In looking over past blog posts, I have realized that many are pretty heavy. Uplifting, but packed to the brim with a lot of density.
This one will not be.
I have been wanting to write down some of the various experiences I have had, yet I have been slightly timid when it comes to writing. Maybe due to the fact that as an English teacher I am afraid that it won't sound witty or intelligent enough. Maybe due to the fact that I know these stories are funny (based on the reactions of my friends), but I am afraid that the humor won't come across in my writing.
Whatever the delay, it is now over. I need to start getting them from my head and into the heads of others.
So, without further ado, here is my first post on my random dating life...
Almost two weeks ago I went on a date with a man that I knew very little about. We were set up due to similarities, and though I was initially open-minded, I was also a bit skeptical from the start.
We met at the Starbucks off La Paz and Oso, near the Target. Given two, this was my choice place of meeting.
It was not hard to find him, as I had seen a few photos. It also helped that he walked right up to me as I walked through the door.
We ordered our drinks and sat outside. It was a beautiful day.
Our conversation was light-hearted, not too serious. I spoke of my niece and nephews and showed him photos on my phone, I told him of my job as a teacher and a cheer advisor (and all that entails), of my church, and of my family. He told me about himself, as well.
After an hour, he had to leave to do some work for his church. It was a good amount of time; not too long, but not too short. Our conversation didn't have any painful lulls or awkward silences.
As he left, I knew that I wouldn't see him again. He was a nice guy, but not the right man for me.
I had the afternoon open, so I called my mom to see if she wanted to have lunch. This would be a great way to fill her in on the activities of my morning.
We were almost to the restaurant when my phone chirped in response to receiving a text message. To the dismay of my mother, I checked it at a red light (yes, I am aware that you can still get a ticket even if stopped - but this didn't stop me from checking).
I read the text. I couldn't help but laugh.
Great getting coffee with you! I enjoyed hearing your stories and seeing those instagrams of your niece and nephews! Sorry if you didn't feel like you got to know me too well, I didn't want to interrupt you. :P
Call me crazy, but I think that means I talked too much... :)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
One Choice Can Change It All.
Five years ago today, February 4, 2007, I made a decision that changed the entire course of my life. I chose to end my engagement. I won't go into details of why I made this decision; they're not suited for a public site, nor are they necessary.
As I sat in my car that cold February evening, fearing as I watched my perfect plans evaporate in front of me, feeling pain and hurt like I had never felt, and wondering what was to come, I had an overwhelming peace that I am positive could only come from the love of Christ in my life. (Don't get me wrong, though I had peace I was still afraid of the unknown of my future as I drove out of the parking lot).
By this point in my life, that night is a memory that is hard for me to connect myself with as I feel so far from it; the life I was living then is so different from the one I live today. The one memory that sticks out with searing brilliance is that of my phone call with my brother. As always, he answered the phone with enthusiasm and excitement to my call.
"Sister!"
"I'm..not..getting..marr-ied." (insert hysteria)
"WHAT?!"
The utter shock and pain I heard in his voice stills rings vibrantly in my ears to this day.
The rest of the conversation went as expected: I told him what happened, why I had made the decision, and he stayed with me on the phone until I got home. I later found out that my sister-in-law wept into a pillow as she put together the pieces of the choppy puzzle she received from my brother's end of the call. The love that she and all of my family felt for me then has only magnified to this day and I am blessed to have them in my life; the road to today would have had more detours, I'm sure.
The point of this post is not to relive that evening, or the several difficult months after as I dealt with pains, hurts, betrayals. The point is to show that God is good, that He brought healing to me, and that no matter what, He works "all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
In the last five years, because I trusted Him, because I actually did what I knew He was calling me to do though it was not easy, I have seen how He has blessed my life. So many of the things that I have been able to experience, take part in, help with, etc., are a direct result of this choice. I would not have done most of the things that I have done if I had chosen otherwise.
I'll list a few of the major things that I can think of off the top of my head that would not have happened:
2007
*Moved to the Aventine and made lifelong friends.
*Hosted my first nephew's (Hudson) Baby Shower
*I went to visit my best friend, Laela, in Chicago for a week.
*I got to see "Wicked" at the Pantageous Theater while on a date! (small, but still awesome!)
*Christmas Bliss (started this annual Christmas Party because I had a place to have a party)
2008
*I spent two months working with an organization called Hope of the Nations in Kigoma, Tanzania.
*Road Trip to Fresno, Gilroy, and Santa Cruz over Christmas Break to see old friends and new friends I made while in Africa.
*Christmas Bliss the 2nd
2009
*I went on an all-expense paid cruise for two weeks in the Mediterranean with my best friend, compliments of Oprah.
I won an Oprah Photo Contest with that pic ^
*I was able to go back to Kigoma for three weeks and work alongside Hope of the Nations with a team of friends.
*Christmas Bliss the 3rd
2010
*Choreograph an epic Team Cheer at a high school summer camp. (Go Gabbas!)
