Welcome to Five Minute Friday. Where we stop, write for 5 minutes - with no editing, back tracking, second guessing. Just write and post. Then link up over here. And then go read a post (or 2 or 20) of the friends who linked before you. Leave a little love on their comments.
Ready? Go.
Mercy. Hmmmm. Love how the Lord orchestrates the choice of Lisa-Jo's word right where I need it. It's been a week where I learned a lesson. A hard, but valuable lesson, of mercy.
Definition (thank you dictionary): compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence.
Thursday night I had to spend several minutes in conversation that was a WASTE.OF.MY.TIME. Filled with lies and extraneous information, and very little concrete value. And I thought, REALLY? After all this time, when I have worked so hard to remove myself from this exact circumstance, I have to do it again? And I wanted ... oh, how I wanted ... to tell this person "stop with the lies. Stop making stuff up. Stop making me feel BAD when I didn't do anything. Not even didn't to anything WRONG, but flat out didn't do anything." Instead, I was reminded ... what can be done to make this better. How can I keep it from escalating into a full on shouting match with nothing good coming of it. Oh, right. Mercy. Just show kindness. toward an offender. Hmmmm. OK, then. So I said "thanks for the feedback. I will try to keep that in mind." And we moved on. Without shouting. Without tears. There was some frustration on the other end, I think because I didn't react. If I had, he'd have felt justified in exactly what he said. Instead, we moved on, and he's left to puzzle over why I wasn't a wreck.
To be fully honest, I did come home and call a friend and vent a bit. And had her check me to be sure I wasn't missing some truth in the criticism.
And I spent a lot of time on my knees Thursday night. Thanking the Lord for giving me mercy every day. Because when I thought about it some more, I realized how often I can be acting like the offender. And the Lord takes it all in, draws me near, teaches me something, and bestows mercy. Every day. Without fail. If He can do that for me, surely I can do it for another.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Red (Five Minute Friday)
It's Friday! Time to write with abandon! It's fun; it's easy; and it's a great way to kick off a weekend. In fact, Lisa-Jo even moved the prompt release time to 10pm Thursday nights, effective this week, because some of us (AHEM - yes this is me) are having a tough time staying up til midnight and then thinking in the morning. The #FMFParty on Twitter starts a little early - but still hangs out late, so come and join the fun. Here's how it works:
1. Set your timer, write for 5 minutes flat. No editing (typos welcome!), no overthinking, no backtracking.
2. Link up over here.
3. Go visit the post of the person who linked before you. Leave a comment - send a little encouragement their way. That's the best part. The most important rule. The community building among our little (actually not-so-little) group of writers.
NOTE: if you don't have a blog, just go write your 5 minutes in the comments at Lisa-Jo's. We read and love on those posts, too.
So, here's my 5 minutes on RED.
Red's a very versatile color. Can mean stop - as in a stop sign, or red light. Can mean "check this out, it's important" - as in that crazy exclamation point that shows up on an important flagged email. In a rainbow, it's the beginning - if you color from top to bottom, or even the end, if you color from bottom to top. Or, if you hit a double rainbow, then it's actually in the middle.
It's also one of the trio of colors in our flag - and I think of it paired with white and blue way more often than I think of red all alone. And when I was in high school, our colors were red and gold.
And here, in Natstown, Red is the color of our team. So I wear it A LOT. Funny, since when I was little it really wasn't on my list of colors that I love. This week, red has also been on my cheer-against list, as we need the Reds to lose to help our Nats grab that last wild card spot.
So, when I think of red, I think of rainbows (which make me smile), high school (great memories of growing up), baseball (no place I'd rather be than at Nats park) and the USA. Proud American, former Army wife, and raising little patriots. Seems like it's now near the top of my color list.
Stop.
1. Set your timer, write for 5 minutes flat. No editing (typos welcome!), no overthinking, no backtracking.
2. Link up over here.
3. Go visit the post of the person who linked before you. Leave a comment - send a little encouragement their way. That's the best part. The most important rule. The community building among our little (actually not-so-little) group of writers.
NOTE: if you don't have a blog, just go write your 5 minutes in the comments at Lisa-Jo's. We read and love on those posts, too.
So, here's my 5 minutes on RED.
