Life in Jezzy's World

Well...

2010-10-05T23:07:00.000-04:00

I suppose I should write some sort of summer review since I have been derelict in my writings and certainly have some wondering if I have fallen off the planet. I however cannot wrap my head around that at this hour and in all honestly I floated through this summer only halfway acknowledging my own existence.
Truth is I suppose I have floated in and out of the last few years only halfway present.
It's autumn and this is my favorite time of year. From that first chill in the air in September until the Christmas trees all come down is the time I live my whole year for. It always feels magical and special. College football, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas parades and Choir musicals; I love it all! But it also the hardest time of year, it's when I lost my mom, when I lost Asheville and the time of year that twice upon a time, I lost myself.
This autumn the biggest change maybe the realization that I need to reclaim myself. I have rebuilt myself in the image of what I thought someone needed me to be, and lost the person I was. In the end it has gained me nothing except a laundry pile of things to weed through and decide what must be tossed, recycled, or kept as a token from this time.
So no resolutions, but just a solemn promise to seek out and find the driven, artistic, beautiful woman than lies inside of all this clutter that I mucked my life up with.
I'm done with the tears and late night angst that could rival anything I ever did in my teenage years. In the words of C.S. Lewis, "further up, further in."

Goodbye Blanche...again.

2010-06-03T20:10:00.000-04:00

Just over a year ago when my first car died I was devestated. Blanche, my 1990 Subaru wagon was my best pal, and giving her up was one of the saddest things I had had to do considering it was just a piece of metal with no real soul or spirit to speak of except to me.

Today we mourn another Blanche, or at least the lady who embodied her. The namesake of my old car was Blanche Deveraux of the 80s-90s sitcom The Golden Girls. Jokingly because the car was old and gold and I said if she must be those things then she should be the slutty one, but more seriously because I loved that show, I loved that character and mostly I loved the actress who portrayed her.

Today Rue McClanahan passed away in the early hours of the morning due to a massive stroke. She is the 3rd of the 4 ladies to pass off of this scene but for me the most close to home. I loved to watch Rue in the movies she made as well as old reruns of Mama's Family, Maude and of course The Golden Girls. When I was in elementary school the GG's came on as I was getting home. Being a latchkey kid I let myself in, made a snack and watched these four women who could have very well been my grandmothers and learned what true sitcom was all about. In college they came on at 11pm which is about time for a study break in the midst of all-nighters and their laughter filled the spaces of every dorm room I ever inhabited.
For a lady I never met, and only really knew through the characters she portrayed, she was quite like family and I will miss her. The greatest consolation being of course that when I am sad or just in need of a good friend I can turn on the tv, flip around on the channels a bit and usually find Rue, along with Estelle, Bea and Betty whenever I need them.
For now however, it is a very sad day for those of us who grew up in tv land.
Good bye Rue, and to you and Blanche, thank you for being a friend.

Playing a little Catch-up in Midst of Much

2010-05-29T21:51:00.000-04:00

It has been ages since I last blogged and I have missed being here, but sometimes there is so much life it leaves no time to blog about it!

Here are the big events in order that they pop into my head.

The March of Dimes Walk: So much fun! My pal Elizabeth and I who rank pretty low on the athletic scale got up to do a little marching for babies. Of course our version was a little more akin to "strolling for babies" but we had a blast and aside from being scolded by Jack Roper for not dancing vigorously enough we managed to stay out of trouble.

The Calvary Baptist Youth Golf Tournament 2010: All of the Calvary golfers were out in full form for our 2nd annual golf tournament. Beth and I were on our game as the official photography team. There actually isn't anything official about us except we really like riding around on a golf cart with cameras.
Nana has been teaching me to play golf and in another 2 weeks I will have my own set of ladies left-handed clubs! I can't wait!
Hopefully next year I will be playing in the tournament myselfm which will be pretty much awesome! I just have to convince Beth that she should play with me. That may be harder than learning to hit my irons of the fairway without a tee. :(

I cut my hair! So I realize that this isn't a huge event but come on, it was getting really long. Here is the deal, if you love me and decide I ever need to be in your wedding, you can love me with short hair. I will no longer be growing out my locks for someone else's nuptials ever again. Thank you and God bless...um and as Sherrie is pretty much the only one left to get married in my life, and she feels the same way about her hair as I do right now, I figure this is a pretty safe statement to make :)

Relay for Life 2010: Anyone who has ever been touched by cancer in anyway needs to have the experience of being touched by the Relay family. That really is all you can say about it. People who haven't been touched by it don't get it, but it is one of the most incredible things. All of these friends and strangers working together to raise money to beat something that has taken so much away from us is empowering. The night itself is fun andfull of laughter and a few tears. Who can't tear up watching a little girl who just finished her first rounds of chemo walking around a track surrounded by her teachers and classmates with the biggest smile in the world on her face, or walking around a track holding hands with your oldest friend and seeing your mother's luminary flickering on the side of the track? Of course all of that mixed with the electric slide and chasing people down to stop them from giving money to the people with the Clemson flag so that you can give it to those with the carolina flag makes for something so special that words are not made for.

At the bank this year I made bracelets to raise money and the response was tremendous! I couldn't keep up with the demand and I am ready for next year to see if we cantop ourselves. Of course I can't wait until we are finished and have to find a new reason to Relay!

Mr. and Mrs Dweil get hitched! My cousin Tracy married a great fella name Mike and it was a gorgeous wedding! Not to mention that the Burnett family got down. I mean who knew we all could dance? Correction: Who knew we all like to try to dance? (whether we actually can or not is still up for great debate.) In any event it was a fun reception and I am very happy for the cousin and cousin in law!

Lucy and Jess's Excellent Adventure: In order to get a wedding present for the Dweil's, Lucy and I took off for Saludato find something fun and special, and ended up taking a trip through the mountains and spending so great time together! We landed in Flat Rock and had a fabulous pizza before heading home. Great times!

Then there are all the little moments that truly are my favorites. The ones that have no real reason except that all the right people where together. Cinco de Mayo with Donna, Paul, Cynthia and Robin, breakfast at Fatz with Nikki, buying a new car battery, a ladies luncheoun at church, a really pretty one of a kind gerber daisy tree and always knowing that Mary is a phone call away to make sense of it all.

The Calvary Welcome Center

2010-04-06T18:28:00.000-04:00

Over the last year the Welcome Center at Calvary has been an ongoing pet project of Donna, Cynthia and I (and Robin by virture of he has his own nail gun and can build bars).
We finally opened on Easter Sunday after much hard work. Here are some pictures of the process and I will have pictures of our finished product very soon :)

Cynthia's giant coffee cup she freehanded. She is AMAZING!

Can't you just see the clouds floating by in the pretty windows. Donna painted the sky and I hung the clouds.

My first experience with vinyl lettering. Cynthia found this awesome clock and taught me how to rub the letters onto the wall and hang the hands in the middle. Super cool!

Robin hanging our mirror for us.

Springy hangers are cool. :)

Cynthia's block wall. This little piece of wall has so much going on and she camoflauged it brilliantly.

The initial frame for Robin's bar.

Our pretty little paint mess. Don't tell anyone we used up all of the butter dishes!

Donna checking out the fabric for our divider slip covers.

The great collaborators getting their velcro on.

The bar, a little further along. Countertop is incredible!

Putting up tools is funny...apparently.

Yes Nikki, it is righty tighty lefty lucy :)

Ice Balls and Other Mysterious Diseases

2010-03-29T19:38:00.001-04:00

I am finally getting myselft back up to some symblance of normal after a bizarre encounter with the most unpleasant of diseases. The headaches, sore throat and fevers seem to have subsided and now I am left with a voice that sounds akin to a horse/ bullfrog hybrid and some nagging exhaustion. I have no doubt that I will be back to practically perfect by Easter. My Nikki however seems to have caught a much worse and longer lasting version of this disease and it needs to be gone! Good news is it's not mono or strep but danged it we know what it is. :(
In other knews from the weekend, yesterday evening I got caught out in the Spartanburg County hail storm of 2010. It was crazy! After much phone conversation between Cynthia, Donna and myself about how to cover our cars on our respective ways home I ducked into the Ingles gas mart in Peach Valley to givve my paint job some respite from the onslaught. I then talked to Robin, who likes to fancy himself as some sort of meteorologist apprentice and he gave me the scoop on how long I needed to stay put and such. He then began exclaiming that there were ice balls in his floor and after careful examination further exclamined that he had "ice balls in his chimney." Now I am not completely certain as to why this struck me so funny, but I am pretty sure I haven't laughed about anything that hard in a really long time!
The pelting subsided and I made the rest of my way home. Everyone had pretty dinged up paint jobs this morning but as far as I know all of my friends and family made it out of the storm with no more incident than that.

Friendships

2010-03-27T22:17:00.002-04:00

I have been sick this week so my apologies for the lack of post. I did have a little surge of fever induced inspiration so I did a little playing on the Picnik and here are the fruits of the labor.
Just a few photos of the people I don't see enough, but can't live without.

And to the girls I see whenever I need to but never want to be found taking them for granted...

"Up" movie night

2010-03-22T14:13:00.001-04:00

"Up" is amazing!!!

For the semi-annual Calvary movie night we watched Up Saturday night. First and foremost this movie is incredible. I don't care how old you are, this animated film is brilliant!

The Calvary crowd of course had a blast, not only with the movie but with the chili dogs and fixin's before the movie and of course the rec and fellowship clean up crew which disolved into Robin, Donnie, Paul and Donna singing songs from Hee Haw and Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

Here are a few photos of the fun and frivolity :)

The grillmaster dethroned!

Brenda told Robin to move over and she showed him how to clean a grill when you leave the brush at home.

Hysterical!

The food line!!

Me with my church "daughter" Brittany.

I love her!

Oh, Nikki....

I loves her too :)

That's about it for the pictures because Donna and Tammy threatened to take my camera away...

I didn't find myself annoying at all.

Kitty Condos....

2010-03-18T20:48:00.000-04:00

This as you can imagine is another bank project. I love these fabulously whacky things I get to do where I work. One of our bosses at the bank is a huge supporter of the Spartanburg Humane Society and so we had a little project this week for them. Our mission was to take standard super thick cardboard boxes and thurn them into chic little hideaways for the shelters cats and kittens. We picked up our supplies on Tuesday morning and then we dove into Operation Kitty Condo.

I was, as usual, slightly more jacked up about playing with magic markers than my coworkers, but gradually we began to find the children buried deep within their hardened adult exteriors.

Here is a sampling of our creative endeavors :)

Donna went for it with her bright colorful rainbow, which Debra adorned with her St. Patty's Day inspired pot of gold. Harriett topped it off with a myriad of stars and the result is this colorful number that for me is somewhat remenisent of my childhood days watching Rainbow Bright.

June took home a box to her grandson and he did a great job decorating!

I am sure all the kitties will love having these friendly puppies around to look at.

Meredith is our ever trusty artist, who may have left us in the banking world but is always there to lend us a hand. Debra handed off a box to her and she made this great town house box with charming hanging baskets and little fence.

Debra and I decided to top it off with a somewhat spanish inspired roof.

We aren't quitting our day jobs but I think we make pretty good roofers!

I, still entranced with Wonderland, went for a Red Queen's castle theme and I think Iracibeth would have been pleased! I personally am thrilled with my White Rabbit and think his huge scale should be enough for me to keep my head!

I did my top with a completely transformed Absolem.

This may be the only time I am ever able to draw an Alan Rickman movie character biut I'm all good with that!

Suzanne's box will be complete in the morning, but here is what we have so far.

June's grandson wanted some Clemson love on his box, so I helped him out a little. My Gamecock blood runs deep, but ya got to help a kid out where you can!

Tomorrow our boxes compete against the downtown competition and after Polly's win last week I am hoping for another creative win for the Reidville crew!

Nikki, Cynthia, Donna and Jessica in Wonderland (and Alice too!)

2010-03-18T20:24:00.001-04:00

Well here it is the Alice and Wonderland redo. Finally saw it last weekend with my girls on our mommy daughter date and had a great time. Monterrey's first followed by the film!
Ok, well a little goofing off and then the film...
3D glasses are cool, just ask me and Nikki. We had great fun with them...although I think it would be hilarious to be a theater employee to look up and see a gaggle of folk with their funky black glasses on.

And yes I am a super geek who is blind without her glasses so she must wear 3D glasses over the normal glasses and end up looking like some sort of bizzarre 6 eyed alien :)

While we had this incredible photo shoot the mommies were getting their Raisinette and Coca Cola what nots...then the film started!

And down the rabbit hole we fell!!

Seriously, after I saw it the first time I was like "huh? that was it?"

then I saw it the second time and was like "yep that was it."