*Adventure Day 2010. (Need I say more?)
Still my fave pic from Adventure Day 2010! ^
*Christmas Bliss the 4th
The only one I have from CBthe4th ^
2011
*Coach the Cheer team at SJHHS (where I teach)
*10-Year High School Reunion
*Be in the room for my nephew's (Stryder) birth
*Christmas Bliss the 5th
2012
It's only the start of the year, but I am looking forward to see what I can fill in here.
I don't know what my life would look like today if I had decided to continue on with my plans, to continue trying to build that life that I thought was best; honestly, I don't want to know. Though there are things that I wish were different now (I'm still a human), I know that God knows what is best and that He ultimately will bring me the most joy, the most love, the best life.
And that, I believe, is worth waiting for.
As I sat in my car that cold February evening, fearing as I watched my perfect plans evaporate in front of me, feeling pain and hurt like I had never felt, and wondering what was to come, I had an overwhelming peace that I am positive could only come from the love of Christ in my life. (Don't get me wrong, though I had peace I was still afraid of the unknown of my future as I drove out of the parking lot).
By this point in my life, that night is a memory that is hard for me to connect myself with as I feel so far from it; the life I was living then is so different from the one I live today. The one memory that sticks out with searing brilliance is that of my phone call with my brother. As always, he answered the phone with enthusiasm and excitement to my call.
"Sister!"
"I'm..not..getting..marr-ied." (insert hysteria)
"WHAT?!"
The utter shock and pain I heard in his voice stills rings vibrantly in my ears to this day.
The rest of the conversation went as expected: I told him what happened, why I had made the decision, and he stayed with me on the phone until I got home. I later found out that my sister-in-law wept into a pillow as she put together the pieces of the choppy puzzle she received from my brother's end of the call. The love that she and all of my family felt for me then has only magnified to this day and I am blessed to have them in my life; the road to today would have had more detours, I'm sure.
The point of this post is not to relive that evening, or the several difficult months after as I dealt with pains, hurts, betrayals. The point is to show that God is good, that He brought healing to me, and that no matter what, He works "all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
In the last five years, because I trusted Him, because I actually did what I knew He was calling me to do though it was not easy, I have seen how He has blessed my life. So many of the things that I have been able to experience, take part in, help with, etc., are a direct result of this choice. I would not have done most of the things that I have done if I had chosen otherwise.
I'll list a few of the major things that I can think of off the top of my head that would not have happened:
2007
*Moved to the Aventine and made lifelong friends.
*Hosted my first nephew's (Hudson) Baby Shower
*I went to visit my best friend, Laela, in Chicago for a week.
*I got to see "Wicked" at the Pantageous Theater while on a date! (small, but still awesome!)
*Christmas Bliss (started this annual Christmas Party because I had a place to have a party)
2008
*I spent two months working with an organization called Hope of the Nations in Kigoma, Tanzania.
*Road Trip to Fresno, Gilroy, and Santa Cruz over Christmas Break to see old friends and new friends I made while in Africa.
*Christmas Bliss the 2nd
2009
*I went on an all-expense paid cruise for two weeks in the Mediterranean with my best friend, compliments of Oprah.
I won an Oprah Photo Contest with that pic ^
*I was able to go back to Kigoma for three weeks and work alongside Hope of the Nations with a team of friends.
*Christmas Bliss the 3rd
2010
*Choreograph an epic Team Cheer at a high school summer camp. (Go Gabbas!)
*Adventure Day 2010. (Need I say more?)
Still my fave pic from Adventure Day 2010! ^
*Christmas Bliss the 4th
The only one I have from CBthe4th ^
2011
*Coach the Cheer team at SJHHS (where I teach)
*10-Year High School Reunion
*Be in the room for my nephew's (Stryder) birth
*Christmas Bliss the 5th
2012
It's only the start of the year, but I am looking forward to see what I can fill in here.
I don't know what my life would look like today if I had decided to continue on with my plans, to continue trying to build that life that I thought was best; honestly, I don't want to know. Though there are things that I wish were different now (I'm still a human), I know that God knows what is best and that He ultimately will bring me the most joy, the most love, the best life.
And that, I believe, is worth waiting for.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dressember...half way there...
This has been so much fun! Thanks to my friend, Blythe for putting this together, I have been forced to get somewhat creative at times with my wardrobe.
I'm spending Christmas in Oklahoma with family, so it will be an interesting, more-layering-than-known, kind of week!
I'm spending Christmas in Oklahoma with family, so it will be an interesting, more-layering-than-known, kind of week!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
..thankful for the simple things...
For the past two weeks, I have had health issues, debilitating at times, that have hindered my everyday life. I had to take three and a half days off of work due to pain and fevers, and therefore my life stopped; literally.
