that I didnt care. I didnt CARE if me hating the number 3 was not very Christian of me...I HATED IT.
So there.

And if you're wondering why i was awake at 3...and then again at 4...well, I can only say that I was experiencing jetlag with a particular kiwi...I think it just shows how sensitive and loving I am that I just HAD to wake up when she was awake.
;-)
Of course, when I had to get up at 7:30 this morning, well, I cant say that I was particularly happy with THOSE numbers either.

Alternatively, just as much as I hate the number three...I totally DIG the number two.
Because :

its only TWO DAYS till my Birthday
I only have to go to work TWO DAYS this week.

Sweet.

Its official.

I think I've become SOOO dedicated to blogging that living in my apartment for ONE DAY, breathing the same air, doing the same things...has MADE Thida decide to start a blog.

Satisfaction abounds. ;-)

Although, to be fair, I think she was planning on starting one before she arrived....

Thida's Blog

welcome, america...

So, Thida...she's here...and totally herself, which is great! Man, she can tell a story like NO OTHER ( seriously, she made the drive home from the airport veeeeery interesting).

And I've had SUCH a jam packed day!
Ending with a surprise birthday gathering for me at Sushi Ya. Seriously, I felt so loved! I've got the greatest friends ever.

More later...

You Are 35% Left Brained, 65% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

best laid plans and all that

So, Esther and i had a PLAN....and we were pumped. We were going to hit up Central Market and then go to the airport to pick up Thida...

However, an hour into our trip....phonecall from Thida practically PLEADING with me to let her take a later flight ( tomorrow) changed our plans and we ended up eating cajain food in Livingston ( of all places) and then going back from whence we came.

New plan:
Get up at 8:30 on Saturday morning.
Meet Esther ( she's a trooper!), Christa and Briana at Java Jacks
Try the orginial plan AGAIN.

maybe this time it'll stick...and I will ACTUALLY pick Thida up from the airport. hehehe...
Let's all hold our breath...and while I've got your attention...maybe pray that I feel better? a cold PLUS a appearance of the old pain has made me a less than happy camper.

What I am thankful for: Esther's company this evening. A cute restuarant in Livingston ( who knew?). At least we werent ALL THE WAY in Houston before Thida called.

This is it...

the day we've all been waiting for! Yet another clash of my worlds...New Zealand merges with Texas...ahhhh, its going to be glorious!
If you're not sure what I'm talking about- Thida is arriving this evening! Yay! I am excited. But, its also still kinda hard to believe she's coming...so yeah.

I havent yet heard back from my roadtrip buddies...so I'm not sure if I'm heading to Houston alone or not...but whatever happens it'll be good...because I'm picking up THIDA...YYAAAAAYYYY!!!

I've got a cold, but, my voice sounded remotely sexy ( aka. stopped up nose and throat)this morning...so I guess it is ALMOST worth it.

I'm off to have lunch with Papa and Anna now...

fingers point to me.

So, I worked for hours and hours on end...with my boss standing over me pretty much the whole time.
My lunch break was nice ( a thanksgiving dinner at the Newspaper) but I had to be friendly and make small talk nonetheless.
I got a sore throat half way through the day...so when I finally left work ( with an hour before I had to be BACK at work) I just went home to drink Airbourne Cocktails and take medicine. No fun.
I then went BACK to work, where I stood on my feet ( not on my hands, smarty pants) for an hour and a half, smiling and repeating the same thing over and over again to prospective scholarship recipients.
I then came home to people being short with me via email...

I also reeeeally wanted to clean the bathroom and vacumn the floors of my house tonight ( and NO I'm not just saying that so that one day you'll think I'll make some nice does-talk-back-house-wife. hahaha). I seriously, think my floors are dirty and my sink needs cleaning...and Thida comes TOMORROW! ( yay! I am seriously excited...though also annoyed that I still havent done everything on my list)
But, to be honest, every SINGLE bone in my body aches....and my throat hurts. And I am SUPER grumpy.

So, when the question is asked who the big whiny pants is?!

All fingers point to me.

tired but ...

So, I've worked SOOOO HARD today! Honestly, accounting makes my head hurt like nothing else on the planet. Numbers...meeeh.

Anyway, in other news, I was digging around in my purse ( and if you know me at all, you know how big my purses usually are) and I found my ring!!! FABULOUS!!! Its extremly loose on my finger, so I may take Brett's suggestion and tape the sucker on my finger with masking tape. yeah. That'll be really attractive.

Which brings me to the thought...can you LOOSE WEIGHT in your fingers?!
I think it must be the weather..but still, its AWFULLY loose.

~~
So, I'm working until 7:30 tonight...and I'm already exausted here at 4pm. Boo...maybe a little Java Jacks would make me feel better? What do you think?! Absolutely.

