Ten Things I Did Today

There's no good reason for this post, so I hope you enjoy random drivel, 'cause here it comes...

Ten Things I Did Today:

1. Awoke on time. (Yea! And rare!)

2. Found TWO.GRAY.HAIRS at the nape of my neck. {Ewww.} (They are no longer present, btw. I don't mind getting older, but I do mind looking older.)

3. Wore new-to-me-pants and -sweater. And took a picture of the sweater for you. :-) (You're welcome. {laughs at self})

4. Lay on the hot brick sidewalk try to warm up in the 95* heat.

5. Ran my heater in my office...in the 95* heat.

6. Ate ice cream bar anyway.

7. Drank an entire two-liter of Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper. {Uh, Oops!}

8. Visited the ladies room an inordinate number of times, for some reason...

9. Cooked up my lunch in the kitchen at my workplace: sauteed fresh zucchini with fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans, turkey sausage, garlic & herbs. {YUM!}

10. Oh, and worked.

Plenty to do, but slightly bored,

-J

P.S. Today's verse on BibleGateway.com was my life-anchor verse (meaning, God comforted me with it years ago, and continues to use it to reassure me), so I share it with you:

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

your love, O LORD, endures forever—

do not abandon the works of your hands.

--Psalm 138:8, NIV

(c) 2009

Ten Things for Tuesday - A Un-Themed Event

I haven't time to compose the real blog entries rattling around in my head, so I thought I would resurrect the "Ten Things for Tuesday" entry that I used to do weekly. I often did them on themes, but I don't think I have a theme for you right now, so here's a lot of nothin':


1. I'm not feeling great again. However, my roommate is much sicker than I am. I'm sure we make a pretty pair for our new roommate.

2. Did I tell you about our new roommate? The new youth intern from the church where I work (vs. the church where I attend; they are not the same) needed a place to live for the summer, so...pop! Open door! It's been a week and a few days, and so far she is incredibly...great! Talk about easy to get along with. I only hope we're not too weird for her. I mean, we do watch mostly educational television...

3. Random Thought: I prefer drinking water through a straw but milk & carbonated beverages directly from the cup/glass. I'm not firm on this, but this is my preference.

4. Work is really heating up now. And this makes the timing kinda bad for me to not be sleeping much/well. :-(

5. Random Thought: It matters to me where the seams on my socks land. There's a very narrow area of appropriate placement across the toes, and if the seam moves outside of that, it really irritates me.

6. I've missed my weights routine/class for almost two weeks now due to scheduling conflicts and not feeling well, and I'm kinda startin' to feel jiggly. Eww.

7. Random Thought: I almost always eat cereal for breakfast, and sometimes I eat it for dinner/snack too. It always settles well on my occasionally temperamental stomach.

8. I had a nice time cooking this weekend. Simple recipes, more on-the-fly formations than recipes, really. But I enjoyed just getting to create. I also made snickerdoodles, which are really yummy still hot--crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. YUM! Therefore, I had to give them all away.

9. I made the cookies for my boss & his wife, and took them over and left them on their porch last night, along with a thank you note and instructions to put them in air-tight container with a piece of white bread to maintain their texture (otherwise, they get hard and crunch). Yeah. Fast-forward to this morning when I remember...My boss is at the beach until tonight. Do you think the [now very HARD] cookies are even still there, or do you think dogs got to them first? Bleh. I am such a numbskull sometimes!

10. Random Thought: Empty-ish rooms make feel uncomfortable. If there's too much 'white space' or not enough furniture, it feels very sterile and unwelcoming to me. Ergo, European designs tend to make me feel stressed.

Okay, there you go! Completely random and probably inane information, placed in a list to create a blog entry. Ah--the wonders of the numeral and a period. :-)

Hopin' your brain is less fried than mine,
-J

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. --Philippians 2:12-13, NIV (Sunday's sermon text. It was a great sermon! More on that in the future...)

Exhaling Now...

Ooookaaaay. Let's see if I can get myself back into this groove...

Where have I been for, say, the last month or so, you might ask? Well, kind of you to inquire. Here's the bullet list:

**December 1: An auspicious start of the month...with a really vicious stomach flu. I lost 7 lbs. in 48 hours. Unfortunately, those were not permanently-gone pounds. The best part? I got sick the morning: 1.) I was supposed to take my BF to the airport; and 2.) the morning a guest (a missionary from Asia, whom I had not met previously) came to stay for a week. Yum.

**That was a rough 48+ hours, BUT...something else hit me immediately--headache, malaise, aches and chills--and dogged me for the next week and a half. It was a lovely time.

**All of this fell at the second busiest season at my workplace--CHRISTMAS! The church where I work hosts a number of community-wide events during this time, and my finger is in every pot. It was nutso, but eventually, every person was contacted, every ad placed, every check cut, and every program designed and printed. And THEN...

**It was my birthday! Yea for me. I turned thirty-*muffle-sniffle-cough*. Okay, okay. I don't really care that much. I turned 36. An age I plan to enjoy immensely...'cause apparently the 35 I was so attached to isn't going to let me claim it anymore. It hurts when your friends turn their back on you... ANYway, my BF threw a kinda-surprise party for me the night before, and we had a blast! So many wonderful people, gifts, and sentiments! I really enjoyed myself. And the next day--my actual birthday--my BF provided me with a very special dinner from (Kraft) Macaroni Grill. It did not involve boxed noodles; it DID involve salmon, a favorite of mine. YUM!