Red's a very versatile color. Can mean stop - as in a stop sign, or red light. Can mean "check this out, it's important" - as in that crazy exclamation point that shows up on an important flagged email. In a rainbow, it's the beginning - if you color from top to bottom, or even the end, if you color from bottom to top. Or, if you hit a double rainbow, then it's actually in the middle.
It's also one of the trio of colors in our flag - and I think of it paired with white and blue way more often than I think of red all alone. And when I was in high school, our colors were red and gold.
And here, in Natstown, Red is the color of our team. So I wear it A LOT. Funny, since when I was little it really wasn't on my list of colors that I love. This week, red has also been on my cheer-against list, as we need the Reds to lose to help our Nats grab that last wild card spot.
So, when I think of red, I think of rainbows (which make me smile), high school (great memories of growing up), baseball (no place I'd rather be than at Nats park) and the USA. Proud American, former Army wife, and raising little patriots. Seems like it's now near the top of my color list.
Stop.
 |
| Mom & me - showing off some red! |
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
37 Things About Me
My 37th birthday was this week. Decided I might make a list of 37 arbitrary things about me (and my kids), so you can get to know me a little better. Or not. Mostly I felt the urge to write not on a Friday and so decided to go with that. Note: arbitrary also applies to the order in which they are listed.
1. I went to 4 baseball games in 4 days with 4 different sets of people to celebrate my birthday.
2. This makes the second time this year that I've been to more than 4 games in a week. In July I did 5 games in 6 days, only skipping the 4th of July so that I could attend the organ concert at the National Cathedral.
3. I have never played organized baseball (or softball) outside of gym class in school.
4. I have been known to do face tattoos and face paint when cheering for my teams. Even if I'm the only one doing it. I bleed black and gold, and will proudly wear my Vanderbilt Commodore gear anywhere.
5. This includes forgetting sunscreen on occasion and therefore having a reverse tattoo on my face for over a week. We won that game, on the road, at Georgia, and it's one of my favorite band trip memories ever.
6.My girls both share names with Australian cities, but that wasn't planned. Didn't even realize we'd done it until someone asked me what the connection was.
7. They both want to visit Australia someday, so they can each see their very own city, and more importantly their very own opera house.
8. Both my kids LOVE Opera. They do not get this from me. I expose them so they can learn, but it's not my favorite. Exception: Opera in the Outfield. This way, we get opera in the ballpark so everyone is happy. We celebrated A's 5th birthday at the event this spring. She's already asking about doing it again next year.
9. I cry at movies. Even ones on the Hallmark Channel. I also sometimes cry at commercials. I am a weeper. So if you want to take me to a movie, even if you think it's a comedy, bring the Kleenex.
10. I am officially now a soccer mom. (sans mini van).
11. My birthdays have been some of my greatest joys (1994) and my worst nightmares (2009). So now I try to consciously find small, or big, joys especially on my birthday. Nothing wipes out a lousy moment like replacing it with lots of little good ones.
12. My favorite way to spend a night alone is curled up with a good book (and maybe a mug of hot chocolate. Or a box of Thin Mints).
13. If I drink soda, it's Coke or Cherry Coke. Not Pepsi, and nothing diet.
14. I prefer to set my watch on military time.
15. I may no longer be an Army wife, but my time as one left me with a new respect for our troops, their families, and a host of delightful friends who have stuck by my side long after my Army family years were done.
16. For my past two solo holidays, I have spent an amazing week in Paris with 3 girlfriends, and spent a fantastic 5 days in Dublin with long time friends and their kids. Including American Thanksgiving in Ireland. (Read that adventure here!)
17.I play lots of board games and card games. Euchre & Cribbage are my favorites.
18. My dad's career path has allowed me to meet a ton of really cool people. Favorite: President Reagan, He served me spaghetti and meatballs. I was 12, and he talked to me like a grown up instead of a kid. That's still one of my favorite memories.
19. I celebrated my birthday in Fenway Park with my dad 2 years ago. As far as birthday memories go, that one went a long way toward erasing the one bad one.
20. I learned Flemish for a trip to Belgium. Turns out that was the smartest move I made, as I needed it to navigate the bus system to get to the towing company in the next town when our rental car was towed.