But then I kept finding quotes and images floating up in my mind and it has quite grown on me. I think in time this will become a favorite. That being said this is the first movie of Tim Burton's with his company of Death Eaters that I have felt this way about. Everytime they put out a flick I get really excited and then I am disapointed, ala the Sweeney Todd Christmas Day excustion of 2007. This time, by golly I think they might have actually done it! Ok, so Helena Bonham Carter still scares the poo out of me, but I think that is all apart of her charm.

All in all an amazingly wonderful experience but it seriously might have had a whole lot more to do with the company of the Mrs. Edge and Paxton and the Miss Paxton than the sound of Alan Rickman's incredible voice coming out of a drugged up caterpillar ;)

Junior Achievement BizBowl 2010

2010-03-12T22:46:00.001-05:00

The bowling tournament was a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!
The first game I managed a 42...I started and ended with strikes and pretty much everything else was gutter balls. Second game was a little better...3 strikes and a few extra pins here and there and still a whole bunch of gutter balls. Seriously, I suck at bowling, but I had so much fun!!!!
I played with girls from the main office, but spent time running down to check on my Reidville peeps.
Here are pictures.....

I think I'm so artsy LOL

Harriett and Jeff...so cute!

Ted and Debra...my camera flashed a gazillion times in the dark bowling alley and Debra was not feeling the patience!

The newlyweds, Joe and Suzanne...after I got them to quit making out and smile for a picture. DORKS!

Donna and Larry left before I took the camera out :(

And last but not least....

DRUMROLL...

POLLY WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me with the representative of Reidville Road, Miss Polly Palmetto

She won the bowling pin beauty pageant and on this auspicious occasion she would like to thank Cynthia Edge for helping to bring her into being and all those who donated to JA by voting for her!!

Here is some of her worthy competition!

The Village People on the left were quite cute!

My cohort Elizabeth's fish Lilly. Definitely the most stylish fish I've ever met!

Ok, so obviously the pin pageant is my new favorite aspect of BizBowl. Can't wait until next year!!!

Blackberries, Bowling Pins, and Palmetto Trees

2010-03-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

As this week is completely bananas, here is the quick and dirty recap of the last few days.
First of all, we bid Chase farewell this past Saturday. For those of you in my inner sanctum of friends you know that Chase has been my purple motorola W755 cell phone for the last 2 years. She was a huge upgrade in my cell phone life and I absolutely loved her. A great phone!! However time flies and I used her almost to death. The backlighting on her keypad went out, and she developed a strange need to shut herself off and sleep a while at random, so when my new every two came due I went shopping.

Enter Alice! My new purple (all good cellphones are purple and have names)Blackberry Curve who does more things that I actually have comprehension of how to learn to do, but I love her!!! Everyday I learn something new and amazing about her and she isjust soooooo pretty. This is a Blackberry for girly boys and girls; macho women and men need not to apply. NOt to mention that the lovely gentleman who sold me to her recommended a dark lavender protective case that looks like a dark frame around her face. Beautiful!!
Currently mine has the blue catterpillar from Alice and Wonderland, Absolem as my wallpaper. Yes, I did see the movie, but I saw it at the wrong time without the right people and when that happens then I will blog. Sometimes a movie is about the people you experience it with as much as the characters you experience, and I need a redo on this one to capture to right experience to document.

Now onto bowling pins and palmetto trees....this is a convoluted little tale.
I work at a bank, and banks are required by law to do alot of community and public service (actually I think it is a shame that we have to have laws to make us be decent people, but I digress.) This is the time of year that we in banking like to refer to as the fundraising season. The precedeing month has been full of fundrasing for Junior Achievement of Spartanburg that will all culminate Friday night in a big old fashioned bowl-a-thon. As apart of this event we were given a beaten and highly battered bowling pin to decorate for the event. Now keep in mind, this is a season of fundraising. This particular push will be followed by the March of Dimes and my personal favorite Relay for Life....so, I decided our bowling pin should be a mascot for the season, not just JA. The Relay theme for this year is "Nothing Could Be Finer, Than a Cure in Carolina." The t-shirts are navy with the Carolina palmetto moon and a pink ribbon inside the palmetto. This a blue and pink and white color scheme...March of Dimes is for babies...a blue and pink color scheme...so.....(did I mention my heart was in Relay????)

Meet Polly!!

Cynthia spent her Monday evening helping me with this one! She painted the pin for me and drilled the hole for the fronds and moon...not to mention cutting the fronds, making the moon and painting the face. She is brilliant!! I had a blast working on this with her and I seriously hope that our branch wins in the bowling pin beauty pageant that will go down on Friday night in conjuction with my horendous bowling.

For now, howeverCynthia and I are both pretty proud of our masterpiece!

Cold Cold Cold....

2010-03-04T10:50:00.000-05:00

oh and did I say cold??
I am so ready for spring to come once again to the city of sparkles. I simply cannot get warm even with flannel sheets, two quilts, an electric matress pad and my snuggly Gamecock flannel pjs. This is pathetic, but I am a southern girl through and through and I don't do well with this sort of thing. The fact that I drove Blanche around for a few winters with no heat is completely astonishing to me with my new found cold blooded issues.
In other news, my circle of companions seem to have all atracted the Norovirus. Cynthia and Harriett have come down with it and although they both seem to now be somewhat on the mend, I do not enjoy hearing Paul Edge tell me that Cynthia cannot come to the phone because she is busy being treated in the ER. This stuff is seriously nasty and for once I am grateful for the fact that I deal with everyone's filthy money everyday and have an icredible immune system because if it.
Due to Cynthia's illness, we still have not decorated the bowling pin riding around in my back seat. At work we are raising money for Junior Acheivement of Spartanburg through a bowl-a-thon, and therefore were given a bowling pin to decorate. As we also have the March of Dimes and Relay for Life fundraisers coming up I want to do it on a theme that will work for all of our money raising endeavors. If Cynthia will get better then we will make an amazing bowling pin...but for now a very beaten and battered pin is rolling around in my already overcrowded back seat full of crap.
That's about it for the news around here!

Pictures...

2010-03-03T09:27:00.002-05:00

I have had the camera out a couple times lately and thought that I would share some shots.

This first one is from my front yard. My grandfather put up an American flag with lights shining up on it a while back. The other night I came in and it looked amazing with the wind blowing and the full moon. The moon looks a little funny, but I still really like this picture.

These next ones are from work yesterday during the snow...the very strange snow that fell, accumulated, melted, fell some more, accumulated some more and then melted again. Weird.

Lots of flakes...not much on the ground though :(

Today it is supposed to be up to 50 degrees so we shall see where the crazy weather leads us next!

Sunday School out takes!

2010-02-28T13:23:00.000-05:00

So the boys were back in our class today!
They are a wild and crazy handful but so fun. Their minds are so open but they really have no background in Sunday School at all and it is really obvious at times.
This morning I was teaching about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and these 7 and 8 year olds sat there with all the skepticism of grown men. As I told the story I heard "he wasn't really dead," and "he was faking." As I tried to convey the power of our Savior to these young minds, one of them said, "well I don't believe in Jesus." Of course I deal with children much the same way I deal with adults and told him that was certainly his perogative but he was going to learn about him in Sunday School anyway.
After a yummy doughnut break we sat (or tried to sit) down to watch a cartoon video on the miracles of Jesus. After flipping over in their chairs a few times and exclaiming "he kicked me in the nuts," we finally got settled in...there was of course a brief interlude where we discussed why we don't talk like that or act like that in church.
The video followed Jesus as he healed the child with Palsy, had the woman with the issue of blood touch his garment and the resurection of the sick girl who had died before Jesus' arrival. During the scene of Jesus raising the girl fromt he dead, the same disbeliving little boy said, "well I guess I do believe in Jesus."
For all the moments that make me want to pull my hair out that moment makes it all worth it.
Donna and I are going in a bit to procure some supplies...
paper towels...boys spill things. Girls are to prissy for that.
building stuff...boys don't do crafts, they build things. There is a very big difference.
snacks...doughnuts make little people big time hyper. We need something in a mild sedative flavor.
and I am sure there was something else.
Every week is an adventure and one that we have been looking forward to for a long time! God answers prayers for children, and he will give patience and guidance to Donna and I teach what they need to hear.

Fashionista time!

2010-02-27T17:44:00.000-05:00

I am not now (or at any other point in time) a fashion diva. I have friends who are. They always look amazing and their closets look like full on malls...this is not me. I am a girl who wears black, gray, brown and navy pretty much every day with a pair of solid shoes of the same basic colors. In college I was a bit more free with my clothing choices, but lets face it, all who knew me then would agree there is no need to return to the days of my lego pants and men's Hawaiian shirts.
I am working to break out of my box due in much part to the constant protest of a couple of lovely people. I mentioned a shopping outing earlier in the week and I made another one today. Here are a few of the not so black brown or navy options now haning in my closet...ok so one pair of shoes are black, but come on! They're cute!

Teal zipper purse with my yellow pompom scarf

Um, so I guess these shoes are technically brown but they are Sperry's soYAY!

They are sitting atop my new button up BRIGHT pink shirt with roll up sleeves.

Super Happy!

Photography is bad, but the shoes are cute!

After my Mary Janes blew out in church a few weeks ago i have been on the look-out for some new black flats. These are precious, and comfy too!

There are more shirts, but I am no fashion photographer either and the pictures look dopey so alas you will just have to wait to see me in them. :)

Happy Surprises....

2010-02-25T20:20:00.000-05:00

...from what was to be a disapointing night.
Tonight was supposed to be an fun night out with Paul, Cynthia and Robin at the Wofford basketball game. Then they all bailed on me. Every one of them. Last time I procure free tickets from work for them. Until the next time they offer them of course. :)

Ok, so instead I am doing my normal Thursday night bit of eating pizza and getting ready to watch Survivor. Not to mention trying to rebuild my iTunes library on the new PC (they should make a better way to do this.) Well I have received 2 little gifts for my evening in so far.

1. I found the Reba Live album from 1989 on iTunes. When i was a kid this was my favorite cassette tape for a couple of years. I played it until it wouldn't play anymore and then kept it anyway because I loved it so much. I still have the cassette in it's case somewhere around here. Now I have the whole thing on my iPod! YAY!!! This is a brilliant moment for me!

2. This was even more amazing. My little Cassidy has grown up. The baby girl I used to rock to sleep and sing lullabies to...and take on dates to see Winnie the Pooh movies hit me up on Facebook chat to say hi. Be still me heart! She may not be the oldest of my neices and nephews but she was the first to call me aunt, and now my baby boo is all grown up and on Facebook. I feel old, but mainly I feel nostalgic. That little girl did alot to grow me up why I was trying to help her grow up, and I forever love her.

Anyway, the mush pot Aunt Jezzy is going to curl up and watch Survivor now and be greatful for all the amazing kids in her life, and the great music that fills all the silent moments.

I'm a PC...

2010-02-24T22:52:00.002-05:00

It stands to reason that the first blog written on my brand new laptop should be about my brand new laptop. After a little waiting and alot of looking my fabulous Christmas present from my nana and Lucy is now at my fingertips!

I went yesterday after work and spent some time with a lovely fellow named Corey and his sidekick Sue at the BestBuy and now I have my very own HP Pavilion with an Intel i3 processor. She is sleek and gorgeous!!!

I must say that as a veteran of Windows XP and having never converted to the thing that was Vista, I am having to adjust a bit to Windows 7. I feel like an old lady trying to learn a new trick! The menus are different and I keep having to find things. This may of course be due to the fact thatwe just haven't had enough bonding time yet. This situation will be alleviated soon, and I'll be starring in a cheesy commercial where I announce to the world that Windows 7 was my idea.
I am a newcomer to the world of webcams and I like to play with it right now...although I have no clue how to do anything truly productive with it. It does do some pretty hillarious things like today at lunch. I took my new friend to work to show her off, and did a little playing in the break room with Suzanne and Harriett. It has this amazing feature (which other more technologically up to date probably know the proper term for) where you have an avatar of sorts that moves it's facial features and mouth along with the person it is filming...we made Harriett Barack Obama...seriously the funniest thing I have ever seen in my whole life.
Although I do not have Obama Harriett on video I do have a little snippet of our silliness:

She said no Facebook...does my blog count??
Oh and my computer needs a name...my phone, Ipod and car have names. I think the PC should too. All suggestions welcome!

The Weekend Tale

2010-02-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

First of all, my uncle Billy had major surgery to remove an anuerysm from his liver on Friday. The surgery ended up going really well, and although he is in alot of pain he seems to be doing well all things considered. Please keep him and his wife Jeannie in your prayers, as they still have a long road to go down with his health.

Secondly, I spent my Saturday morning with Nikki selling concessions...AKA, she danced around to some cover band singing Mrs Robinson, and random Michael Jackson songs and I laughed alot. I have an amazing clip of her dancing but Donna says I can't publish it for the world...your loss, I promise.

This still picture just does not do all that action any justice!

