Because You Asked So Nicely

This is seconds after it happened... you can even see a little fuzz left over from the cotton ball she used to clean it.

Let the record show I was NOT CRYING. My eye was merely watering...

Things I Never Thought I'd Hear My Nephew Say

"Have fun getting your nose pierced!"

But, he did.

And, I did.

Pollyanna Is Not Dead

Generally, I try and see the good side of life. I try to make a conscious effort to focus on the "pro" side of a graph, rather than the "con," referring to it as my Pollyanna side.

Today was a day where I just couldn't rise above it. Work was so heavy, and I couldn't focus on anything positive. I sent an email to a friend stating "Pollyanna died in her sleep last night."

But, she didn't die... she just decided to stay home from work today.

She met me as a little blonde two year old, running to me with lit up face, so happy I was home from work. She wrapped her dirty-from-being-outside-all-day arms around my neck, and held on for dear life.

She was also in a wonderful summer-is-almost-here dinner of corn on the cob and salad.

And my precious apartment, that stays so cool when the weather is turning warmer.

No, Pollyanna is not dead!

Hurray!

Thoughts On This Tuesday

Today I had a conversation with a friend at work, and came out of it more convinced than I have been in a while that waiting for the one that God has for me is really what I want to be doing... not settling, not jumping the gun, not whining... just being patient.

I'd lost focus these last few months, and had been struggling with major feelings of discontent. And I wasn't used to that. In the last five years, I felt like I had a corner on the contentment market. Of course there were days where it wasn't fun to be single, but for the most part, I was living my life to the hilt, regardless of my status.

This past week I've been very sick, and for most of that time, I was really afraid. There were doctor's appointments, ultrasounds, phone conversations with doctor's offices, and no one knew what was wrong with me. Thankfully, they ruled out tumor and leftover gallstone from last fall's surgery, but then I was left with, "Sorry you're in pain, but we don't know what it is, so track your symptoms and keep us posted."

Thankfully, with the help of WebMD, I was able to figure out that my pain was coming from side effects of a medication that I'd been taking for several months. Yesterday was the first day since last Tuesday that I thought I might actually live!

As I was telling my co-worker this story, explaining my fear at two different appointments when they called in second opinions, he asked, "And were you all by yourself for this?"

"Yes," I replied, "but I was ok with that." (In fact, for the ultrasound, several people had offered to go with me, but I chose to go by myself)

He kept saying how sorry he was that I had been by myself, and the more I tried to reassure him that it had been ok, the more I felt myself being reassured. It almost felt like I was saying the words to myself, and he was just eavesdropping.

Then he began asking the whole, "Have you found someone yet?" questions, and then "Well, is there anyone on the horizon?" followed by "Would you be open to seeing someone outside of your faith? No... well, you do know that narrows the field, don't you?" (YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT??)

This unwillingness of me to open up myself to other faiths caused a silent shaking of the head, and he wanted to know why. When I explained a couple of the reasons, he still shook his head, and explained that he and his girlfriend are making it work. Fantastic! My heart is abounding in joy for them! However, I think theirs is a much-in-the-minority relationship in that aspect.

This type of conversation happens so frequently at work.

"He's cute - you should date him." (Sure cute would be nice, but far from my highest priority)
"He's nice - you should go out with him." (Yes, nice is something that I'm looking for, but once again, not the only characteristic)

But during today's conversation I finally got to use the sentence I've been wanting to for quite some time... "You know, people are actually capable of being happily single & content."

And this evening, my heart is thankful, because in trying to convince my friend that my life was still worth living, I saw that it really is... regardless of what's on (or not on, as the case may be) my left hand.

If You Think...

... that because I got tagged by two people, I'm going to list FOURTEEN random things, you're wrong. However, here are my seven.

1) I just had the opportunity to listen to the story of Jonah being put on in skit format by my niece & nephews outside my bedroom window. (The trampoline was the boat... Pastor Daddy was directing)

2) Lilac season makes me so happy that I tend to get a little teary when I smell them!

3) Topping the list of things I never want to hear my doctor say again: "Um, I'm going to get another doctor in here, because I'm feeling something I shouldn't & I'm not sure what it is." (That happened this morning, and after being convinced for five minutes that I had the-word-everyone-dreads-to-hear, the other doctor confirmed I have "low ribs" and they were just feeling the tip of my lowest one)

4) Last week I had an epiphany that I no longer hate my job!

5) Though I've been an avid "American Idol" fan for several years, this year has just not grabbed me, and I couldn't care less whether Blake or Jordin wins.

6) My free piano is in the midst of being fixed... bringing the cost of it's free-ness to over $1300.

7) I am so very, very rich in the friends that God has given me!

And if you like this type of thing, consider yourself tagged :)
If you don't, well then, consider yourself un-tagged!

Of Kilts

I like kilts! A lot!

When Darren & I were in Scotland (ten years ago this month) we saw lots of them, and I loved it! Never had something so boring as going to a grocery store been so much fun! I mean, I never see kilts in the Bedford Hannaford's!

Today as I was upstairs at work, out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy in shorts. "Not legal!" thought I. But then I looked closer... and he wasn't wearing shorts. He was wearing a kilt.

And he should not have been!

Some guys can pull that look off. He can't/couldn't/didn't.

Shudder.

Happy Feet!

Aaaaaaaaahhh!