**Then, I had to teach an extra Sunday...usually our church takes two Sundays off of Sunday School during the holiday season, but this year they didn't, and I wasn't totally prepared for that. But you know, God redeemed it, and it was wonderful. I was able to give a very clear explanation of the gospel and how to know your relationship to it (how is your life reflecting/not reflecting this faith?). It was just one of those Sundays where you know God has spoken through you. I love those days.

**That very day, my family began to arrive. They've never let me host Christmas before, and, as I mentioned previously, I was pretty doggone excited about it. And, apparently, a little uptight about it too. It took a few days and some choice conversations before I found the balance, but in the end, I think we all had a good time. Right guys? Guys? Uh, hellloooo? Uh, um...I had a good time, anyway. ;-)

**After God filled my 'family-time' cup to overflowing (in all the best ways!), they tried to leave. This worked for some of them, but not so well for others. My nephew, who had been sick the whole time, turned up with RSV. If you don't work with kiddos, you may not be aware of this respiratory virus, but it can be very serious in younger children. My nephew was 2-1/2 months. It got very serious. After a few days, everyone (doctor included) thought he was stable enough to travel...but we were all wrong. They made it to the Tennessee border before he took a significant downturn. They ended up in a hospital in Knoxville for a couple of days+, where they were treated wonderfully, and even got to stay in the Ronald McDonald house while they awaited his recovery from what was now pneumonia. My other nephew LOVED the McD house (cried when it was time to leave! LOL!). All kinds of special blessings were bestowed by God during this trying time. God's cool like that, huh?

**I got my family on the road just in time to celebrate New Year's Eve with some friends of mine who are musical missionaries based in Europe. They are amazingly cool people, and I've missed them bunches since we sent them off. It was really wonderful to get to see them. I didn't get to fellowship as much as I wanted to, however, as apparently RSV: 1.) Is HIGHLY contagious, and 2.) Presents as a severe cold in adults. I just love the gifts my nephews give me. Three years ago, one gave me the stomach virus. I guess I should be grateful it was only RSV this year, huh? LOL! I--in a HIGHLY atypical fashion--fell asleep in front of the TV just after the ball dropped. BIG night out. ;-)

**I didn't sleep in too late however, as I had a trip to get ready for! My BF since MIDDLE school had invited me up to Iowa to visit snow...I mean to visit her and her family. I rose at 3 a.m. on January 2 to fly out to spend four action-packed days with them, and to share my lovely RSV a little more broadly. (I just know all those people on the planes were THRILLED to have my hacking, snotty self on board with them. "No really, I'm not contagious *hack, hack, sniffle, blow*." Oh, yeah.) We got little sleep, shopped, played games, cooked, kidded, and harrassed her crazy children--and it was wonderful! I had a great time...but did NOT get to visit snow. See, snow is something I want to visit. I don't want to live in it anymore, but I do want to see it from time to time...and old piles of now-ice-formerly-snow do not count...though sliding down the icy street sideways was kinda fun. You should try it.

**I got home late, midweek, and started back to work the next day. And so it is only now, Friday night, when I can say to you all...

I'm sorry I was AWOL and I missed your kind selves very much!

And I'm ready to start this new year, fresh in all kinds of ways and the same in the really important ones. I hope you are too.

Until my fingers find the keys again,
-J

A Blessing for the New Year: "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness—an abundance of grain and new wine." --Genesis 27:28, NIV

Just For Fun

This little email has been bouncing around in my family the past couple of weeks, and--while I have many other things I could share, I don't have time to organize those thoughts right now. So...here are some worthless little tidbits about me. (The assignment for the first part was to place an X next to those items that were true about you/your life.)

( ) Gone on a blind date – It’s never even been suggested. Should I be offended?

( ) Skipped school – Well, I kinda played more sick than I was a couple of times…

( ) Been to Canada – On the wish list

(X) Been to Mexico – Went when I was 11 or 12, and saw glass being blown for the first time.

( ) Been to Florida – I live this close (in the Deep South!) and I STILL have never been to Florida. I have, however, been to 34 or 35 other states!

( ) Been to the Caribbean – On the wish list

(X) Been overseas – Uh, YEAH!

(X) Been on a plane – Oh so many times… (Plus, it's much easier to get 'overseas' this way!)

( ) Jumped out of a plane – This is something I hope to avoid…

( ) Been on a helicopter

(X) Been on a train – Never in the US. I’ve had both good and bad experiences here.

(X) Been lost – Sometimes I try to get lost. You learn a lot that way.

(X) Been on the opposite side of the country – Thanks, Far-Out Sis & Fam!

(X) Gone to Washington, D.C. – love, Love, LOVE DC! (Clarification: I love the city; the politics can be another matter…)

(X) Swam in the ocean – Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Sea of Japan, stood on the shores of the Mediterranean, but it was too cold to swim.

(X) Cried yourself to sleep – Glad they didn’t ask how many times…

(X) Played cops and robbers - But not particularly willingly. There were boys involved...

( ) Recently colored with crayons – But I love to!

(X) Sang Karaoke – More times than I can count. First time was with my BF from middle school (though we were in college then), in a Vietnamese ‘restaurant.’ There’s a good story there…

(X) Paid for a meal with coins only – Sadly, fairly recently. Times, they are a-tight…

(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't do – both good things and bad things.

(X) Made prank phone calls – I “sold” subscriptions to Garbology Today to friends in junior high.

(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose – milk, junior high. Not my only unfortunate experience with milk in junior high, either. Those were some rough years...