Then I went on an amazing shopping adventure! I went to Old Navy and went crazy. Many of you will be thrilled to know that nothing I purchased was black!!! (or brown either, for that matter.) I did buy a new pair of jeans and a gray skirt (pictured), and lots of bright colored tops and a new yellow scarf that I promise to have a picture of in the next couple of days.

(Sarah, you would be so proud!)

Yesterday morning I was feeling super cute at church and wanted to take pictures but no one would play with me except Marisa, so here we are being fashion divas together. Gotta love little girls!
Oh and my hair...I have been putting up because it is so long it takes a life time to flat iron all of it. I think it looks like Sarah Palin....Jerry Hoover was, of course, the first to tell me it looked good! He would be the one to love my Republican hair...to bad for him, the Democratic brain still lives below :)

Speaking of little people...I had 5 kids in Sunday School yesterday! So excited to see growth in the children's department at church! I'm not so entirely sure Marisa and Elise are all that thrilled about thw new additions, since they are boys, but give em 10 years and it will be all good!
I however, know absolutely nothing about boys! Even in Asheville, all I ever had was girls in my class. This will definitely be a learning experience for me, as with the girls I can do pretty much whatever and they are good with it, boys however take alot more planning due to alot shorter attention spans.

I promise to have more pictures this week of my new clothes and as the calendar is chock full of items with adventure potential, it should prove to be an intresting one!

Lil' Miss Paxton

2010-02-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

As I was completely derelict in putting up pictures of my little church sister for Valentine's she gets her own special photo collage entry. So here she is in all of her classic poses being the most amazingly fun and fabulous little sister in the whole world! Not to mention she is the only person I can call when I can't sleep at 2am because she is always awake!
I love you my Nikki and I hope you don't shoot me at church tonight for this :)

Calvary Valentine's Banquet 2010

2010-02-16T11:50:00.000-05:00

By noon on Saturday the snow had given up it's hold on the roads and the Calvary Valntine's planners got in gear!
The food was spectacular, the entertainment superb, and the fellowship as always, was the best to be had anywhere.
I can't put it all in words so thankfully I had my camera on my wrist for most of the evening and have some great pictures to share!

We went with chocolate and pink decor and after much debate on best shade of pink I think we definitely made the right choice!

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, and more Cupcakes!!!

This was the most beautiful dessert buffet ever! Not to mention the yummiest!

In addition the chocoalte and red velvet cupcakes we had chocolate covered strawberries, dark chocolate mint petifores, heart shaped cookies, red velvet white chocolate balls and chocolate strawberry tarts! YUM!

Sir Robin Grillmaster putting the birds on. The chicken breasts were huge and after he marinated them over night they were wonderful!!

Paul "buttering" the steaks. A much better way than last years pouring butter on an open flame and trying to set his whiskers (and the church) on fire!

Robin teaching the master class on how to properly place the steaks on the grill.

Greg and Donnie look like such attentive students! Hahahahaha!

Anybody wanna play HOT POTATO?!?

Beth and Brenda on salad assembly duty...yummy salads, but this is my least favorite job...which is why I was behind the camera ;)

Donna filling up our tea pitchers...which went WAY better than Robin and I trying to put the tea up afterwards! Can we say spillage?

The Edge, Waters, Mickey, Gilbert table....except I lost Donnie somewhere!

The coolest girls at the whole shindig!

Nikki, Abby and of course me!

Mrs. Sylvia with her friends, Linda, Darlene and Tammy

The "White Head Club"

They came up with that themselves!

Weather's and Edge's

And of course "The Edge's" :)

Mimi with her babie's and me with her babies...they made me the SWEETEST valentine ever!

Scott and his baby :)

(This should totally make up for the Super Bowl picture, Scott)

The Robin, who loved his chocolate fish :)

This of course after his run home wardrobe change...dork.

Papa and Mrs. Higginbotham. Two of my favorite Valentines!

Favorite conversation of the night:

Cynthia: Go get Robin, I can't make this work.

a few moments later

Cynthia: How'd you get it to work?

Robin: I plugged it in.

CLASSIC!!!!!!!!

Snow Storms.....

2010-02-16T09:35:00.000-05:00

The Bank in the Snow...

This was about an hour before we closed on Friday night. By the time we left I had to brush off a couple of inches off my car before I could go anywhere. The roads were awful and it took me 2 hours to get from Reidville to Chesnee. Of course 45 minutes of that were spent sitting on a hill in Whitney watching fire trucks slide sideways down hills and ambulances skid off the road. My friends wanted to come get me, but they couldn't have gotten anywhere near me. After a mild panic attack on the phone with Robin I finally got off the hill and inched my way the rest of the way home to snuggle up, watch a movie and watch the snow continue to fall.

Valentining at the Bank!

2010-02-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

We are raising money at the bank for Jr. Achievement of Spartanburg, and the brilliant Mrs. Jo Alyce came up with the idea of selling Valentine's Day balloons for $2 a piece. Yesterday the whole lobby looked as if it might take off on a helium vacation. We only have a few left which I am sure the fellas cashing their checks will snatch up today for their honey's.

We did have a little fun with them before we started selling!

Suzanne and Harriett peering through the ribbons.

Finally a picture of Debra that doesn't involve the back of her head!!!

She is a crazy awesome balloon saleswoman. Amazing!

Our manager Donna looking out from her office into the lobby of balloniness.

Valentine's drive thru decor. I love these little heart clowns and the kids do too!

I'm the dork posing with the Valentine's Coke can...this is Debra's obvi. I am a Pepsi girl!!

Valentine's is Coming!

2010-02-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

I have what will no doubt be a spectacular Valentine's weekend ahead of me. For now though I thought I would let those much wiser than me say a few things worth repeating.

Happy Birthday Sherrie Lee!!!

2010-02-10T10:41:00.001-05:00

Dearest darling, oldest friend you are in fact getting quite old. I can say this as I am, and always will be 2 months and 13 days older than you. :)

We have had quite the adventure you and I, from 11 year old girls to 28 year old women.
From the old days shooting looks at each other across the church sanctuary that could speak volumes to these modern times when we text a novel across town during church.
We have gone from me watching you play in the band at high school football games to driving to Cola for Gamecock football.
We have stood on the sidelines through one another’s most joyous moments and also stood to bear witness to the saddest times.
We can quote deleted scenes from Juno and dance to Sandstorm.
You are in fact my opposite on so many things and yet you are always equal to the task of being there for me.
We have shared many years of friendship, a few years of geographical separation, many pepperoni and mushroom pizzas, and even a car. (Maxie sends her regards.)
Dearest, I wish for you many more birthdays because in the words of the great Winnie the Pooh if you live to be 100, I want to live to be 100 minus one day (or in my case minus 2 months and 14 days) so that I never have to live a day without you.
Thanks for everything and everything to come!

Calvary's "Souper Bowl" 2010!

2010-02-08T15:52:00.001-05:00

Last night was super fun!!!!
I love our church's Super Bowl party and it was Souper with lots of different kinds of vegetable soups, chili beans and some amazing chicken and rice soup that took fisrt place inthe cook off that my pastor's wife Barb made.
Cynthia made onion rings and I got to help (sort of like"Shake and Bake" LOL...although I got both hands going in the flour mixture and the butter milk and made everything soggy including my fingers...I know better now.
I have never seen so much junk food ever. I didn't eat all day so I could pace myself through all 4 quarters and eat some of everything. I think the total tally on the tables was 7 crock pots of soup/chili, 5 pizzas, 3 bags of wings, 2 cobblers and ton of brownies and cookies and ever ground hog meat served up with crackers (I skipped that!)
The game was fun too! I pulled for the Saints. Everyone else else in my circle of friends pulled for the Colts...yay me for having better picking abilities!!! :)
During the game I also worked on a certain birthday present and got the friends to pitch in and help. Will post pictures of that later once madam birthday girl has recieved her gift.
For now here is my favorite picture of the night. My pastor in his flip flops sitting back watching the game yelling "GO PACKERS!" Bless him.

Oh and here are my fellas all engrossed.

I don't remember what was happening at this point but Paul sure is thinking it over awfully hard.

I didn't take the camera out until the 4th quarter so alas that's all I got. Oops.

Beauty Products Commerical

2010-02-03T10:47:00.000-05:00

Here lately my skin and hair have gone through some sort of strange metamorphoses. Usually when the seasons change, I have to change products but this has been insane. My hair got this really bizarre greasy spot at the crown of my head and all of the scrubbing in the world just couldn’t get it clean. In addition, my skin has been more dry that usual especially at the hair line. All of this is totally TMI, but this has brought me to find some great new products to my beauty routine.

First in the hair department. A change of shampoo was in order. After trying a couple different brands I have fallen in love with Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship.

It really get's my hair CLEAN but doesn't leave the ends all dry and crunchy. Now that my hair is getting long again this is a fabulous product for me!

My other new favorite I have to give props to the Rachel Ray Show for. She had a stylist on talking about the best types of hair brushes for a woman to have. One that she showed was a teasing brush. I grew up in the 80's and teasing hair brings back nightmarish images of the ladies on Dynasty and Dallas, but I succombed and found a Conair Teasing brush and comb set that I really love. Actually I don't know what the comb is for. The teeth are to far apart and my hair just falls through it, but the brush is great for volume at the crown of my hair where mine tends to lay flat and lifeless.

On to my new facial routine.

Loreal has a new facial cleansing product line featuring the "scrublet." Now I know this sounds like cosmetic propoganda, but I have been using the deep cream cleanser and I love the little scrublet! It pops out of the center of the bottle and it feels great on your skin while you are using it. Not only that but my skin has looked and felt alot better since switching to this cleanser. Even in the dry winter weather I'm not flakey anymore and my complexion is brighter.

Last but not least is my new foundation love! Everyone who knows me knows I am not much of a make-up kind of girl. I actually have to force myself to do more than a little mascara and some Blistex on a regular day. However, Loreal's True Blend compact make up is really fabulous! It is like a liquid compact make up with great coverage. All of my old teenage leftover acne reminders are gone with a little of this makeup. It is very smooth going on and light enough for me to actually wear it. Now I still have to make myself put it on because I am lazy, but when I do it is totally worth the effort!

That's it for my beauty routine commercial. Thanks for shopping :)

My New Ami Doll

2010-02-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I have new found love in the crochet world called Amigurumi. In simple terms it is crocheting toys in rounds with no connectors. You make each piece and then sew together to make a stuffed animal or doll or what have you.

My newest creation is this little doll who has yet to tell me her name...and I have yet to sew her feet on (which might explain her reluctance to tell me her name)

The pattern is the "Shelly Doll Pattern" from http://www.lionbrand.com/.
I improvised the hair because I really disliked the way it was done on the original pattern. Many websites I looked at suggested a "wig cap" to latch hook the hair into. This seemed redundant to me so I sewed the hair line to give myself a place to color in, and then starting at the neck working the hair in rows with latch hook. I think I got it to thick LOL... I used over half a skein of the brown!
She was alot of fun though and the hair was easy to latch hook on while watching movies on a snow day.

...and I promise she will have feet very soon!

Sunday.....the snow edition...

2010-02-01T11:59:00.000-05:00

By Sunday morning I was really loosing patience with the snow. One day stranded at home is one thing, but 2 days is asking a bit much...and interupting church really irks me out!
By the afternoon it had melted down enough for me to drive into Chesnee to pick up a couple of prescriptions and get some food beyond bologna and cheese sandwiches.
I navigated out without much incident. There was one hill with a good deal of ice still in tact, so it was more like car sledding than actually driving, but it was actually pretty fun :)
After getting me goods at the CVS, I walked over the El Limon (the Lemon) to get me some chicken, cheese, and nachos. This dish is usually enjoyed at Monterrey's with Nikki and Donna, but that blasted snow...
There were only a couple of people who had actually ventured out to the lemon, so I sat down at the booth and casually said hi to the gentleman sitting at the booth adjacent to mine. He was eating already, and I ordered my food and busied myself looking over my planner for this week. I noticed at one point he had left and I was the only person sitting in the non-smoking section but thought nothing of it, except how rare it is to be alone in a restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. The waitress then approached and in broken Spanglish asked if I knew the man who had been sitting there. I told her I had never seen him before. She then laughed and told me he had paid for my meal when he left.
After a pouty weekend where I complained to God constantly about snow messing with my plans, he sent an angel to buy my lunch and gave me no opportunity to say thank you. I'll be spending my week repenting my foolishness and looking for a way to pay it forward.

Wicked Weekend....the revamp edition

2010-02-01T11:45:00.001-05:00

Today was supposed to be a glowing bubbly review of my big weekend going to see Wicked with Sherrie and Missy. Well as they say life is what happens when you are busy making other plans!

We alas did not get to Greenville to see the show, and it would have been ridiculous for us to have tried and to come home on the frozen interstates after midnight. Sherrie was able to see our tickets on Craig's List and got back most of the money spent. I however, after throwing a monumental pity party, teary eyed temper tantrum decided to go on a photo tour around the snow covered yard and woods.

