I got this from Isaac's blog... Type "(Your name) is" into Google and see what you get. I laughed a lot looking at all the things I "am." As I got further down the page it deteriorated rapidly into a whole slew of unfavorable things to say about Lindsay Lohan. (Who thankfully, I am not!)
Lindsay is 5'10" tall
Lindsay is 100% not pregnant
Lindsay is having a craving for a McDonald's happy meal
Lindsay is hot
Lindsay is used to attention - she's been working since she was 4
Lindsay is considered one of the world's most respected poets
Lindsay is currently involved in two major research projects
Lindsay is cool - she is a good listener... she's patient... she's observant... she has a great sense of humor
Lindsay is believed to have detonated a bomb, killing at least 25
Lindsay is walking home because her car wont start
Lindsay is hard at work on a third book
Lindsay is a Council vice president
Lindsay is a philosopher of sound
Lindsay is currently a professor of art and history at Spelman College
And finally....
Lindsay is a great deal like her own mother! At least they got a few right :)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
Winter Traveling
At work we have these little sheets of weird/interesting/informative facts in every bathroom called "Captive Audience," and they get updated twice a month.
This month they had something that made me laugh... it's a list of all the things you should have in your car during the winter to ensure safety if you were to ever get stranded. The list is so long I don't see how anyone could actually go anywhere with a family. There wouldn't be room for the kids! "Sorry Grandpa & Grandma - all of us wanted to come, but we had to leave two of your grandkids at home so we'd have room for all the stuff we'd need in case we were caught in a snowdrift."
Here are the suggestions of what every safety-conscious person should have in their vehicles at all times during the winter months...
~Shovel
~Sand or cat litter (for traction)
~Tire chains
~Booster cables
~Cell phone
~Extra warm clothing or boots
~Ice scraper
~Small tools (evidently you get to choose which small tools you want with you - choose wisely!)
~Winter sleeping bag or blankets
~Snack food
~Water
~Flashlight with good batteries (You get to choose on this one as well - which are "good" batteries??)
~Matches
~Newspaper
~Games & toys (If you don't have room for the kids, what good are the games and toys?)
~Ziplock bags (I will not put what they did next to this one!)
~A 12 volt adapter coil heater that can plug into the lighter to heat water
So, drive quietly and carry a full carload!
This month they had something that made me laugh... it's a list of all the things you should have in your car during the winter to ensure safety if you were to ever get stranded. The list is so long I don't see how anyone could actually go anywhere with a family. There wouldn't be room for the kids! "Sorry Grandpa & Grandma - all of us wanted to come, but we had to leave two of your grandkids at home so we'd have room for all the stuff we'd need in case we were caught in a snowdrift."
Here are the suggestions of what every safety-conscious person should have in their vehicles at all times during the winter months...
~Shovel
~Sand or cat litter (for traction)
~Tire chains
~Booster cables
~Cell phone
~Extra warm clothing or boots
~Ice scraper
~Small tools (evidently you get to choose which small tools you want with you - choose wisely!)
~Winter sleeping bag or blankets
~Snack food
~Water
~Flashlight with good batteries (You get to choose on this one as well - which are "good" batteries??)
~Matches
~Newspaper
~Games & toys (If you don't have room for the kids, what good are the games and toys?)
~Ziplock bags (I will not put what they did next to this one!)
~A 12 volt adapter coil heater that can plug into the lighter to heat water
So, drive quietly and carry a full carload!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Scared Out of my Skull
I was watching some episodes of "24" this afternoon, and when I do that by myself all my nerve endings are in a heightened state. When I'm ready to go downstairs, I have to get off the couch gingerly, coaching myself on how to walk again... furtively looking right and left for people that might be ready to jump at me with guns blaring.
The last episode I watched ended dramatically with a large power outage. I was cautiously making my way to the stairs, and reached over to turn on the light. As I flipped the switch, the lightbulb blew, causing me great alarm which I showed in screaming at the top of my lungs. I then started to laugh, because it really was funny, but the laughing was kind of half-hysterical... the "assuring oneself that what just happened was really funny" laugh.
The last episode I watched ended dramatically with a large power outage. I was cautiously making my way to the stairs, and reached over to turn on the light. As I flipped the switch, the lightbulb blew, causing me great alarm which I showed in screaming at the top of my lungs. I then started to laugh, because it really was funny, but the laughing was kind of half-hysterical... the "assuring oneself that what just happened was really funny" laugh.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Create Your Own Clever Title - I'm Fresh Out of Ideas!
I heard a story about a little girl who learned this verse at Sunday school: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Gather which is in Heaven."
Later that day, she asked her mother the meaning of this verse. Her mom said, "Well, it means that when you are good, kind and thoughtful you are letting Christ's light shine in your life before all who know you."
The very next Sunday the little girl got into an argument with another student and created somewhat of an uproar... to such an extent that the teacher had to go and find the little girl's mother.
The concerned mother came and said to her little girl, "Sweetie, don't you remember about letting your light shine for the Lord before others?"
The child blurted out, "Mom - I have blowed myself out!"
Don't you feel like that sometimes??
