Go here and tell her I sent you!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Giveaway
In honor of her 100th post this week, Ministrysofabulous is giving away a big basket of goodies. This is not just open to women. Men, mother's day is coming, and I don't know a woman who wouldn't love a basket of 100 things!
Go here and tell her I sent you!
Go here and tell her I sent you!
AJAM 2008
Last year, a few dear friends and I got together for a "Girls Weekend". We'd gotten together the year before to catch up and have a good time. We all went to college together and were in the same sorority. Honestly, had it not been for the sorority, it's highly likely that I would have never met these three. We use the weekend to get away, reminsce and be silly. When we were planning for last year, I got inspired enough to come up with a title and had t-shirts made. A.J.A.M. is the first letter of our first initals (Amanda, Jennifer, Aubre, & Miranda). The back of the shirts (I thought) really explained what it meant... What do you do when you get in A JAM? You get away and have fun!
Well, it's that time again... time for AJAM 2008. I don't know why I get so excited doing stuff for this, but we really do have a good time on these weekend retreats. We had initally intended for it to be bigger (more people) and different (location), but with four busy life and work schedules, we were lucky to find a weekend between January and June that we could all get away. Honestly, I've been thinking about and planning for this retreat since December. You know... what I wanted to do, what to bring, what activities, etc. This year, I decided to do Swag Bags -- just like celebrities. Just a bunch of stuff that is useful and cute. It's definitely been interesting to try and find alot of swag stuff that is suited to the ladies' personalities, but also doesn't cost me a fortune. Last year, we decided to bring something for each of the other ladies. One of our friends, who shall remain NAMELESS sortof, didn't understand and only brought one gift. This year, I figured out what I wanted to give (as my individual gift), and thought it would be cute to coordinate the other girls gifts with mine.
As a sidenote, I really try to find the best cards possible. I buy cards all the time for occassions all through out the year. As I was in Walgreens last week, I ran across three identical cards. There were four women (from the 40's or 50's) decked out. There was no writing on the front. The inside said something to the effect of, "I'm ready for a Girls' Night Out". I was floored and ecstatic to find the perfect cards for this event!
Since we had a boo-boo with the nameless friend last year, I decided to make things crystal clear and send out cards and include exactly detailed information including a personal color for the gifts from each lady. I actually COLOR-CODED the cards!!!! I was able to give out two of the cards last week, and made sure to tell those two friends to make sure NOT to tell anyone their color. I was so pumped about the surprise.
Well... lo and behold, that same friend who only brought one gift last year decided to MASS EMAIL all of us this morning, and without shame, mentioned what color her stuff was.
:(
And now I'm sad because she's partially spoiled the surprise.
I'm seriously contemplating putting her through a mini-induction, or freezing ALL of her underwear.
Well, it's that time again... time for AJAM 2008. I don't know why I get so excited doing stuff for this, but we really do have a good time on these weekend retreats. We had initally intended for it to be bigger (more people) and different (location), but with four busy life and work schedules, we were lucky to find a weekend between January and June that we could all get away. Honestly, I've been thinking about and planning for this retreat since December. You know... what I wanted to do, what to bring, what activities, etc. This year, I decided to do Swag Bags -- just like celebrities. Just a bunch of stuff that is useful and cute. It's definitely been interesting to try and find alot of swag stuff that is suited to the ladies' personalities, but also doesn't cost me a fortune. Last year, we decided to bring something for each of the other ladies. One of our friends, who shall remain NAMELESS sortof, didn't understand and only brought one gift. This year, I figured out what I wanted to give (as my individual gift), and thought it would be cute to coordinate the other girls gifts with mine.
As a sidenote, I really try to find the best cards possible. I buy cards all the time for occassions all through out the year. As I was in Walgreens last week, I ran across three identical cards. There were four women (from the 40's or 50's) decked out. There was no writing on the front. The inside said something to the effect of, "I'm ready for a Girls' Night Out". I was floored and ecstatic to find the perfect cards for this event!
Since we had a boo-boo with the nameless friend last year, I decided to make things crystal clear and send out cards and include exactly detailed information including a personal color for the gifts from each lady. I actually COLOR-CODED the cards!!!! I was able to give out two of the cards last week, and made sure to tell those two friends to make sure NOT to tell anyone their color. I was so pumped about the surprise.