21. The WWII Memorial at sunset is one of my favorite places in Washington, DC.
22. My 2 best friends live in Nashville and Seattle. So between the 3 of us, we have the whole country covered. One loves orange (she went to UT).. The other had me pick all the orange M&M's out of the candy dishes for her wedding reception. I love orange only in the context of a rainbow, a sunrise, or a sunset, so I land clearly on the side of removing all the orange candy from the bowl. The things we do in the name of school spirit and rivalries...
23. I have had the same pen pal for over 22 years.
24. I've learned some valuable lessons from my mom. The best one is this: If you can laugh about it tomorrow, you might as well laugh about it now. Read more about my amazing mom here.
25. I've walked over 157 miles in 4 years in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. (on actual walk weekends. This does not count the training miles). This is why I walk. And this is the story of the 2013 walk.
26. My perfect date would be a picnic supper on the beach watching the sun sink over the horizon.
27. But a night out without my kids with adult conversation will just fine in absence of a Pacific sunset picnic.
28. I am a proud band geek and hope my kids grow to see the value in that someday. I've met most of my dearest friends through the band or some connection with a band friend and that's been well worth every long, hot day of practice.
29. I'm really proud of how well my girls are learning to respect our country. They stop when they hear the National Anthem, put their hands over their hearts (even if they sometimes choose the opposite hand - still working on that) and stand still until it's over. Sometimes they sing along. They did it once when we were still in the hot dog line, and I was delighted to see the adults follow their example.
30. We try to learn history in fun ways with our adventures. Living so close to so many amazing monuments and museums in DC makes it tough to do it all, but we give it a good effort!
29. My dad taught me how to dance.
30. I love jigsaw puzzles. They're extra fun with my brother and my parents, but I will do them on my own, too.
31. I own cowboy boots. I bought them when I visited Vanderbilt for the first time in 1993. I've had them resoled twice since then, and they're still my favorite pair of shoes.
32. I am a coleslaw snob. My great-grandmother's was the best. It used to be a staple at our family gatherings - even Thanksgiving dinner - and I've never had it better. My Grammie, and later my Aunt learned to make it pretty close to Great-Grandma's and that makes me smile. I am LOUSY at making coleslaw.
33. I participated in the chocolate pudding wrestling fundraiser for our Student Council. I've never been messier, nor had more fun, all at the same time.
34. I am seriously considering using spring break next year for a road trip to hit several MLB parks that I've not been to yet. If I have to be without my girls, I can't think of a much better week than a road trip with baseball and a girlfriend?
35. I love to get, and send, postcards.
36. I love socks. The crazier, the better.
37. I took a Braille class in college. Considering how terrible my eyesight is, I thought it would come in handy someday. For now, it just makes my kids think I am cool since I saved my "dot" flashcards and they can study from them.
This year lands in the pile of great birthdays with fun memories. My girls fixed me breakfast in bed (a graham cracker sandwich on toast) and went off to the first day of school with happy smiles.I got my fill of baseball (see #1) and laughed until I cried sharing memories and making new ones. Sitting here on day 2 of my 38th year, I am really thankful, and very, very blessed.
1. I went to 4 baseball games in 4 days with 4 different sets of people to celebrate my birthday.2. This makes the second time this year that I've been to more than 4 games in a week. In July I did 5 games in 6 days, only skipping the 4th of July so that I could attend the organ concert at the National Cathedral.
3. I have never played organized baseball (or softball) outside of gym class in school.
4. I have been known to do face tattoos and face paint when cheering for my teams. Even if I'm the only one doing it. I bleed black and gold, and will proudly wear my Vanderbilt Commodore gear anywhere.
5. This includes forgetting sunscreen on occasion and therefore having a reverse tattoo on my face for over a week. We won that game, on the road, at Georgia, and it's one of my favorite band trip memories ever.
6.My girls both share names with Australian cities, but that wasn't planned. Didn't even realize we'd done it until someone asked me what the connection was.
7. They both want to visit Australia someday, so they can each see their very own city, and more importantly their very own opera house.
8. Both my kids LOVE Opera. They do not get this from me. I expose them so they can learn, but it's not my favorite. Exception: Opera in the Outfield. This way, we get opera in the ballpark so everyone is happy. We celebrated A's 5th birthday at the event this spring. She's already asking about doing it again next year.
9. I cry at movies. Even ones on the Hallmark Channel. I also sometimes cry at commercials. I am a weeper. So if you want to take me to a movie, even if you think it's a comedy, bring the Kleenex.