Later that day, she asked her mother the meaning of this verse. Her mom said, "Well, it means that when you are good, kind and thoughtful you are letting Christ's light shine in your life before all who know you."
The very next Sunday the little girl got into an argument with another student and created somewhat of an uproar... to such an extent that the teacher had to go and find the little girl's mother.
The concerned mother came and said to her little girl, "Sweetie, don't you remember about letting your light shine for the Lord before others?"
The child blurted out, "Mom - I have blowed myself out!"
Don't you feel like that sometimes??
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Drama, Drama, Drama
No, I haven't gotten another part in a play. This is "Drama in Real Life" for Reader's Digest if I ever heard of some.
Yesterday was my first day back at work after eleven very spoiled days off. I started a new hire class, and it went surprisingly well. I was telling Mom & Dad this with much gratitude on the phone last night. I had been previously assured that the day was well covered in prayer by several people, and I definitely chalk up the smooth sailing to that intercession. In jest, Mom and Dad threatened that since the day had gone so well, just for kicks perhaps they'd not pray for me today. Even though I know that they did, I was beginning to wonder by the time I left work today!
I was looking forward to the day in the classroom, because there were two hours of the day that the class was scheduled for presentations from other departments, so I was off the hook for a bit.
The Vice President came in at the scheduled time to do his presentation, and I went upstairs to check with the next person who was scheduled to talk to the class. While I was up there, I heard my name being paged over the loudspeaker. Now, in some companies that's not a big deal. At Oxford, it's huge. The loudspeaker goes into every crevice in the building, and is only used perhaps once a month... sometimes even more time elapses between uses. It's pretty much only for extreme family emergencies or if you parked in the wrong spot and the receptionist is out to get you! The reason it's so infrequently used is because it's guarded by our front desk receptionist, who is a wonderfully cranky older lady, who is the extremest (yes, I know that's not a correct adjective, but I liked it in this case!) no-nonsense person I've ever met. I am one of the only people at work who thinks she's "wonderfully cranky" because she actually likes me, so I don't have many run-ins with her.
Panic coursed through my veins as I picked up a nearby phone to call the front desk. All my friends that were around stood up and starting razzing me, "Lindsay - did you park in the front circle??" I reached the receptionist after only one ring and she said, "Lindsay, someone from your class is down here having a gallbladder attack in the lobby. Just thought you'd like to know."
"Fantastic," I replied, hanging up the phone and running down the hall. "Fantastic" has become my new word for "Crap - the world is falling apart around me!"
(I later heard all the ruminations of the coworkers who heard me let out a loud "Fantastic" and then saw me running away. Some thought it must be very bad, but the others said it "can't be bad because she said Fantastic." They then decided I had probably gotten flowers delivered at work, which would explain both the happy explosion of words and the rushing away.)
Arriving in the lobby, I saw my poor new hire (only on day TWO of her job there at Oxford), doubled over and writhing in agony. The ambulance was called even though it wasn't life threatening, (because I was informed that I couldn't take her to the hospital due to company policy) and I sat with her, rubbing her back and waiting it out. (But first, because of company policy, I had to ask her permission to rub her back) I also knew that she was a friend of someone I knew who works there, who is a Christian, and that they attend the same church. While the receptionist had her attention on talking to the 911 operator, I whispered to the new hire that I knew she went to so&so's church, and would she like me to pray for her. She moaned a quiet "yes," and I sent up a prayer so quietly that only because God is God, could He have heard.
The fire truck came... the police came... and the ambulance finally came. And this poor girl got loaded into the back, having told me that there was no one for me to call to meet her at the hospital.
After they got her loaded in, Wonderfully Cranky Receptionist told me that I had done a great job of staying calm and keeping the new hire calm, and then I got all shaky and told said receptionist that now I was going to fall apart. I am not ok when bodies don't do what they're supposed to do! It's not a gift I have. But, I was amazed and grateful at how calm I was able to stay, and thought that maybe a new leaf has been turned over in this new year. Not that I'm going to go out and find a whole bunch of bodies that aren't acting right, but still, I guess God really does give grace for us to handle what we thought we couldn't. Amazing how true those verses can be :) After I got myself together, I had so much adreneline pumping through me that I felt like I could do about anything. Twenty minutes later it all left, and I felt like I'd never be able to stand up again!
So then, later this afternoon, the door of the classroom opened, and in walked our morphined-up gallbladder heroine! Bless her heart, she had been discharged from the ER and taken a taxi back to work, so she didn't miss all of her second day. I'm only hoping she stays on as an employee, because she's the type we need - desperately!
Move ahead to 4:15... class gets out at 4:30. I was just beginning to believe that the day would end on a quiet note, when another participant ran up to my desk, said, "I need to go to the bathro..." and continued to run out the door, vomitting as they went. OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! After a few minutes I had to go and find her, and she met me in the hall, begging to go home early. "PLEASE DO," I wanted to holler, waving hand sanitizer all over the place, but instead I calmly replied, "Of course - don't worry about a thing!"
I stayed late tonight, cleaning the daylights out of the classroom...
