Sunday, March 19, 2017
Since I'm here, I may as well capture this gem...
"Mommy, I can't be quiet. I only have loud things in my mouth right now." - Titus, 3.5 yrs, probably after being told to be quiet in order to not wake the sleeping baby.
"I'm not lost; I'm with you guys!"
I think this is the first time I've posted since the birth of my second son. Wow! Where did all my "free" time go?!
Anyway, my eldest is three now (closer to four, actually). He has an uncanny sense of direction. Even when he was only 18-24 months old, if we went on a walk in our neighborhood, he would be perfectly happy knowing we were walking AWAY from our house. The moment we'd make a turn back toward home, he would throw the biggest fit. I would dread walks just because I didn't want to fight my son the second half of the trip!
His sense of direction has continued to grow. He knows any time we pass "Mommy's work" and "Daddy's Work." If I head south from day care, he asks "Are we going to the bank?" He knows which way is church, the grocery store, and on.
So, it was entertaining one day recently when we were in a different area of town. He looked at a random building we were passing and said "Daddy's work!" John and I were somewhat surprised and both said, "Are you lost?!" Titus made a quick reply, "I'm not lost. I'm with you guys!"
Though it was very funny, I love the deeper truth it communicates - we're never lost when we're together.
We sang a song in church this morning with which I'm unfamiliar. But it had a phrase in it that reminded me of this story. "How can I be Lost when You have called me Found?" It's easy to feel a bit lost sometimes in life - unfocused, directionless, lonely. But, all we need is to be reminded that we have been found in Christ! He provides our focus. He provides our direction. He places the lonely in families.
What a precious, precious gift it is to be found in Christ!
Anyway, my eldest is three now (closer to four, actually). He has an uncanny sense of direction. Even when he was only 18-24 months old, if we went on a walk in our neighborhood, he would be perfectly happy knowing we were walking AWAY from our house. The moment we'd make a turn back toward home, he would throw the biggest fit. I would dread walks just because I didn't want to fight my son the second half of the trip!
His sense of direction has continued to grow. He knows any time we pass "Mommy's work" and "Daddy's Work." If I head south from day care, he asks "Are we going to the bank?" He knows which way is church, the grocery store, and on.
So, it was entertaining one day recently when we were in a different area of town. He looked at a random building we were passing and said "Daddy's work!" John and I were somewhat surprised and both said, "Are you lost?!" Titus made a quick reply, "I'm not lost. I'm with you guys!"
Though it was very funny, I love the deeper truth it communicates - we're never lost when we're together.
We sang a song in church this morning with which I'm unfamiliar. But it had a phrase in it that reminded me of this story. "How can I be Lost when You have called me Found?" It's easy to feel a bit lost sometimes in life - unfocused, directionless, lonely. But, all we need is to be reminded that we have been found in Christ! He provides our focus. He provides our direction. He places the lonely in families.
What a precious, precious gift it is to be found in Christ!
Monday, April 06, 2015
Safeguarding Assets
John is often the one who makes the ATM withdrawal for our spending cash (AKA food budget). This morning, he asked me if I needed cash. I told him I'd be fine today but could use some tomorrow. This was all while I was getting Titus dressed for day care. He must have decided I needed the cash right then, so he trucked some down the front of my shirt into my bra.
Well, you guessed it! I had back-to-back meetings at work this morning. It was at the beginning of my THIRD meeting when a PARTNER (forunately female) told me I had cash protruding out of my shirt! HA! Needless to say, I was a bit embarrassed, but I don't think I've laughed (or cried) that hard in a long time!
It still makes me laugh when I think about it tonight! How embarrassing (though not my MOST embarrassing moment)! John thought it was pretty hilarious, too, and was happy to have contributed to my embarrassment.
Well, you guessed it! I had back-to-back meetings at work this morning. It was at the beginning of my THIRD meeting when a PARTNER (forunately female) told me I had cash protruding out of my shirt! HA! Needless to say, I was a bit embarrassed, but I don't think I've laughed (or cried) that hard in a long time!
It still makes me laugh when I think about it tonight! How embarrassing (though not my MOST embarrassing moment)! John thought it was pretty hilarious, too, and was happy to have contributed to my embarrassment.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Instant-Gratification Cleaning
I'd like to think I and one of my former roommates, Becky, coined this term. It refers to the kind of cleaning that gives one a deep sense of satisfaction. It provides an immediate and noticable improvement. I'm not sure why I love this kind of cleaning, other than there's an immediate payoff on my labor. (One caveat: bathrooms. I'd rather they be as clean as possible before I start cleaning. I realize that's unrealistic. Why else would I be cleaning? So what I mean is that I don't get any great sense of satisfaction in cleaning a nasty bathroom. Yuck!)
Anyway, my project for this weekend was definitely instant-gratification. My husband rented a high pressure washer from Home Depot so we could give our back deck a much-needed washing. It was LONG overdue. (So long that I kind of regret posting this picture for fear you think I live in filth.)
This project also reminded me of when my Daddy built this deck for me. He was suggesting building materials. After mentioning all the possible kinds of lumber to use he said, "or you might want to consider using an composite. It's a bit more expensive, but very low maintenance." On that note, the deal was sealed. Composite it was. And, low maintenance is has been (though it's obviously been due for a spray down for quite some time now).