(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue - :-)

(X) Danced in the rain – With my MOM! In high school. It was a really heavy storm, and I think we both got sick afterward, but what a memory…

( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus - I was the child trying to inform everyone about the TRUE meaning of Christmas...which of course meant that I started an early career as a myth-debunker. I'm sure I was very popular with the parents...

( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe – But am willing to try it…

( ) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about or love – well, with friends, but I don’t think that is what this is referring to.

(X) Blown bubbles – Best memory is doing so with my niece and nephews just before most of them abandoned me left for Asia.

(X) Gone ice-skating – Love it!

(X) Gone snow or water skiing – Does it count if you didn’t get out of the water? Well, I actually did get out; flying through the air and landing head first back in the water is skiing, isn't it?

(X) Gone to the movies – I almost never go (maybe once or twice a year; who can afford it?!), but this is one of my favorite things to do. I love to lose myself in a story.

( ) Been to Africa – On the wish list

( ) Ate cookies for dinner – I’ve eaten cookies WITH dinner, but I don’t think I’ve done this alone.

( ) Ate cookies for breakfast – Uh…the stomach is quite particular in the AM.

(X) Body Piercings? – Yep. Six of them. Do I sound mysterious?

(X) Been on TV – Yes…but that wasn’t me on America’s Most Wanted. You can’t prove it was…

( ) Stole a traffic sign – Grrrl, I am SUCH a rule keeper. Uh, no.

(X) Been in a car accident – Yes, but it’s never been my fault. I’ve either been completely stationary or not even in the vehicle at the time.

( ) Tattoos – But they did just became legal in my state…

* Favorite drink? In order: Water, Coffee, Diet Dr. Pepper (with Sonic ice!)

* Do you love your job? YES! But I can think of several others I would jump at the chance to do if God opened the door…

* Favorite vacation place? A trip to Hong Kong was the best vacation I ever had, but generally, the mountains in the fall.

* Favorite TV Program? I grow more ‘sketch’ on TV by the day, but currently… Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece Theater, As Time Goes By, Heroes, Eleventh Hour, The Mentalist

* Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4-door. Her name is G.G. We should talk about her sometime...

* Favorite salad dressing? Newman’s Own Olive Oil & Vinegar (Worth every calorie!)

* Favorite number? BF's cell phone

* Favorite pie? Pumpkin, every time, baby!

* All Time Favorite Movie? Name a classic musical

* Favorite holiday? I cannot decide. I LOVE the calm and celebration of Thanksgiving; but I love the ‘family togetherness’ of Christmas. And the songs. And the decorations. And the weather. And celebrating my birthday the week before… (less than 30 shopping days remain…)

* Favorite dessert? Angel Food Cake, or chocolate

* Favorite food? Ohhhh, I am such a foodie. I cannot choose. Maybe Thai? I love ALL foods. Seriously.

* Favorite day of the week? Friday night—there’s (usually) nothing that I need to prepare for for the next day.

* Favorite Brand of Body Wash? Anything non-floral. I’m generally allergic to those.

* Favorite toothpaste? Colgate paste, not the gel

* Favorite smell? Something savory cooking, especially if it has onion &/or garlic in it. And gardenias (though I’m kinda allergic). And pine. And the confederate jasmine that blooms on our arbor. And coffee brewing. And that cologne that sharp-dressed stranger was wearing when he passed me in the Korean bus station (Mmmmm...I do wish I knew what that was!). I think I’m very olfactory-oriented. :-D

* What do you do to relax? Exercise (especially Pilates!), watch TV/movies, read

* Favorite Sport? Whatever my friends are into. I love the variety of the Olympics best, both summer and winter. I’m a total Olympics junkie!

* How do you see yourself in 10 years? Well, I tried to guess where I’d be now ten years ago, and I got that ALL wrong, so I think I’ll abstain from this one.

Okie-dokie. That's all the gibberish I can come up with for now. Did you learn anything new? No? Sorry about that. Maybe next time I can be a tad more creative for ya.

Blessings all!
-J

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. --Luke 12: 4-7

Adjectives...

I have many thoughts swirling in my head, percolating for sharing purposes. But until that pot is fully brewed, I thought I would share this with you:

I was just on another site, where someone was referencing a movie I haven't seen (so I won't name or recommend it). From it, they pulled a scene where each person at a dinner party was to list five adjectives (or nouns, in a pinch) that described themselves. This sounded, to my random self, entertaining. So I made my list.

But before I share it with you, I want you to know that I consider this a tit-for-tat arrangement. I'll share mine with you if you'll share yours with me. If you read my list without leaving yours in the comment section, you will discover a charge for $29.95 on your credit card statement at the end of the month for 'entertainment expenses.' Or not. Oh, just compose your list and share already, even if you post it anonymously. It's just fun!

Now, I haven't prayed over this or put lots of mental energy into it. I haven't consulted friends or a thesaurus, though I did reference a dictionary (you'll know for which one, promise!). That said, I am...
...forgiven
...loved
...conservative
...metamorphosing
...seeking

What say you?

Entertained by the simplest things,
-J

P.S. If you need it, www.dictionary.com is a handy tool... *wink*

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. --2 Corinthians 5:16-19a

(c)2008

Along the Way...