This is part of my front yard. It wasn't Oz, but it was beautiful!

Here is some more random shots I took walking down through the woods.

Frozen holly leaves

Down at the creek

Icicle Twigs. I love these!

Little birds feasting in the snow feeder.

I ended the evening watching the Hallmark movie on CBS...again not Glinda and Elphie, but perfectly exceptable on a snowy night.

FRUSTRATION!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-29T13:47:00.001-05:00

OK, so...
Sherrie and I have tickets to go see Wicked tomorrow night in Greenville at the Peace Center. Getting these tickets was a an amazing feat back in OCTOBER! Totally involving Blackberry's on a church bus and people trying to help us on computers.
Fast forward and after months of anticipation and the fact that we deserve to see it because we actually read the book as opposed to people who just jumped on the bandwagon and never learned to speak any of the native languages of Oz, now the are calling for SNOW! Not just a little but a lot of snow and ice and ick! I am flipping out about this!
To add to the ick factor, my family all has some nasty stomach virus with what appears to be a 2 day incubation period, so I may end up dog sick at any moment in spite of my best efforts of Cloroxing everything stationary.
Stay tuned for updates but for now the excellent Wicked weekend looks to be in grave danger. BOOOO!

A Mint Chocolate Coffee House

2010-01-26T10:04:00.005-05:00

When you get lemons you are supposed to make lemonade, right? Well when you get a room painted in bright eye assaulting minty green you make a mint chocolate chip room. At least that is what we are doing in our current church building. Yes, we are trying to sell it, but a new building is still at least a year to 2 years out, so we are doing what we can to live well where we are while we are there.
The church had an old library with the most current books being circa 1960, and everything had a few inches of dust. The room is situated on the corner as you start to the Sunday School classes so Cynthia, Donna, Robin and I are turning into a coffee and donut greeting area for everyone. Due to a miscommunication the room was painted a funky green color and from there we go.
Here are a couple of pics from last night.

Here is the bookcase Donna and I painted chocolatey. The paint looked like chocolate cake batter when you stirred it us. So yummy. The green looks so much more muted and sagey in this picture, but in reality is it more like this:

Cynthia is doing a faux stone wall in part of the room. It is going to be beautiful!

She and Donna were none to pleased that I took pictures of them, and they said they wanted royalties...I'll give them 10% of what I make off this blog. Boy they are going to get real rich!

Here is Donna. I halfway helped with this window, but it was a beast. You have to understand that our building is OLD, and nothing is exactly smooth or even and every surface has 18 layers of paint. This window frame also has the most wonky chaulking ever, so painting it is disgusting and no matter how hard you try it looks buggery. We had fun though :)

Cynthia is going to shoot me for putting this up because she will say it's a picture of her butt :P It's not. Those pipes she is holding onto are HOT! and she hit her head on them and said special words :) Bad pipes! Very bad pipes!

Missing of course is Robin and the bar he hasn't built for us yet :P

He did replace a toilet seat and mess with door locks while we were painting, so I suppose he is off the hook for a second or two, but he better get us some boards cut for our faux window or we may have severe punishment in mind....

10 Pennies and a Piano

2010-01-25T13:59:00.001-05:00

Our Sunday School Lesson for yesterday was on tithing. After conversation about how "tithe" is not the same as a tie you wear around you neck and not like Alabama's "Roll Tide," I gave the girls each 10 pennies to illustrate that you give 1/10 of your earnings to God as a tithe and anything else you give to his over that is your offereing. Well I'm not real certain they totally grasped the idea, as Elise asked if you she could just give God all of it, since the math was confusing, but Marisa had a blast with the pennies! I had no idea a kindergartener would be so amused with all the ways she could play with pennies.

Our other Sunday School activity, which has become quite the regular occurence in our mornings together is singing around the piano. This is involves me picking out Jesus Loves Me on the piano with my right hand as I can't read a bass cleff to play the right hand (and my playing is atrocious!) while Marisa sits on the bench next to me banging away notes to her hearts content while Elise and Donna try to sing along with us. Seriously, if someone saw it happening they would thing is was insanity, but the girls love it! (and they are the only ones who think I can play the piano, and until their ears get old enough to know better we won't tell them any different!)

Skittles and Pop...and an appetizer platter

2010-01-25T13:22:00.003-05:00

Skittles and Pop...I seriously want a shirt that says that, or a tote bag or something.
Donna and I sold concessions for the basketball crowd Saturday morning. One of the kids asked why we didn't seel to them the previous week. They never miss a beat. Totally cracks me up! Didn't seel so much popcorn this time, but geez people were feeling the Skittles vibe...of course I ate a bag too. :)

We met up with Cynthia that evening at the funeral home. One of our choir members father had passed away, and we went to visit and pay our respects. Funeral homes are like a meeting of the herd to me. Everyone I know from all sorts of places show up and it's a little overwhelming. Note to all: Cremate me and don't have a receiving line. I'm thinking a simple church service and big old pot luck dinner would do just fine.

Then we were Applebee's bound (ok, so it's like the only thing in that part of Boiling Springs that isn't fast food, so yeah we went there.) I love the big round top tall tables in the bar area! They make me feel tall while sitting down. Seriously I don't ever feel tall even on my tip toes. This is an accomplishment!
The Appetizer Sampler was wonderful and the conversation and friends were way better! I didn't get home until 11:30 which for those who know me well know this is WAY past my pumpkin hour, but it was totally worth the bags under the eyes in church Sunday for a few hours with the girls.
A lovely Saturday for sure...oh and I bought some four cheese ravioli, cooked it and tossed it with some basil pesto for lunch. I was feeling super smart and it really was YUMMY! (Of course I have no pictures of that because I can't photograph food and I jacked the pictures I have off of the internet) Thank you Applebee's and the people of Skittles :)

Random Pictures!

2010-01-21T14:10:00.001-05:00

I'm cleaning the camera up and thought I would throw up some pictures from the last week or so, with snappy narration of course!

Lucy and Wilbur!

Yes these are those little kittens that showed up at Paul and Cyn's (minus O'Possum who found a great home!) Lucy is the little gray and white girl and Wilbur is the black and white male. He is my favorite and if I didn't live with people who hate all things 4 legged he would be living with me. I think he is pretty much the cutest cat ever and is super michevious! Lucy is quite the Daddy's girl and LOVES Paul. He is such a softy :)

Lucy also loves her big brother Luke. Here he is, never far from one of his multitude of balls. Nobody thought he would like having the kittens around, but he seems pretty content to have his new siblings around, and they have figured out to dodge his big feet :)

However,

Tigger is not so impressed. He has warmed up some from his initial "ignore and hiss when ignoring is impossible stance," but he still thinks Wilbur is a supreme pain in the cat nip, and after watching my mischevious little love bug, I would have to agree. I don't esspecially warm to people following me around with their nose in my butt either. Just sayin'...

Now that I have covered P and C's zoo, onto work place what not...

The view from the Drive Thru...it's aint that exciting. Actually this was from a couple weeks ago. Today it is so rainy and gloomy I have to use the flash and it just photographs my reflection.

Harriett!

Or as I like to affectionately refer to her as Henrietta. Pretty muich the coolest CSR around...not to be confused with CSI (we have one of those sometimes too, his name is Taco...whole 'nother story.) Anyhoo, here she is hard at word and totally oblivious to me snapping pictures of her. :)

Check out her plants in the background. She grows the most amazing African violets and aloe plants in the window on her credenza. The violets are always in bloom and the aloes are always shooting off new plants, or as we call it having babies.

This is my work place pride and joy. This is my jade plant I purchased at Lowes a few years back. It was tiny when I first got it. Now it is huge and I have pruned it back and have worked at using some bonsai techniques for getting the leaves to grow tighter at the top. This little baby is tons of fun and grows really fast for a jade. I love her.

I have two gnomes that take care of my jade plant. This is Humphrey. They other one is Bogart but he is considerably camera shy and not very photogenic anyway, so Humphrey gets to do the modeling. These little dudes are just cute and if you don't have a garden to put gnomes in I seriously suggest getting them for your house (or work) plants.

Speaking of camera shy...I tried to get a picture of Debra, but she ducked everytime, and I have a whole stinkin' memory stick full of the back of her head. Instead of bore you with that, I'm just talking about her online so she will turn funny shades of red when she reads this :)

That's it for the randomness today!

A Yada Yada Book Review

2010-01-20T09:53:00.002-05:00

I have been meaning to write this for some time, and I suppose today is the day.
A few years back there was a discount Christian book sale in Asheville and I did something I had never done before or since. I bought 4 books all of the same series by and author I had never heard of. Something about the brightly colored covers with feet of all different races showing at the bottom spoke to me. I know you can't judge a book by it's cover, but that cover held a multitude inside. There began my journey with the Yada Yada's and their prayer group. I read those four books in about a 2 week span and anxiously awaited the next book to come out. All together there are 7 books in that series and the women that Neta Jackson creates in those pages are rich with detail and lives that could very easily be someone we could all know. The books make you want to dig deeper into your own Bible and move closer in your relationship with God as the Yada's do.

Mrs. Jackson has started a new series that is a kind of spin off from the Yada Yada Prayer Group that is the House of Hope series. It follows the life and faith journey of a woman who has just moved to Chicago. Along the way she crosses paths with some of the familiar Yada's and the development of this story is as rich and intriguing as the originals.

These books have meant alot to my personal faith journey and if you are a reader of Chirstian fiction in search of something new and different, I completely suggest these two series.

For more books by Neta and her husband Dave Jackson check out their website http://www.daveneta.com/

A here comes the Sun(day)! and adventures at the Lemon

2010-01-16T21:38:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is Sunday and that means the end of the long sad week. Praise the Lord for seeing me through this one.
Miss Maxie Lou is doing much better now after a visit to Clyde Johnson. Clyde is a friend of Robin's from his hunt club and honestly I should have just taken it to him to start with, but lessons learned. One radiator and water pump later and she is no longer running anti freeze like a river glorious. Happy Snappy!
Yesterday was Shirley's funeral. It brought so many people together. So many people loved her so very much. There is a bit of trepidation on my part as I know that woman prayed for me for years and the idea of walking through life without those prayers is a little scary. She was closer to God than any person I have ever known and when she prayed for you, you knew God was listening.

On my way home today I stopped by the church and walked out to her grave. I get the feeling I am going to have to do that for a little while to make me believe that she is really gone. Standing looking at the mound of flowers covering the ground it still felt as if I could walk across the street knock on her front door and talk for hours. Sinking in is going to take some time.

I promise my lighter more ridiculous post will be back next week, but I needed one more day of public mourning for my dear friend. As a prelude to insanity here is a picture from The Lemon with Sherrie. We went after the visitation and...She

thinks that mild is greater than hot...she's WORNG!!!! HOT is where it's at!

Further more, on a philisophical note, why does one buld a 6/8s of a wall and call one side smoking and one side non? The smoke rises...and falls on our heads and we aren't amused. We do not care that you want to plant flowers in the middle of your wall. We want a full wall, or Sherrie' suggest you put the other 2/8on the floor instead of the ceiling but I think that would lead to cross smoker footsie games...very scandalous!
Keep your cancer to yourself and build a real wall!...and eat HOT salsa! (unless you are Robin or Sherrie and then I love you anyway :)

a week of uncertainty

2010-01-14T10:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you feel like you are waiting for a shoe to drop and sometimes you feel like it already has.
My car drama seems to be ongoing as I now have Maxie Lou at another mechanic (my regular mechanic I should have taken it to in the first place.) Antifreeze is still leaking from somewhere, but not sure where and I am praying it is simple and as inexpensive as car work goes.
This along with loosing Shirley has made for a week of few meals and many tears. I'm sinking folks, and could really use a few prayers to make it through the next few days.
The Lord is my Shepherd and I ought not fear because with him I will want for nothing that is needed. All things scary are illuminated with light and where I have light, there will beno dark.

In Memorium

2010-01-12T21:25:00.001-05:00

I had a really snazzy post about laundry I was planning to be my next post, but in light of current events, plans change.
Obituaries are, in my opinion the most impersonal words in a daily newspaper. They are short, give basic details on times and places and survivors but tell very little about the person who's death they are announcing. That does not do my friend Shirley McKinney any justice. So before the brilliant minds at the Herald Journal have their say, I want to do my best to pay tribute to one one of the greatest women I have ever known.
Shirley McKinney was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. To me however, she was actually none of those things. She was in effect simply a friend. The difference was that Shirley was not simply a friend to anyone. She was ever so much more and to have been loved by her was to truly know God's love embodied in a human being.
Her porch was home to many, and as a young teenager there was no more safe and wonderful place in the world. I spent many Sunday afternoons and evenings sitting in the swing with a blanket wrapped arund my shoulders and her arms around me. Her heart was always open, her ears always listening and even when scolding was fully warranted it came in the most gentle and loving of forms.
In the past few years I have not stayed in contact with her like I should have. Time seems to weave us in different directions throughout the years. One thing has never changed, I could always drive up in that drive way and know that I would be met with more love and understanding that I deserved. Many times in my adult life when I have been confused or scared I have taken the trip in my mind back to that front porch and felt her arms around me, praying for me, comforting me.
Tonight Shirley is on a very different front porch, rejoicing with the Savior that she taught so many about. She loved to sing, and everyone who heard her loved to hear it. Tonight she is singing in a new choir and one of these days we can all go and join her. Until then, we can grieve her passing but give praise for she is waiting for us with the same loving arms she met us with here on earth.

