Tuesday, May 30, 2006

05.30.2006

So, the last two posts have been somewhat random ramblimgs about NY. Here are a final few:

1. Jesus loves technology. My brother keeps testing the Lord and God proves faithful in finding and repairing all that is lost and broken (i.e. Driver’s license, memory cards, CD’s, and telephones). Some people lay a fleece before the Lord, JM chooses electronics.
2. I really love the city.
3. Yay for Fleet Week!
4. I didn’t realize that everyone in NY smokes. It’s crazy.
5. Finally got to visit Grand Central and the acoustically perfect corridors rock my face.
6. It’s so sad about CBGB.
7. Our driver kept calling the Flat Iron building the Flat ITEM building.
8. I ran into the girl I sat next to on the plane. Does anyone know the odds of that in a city of 5,000,000 people?
9. Boarding is such sweet sorrow. L
10. The heavens from the other side are so beautiful.
11. Met one of the Atlanta Falcons doctors who knows my friend Stephen Herndon and Bubba (Andy) Sparxxx. It is Truly a small world.
12. “Bialystock & Bloom” is totally stuck in my head.
13. JM and I racked up 3000 points at Dave & Buster’s in about 30 minutes. I think it was a new record for us. Thank you Wheel of Fortune.
14. “You’re an idiot. Goodbye.”
15. “The Estreets”
16. The window in St. John the Divine has a 40 foot circumference. Does anyone realize that is nearly six times my size? And I was very interested to learn that the Statue of Liberty could fit inside that church.

I will post a few pictures very soon!

Today, unfortunately, it’s back to the real world. I really had a blast this week, and can’t wait to visit again. I love having a brother in the city, and although I missed my friend Jenn b/c my phones were dead, I will visit her again soon!

Still have some family drama. At this point… it’s all really funny.

I have not finished my Brennan Manning book… but I have learned so much about trust and about the Lord. I’ll share all of that later.

I’m pumped about Taylor Hicks winning American Idol. Here are a few comments that were emailed back and forth with a few friends:

1. Taylor knew he was getting 'excited' which is why he almost ran away from Toni B.
2. I thought she was lip-syncing or the guy controlling her microphone was messing with her. Apparently she missed the sound check.
3. I don't like Ms. McPhee. She's a camera-hog, and she so had a wardrobe malfunction a few weeks ago with yellow dress. We (America) almost saw more than sunshine on TV from the angle the cameraman was using.
4. Don't make fun of Elliot's mama.
5. The lead singer of LIVE should NEVER EVER EVER sing falsetto. He stunk.
6. Ace needs a haircut.
7. The "Puck & Pickler" moments were cheesy except for her screaming like a little girl over that lobster.
8. My all-time favorite moment of last night was when Clay Aiken came out and that other guy freaked. I seriously wet my pants.
9. Ryan Seacrest cut his hand in rehearsal yesterday. I would gladly band-aid him up even though he's only 5 feet tall. :)
10. Prince was the best surprise. I think he did a good job. And were the back-up dancers twins??
11. I'm so glad Taylor won. I think he knew he was a shoe-in.
12. Speaking from experience, Mandisa needs to stick to skirts. Those black pants didn't do anything good for her.
13. More votes that any presidential election... WOW.
14. I thought Dionne was dead. I thought she died before she finished all those Psychic Network commercials. I was very surprised to see her.
15. The Montage for Simon's introduction... was awesome. The Ego Has Landed.
16. Elliot should not attempt vocal runs while Mary J. was singing. He should just smile at her, and mouth the words.
17. Meatloaf... does he have some sort of sickness?? I love Meatloaf, but he scared me when he opened his mouth. I was very impressed that he was trying to get into the song though.