10. I am officially now a soccer mom. (sans mini van).
11. My birthdays have been some of my greatest joys (1994) and my worst nightmares (2009). So now I try to consciously find small, or big, joys especially on my birthday. Nothing wipes out a lousy moment like replacing it with lots of little good ones.
12. My favorite way to spend a night alone is curled up with a good book (and maybe a mug of hot chocolate. Or a box of Thin Mints).
13. If I drink soda, it's Coke or Cherry Coke. Not Pepsi, and nothing diet.
14. I prefer to set my watch on military time.
15. I may no longer be an Army wife, but my time as one left me with a new respect for our troops, their families, and a host of delightful friends who have stuck by my side long after my Army family years were done.
16. For my past two solo holidays, I have spent an amazing week in Paris with 3 girlfriends, and spent a fantastic 5 days in Dublin with long time friends and their kids. Including American Thanksgiving in Ireland. (Read that adventure here!)
17.I play lots of board games and card games. Euchre & Cribbage are my favorites.
18. My dad's career path has allowed me to meet a ton of really cool people. Favorite: President Reagan, He served me spaghetti and meatballs. I was 12, and he talked to me like a grown up instead of a kid. That's still one of my favorite memories.
19. I celebrated my birthday in Fenway Park with my dad 2 years ago. As far as birthday memories go, that one went a long way toward erasing the one bad one.20. I learned Flemish for a trip to Belgium. Turns out that was the smartest move I made, as I needed it to navigate the bus system to get to the towing company in the next town when our rental car was towed.
21. The WWII Memorial at sunset is one of my favorite places in Washington, DC.
22. My 2 best friends live in Nashville and Seattle. So between the 3 of us, we have the whole country covered. One loves orange (she went to UT).. The other had me pick all the orange M&M's out of the candy dishes for her wedding reception. I love orange only in the context of a rainbow, a sunrise, or a sunset, so I land clearly on the side of removing all the orange candy from the bowl. The things we do in the name of school spirit and rivalries...
23. I have had the same pen pal for over 22 years.
24. I've learned some valuable lessons from my mom. The best one is this: If you can laugh about it tomorrow, you might as well laugh about it now. Read more about my amazing mom here.
25. I've walked over 157 miles in 4 years in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. (on actual walk weekends. This does not count the training miles). This is why I walk. And this is the story of the 2013 walk.
26. My perfect date would be a picnic supper on the beach watching the sun sink over the horizon.
27. But a night out without my kids with adult conversation will just fine in absence of a Pacific sunset picnic.
28. I am a proud band geek and hope my kids grow to see the value in that someday. I've met most of my dearest friends through the band or some connection with a band friend and that's been well worth every long, hot day of practice.
29. I'm really proud of how well my girls are learning to respect our country. They stop when they hear the National Anthem, put their hands over their hearts (even if they sometimes choose the opposite hand - still working on that) and stand still until it's over. Sometimes they sing along. They did it once when we were still in the hot dog line, and I was delighted to see the adults follow their example.
30. We try to learn history in fun ways with our adventures. Living so close to so many amazing monuments and museums in DC makes it tough to do it all, but we give it a good effort!
29. My dad taught me how to dance.
30. I love jigsaw puzzles. They're extra fun with my brother and my parents, but I will do them on my own, too.
31. I own cowboy boots. I bought them when I visited Vanderbilt for the first time in 1993. I've had them resoled twice since then, and they're still my favorite pair of shoes.
32. I am a coleslaw snob. My great-grandmother's was the best. It used to be a staple at our family gatherings - even Thanksgiving dinner - and I've never had it better. My Grammie, and later my Aunt learned to make it pretty close to Great-Grandma's and that makes me smile. I am LOUSY at making coleslaw.
33. I participated in the chocolate pudding wrestling fundraiser for our Student Council. I've never been messier, nor had more fun, all at the same time.
34. I am seriously considering using spring break next year for a road trip to hit several MLB parks that I've not been to yet. If I have to be without my girls, I can't think of a much better week than a road trip with baseball and a girlfriend?
35. I love to get, and send, postcards.
36. I love socks. The crazier, the better.
37. I took a Braille class in college. Considering how terrible my eyesight is, I thought it would come in handy someday. For now, it just makes my kids think I am cool since I saved my "dot" flashcards and they can study from them.