On this Journey, I've picked up a few saying/ideas that have helped me keep things in perspective and keep focused on my goal. Though admittedly some of them are cheesy, they have helped me. I thought I'd share a few of them with you:

--I can have anything I want (to eat): It's how much and how often (I eat).
--Don't waste your points/calories on foods you don't love.
--You can 'start over' at any moment. (i.e., don't wait for tomorrow, next week, next month--if you mess up, start over NOW!)
--Don't give up what you want most for what you want now.
--The first bite tastes as good as the last, so try not eating more than those two bites!
--Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
--When you're craving something specific, eat some of it. Otherwise, you'll eat around the world and then end up eating it anyway!
--This isn't the last time you'll ever eat _____. Don't eat as if it is.
--SLOW DOWN! Savor the food you are eating.
--Take a break to assess your fullness (WW words: comfort zone).
--Try new things: new foods, eating less of something and seeing if that satisfies, new forms of activity, etc.

I'm not really a 'mantra' kinda gal, but I have found these truths--while not all self-evident--trustworthy. I try to eat healthfully, but I also always allow room for my highly-developed sweet tooth. So far, it's worked for me, and I think that it is something that I can keep doing for the rest of the time I have on earth. (I'm counting on the fact that we won't have to worry about caloric balance in heaven!)

There are other sayings/truths that guide my life generally:
--When you're unsure (say, about a major life decision), don't.
--Get permission first.
--Love liberally.
--Give as much grace as possible.
--Choose right. Your heart will follow your head.

Do you have any sayings or ideas that guide a particular area of your life? That have been particularly helpful? I'd love to hear them.

Lovin' the journey we call life,
-J

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. --Mark 8:34-35, NIV

(c) 2008

Crazy Things: A Sampling From My Life

I thought I would share with you some random, crazy things from my life over the past few weeks:

1. This one kinda was a bee in my bonnet: The dinner theater I mentioned a couple of weeks ago? We ran out of portions of our catered meal every night. Ev.er.y night. I was really, really not happy. After some negotiations, however, we did resolve the conflict...I thought you'd be happy to know. :-)

2. Around midnight or one a.m. about ten days ago, I was chased down in my bathroom by a...are you ready for this?...a SCORPION! Seeing how I'd never seen a scorpion in my life until earlier that day, I was SHOCKED! I was standing there in those lovely new white sandals I showed you last week, and *trot* *trot* *trot*...like he owns the place, in comes a scorpion. He was probably only three inches long, but he was definitely a scorpion. Aahhhhhh!!! Impressively, I think, I did not scream, though the gasping intake of air I grabbed probably shorted some other soul of their oxygen. And then, responding quickly and in an unexpected way...I killed that sucker, yes I did. And I'm proud of me for doing so. Dissenters will not dissuade me.

3. I nearly killed someone, and possibly myself too, last week. I am not being hyperbolic here. I distinctly remember being alert and having both hands on the wheel as I was driving home around 10:30-11:00 p.m. after one of our dinner theaters. I exited the interstate onto a road that quickly merges left from three roads to one. You must quickly look in front of you, quickly look behind you, and get thee over! It is not particularly well lit in this spot, but it's not dark either. However, it was dark enough for me to miss the dark-skinned man wearing dark clothes, talking on his cell phone, while walking in the middle of the road at 11 p.m.! It was also just beginning to mist, so when I slammed on my brakes, my car careened from side to side, narrowly missing the very surprised man and just missing hitting the right curb (had I hit this, going 45 miles per hour, I really think I would have flipped my car and rolled down the embankment). By God's grace--and I suspect some angelic involvement--I and the man survived the incident, and I drove on away. There was no point in stopping. He was alive, and if I had regained the use of my tongue at that moment, I might have beaten him to death with it. Crazy!

4. I gave myself a third-degree burn during our dinner theater. I thought I had put out all the Sterno cans, but there was one where the lid was just a tiny bit tilted. So for two hours, this little piece of metal heated and waited, and heated and waited...for my middle finger to find it's nemesis. And find it it did! Let's just say, I expect to lose a portion of that finger, along with the feeling I've already lost. Uh...oops?!?

Well, that's just a sampling. Check back soon. Who knows what kinda trouble I might get into around here! ;-)

-J

(c) 2008

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
--Mark 12:28-34, NIV

A Me Meme - One Word Says It All

P.S. I scheduled this post yesterday, but the really important one for today is below it, so be sure to check that out too, k? Thanks!

Sarah at Life in the Parsonage tagged EVERYONE with this meme a couple of weeks ago, and I keep meaning to do it... so now is the time! The rules? All of the answers must be just one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk

2. Your significant other? Unidentified

3. Your hair? Self-willed

4. Your mother? Prayerful

5. Your father? Wise

6. Your favorite thing? Variety

7. Your dream last night? Redirecting

8. Your favorite drink? Water!

9. Your dream/goal? Glorification

10. The room you’re in? Office

11. Your church? Warm

12. Your fear? Mis-aiming

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Unknown

14. Where were you last night? Home

15. What you’re not? Empty

16. Muffins? Thunder-thighs?

17. One of your wish list items? Redemption

18. Where you grew up? Midwest

19. The last thing you did? Typed

20. What are you wearing? SMALLER!

21. Your TV? Off

22. Your pets? Non-existent

23. Your computer? Dead

24. Your life? Jesus

25. Your mood? Hopeful

26. Missing someone? Always

27. Your car? Given

28. Something you’re not wearing? Pantyhose

29. Favorite store? Free

30. Your summer? Eventful

31. Like (love) someone? Nope

32. Your favorite color? Red

33. Last time you laughed? Moments

34. Last time you cried? Earlier

35. Who will re post this? None

Any takers?
-J

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in EVERY good deed and WORD. -2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

TMI (For the Uninformed: Too Much Information)

My friend over at Life in the Parsonage was tagged with this recently, so I thought, seeing how meaningless drivel is not much available these days, that I would join in. Please feel free to choose a comatose state over reading this next bit. For all I know, that's what you're doing anyway...right now...this moment.......Is anyone listening?!?