Yesterday was my first day back at work after eleven very spoiled days off. I started a new hire class, and it went surprisingly well. I was telling Mom & Dad this with much gratitude on the phone last night. I had been previously assured that the day was well covered in prayer by several people, and I definitely chalk up the smooth sailing to that intercession. In jest, Mom and Dad threatened that since the day had gone so well, just for kicks perhaps they'd not pray for me today. Even though I know that they did, I was beginning to wonder by the time I left work today!
I was looking forward to the day in the classroom, because there were two hours of the day that the class was scheduled for presentations from other departments, so I was off the hook for a bit.
The Vice President came in at the scheduled time to do his presentation, and I went upstairs to check with the next person who was scheduled to talk to the class. While I was up there, I heard my name being paged over the loudspeaker. Now, in some companies that's not a big deal. At Oxford, it's huge. The loudspeaker goes into every crevice in the building, and is only used perhaps once a month... sometimes even more time elapses between uses. It's pretty much only for extreme family emergencies or if you parked in the wrong spot and the receptionist is out to get you! The reason it's so infrequently used is because it's guarded by our front desk receptionist, who is a wonderfully cranky older lady, who is the extremest (yes, I know that's not a correct adjective, but I liked it in this case!) no-nonsense person I've ever met. I am one of the only people at work who thinks she's "wonderfully cranky" because she actually likes me, so I don't have many run-ins with her.
Panic coursed through my veins as I picked up a nearby phone to call the front desk. All my friends that were around stood up and starting razzing me, "Lindsay - did you park in the front circle??" I reached the receptionist after only one ring and she said, "Lindsay, someone from your class is down here having a gallbladder attack in the lobby. Just thought you'd like to know."
"Fantastic," I replied, hanging up the phone and running down the hall. "Fantastic" has become my new word for "Crap - the world is falling apart around me!"
(I later heard all the ruminations of the coworkers who heard me let out a loud "Fantastic" and then saw me running away. Some thought it must be very bad, but the others said it "can't be bad because she said Fantastic." They then decided I had probably gotten flowers delivered at work, which would explain both the happy explosion of words and the rushing away.)
Arriving in the lobby, I saw my poor new hire (only on day TWO of her job there at Oxford), doubled over and writhing in agony. The ambulance was called even though it wasn't life threatening, (because I was informed that I couldn't take her to the hospital due to company policy) and I sat with her, rubbing her back and waiting it out. (But first, because of company policy, I had to ask her permission to rub her back) I also knew that she was a friend of someone I knew who works there, who is a Christian, and that they attend the same church. While the receptionist had her attention on talking to the 911 operator, I whispered to the new hire that I knew she went to so&so's church, and would she like me to pray for her. She moaned a quiet "yes," and I sent up a prayer so quietly that only because God is God, could He have heard.
The fire truck came... the police came... and the ambulance finally came. And this poor girl got loaded into the back, having told me that there was no one for me to call to meet her at the hospital.
After they got her loaded in, Wonderfully Cranky Receptionist told me that I had done a great job of staying calm and keeping the new hire calm, and then I got all shaky and told said receptionist that now I was going to fall apart. I am not ok when bodies don't do what they're supposed to do! It's not a gift I have. But, I was amazed and grateful at how calm I was able to stay, and thought that maybe a new leaf has been turned over in this new year. Not that I'm going to go out and find a whole bunch of bodies that aren't acting right, but still, I guess God really does give grace for us to handle what we thought we couldn't. Amazing how true those verses can be :) After I got myself together, I had so much adreneline pumping through me that I felt like I could do about anything. Twenty minutes later it all left, and I felt like I'd never be able to stand up again!
So then, later this afternoon, the door of the classroom opened, and in walked our morphined-up gallbladder heroine! Bless her heart, she had been discharged from the ER and taken a taxi back to work, so she didn't miss all of her second day. I'm only hoping she stays on as an employee, because she's the type we need - desperately!
Move ahead to 4:15... class gets out at 4:30. I was just beginning to believe that the day would end on a quiet note, when another participant ran up to my desk, said, "I need to go to the bathro..." and continued to run out the door, vomitting as they went. OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! After a few minutes I had to go and find her, and she met me in the hall, begging to go home early. "PLEASE DO," I wanted to holler, waving hand sanitizer all over the place, but instead I calmly replied, "Of course - don't worry about a thing!"
I stayed late tonight, cleaning the daylights out of the classroom...
Friday, December 30, 2005
In Memory of Six Years Ago
For if our loved ones are with Thee,
And Thou art with us,
How can they be very far away?
And Thou art with us,
How can they be very far away?
-Peter Marshall
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Crayola Christmas
A short time ago Mom read a book by Robert Fulghum called "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." In it, he has a short story about how everyone, whether they are old or young, needs new crayons. Especially Crayola crayons - the big 64 count green and yellow box with the sharpener in the back.
So, guess who got crayons and coloring books for Christmas?? And not just a 64 pack... I got the 96 count box!
It's been so much fun! There have been many hours spent in coloring - by both Mom and me. So many hours, in fact, that Jed would be proud. I told him on the phone about my gift, and he's pretty excited to have me home so we can color together.
So, guess who got crayons and coloring books for Christmas?? And not just a 64 pack... I got the 96 count box!