Well... lo and behold, that same friend who only brought one gift last year decided to MASS EMAIL all of us this morning, and without shame, mentioned what color her stuff was.
:(
And now I'm sad because she's partially spoiled the surprise.
I'm seriously contemplating putting her through a mini-induction, or freezing ALL of her underwear.
Friday, March 28, 2008
fill in the blank...
Anne Jackson's Flowerdust is linked on my sidebar, and to just say that I enjoy her is an understatement and injustice. She's great!
A few days ago she posted Fill in The Blank. I would love to hear your responses!!!
A few days ago she posted Fill in The Blank. I would love to hear your responses!!!
You should go read...
This morning I had time to read though the blogs I check daily (as opposed to merely skimming through a few of them).
The Futurist has a post entitled "My struggle with homosexuality" that is awesome. Go check it out.
The Futurist has a post entitled "My struggle with homosexuality" that is awesome. Go check it out.
Pretending is safer than honesty and vulnerability
**I'm a little gunshy to blog about this, but I'm doing it anyway.**
Last night, I went to the bible study that meets at my house. 10 Ladies later, we started with prayer requests. Then, we watched the Rob Bell Nooma video about Rhythm.
It dealt with hearing the song of God, and reasons why we don’t hear it. He talked about your life being in tune. Sitting at my desk right now, I can’t regurgitate the video to you. What sticks out to me more was the conversation we had and an analogy that was brought out. How, in relationships, our feelings are the source of the tunes we hear. Sometimes we hear jealousy, anger, frustration, hurt, and disappointment. Other times, other relationship, we hear sweet sounds, the melody, the rhythm, all-falling together succinctly to be the mellifluous cacophony that is life. (That might read like an oxymoron, but … such is life.) There was mention of the kind of people that are in our life, the ones that we feel are “out of tune”.
Philippians 4:8-9 got brought into the conversation too: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I had made a comment prior to the scripture that, I think there’s a fine line where we as believers love and serve God because we believe He is The God that does ______ (stuff), versus the God that Is, and that we might fall short in doing what we need to do because we have faith that says that God will just drop stuff in our lives and in our lap.
Obviously, I did not expound on this the way that I had been thinking it over in my head.
But after hearing the verse and analogy aloud, the conversation (to me) seemed to shift that we need to solely focus on “good things”. I got nauseated thinking about prosperity gospel and the good life. And yes, I got a visual of Joel Osteen smiling at me in my head. (I like Joel, don’t get me wrong… but see where I’m going with this.) In that split second of nausea, Joel Osteen, and goodness, I became ashamed, and made a feeble attempt to rectify what I said.
Really, Feeble is an understatement, but I’m not bashing myself on here.
But the more I’ve thought about the video and the conversation that came last night, the more introspective I’ve become. Honestly, I’m not the most positive person. I aspire to be a glass half full person, but in spite of my optimism, I do have a side of realism.
And I’m unapologetic for it.
As I was listening last night, my initial thought was that I needed to walk away from a lot of my friends because of any negativity, any “out-of-tune-ness” that I project. I have been blunt, and have definitely hurt people’s feelings expressing opinions about that.
Most of those were uninvited opinions, but I can’t take them back.
And this morning, as I was worrying/thinking/pondering, I found this quote (and my header):
"Pretending is safer than honesty and vulnerability"
Life is a beautiful disaster. Frankly y’all, I’ve been a poser too many years of my life. I’ve coddled friends and family, co-workers, church members, and strangers with things either just to have a conversation, or out of fear and rejection. Through all of high school, I played games just to have friends. In college, I petted and coddled friends for acceptance. Even at work, I have patronized people for fear that I will lose what I consider precious. Things like:
“No, we can do whatever you want.”
“But you don’t REALLY know him; He’s a great guy. “
“I think that shirt is so cute!”
“I love your hair.”
or my personal favorite…
“How are you?”
But it’s vanity. All of it. A grand illusion of smoke and mirros that equates to nothing (at times) but a woman trying to figure out who she is.
And the beautiful jagged flipside of it all is that, I’ve been coddled too.