Okay, here we go:

Favorite person: I'm gonna have to go with Jesus. And that wasn't always true. Here's my story.

Favorite food: Oh, I love all food...ALL food. That's been a problem for me for, say, the first half of my life. But I just don't go a day, even now, without something sweet, preferably chocolate!

Quirks about me: Okay the problem here is, what's NOT quirky about me? I'm a pretty odd duck, I'm afraid! :-) Let's see...how about the fact that I don't try to balance individual meals, but I do balance my day's worth of food (dairy at breakfast, grains & veggies at lunch, protein for dinner, perhaps).

How would the person who loves you the most describe you in ten words or less? According to Ephesians chapter 1: Blessed, Chosen, Adopted, Redeemed, to the Praise of His Glory! (Just to name a few--go check it out!!) And wow! I asked my BFF too, and she said: Loves unconditionally. Loved unconditionally. Worships hard. Laughs well. Wholly beautiful. I'm really blessed. Really.

Any regrets in life? I am going to 'get spiritual' on you here: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 3:12-14

What can you NOT live without: People, God's Word, Times of Quiet

Favorite blog: ACK! I love so many! So...I'll go with one I've not mentioned here before. Check out Pioneer Woman. She is stinking hysterical, though just to be clear, I can't endorse every word she writes...

Something you can't get enough of: Sleep...and I'm SINGLE! What would I do if I were married or I if I had kids?!?

Worst job you ever had: Selling shoes in a specialty store. Every foot deformity (and smell!) known to man crossed that threshold, and I was to fit them and then sell them a bazillion pairs. Did you know that I am SO not a sales woman? It scarred me such that I would not show my own perfectly-fine feet in public for more than a decade. No kidding.

What job would you pay not to have? See previous question.

If you could be a fly on the wall anywhere, where would it be? My sister's house in Asia, just so I could be near her again. :-}

Favorite Bible Verse: You cannot MAKE me narrow this list down. I simply won't do it. I...Won't...Do...It. Okay, well, a promise God gave me just before I graduated from college...I could share that one with you (but I won't be responsible for the torrent of Scripture passages that just might follow the opening of that dam!): Psalm 138:8: The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.

Guilty pleasure: I make it a point not to engage in things that create guilt in me. I've got enough issues in life without THAT! ;-)

Got any confessions: I'm pretty sure that confession is considered good for the soul but bad for the reputation, and since God says that a good name is more desirable than riches (Proverbs 22:1), and I'd like to keep my good name, I think I'm gonna pass on this one. ;-D Except for sharing the fact that I can pretty much eat an entire full-sized watermelon in one sitting...YUM!! (Except if you've done this, you know why I don't usually indulge myself in this much.)

If you had $1000 to spend on YOURSELF, what would you spend it on? Replacing the wardrobe that I seem to continually be shrinking out of (YEA!!!).

Favorite thing about your house: The house isn't actually mine, but I love that the sun shines in my bedroom in the mornings. It is a wonderful way to wake up (okay, that, and my 2-5 alarms. I wish I was kidding. See! I told you I needed more sleep!) Also, the smell of the blooming jasmine on the arbor. Yum!

Least favorite thing: Poor water pressure in my shower--but I deal. ;-D

One thing you are bad at: This is a long list to choose from. Hmmm....Keeping my blog posts short? (That seems innocuous...see the confessions Q above.)

If you could change one thing about your current circumstances, what would it be? I would love a financial re-start. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Who would you like to meet someday? Ruth & Boaz. What a great story!

What makes you feel sexy? Um...I'm single. Do I have to answer this question? You know, us single folk work really hard not to think too much about these topics...

Who is your real life hero? I'm not much of a hero-worshiper kinda gal. I don't really keep pedestals around in my life. I just like people in general.

What is the hardest part of your job? Keeping myself on task when I don't have deadlines.

When are you most relaxed? Friday night, when the week is done, but the Sunday work [read: ministry] has not yet begun. I love ministering on Sunday mornings, but anyone who does it must admit that it is work too.

What stresses you out? Running out of time on something.

Favorite quote: Excel in the Revealed.

Why do you blog? Narcissism? Just kidding!(?) I really need to put my thoughts down to sort out my mind, and having an audience forces me to clarify my thoughts. (Thanks for being there for me, guys!)

Well, that's all the witty content that isn't!

Until we return tomorrow to "Ten Things for Tuesday,"
-J

(c) 2008

Road Trip Learnin's

A friend and I just did a long-quick road trip: A long drive and a quick trip across the South to the Midwest, and back again. Eighteen hours...one way. We left Wednesday night and returned on Sunday afternoon. Are you doing the math?

Now, I'm not as crazy as I sound; this trip was necessary. However, I was a tad surprised at how pleasant it all was! (I was really expecting it to be exhausting.) And, I learned/saw/discovered a few things along the way. Thus, my Road Trip Learnin's!