It's been so much fun! There have been many hours spent in coloring - by both Mom and me. So many hours, in fact, that Jed would be proud. I told him on the phone about my gift, and he's pretty excited to have me home so we can color together.
Monday, December 26, 2005
My Favorite Day
You know how sometimes people ask you what day in the year is your favorite? Or it may be a question on one of those surveys that goes around via email. And most often people reply with a globally recognized holiday. I've always had trouble with that question, because I really don't know what my favorite holiday is. I love them all!
A couple months ago I was thinking about this and realized that December 26th is my favorite day in the year. It's not because there is post-Christmas bliss, though I do enjoy looking at all the things I've received the day before.
The real reason that December 26th is my favorite day is because back in 1979 God sent my two best friends to earth on this day. I didn't even know how special that day was when it happened, because I was just a little over one, but as we've grown and they've become some of my closest confidantes, I've learned to treasure this day above others.
So, Happy Birthday Amy & Drewey. I'm so grateful for both of you, and trust that you have a wonderful day as you turn 26 on the 26th!
A couple months ago I was thinking about this and realized that December 26th is my favorite day in the year. It's not because there is post-Christmas bliss, though I do enjoy looking at all the things I've received the day before.
The real reason that December 26th is my favorite day is because back in 1979 God sent my two best friends to earth on this day. I didn't even know how special that day was when it happened, because I was just a little over one, but as we've grown and they've become some of my closest confidantes, I've learned to treasure this day above others.
So, Happy Birthday Amy & Drewey. I'm so grateful for both of you, and trust that you have a wonderful day as you turn 26 on the 26th!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas in Killarney
Well - here I am. Safe and happy in the house of my parents! It's snowing outside, and so beautiful. Just like what Christmas should be! In fact, last night seemed so Christmas-y, that we each opened a present :)
The trip up went really well. I left work by three on Thursday afternoon, and could feel myself getting healthier as I drove down the driveway. (My goal for this week is to kick this three week old sickness!!) It's amazing what having eleven days off will do for the psyche.
I met Aunt Kathy for dinner, and then made it all the way through the border before too late that night. I stopped at a little motel in St Stephen, and then made the rest of the trip yesterday morning. It was snowy, and not at all good road conditions, and I was incredibly grateful that I come so far the night before, and had only had three and a half hours to drive, instead of the whole trip. I counted four cars off the road, and was very thankful when the snow finally stopped, and I saw the signs for Amherst.
Mom and Dad were at the Farmer's Market in town, so I met them there. We did some last-minute Christmas shopping and headed home. The house is beautifully decorated, and it truly feels like Christmas.
The trip up went really well. I left work by three on Thursday afternoon, and could feel myself getting healthier as I drove down the driveway. (My goal for this week is to kick this three week old sickness!!) It's amazing what having eleven days off will do for the psyche.
I met Aunt Kathy for dinner, and then made it all the way through the border before too late that night. I stopped at a little motel in St Stephen, and then made the rest of the trip yesterday morning. It was snowy, and not at all good road conditions, and I was incredibly grateful that I come so far the night before, and had only had three and a half hours to drive, instead of the whole trip. I counted four cars off the road, and was very thankful when the snow finally stopped, and I saw the signs for Amherst.
Mom and Dad were at the Farmer's Market in town, so I met them there. We did some last-minute Christmas shopping and headed home. The house is beautifully decorated, and it truly feels like Christmas.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Narnia!
An absolute must-see!
Amazing casting...
Incredible scenery...
Very happy with how they portrayed it!
Amazing casting...
Incredible scenery...
Very happy with how they portrayed it!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
How Do You Ensure...
... that a class is bent forward, listening enraptured to your every word for an entire day?
You make sure the trainer has LARYNGITIS!
And yes, I now know from experience. Today was the first day of my new class, and I could barely squeak out the words. At least they looked interested - but it was probably because they were trying to decipher the teaching from the wheezing!
You make sure the trainer has LARYNGITIS!
And yes, I now know from experience. Today was the first day of my new class, and I could barely squeak out the words. At least they looked interested - but it was probably because they were trying to decipher the teaching from the wheezing!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Tidbits (Part II)
* Whenever Chloe comes to my house and I am getting ready for the day, she insists on perching on the counter in my bathroom, grabbing a cotton ball, putting it under the running water and leaving the wet mess on my sink. She babbles incessantly while she's doing it, and it's become her signature calling card. Makes me wonder what is going on in her little two year old head. As she gets older will this become part of her daily routine?? "Ok - a little foundation, a little blush, a soggy mass of cotton balls..."
* It's snowed twice in this past week, and this one has misplaced her shovel. It's going to be a very long winter with no shovel and no boots. Of course, I could go out and buy them, but then what would I blog about??
* Wrangler chewed my cell phone charger cord into three pieces last week. So I had to go to Radio Shack and buy a new one... and I'm now the proud owner of a $30 charger with a really thick cord. They didn't advertise it as kitten-resistant, but it looks that way.
* Today was back to work day. Once I finally oozed out of bed, it wasn't really all that bad, for which I was very grateful.