It was not really until tonight, as I was getting ready to get ready for bed, when I realized how much I am thankful for. About a week and a half ago, my dear friend Simone Knepper hosted her annual Thankful Brunch, in which we all come to the table (again, I'm being literal here) and share the things that we were thankful for throughout the year. Unfortunately, this was when my health issues began, so not only was I ill-prepared with my list, but in midst of pain it is difficult to remember exactly what I am thankful for.
In the next several bullet points, I will attempt to convey those things, simple or grand, that I am thankful for for the 2011 year...up to this point, at least.
*my family
(cliche, but simply stating I am thankful for them will never suffice to convey the depth of how thankful and grateful I truly am for them)
*my health
(it has been up and down throughout the year, possibly more than usual, but I am thankful for both good health and bad health - bad health because it reminds me to appreciate the small, simplest of things ~walking with ease, laughing without pain, etc.~ even more)
*my apartment
(especially throughout the past week of being nearly under house arrest, I am so thankful that I still love the small details of my house ~ the cups/plates I have acquired from Anthropologie, the pillow I so love from Pier 1, the small owl figurines and various bird salt and pepper shakers I have begun to, unknowingly, collect)
*my iPhone
*Instagram, Phonto, Diptic, the camera on the phone!
*sunrise/sunsets
*pain killers and antibiotics
*hummingbirds
*a smile from a complete stranger, or someone close to me that I can share their joy
*finishing a good book
*Pride & Prejudice - the book and movies
*Coke Zero
*the lamp I retrieved from my dad's childhood room that I use on my desk (which I am continually getting compliments on!)
*pictures
*my job (as a teacher and a coach)
*my computer
*friends that, though I may speak to them but once or twice a year, we pick up as if not time has elapsed
*living in a free country
*the ability to travel easily
*my car
*air conditioning
*after the rain...
~a leaf with raindrops still lingering
~puffy white clouds with a brilliant blue sky backdrop'
~the smell of wet dirt and wet asphalt
*a breeze that cools the temperature just enough to raise a slight goosebump..or the sun shining on my skin to raise that same slight goosebump
*the tree outside my front door
~and that though I often forget to water it, it is stubborn enough to keep on keepin'on
*my coffee cup from Anthropologie with an "M" on it
*Donut Shop coffee pods
*Peppermint Mocha creamer from CoffeeMate
This list could go on, and I plan to continue it. Right now, however, I must get some rest before I make the trek back to work tomorrow...of which I am thankful.
It was not really until tonight, as I was getting ready to get ready for bed, when I realized how much I am thankful for. About a week and a half ago, my dear friend Simone Knepper hosted her annual Thankful Brunch, in which we all come to the table (again, I'm being literal here) and share the things that we were thankful for throughout the year. Unfortunately, this was when my health issues began, so not only was I ill-prepared with my list, but in midst of pain it is difficult to remember exactly what I am thankful for.
In the next several bullet points, I will attempt to convey those things, simple or grand, that I am thankful for for the 2011 year...up to this point, at least.
*my family
(cliche, but simply stating I am thankful for them will never suffice to convey the depth of how thankful and grateful I truly am for them)
*my health
(it has been up and down throughout the year, possibly more than usual, but I am thankful for both good health and bad health - bad health because it reminds me to appreciate the small, simplest of things ~walking with ease, laughing without pain, etc.~ even more)
*my apartment
(especially throughout the past week of being nearly under house arrest, I am so thankful that I still love the small details of my house ~ the cups/plates I have acquired from Anthropologie, the pillow I so love from Pier 1, the small owl figurines and various bird salt and pepper shakers I have begun to, unknowingly, collect)
*my iPhone
*Instagram, Phonto, Diptic, the camera on the phone!
*sunrise/sunsets
*pain killers and antibiotics
*hummingbirds
*a smile from a complete stranger, or someone close to me that I can share their joy
*finishing a good book
*Pride & Prejudice - the book and movies
*Coke Zero
*the lamp I retrieved from my dad's childhood room that I use on my desk (which I am continually getting compliments on!)
*pictures
*my job (as a teacher and a coach)
*my computer
*friends that, though I may speak to them but once or twice a year, we pick up as if not time has elapsed
*living in a free country
*the ability to travel easily
*my car
*air conditioning
*after the rain...
~a leaf with raindrops still lingering
~puffy white clouds with a brilliant blue sky backdrop'
~the smell of wet dirt and wet asphalt
*a breeze that cools the temperature just enough to raise a slight goosebump..or the sun shining on my skin to raise that same slight goosebump
*the tree outside my front door
~and that though I often forget to water it, it is stubborn enough to keep on keepin'on
*my coffee cup from Anthropologie with an "M" on it
*Donut Shop coffee pods
*Peppermint Mocha creamer from CoffeeMate
This list could go on, and I plan to continue it. Right now, however, I must get some rest before I make the trek back to work tomorrow...of which I am thankful.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Dressember...
...starts tomorrow.
If all goes as planned, I will be feeling better and will be able to join the real world again with my first dress...
Get. Excited.
For more information, go to http://blythehill.blogspot.com/
*Photo Cred to Blythe Hill
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
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