The reality is that, I don’t ever want to pretend again. The last two years of my life have been peeling away the layers of pretension and exposing who I am, the beautiful and ugly, so that God can deal with it all. Most things I have said to friends that have been blunt have been out of love. I want my peeps (all of them) to be better. I want to be better. I want friends that speak truth into my life, even if it is painful, or bitter tasting. I don’t think life is about living the “good” all the time. For me, it’s about living the reality of today, knowing full well my hope for tomorrow.
“By all means let’s be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains fall out.” Richard Dawkins.
Last night, I went to the bible study that meets at my house. 10 Ladies later, we started with prayer requests. Then, we watched the Rob Bell Nooma video about Rhythm.
It dealt with hearing the song of God, and reasons why we don’t hear it. He talked about your life being in tune. Sitting at my desk right now, I can’t regurgitate the video to you. What sticks out to me more was the conversation we had and an analogy that was brought out. How, in relationships, our feelings are the source of the tunes we hear. Sometimes we hear jealousy, anger, frustration, hurt, and disappointment. Other times, other relationship, we hear sweet sounds, the melody, the rhythm, all-falling together succinctly to be the mellifluous cacophony that is life. (That might read like an oxymoron, but … such is life.) There was mention of the kind of people that are in our life, the ones that we feel are “out of tune”.
Philippians 4:8-9 got brought into the conversation too: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I had made a comment prior to the scripture that, I think there’s a fine line where we as believers love and serve God because we believe He is The God that does ______ (stuff), versus the God that Is, and that we might fall short in doing what we need to do because we have faith that says that God will just drop stuff in our lives and in our lap.
Obviously, I did not expound on this the way that I had been thinking it over in my head.
But after hearing the verse and analogy aloud, the conversation (to me) seemed to shift that we need to solely focus on “good things”. I got nauseated thinking about prosperity gospel and the good life. And yes, I got a visual of Joel Osteen smiling at me in my head. (I like Joel, don’t get me wrong… but see where I’m going with this.) In that split second of nausea, Joel Osteen, and goodness, I became ashamed, and made a feeble attempt to rectify what I said.
Really, Feeble is an understatement, but I’m not bashing myself on here.
But the more I’ve thought about the video and the conversation that came last night, the more introspective I’ve become. Honestly, I’m not the most positive person. I aspire to be a glass half full person, but in spite of my optimism, I do have a side of realism.
And I’m unapologetic for it.
As I was listening last night, my initial thought was that I needed to walk away from a lot of my friends because of any negativity, any “out-of-tune-ness” that I project. I have been blunt, and have definitely hurt people’s feelings expressing opinions about that.
Most of those were uninvited opinions, but I can’t take them back.
And this morning, as I was worrying/thinking/pondering, I found this quote (and my header):
"Pretending is safer than honesty and vulnerability"
Life is a beautiful disaster. Frankly y’all, I’ve been a poser too many years of my life. I’ve coddled friends and family, co-workers, church members, and strangers with things either just to have a conversation, or out of fear and rejection. Through all of high school, I played games just to have friends. In college, I petted and coddled friends for acceptance. Even at work, I have patronized people for fear that I will lose what I consider precious. Things like:
“No, we can do whatever you want.”
“But you don’t REALLY know him; He’s a great guy. “
“I think that shirt is so cute!”
“I love your hair.”
or my personal favorite…
“How are you?”
But it’s vanity. All of it. A grand illusion of smoke and mirros that equates to nothing (at times) but a woman trying to figure out who she is.
And the beautiful jagged flipside of it all is that, I’ve been coddled too.
The reality is that, I don’t ever want to pretend again. The last two years of my life have been peeling away the layers of pretension and exposing who I am, the beautiful and ugly, so that God can deal with it all. Most things I have said to friends that have been blunt have been out of love. I want my peeps (all of them) to be better. I want to be better. I want friends that speak truth into my life, even if it is painful, or bitter tasting. I don’t think life is about living the “good” all the time. For me, it’s about living the reality of today, knowing full well my hope for tomorrow.