As they say, the proof is in the pudding...
Anyway, my project for this weekend was definitely instant-gratification. My husband rented a high pressure washer from Home Depot so we could give our back deck a much-needed washing. It was LONG overdue. (So long that I kind of regret posting this picture for fear you think I live in filth.)
This project also reminded me of when my Daddy built this deck for me. He was suggesting building materials. After mentioning all the possible kinds of lumber to use he said, "or you might want to consider using an composite. It's a bit more expensive, but very low maintenance." On that note, the deal was sealed. Composite it was. And, low maintenance is has been (though it's obviously been due for a spray down for quite some time now).
As they say, the proof is in the pudding...
Friday, March 27, 2015
5am Snuggles
My son awoke at 5am this morning. I gave him ample time to doze back to sleep, but after a few minutes of fussing, I got up to check on him. I picked him up and snuggled him up. He was antsy at first, but I held him firmly. He settled back next to me and just looked up at me with his big, lovely eyes. I just looked at him and smiled. We snuggled for quite awhile before he fell asleep again. Each time I would open my eyes he would still be looking up at me, until finally he was out.
Though I enjoy my own sleep, in a bed instead of a glider, I couldn't help but think these days are limited. Soon these snuggly mornings will be a thing of the past. Soon my son will be either "too cool" or too busy for cuddling with Mommy.
So, for now, I take hold of these precious moments and cherish them, for always, in my heart.
Though I enjoy my own sleep, in a bed instead of a glider, I couldn't help but think these days are limited. Soon these snuggly mornings will be a thing of the past. Soon my son will be either "too cool" or too busy for cuddling with Mommy.
So, for now, I take hold of these precious moments and cherish them, for always, in my heart.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
An Honest Grade Card
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
I memorized this one a long time ago, enough so it rolls off the tongue. Often I don't think much about what I'm saying when I recite the list, "love, joy, peace, patience..."
I've been thinking a lot about the fruit of the Spirit this week. I've been examining my own life and how I feel like I do in each of these areas. I've heard sermons/studies before about why it's the fruit (singular) of the Spirit versus the fruits (plural) of the Spirit. But, I can't reason that out in my mind tonight. I think it has something to do with the fact that we're not blessed with one or two fruits and lacking in others. Every believer has the FRUIT of the Spirit. We should have ALL of these qualities, in increasing quantities. (I'm going to pretend that's what it means. If I find out differently, I'll post on that another day.)
So, here's the grade card I give myself:
Love: C
I suppose it's easy to love those who love me. I'm not sure I excel at loving those who don't love me... or those who are very different than me.
Joy: B
I've made some improvements in this area. I remember a handful of years ago praying to be more joyful. Writing this is the first time I realized that God answered that prayer!
Peace: A
Over the years I've come to rest in that peace that "transcends all understanding" (Phil 4:6-7). I recognize worry as a sort of sin in my own life - a realization that I either don't trust God or don't believe he has good intentions toward me. I would never say those things with my mouth, so why should I live my life like I believe them?
Patience: A-
Eh. Always room to grow. : ) I just asked my husband, and he said I get an "A."
Kindness: A
Is "kindness" the same as being "nice"? I was always the "nice" girl growing up. (Isn't that a sort of derogatory term these days?) Anyway, as I type this, I'm being reminded of the snide thoughts I was thinking about the women on the elevator with me today. 1) Why must people on the 2nd and 3rd floors take the elevator? There's nothing worse than having to stop on the 2nd floor so that someone can get on and ride down ONE floor. Stairs, people. Ever heard of them?
Then, they were walking slowly in front of me when they got off the elevator. Maybe they didn't see me, but why can't people be more self-aware. (I think the lack of self-awareness in people is a pet peeve of mine.)
So now I'm thinking I need to go back and address my grade on "kindness" AND "patience." : )
Goodness: B
But, as Paul would say, there is no one who is good. The good I want to do, I do not do... In other words, only Christ in me is good.
Faithfulness: C
"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." : (
Gentleness: C
It's difficult to carrry a work title of "Controller" and not be a little bit, um, gruff. In fact, I made a comment to my Assistant Controller today that "if someone needs help but can't make time to accept our help, that's on them." She said something like, "I wish you could teach me..." I finished her sentence, "to not care?" I told her that wasn't somethng to aspire to. I need her and others to balance me out, remind me to "care" even when I'm tempted to be done caring. Anyway, it reminded me that I still have some things to work on here.
Self-Control: C
This totally depends on the area of life. In some ways I'm incredibly disciplined. But, I've been highly frustrated lately at my lack of self-control when it comes to living healthy (eating right, exercising, etc.) and being productive in my evenings/weekends.
So, I scored lower than I expected going in. In summary: I have a lot of work to do.
Scratch that. The Holy Spirit still has a lot to do. I just need to be yielded to His work in my life.
I memorized this one a long time ago, enough so it rolls off the tongue. Often I don't think much about what I'm saying when I recite the list, "love, joy, peace, patience..."