This year lands in the pile of great birthdays with fun memories. My girls fixed me breakfast in bed (a graham cracker sandwich on toast) and went off to the first day of school with happy smiles.I got my fill of baseball (see #1) and laughed until I cried sharing memories and making new ones. Sitting here on day 2 of my 38th year, I am really thankful, and very, very blessed.The Hands (Behind the Scenes)
It's Behind the Scenes Tuesday, where we link up with Crystal and share the real life behind the "nearly perfect" (or not nearly perfect) snapshots of our lives. Read more about it here.
The picture:
The story:
Today was the first day of school. My oldest is in 3rd grade, and my baby is in kindergarten. (Mom is still slightly in denial). A (the little) has been pretty excited all summer about school, but the past few days I could see the anxiety setting in. So I wasn't sure how day 1 would go.
Everyone popped out of bed early, got ready to go, grabbed their backpacks, and then headed out the door. We walk about 2 blocks to school, so this makes mornings easy, and gives us some flexibility on departure time. A & S (the oldest) posed for all the pictures I asked for. And then A grabbed S's hand, said "Mama, S has got me all covered. BYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" They set off down the street, with nary a look back at me. They did ask me to walk all the way to the school door with them (I am thankful they let me come that far!) and then they disappeared into the fun adventure of a new school year. No looking back. No tears. No nerves. Just glee at the thought of a new year, a new day, a new teacher, new friends, and a very familiar big sister to help her through it all.
While mama stood on the sidewalk, teary eyed for a few minutes. With a smile in my heart, watching my two (not-so) little ones: brave, loving sisters tackling the world together.
The picture:
The story:
Today was the first day of school. My oldest is in 3rd grade, and my baby is in kindergarten. (Mom is still slightly in denial). A (the little) has been pretty excited all summer about school, but the past few days I could see the anxiety setting in. So I wasn't sure how day 1 would go.
Everyone popped out of bed early, got ready to go, grabbed their backpacks, and then headed out the door. We walk about 2 blocks to school, so this makes mornings easy, and gives us some flexibility on departure time. A & S (the oldest) posed for all the pictures I asked for. And then A grabbed S's hand, said "Mama, S has got me all covered. BYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" They set off down the street, with nary a look back at me. They did ask me to walk all the way to the school door with them (I am thankful they let me come that far!) and then they disappeared into the fun adventure of a new school year. No looking back. No tears. No nerves. Just glee at the thought of a new year, a new day, a new teacher, new friends, and a very familiar big sister to help her through it all.
While mama stood on the sidewalk, teary eyed for a few minutes. With a smile in my heart, watching my two (not-so) little ones: brave, loving sisters tackling the world together.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Last (Five Minute Friday)
I spent this weekend enjoying my last weekend with the girls before school starts Sept 3. (What? There's one more weekend, you say? Yes, I know. But that's a daddy weekend ... so I got to do our last play weekend this weekend. Therefore, writing FMF on Monday this week.)
On Fridays, we follow 3 easy rules.
1. write for 5 minutes flat. No editing, backtracking, over thinking. Typos welcome. (As much as I hate them, I try to leave them, except when it alters the meaning of what I was writing. Then, confession, I fix it).
2. Link up here. Invite others to join.
3. And then, the best part. You visit the person who linked up before you and leave them encouragement in their comments. It's the rule. And the heart of our FMF community.
So, here you have it. My 5 minutes on
LAST
It's the end of summer, and we're getting to the first day of school. Which is the :LAST first day of kindergarten in this house. I have 2 darling little girls, and am so blessed to have them both in my life. There were days when I thought we'd have more kids, and so I wonder if I didn't hold onto - savor - the last "first" memories as well as I might have. But the reality is that my immediate family is a family of 3. So I give thanks for the girls under my roof and take an extra minute to pause with each of them. Remembering the last firsts, and rejoicing with them both at their first firsts (S's first day of 3rd grade, A's first day of kindergarten) instead of wishing the moments away with thoughts of "there will not be another one with a first day of kindergarten". Celebrating my girls' fabulous love for school; their joy at walking out the door to a year filled with excitement. The lasts still come, to be sure, but the perspective is so much better when I savor the lasts as I watch them look at those very same moments as their firsts.