“By all means let’s be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains fall out.” Richard Dawkins.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
I'm quitting my day job to be the weather girl
There is a part of me that is slightly jealous that meteorologists only have to be right ONE out of THREE DAYS. That's right... with those odds -- 33% -- You Too! can predict the weather!!! Roll Credits!!! News at Five!! It's Easter! It's 70 Degrees today! Tomorrow -- SNOW!! The next day -- 95!
Oi.
Who can dress with this mess?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speaking of dressing, last October, I finally unloaded all of the items I've so carefully put into a storage unit. Some took up residence in the local landfill. I had a lot of furniture that I had tried desperately to sell, and in the midst of our unloading, the Lord sent someone by who had lost everything in a fire. He even had a truck! The rest of the stuff went home with my mom to be stored until I get married.
That's right... I'm getting married. I just don't know when. :)
Included in all that hullabaloo were my spring/summer clothes. My mom, the wonderful, kind woman that she is, was able to bring them to me today! We also got to have lunch and do a little shopping!! Or alot!! Either way, we had a blast!!
I count it a privilege to get to spoil my Mom when I can. It's because of her that I have a really hard time receiving gifts. (Sorry,... but that's definitely NOT my love language.) She's such a giver, so I can't really express how much fun I had giving back to her. Ironically enough, she kept telling me she'd put $$ in my account. Silly woman.
Oi.
Who can dress with this mess?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speaking of dressing, last October, I finally unloaded all of the items I've so carefully put into a storage unit. Some took up residence in the local landfill. I had a lot of furniture that I had tried desperately to sell, and in the midst of our unloading, the Lord sent someone by who had lost everything in a fire. He even had a truck! The rest of the stuff went home with my mom to be stored until I get married.
That's right... I'm getting married. I just don't know when. :)
Included in all that hullabaloo were my spring/summer clothes. My mom, the wonderful, kind woman that she is, was able to bring them to me today! We also got to have lunch and do a little shopping!! Or alot!! Either way, we had a blast!!
I count it a privilege to get to spoil my Mom when I can. It's because of her that I have a really hard time receiving gifts. (Sorry,... but that's definitely NOT my love language.) She's such a giver, so I can't really express how much fun I had giving back to her. Ironically enough, she kept telling me she'd put $$ in my account. Silly woman.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Jesus has Risen, but my underwear is falling down!
I realize that I don't share alot of funny stories on this blawg. I'd like to think I'm a funny person, funny-sarcastic if you will. I tell myself that, when I'm with my friends, I know how to keep them entertained.
Well... in keeping with that tradition, it seems only fitting to humiliate myself on the internet right?
Yesterday was Easter. I had pretty much decided on wearing another dress to church, but Saturday, after treating myself to a fabulous and long-overdue pedicure and manicure, I decided that I really wanted to buy something pretty for Easter. Growing up a Pentecostal pastor's kid in the 80's, I have a decade's worth of pictures from Easters gone by wearing no less than 57 pounds of lace, pastels and patent leather. If it didn't have a coordinating jacket, white patent leather shoes or purse, and the occasional gloves and hat, it was not fit for Easter Sunday Morning. With that said, I have a hard time not dressing up, or at least trying to on Easter. It has nothing to do with other people, it has to do with Jesus. He gave me His Best, so it can't kill me to look nice for Him, you know?
Anywho... I went into Belk's in Cleve and as I was searching, I uncovered the most beautiful dress for me. Let me also throw in that, I don't buy too many dresses. Insecurity with my body and the gain of 40 unwanted pounds rarely leaves me in a mood to buy anything "dress-related" for fear that I will look pregnant. An unwanted pregnancy, no doubt? Or a second immaculate conception? I digress.
It's a 50's style dress, heavy material in Kelly Green. I wish I had a picture, but I'll have to take it tonight. Asked what my favorite color was as a child, my response was always, "Geen". So, you can imagine my delight when not only was the dress gorgeous and reasonably priced (50% off), it was the first one I tried on, and it fit perfectly.
See, Jesus really does love me.
I wish that the search for lovely accessories had been so fruitful, but I knew I was pushing the line with this dress, so I graciously wore accessories I already had at home.
On Easter Morn, my friend Miranda showed up at my house around 10:00 to do some shopping of her own. She thought was dress was FABULOUS too. So after a few finishing touches, we were off to church.