I've been thinking a lot about the fruit of the Spirit this week. I've been examining my own life and how I feel like I do in each of these areas. I've heard sermons/studies before about why it's the fruit (singular) of the Spirit versus the fruits (plural) of the Spirit. But, I can't reason that out in my mind tonight. I think it has something to do with the fact that we're not blessed with one or two fruits and lacking in others. Every believer has the FRUIT of the Spirit. We should have ALL of these qualities, in increasing quantities. (I'm going to pretend that's what it means. If I find out differently, I'll post on that another day.)
So, here's the grade card I give myself:
Love: C
I suppose it's easy to love those who love me. I'm not sure I excel at loving those who don't love me... or those who are very different than me.
Joy: B
I've made some improvements in this area. I remember a handful of years ago praying to be more joyful. Writing this is the first time I realized that God answered that prayer!
Peace: A
Over the years I've come to rest in that peace that "transcends all understanding" (Phil 4:6-7). I recognize worry as a sort of sin in my own life - a realization that I either don't trust God or don't believe he has good intentions toward me. I would never say those things with my mouth, so why should I live my life like I believe them?
Patience: A-
Eh. Always room to grow. : ) I just asked my husband, and he said I get an "A."
Kindness: A
Is "kindness" the same as being "nice"? I was always the "nice" girl growing up. (Isn't that a sort of derogatory term these days?) Anyway, as I type this, I'm being reminded of the snide thoughts I was thinking about the women on the elevator with me today. 1) Why must people on the 2nd and 3rd floors take the elevator? There's nothing worse than having to stop on the 2nd floor so that someone can get on and ride down ONE floor. Stairs, people. Ever heard of them?
Then, they were walking slowly in front of me when they got off the elevator. Maybe they didn't see me, but why can't people be more self-aware. (I think the lack of self-awareness in people is a pet peeve of mine.)
So now I'm thinking I need to go back and address my grade on "kindness" AND "patience." : )
Goodness: B
But, as Paul would say, there is no one who is good. The good I want to do, I do not do... In other words, only Christ in me is good.
Faithfulness: C
"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." : (
Gentleness: C
It's difficult to carrry a work title of "Controller" and not be a little bit, um, gruff. In fact, I made a comment to my Assistant Controller today that "if someone needs help but can't make time to accept our help, that's on them." She said something like, "I wish you could teach me..." I finished her sentence, "to not care?" I told her that wasn't somethng to aspire to. I need her and others to balance me out, remind me to "care" even when I'm tempted to be done caring. Anyway, it reminded me that I still have some things to work on here.
Self-Control: C
This totally depends on the area of life. In some ways I'm incredibly disciplined. But, I've been highly frustrated lately at my lack of self-control when it comes to living healthy (eating right, exercising, etc.) and being productive in my evenings/weekends.
So, I scored lower than I expected going in. In summary: I have a lot of work to do.
Scratch that. The Holy Spirit still has a lot to do. I just need to be yielded to His work in my life.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Paul's Letter to the Galatians
I just finished re-reading Galatians. We talked a bit about the fruit of the Spirit in our connect group last weekend, so I thought I'd spend some more time there.
This passage stuck out to me in this reading:
22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. (Galatians 4:22-23 NLT)
It just seems so much like my own life. How many times have I tried to "bring about the fulfillment of God's promises" in my own life? How many times have I rushed ahead or wasted my own human strength on trying to accomplish something when God calls me to simply trust in Him. Trust in His timing. Rest in His Presence. Leave the hard work to Him.
Sounds so much easier, doesn't it?
This passage stuck out to me in this reading:
22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. (Galatians 4:22-23 NLT)
It just seems so much like my own life. How many times have I tried to "bring about the fulfillment of God's promises" in my own life? How many times have I rushed ahead or wasted my own human strength on trying to accomplish something when God calls me to simply trust in Him. Trust in His timing. Rest in His Presence. Leave the hard work to Him.
Sounds so much easier, doesn't it?
Monday, March 09, 2015
"I Love You"
That's what I'm going to pretend my toddler said to me this morning, though his garbled, three-syllable babble was mostly unintelligible.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Note the Number of Times I've Posted Since Becoming a Parent...
...well, and getting married, for that matter. I was just telling my husband this morning after church that I have no idea when I'm supposed to think, pray and reflect. I've done unfortunately little of any of those recently.
I don't know why I'm mentioning that now, as it's way past my bedtime. So, now's not the time. I think I tell you this, though, in the hopes that I'll do more of all that very soon. I must. I really must.
I don't know why I'm mentioning that now, as it's way past my bedtime. So, now's not the time. I think I tell you this, though, in the hopes that I'll do more of all that very soon. I must. I really must.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The Day that Changed My Life Forever
I suppose there are a number of days that have changed my live irrevocably; however, maybe none so dramatically as a few weeks ago when my son was born. So as to not be too graphic for public viewing, I'll just give you a few of the highlights of my labor:
Thursday - I went in on a Thursday night to get the whole induction process started. I was only dilated to 1 cm (as I had been for several weeks). After all night on cervidil, I was still only dilated to 1cm, though I did begin having contractions during the night. These contractions were different than the others I had felt. They were, for the first time, time-able. Though they didn't hurt much, they had a very distinct beginning and were about 3.5 to 5 minutes apart. I called the nurse in sometime in the early morning to ask if we'd still need to begin the pitocin at 6am. We did.