* Last night I had a homework party with Amy. This is the second time we've done it this week, but since I don't have any homework, I lie on her bed and read. Last night I finished "Girl Meets God" which was a fascinating non-fiction book about a girl who was raised by a Jewish father and a Baptist mother, and her journey to find which religion was calling to her.
Now I'm off to Bible study at Evan and Jill's...
* It's snowed twice in this past week, and this one has misplaced her shovel. It's going to be a very long winter with no shovel and no boots. Of course, I could go out and buy them, but then what would I blog about??
* Wrangler chewed my cell phone charger cord into three pieces last week. So I had to go to Radio Shack and buy a new one... and I'm now the proud owner of a $30 charger with a really thick cord. They didn't advertise it as kitten-resistant, but it looks that way.
* Today was back to work day. Once I finally oozed out of bed, it wasn't really all that bad, for which I was very grateful.
* Last night I had a homework party with Amy. This is the second time we've done it this week, but since I don't have any homework, I lie on her bed and read. Last night I finished "Girl Meets God" which was a fascinating non-fiction book about a girl who was raised by a Jewish father and a Baptist mother, and her journey to find which religion was calling to her.
Now I'm off to Bible study at Evan and Jill's...
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Tidbits
* Jed and I just went to see "Chicken Little." Very funny, and even had a reference to Star Wars, that made his little heart sing
* I braved the masses yesterday to go and get a lap top at a VERY good price. I got there 15 minutes after the store opened (at 5:15 am, to be exact!) and they were SOLD OUT! Angry eyes at all the people who had thought of scraping their cars off the night before!
* My Thanksgiving was made especially happy by a voicemail from MATT!! I haven't been able to talk to him since May, what with him being under water on a sub and all, so what a treat to hear his voice!
* Last night a whole bunch of the "kids" (Amy, Andy, Derrick, Wesley and Douglas) who grew up on Chestnut Hill at the same time I did, and are currently residents of Singleton, converged on my home for games. We had a fabulous time playing Cranium and Taboo.
* I braved the masses yesterday to go and get a lap top at a VERY good price. I got there 15 minutes after the store opened (at 5:15 am, to be exact!) and they were SOLD OUT! Angry eyes at all the people who had thought of scraping their cars off the night before!
* My Thanksgiving was made especially happy by a voicemail from MATT!! I haven't been able to talk to him since May, what with him being under water on a sub and all, so what a treat to hear his voice!
* Last night a whole bunch of the "kids" (Amy, Andy, Derrick, Wesley and Douglas) who grew up on Chestnut Hill at the same time I did, and are currently residents of Singleton, converged on my home for games. We had a fabulous time playing Cranium and Taboo.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
With Thankful Heart
All week I have been so happy... and so thankful. And it wasn't just the fact that I had completed a difficult training class at work, or that I only had to work three days! I love Thanksgiving - love the opportunity to focus on all that I have to be thankful for. Not that I don't do that on a regular basis, but it's fun to know that most everyone else is doing it at the same time.
And this year, I've realized once again, how very much I have to be grateful for. The older I get, the less I take things for granted, and this year I've realized what an incredible life God has blessed me with.
Last night we had a Thanksgiving service at Chestnut Hill, and it was so rich. There were so many people there, and the response was amazing... person after person standing up and giving God thanks for all that He's done in this passed year. It went for over an hour, and then people stayed around talking and laughing - realizing how very fortunate we are.
Between talks with Jill as we got ready for the service, and having Derrick and Wesley over for a bit after church, and a long talk with Mom on the phone after everything died down, I realized once again how much I love the family God has put me in. And how rare the bond that we have is. And how fortunate I am that some live so close by.
I woke up this morning to snow falling, and the first snowfall is always so beautiful. I opened my shades to see two of my favorite little ones bundled up in snow clothes, tentatively waddling around, exploring the white stuff.
And in the tradition that we've always had in our house, here's my list of other things that I'm thankful for from this past year.
- Mom & Dad, and almost daily contact with them
- Being next door to Evan and Jill... not just across the field, like last year
- Seeing Darren and Sara's family several times throughout the year... all five of us driving in the convertible to get ice cream
- Being back on Chestnut Hill (I never get tired of being thankful for that!)
- Our family vacation in August
- My little apartment
- Drewey & Amy
- My whole group of friends, and the times we've been able to get together through out this year. God has been so good to give us such an incredible support system and bond as we all trek through this stage of life
- Contentment in the stage of life that I'm in right now. I love my life, and have complete peace
- The Boys Next Door - it opened up a whole new world that I, Lindsay Hones, got to relish in for those two months... and am still reliving and loving
- My new car, that will help me get safely through this winter
- Being a trainer at Oxford - I love finally being able to answer "Yes, I like (sometimes even love) my job!"
- The cruise - it came completely out of the blue, and was an amazing time of having fun and once again realizing how much I have to enjoy in life
- The Josh Groban concert with Amy
- Being an Aunt - it fills me with daily joy to know that I have five nieces and nephews whom I adore
- My VA friends - blogs have allowed me to keep in more frequent contact with them, as well as a trip down in Sept for Kerin's wedding where I was able to spend some quality time with several
- My cell phone... hurray for the technology age! Blogs and cell phones are on my list, but it's b/c of who's on the other end of them. I am VERY grateful that Verizon hasn't figured out the Nova Scotia is not part of the US, as I can call Mom & Dad under the plan that I have, and now Drewey has Verizon so we can talk as much as we want for FREE- and I'm thankful that Mike & Rachelle live three hours behind me, as they are my late-night driving companions!