Did I mention I wore gorgeous open-toed black patent leather shoes too? Yes, Jesus was going to Love them!!
We arrived at church, and on the way through the parking lot, I knew something was not right. I made it into church without an incident. During the service, I had a gut feeling that there was going to be a mishap, and I could only pray that wouldn't happen. I had to "Re-Adjust" alot. Apparently, the elastic in my underwear decided that it wanted to bow before the Lord as opposed to staying up. In my fashion-conscious state, I decided not to wear panty-hose, in light of temps in the 30's, because I was wearing open-toed shoes. Y'all, you just can't mix hose and open toes, k? Don't.
But on the way back to my car, a quarter of a mile walk or so, I experienced the greatest Easter discomfort of my life as I realized that my underwear wanted to fall off in the parking lot. Right there in front of Jesus and everything. I actually had to HOLD IT ON, y'all. Miranda and I were cracking up as we walked back. Once we got in the car, I had to flash Miranda and some people at Wendy's so that I didn't lose anything else.
It was soooooooooooooo embarrassing.
and funny.
And even though it was Resurrection Sunday, I decided that those underwear needed to be buried. For Good. Thank you. Amen.
Well... in keeping with that tradition, it seems only fitting to humiliate myself on the internet right?
Yesterday was Easter. I had pretty much decided on wearing another dress to church, but Saturday, after treating myself to a fabulous and long-overdue pedicure and manicure, I decided that I really wanted to buy something pretty for Easter. Growing up a Pentecostal pastor's kid in the 80's, I have a decade's worth of pictures from Easters gone by wearing no less than 57 pounds of lace, pastels and patent leather. If it didn't have a coordinating jacket, white patent leather shoes or purse, and the occasional gloves and hat, it was not fit for Easter Sunday Morning. With that said, I have a hard time not dressing up, or at least trying to on Easter. It has nothing to do with other people, it has to do with Jesus. He gave me His Best, so it can't kill me to look nice for Him, you know?
Anywho... I went into Belk's in Cleve and as I was searching, I uncovered the most beautiful dress for me. Let me also throw in that, I don't buy too many dresses. Insecurity with my body and the gain of 40 unwanted pounds rarely leaves me in a mood to buy anything "dress-related" for fear that I will look pregnant. An unwanted pregnancy, no doubt? Or a second immaculate conception? I digress.
It's a 50's style dress, heavy material in Kelly Green. I wish I had a picture, but I'll have to take it tonight. Asked what my favorite color was as a child, my response was always, "Geen". So, you can imagine my delight when not only was the dress gorgeous and reasonably priced (50% off), it was the first one I tried on, and it fit perfectly.
See, Jesus really does love me.
I wish that the search for lovely accessories had been so fruitful, but I knew I was pushing the line with this dress, so I graciously wore accessories I already had at home.
On Easter Morn, my friend Miranda showed up at my house around 10:00 to do some shopping of her own. She thought was dress was FABULOUS too. So after a few finishing touches, we were off to church.
Did I mention I wore gorgeous open-toed black patent leather shoes too? Yes, Jesus was going to Love them!!
We arrived at church, and on the way through the parking lot, I knew something was not right. I made it into church without an incident. During the service, I had a gut feeling that there was going to be a mishap, and I could only pray that wouldn't happen. I had to "Re-Adjust" alot. Apparently, the elastic in my underwear decided that it wanted to bow before the Lord as opposed to staying up. In my fashion-conscious state, I decided not to wear panty-hose, in light of temps in the 30's, because I was wearing open-toed shoes. Y'all, you just can't mix hose and open toes, k? Don't.
But on the way back to my car, a quarter of a mile walk or so, I experienced the greatest Easter discomfort of my life as I realized that my underwear wanted to fall off in the parking lot. Right there in front of Jesus and everything. I actually had to HOLD IT ON, y'all. Miranda and I were cracking up as we walked back. Once we got in the car, I had to flash Miranda and some people at Wendy's so that I didn't lose anything else.
It was soooooooooooooo embarrassing.
and funny.
And even though it was Resurrection Sunday, I decided that those underwear needed to be buried. For Good. Thank you. Amen.
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