Fall is here. Cool weather has arrived. Down blankets are on the bed. Socks are a staple.
The leaves are changing, the sky is lovely today.
And I feel awful! Bah!
Cold and Flu season hit early this year, and I got myself a cold! A grade-a one. It's not joking around. Fever on friday, and I've been exhausted ever since. I'm stuffed up, so I have a consistent headache. And it drains down my throat making it swollen and raw... and my stomach nauseous. And today it's decided to settle in my chest. Lovely, I know. I'm such an open book.
I'm going home today determined to enjoy how pretty it is, darn my cold! I'm putting on my hoodie and my sneakers and taking a short walk and looking at the trees!
I've got to get better by this weekend... it's the annual fair trip! :) Hello roasted corn and apple cider!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
When the husband's away...
Daniel is at the Catalyst conference in Atlanta for the next couple of days. I always miss him so much when he's gone. I stood in the parking lot at church yesterday when he left and cried. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy quiet time and I enjoy alone time... but still, overnight is just too much.
I missed waking up this morning to his shower running. And even though I'm grumpy in the mornings and rarely talk, I missed him talking to me. I didn't get a hug goodbye this morning. But I really missed him when I was trying to fall asleep last night.
I have a hard time sleeping alone. Tiff is in her room, which makes it better, but still. So I thought for sure that it would help to have Maddie (our dog) sleep on the bed with me. It's a special treat for her, because she rarely gets to get on the bed. She curled right up on the side where Daniel sleeps and laid right down. It was so sweet! There was about an inch seperating us, it was great, so I drifted to sleep. Then woke up a few hours later, as she was plastered to my side. She was nice and warm, but I was literally only a couple of inches from the edge of the bed.
We have a king sized bed. There was plenty of room to sprawl, but we were both on the part of the bed smaller than a twin. I think we're going to have to start in the middle of the bed tonight... Other than that, she was a great sleeping partner, not annoying at all.
But then a few hours after waking up from my near fall from the bed, the cat was outside the bedroom door scratching at the carpet and meowing. So, I got up and let her in.
She is not a good sleeping partner. She kept trying to get me to pet her, walking over my pillows and trying to lay down on the two inches of bed between me and the edge... at 3am.
So when my alarm finally went off this morning, I didn't feel well rested.
Daniel, please come home.
I missed waking up this morning to his shower running. And even though I'm grumpy in the mornings and rarely talk, I missed him talking to me. I didn't get a hug goodbye this morning. But I really missed him when I was trying to fall asleep last night.
I have a hard time sleeping alone. Tiff is in her room, which makes it better, but still. So I thought for sure that it would help to have Maddie (our dog) sleep on the bed with me. It's a special treat for her, because she rarely gets to get on the bed. She curled right up on the side where Daniel sleeps and laid right down. It was so sweet! There was about an inch seperating us, it was great, so I drifted to sleep. Then woke up a few hours later, as she was plastered to my side. She was nice and warm, but I was literally only a couple of inches from the edge of the bed.
We have a king sized bed. There was plenty of room to sprawl, but we were both on the part of the bed smaller than a twin. I think we're going to have to start in the middle of the bed tonight... Other than that, she was a great sleeping partner, not annoying at all.
But then a few hours after waking up from my near fall from the bed, the cat was outside the bedroom door scratching at the carpet and meowing. So, I got up and let her in.
She is not a good sleeping partner. She kept trying to get me to pet her, walking over my pillows and trying to lay down on the two inches of bed between me and the edge... at 3am.
So when my alarm finally went off this morning, I didn't feel well rested.
Daniel, please come home.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Embarrasing story #2
Timeline: Autumn 2007 Ad
Location: State Fair, Raleigh, NC
Occasion: Every year my family gets together to go to the state fair, just because it's fun.
I think I've stated before how very much I love the fair. I have a ton of great memories from yearly visits there, and most include food. :)
As far as other activities go, I don't really do the whole 'ride' thing but I do love walking around and looking at the livestock, the biggest vegetables, the prize winning photographs and cakes. I just love all the local wares celebrated at the fair!
The attractions that you must pay for that tempt me are the animals. You know, the worlds largest aligator, the worlds smallest pony, stuff like that. Well, one year we saw some friends there who have a couple of children I adore and one of them mentioned the "huge bear!"
So, I asked "Where?" and he pointed over toward the lake where they hold logging competitions.
I asked, "How much does it cost?"
He said, "Nothing."
Then the boys mother said, "It's in the wooded area behind the lake. It's like a 26 foot bear."
I then demanded that we see this bear before we left. We went around a few other places, because we have a kind of routine going on then decided it was time to see the logging expo. They have hot apple cider over there, so of course we headed there and then I said, "Lets go see that bear!"
We walked back to the woods and there was a huge bear. Not at all what I was expecting.
