Good Week, Bad Week

Oh Holy Blog Catch Up.

This is only a short breath that I am taking until the next wave of activity starts. I have been wanting to blog for sooooooooooooo long (I'm sure you've been holding your breath), but I haven't had TWO SECONDS!!!

So this week has been kind of shit. I'm sorry to cuss on here, but I'm just being honest. So busy, no time, running around, things not going the way I want them too, blah blah blah. T G I F, for real.

But then...a respite. I go to take my car to the dealership to get new brake pads and roters (I don't even know what those are, so I'm certainly not going to worry about how to spell it) on Monday. The guy at the dealership tells me, "Everyone's at lunch right now. Go grab a bite to eat and come back in 30 minutes." Well, I had already eaten lunch, so I decide to venture over to the GAP outlet. This is rough, let me tell you. I was reeeeeeaaally suffering here. So I go to the GAP, and they just happen to have a ton of sweaters and dresses for $15 each. SCORE! I have totally been needing some sweaters for work. Three sweaters, in the bag...back to the dealership.

So since I've had a shit week (sorry), I have to find music to listen to in the car on the way to work that gets me out of my funk. I don't know why, but Coldplay has been on my brain, so Viva la Vida it is. This CD is pure magic. If I could put it in a pipe and smoke it, I would. Not only is it brilliant music, it reminds me of last Spring when Ben and I went to Pennsylvania for our friends' wedding, and we just happened upon a Coldplay concert at Hershey Park. One of the BEST concerts I've ever been to. It was so fun to be spontaneous, and it was such a small venue that we were really in the thick of the action. So amazing....one of those memories that just lights your fire for a whole day.

(Not that this is an excuse, but Chris Martin said he was having a shit day at the Coldplay concert, too. It sounds so much cooler with a British accent...)

There was a third thing here. Wait for it....wait for it.....it's gone. That's what happens when you have a blog idea four days before you can actually blog about it.

It's late, and I need to do a Sudoku before bed. Have a great weekend, everybody.

HOLLA -

Kites...and other things

This weekend, Ben and I went to the Kansas City Kite Club's festival (I guess it was a festival!) at Longview Community College here in Lee's Summit. I'm so thankful for my adventuresome, fun-loving husband who, when I get home, tells me that we just HAVE to go this kite festival...he was right.





These pictures don't really do the event justice - at one point, I looked up and counted 80 kites in the sky. 80!!! We layed out our blanket on a small hill and looked up with joy and laughter, giving thanks for the simplicity of life (and wishing we had our own kite to participate in the fun). We'll know for next time!


In other news, my spiritual life is going through quite the transformation. (Aren't they always?) Thanks to my membership to the Mid-Continent Public Library, God has spoken to me through books that I consider life-changing. Really, you could say life-breaking, life-altering, life-renewing, etc. Opening the eyes of my heart is an understatement, as I seek to become more Christ-like on my journey here.

Today, it was Chuck Swindoll and The Mystery of God's Will that spoke to me with the blaring of a thousand trumpets. I don't know if that book would resonate the same way with you, but I'm mentioning it anyway, just in case.

Here's to change, and to the uncomfortable, awkward, unsettling, unnatural, and ultimately holy way that God molds us and shapes us into who He wants us to be.

HOLLA -

FASHION SWAP!

This weekend, I got to participate in my church's annual Women's Fashion Swap. It's my second year going, and I just think it's the coolest deal in the world.

Here's how it works - I go through my closet and find (up to) 25 things that are still nice, but I don't wear anymore. I make sure they're clean, pressed, fairly new (so that someone else might actually want them), and hung neatly on hangers, and then take them up to church on a Friday night. This year I found 15 things in my closet to "swap", so I got a card at church that has the number 15 marked on it so I remember how many items I can get.

On Saturday morning, I go back, and shop for my 15 items! This year, I found only nine things that I wanted to come home with, but what good finds they were!

I got two new dresses, a few tops, a cute pair of pants, a skirt, a beautiful J.Crew sweater, and a pair of brown sandals that I forgot to put in this picture! A few of the items even had tags on them - never been worn!

And how much did this shopping spree cost me? NOTHING! What a joy to share in a fun fellowship that brings women together. It's fun to be a part of a house of worship that celebrates fun and sharing as well as worshipping!!

HOLLA!

Good Friday

Good Friday today. Jesus died. For US. It's fitting that it's rainy, gloomy, and windy today. It is not supposed to be a celebration...yet. Tonight, I will be singing at the Good Friday service at my church. It, too, will be dark, gloomy, melancholy. It is so important to realize what this day means to ALL of us, and what REAL, TRUE love is.

In case you are wondering what all of this Jesus stuff is about, I invite you to take a look at two books that recently shed new light into the life of my Savior.

Max Lucado is a wonderful author who speaks so eloquently about who Jesus is. Check them out (literally)!

Holy Holla -

Fried Worms

Today, because it was such a beautiful (finally) SPRING day, I went for a walk. About every 10 or 15 steps, I noticed a worm, either dead and gone or heading that way. These poor worms...who are they kidding? They'll probably NEVER make it to the other side.

Sometimes, when I see a juicy, slimy, writhing one, I'll stop to see if there's any hope left. Is he frying already? Is there any chance? I may pick him up and toss him over in the grass, doing my best to preserve his life. He (or she) is probably thinking, "Great, lady! You just tossed me back to where I was! Now I have to start all over!!!!"

I found one close to my house, and decided to give it a whirl to the other side of the grass, way down deep close to the dirt.

I hope he (or she) makes it.

HOLLA!

Looking Back...

When we're in the thick of something, it is really easy to get discouraged.

"I have all of these bills to pay...what am I going to do?"
"I am going through a difficult situation. Will I ever get out of it?"
"I am struggling with a friend (or coworker or relative). When will this be over?"

Today, I went out for errands. I wore flip flops and shorts, and rolled my window half-way down to blare my music. Spring is coming. Winter is almost over. In the middle of winter, I think about how much I hate it, and how miserable it is. Then, when Spring comes, I look back and think, "Gee, that wasn't so bad."

If only we could look at all of our "winters" that way. Someday, we will look back and say, "I made it through that. I'm still standing. I guess it wasn't so bad after all."

SPRING IS COMING!!!!

HOLLA -

DO Something

I think we all know what a trap "free time" and "relaxation" are. They are only good for a short time, then the guilt, melodrama, and selfishness sneak in. I imagine "free" days laying on the couch, watching my favorite movies, taking a nap, etc. etc. Even though these are some of my FAVORITE things, they bring no more joy than getting up, being active, and accomplishing something does.

I personally feel that giving oneself (All one word? Two? I'm stumped...) the opportunity to sit and laze is dangerous. If you personally have trouble with this, consider the list. Almost every Sunday night, I write out my "to-do's" for the next day (since Monday is my day to get stuff done), so that in the morning, I am focused and ready to go. Without the list, I will waiver and wait, coming up with activities that suck up my time...and my brain function.

So, the point: Get up. Get moving. Get something DONE. You'll feel SO much better for having done so.

HOLLA -

p.s. Spring is COMING! Can you feel it???

p.p.s. - Please pray for my sister!!