A few of my favorite things....

2010-01-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

Over the New Years holiday I watched The Sound of Music for the thousanth time. It is one of my favorites (as it is many people's.) It got me to thinking, what are my "favorite things?" What are the things that make scary moments better? You know how much I love my photo collages, so here goes!

The Tale of Pop Corn and Radiators

2010-01-11T11:40:00.001-05:00

Well whew, what a weekend.

First of all, Saturday morning was awesome as it involved going to Bob Burnett's and having a cup of coffee with Paul and CJ and then selling concessions for the Christian Fellowship League basketball games with Donna.

Little kids are sooo fun to watch and we actually got to make some money for the youth's mission trip to Salkehatchie. 6 rounds of popcorn and we sold out of absolutely everything we had in stock. Note to all those who sell concessions: blue poweraide/gatoraid is seriously popular with boys ages 5-15. Also, popcorn machines are very strange creatures. First of all the stupid thing is that even after you turnthe kettle off and the pop corn has been dumped the thing still cooks and smokes until you wipe it out with a paper towel. Well now it's not the greatest angle and sticking my hand in a hot kettle with smoking popping grease is not remotely a pleasant thought. Anyhoo I ain't in love with that thing but we made our peace and made a whole lotta popcorn.
I'm looking forward to next Saturday and making some more money with our restocked pantry!

Then begins the other part of my weekend....
When I was leaving the gym I noticed a river of antifreeze flowing from beneath the front passenger side bumper of my Maxie Lou. She has been having some anti freeze related issues but I thought we had them fixed. My mistake. I got home and then kept an eye on the car for the rest of the day and didn't get out much as I had a killer headache. The headache progressed until I spent my Sunday morning in bed instead of in a church pew (if you know me, you know I don't do this.)

I got up in the afternoon and took a jaunt down to the O'Reilly Auto Parts in Chesnee and got a recommendation on someone who could look at my radiator in a Sunday afternoon. I went down there and Todd Greene pumped up my radiator and decided it was linking down the entirety of the crimp line (I didn't know what a crimp line was until yesterday.) We were able to get a new radiator from O'Reilly and take it back to the shop. Here's where things got interesting. Once the radiator was out it was obvious that it was bent and wharped from a car frame that was busted...not only busted but the engine cradle had come loose from the frame and was hanging down a couple inches. So...Todd jacked up the cradle, C-clamped it to the frame and welded it back into place...then installed my new radiator. Todd was great and let me watch everything thing he did and explained the function of every part he had to remove and install. I really enjoyed having someone educate me.

So lessons learned:
1. If you live in Chesnee, Todd Greene is a great mechanic and builder of all things machine related.
2. You are supposed to have your radiator flushed every 30 to 40 thousand miles. I didn't know this cause nobody ever told me.
3. I have an awesome brother in law who called to check on me when he found out I was having car problems. I love him!
4. I dont' do well on a Sunday of no church. After Todd got me up and running I went to church, it was late and only the Rec and Fellowship Committee was still there (i was supposed to be in the meeting so I can crash.) When I sat down between Cynthia and Robin and looked across the table at Tammy, Donnie, Nikki and Donna it was like the world lifted and I had touched home plate and was home free. At the end of the day my friends buoy me up and I can't function without them, even for one Sunday.

So it's Monday, and I still don't feel great, but I am glad to be back at work and happy that God took care of everything I needed this weekend.

"Fear Not"

2010-01-07T10:23:00.000-05:00

The angels said it, bill boards say it and even Jesus Christ himself said it in his preachings, but why on earth does it not stick into my head and heart. A dear friend of mine is in the hospital right now, after having major surgery to remove a hemangioma the size of a soccer ball from her liver. She is still in ICU in critical condition. I know I should be praying constantly and consistently and I am trying but my head gets in the way and the fear muddles it all up.
Funny thing is, this is not a person I see everyday or even very often, but I always know she is there and the idea of her not being there scares me to emotional paralysis. So I suppose today I am asking people to pray for Shirley McKinney, but also for me and the strength of my faith. In so many ways Shirley was the one who taught me to pray and now more than ever I need to do it for her.

Anniversaries and Such

2010-01-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

Of course I didn't know this until I recieved a ton of emails from higher ups and my managers scared me with a loud "Happy Anniversary." but today is indeed my anniversary with the bank. (A least with this bank, Hometrust does deserve it's dues for those 3 months in NC.)
Anyhoo, time flies! I would never had thought it has been 3 years. Three years ago when I got a full time job in SC and solidified that I was in Sparkle City to stay and not returning to Asheville. It was a scary move at the time but looking back and seeing the twists and turns taken by those I left behind in Asheville, it was the best move I could have ever made. It took time but I now have this amazing life, with a good job, great friends and the most incredible church family. Best of all, I have the Corbins sitting on that hill in Asheville like real life guardian angels, proud of who I am and where I am. I have said this many times, but there have never been people more full of grace than them. They loved me, cared for me, nursed me to health and then let me go with God.
So three years in a job, but 3 years of so much more.
Thanks to Debra, Suzanne, Harriett, Meredith, Donna, June and of course our long lost Freddie (Baltimore has no idea what it gained.) You guys are the best!

2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-04T16:08:00.001-05:00

2010 and we rang it in BIG!!
I went out with Sherrie, Erica, Adam, Heather and David and we had a blast. By the way I totally recommend the Black and Blue at City Range. It was fantastic!

Saturday Amy & Trey and Ashley & Jen came to town and we went and ate lunch at the Beacon and recalled all the great times we spent their as kids with the grandparents. The grease is thick enough to clog your pores when you walk in the door, but oh man there is nothing like a fried ham and cheese a-plenty! I sort of think you have to be from Spartanburg to understand the romance of this place, either that or really love you some grease.
After lunch and ice cream from the most depressed hateful ice cream server in the world, we took the $.25 tour of the city of sparkles and drove by Cleveland Park, the Carolina Panther's training camp and our grandparents old home on Alamo.

All in all it was a great start to what feels like it going to be an incredible year. There is something in the air that feels positive and like something amazing is beginning. It will be a big year for sure as there are many things on the horizon to look forward to, but more on that when the time comes!!

Love to all who have been and all that will be in this year we call 2010!

Goodbye "09 and all your "Huge Times"

2009-12-31T11:02:00.001-05:00

Well that was the mantra, "Huge Time in '09." Did I live up to it? Who knows, but I do know I have loved much and been loved more than I could have been asked for. I have come together and fell apart in so many areas of my life, but sitting here at my desk drinking my super strong cup of hot organic peppermint tea I think I actually lived under the radar this year. I kept waiting for something big and I missed alot of little, which is not very me.
But the truth is...
I bought and paid for my first car that I actually bought myself.
I said goodbye to Blanche, the greatest gift I ever recieved.
I bought what might be the last of my host of bridesmaids' dresses.
I saw two of my best friends get married to wonderful men.
I saw two Carolina Gamecock football games with the greatest girl in the world.
I met an awesome girl named Sarah and then watched her move away to an amazing job in DC.
I made a bazillion scarves for the people I love.
I watched the person who is suppose to love me the most desert me.
I loved someone so much it hurt.
I watched my dear friend lose her dearest friend and sister.
I got back a sister I had lost years ago and with her the most amazing kids in the world.
I spent a year without laying eyes on one Wild Woman.
I used up 90% of my alloted cell phone minutes talking to Wild Women.
I dressed up as Marilyn Monroe.
I realized I have the best cousins in the world (even the dorks who pull for Clemson.)
I bought a Clemson tie (yes, this was big)
I bought two Gamecock boas (best money ever spent)
I did the Macarena with the best church family in the world.
I went to see the Wild Things with my little sister.
I saw the best guy I know move away to Baltimore and leave me with a bunch of Grandmas.
I sang second soprano (badly)
I cried in the rain.
I danced in the rain.

All in all not a blow out year but certainly not a bust. Thanks for the memories 2009.
Cheers! and let's live it up in 2010!!!!

A few more Christmas pictures...

2009-12-28T13:15:00.000-05:00

I couldn't fit all of my pictures in the last entry so here are few more. :)

Kacie and Nikki

Pretty Pink poinsettias at Calvary

The most beautiful Sanctuary ever

The Advent wreath all lit up

Robin lighting candles

Happy Donna

Silly Nikki and Abby

Me with my cousins, Amy and Ashley

Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T11:58:00.000-05:00

Wild and crazy and non stop, that was this Christmas. I felt a little like I was meeting myself coming and going all weekend and was ready to come back to work to get a little rest. However it was wonderful!! The candlelight service at Calvary on Christmas Eve was gorgeous with the church lit only by the candles in our hands. People can say was they will about battery operated candles but I love just good ole regular wax candles, even if they do drip and burn you and make you hit random high notes in the middle of Silent Night. I wore jeans to the service, but I think Elise and Marisa had the right idea, as they came in their pajamas and looked absolutely adorable!

All of the friends exchanged presents which of course was fun. My friends are entirely to generous and incredible! I of course was so excited to give Robin his tie. I am still not sure what possessed me to get his a Clemson tie, but for that smile I suppose I can suck it up. This picture however is to funny for words. I couldn't stop laughing at Nikki and Clemson in a Bowl Game makes Robin entirely to giddy.

I spent Christmas Eve night with Nana and Lucy for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas morning festivities. The taco soup was incredible as were the cinnamon rolls on Friday morning.

We opened presents and I got money towards a new computer (I can't wait!!!), and one of my favorite things, a new Gamecock key ring. It's so pretty and goes we will my new Gamecock earrings! I suppose Santa rewards those who love people enough to buy ugly Clemson stuff :)

After Christmas morning was wrapped up (or unwrapped) I went to BB's and we went to Charlotte to see Aunt Dena, Uncle Don, and Amy and Ashley. We had a yummy lunch and fun opening presents and then us girls went to the movies to see Alvin and the Chipmunk: The Squeakquel. I am now a huge fan of the Chipettes!!!

It was a really fun girls outing and it was great to spend some holiday time with my cousins!

Stockings!!! and trees....

2009-12-23T10:18:00.001-05:00

Well, after a mild panic attack, when I realized that I really had no clue where my camera was, I found it and all is well. Actually I prayed last night that God would show me where I had left it, and I had this really inconsequential dream where I was carrying my Dano bag instead of my regular purse, and voila! It was in there this morning. God is so awesome!

I finished the Grandparents presents last night and as I am pretty sure they don't read my blog (or even know that I have one) I can post pictures. They have never had stockings for Christmas for as long as I can remember, and stockings are one of my favorite traditions. So this year their real present is the wrapping as I made them stockings...or bought stockings and cross-stitched and decorated on them. I am really excited about how they came out and I hope they enjoy them!

Also as promised ages ago, here are some pictures of my trees at the bank. The little one is in my drive-thru and the big(ger) one is in our lobby.

I love decorating the bank and I am dreading having to take it all down next week. Is there anything wrong with wanting a tree year round?

Snow in SC...the continuing saga

2009-12-21T13:59:00.000-05:00

Well the weater finally went haywire Friday afternoon and depending in where exactly you were at in Sparkle City you may have had a little slush or have been socked in for the night. I was the latter up in Chesnee. I actually didn't mind as a curled up with some hot cocoa, my cross stitch and watched Frosty the Snowman while the snow fell. I think that may be the first time I have ever had snow for watching Frosty and his friends so good on CBS for scheduling with the weather.

By noon on Saturday the white had melted down to traveling managabilty, and I was off to a marathon trip to Michael's for some last minute jewelry making supplies I had forgotten and one last skein of yarn (YAY!)

I have a tight schedule for my evenings to finish out everything I need for Thursday and Friday, but I am confident I will make the deadline!

Saturday evening was the Calvary Choir party. I would have pictures, but I haven't gotten them from Cynthia and I can't find my camera :( The party was a blast as was the Carol Sing on Sunday night. For those unfamiliar with the Carol Sing, it is the the night when everyone who wants to sing a Christmas song, sings it in church. Everything from Away in a Manger to Silver Bells. Nikki and I sang which was super fun as I love singing with that girl! My Sunday School kids stole the show though. They were really nervous about singing in public but blew everyone aways with there voices and super cuteness.