Once a Big Brother...

... always a big brother.

My big brother flew up from VA this morning. And flew back this evening.

He and Evan went out for lunch. I got to leave a little early from work to spend time with him.

All of us took the kids to the park before I drove him back to the airport.

The four of us adults chatted while the kids played.

The sun was shining, the kids were laughing, my heart was full, and...

He even pushed me on the swings. For old time's sake.

I don't know that a girl ever out-grows her adoration of a big brother.

I sure haven't... for either one of mine.

Just Another Normal Tuesday

So, I was driving home from work.

And I had my foot peeking out the window to catch the breeze.

And I caught a bug in between my toes.

But then it stung me.

Wonder if I'm the only one that happened to today.

So, This is Kinda Funny

I heard of this quiz from one of my friends, who shall rename nameless, and thought it would be funny to do :)

Lindsay -- [noun]: A real life muppet 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

PS - want to know the definition of the aforementioned friend's name? "A person who falls into an outhouse and dies." I guess I should feel lucky to only be a muppet!

The Fate of My Knight

I finally met my knight in shining armor... we were happy, as you can tell!
Then Craig's stupid dragon ate him.

The end.

Yay For Filled-up Love Tanks!

This past Sunday, I went to see a play that several of my peeps from "The Boys Next Door" were either performing in/directing/stage managing... and we got PICTURES! The cast has stayed close, and have made it a point to support each other when we're performing.



John, Mary, Jason, Me
My beloved director, Tim
MARY!!! She was the Sheila to my Clara! :)

Just the Three of Us

The Real Me

Yesterday, Amy, Drewey and I were talking about recent events that have occurred in our country.

We started off laughing about silly old Don Imus and the remarks that got him fired.

Then, Drewey said that she had heard some radio commentators saying that one of the girls who Imus had referred to stated she had been “scarred for life” by what he had said. Sure, it was offensive, inappropriate and rude, but enough to scar someone for life?

And hearing that on the radio made Drewey think that the events of VA Tech were of a proportion to scar someone for life, not an insensitive racial slur.

All last evening and today I couldn’t stop thinking about that. There are events in life that can scar, and there are ones that hurt, but need to be looked at as just that… hurt, not scars.

In the last couple of weeks several things that have happened that caused my last blog post. A past relationship had resurfaced bringing much confusion and sorrow, someone I love had been hurt, and I was reeling with pain.

And I decided that my blog was too open for speculation, and I didn’t want to be scrutinized while dealing with the pain. So, I stopped writing. But I dreadfully missed the outlet that writing brought.

Several of my close friends closed ranks and sent me messages, reminding me of God’s faithfulness. When I mentioned on another website that I was struggling to remember that God knows what He’s doing, one of my world traveling friends wrote,

“God DOES know what He is doing! Always! Way to choose to believe it yet again...
And remember:

Give to the winds your fears; hope, and be undismayed,
God hears your sighs, and counts your tears.
God shall lift up your head.
Through waves and clouds and storms He gently leads the way!
Wait for His time, so shall the night soon end in joyous day!

Still heavy is your heart? Still sink your spirits down?
Cast off the weight! Let fear depart and every care be gone!
He everywhere has sway, and all things serve His mind;
His every act pure blessing is:
His path, unsullied light.

Leave to His sovereign will to choose and to command;
With wonder filled you then shall own how WISE, how STRONG His hand!

Thought maybe you could use a refresher course, my friend!”


Another friend, who knows me all too well, wrote saying, “Don’t retreat, Lindsay.”


So, this morning as I was thinking about events that do or do not scar for life, giving my fears to the wind, remembering that God “everywhere has sway”, not retreating, and missing the outlet that my blog brings, I thought, “Events in my life can only steal my joy if I LET them. And I don’t want to let them.”

And so I’m back… choosing to not be one who says “This little thing scarred me for life,” choosing instead to revel in the joy of being one who knows, that regardless of life’s experience, that my God is on the throne.

To Be Continued

My blog will be on hiatus for a little while.


"Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Toosday

"You can't help respecting anybody who can spell "Tuesday,"
even if he doesn't spell it right;
but spelling isn't everything.
There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count."

-Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)

Yesterday...

... we said goodbye to Melo, who's on his way to Iraq.

We played and we prayed, and now can't wait until the welcome home party a year from now.

(Picture provided by Drewey)

My Life is Worth The Living

Just because He lives!

This day I've been reminded that:

• God is a God of second chances
• We have Hope
• Jesus lives to make intercession for me
• My risen Lord does a better job of carrying my burdens than I do
• He is a personal Savior who loved surprising Mary at the tomb those many years ago - just like He loves to surprise me with His nearness when I need it most

Happy Easter - enjoy basking in the joy of this day, and all it stands for!

Aunt Octopus

This morning Jed, Chloe, (sporadically) Tucker & I had a coloring party.

It was interrupted by a squalling Jack, who needed some lovings.

As I sat on the floor holding the baby, Jed kept making please-come-back-and-color noises.

I let him know it was still a coloring party, as I was only three feet away from him, and that he could continue, and then he quietly said,

"I wish you were an octopus."

Yup - I Quit

Not my job... not life... just photo week :)

Reason being:

1) How does one surreptitiously put one's cell phone in a stranger's face and ask them to stand still for a picture?

2) I didn't have three Claires to photograph in my home!