Friday - The nurse got me up around 5 am to shower and get ready for the induction. They began me on pitocin around 6am. My OB came in around 8 or 8:30 to break my water. (I was STILL at 1cm.) She said it was probably a good thing we were inducing, because there seemed to be a bit of miconium in the amniotic fluid, which can signal the baby is distressed. My contracts really strengthened after that. I finally asked for the epidural and some IV medication. I couldn't tell that the IV meds did much, but I'm A HUGE fan of the epidural!!! I could finally relax a bit. I think maybe I had dilated to a "2+" around that time. After the epidural is when things seemed to begin progressing. We were all excited when my OB checked me at 1:30pm and announced that I had progressed to 5cm. I knew it was common to progress 0.5 to 1cm an hour from there, so my family began taking bets on what time the baby would arrive - most guessed that night sometime.
Friday afternoon - Somewhere around 2:30pm I announced to the nurse that I was beginning to feel some pressure. She said I was due to be checked again at 3pm, so we'd just wait for that. At 3pm, the nurse checked me and announced that I was complete (fully dilated to 10cm, fully effaced and ready to push)!! At that point, we were just waiting on the doctor. The nurses had me do a short "test push" and determined that they didn't think it would take long for the baby to arrive once I started pushing. Somewhere approaching 4pm the doctor was scrubbed up and ready for me. We pushed through three contractions (nine pushes or so), ten minutes or less, and were able to meet our baby boy face-to-face at 4:06pm.
What a rush! The room felt like a party atmosphere. My son was on my chest, and I could see him for the first time. What a miracle! What a perfect, perfect gift from God!
Thursday - I went in on a Thursday night to get the whole induction process started. I was only dilated to 1 cm (as I had been for several weeks). After all night on cervidil, I was still only dilated to 1cm, though I did begin having contractions during the night. These contractions were different than the others I had felt. They were, for the first time, time-able. Though they didn't hurt much, they had a very distinct beginning and were about 3.5 to 5 minutes apart. I called the nurse in sometime in the early morning to ask if we'd still need to begin the pitocin at 6am. We did.
Friday - The nurse got me up around 5 am to shower and get ready for the induction. They began me on pitocin around 6am. My OB came in around 8 or 8:30 to break my water. (I was STILL at 1cm.) She said it was probably a good thing we were inducing, because there seemed to be a bit of miconium in the amniotic fluid, which can signal the baby is distressed. My contracts really strengthened after that. I finally asked for the epidural and some IV medication. I couldn't tell that the IV meds did much, but I'm A HUGE fan of the epidural!!! I could finally relax a bit. I think maybe I had dilated to a "2+" around that time. After the epidural is when things seemed to begin progressing. We were all excited when my OB checked me at 1:30pm and announced that I had progressed to 5cm. I knew it was common to progress 0.5 to 1cm an hour from there, so my family began taking bets on what time the baby would arrive - most guessed that night sometime.
Friday afternoon - Somewhere around 2:30pm I announced to the nurse that I was beginning to feel some pressure. She said I was due to be checked again at 3pm, so we'd just wait for that. At 3pm, the nurse checked me and announced that I was complete (fully dilated to 10cm, fully effaced and ready to push)!! At that point, we were just waiting on the doctor. The nurses had me do a short "test push" and determined that they didn't think it would take long for the baby to arrive once I started pushing. Somewhere approaching 4pm the doctor was scrubbed up and ready for me. We pushed through three contractions (nine pushes or so), ten minutes or less, and were able to meet our baby boy face-to-face at 4:06pm.
What a rush! The room felt like a party atmosphere. My son was on my chest, and I could see him for the first time. What a miracle! What a perfect, perfect gift from God!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Monday, July 08, 2013
Time flies...
It so disappoints me to realize I haven't blogged in over a year. Ridiculous! It's not that I haven't had anything to say... maybe I just haven't had the time to say it. John and I found out last October that we were pregnant and due July 3, 2013. Though we were thrilled by the news, we were also faced with some stark realities. John had been aware of an impending layoff from his job, and we still owned two houses. Although we were renting one of those (at the time), we were still taking a loss on it each month. So, in the last nine months we've 1) worked to finish up a house to sell, 2) "lost" a renter, 3) moved houses, 4) listed a house for sale, 5) had one contract fall through, 6) been laid off and 7) temporarily lost a key staff member in my department right before my maternity leave. Needless to say, it's been a little crazy.
Amidst the craziness we began leading a small group in January. It's been such a blessing! John and I debated the timing of the group, given our currently circumstances; however, small groups ("connect" groups) are all about community... which involves being real and transparent with each other. We decided there was no better time to start a group, and we've prayed that we could set an example of walking with God through some of these challenging circumstances.
Furthermore, John and I realized we would need to be much more reliant on God this year, which translates into a much more consistent and vibrant prayer life. We've seen God answer our prayers and provide in the following ways this year:
1) I experienced some bleeding during my second trimester. A high risk specialist advised me to have a polyp, that could be causing the bleeding, removed. Though the procedure would be fairly simple, it's still something they don't like to do during a pregnancy. After our Friday appointment with the specialist, I went in to have the procedure performed the following Tuesday and was told that the polyp was gone! (This is a polyp that had been there the previous Friday and at least a year and a half before that!)