Snow in SC...

2009-12-18T10:52:00.000-05:00

...well sort of. If you count the five minutes of snow that fell this morning and stuck to absolutely nothing then we had snow. LOL Weatherman says more is on the way tonight so we shall see!
I love snow and I absolutely loved the massive snows that we got when I was a kid in Missouri. There is nothing like being six years old and having snow in your yard that is higher than you are.
The only thing that concerns me nowadays is driving in it. When Buddy taught me to drive he taught me to drive a stick and I could manuever pretty well in Blanche (the old Subaru) in the winter weather. However, I have no idea what to do in my automatic Maxie Lou. I suppose I will figure it out, but I am not particularly looking forward to it.
I have ONE, count it ONE, scarf left to finish and I will be done with them for a little while, but I still have a bit of cross stitching and sewing left to do before the big guy comes down the chimney. I have the coolest idea for presents for my grandparents who don't really do much to celebrate Christmas anymore. When they are finished I will post pictures, but until then I will leave you in suspense. ;)

A Blue Christmas Cantata

2009-12-17T14:30:00.002-05:00

The church is decorated absolutely beautiful for the Christmas season this year and last Sunday night was our annual choir program. Some of you have known me for quite some time and you know that I love to sing, love my choir, but I can not and have never been able to sing any form of harmony. The Lord did not wire my ears for hearing harmonies. However I sucked it up and through many tears worked on learning a second soprano part for the program. It was HARD, but I had a blast doing it!

After much debate we decided to leave the robes hanging in the closet this year and wear shades of blue and silver, and it looked gorgeous. However due to Paul's sadness about not getting to wear his robe, Nikki and I will be wrapping up one for him to open on Christmas Eve. I love my P-daddy, but those robes should sit in that closet til the world returns to dust! My biggest surprise of the night had very little to do with the music at all, but in lots of hugs from my big sister Kelly, her husband Artie and their kids who are the greatest kids in the whole world. They all came to see the musical and I felt like the coolest aunt in the world having my own section of smiling neices and nephews. Kelly's youngest daughter Emily made me the sweetest card that I tucked inside my folder so I could see it next to my music while I was singing. I am so grateful for God bringing Kelly and Artie back into my life after many years apart and for their amazing children who bring such joy to my heart.

After the cantate Ms. Debbie and Ms. Linda put on the most elaborate fabulous dessert buffet ever and the social hall was transformed into a North Pole tasting room full of goodies Mrs. Claus herself would have been impressed with. It was a good time to kick back and enjoy time with friends after working so hard on the musical for the last months.

Cynthia, Donna and I should never be allowed to take pictures of ourselves. We are very bad at it. Cynthia says she doesn't like her neck in this picture but I'm not sure who can see it with the blinding light of my glasses. Of course there is the annual cheese ball picture of me and Robin. I smacked him in the head and told him not to look stupid right before we snapped it...we see how well that worked out :)

I'm glad we are finished with the music, but grateful for the memories it leaves us! Now looking forward to to the choir Christmas party on Saturday. It should prove equally memorable!

A Few Chirstmas Friends

2009-12-16T13:36:00.002-05:00

This is what I have been spending my evenings watching while crocheting. Some of them have been with me every Christmas I can remember, and they are like old friends, and others are much newer. In any event no matter where I end up at Christmas these guys seem to come with me. So cheers to Rudolf, Bing, Rosemary, Frank, Santa and all their friends! Happy Chirstmas!

A Very Crochet Christmas

2009-12-15T10:56:00.002-05:00

This Christmas has been full of yarn!!! In an effort to not have a last minute rush I started on this year's Christmas in January....glad I did! I of course had a fall lag of enthusiasm and now am overwhelmed with the stuff I haven't finished. Priorities of course are in order. The children in my life will have something from me; the adults will get theirs when I get myself together. In any event, scarves, afghans, snowflake ornaments, purses and other assorted crocheted handy-crafts will find their way to their new homes in the next couple of weeks and I might possibly find the floor in my bedroom that has been hidden in yarn for months...and then it will all start again.

Sometimes I worry I am going to turn into Iola Boylin from Mama's Family with all of my handy-crafting but I love it and I love honoring my mother in making Christmas presents the way she always did. Her presents were never about how expensive or grand they were but in the time she spent on something esspecially for someone she loved. This is my connection to her that is mine and mine alone and I treasure it above all things she could have left me.

Sushi and Parades: Take Two

2009-12-09T10:50:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe a year has passed since the first time I went to the parade with my church. Even more amazing that of all the events that come this time of year, this is the one I have spent the whole year looking forward to.
Rain was the unexpected prelude to Santa this year and I was soaked though and frozen to the bone by the time the jolly ole elf rolled through the corner of Daniel Morgan and Church but still there is nothing like huddling together with the ones you love around Gatorade coolers filled with steaming hot chocolate to warm the soul. No matter that is going on in life, the parade is magic and for those few fleeting moments all of life is about what is on that next float and the smiles that it will bring. Nothing else matters, all is perfect.
Sushi has come a long way in my life since last year and my first squeamish attempts and trying raw fish. Niku tataki is my new favorite after last night. It was incredible. (and yes I know that is beef and not fish, but I had some tuna tataki too.)
Anyway friends, thanks for the memories and here's to looking forward to next year (and hopefully a little less rain.)

Setting a Standard

2009-09-15T09:21:00.008-04:00

It seems that blatant public rudeness is now an acceptable means of expression for the masses. Leading this downfall of genteel civility are our celebrities in music and sports like Kanye West and Serena Williams and of course our political representation in the form of Rep. Joe Wilson from the great state of South Carolina. It appears that we now interpret the rights given under the First Amendment as free reign to publicly say whatever we want with no regard for others or the consequences.
Yelling out "You lie" in a presidential address is not OK. It is certainly OK to disagree and to voice your opinions but there is a time and place and talking out of turn is like reverting back to kindergarten and screaming out the answer while other students patiently raise their hands as instructed. Grow up Representative Wilson.
These public temper tantrums keep creeping up and I am appalled. These are the people who we are supposedly expected to look up to and want to be like. I not only don't want to be like that but I am sickened to think that anyone would. I realize the celebrity party line seems to be that they never asked for people to look up to them. Well get a grip. With power comes responsibility and it is time for the powers that be in all genres and settings to step up. We are raising a generation of children who in the last couple of weeks have been given an education in reprehensible public behavior. Let's treat all human beings with a little respect. This is not something where lines are drawn on the grounds of race, political distinction or taste in music. This is learning basic decency and not acting like you are above it.

Football Season!!!

2009-09-14T13:39:00.004-04:00

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I chose to go the University of North Carolina at Asheville for college, but how I ended up at a college with no football team is still beyond me. It's fall and fall means Gamecock football!

There is nothing like screaming your lungs off during the last two minutes of a game hoping that your team will come back for a win. And in those events when you lose, it's still a great time. I love the camaraderie of those who pull for the same team. The mutual love for black and garnet and the fact that complete strangers become friends for the day.

Next Saturday Sherrie and I are going to Columbia for the game and I can't wait! It has been years since I went to Williams Brice for a live game and I can't help but recall being a very little girl about 3 or 4 and standing in front of the elevators and seeing Cocky come out of them. I have to admit that the prospect of seeing Cocky still excites me as much now as it did then.

Here's to a new season that has started off pretty promising and to enjoying it with friends old and new!

Praying...

2009-09-10T13:45:00.003-04:00

The Apostle Paul said to pray without ceasing. When I was a teenager this thought struck me as insane. How could one live and function doing absolutely nothing but praying. Absolute absurdity.
Over the last weeks I have been bombarded with prayer requests from friends and family. From sick fathers and brothers, funerals, military deployment, starting college, lost co-workers and everything in between. These are not trivial things to take lightly. They are earnest requests from ones I love. Today is my mom's birthday and I am reminded that not so long ago I was the one requesting these prayers from my friends for her. My friends rallied and prayed until God gave her the ultimate healing, and then continued to pray for me. God's presence was ever there and I could feel all of the prayers being lifted up around me.
Today my only question is how can one live and function without praying constantly? This open full communication with a loving Father is not only a line for making requests like a letter to Santa, but a true source of comfort and strength no matter what the situation is. Like every good parent the answer is not always yes. Sometimes it is a flat no becasue we ask for things that despite our own resoning are not in our best interests. Sometimes the answer is not yet, and sometimes the answer comes in a way we never anticipated.
Prayer is the ultimate both of faith between us and our Heavenly Father. It is like the diaries we kept hidden under the mattress in 6th grade. A full disclosure of your heart to one who loves you like no other could.
Today I am praying more than ever and I hope you will include me in yours as well.

Nothing's gonna rain on my parade...

2009-08-10T12:07:00.002-04:00

This past weekend has been on my calendar for months. My big brother Matt was playing in Greenville Saturday night and it has been the center of my anticipation. Well, things being what things are a series of unfortunate events occurred. Mainly centered in my own phobias of driving my car, I was stalled and spent an evening talking about my mom with someone who knew her infinitely better than I did. Not the plan, but it was what was needed at the time.
Sunday was a day I wanted to sleep through. Drowning in self inflicted agoraphobic tendencies, I just wanted to curl up and watch hours of Gilmore Girls. Duty calls and responsibility to prevailed and I ended up with a lovely day that ended with Mexican food and 3 of my favorite people around the table. So much happiness is all around me. I am constantly reminded that I have the most amazing friends. Not just my YaYa's and Wild Women that as fabulous as they are, happen to be painfully far away. Not even just in Asheville, but here in the hometown I have the best people who never cease to make me laugh and wipe the occasional tear when needed. No matter how many dark clouds like to loom in the shadows there is so much light all around me. Nothing is going to rain on this parade, and if it does (and let's face it, it probably will) then I will just dance in the rain.

Summer 2009

2009-07-31T19:25:00.002-04:00

There are a few versions of this summer...the one we planned for and the one that met us at the door. I can't write it all out together. There is so much to say to the people I love and I can't quite mesh all the conflicting thoughts together. I thought time would help me gain perspective, but alas I feel if I wait to long I will loose the vivid colors of each moment I want to pay homage to. So here is a blog in pieces for the sisters I love.

For Sarah...
There has never been a cooler bride nor will there ever be again. When others might have gone bridezilla nuts, you never took yourself to seriously and never expected your friends to be anything but themselves. Your sense of humor was never lost even when our whole caravan got lost on the way to the hotel going in different directions. It was just another fabulous adventure to share. You and Adam brought tears to my eyes as you said your vows and standing next to your new sister in law gave me the comfort of knowing how much you are loved in this new family the two of you have brought together. For everything from learning to walk down spiral stairs in heels and a ball gown to meeting Ken in the middle of the rehearsal by saying "Hi, I'm Jess. Nice Charlie Brown shirt." I thank you. It was wonderful and unforgettable and I am above and beyond grateful for being able to take part and bear witness. I love you.
Oh, and you can take pride in knowing that of all the bouquet's I've "caught," yours was the one that came to me without deliberate encouragement. :)

For Jackie...
My dearest Jacks, I learned more about our friendship and how important you are to me this summer than in all the time we lived together. I just wanted to wrap my arms around you and never let go, but I know that isn't your style and our geographical challenges make that a bit complicated. In that weekend in the midst of wedding frivolity there were moments when a conversation would lull, or there would be a pause that was just slightly to long and in that moment I knew that's were you belonged. Missing you and loving you and knowing you weren't with us because you were facing the hardest saddest days of your life made me ache and I can't quite find all the words I need to say to you. All I know is that I never knew how much I leaned on you and depended on you until you weren't there and I hope you know that you can lean on me every now and then too. I love you bebe.

For Dano...
On the surface I suppose we may look like we have the least in common of the four of us. I guess I've always seen it that way, but in this summer of joy and grief I was glad to have you to take the journey with. It's funny, but looking back we have spent the least amount of time together, but those simple plain things we share in common were the greatest comfort to me this summer. We know grief and we know it from similar places, neither of us are very keen on driving in unknown places at night and make up isn't on the top of any skill list that would be attributed to us. This and so much more made me so glad to have you by my side. You made me laugh harder, and stay braver and when I was silent you and you alone knew why. Thanks for being my sidekick in an impossible situation of conflicts. You held me together and made me stand on my own and never let me forget to laugh. I love you, pal.

2009-06-21T13:44:00.002-04:00

Walking backward through my life I wonder what the roads I didn't take would have held.
Did I make a wrong turn, did I make the wrong choice?
Am I the woman I was mean to be, or am I a result of mistakes made and bad decisions?
One has to ask when sitting stagnate, have I missed a step that brought me here or am I just waiting for what's around the bend.
I am restless, antsy and waiting without much patience.
I question God at every turn, because something seems amiss and I can't quite get the kaleidoscope into focus.
The colors turn and the picture is there, and yet, there is something blank and void, and I can't wrap my hands and heart around it.
Where do I go from here?