1) meatloaf needed either a drink or some ritalin- but God love him
2) clay's look was awesome. i love the dark hair and the length
3) chris rocked the house last night.. i wasn't always a fan of his, but i think vocally, he is getting better and his confidence makes him awesome
4) toni braxton was trying to get taylor a stiffie
5) prince is really a woman with a deep voice... is he/she/the symbol married to one, both, or neither of those back up singer/dancers?
6) mary j was the bomb and elliott was just too sweet singing with him... does his mom remind anyone else of paula o'brien or is it just me?
7) cat was good to me, but i'm SO SO glad taylor won... first, because he is rep-uh-zentin' alabama, secondly, because i could watch him perform all day... and, he is a cutie to me, albeit he favors jay leno...

#1….Meatloaf was amazing…
#2….Love..Love..Love Clay..I almost had a heart attack when he came on stage.
#3….Dionne needs to go home.
#4….Prince was not good.
#5….Have no idea what Toni Braxton was doing.
#6….Mary J was awesome..Although, I think she may have scared Elliott a little..
#7….by the way, Cat is amazing…I love her…”some where over the rainbow…..”

soul patrol!!!!

prince was absolutely postively AMAZING!!

dionne warwick was great, but mandisa kicked all their butts, even mcphee's.

paris will go far, but she needed some robitussin last night...

they could have left the kelly pickler/wolfgang puck bit OUT...it was not funny.

i was VERY impressed w/ all the idols' group performances...the celebrity guest singers.......first of all, toni braxton couldn't be understood; cat sang w/ howard r from tech support which was very sweet of him to do; mary j was the best outta all of 'em...that's my girl.

i am now in love w/ clay aiken ...was so sexy to me last night....i almost slipped off my leather couch. casi, sorry hon, but who is ryan reynolds?
Anyway… that’s my weekend in a nutshell! Hope all is well!!!

Monday, May 29, 2006

05.29.2006

1. Flat Item Building
2. No pictures.
3. That castle's not really that big. :(
4. Must see Over the Hedge
5. Eating at the Seinfeld restaurant and not having any clue we were there until the there.
6. Double decker tours. I definite must-do.
7. Fleet week.
8. McDreamy in Times Square. Yeah!
9. Jorge, and this is my driver Theo.
10. Random weddings in parks.
11. Okay... all the parks.

I love New York. It's a zoo, and it's expensive, but man it's fun!!!

Saturday, May 27, 2006

05.27.2006

Why I love being in New York:

1. Crazy homeless people who carry on conversations with themselves about the injustice of metrocards, their program, and having sex with multiple people, Iesha. Poor Iesha, I bet she doesn't know what she's getting herself into.
2. Not crying on the airplane for the first time. God is good.
3. Wondering how any pilot, flight attendant, astronomer, or astrophysicist couldn't believe in God after seeing the heavens the way they do.
4. Seeing the city from a double-decker. It's way under-rated and well worth the money.
5. Getting to see the city for myself.
6. Catching New Yorkers hear my accent and promptly asking where I'm from. I just love to say the words "Thanks" to throw them off.
7. The kindness of strangers in the city. Even with cellphones. Happy Birthday Amy at Cafe Luxembourg.
8. Broadway shows. They rock.
9. Having a brother who lives in town so I don't have to pay for a hotel.

Got to LaGuardia Friday morning at 9:00. I really am so thankful for my flight. I really hate to fly, and have cried the last two times. I just spent time praying and being thankful for seeing the sky and the heavens, and sang p&w songs really softly. The girl beside me was named Gilda, she was from Norway, had been in Costa Rica, but the city was her pitstop. JM and I actually ran into her Saturday in the Village. The statistics of me seeing anyone I know are like a million to one, but we fully saw her, and we swapped introductions. Back to Friday -- there was a fog bank, so we had to circle for a while. My right ear got incredibly stopped up, but I enjoyed the flight. JM met me at the airport, and went to his office to drop off my bags. Then... I had the day to myself. Headed to Rockefellar, and then bought some new kicks. FYI -- wear good shoes and socks the first time you come in the city. People average 3000 steps a day, and you will bypass that in an hour. Don't make my mistake! Basically, I just hung around, and walked until JM got off. We came to his apartment to drop off bags, then went to see Hairspray. That is a great show!!! "Good Morning Baltimore!!" Definitely a must see. Took a cab and headed to JM's apartment.