On this trip, I...
...saw the largest blue jay I've ever laid eyes on.
...remembered the beauty of the Midwest.
...checked on Beth's home state. I'm glad to report that it's all there and in fine condition. I check on it for you going both directions, just to be sure! LOL!
...learned that I am a better rested person than I was the last time I made this drive eight years ago. That came in really handy, since both drives were through the night! Staying awake while driving is something I heartily endorse!
...discovered that I can be handy, even in the country! I really enjoyed getting to help through physical labor. I don't know that I would love it if I HAD to do it everyday, but it was enjoyable to put the muscles to work!
...realized I am fearless when I don a pair of work gloves. Hand me that filthy tool! Let that bug just try to load himself! Super-Gloved J to the rescue!
...learned that I am in better shape than I thought. Though a fair amount of heavy lifting and positioning was involved, and though I am somewhat sore, I really don't hurt much at all. Except for that growing bruise on my knee, which is something else entirely.
...rediscovered that I am still afraid of wasps....and probably all other stinging creatures. Really, really looked like a city girl when one showed up in my face. My host barely blinked and then killed the booger. Oh to be so fearless...
...discovered that there are still non-super Wal-Marts! Who knew?
...realized that I tend to eat poorly when on the road and out of life's normal rhythm. What made me think a cream-filled doughnut and a large french vanilla cappuccino from QuikTrip was a great breakfast idea?? (Guess who's going to the gym tonight!)
...remembered that I DO still miss QuikTrips! Good thing, too, as I might die from heart disease if one was nearby (see above)!
...noticed little changes that God is making in my heart. I was able to release more to Him and to really trust Him to work in others and in me more than in the past. I saw, in tiny ways, Christ's patience and love working itself out through me. Though the two ladies I spent most of the time with may comment to the contrary... ;-)
...enjoyed the time I got to spend with T & Anna. Shout out to Anna, as this is the first blog she's ever viewed. I'm honored to have you aboard! :-)
...realized that even work can be relaxing when it's a different kind of work from what you usually do.
...slept well every chance I got! ;-)
[After-Publication Addition]...learned one can get a sunburn in 40-degree weather!!! Do the top of my ears hurt!

Better run for now. I have another post in my head that I need to start working on. See you shortly!
-J

(c) 2008

Just for Fun - Scattergories!

Stolen from a sister's blog:

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks!
*Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following... they have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question .

· What is your name? -- J
· 4 letter word -- Junk
· Vehicle: Jaguar
· Boy Name: Jonathan
· Girl Name: Janna
· Occupation: Judge
· Something you wear -- Jewelry!
· Celebrity -- Jennifer Lopez
· Reason for Being Late -- "Just a few more minutes..."
· Food -- Japanese
· Something found in a bathroom -- Jets
· Cartoon Character -- Jerry (as in, Tom and)
· Something You Shout -- Joy!

-J

Just Two Things, Just for Fun

I stole these from a stranger's blog. I thought it was fun.

JUST TWO THINGS ...
Two names you go by:
1. J
2. Mocha

Two things you are wearing right now
1. Glasses
2. Sandals - new for me!

Two things you want VERY BADLY at the moment:
1. To be debt-free
2. To go see my family in Texas

Two things you did last night:
1. Babysat for a meeting at church (turns out this is NOT my spiritual gift-HA!)
2. Started reading a book on Scriptural infallibility and hermeneutical principles by J.I. Packer

Two things you ate yesterday
1. Ravioli with tomato-cheese sauce
2. Salad

Two people you talked to last:
1. A bunch of people at work
2. My best friend

Two things you are doing today:
1. Working
2. Laying out my curriculum for my fall Discipleship (read: Sunday School) class

Two favorite holidays:
1. Thanksgiving - low stress, high people-interaction
2. Christmas - family, gift-giving!

Two favorite beverages (non alcoholic) In addition to water...
1. (Diet) Dr. Pepper
2. White Grape Juice

Two things about me:
1. I am thrilled at the discipleship & teaching opportunities God is opening up for me.
2. I really miss traveling

Two jobs I have had in my life:
1. Worst - Shoe salesperson at a specialty store (completely nasty. It scarred me for a long time. This was my freshman year of college and I've only just this summer been willing to wear shoes that show my perfectly-fine feet.)
2. Best - ESL Teacher in South Korea

Two places I have lived:
1. Masan, South Korea
2. Belton, MO

Two of my favorite (types of) foods:
1. Thai
2. Lebanese

Two of my favorite books: Other than the Bible...
1. Chronicles of Narnia
2. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Two of my favorite TV Shows:
1. Heroes
2. Numbers

Two places I would rather be right now:
1. New Zealand
2. New England

Who's next?-J

Answers

1. When did you come to believe in Jesus? Tell your story! (as long or as short as you like) :-) I was immersed in a sea of believers when I was a child. Parents, grandparent, aunts, uncles, and family friends all knew and believed on Jesus. We were constantly at church or at a children's Bible club, where my mom, grandmother, and aunt were all teachers. My father was in seminary. Blessedly, it seems that there was no escaping the message that I needed Jesus!

Somehow, by God's grace alone, that message came together in my conscious mind the fall before I turned...four. I know, I know, but you know, I remember it. I remember understanding that I had done wrong things and that I couldn't go to heaven to be with God having done those wrong things, EXCEPT that Jesus died to pay the price for my wrong things, and that I COULD go if I believed that. Pretty basic, but that's all it takes.

I was alone, kneeling on the bottom bed of my bunk bed set. I remember understanding, and then I prayed, telling God all of this. I walked out of my room, so confident that I was now a believer that I told my daddy, "Dad! I'm a Christian now!" He doesn't remember this conversation, but he replied with a very good question, "Great! Why do you say that?" I sensed that he was reticent to believe me, so I responded by committing my first post-salvation sin. I got really mad and stomped back into my room to pray again--just to show him!

2. What difference has #1 made in your life? Oooooiiiieeee! I asked this question and I find it difficult to summarize. All the difference. There hasn't been one thing in my life that has remained unaffected by that decision 30 years ago. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus. And even when I don't want to trust and run away, even that is a reflection of and a reaction to my relationship with Jesus.