2) I was concerned about my maternity leave, given John's layoff and my limited vacation time. I was given a "time bonus" to help offset what would have otherwise been unpaid leave!
3) John received a bonus within a month of his layoff. His severance pay has also been pretty incredible given the 10+ years he'd been with the company.
4) Though a layoff wasn't preferable, John hadn't been happy at his job for a long time. We really do believe this is God's way of redirecting John to something that he will find more enjoyable and fulfilling. (His initial plans are to take classes toward an accounting degree!)
5) We had an offer within three weeks of listing our house! Though the first contract fell through, we now have a second contract on the house. In the interim, we had the roof replaced and were only out our insurance deductible (on a $17k roof)!
6) I'll use a separate post to write more about the greatest gift and answered prayer: our son!
Amidst the craziness we began leading a small group in January. It's been such a blessing! John and I debated the timing of the group, given our currently circumstances; however, small groups ("connect" groups) are all about community... which involves being real and transparent with each other. We decided there was no better time to start a group, and we've prayed that we could set an example of walking with God through some of these challenging circumstances.
Furthermore, John and I realized we would need to be much more reliant on God this year, which translates into a much more consistent and vibrant prayer life. We've seen God answer our prayers and provide in the following ways this year:
1) I experienced some bleeding during my second trimester. A high risk specialist advised me to have a polyp, that could be causing the bleeding, removed. Though the procedure would be fairly simple, it's still something they don't like to do during a pregnancy. After our Friday appointment with the specialist, I went in to have the procedure performed the following Tuesday and was told that the polyp was gone! (This is a polyp that had been there the previous Friday and at least a year and a half before that!)
2) I was concerned about my maternity leave, given John's layoff and my limited vacation time. I was given a "time bonus" to help offset what would have otherwise been unpaid leave!
3) John received a bonus within a month of his layoff. His severance pay has also been pretty incredible given the 10+ years he'd been with the company.
4) Though a layoff wasn't preferable, John hadn't been happy at his job for a long time. We really do believe this is God's way of redirecting John to something that he will find more enjoyable and fulfilling. (His initial plans are to take classes toward an accounting degree!)
5) We had an offer within three weeks of listing our house! Though the first contract fell through, we now have a second contract on the house. In the interim, we had the roof replaced and were only out our insurance deductible (on a $17k roof)!
6) I'll use a separate post to write more about the greatest gift and answered prayer: our son!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
"Optima dies... prima fugit."
The line above was written by Virgil and means roughly, "the best days are the first to flee." This phrase appears on the title page of Willa Cather's "My Antonia." It also seems to fit Cather's theme. The book is about a man's childhood friend, a Bohemian immigrant by the name of Antonia. Growing up during their youth, life ultimately takes them in different directions, but the friendship they have remains solid. After reuniting after a number of years apart, Jim Burden reminisces with his friend...
She replies:
I've been fortunate enough in my life to have some friendships similar to this. That no matter the time and distance placed in between, nothing can diminish those memories (some of my "best days") and the beauty of lasting friendship.
"Do you know, Antonia, since I've been away, I think of you more often than of anyone else in this part of the world. I'd have liked to have you for a sweetheart, or a wife, or my mother or my sister - anything that a woman can be to a man. The idea of you is a part of my mind; you influence my likes and dislikes, all my tastes, hundreds of times when I don't realize it. You really are a part of me."
She replies:
"How can it be like that, when you know so many people, and when I've disappointed you so? Ain't it wonderful, Jim, how much people can mean to each other? I'm so glad we had each other when we were little. I can't wait till my little girl's old enough to tell her about all the things we used to do. You'll always remember me when you think about old times, won't you? And I guess everybody thinks about old times, even the happiest people."
I've been fortunate enough in my life to have some friendships similar to this. That no matter the time and distance placed in between, nothing can diminish those memories (some of my "best days") and the beauty of lasting friendship.
Heed or No?
Ever feel the prompting of God's Spirit, close your ears and walk the opposite direction? I did that this last weekend. John and I talked about going to see a movie. We debated several movies and finally landed on one that looked to be funny, though likely would be a bit crude. I knew the Holy Spirit was prompting against it, because I even asked John about the rating on that and another movie we had been comparing. But, finally, I gave in. How bad could it be? I can stomach a few crude jokes or scenes in the name of entertainment.
Well, we sat through maybe half of the movie and were disgusted a number of times by the subject matters and the visuals. At some point, we finally got up and walked out of the movie (way after we SHOULD have walked out). What a waste of a perfectly good $18.00. And it's sad to know I'll never get that hour of my life back.
Lesson reaffirmed: When the Holy Spirit prompts, follow It's leading.
Well, we sat through maybe half of the movie and were disgusted a number of times by the subject matters and the visuals. At some point, we finally got up and walked out of the movie (way after we SHOULD have walked out). What a waste of a perfectly good $18.00. And it's sad to know I'll never get that hour of my life back.
Lesson reaffirmed: When the Holy Spirit prompts, follow It's leading.