It was an enormous Smoky the Bear and not a live one at all! I thought I was going to see the world's biggest bear, so I said "I thought it was a real bear!"
My ever compassionate little sister replies, "A real 26 foot bear?! I thought you graduated Magna Cum Laude?!"
My retort, "Not in bear identification!"
That's me, a regular Grizzly Adams.
Location: State Fair, Raleigh, NC
Occasion: Every year my family gets together to go to the state fair, just because it's fun.
I think I've stated before how very much I love the fair. I have a ton of great memories from yearly visits there, and most include food. :)
As far as other activities go, I don't really do the whole 'ride' thing but I do love walking around and looking at the livestock, the biggest vegetables, the prize winning photographs and cakes. I just love all the local wares celebrated at the fair!
The attractions that you must pay for that tempt me are the animals. You know, the worlds largest aligator, the worlds smallest pony, stuff like that. Well, one year we saw some friends there who have a couple of children I adore and one of them mentioned the "huge bear!"
So, I asked "Where?" and he pointed over toward the lake where they hold logging competitions.
I asked, "How much does it cost?"
He said, "Nothing."
Then the boys mother said, "It's in the wooded area behind the lake. It's like a 26 foot bear."
I then demanded that we see this bear before we left. We went around a few other places, because we have a kind of routine going on then decided it was time to see the logging expo. They have hot apple cider over there, so of course we headed there and then I said, "Lets go see that bear!"
We walked back to the woods and there was a huge bear. Not at all what I was expecting.
It was an enormous Smoky the Bear and not a live one at all! I thought I was going to see the world's biggest bear, so I said "I thought it was a real bear!"
My ever compassionate little sister replies, "A real 26 foot bear?! I thought you graduated Magna Cum Laude?!"
My retort, "Not in bear identification!"
That's me, a regular Grizzly Adams.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Embarrassing story
For some reason, I've been thinking today about a couple of incidents for which I have been ruthlessly mocked in my time. Both of which make me laugh hysterically now, so I thought I'd share one.
Timeline: circa 1999 AD
Location: Clayton NC
Occasion: camping trip with small youth group to Carowinds
A group of about 10-15 were gathered, packing up a 15 passenger van with tents, sleeping bags, coleman stove, etc. We kids were giddy with the anticipation of spending a whole weekend with our friends. You could feel the tension of crushes in the air, the smell of packed doritoes for the drive. It was a promising time.
The adults were focused on ensuring that we had brought everything needed for the trip, checking lists like Santa. Dinner that evening was to be spaghetti, always an inexpensive dinner and lets face it, tough to screw up. Large pot: check, strainer: check, spaghetti noodles: check, parmesan cheese: check, Ragu: check, plates and untensils: check!
We circled to pray for a fun time and safe travels. All of us joined hands, which as you know is the holiest way to pray, and as we were about to bow our heads the youth leader chimed, "Did we pack the steaks?" My reply, "I thought we were having spaghetti."
Deafening silence.
Hysterical laughter.
Reddening face.
Someone finally says, "He meant the tent stakes."
Evidently to kill my pride with.
Timeline: circa 1999 AD
Location: Clayton NC
Occasion: camping trip with small youth group to Carowinds
A group of about 10-15 were gathered, packing up a 15 passenger van with tents, sleeping bags, coleman stove, etc. We kids were giddy with the anticipation of spending a whole weekend with our friends. You could feel the tension of crushes in the air, the smell of packed doritoes for the drive. It was a promising time.
The adults were focused on ensuring that we had brought everything needed for the trip, checking lists like Santa. Dinner that evening was to be spaghetti, always an inexpensive dinner and lets face it, tough to screw up. Large pot: check, strainer: check, spaghetti noodles: check, parmesan cheese: check, Ragu: check, plates and untensils: check!
We circled to pray for a fun time and safe travels. All of us joined hands, which as you know is the holiest way to pray, and as we were about to bow our heads the youth leader chimed, "Did we pack the steaks?" My reply, "I thought we were having spaghetti."
Deafening silence.
Hysterical laughter.
Reddening face.
Someone finally says, "He meant the tent stakes."
Evidently to kill my pride with.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
I may have it figured out
I am not a morning person.
Really. I'm not. It's bad.
Every morning my wonderful husband gets up, gets in the shower, wakes me up and we go downstairs and have coffee. I wish I was bright eyed and bushy tailed and made him breakfast and chatted with him about interesting things. But I don't. I can barely string a sentence together and I'm unusually ungaurded about my words... so that can be interesting.
When he leaves, I walk him to the door, give him a hug, wave goodbye and shut and lock the door behind me. I go back to the couch and finish my coffee. Then it varies what I do. Sometimes I do some chores, sometimes I read a bit, sometimes I just watch the news.