STOP.
On Fridays, we follow 3 easy rules.
1. write for 5 minutes flat. No editing, backtracking, over thinking. Typos welcome. (As much as I hate them, I try to leave them, except when it alters the meaning of what I was writing. Then, confession, I fix it).
2. Link up here. Invite others to join.
3. And then, the best part. You visit the person who linked up before you and leave them encouragement in their comments. It's the rule. And the heart of our FMF community.
So, here you have it. My 5 minutes on
LAST
It's the end of summer, and we're getting to the first day of school. Which is the :LAST first day of kindergarten in this house. I have 2 darling little girls, and am so blessed to have them both in my life. There were days when I thought we'd have more kids, and so I wonder if I didn't hold onto - savor - the last "first" memories as well as I might have. But the reality is that my immediate family is a family of 3. So I give thanks for the girls under my roof and take an extra minute to pause with each of them. Remembering the last firsts, and rejoicing with them both at their first firsts (S's first day of 3rd grade, A's first day of kindergarten) instead of wishing the moments away with thoughts of "there will not be another one with a first day of kindergarten". Celebrating my girls' fabulous love for school; their joy at walking out the door to a year filled with excitement. The lasts still come, to be sure, but the perspective is so much better when I savor the lasts as I watch them look at those very same moments as their firsts.
STOP.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Small (Five Minute Friday)
It's time for Five Minute Friday. Where we follow 3 easy rules and write from the heart for 5 quick minutes.
1. Set your timer and write for 5 minutes on the word of the week. Typos welcome. Don't backtrack, edit, or overthink. Just toss it out there.
2. Link up here with Lisa-Jo and the rest of the writing crowd
3. Visit the post of the brave writer who linked before you and leave them a little encouragement. That's the best part of FMF. Come play along with us!
Small.
Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the largest difference in our lives. September 3, 1994 was one of those days for me. It was a Saturday. (How do I remember? I overslept my alarm clock. For maybe the first time ever). I was supposed ot go on the band road trip to Alasbama that day. (story for another day). we were leaving at oh-dark-30 and I overslept. Woke up and was sad. Oh so sad, for missing all the fun, and for not making the bus I'd promised to be on.
Turned out it was the best oversleeping day ever. Because instead of spending my birthday with the band at a game (and really, there's no place I'd rather be than with my band friends), I had a day back on campus as a freshman, still figuring out my place in the owrld. And in the midst of that, I went for a walk with a new friend, and we had a really long, long and deep, deep talk. By deep, I mean the deepest there is. Kind of random with a little freshman girl and this older senior guy. But it was all part of a bigger plan than I could see that morning. because after that talk with that friend, the light went on. And I realized that I was not where I should be, and yet in the very place I should be all at the same time.
And late that night, on my 18th birthday, I got saved. Asked Jesus into my heart and my life has never been the same since. For once, I can say with great rejoicing, I am thankful to have overslept my alarm. Without that, I'd not be the woman I am today.
Stop.
1. Set your timer and write for 5 minutes on the word of the week. Typos welcome. Don't backtrack, edit, or overthink. Just toss it out there.
2. Link up here with Lisa-Jo and the rest of the writing crowd
3. Visit the post of the brave writer who linked before you and leave them a little encouragement. That's the best part of FMF. Come play along with us!
Small.
Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the largest difference in our lives. September 3, 1994 was one of those days for me. It was a Saturday. (How do I remember? I overslept my alarm clock. For maybe the first time ever). I was supposed ot go on the band road trip to Alasbama that day. (story for another day). we were leaving at oh-dark-30 and I overslept. Woke up and was sad. Oh so sad, for missing all the fun, and for not making the bus I'd promised to be on.
Turned out it was the best oversleeping day ever. Because instead of spending my birthday with the band at a game (and really, there's no place I'd rather be than with my band friends), I had a day back on campus as a freshman, still figuring out my place in the owrld. And in the midst of that, I went for a walk with a new friend, and we had a really long, long and deep, deep talk. By deep, I mean the deepest there is. Kind of random with a little freshman girl and this older senior guy. But it was all part of a bigger plan than I could see that morning. because after that talk with that friend, the light went on. And I realized that I was not where I should be, and yet in the very place I should be all at the same time.