Friday, April 13, 2012
My Adventures in Ensenada
I was telling some auditors today of my exploits in Ensenada, Mexico. Back in the day I had a state-side audit client with a maquiladora (a manufacturing plant) down in Mexico. It was an amazing opportunity. Two different summers I was able to fly into San Diego, meet a driver and be driven down through Tijuana into Ensenada.
At this point in the story, one of the (male) auditors asked surprisingly, "you went by yourself?!"
That reminded me of sitting in the Las Vegas airport. I think I pulled out a journal. (Yes... the precursor to the blog... paper and pencil.) That's when I first realized the potential hazard I may be walking into. Single girl... trusting to be met by a driver - male, a stranger to me... being driven outside of the USA, through Tijuana... one of the roughest areas in Western Hemisphere... staying in a hotel by myself... what in the world was I doing?!
But, it was the most fun I've had in any of my audit travels. The hotel was amazing. It overlooked a marina with many sailboats. Since I wasn't on the first floor, I felt comfortable leaving the balcony doors open for the fresh air and view. The bathroom was huge and afforded me several relaxing bubble baths. I had some fresh seafood with some Tijuana auditors. I enjoyed shopping on Calle Prima (1st Street) and watching the cruise ships come in and out.
I was more that happy to go the following summer. And, to be honest, I'd love to go back again!
At this point in the story, one of the (male) auditors asked surprisingly, "you went by yourself?!"
That reminded me of sitting in the Las Vegas airport. I think I pulled out a journal. (Yes... the precursor to the blog... paper and pencil.) That's when I first realized the potential hazard I may be walking into. Single girl... trusting to be met by a driver - male, a stranger to me... being driven outside of the USA, through Tijuana... one of the roughest areas in Western Hemisphere... staying in a hotel by myself... what in the world was I doing?!
But, it was the most fun I've had in any of my audit travels. The hotel was amazing. It overlooked a marina with many sailboats. Since I wasn't on the first floor, I felt comfortable leaving the balcony doors open for the fresh air and view. The bathroom was huge and afforded me several relaxing bubble baths. I had some fresh seafood with some Tijuana auditors. I enjoyed shopping on Calle Prima (1st Street) and watching the cruise ships come in and out.
I was more that happy to go the following summer. And, to be honest, I'd love to go back again!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Nerdvana
I was at coffee with friends this morning, and one of my "friends" described my recent experience with an Excel spreadsheet as one of "nerdvana." Unfortunately, I believe he's probably right.
Part of my job consists of overseeing our accounts receivable and work-in-process balances. I've created a spreadsheet that tracks the balances of those assets each month for the past years. I have all of those balances graphed for each year - A/R vs WIP vs Revenue. These graphs are things a beauty. I learned two things from studying my graphs. First of all, our business is seasonal. I already knew that, but my graphs make it very clear - spikes twice a year in Spring and Fall busy seasons. But, it's interesting to note that A/R generally lags a month. If revenue and WIP spike in March, A/R spikes in April. The same is true in the fall, only the lag is less pronounced. For the last several years, A/R has hovered significantly about revenue and WIP... mainly because we were carrying a lot of old receivables.
As you can tell, I was highly focused on my spreadsheet. So much so that when I looked up from my spreadsheet around 5:45, I really couldn't tell you what time it was or even what day it was. I'm serious, it could have been 10:00 at night for all I knew. As someone else pointed out, I must not have any problem concentrating on my task at hand. I only wish that was the rule and not the exception!
Part of my job consists of overseeing our accounts receivable and work-in-process balances. I've created a spreadsheet that tracks the balances of those assets each month for the past years. I have all of those balances graphed for each year - A/R vs WIP vs Revenue. These graphs are things a beauty. I learned two things from studying my graphs. First of all, our business is seasonal. I already knew that, but my graphs make it very clear - spikes twice a year in Spring and Fall busy seasons. But, it's interesting to note that A/R generally lags a month. If revenue and WIP spike in March, A/R spikes in April. The same is true in the fall, only the lag is less pronounced. For the last several years, A/R has hovered significantly about revenue and WIP... mainly because we were carrying a lot of old receivables.
As you can tell, I was highly focused on my spreadsheet. So much so that when I looked up from my spreadsheet around 5:45, I really couldn't tell you what time it was or even what day it was. I'm serious, it could have been 10:00 at night for all I knew. As someone else pointed out, I must not have any problem concentrating on my task at hand. I only wish that was the rule and not the exception!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Return of the Barbasol
So I finally stopped blaming my family for the sudden disappearance of my can of Barbasol. That's right, I use Barbasol, "The Beard Buster." Seriously... it's great for shaving my legs (etc.), and it's cheap! It may have a bit of a manly scent, but who cares?! As I mentioned, it's cheap!
Right after Thanksgiving I couldn't find my can. All I could find was my husband's Gillette - "The Best a Man Can Get," according to him. I used it a time or two, but it was nearly always in the front bathroom when I needed it in the back shower. And, it has a much more distinct "manly smell." All that to say, I blamed this sudden disappearance on the men in my family, because it was here before Thanksgiving and suddenly gone after the family left. What I realized several weeks later is that I had stuffed it into a random grocery sack to get it out of the bathroom during part of the bathroom house project that same weekend. Whew! What a relief! Not only am I clean shaven again, but I can rest easy knowing my family doesn't include a Barbasol thief!