- A renewed vision and a deeper relationship with my Jesus. These past few months, it's been amazing for me to see where He's brought me, and a joy at knowing He'll take me further and deeper when His timing is right
And as I think of those that I know might read this, I feel like Paul when he said, "I thank my God always concerning you..." Happy Thanksgiving, my friends - and may you each have a special day, basking in the knowledge that we serve a God who delights in giving us our heart's desires!
And this year, I've realized once again, how very much I have to be grateful for. The older I get, the less I take things for granted, and this year I've realized what an incredible life God has blessed me with.
Last night we had a Thanksgiving service at Chestnut Hill, and it was so rich. There were so many people there, and the response was amazing... person after person standing up and giving God thanks for all that He's done in this passed year. It went for over an hour, and then people stayed around talking and laughing - realizing how very fortunate we are.
Between talks with Jill as we got ready for the service, and having Derrick and Wesley over for a bit after church, and a long talk with Mom on the phone after everything died down, I realized once again how much I love the family God has put me in. And how rare the bond that we have is. And how fortunate I am that some live so close by.
I woke up this morning to snow falling, and the first snowfall is always so beautiful. I opened my shades to see two of my favorite little ones bundled up in snow clothes, tentatively waddling around, exploring the white stuff.
And in the tradition that we've always had in our house, here's my list of other things that I'm thankful for from this past year.
- Mom & Dad, and almost daily contact with them
- Being next door to Evan and Jill... not just across the field, like last year
- Seeing Darren and Sara's family several times throughout the year... all five of us driving in the convertible to get ice cream
- Being back on Chestnut Hill (I never get tired of being thankful for that!)
- Our family vacation in August
- My little apartment
- Drewey & Amy
- My whole group of friends, and the times we've been able to get together through out this year. God has been so good to give us such an incredible support system and bond as we all trek through this stage of life
- Contentment in the stage of life that I'm in right now. I love my life, and have complete peace
- The Boys Next Door - it opened up a whole new world that I, Lindsay Hones, got to relish in for those two months... and am still reliving and loving
- My new car, that will help me get safely through this winter
- Being a trainer at Oxford - I love finally being able to answer "Yes, I like (sometimes even love) my job!"
- The cruise - it came completely out of the blue, and was an amazing time of having fun and once again realizing how much I have to enjoy in life
- The Josh Groban concert with Amy
- Being an Aunt - it fills me with daily joy to know that I have five nieces and nephews whom I adore
- My VA friends - blogs have allowed me to keep in more frequent contact with them, as well as a trip down in Sept for Kerin's wedding where I was able to spend some quality time with several
- My cell phone... hurray for the technology age! Blogs and cell phones are on my list, but it's b/c of who's on the other end of them. I am VERY grateful that Verizon hasn't figured out the Nova Scotia is not part of the US, as I can call Mom & Dad under the plan that I have, and now Drewey has Verizon so we can talk as much as we want for FREE- and I'm thankful that Mike & Rachelle live three hours behind me, as they are my late-night driving companions!
- A renewed vision and a deeper relationship with my Jesus. These past few months, it's been amazing for me to see where He's brought me, and a joy at knowing He'll take me further and deeper when His timing is right
And as I think of those that I know might read this, I feel like Paul when he said, "I thank my God always concerning you..." Happy Thanksgiving, my friends - and may you each have a special day, basking in the knowledge that we serve a God who delights in giving us our heart's desires!
Monday, November 21, 2005
Thoughts
I've been going through a Bible study book called "Falling in Love With Jesus" and I've had the opportunity to study the story of Mary and Martha in depth. It's a timeless tale, and one that I've heard either preached on, written about or have read it myself numerous times. This time, though, I read it with new eyes. And here are some of the things that I gleaned...
*When the story is first told in Luke, Mary is introduced to us as "Martha's sister." I found this very interesting, because it's often the situation where the lesser known sibling/spouse/friend is referred to as "so and so's" something. In this case, Martha was the outgoing one, the one that was more known, and Mary was just "the sister." And yet Mary is the one who ultimately made the right choice, the choice that has her going down in history as the one who "sat at Jesus' feet."
*Then Lazarus died, and Jesus came back to Bethany to grieve with the two sisters. Martha rushed out of the house, and met Jesus before he even got to their house, admonishing Him that if He had only been there her brother would not have died. Jesus answered her back with riddles and questions. Mary waited until Jesus called for her, and then went into Him, broken, falling at His feet weeping, but using the exact same words that her sister had used. Jesus didn't question her, or confuse her with riddles. He wept with her, and then did the unimaginable - rewarding her quiet faith and raising her brother from the dead.
This made me wonder... Even though the words were the same, Mary had a different attitude in approaching Jesus. Was it because she had a deeper relationship with Him? A relationship that came from sitting at His feet, spending time with Him.