And late that night, on my 18th birthday, I got saved. Asked Jesus into my heart and my life has never been the same since. For once, I can say with great rejoicing, I am thankful to have overslept my alarm. Without that, I'd not be the woman I am today.
Stop.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Lonely (Five Minute Friday)
Hello, Friday! I've just gotten home from a delightful night out with my brother. He's relocated to DC for fall semester (WOOOT!) and we caught the Nationals game tonight (complete with a Curly W!). Now I'm home, and it's time to write. Grabbing 5 minutes before bed and dumping my thoughts on the page. Five Minute Friday, where we write raw, unedited. And Lisa-Jo gave me a doozie this week.
Here's how it works:
1. Go to Lisa-Jo's page, find your prompt. Set your timer, and then just let it all out for 5 minutes. No editing, no overthinking. Spelling and grammar and punctuation errors and all.
2. Link up with the gang.
3. Then go to the person who linked before you. Read the post. Leave them some encouragement. For that's the best part of Five Minute Friday - loving on another brave soul who puts raw thoughts out there for all to read. You'll make their day, and you just might find that yours is made in the process.
Ready? This week's word is LONELY.
Go.
It's quiet. I walk in the door, same as every other morning after I drop the kids off at daycare. But the quiet is different. This morning it hangs over me. Lingers. Because today is the day the girls leave for their week with dad. There won't be giggles and squeals to lighten my day when I pick them up. In fact, if it weren't for plans with my brother, who just moved here, and church on Sunday, I'd never have to leave my house for the whole week they're gone.
Working from home has it's benefits (schedule is flexible, which is a huge blessing as a single mama). But the drawback is it can get incredibly lonely. Conference calls fill part of the day, but not all of it. And at 5pm when it's time to quit, then there is only silence. I can work late into the night and not even realize it, as there's no reason to stop.
The loneliness hangs, loudly. Even though there's not a sound, I can hear the quiet pounding in my ears. A few days of a break, on the daddy weekends, is welcome. I can do the grocery shopping without help. I can read a book and stay up a minute late without early morning wake ups. But more than a few days pushes my limits. So I find that I'm embracing some bravery and venturing out on my own. To a ballgame, which is great fun. 33,000 other folks wearing red and looking for Curly Ws is great fun. And trying new places, calling a friend to make sure I fill at least part of my evenings with getting out in public. Fending off the quiet and forcing myself out. It's how I battle the lonely feeling that wells up as my kids hug me goodbye.
Stop.
Here's how it works:
1. Go to Lisa-Jo's page, find your prompt. Set your timer, and then just let it all out for 5 minutes. No editing, no overthinking. Spelling and grammar and punctuation errors and all.
2. Link up with the gang.
3. Then go to the person who linked before you. Read the post. Leave them some encouragement. For that's the best part of Five Minute Friday - loving on another brave soul who puts raw thoughts out there for all to read. You'll make their day, and you just might find that yours is made in the process.
Ready? This week's word is LONELY.
Go.
It's quiet. I walk in the door, same as every other morning after I drop the kids off at daycare. But the quiet is different. This morning it hangs over me. Lingers. Because today is the day the girls leave for their week with dad. There won't be giggles and squeals to lighten my day when I pick them up. In fact, if it weren't for plans with my brother, who just moved here, and church on Sunday, I'd never have to leave my house for the whole week they're gone.
Working from home has it's benefits (schedule is flexible, which is a huge blessing as a single mama). But the drawback is it can get incredibly lonely. Conference calls fill part of the day, but not all of it. And at 5pm when it's time to quit, then there is only silence. I can work late into the night and not even realize it, as there's no reason to stop.
The loneliness hangs, loudly. Even though there's not a sound, I can hear the quiet pounding in my ears. A few days of a break, on the daddy weekends, is welcome. I can do the grocery shopping without help. I can read a book and stay up a minute late without early morning wake ups. But more than a few days pushes my limits. So I find that I'm embracing some bravery and venturing out on my own. To a ballgame, which is great fun. 33,000 other folks wearing red and looking for Curly Ws is great fun. And trying new places, calling a friend to make sure I fill at least part of my evenings with getting out in public. Fending off the quiet and forcing myself out. It's how I battle the lonely feeling that wells up as my kids hug me goodbye.
Stop.
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