3. What is your favorite Scripture passage? Why? I love the Scriptures SO much! It's very difficult to narrow down my answer, but I guess I would say Psalm 116. In so many ways, this is my testimony: "I love the LORD for He heard my cry, he heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live." Especially continuing through verse 9. This was my song as I emerged from my clinical depression, around 2001.

4. Tell about a time God answered a specific prayer in your life. How did that affect/change you? Well...here's the biggie. Many of you know that I spent my entire educational career--through grad school--preparing to go the mission field. (This is not an exaggeration; I began pursuing missions by the time I was entering 1st/2nd grade.) The experiences I sought, the degrees I pursued, were all oriented toward going to creative access fields. Well, as soon as I finished my degree, the Lord impressed upon me to stay put, right in the city where I lived. Okay, sure. I figured this was a short-term proposition. But year after year, I kept getting, "Wait," as the response to my prayers about missions. Finally, five years in, I asked the Lord, "Please tell me, am I staying or going? I just want to know which direction to point my nose."

That evening, I picked up right where I left off reading the Scriptures the day before, Ezekiel 3. God is commissioning His new prophet, and He says (vv.4-6), "He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you." The words popped off the page to me just as if they were 3-D! It was one of the most indescribable moments of my life. Then the Spirit of God said to my heart, "This is the answer to your question."

I couldn't talk about that experience without crying for almost 2 years. It was such a shock to me. In Bible College/Seminary, everyone asks themselves if they are "willing to go." That was never my question. Mine was, "Are you willing to stay?" That day in 2004, God called my bluff, and told me to stay. So here I am... :-)

5. Do you remember a time that God made a Scripture passage especially clear to you? Tell! I was in junior high the first time I ever really remember seeing God's truth for myself. I was reading in Philippians 4, and saw this (vv.4-7): A+B+C+D=PEACE
A--Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
PLUS B--Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
PLUS C--Do not be anxious about anything,
PLUS D--but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
EQUALS PEACE--And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I had never before noticed that this promise--peace!--was conditional. It was the start of a love affair with God's Word.

That's enough for now, I think. Ta-ta until tomorrow!

-J

(c) 2007

Things I'd Actually Want to Know About You

June 12, 2007 - Things I'd Actually Want to Know About You

So many lists circulate these days, and while they can offer interesting tidbits (and occasional TMI moments), they rarely cover the things I want to know about someone. So...Here's my list. Lurkers, join in too! If you don't want to post to your own page, submit it as a comment on this one.

I hope you will consider answering some of these, 'cause these are just some of the things I'd want to know about you! Don't feel pressure to answer all of them, though; this isn't a test! Pick the one(s) you like or have time for today. Have fun!

1. When did you come to believe in Jesus? Tell your story! (as long or as short as you like) :-)

2. What difference has #1 made in your life?

3. What is your favorite Scripture passage? Why?

4. Tell about a time God answered a specific prayer in your life. How did that affect/change you?

5. Do you remember a time that God made a Scripture passage especially clear to you? Tell!

6. Who has influenced you in your spiritual walk (family, friends, mentor, pastor, authors, etc.)? In what ways?

7. Sometimes we get to share His story with others. Is there a particular story that you want to tell about that?

8. Is there something in your history that you would change if given a chance to?

9. What's a vice in your life? Any virtues? ;-D

10. What's your favorite way to worship God?

11. If you could possess one (real) talent or gift that you haven't already been given, what would it be and why?

12. What is an important lesson you have learned? How did you learn it?

13. What things are you really passionate about? What sets you ablaze?

14. What do you love or appreciate about God?

15. Where have you be especially effective in serving God? (This isn't prideful; if you've been effective, it's because of His Spirit in you, so really it brings glory to HIM.)

That's a plenty good start! Next post, I'll give my answers. Looking forward to yours!
-J
(c) 2007

Sixty (Stolen) Questions

Okay, I've seen lots of these go around and figured I'd finally get into the act. So I stole them from my friend's blog. I didn't see a (c), so.... LOL! Let's see...

1)How old do you wish you were? I kinda like now; anytime between 30 and now (34).

2) Where were you when 9/11 happened? At work. I worked at a church then. We got a call when the first plane hit, so they turned on a TV and had everyone gather around. At this point, remember, we don't know it's a terrorist attack; it seems like a terrible plane accident. I remember thinking, "Why did they call us together to see this? Bad things have happened before and we didn't stop the work day." We went back to work and a few minutes later...well, you know. It was an awful, awful day. I still won't watch things that reference that day/week/month. I still cry thinking about it.

3) What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Push the refund button. If that fails, well, I just walk away.

4) Do you consider yourself kind? I think I'm generally so. I try hard to be.

5) If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be? If? You think I don't have one? I am a woman of mystery.

6) If you could be fluent in any other language what would it be? Probably Spanish just for practicality's sake, but I'd rather be fluent in Russian or French. French is beautiful and Russian so interesting. What I'd really like is to be able to speak whatever language is being spoken. Wouldn't that be a cool superhero power?!

7) Do you know your neighbors? Yes and no. Two of my neighbors are *very* close friends, but the rest I only know so-so. Go two houses down and I don't know them at all. :-(

8)What do you consider a vacation? Traveling away from home and exploring someplace new. No offense, but I don't consider visiting family a vacation. I have rarely had vacations in my life, even as a child.

9) Do you follow your horoscope? Nope

10) Would you move for the person you loved? Absolutely.