Right after Thanksgiving I couldn't find my can. All I could find was my husband's Gillette - "The Best a Man Can Get," according to him. I used it a time or two, but it was nearly always in the front bathroom when I needed it in the back shower. And, it has a much more distinct "manly smell." All that to say, I blamed this sudden disappearance on the men in my family, because it was here before Thanksgiving and suddenly gone after the family left. What I realized several weeks later is that I had stuffed it into a random grocery sack to get it out of the bathroom during part of the bathroom house project that same weekend. Whew! What a relief! Not only am I clean shaven again, but I can rest easy knowing my family doesn't include a Barbasol thief!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
A Second-Hand Christmas
So, my dear sweet husband was sent to San Antonio for a week for work. I ponied up the cash to make a weekend trip so am there now... currently watching a movie from our hotel room. We've run around a bit, though it's been cold and rainy. We're going back to the Riverwalk tonight to see the lights and eat dinner.
Fortunately we've been able to get a bit of Christmas shopping done. We've even kept (mostly) with the family Christmas Rules. Yes, we do have "Christmas Rules" of sorts. We've debated over the years of the best way to handle Christmas given our growing family. We've finally settled on a Second-hand Christmas. It's awesome. The best way to describe it is that all gifts have to be used. So, you could give something from your home that you think someone else would enjoy. I really like it when I can give someone something from my home that they've specifically asked for... a movie, a book, something I'm not using but still has value.You can also make use of second-hand stores, used book stores, garage sales, etc.
Usually there are great stories accompanying the gifts like, "guess where I found that?" and "I got quite a deal on that!" It's lots of fun. I'd give you some examples of the gifts we've found this year, but I'd hate to spoil the surprises.
We've also done the "homemade" Christmas before. It's been less successful. One year we did that, most everyone in the family received an "IOU" gift. (I received my ACTUAL gift two years after that.) So, now we do a bit of a hodge-podge. I am trying to make one gift, but we'll see if it gets done by Christmas.
Okay... John's requesting a hot chocolate from downstairs. I wouldn't mind refreshing my coffee either. I hope your Christmas season is going well. Do me a favor... enjoy the gift buying/giving, but don't forget the TRUE gift this Christmas: God's gift to us of his son, Jesus.
Fortunately we've been able to get a bit of Christmas shopping done. We've even kept (mostly) with the family Christmas Rules. Yes, we do have "Christmas Rules" of sorts. We've debated over the years of the best way to handle Christmas given our growing family. We've finally settled on a Second-hand Christmas. It's awesome. The best way to describe it is that all gifts have to be used. So, you could give something from your home that you think someone else would enjoy. I really like it when I can give someone something from my home that they've specifically asked for... a movie, a book, something I'm not using but still has value.You can also make use of second-hand stores, used book stores, garage sales, etc.
Usually there are great stories accompanying the gifts like, "guess where I found that?" and "I got quite a deal on that!" It's lots of fun. I'd give you some examples of the gifts we've found this year, but I'd hate to spoil the surprises.
We've also done the "homemade" Christmas before. It's been less successful. One year we did that, most everyone in the family received an "IOU" gift. (I received my ACTUAL gift two years after that.) So, now we do a bit of a hodge-podge. I am trying to make one gift, but we'll see if it gets done by Christmas.
Okay... John's requesting a hot chocolate from downstairs. I wouldn't mind refreshing my coffee either. I hope your Christmas season is going well. Do me a favor... enjoy the gift buying/giving, but don't forget the TRUE gift this Christmas: God's gift to us of his son, Jesus.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Reminders
Permit me a few lines from my favorite poet, Billy Collins:
"me with my presumptuous breathing,
my arrogant need for coffee,
my love of the colorful leaves beyond the windows."
For whatever reason tonight, these lines reminded me of my neglected blog. Maybe it's the creativity of poetry that drove me back. Maybe it's just that so much has happened in these last three months that I finally have something to say about it. Maybe it's just the first time I've really sat down to rest for awhile. Regardless, here I am... propped up in bed, hands on laptop, enjoying the humming of the clothes dryer and the serenity of this moment.
But what to say? I'm not quite sure.
I could talk about my new-ish NOOK.... about how John and I were agreeing together how sad it is that hard copy books are now being out-sold by e-books... and about how within moments of voicing those sentiments we were at Barnes & Noble admiring the NOOKs and talking about how nice they would be for traveling. We bought not one but TWO. And though I haven't finished reading a single book on mine, I do enjoy the portability of it. (I'd like to note that since buying the NOOK I have purchased a "legacy" book online... a compilation of Billy Collins poems, a belated birthday present from a friend (via an amazon gift card).
I could tell you what little I know of married life. So far, so good! :) I think I had enough wisdom to know (before getting married) that married life is not some Shangrila where suddenly everything is blissful and poop doesn't stink. (It still does.) But, a few notes about walking through a new marriage and the joining of lives:
1) We felt really celebrated as people. John and I both remarked a number of times about how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends. My bachelorette party was particularly fun. I enjoyed the time with my girlfriends and being "showered" with gifts/advice/well-wishes. I remember leaving that night thinking, "EVERY girl should feel celebrated like this"... single, married, getting married... EVERY girl.