I know that Jesus allows anyone to ask Him questions, but will He perhaps answer differently dependent on the attitude that we have in asking? Not because He can't answer if our attitude is wrong, but because we may not be open to what He chooses to do if we're not in line with Him?
I know that in my own experience, when I've knocked on Heaven's door demanding answers, it's hard to hear anything but my own grief or anger. But when I get my spirit right, it can be easier to hear what God is saying in return to my questions.
Thoughts?
*When the story is first told in Luke, Mary is introduced to us as "Martha's sister." I found this very interesting, because it's often the situation where the lesser known sibling/spouse/friend is referred to as "so and so's" something. In this case, Martha was the outgoing one, the one that was more known, and Mary was just "the sister." And yet Mary is the one who ultimately made the right choice, the choice that has her going down in history as the one who "sat at Jesus' feet."
*Then Lazarus died, and Jesus came back to Bethany to grieve with the two sisters. Martha rushed out of the house, and met Jesus before he even got to their house, admonishing Him that if He had only been there her brother would not have died. Jesus answered her back with riddles and questions. Mary waited until Jesus called for her, and then went into Him, broken, falling at His feet weeping, but using the exact same words that her sister had used. Jesus didn't question her, or confuse her with riddles. He wept with her, and then did the unimaginable - rewarding her quiet faith and raising her brother from the dead.
This made me wonder... Even though the words were the same, Mary had a different attitude in approaching Jesus. Was it because she had a deeper relationship with Him? A relationship that came from sitting at His feet, spending time with Him.
I know that Jesus allows anyone to ask Him questions, but will He perhaps answer differently dependent on the attitude that we have in asking? Not because He can't answer if our attitude is wrong, but because we may not be open to what He chooses to do if we're not in line with Him?
I know that in my own experience, when I've knocked on Heaven's door demanding answers, it's hard to hear anything but my own grief or anger. But when I get my spirit right, it can be easier to hear what God is saying in return to my questions.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Jed's Food Pyramid
The other night I was at Evan and Jill's for dinner. Jill had made her delicious chicken fajitas, and all were enjoying them except Jed, who loathes chicken. They make him a special one that has cheese, sour cream and a small piece of chicken hidden somewhere in the wrap.
After finishing his first one, Jed requested a second. Jill made him one, leaving out the chicken, (as he'd already gagged a piece down in his first one) but slipping in a piece of tomato. Sadly, Jed saw the red piece of grossness go in, and began to howl.
Jill, being the wise mother that she is, told him she had left out the chicken, but put in a vegetable, because (in true mother style) "You need to eat your vegetables."
"BUT CHICKEN IS VEGETABLES," wailed her firstborn.
After some questions, it was discovered that "vegetables" are anything food-wise that he doesn't like to eat.
And there you have it!
After finishing his first one, Jed requested a second. Jill made him one, leaving out the chicken, (as he'd already gagged a piece down in his first one) but slipping in a piece of tomato. Sadly, Jed saw the red piece of grossness go in, and began to howl.
Jill, being the wise mother that she is, told him she had left out the chicken, but put in a vegetable, because (in true mother style) "You need to eat your vegetables."
"BUT CHICKEN IS VEGETABLES," wailed her firstborn.
After some questions, it was discovered that "vegetables" are anything food-wise that he doesn't like to eat.
And there you have it!
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Overwhelmed With Goodness!
Well, November 8th came and went, and what a day! I've decided, based on how much fun it was, that I'll have more than one birthday a year. Course, I wont age, just have fun!
It started on Monday night, when I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to my door by Katie... and dinner with Cherilyn (her birthday is the 6th, so we always try & do something together on the day in between) and several emails (from proactive people) before I went to bed.
I woke up in such a happy mood on Tuesday, and got a phone call from Mom, and visits from Evan, Jed & Chloe before I even left for work. Then the phone calls, emails, and text messages started pouring in. By the time I got to work at 7:30, I was already overwhelmed by how special I felt. Then, my supervisor came into my classroom and announced to my class that it was my birthday. He then proceeded to make them sing "Happy Birthday" to me while he hopped all over the room, pointing at me. I don't think I've ever turned that many shades of magenta in my entire life. As he was leaving the room he told my class, "The reason I came in the morning was so that you would have time to do something nice for her by this afternoon." His guilt trip worked, and they got me a cake & balloons during lunch.
And on my way home I talked to Dad on the phone & then stopped at a meat shop in Bedford to pick up the best marinated steak tips in the world for Evan to grill for dinner. I walked in, and while the guy was filling my order he looked at me, grinned and said, "Is your name Lindsay?" "Um, yes" I stammered, and he said, "I've got something for you in the back." He brought out a huge bouquet of balloons that Amy had dropped off a little while before, having known that I was going to stop there on my way home.
Jill made an incredible dinner, Evan grilled the meat, Mom was with us (which is the first time in nine years that I've had Mom there on my birthday!), Amy came, and the kids played with the balloons. There was laughter, so much food, more flowers (some GORGEOUS roses sent through the mail by Drewey & a bouquet that my brother picked out especially for me... using the method of "which colors do I dislike the most, because Lindsay will like them the best" It worked, by the way. They were beautiful!) and presents. How fun is it to get presents?? Mom and Dad got me an MP3 player, which I'm more than excited about... or will be once I figure it out.