But that's my time. And I think that's a major reason why I look at the clock and get tears in my eyes knowing that I have to get dressed for work. I am very rarely alone, not that that is a bad thing, it's not. I've chosen to be very involved, and I love it.
But sometimes I like being alone. I get things done much quicker because I don't get distracted. I don't have to share the remote, I don't have to get out of my pajamas if I don't want to, I can eat cookies for lunch. I can dance and sing. I can do whatever, because that's my time. It's the only time I've got.
And I'm really recharged by being alone. I can journal, I can pray, I can reflect. It's hard to do that when you're always busy. And I need to make it a point to be alone for a while... maybe an extended alone period... like a whole day! I really think it would make me appreciate being busy again.
Any tips for carving out alone time?
Really. I'm not. It's bad.
Every morning my wonderful husband gets up, gets in the shower, wakes me up and we go downstairs and have coffee. I wish I was bright eyed and bushy tailed and made him breakfast and chatted with him about interesting things. But I don't. I can barely string a sentence together and I'm unusually ungaurded about my words... so that can be interesting.
When he leaves, I walk him to the door, give him a hug, wave goodbye and shut and lock the door behind me. I go back to the couch and finish my coffee. Then it varies what I do. Sometimes I do some chores, sometimes I read a bit, sometimes I just watch the news.
But that's my time. And I think that's a major reason why I look at the clock and get tears in my eyes knowing that I have to get dressed for work. I am very rarely alone, not that that is a bad thing, it's not. I've chosen to be very involved, and I love it.
But sometimes I like being alone. I get things done much quicker because I don't get distracted. I don't have to share the remote, I don't have to get out of my pajamas if I don't want to, I can eat cookies for lunch. I can dance and sing. I can do whatever, because that's my time. It's the only time I've got.
And I'm really recharged by being alone. I can journal, I can pray, I can reflect. It's hard to do that when you're always busy. And I need to make it a point to be alone for a while... maybe an extended alone period... like a whole day! I really think it would make me appreciate being busy again.
Any tips for carving out alone time?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Honesty
My church home, Seacoast, is currently studying the book of Acts. We just began two weeks ago with the study, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the early church. Most specifically about how God used these ordinary people who were committed to Jesus' commands and the Lord's plan for the church.
In small group this week, we were sharing about how masks that Christians wear affect true community. The community described in the first two chapters of Acts. The games that people play, and by people I mean me too, trying to appear better than we are have always fascinated me. I try to be authentic with people, even sometimes dodging the "How are you?" that is polite to ask here in the south following a greeting.
This mask talk has made me think. My favorite websites to visit are fmylife.com and postsecret.blogspot.com. Why? People are honest. Sometimes too much so... ha! It doesn't create true community, because it's anonymous, but people say things that they hide deep dark inside. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to write to them.
Even saying things like, "I'm angry" or "I'm so discouraged, I feel like giving up on life." Why are we hesitant to share these things? Aren't we called to live in community with other believers? Doesn't this include the good and the bad parts of our lives? Are we commanded to just live a polite, glossed-over, smothered existence? I don't think we are.
There are some people in my life that I am comfortable being who I am, struggling with what I struggle with and being honest. Why is it that those relationships are few?
So, what are we afraid of? What are we trying to keep hidden that needs to be brought to light and committed to the Lord?
In small group this week, we were sharing about how masks that Christians wear affect true community. The community described in the first two chapters of Acts. The games that people play, and by people I mean me too, trying to appear better than we are have always fascinated me. I try to be authentic with people, even sometimes dodging the "How are you?" that is polite to ask here in the south following a greeting.
This mask talk has made me think. My favorite websites to visit are fmylife.com and postsecret.blogspot.com. Why? People are honest. Sometimes too much so... ha! It doesn't create true community, because it's anonymous, but people say things that they hide deep dark inside. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to write to them.
Even saying things like, "I'm angry" or "I'm so discouraged, I feel like giving up on life." Why are we hesitant to share these things? Aren't we called to live in community with other believers? Doesn't this include the good and the bad parts of our lives? Are we commanded to just live a polite, glossed-over, smothered existence? I don't think we are.
There are some people in my life that I am comfortable being who I am, struggling with what I struggle with and being honest. Why is it that those relationships are few?
So, what are we afraid of? What are we trying to keep hidden that needs to be brought to light and committed to the Lord?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Eccentric Poetry #3
A thousand papers
pain me with
a thousand paper cuts
A thousand papers
maim me with
this thousand paper weight
They pull me in
a thousand directions
my limbs feel detached
How am I to finish anything
when there are
a thousand other papers
Vying for my attention.
pain me with
a thousand paper cuts
A thousand papers
maim me with
this thousand paper weight
They pull me in
a thousand directions
my limbs feel detached
How am I to finish anything
when there are
a thousand other papers
Vying for my attention.
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