Saturday morning...

Well... I've gotta go.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

05.23.2006

So… here’s my quick entry for the day or so.

Went to the doctor yesterday and found out that I can no longer put off surgery. I am going to have my nose operated on… again… before Christmas. Probably before September. Yesterday, I have five ENT’s with some sort of tool looking in my nostrils and conferring “Yes, Jennifer, you need to have that fixed”. I have to have another allergy test, and will be starting the shots very soon. I’m okay with having to start the shot therapy… I have put it off for ten years and have now come to grips that it’s just a tiny little needle. The allergy test is what gets me. I’m HIGHLY allergic, and my reaction was off the charts the last time I had a test. I have to find someone to stay with me for a few days because the high level of total allergens in my system could make me very sick. Let’s just say, two days after my first allergy test, I woke up tucked underneath my daybed hallucinating about bananas. I had a fever of 102. I am praying that this time will not be the same.

Had some family drama this weekend that upset my entire family. Wow… that’s all I can say right now.

Moving: Was able to get everything moved into my friend’s apartment. I’m staying with a friend named Jenn in Cleveland until I can figure out what I’m going to do. I’m already apartment/house hunting, and will hopefully find something VERY soon. Yesterday, I relinquished my keys to the lady that bought my house (and subsequently kicked me out). She was so sweet. She cried and hugged me, and kept apologizing for making me leave. I cried because I really did like my little place, but I know that I know that I know that I know that God allowed this to happen for a reason. And it couldn’t have come at any better time too. God is good… ALL THE TIME.

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.” Psalm 25:4-7

While this has nothing to do with anything, I think I’ll share this. When I came to Lee (7 years ago… wow), I had it in my head that I would be okay, and that for whatever reason, these people didn’t need me and I didn’t need them. I came for a husband. The degree was just my cover. Within a week’s time, I discovered not only did these people WANT to need me, but I desperately needed them. I kinda feel like I’m in that same place with God. I can give a lot of lip service that I don’t need God, or my actions will indicate that I’m doing fine without some intervention, but it is all the opposite. My heart is screaming “Please hear and see what I’m not saying”. Lindell Cooley wrote a song with these words to the chorus:

I need you like the desert needs the rain,
I need you like the ocean needs the streams,
I need you like the morning needs the sun,
I need you, Lord you are my only One.

Strange as it seems, I did need God to intervene for me. I would have stayed in my apartment, until I became afraid I would never leave. I was holding on to memories in that apartment that I desperately had to let go of. Everyday we learn a new niche in God’s mercy and the depth of his love.

Friday, May 19, 2006

05.19.2006

Haven't blogged in a few days... definitely indicative of how my week has been! My allergies have been really, really, really bad. Two nights this week, I went to bed before 9:00, which is ridiculous since I love to stay up late. I just couldn't breathe... so I had to call it a day both times.

Tonight will be the last time I blog for at least a few days unless I can figure out how to hook up into my new roomie's cable internet. Hopefully we'll be able to get that squared away soon.

Right now:

I have cute shoes (black strappy espadrilles) that I got for $12.

My house looks as though a tsunami hit and left only the rubble. (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but that's how it feels.)

I'm still clogged up, but I am holding out hope.


Lord... how did I accumulate all this crap???? I have wondered that all week. Work has been... disastrous... at best. There is an adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Well... this week I broke everything I touched, it feels like, thus everything needs repair. Wow. Thank God for things getting better.

As stupid as this sounds, I feel like my week is a direct result of me running my mouth. You know, what you sow, you also reap. Well, I just need to keep my big mouth shut. Let's just leave it at that. There is alot of other personal stuff going on... but you know, some things just aren't appropriate to blog about. :D (You know who you are!)