2) Married life is lovely... or, rather, has some lovely things about it. I remember telling John that I hadn't felt that deep achy, lonely feeling since we started dating. That feeling SUCKS. It absolutely sucks. But, over and over as we were moving toward our wedding, I had (well-meaning) friends make comments about "this is your best year yet" and similar comments. I appreciated the sentiments, but sometimes I felt like those comments served as a slap-in-the-face to the other 36 years of my life. I've had some GREAT years. This will be another GREAT year... definitely full of firsts. But, don't downplay the rest of my life. God blessed me richly in those years as well... whether I recognized it at the time or not. ;)
3) Single friends - don't dispair. There are some nice things about marriage, but there are some equally nice things about being single. I'll wait until later to expound on those. But... enjoy your single days, my friends. They really are a beautiful gift - straight from the hand of God.
4) I'm done lecturing... for now.
"me with my presumptuous breathing,
my arrogant need for coffee,
my love of the colorful leaves beyond the windows."
For whatever reason tonight, these lines reminded me of my neglected blog. Maybe it's the creativity of poetry that drove me back. Maybe it's just that so much has happened in these last three months that I finally have something to say about it. Maybe it's just the first time I've really sat down to rest for awhile. Regardless, here I am... propped up in bed, hands on laptop, enjoying the humming of the clothes dryer and the serenity of this moment.
But what to say? I'm not quite sure.
I could talk about my new-ish NOOK.... about how John and I were agreeing together how sad it is that hard copy books are now being out-sold by e-books... and about how within moments of voicing those sentiments we were at Barnes & Noble admiring the NOOKs and talking about how nice they would be for traveling. We bought not one but TWO. And though I haven't finished reading a single book on mine, I do enjoy the portability of it. (I'd like to note that since buying the NOOK I have purchased a "legacy" book online... a compilation of Billy Collins poems, a belated birthday present from a friend (via an amazon gift card).
I could tell you what little I know of married life. So far, so good! :) I think I had enough wisdom to know (before getting married) that married life is not some Shangrila where suddenly everything is blissful and poop doesn't stink. (It still does.) But, a few notes about walking through a new marriage and the joining of lives:
1) We felt really celebrated as people. John and I both remarked a number of times about how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends. My bachelorette party was particularly fun. I enjoyed the time with my girlfriends and being "showered" with gifts/advice/well-wishes. I remember leaving that night thinking, "EVERY girl should feel celebrated like this"... single, married, getting married... EVERY girl.
2) Married life is lovely... or, rather, has some lovely things about it. I remember telling John that I hadn't felt that deep achy, lonely feeling since we started dating. That feeling SUCKS. It absolutely sucks. But, over and over as we were moving toward our wedding, I had (well-meaning) friends make comments about "this is your best year yet" and similar comments. I appreciated the sentiments, but sometimes I felt like those comments served as a slap-in-the-face to the other 36 years of my life. I've had some GREAT years. This will be another GREAT year... definitely full of firsts. But, don't downplay the rest of my life. God blessed me richly in those years as well... whether I recognized it at the time or not. ;)
3) Single friends - don't dispair. There are some nice things about marriage, but there are some equally nice things about being single. I'll wait until later to expound on those. But... enjoy your single days, my friends. They really are a beautiful gift - straight from the hand of God.
4) I'm done lecturing... for now.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
True Love
Psalm 27:4
"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and seek him in his temple."
I read Psalm 27 this morning, because it's 27 days now until my wedding. I smiled when I realized I was reading Psalm 27, because I remember a specific time in college when I read that Psalm. It talks so much about the love and protection of God. I remember reading it back then and realizing that the things I often longed for in a man (a husband) had already been provided for me in Christ: beauty, desire, protection, joy, companionship, salvation, comfort, attention and help. I also remember telling my Mom that I had fallen in love... fallen in love with Christ.
My challenge now - 27 days out from one of the deepest desires of my heart - is to remember that none of those things can be fully met in any human person. And expecting all those things from my soon-to-be husband would result in failure and disappointment.
God, help me remember to seek your face. Realizing that YOU are my Provider, my Comforter and my Joy will free up my husband to work toward loving me in the same ways.
"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and seek him in his temple."
I read Psalm 27 this morning, because it's 27 days now until my wedding. I smiled when I realized I was reading Psalm 27, because I remember a specific time in college when I read that Psalm. It talks so much about the love and protection of God. I remember reading it back then and realizing that the things I often longed for in a man (a husband) had already been provided for me in Christ: beauty, desire, protection, joy, companionship, salvation, comfort, attention and help. I also remember telling my Mom that I had fallen in love... fallen in love with Christ.
My challenge now - 27 days out from one of the deepest desires of my heart - is to remember that none of those things can be fully met in any human person. And expecting all those things from my soon-to-be husband would result in failure and disappointment.
God, help me remember to seek your face. Realizing that YOU are my Provider, my Comforter and my Joy will free up my husband to work toward loving me in the same ways.
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