11) Are you touchy feely? Occasionally, but not generally.

12) Do you believe that opposites attract? Often, but not always. I think it makes things interesting, but not always smooth.

13) Dream job? Wife, mother, discipler.

14) Favorite channel(s)? With cable, HGTV. Since we don't have cable, channel 10. LOL! Okay, NBC.

15) Favorite place to go on weekends? I rarely go anywhere. Sad for someone who likes to travel so much.

16) Showers or Baths? Always showers. I don't enjoy baths at all.

17) Do you paint your nails? No. My nails hate all forms of remover, and my eyes hate chipped nails.

18) Do you trust people easily? Depends. To a certain degree, I afford everyone trust immediately, but on a deep level, very rarely.

19) What are your phobias? Hmmm....I can kinda get carried away on germ-free hands, but I can turn that off if I need to.

20) Do you want kids? Yes. I'd love to have bunches (assuming I still have the energy to manage them), and I'd love to adopt from all over. Think Angelina Jolie, only I'd be married.

21) Do you keep a handwritten journal? Periodically. It's not usually what is happening, it's more what I'm thinking or learning, especially spiritually. Kinda like my blog.

22) Where would you rather be right now? New Zealand, Europe, in the mountains. You name it, I'm there!

23) What makes you feel warm and safe? Hmmmm....No special thing usually.

24) Heavy or light sleep? Heeeeaaaavvvvyyyy.

25) Are you paranoid? Who's asking?

26) Are you impatient? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

27) What is your favorite candle smell? linen

28) How do you feel about interracial couples? Love them! Wish I was one. My babies deserve to have some dark-skinned genes mixed in with my pasty ones. To pass on such pasty-ness is surely cruel and unusual punishment.

29) Have you been burned by love? Not really. More like...not yet found. :-)

30) Whats your life motto? When in doubt, don't. (from Romans 14) I'm working hard on it being something more like, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

31) What's your main ring tone on your mobile? Ringing. I don't hear the other rings.

32) What were you doing at midnight last night? This is unusual, but I was actually sleeping. Music Camp wore me out.

33) Who was your last text message from? I don't usually text, but one of my aunts does all the time.

34) Who's bed did you sleep in last night? Mine, and mine alone. :-)

35) What color shirt are you wearing? Granny Smith Apple Green (It looks pretty awful on me, but it matches the color of the Camp shirts, and I didn't have time to wash mine from yesterday.)

36) Who is your favorite artist? Name an impressionist.

37) Name three things you have on you at all times? Watch, ring, and earrings.

38) Are you wearing underwear? Always.

39) How much cash do you have on you right now? About $60. That's my food budget for the next 10 days.

40) What is your favorite part of the chicken? Breast

41) What's your favorite town/city? Chicago!

42) Who got you to join Yahoo 360? Me. I was looking for a free space to blog.

43) What did you have for dinner last night? Applebee's appetizer sampler, split with my best friend.

44) How tall are you bare foot? I claim 5'9".

45) Have you ever smoked heroin? What an odd question. Don't you smoke crack and snort heroin? Anyway, the answer to both questions is no.

46) Do you own a gun? No, and don't plan to. Don't mind if others do so responsibly, but I don't feel the need to.

47) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee, strong, with one sweet-n-low, and lots of French vanilla creamer. It should be the color of caramel.

48) Do you have A.D.D.? I'm sorry, what did you say?

49) What time did you wake up today? 6:20-ish. VERY unusual for me. This is because of music camp. Usually I wake up around 7:45/8:00 a.m.

50) Current worry? Paying off stupid (aka, credit card) debt. I've come so far, but have so far to go.

51) Current hate? This is silly, but I hate having an exhaust fan on when taking a shower. I really like to steam up the bathroom.

52) Favorite place to be? One of my favorite places to be is the public library. What a great invention. I also like being at the Biltmore (Asheville, NC).

53) Where would you like to travel? You name it and pay for it, and I'm there!

54) Where do you think you'll be in 10 yrs? I'm afraid to answer this question.

55) Last thing you ate? Soft peppermint candy.

56) Song that you sing in the shower? I don't usually sing in the shower, but if I do, it would usually be a worship song, or maybe something from old Broadway.

57) Last person that made you laugh? Some of the youth workers at our camp this week.

58) Worst injury you've ever had? Having my gallbladder removed was awful. I'm pretty sure he botched something, but I eventually recovered, mostly.

59) Does someone have a crush on you? One can only wish...

60) What is your favorite candy? Varies daily.

-J

Random Admissions

Just to add one more thing for today...

Ten Random Admissions, to bore or brighten your day.
1. I am sitting at work typing this email. However, I feel no guilt as it is after 8:00 p.m.
2. I had a little breakdown earlier this week at work, and I'm not sure I've really recovered from it.
3. I really only enjoy shopping if I have money. I don't have to spend it, but the possibility must exist.
4. I want to get rid of my cat but can't bring myself to do so.
5. I really miss traveling.
6. I think the early excitement of my life (teen's and early twenties) makes the routine-ness of life now harder.
7. I think I actually like vanilla ice cream better than chocolate, but my new favorite it butter pecan!
8. If someone else would pay, I would be a perpetual student.
9. I would love to know how someone figured out rubber bands. What a strange (but wonderful) invention!
10. If I could visit any time in history, I would return to the late 1800s/early 1900s. So many cool things were happening in the world, but world-wide wars hadn't yet squelched people's (misplaced) optimism.

Just restoring your faith in my random-ness! :-)
-J

(c) 2007