I'm excited about next weekend... visiting NYC. I'm pumped about getting to see John Mark. The weekend after that, I will be in the ATL for a wedding, and get to see a few more old friends. The week after that... I could go on. Back to my point, I am excited about NYC. My brother sent me a message that I thought was hysterical:
"I'm excited to see you... and not like Jessie Spano's rendition either..."

I love it. For those of you who do, please pray that I will get everything I need to done tonight. I must do so much!!! Beginning with... unplugging my computer. :(

Much love... JLC

Sunday, May 14, 2006

05.14.2006

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom who is BY FAR the coolest person I know.


(So this is not what we look like normally, but expresses that she is always willing to have fun!)





I am still reading the greatest book ever... and I ran across this tonight in my readings:

"To be grateful for an unanswered prayer, to give thanks in a state of interior desolation, to trust in the love of God in the face of the marvels, cruel circumstances, obscenities and commonplaces of life is to whisper a doxology in the darkness."

To that I say "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer". Psalm 19:14

Saturday, May 13, 2006

05.13.2006

So, I have my page open in another browser and am listening to "Beautiful Love" by The Afters... and I'm just happy. Keep in my mind, my family is about to have to endure a few surgeries, two members are going through physical therapy, my cousin just broke up with her first love, my house is a disaster because I am moving, ... but I'm in this really happy place in my head. God is so good, and SOVEREIGN, and In control, and I don't know what he's doing, but here's to Him doing something Good that furthers His Kingdom, and is for His Glory.

I'm so thankful for things in my life! I found picture of me and BW... and it made me glad that I experienced that, but thankful that I'm not married to him, you know? I'm glad he and his wife A. are happy and are expanding their family. I've looked through other pictures of people I love, yes, there's one other person in particular, and I see two things -- 1) all the many mistakes I made, and 2) I've been blessed with peeps in my life. I'm not proud of anything I did, and I know it was wrong. I also know that I can't undo anything, but move on. I still beat myself up about it, and it's hard and takes time to stop doing that, but it will happen, and regardless, I'm thankful for that person in my life. Who knows?!? There are other new people (Okay, I think we all know I am talking about guys), but I don't know where everything stands right now. Segway... I was also thinking that my life hasn't been so boring or dull. I really am so blessed. I am so thankful for this season of personal redemption, and thankful for future redemption!

Ginny Owens has a song out, and there is a line that is worth sharing, because I've been very encouraged by it:

I can hardly wait until the time
when you will turn my darkness into light
and i'll finally find my way to heaven's door
where i won't need my faith anymore.

It's inspiring and awesome to know that one day, we won't need our faith anymore. There will be no more need for trust, or mistrust... it will all disolve away. Sometimes, I can't get my head around this, but know that THIS is true, and will come to pass sooner than we think!

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

05.09.2006

WHEW!!!

Today I had a little scare thinking I wasn't going to have a place to live, but things worked out.

Sidenote: I just realized that I did not eat dinner! What is wrong with me?

Tomorrow: Work... Church... Packing before bed.
Thursday: Work... Bible study... Packing before bed.
Friday: Work... Packing, and my precious friend is going to let me move a few things in.

I just want to go on record that I am so blessed. Thank God for my friends, and even those that I am not super close with. It's funny, we hear and read so often about God working things together for our good, but how often do we really stop and experience it?

Lord, thank you for the clarity to relish the time that you give me and understand that you are Sovereign and in complete control of my life. Thank you for Your guidance, Your will, but most importantly, Your timing. Thank you for being such a good God.

Sunday, May 7, 2006

05.07.2006

"I try to say goodbye, and I choke..."

It's funny how the last four days of my life have been bizarre and totally unexplainable, but I'm trying.