I'm so run down at the moment, pain, stress, work, plans...I feel bad, I've neglected a few choice people who dont deserve to be neglected.
Have patience, I'm sure I'll get myself sorted at some point.

Oh, and Brett isnt coming home for Thanksgiving. Boo. I suppose my plan of "not getting my hopes up about anything" has SORTA worked...because I didnt cry. I'm such a big girl. ;-)

ringless

So, remember last year when I lost the little ring that my grandmother gave me? And remember how my sweet sister gave me a replacement? Remember how happy I was?

Remember?!

Well, strangely, tonight I was doing my quiet time...and all of a sudden I looked down at my hand and it was gone...

I dont feel like crying so much this time, more just resigned...

I cant explain it, but it was just a comfort to have that ring there. *sigh*
Maybe I get to attached to things...maybe I get to attached to symbols and signs.
Its gone now

Ok, so one last good bye from better times...

events of the day...

the power went off at work due to the insane wind...it was barely 11:45.

I visited the parents of the man that just got the Distinguished Alumnus award-took by his award since he couldnt make it to the ceremony.

They were totally cute. Talked to them for two hours...soap operas, children, accents, cats....talkative, veeeeery talkative.
But, its why I love my job...

I've been in a lot of pain this week, but today has been the worst-bad enough to mention it on my blog. I've so very much loved not talking about it...but here it is....back.

But, if there was ever a day to spend in bed. Today.

Carry over from this morning...

That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph 3:17-10

I often wonder at how verses that you've heard hundreds...maybe thousands of times can take on new meaning in an instant.

days that fly...

So, this morning, I cried while reading the paper....I've gotten in the habit of reading the obituaries, because unfortunately, NHS Alumni die on a daily basis...but, normally I dont cry...
there is a typical pattern of writing obits...they usually start with sometime like, "Funeral services for Mr. John Brown, 78 will be help at 2 pm on thursday Nov. 2...."

But sometimes they are different...and today I read this:

The family and friends of Terri Lynn Byrd announce and celebrate her entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven on Monday, November 13, 2006. Having sojourned on earth for 45 years, Herri now resides in the presence of her Lord and Svior, Jesus Christ....

I am almost tempted to type out the whole thing...because its just that beautiful. But, I wont..because for one thing its brought tears to my eyes yet again....but there is a quote from Terri further down talking about her fight with cancer:

I simply realized that my days, like everyone's were already numbered. I'm making the most of them; and ultimately, I am healed because I have Eternal Life.

That, is beautifully said...and how true is this? Our days are numbered...we do live here only temporarily and to live for the Glory of God and the desire to see others find Life is truly all there is...

Yesterday afternoon I had a little chat with Carmi over the internet-we were discussing the Fight. It seems that casualties and set backs are surrounding us on every side, and I dont think Carmi will mind me saying this...but sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming to think of all those who need our prayers...all those who we don't see any push forward, any change...if anything they are falling farther away from the truth. How can this be? How can such things be said about our Lord and Savior?! It's a slap in the face....

Today I was reminded of His gift to us...its not just eternal life, its not just forgiveness of sin...its LOVE...its having the peace of knowing His love. Sometimes our faith faulters, sometimes the love is harder to grasp but its ALWAYS there.
Reading about the Life of this women today, knowing that her friends and family really were rejoicing in sorrow. It was beautiful and it was testimony of Truth. That kind of peace cannot be created from anything other than true Faith.

So, it is for that faith...that love....that hope....that peace that I pray for all those who are struggling today. He would leave the 99 and go after the one...today I will pray for all the ones in my life. Because, as much as I love them...He loves them all the more.

Remiss...

First off, I some how MISSED David and Brendan's birthday on Sunday...I hate missing people's birthdays :-(
So, sorry, boys....I have a special place in my heart for both of you, your generous hearts and desire for Truth have continually opened my eyes to different ways of seeing this life, I'm SO GLAD you are my friends! I hope you had a goooooooood birthday.

Second of all, yesterday, someone made a comment to me that implied that I do not like my job. Now, this person was pretty repentent about implying such a thing ( probably because I was all indignent) -but it got me thinking....does it SEEM like I dont like my job because I will often discuss how it stresses me out?

Because, strangely enough, just because I'm stressed and just because I feel like I'm out of my league a lot of the time ( I'll tell you when we can talk about my website...) this does not mean that I dont like my job.
Weird but true.