Waxing theologethic in Hollywood

2009-05-26T19:37:00.003-04:00

Ok, gasp, I went to see Angels and Demons yesterday at the cinema...I confess I am a Dan Brown junkie. Here's the kicker, a movie based on a Dan Brown novel has had me thinking about and praising God all day...who knew?
Essentially the conclusion of the film got me to thinking. An aging cardinal speaking to a young professor who is religiously neutral says, and pardon the paraphrase, that religion is imperfect, but only because we (human beings) are imperfect...now that got my wheels spinning.
We as Christians serve a perfect God, and we in human form are fully imperfect. This got me to thinking. Religion is imperfect because religion was created and is carried out by men. Men and women who pervert holy teachings to achieve their own ends tend to be the cornerstone of "religion" in the world. God however is still imperfect with truth as his beacon in the darkness of conflicting religions that seek to explain God better than the next. It's interesting to me that we create something so imperfect in the name of one who is perfect. Instead of serving and building a real relationship with God, men throughout time have used God's name to further themselves and build their own pedestals and monuments. God has never changed, and has never wavered in his opinions on the pharisees of Christ's time or the modern day marvels of Christendom in ours. Whether you subscribe to the Catholic teachings of the Vatican or the mega church phenomenon in Bible Belt, USA you have to admit that mass herding for the sake of cash flow and book sales is not what God had in mind when he endorsed church. I believe he wanted believers who could support each other in spiritual growth as well as other daily challenges. People who can come together in his name to praise him, but also love one another in simplicity and truth. I think when we come away from that and talk about how Rev. So-and-so can draw such a large crowd, and Preacher What's his name can raise so much money we have left the perfection of God and dove full on into the realm of religion. Here's a hint, people are turned off by religion, but someone who will listen and love you in spite of your own imperfection is generally welcomed.
Thanks Mr Brown for writing the book, and Ron Howard for directing a brilliant movie, because God can use a piece of fiction when he desires...he is God afterall...

Relay for Life!! 2009

2009-05-23T16:51:00.011-04:00

There is nothing more heart warming, inspiring and wonderful than watching the survivors lap at Relay for Life. These are the people who have or still are facing this awful disease we call cancer in the face. Watching their courage shine through their smiles as they walk the opening lap of the night emboldens me and makes me believe that one day not to far away their will be no reason for this walk anymore, because we will have defeated cancer once and for all.
This year was extra special for me because I was there with Sherrie who respesents so much of where I come from and also with Nikki, Courtney, Abby and Kacie who are such bright spots in my life now. Walking that track with people I love so much and sharing this night which for me is all about honoring my mom's memory was great. Mom would have been happy to see me walking and she above all people would have gotten that I put her picture on top of the word girl on my "Fight Like a Girl" shirt...she would have gotten the "Fight Like a Mom" statement and would have fully endorsed the cheesiness.
SO thanks mom for fighting until God brought you home and you didn't have to fight anymore. I'll keep walking for you every year until there is no longer a reason to walk.

*All photos courtesy of Nikki Paxton Photography

Here Comes the Sun...do do do doo

2009-05-10T20:36:00.003-04:00

YaYa wedding number two: Tim and Dano Zynda-Clark
Tears seeped out of my eyes watching my pal Dano say I do to Tim yesterday. This is my Dano, the girl who taught me to love Jane Austen, went tubing with me in Lake Hartwell, and consistently opened my eyes to new adventures between the covers of good books. So there I sat sandwiched between Jackie and Sarah watching as the second of the sisterhood welcomed a fella into the family on a permanent basis. Surreal...and we will do it again in 2 months with Sarah and Adam.
Sitting in Jackie's kitchen you look up to a sign over the window that reads "Here Comes the Sun." These girls are my sunshine. They have been for a while and they will be for a long while to come. These fellas better take care of them, love them and make them happy. I may be the shortest, the chubbiest and in many ways the weakest, but if you mess with my girls the fact that I am the oldest and therefore the big sister will come out and bite you in the ass. That being said, I love these guys. I look forward to living out our lives, sharing stories, memories and witnessing their lives with my yayas.
Late last night before falling over into a deep wine induced sleep I asked Jackie would we be as close as we are if we met as the people we are now as opposed to the girls we were then. I don't really know the answer, but I think we grew up together and that is the tie that binds us. The impressionable years of early adulthood were shared together. Though we are unmistakeably different from our heights and hair colors to our religion and politics, we have left impressions and shadows of ourselves on each others hearts. We took each other in and for better for worse we are now apart of one another until sun sets for the final time in our lives.
To the Yayas their spouses, futures spouses and all those potential petites! Cheers and many happy returns to one another!

The old homeplace...

2009-04-25T20:21:00.003-04:00

Once upon a time there was a church that was in walking distance to the most ghetto of apartments. In the apartment lived a young girl trying desperately to convince everyone and mostly herself that she was a grown woman. She had no car and she had never learned to drive anyway so a car would have done her little good. This young girl did have a desire to be in God's house. She had prayed for two years that God would give her a church home in her new city of residence. On faith she walked the few blocks up the street to this large brick church with the copper bell tower and tall white columns and inside she found her home. Baby blue walls and shag carpet in a sanctuary decorated with butterflies hanging from the chandelier for Vacation Bible School.
That was how my love affair with Calvary Baptist of Asheville began. I only spent four years serving there and I can't remember all of those, but it was the place grew up into the woman I wanted to be and found a family that is in all ways as dear as that which was given to me by birth. I was in Asheville for a short visit and I couldn't help but stop and snap a couple of pictures of this home of yesteryear. I now call another baby blue walled CBC home and and greatful to do so, but I thought I would pay a little homage to where I came from.

More than a dream

2009-04-24T21:32:00.004-04:00

Have you ever looked at life and thought "Whoa! How did I get here?"
I seem to be doing that a lot lately. Looking back at all the dreams and expectations I had for my life, and comparing and contrasting to the reality that I have become. Some of you reading this have known me since I was making those dreams and expectations and I suppose you might be surprised at where I am now, or you always assumed I would be exactly where I am. Whatever the case, I am surprised.
I never set out to be a bank teller. In the 7th grade Mrs. Price made us take a career assessment and she insisted that I put down banker as one of my possibilities. I informed her she was crazy and that there would be no way in very hot places that I would ever become a banker. I always dreamed of being a singer or an actress or if I must be normal I was going to teach. Out of sheer nicety no one ever informed me that I had no business singing out of church, I didn't have the face for acting and I suppose no one knew that I would grow up to only like small children in smaller doses. Even in more recent history, I thought I would live in Asheville until they stuck me in the ground. Of course here I sit in my hometown in South Carolina, the one place I was convinced I would never go. It is shocking to me I am here, I am the woman I am and yet I am content beyond measure. Sometimes the job makes me crazy, I want to strangle some of my lifelong friends, and I am enveloped in the insanity called family, but I am thrilled to be living this life. This life I didn't have the good sense to dream for or expect and yet God said "Here, my stupid little lamb, I brought you here in spite of yourself." God is good all the time and yes, all the time God is good. Here's to life being more than you can ever dream. Simplicity is everything, and the small moments make the big life.

For Sherrie

2009-04-18T22:50:00.003-04:00

Sherrie says I need a new blog, and I can't exactly argue with that so here goes.

The winter is for all intents and purposes gone here in South Carolina. I spent my day laying out in the sun hoping that I might escape the Casper syndrome that my legs had succumbed to. Of course, I and my lily self am still lily with fabulous tomato red knees that should look lovely peeking out from my Sunday church attire in the morning.
The winter wasn't exactly long, but eventful. A new car, old friend and family reentered my life and of course a few left this life forever. Most recently and fresh to the heart, my Momma Dorcas. I haven't even come to terms with knowing I will never have her kiss my cheeks or give me one of those amazing bear hugs again. This like all seasons has been life changing. We never face two seasons as the same person. The events of one always change how you enter the next, but this time it's a little different. This winter was unassuming really. Nothing really knocked the wind out of me or made me elated beyond all reason, but all the little pieces together are huge.
Here's hoping that all of this has changed me for the better, made me stronger and that I will live out this spring and enter the summer a woman much more equipped for life. I have lost much, but I have loved more and I have been loved more than anyone could ever imagine. It's still a very good life.

Goodbye Blanche

2009-02-20T20:39:00.002-05:00

We all new it would happen one day but the old Subaru has finally taken it's last drive and is now cruising the highway in the sky with the rest of those first cars we all had. Saying goodbye was like saying goodbye to a best friend and sidekick. I grew up with that car, and she grew old with me. I will never forget driving her in circles in the cul de sac on Sevier St. learning to drive or the day Buddy put her plate on the back for me. That car was the greatest gift of love and freedom from my big brother Jon. It meant everything to me in the beginning, and in the end she was there to witness alot in my life. She was there when my mom was sick to drive me up and down the mountain and there to take me home on auto pilot the morning she died. She was there for the first road trip to see Mary and although I was alone in the car, I wasn't alone. That car, my Blanche, had such presence and personality that I never felt alone. She kept me safe, kept me healthy in many ways, and kept me moving forward. I have moved on and there will be pictures of the new wheels soon, but the old girl needed to be remembered for all she was.

About that thing called love...

2009-01-23T11:24:00.001-05:00

"Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love."
Charlie Brown in "Peanuts"

Charlie Brown is one of my favorite cartoon heroes. Nothing makes me laugh quite as much as him and his illusive football. The truth of the matter however is that Charlie and his cronies always get to the heart of the matter. For all the humor it is very little fluff. It’s all substance when you break it down.
Valentine’s Day; dirty words for a single gal in her late 20s. I have always been good with the infamous V-day by myself, and have to say that the ones spent with significant others usually end up ticking me off due to way to much pressure and expectation. All that being said, the worst has to be spending Valentines looking into the eyes of one you love with all your heart and knowing there is nothing coming back in return. I’m a sensible girl. I don’t go gaga for much other than a new Alan Rickman movie at the Spartan 16. I, however, once or twice a decade fall so stupid in love with someone I cannot have that all my sensibilities and good intentions can be deemed null and void. Three times in my life I have had this happen. Middle School, freshman year of college and of course now in my blissful adultness I am stricken again. Two questions remain. Why do I only fall for men who are so out of my league? And why must I fall so hard?
There is no greater personal agony. Ok, so yes there, is but you go around with the sneaky feeling that everyone you know wants to shake you and tell you to get a grip, and yet don’t because they want to love you and support you even in your insanity. It’s positively beyond reason and you can’t stop your self once you start falling. All you can do it hope that someone puts a giant inflatable pillow out before the ground jumps up and smacks you in the face.
All that to say, as I decorate at work and church for this holiday of hearts and flowers bathed in shades of Pepto-Bismol, and fill out my Snoopy valentines for the masses I am a puddle of silly girlish giggles desiring once again what she cannot and shall not have.

Presidents and Saviors

2009-01-14T13:57:00.005-05:00

Next week our country will inaugurate a new president. For many people this bring a lot of hope, joy and excitement, whereas for others this election has brought concern, fear and even hatred. Personally I voted for the guy, and I am pretty proud to say I did. This whole election brings back to mind a conversation with a teacher of mine in elementary school. As the child of devout Republicans, I was very upset when Bill Clinton was elected. I was 11 years old when he was inaugurated and my teacher made a comment about voting for him. My reaction was less than pleased and then that teacher (whose name I can never recall) taught me the greatest lesson I've ever had on politics. "We weren't asking for a savior." Those words have stuck with me through the years and every election season they come to mean more to me.
Our country is in a rough patch. Our economy is shot, we are in a war that the majority of our citizens disagree with on some level, and people's faith in government is at an all time low for my lifetime. All this being said, we weren't electing a savior. Those who are expecting Mr. Obama to be that will be sadly disappointed. That particular position was filled over 2000 years ago and new applicants are not being excepted. Jesus Christ is my Savior and Mr. Obama is my president (or will be in a week or so.) I also think that we as Americans need to be very clear that all of the hopes for our country need to be placed in Christ, not any man whether he be Democrat or Republican. Mr. Obama will accomplish nothing without God's divining it to be so. He is a man elected by the people to serve to the best of his ability and we should expect no more or no less from him than just that. He got my vote, but more importantly he has my prayers. I have to ask that all Christians in this country (even those devout Republicans) give him the same.

Sex education at Walgreens...