As far as attitude, I'm really trying to keep perspective on my situation. I feel like I have talked and talked about things I'm going to do, and that maybe God got tired of hearing me run my mouth and decided to call my bluff. I hope so. With that said... strangely enough I am getting excited about all of the moving and new start, etc.

While watching Grey's Anatomy, I started thinking about trust, and that my situation is all about trusting God and knowing that He is in control, and I am not. All of the things I am in control of in my life are falling apart and crumbling in my hands. This is why God is God and I am not.

Reading Brennan Manning's Ruthless Trust again, I came across two passages again last night: "Wallowing in shame, remorse, self-hatred, and guilt over real or imagined failings in our past lives betrays a distrust in the love of God. It shows that we have not accepted the acceptance of Jesus Christ and thus have rejected the total sufficiency of his redeeming work. Preoccupation with our past sins, present weaknesses, and character defects gets our emotions churning in self-destructive ways, closes us within the mighty citadel of self, and preempts the presence of a compassionate God."

Friday, May 5, 2006

05.05.2006

Attitude...

Last night's bible study was all about attitude. I need an attitude adjustment. Seriously.

I am so thankful for things in my life. It is really hard not to blog about the crappy things that happen, and I am not referring at all to the moving situation, I mean LOTS of other things.

It's amazing how you think you know people but you really don't.

Thursday, May 4, 2006

05.04.2006 Again...

So, here's how today played out. I posted a blog this morning... but Oh so much has happened...

Yesterday, a gentleman pulled up with a mower and got out in front of my house. Aware that my landlords use a lawn service, I asked the man if I could help him, and then directed him to contact the person that hired him, so he could contact them and get the correct address.

No big deal... right???

Today, I come home and found a note taped to my door:

Jennifer,
I sent you a certified letter on 4/27/06 that stated that you have 30 days as of May 1 to leave the premises as I will take ownership on that day. If you have any questions, please call me.

B.

And I promptly freaked out. First, I laughed... I mean... WHO GETS EVICTED????? Then I talked to a neighbor that was totally in shock. Then I called the lady, and then I cried.

I decided that I needed to be around other people so I wouldn't cry or do something drastic, so I went to bible study, and I am excited to say that I have a temporary place to live! I don't know what God is doing, but I don't think I have any choice in this one but to be obedient. Thank you God for unexpected blessings. The twist in the story is that I am going to NYC for Memorial Day, which means I have two and a half weeks to pack up my whole life and relocate everything. Here's to miracles happening.

05.04.2006

Allergies!!!

Yesterday, I had a teambuilding day at one of the local state parks for a leadership class I'm taking. I sneezed so much I stopped two events. This first week of May is always the worst for me. Something pollenates this week in Tennessee, and my poor sinuses just go haywire!

I figured out that I am never at home. I have, literally, so much to do before a meeting this weekend, and haven't accomplished the first thing. I'm sure someone's going to be upset, but right now there is nothing I can do about it! With that said, I am supposed to go to Atlanta Friday night, meeting Saturday morning, time with Mom & Grandparents Saturday afternoon, time with C. & M. Saturday night (I've got stuff I need to get to both of them), then church in AL Sunday morning, and church in the ATL sunday night... then I can drive home.

I'm about sick of gas prices... but I'm trying to be patient. I think I've been kinda short-tempered with people lately, and I'm not sure why. I am sort of coming out of the winter funk... if that makes sense! I have a ridiculously busy summer ahead of me, including moving somewhere??, and I'm just trying to keep my head above water.

Haven't read a lick this week, but that's okay! I have walked 10+ miles already, so I'm going to get my reading slide.

I tried to find a picture of a big nose, but couldn't. I'll find one and post it soon!!!

Monday, May 1, 2006

05.01.2006

Can I just tell you that I hate to hurt people's feelings? I have a situation and I just don't know how to deal!

Work was good today... My hair is still freaking people out.

I have a ton of things to do before this weekend, and it's really looking like none of them are going to get done. Oh well...