But, I figure that since this was brought up, and sometimes even *i* need to be reminded... I've decided to list the things I really LIKE about my job:

1. I like going to work at 9am every single day....there is nothing like a schedule that's always the same to make me a little bit happier. Come to think of it, leaving at THREE is pretty cool too. ;-)
2. I really enjoy getting "history lessons" from alumni that call up in a nostalgic frame of mind.
3. I like writing about people in the Daily Sentinel which can really make someones day.
4. Come to think of it, I really DO have the opportunity to make people's day just about every day-by just listening and paying attention.
5. I am blogging right now. Do I need to say more?
6. I have learned ( AM LEARNING) how to do some accounting...and web design....this is totally out of my comfort zone. But that's good...
7. A lot of my job is correspondence, newsletters, news articles, and all sorts of other written words. And yes, the written word is one of four things that I am truly confident in my abilities.
8. I get a PAID SUMMER HOLIDAY, a PAID CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, a PAID THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY annnnnnd PAID SPRING BREAK. This rocks.
9. Sometimes its nice having a HUGE office all to myself...sometimes.
10. I can listen to any music I want.

FOUND

So, I found them ( the list of things I want to do before I die, that I talked about in my previous post)....And its SO WEIRD to go back and read these kinda things again....

I am kinda amazed how somethings have changed about my perception of life...and some things havent. I will let YOU try to figure out which are which. ;-)

Eh..

I gotta say, I just got Blogger Beta ( because I can't say no)...and its official, I dont particularly like change.
Oh well, I think the tags at the bottom will be cool...other than that, my thoughts are "eh"

Soooo, hey, its Monday! And this is my laaaaast week of being totally alone without any friends visiting for MONTHS on end ( I have a few days here in there between visitors but its hardly worth mentioning). It kind of hit me last night, so I thought...wow, maybe I should, you know, DO SOMETHING that I wont get to do while I've got visitors....
*pause*

I watched Grey's Anatomy in bed. And yes, it could be argued that I could definitely watch Greys with a visitor but...ummmm...yeah. I couldnt think of anything particularly that I needed to get out of my system. So I just went about my normal life. ;-)

In other news, this week is going to be crazy busy at work. College Night on Thursday night...various other necessities...such as I absolutely MUST get my work website up and going...or I'm pretty sure I'll be fired ( that's what I'm telling myself anyway).

Incidently, did you notice that we are into the official COUNT DOWN towards my birthday?! Its kinda weird, because I have so many really good things happening around my birthday that its sorta been overshadowed this year...eh. No biggie. I think it just proves how OLD I am getting! And speaking of, I had one of those typical "its-really-late-and-I-cant-sleep-so-I-will-freak-out-about-something-for-no-reason" moments this weekend. I mean, come ON!!! TWENTY-THREE!!!!
I've graduated from university...TWO YEARS AGO!!!! That's just SHOCKING. I've practically been out in the real world almost as long as I was in New Zealand... ( not quite...but over half). Shoudnt something really really exciting happen really really soon?!
Shouldnt I start checking things off of my Life ToDo list?!
I cant learn to surf...or go sky diving...or visit the pyramids any time soon...so I guess I'll have to be patient. But, I just feel like I should have done MORE in those 23 years. ( which by the way...does anyone remember me posting a list of the things I wanted to do before I die?! Because I'd like to find that...just to see how I'm doing...does anyone remember the context that I wrote that on my blog-because I dont remember when it was...)

I'm also a little bit...ummm....shocked ( not really) at how YOUNG I still feel most of the time. I mean, I freak out about things like my haircut more than I do about....taxes. But then again, if that's the gague of "maturity" than its highly possible that I will never really grow up.

So, the thing I seem to consistently learn with each passing year...is that every age gets YOUNGER. That I, in truth, will always care more about shoes...than I do about....ummm....something else. And that ultimately, ( unless I have one of those loosing battles against hormones that inevitibly happen) I am pretty darn happy about where things are here at the dawn of twenty three.

So super.

I'm going to do work now.

quickly.

I've lost the remote to my DVD player....its driving me crazy. I've looked everywhere! My apartment is too big!

I caught a cold last night when I left my windows open...and the crazy Texas weather dropped like twenty degrees in one night.

I figure its a good sign when you can talk to someone about something as mundane as vacumn cleaners...and you think, wow, I love talking to them!

God answered prayers today...

Gilmore Girls Season Two equals classic Gilmore goodness....back when they were clever, things were simple and Rory was still in high school and was still innocent.

the 60s

So, I was getting my hair "trimmed" and it seemed to be going well...and then my cell phone rang...and swear, I was only on the phone for a few seconds and when I got off my hair looked like I'd just stepped out of the late 60s...maybe early seventies ( since anna said I looked like the girl from "That 70s Show") ....anyway, I want your honest opinion.....my hair is still kinda wet in the picture, but do you think I should start wearing bellbottoms?!



I mean, COME ON...are these FEATHERED!?!




I'm not particularly happy about my hair...I dont feel pretty at ALL. :-(
I'm sure I'll get over it.