2009-01-11T09:06:00.002-05:00

I stopped in at the drugstore yesterday to purchase some Junior Mints and Twizzlers to smuggle into the movie theater. Sherrie thinks I am genius because I smuggle movie theater boxes of candy into the theater. I suppose I am just that cool.
Anyway, in my wanderings at the Walgreens I noticed something new and slightly humorous. On the same aisle in consecutive order are condoms, pregnancy test, diapers and baby toys. How had I missed this? Someone in the marketing department for Walgreens has the most fabulous sense of humor. Here is your birth control, and if you think it didn't work, here's your test. Positive? No problem, we have the supplies to take care of you for the next couple of years. Amazing! All this to wonder, is this a subtle statement to teenagers? Are they trying to send sublemenal messages to the youth of America by making you look at diapers while buying condoms? Sneaky enough, but I personally just got a really good laugh while buying bootleg movie candy.

Waxing poetic...

2009-01-07T13:08:00.003-05:00

For every friend, for every foe

I stand in awe of the places I will go

So much has past, so much to come

What exactly will this year become

Will I love more, Will I hate less

Will I truly strive to be my best

I dread to live to tell the tale of regrets again

And woulda, shoulda coulda beens

I think I am a woman of grace

I probably think way to much of this face

Lord give me patience with those who offend

Lord grant my humility on my own end

Let me give more, Let me take less

Let me be strong enough to stand my own test

This is the moment where the pendulum swings

Let me soar off the end to explore my own things

New Year, Old friends...

2009-01-06T10:47:00.002-05:00

In making the end of year collage for 2008 and reading my pal Carrie's comment I am forced to think of the people who are missing from it. It was a great year, but looking ahead I have to say there are people I want brought back to the forefront in my life. The YaYa's, although were there as always to end and begin the year with me were distinctly absent from the rest of the year. The fault of course belongs entirely in my own lousy lap, and that is a situation that needs to rectified in the coming year. (Of course the two weddings should help greatly in that matter!)
Carrie and Bill. There have been times when they were the pillars that held me up. Carrie, who brings fun and laughter to a whole new level and Bill who makes me absolutely crazy, but grounds me like no one else. Their son is of course my nephew int he way that college makes a family and I have yet to pinch his cheeks like a good spinster aunt ought too. Again, a situation that must be fixed.
I suppose most obviously missing are the Corbins. How did I go a year with only 2 weekends in Asheville, and no pictures?!?! These are the parents and family I chose. They are a huge piece of my heart and in the silent moments I have felt their absence most severely. Living well and happy without them as a constant is probably the greatest testament to them and the health that they fostered in my life, but it is bittersweet. I need them. Not to have a reason to get up everyday, but just to love.
It's New Year, resolution time. Yes I need to loose weight and that's fine and good. I've given up soda and we will see how that goes, but more importantly I want to stop giving up time with my friends. That's my resolution.

Goodbye 2008

2009-01-03T20:03:00.007-05:00

I can't get my head wrapped around a year end review so here are a few memories worth revisiting.

It's finally here...

2008-12-24T22:55:00.002-05:00

Well a month of anticipation, parties and being good so that Santa will come see me and it is finally Christmas Eve. I will be in bed soon as Norad says the big guy in red will be hitting the United States in an hour or so.
Truly an amazing Christmas on every level. Forget that I haven't opened the "big presents" yet, this Christmas will go in my personal record book for being wonderful whether I have gifts or not. I have had my friends and family near and dear almost everyday. There has been a lot of laughter, a few tears, and more hugs than I can even begin to count. It has been a long road to this Christmas, to these friends and a church family that I was convinced could not exist for me again. When I moved back to Spartanburg two years ago, I never thought I would find a home like the one I had left in Asheville. I couldn't believe God would let you strike gold twice. I am the most blessed girl in the world.
Merry Christmas dear friends and family near and far, old and new and to the ones who lie ahead on the road for me to meet. May the coming year keep the spirit of love that has filled every nook and cranny of the last few weeks.

Sadness...

2008-12-19T10:50:00.003-05:00

So amid all the joy and frivolity of this season, here comes tragedy. We know that death comes to us all eventually; no man is immortal. But at Christmas death seems somehow more cruel, more real and in some ways more final. The death of a friends mother reduced me to a puddle last night. I have never met this woman and yet her death brought a flood of emotion from me. Memories of my own mother's death two years ago came rushing up to the surface and all my strength and diginified reserve were lost.
This year Christmas has been so vivid, in such full technicolor. The joy of it has been overwhelming, and on the flip side this sadness is just as vivid and rich. My prayers are with my friends and their loss but selfishly it makes me turn inward and mourn my own losses. It also makes me want to build up the walls of defense another layer. I want to protect myslef from the hurt and so up goes the protective barriers. The problem with these barriers is that while they protect from the pain the lock out the joy and reduce the vivid colors to grays. It's a constant stuggle for me to keep the walls down and enlist a little bravery against the sadness.
In the mean time, say a prayer for the Edge family and love the ones you have a little more this Christmas.

A few words on banking etiquette

2008-12-18T10:47:00.003-05:00

As a bank teller I find it necessary to say afew word to the banking illiterate.

First, if you want to make a deposit, you should bring a deposit slip. They are quite handy and usually located in the back of your checkbook. Now when you are filling it out the top line says "CASH." This is where you should write in any cash that you are depositing. Any checks you are depositing should not be listed there, but instead on the following lines that have a place for you to put a check number.
Secondly, if you would like some cash back from your deposit you need to write that amount in the "Less Cash recieved" line just above the total. If you want to do this you also must sign the space provided labled "Sign here for cash recieved." This is to protect the teller from giving money from your deposit to someone other than you. In the event that you forget to sign this part, your teller will ask you to do it. Now this is not a cue for you to cuss him or her out. They are actually trying to protect you not harass you so please bear that in mind.
Moving right along...cashing checks. If you go to the bank to cash a check do not be shocked when you are asked for and ID. This is simply a way of protecting our customers. It's actually pretty standard opperating procedure, and unless having your identity stolen really trips your trigger you should smile and cooperate.
Lastly. When you open an account you are given a little booklet called a register. Now you are supposed to right down the checks you right to people and the checks you deposit into your account. In the instance that the checks you right out amount to more than the checks you put in you will be in the negative. This is not my fault. I realize it is inconvenient and you will be charged fees, but again, I didn't do it. You will have to take care of it yourself, and cussing me out will not make me have sympathy for your situation.

These are just a few things to keep in mind next time you visit your bank. :)

A little run-in

2008-12-16T09:09:00.002-05:00

Sunday morning I was running ridiculously late and didn't really take the time to defrost my car. I could see out of the windshield and the rest of the windows remained covered in a veil of ice. In my hurry I pulled out of my road ignoring the fact that I couldn't see any on coming traffic. It's a normally very quiet road with very little traffic and I just took the gamble and of course lost. It wasn't a hard hit and it took a moment to register what had happened. Once it did I turned into a puddle of tears and got out of the car to see what had happened and if the other driver was ok. Out of a huge SUV comes a large african american man dressed up in his best black suit and red tie and all I could think was "Please don't kill me." It was one of those moments when you know you screwed up and will gladly admit it and just don't want to be cussed out int he mean time even if you deserve it.
This man promptly folded me into his arms and told me he was fine and was more worried about whether I was ok or not. My stupidity run amuk and he was worried about a complete stranger. He checked my car and both of our vehicles were perfectly fine and we were fine and then he commented on our matching Christmas church attire to make me laugh. At this point I was amazed at the kindness I had literrally ran into. Then I was more amazed as the man took my hands and suggested we say a prayer of thanks together and then go on our own ways to God's house. I stood shivering in the cold, crying and praying with a total stranger who was showing me an amazing amount of grace.
I may never meet this guy again and that is really ok with me. I had a stranger show me a little Christmas grace and for that I am eternally grateful.

Making a Memorable Christmas

2008-12-15T19:20:00.004-05:00

Last night we had a really informal night at church where we sang a lot of carols both sacred and secular and told stories and had a great time being an extended family to one another. During the course of the evening different ones told tales of their favorite Christmas memories. Our pastor, Scott, posed the question of what God's favorite Christmas memory would be. He of course gave promise of a sermon to come with many Biblical references. I, being not so theologically inclined or intellectually minded have my own thoughts on the subject. I am of the opinion that God generally is good with anytime that we his children come together in his name. I also think that he loves seeing his children love one another even when loving one another is the most difficult thing to do. With these things in mind I suppose that God's favorite Christmas memories are much like ours. The times when we are together with friends or family and they fill your heart with such joy you think you will burst from trying to hold it all. The times when the Christmas spirit feels a million miles away and someone brings you a miracle that is particularly personal and specific to you and where you are. Even more amazing when that person is clueless that they are the deliverer of the miracle that you and you alone needed. I figure, God doesn't get much pleasure out of midnight door-busters at the mall in order to fight over a vacuum cleaner that you must have to wrap up for someone who could frankly care less about a vacuum cleaner and won't appreciate it anyway. He probably doesn't gain a great deal of joy out of his children going into ridiculous amounts of debt to give others unneeded gifts all in the name of Christ's birth. God's ultimate Christmas gift to us wasn't really about frivolous wants like my wish list is full of. His gift was about a need. A need to save all of mankind and about loving people so much that you would give what is most costly to fulfill that need, even at the cost of one's own son. I'm not God and my capacity to love and give is so minuscule in comparison, but I want to strive this year to make it a Christmas that God would want to remember by keeping His example fresh in my mind.

Reindeer Games

2008-12-13T17:48:00.007-05:00

As I have always lived in a church environment I am not certain how the secular world views church choirs. I am not certain that it has any real view whatsoever on them. I am certain, however, that whatever view they may have has nothing to do with the absolute insane frivolity that my church choir is.
We had our Christmas party last night and I, with my strong handle on church culture am still left speechless and giddy with the antics of the night. Who knew that a pair of pantyhose and some balloons could make reindeer antlers and that and old man with the word "Vixen" (ala Santa's reindeer) on his back could bring such laughter to my heart and joyful tears to my eyes. In fact, we had fun at church with church people.
So often I get the impression that people believe that if you are of the mind to glorify God by attending a church you must be one of two things. Either a stodgy stick in the mud who believes that fun is only for the heathen or you are a hypocrite who raises hell 6 days a week and then prays for forgiveness on Sunday. Both extremes exist and I am well familiar with both stereotypes but most of us are just normal joes and janes who love God and enjoy life. It has been known to happen at the same time. God was not lacking a sense of humor, and I don't believe he wanted his children to be either. So maybe putting a pair of stockings on a friends head and and stuffing them with balloons was not exactly what the Lord Jesus had in mind for his birthday party but maybe it was. Maybe just maybe God himself had as much fun last night with his children in his house as I did. I certainly hope so.

Christmas Parades and Sushi

2008-12-11T18:27:00.003-05:00

Who knew that these two things went so beautifully together. My church served free hot chocolate at the Spartanburg Christmas parade this week and made tons of great memories. The parade was entertainment beyond entertainment. Who needs Macy's when you can have the Spartanburg Hillbilly Shriners backfiring down Main and Church Street. Not to mention the Remax float flicking the Bic on a hot air balloon sans balloon. All this and enough hot chocolate to float to China and good friends that warm your heart in a way that defies soggy cold weather.
And then there was the sushi...
I will eat anything. My friends call me Mikey in that respect, but sushi was my last holdout. It made me queese up ever so slightly and I just never made the effort to overcome. Well no more. 18 church friends and of course Robin, the conossuier of all things sushi, were enough to make me overcome my fears and gag reflexes and have a wonderful unforgetful virgin voyage into the world of rolled up raw fix. All in all a good experience with the exception of barbecued eel. This little tidbit I can certainly pass on.
I made a new friend as well. An 82 year old man who I knew of but had never made friends with properly was the best person to share this first sushi venture with. After being brought a plate of tuna sashimi he prompty filled his mouth with a huge bite of ginger, and then after sitting silently for awhile commented "That wasn't bad, but I can't feel my false teeth."
Unforgettable!

Christmas is Coming

2008-12-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

So here we are almost to the close of 2008 and Christmas is coming on like gangbusters everywhere you go. Downtown lights are lit, parties abound from every direction and even the most devout hermit needs a Blackberry to keep up with his holiday calendar of events.
I myself am juggling church and work parties and making time for movie nights with friends who are so close we don't need an invitation to celebrate together. Most of my Christmas presents are made because somewhere in my youth or childhood I decided homemade presents were the best. You would have to consult all the receivers of my gifts to get a real idea of whether or not I should hang that idea up or not, but I get a real kick out of it.
The church choir contata is tomorrow and of course I am thrilled even though the idea of choir robes makes my curly hair lay straight. This is by far my favorite time of year. No two Christmases are ever alike except that they all have their own special spark, their own little miracle waiting to be unwrapped. Sometimes they are big and flashy like Rudolph's nose and sometimes they are understated and found only when you take a moment to watch the squirrels pack in their food for the winter and smell the air for the hints of pumpkin, apple and pecan pie.
So here I wait anxiously to see what will be the gift of this year, and try desperately to remember that although all of the granduer lifts my spirits, the Lord's birthday is the reason for all of this and that lifts my soul.