And while reading blogs, I stumbled across an entire blog entry written by my VA big brother, talking about how much he loves me. For a "Words of Affirmation" person, that was an amazing gift. Then Sara sent a poem she wrote, and it made me laugh, laugh, laugh.
What a happy day... I think I'll do it again next year!
It started on Monday night, when I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to my door by Katie... and dinner with Cherilyn (her birthday is the 6th, so we always try & do something together on the day in between) and several emails (from proactive people) before I went to bed.
I woke up in such a happy mood on Tuesday, and got a phone call from Mom, and visits from Evan, Jed & Chloe before I even left for work. Then the phone calls, emails, and text messages started pouring in. By the time I got to work at 7:30, I was already overwhelmed by how special I felt. Then, my supervisor came into my classroom and announced to my class that it was my birthday. He then proceeded to make them sing "Happy Birthday" to me while he hopped all over the room, pointing at me. I don't think I've ever turned that many shades of magenta in my entire life. As he was leaving the room he told my class, "The reason I came in the morning was so that you would have time to do something nice for her by this afternoon." His guilt trip worked, and they got me a cake & balloons during lunch.
And on my way home I talked to Dad on the phone & then stopped at a meat shop in Bedford to pick up the best marinated steak tips in the world for Evan to grill for dinner. I walked in, and while the guy was filling my order he looked at me, grinned and said, "Is your name Lindsay?" "Um, yes" I stammered, and he said, "I've got something for you in the back." He brought out a huge bouquet of balloons that Amy had dropped off a little while before, having known that I was going to stop there on my way home.
Jill made an incredible dinner, Evan grilled the meat, Mom was with us (which is the first time in nine years that I've had Mom there on my birthday!), Amy came, and the kids played with the balloons. There was laughter, so much food, more flowers (some GORGEOUS roses sent through the mail by Drewey & a bouquet that my brother picked out especially for me... using the method of "which colors do I dislike the most, because Lindsay will like them the best" It worked, by the way. They were beautiful!) and presents. How fun is it to get presents?? Mom and Dad got me an MP3 player, which I'm more than excited about... or will be once I figure it out.
And while reading blogs, I stumbled across an entire blog entry written by my VA big brother, talking about how much he loves me. For a "Words of Affirmation" person, that was an amazing gift. Then Sara sent a poem she wrote, and it made me laugh, laugh, laugh.
What a happy day... I think I'll do it again next year!
Monday, November 07, 2005
There's this girl...
... in my new training class that has a penchant for throwing out random questions or comments. Today, I was training the masses on how Oxford covers Chiropractic care, and she raised her hand. I've learned to cringe on the inside when I see her hand go up... I spend most of my day cringing, as she's constantly asking/telling something.
This afternoon was no different. In the middle of expounding on Oxford's policy regarding chiropractic care, came this question.
"Um, I don't know if this has anything to do with what we're talking about right now, but... Why did Forrest Gump have those braces on his legs."
AAAAAAAaaugh!
This afternoon was no different. In the middle of expounding on Oxford's policy regarding chiropractic care, came this question.
"Um, I don't know if this has anything to do with what we're talking about right now, but... Why did Forrest Gump have those braces on his legs."
AAAAAAAaaugh!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
The Lord's Prayer - Hannah style
I was babysitting on Sunday night, and one of the little girls (nine-ish in age) was making a prayer card for her Confirmation classes, and had to write out The Lord's Prayer.
She started multiple times before she was happy with the results, and as I was cleaning up her false starts, I saw one of the pages and it made me laugh out loud.
"Our Farther, who aren't in heaven, howly be thy name..."
She started multiple times before she was happy with the results, and as I was cleaning up her false starts, I saw one of the pages and it made me laugh out loud.
"Our Farther, who aren't in heaven, howly be thy name..."
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
A Big Ol' Thank You!
Wow - the stint as a diva has ended. What a let down!
But what a way to go out! For our closing night, which was Saturday, I counted 23 people that were there to cheer me on. Drewey got a picture of most of them, and I can't wait to see it.
We had a great performance that night... one of the best of the run of four. And it was so fun to be behind the curtain and hear laughs that I recognized!
So - for those who were in the audience on any of the nights, thanks so much for making me feel special. And for those who called or emailed to say "good luck" or prayed that I wouldn't get sick, (which I didn't, thank the Lord) it meant a lot.
I'll let you know when the next one is!! :)
But what a way to go out! For our closing night, which was Saturday, I counted 23 people that were there to cheer me on. Drewey got a picture of most of them, and I can't wait to see it.
We had a great performance that night... one of the best of the run of four. And it was so fun to be behind the curtain and hear laughs that I recognized!
So - for those who were in the audience on any of the nights, thanks so much for making me feel special. And for those who called or emailed to say "good luck" or prayed that I wouldn't get sick, (which I didn't, thank the Lord) it meant a lot.
I'll let you know when the next one is!! :)
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