On the bright side: I just bought Seasons 1 & 2 of the Gilmore Girls for $14.95 a piece...TWO BOX SETS for less than 30 dollars!!!! AND it was the two seasons I was missing...woo WOOOOOOOOOOO!

Vets day

I find it sad that the High School doesnt celebrate Veterans Day...which is tomorrow?

I mean, I feel like we really SHOULD.

But, at the same time, I'm getting waaaay excited about Thanksgiving Holidays...annnnnnd guess what happens in ONE WEEK!?! !


THIDA ARRIVES!!!

But, I've still got tons to do before she arrives...all these things that I thought, "you should so do that before Thida arrives-but that's for a long time now."

TIME FLIES!! First things, first, getting my hair trimmed (today! I called for an appointment and they put me on for TODAY!) so I can look hot for Thida...because, you know, that's a priority. And then I've got to clean out one of my many many closets so she can have her very own space...and maybe some bathroom countertop space too ( I'm such a good friend)....and I've got to get her a BED to sleep on!
:-) OH! And a key to my apartment...that's important. Is it too early in our relationship for her to get a key to my place?! nooooo....we've been friends for 4 years-I think that's taking it pretty slow.
Alright, I best get back to work, my todo list is insane today...

what to do...

So, we ALL know how much I LOATHE walmart...but necessity took me there today....and while i waited for an unhumanly long time for my perscription to be filled....I bought a watch ( that I didnt need, by the way) for $4.95.

But for that cheap....I feel like it was worth it. Now, the cupcake that I also bought for no good reason....wellll....its debateable whether or not I really needed the cupcake.

that's what friends are for.

I have this friend who is a Gift from God. She does this thing...and its what I named today "the smackdown peptalk"

Which basically means, I tell her the situation that I'm struggling with and she gives me the Smackdown sandwiches which when broken down into its parts equals,
"I love you...SMACK DOWN....I love you..."

Which is fantastic. Because, you're in this safe "I know they still love me" enviroment while they tell you the absolute truth, which is "you need to take this to God and SORT YOURSELF OUT."

So off I go to sort myself out...

breaking news:

Abigail has had a major freakout about her work website. She is quoted to have thought to herself, "I have NO IDEA what I'm doing. Someone shoot me." But, then went to major escapism mode checking her email about fourteen times in a row ( by hitting refresh). She then realized that no, she wasnt going to get any emails to distract her and so she was once again stuck with that sinking feeling of not knowing what she was doing, and not yet being able to calmdown enough to read a trillion billion help manuals. She felt sure that it was the paying of the $119.40 that really threw her over the edge, realizing that no, infact, she could not back out of this now.
In a striking turn of events she got a distracting cellphone call that kept her from throwing up, and gave her a slightly more positive disposition that she hopes will last longer than it takes for her to write this sentence.

If there was ever EVER a time for prayer to be involved in work-this would be a good example of it.
MEEEEEH.

me.me.me.you.me.me.me.me.

I'd say that 90% of the time I am totally selfish. This week I heard one of THE most simple statements ever,
"Instead of praying that God will make everyone else into a better person, start praying that God will help you to love them more."

Duh.
Anyway, it seems that ever since I heard that I've been in some little spirl where I'm TOTALLY self absorbed and then its like I get hit in the head and I realize just how ME focused I really am... "Who knows what great battle they might be facing." My father said that to me years ago and I am continually reminded of its Truth.

In conclusion, I'm learning more and more ( and MORE) what a work in progress I am, how fallen and deepdownugly I really really am...BUT, at the same time its a GLORIOUSLY wonderful thing that THIS is true:

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.~Phil 1:6

THAT is what I'm thankful for today!

Sad

My heart hurts tonight...

myfavoritethings...

So, I'm constantly going through phases...where my favorite things change around...isnt it everysolucky that I have a blog so that we can keep track of my favorite things?!

Back up the story, let me explain...not to long ago, I had the task of putting together 500 newsletters at my job...mindNUMBING work let me tell you, so to pass the time I looked up sermons online...and listened to them on my computer while I worked.

Well....the newsletter is now probably in peoples recycle bins ( I'm allll about recycling now), but I kind of enjoyed listening to sermons that I started wanting to do it at home....ANNNNND it just so happened to be cooler outside, which made me want to knit....sooooo....sitting and knitting...and listening to sermons....coooooool times at the Abigail Home.

And incidently, when I went on my hunt for sermons online, I wanted to make sure I got "quality" since I really didnt have the time to shopping around-so I went by the word of my good friend Paul and visited Matt Chandler ....who Paul has come to quote so very much that he just calls him "my good friend Matt" now....and I gotta say I'm hooked too ( even though his voice takes a bit getting use to! hehe)

So, now you know....I just started the series on Hebrews...so I should be rocking out knitted sweaters before you know it ;-)