Q_TP #3 - God Save Us All

‎"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."

-- George Washington

Now there's a thought America. Republicans... Democrats.... Lay Citizens.... SEEK TRUTH AND PURSUE IT STEADILY. (I should add Media* to my charge, but we all know how well that would go over) I wonder what kind of difference that could make, if we all actually got off facebook for long enough to seek out truth and then pursue it steadily. It's an interesting thought actually. If, instead of allowing the media to control what we believe, we actually researched and studied the historical data for ourselves. I think we would ALL be surprised at what we could accomplish, together, as a nation undivided.

*does anyone feel a tad nervous when watching anything about politics on TV. And by a tad nervous I mean, pee-your-pants scared that our country has seen it's best years and our generation has nothing to look forward to but the perishing of a country that use to be something special? Just wondering.

One day at a time...

For those of you that saw my list, you will be happy to know I am on schedule and almost EVERYTHING on my list can be. checked. off. I have some very tired, sore and pretty amazing friends that came out this past weekend to help me MOVE OUT! I did take one or two pictures but the frigged weather made sure I kept my gloves on and well, it's just hard to take pictures with gloves on your hands.

Can I just say that moving stinks? It really does. And moving when it's 12 degrees outside stinks more. When I say it was cold outside, that is not an understatement. We're talking, steam coming off Chief and Jon's heads because they were hot....the air was not. Did I mention they were sweating? Yes, they were the first two guys there and after a few overwhelming moments, I sheepishly (not really) put them to work. And... they. were. awesome. They both admitted half way through that maybe the idea of working out prior to helping me move (really?! What the heck?) was a bad idea. Seriously though, I am so grateful for them and the rest of the crew that came out! I couldn't have done it without them.... I loved watching David and Chuck strategically figure out where things should go in the storage truck/unit as it seemed that more things began to appear out of no where... How on earth did I collect so much stuff and where has it been hiding?! It's like it started crawling out of the crevices as I started to pack.... Brittany and Julie were good for helping me figure out what I "needed" to keep or not. At one point I was like, "ooooh there are those dumbells that I haven't ever used....I should pack those so I start using them." lol. Needless to say, they were put in the goodwill pile (that took up practically the whole dining room....nice). Abby helped me fend for my stuff at times, until she got relegated to the kitchen (sad face) to finish some of the packing that I hadn't been able to get to... Thanks Abs!

Note to self... always go with the bigger truck. I horribly underestimated the amount of space my valuables (junk) would take up and we ended up having to make two trips.... second trip lacked a little motivation... but we got it done. Most of it at least. We dropped the second load at Amy and David's then booked it to Ledo's Pizza before we all passed out. Second note to self, don't underestimate time or the necessity of eating prior to a serious move day. We were all STARVING... some of us hadn't eaten since breakfast (eh hem) and we ordered something like 5 pizzas. ha. We didn't eat them all but, it sounded doable when we ordered!

Thanks to my wonderful friends who sacrificed their Saturday to help me out! I am so grateful (why isn't that word spelled like GREAT? ugh) for your kind service and friendships! :) I only have 7 (partial), 9, and 10 left to do on my list and you guys are all to thank for that!

(pictures to come....)

To worry, or not to worry: Q-TP#2

‎"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit out impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control." -Francis Chan

Que dramatic scene of girl overreacting (about anything, you name it, we've most likely overreacted about it) to her friend and then her friend hauling off and whacking her in the face to make her stop. *Deep breath. Thank you, Megan, for the slap in the face... I needed that.

My younger sister slapped this quote on my wall (fbook wall, is there any other?) yesterday and it stopped me in my tracks. For those of you who know me well, you know that I can be SOOOOO good at worrying when I want to be. I'm not one who stresses, per say, but worrying... yeah, that is my thing. And the things that I choose to worry about are the CRAZIEST of things. Not normal everyday things like, "why is everyone starring at me? is the back of my skirt tucked into my leggings again??" or "did I leave the house unlocked when I left for work?" I worry about freak accident stuff and things that I really have NO control over but would cause a great deal of pain or discomfort for me or someone I love, whether physical or emotional. I won't go into everything that I worry about but here is a clue... I couldn't have been older than 10 years old when I specifically remember crying myself to sleep because I was scared one of my siblings was going to fall through the ice at the pond near our house that winter. Or another time when Mom and Dad could not get home fast enough because I was convinced that UFO's were hovering around our house.

Okay, yes, I've stopped worrying about UFO's (eh-hem), but that's not my point. My point is that I am about to embark on a big, new, scary step in my life because it is going to require me to leave a lot of the things that give me comfort. And there is a lot that I COULD worry about. After all, there are a lot of unknowns and a lot of different directions my life could possibly take right now. But I am going to choose to trust rather than to worry. I can be confident that as I walk forward in this whole decision-making process that His Spirit inside of me will nudge me if I am headed in the wrong direction. Don't get me wrong, this does not mean that I'm putting my options in a hat and blindly picking my future. But I'm researching, talking to people, and pursuing doors that seem to be opening as I seek answers. Not to forget, looking at my past to see what passions God has placed inside of me from an early age and how I can pursue and nurture these passions in order to be who God has called me to be in the midst of His story.

Sure I could worry about things like, if I left this job to go back to school I may not EVER have the job security I have now.... And even in saying that I realize that I far too often make God out to be way smaller than he truly is because really my job, my benefits, flexibility and SENSE of security could all be wiped clean today, and then what would I be clinging to? So the quote_to ponder came right on time. I don't want pseudo security... I want God's security. Worry less, trust more....

A list was in order...

Mildly productive. That's how I would define my night tonight. Finished some chores around the house, got my mail (gasp), opened it (say what!?!), went grocery shopping, dropped a few things by the Campbell's place, snuck in a few giggles and books with Matthew, and most importantly I made a list.

This week has already been incredibly overwhelming for me, starting with another night where my body wanted rest but my mind was so not having it. I swear there are nights my mind races like it were competing against the Kenyans in an Olympic marathon.... and my mind is winning. I just start thinking of all of the things that need to be done and then my mind explodes because, well, where do I start....And that's why tonight was productive. I have narrowed my spectrum a little. Right now. For the next few weeks, my goal is to be packed up and moved into Casa a la Campbell and EZStorage. That's it. Not to fix up the condo, have it rented out, apply to 5 schools, take the GRE, get into 5 schools, decide what I'm doing come summer time when my job relocates, name my future children, cure cancer and feed the hungry by February. Simply, pack. and. Move. The rest will come in it's time. So with my brain dump and now clearly focused on JUST packing and moving out, I can make a list that looks somewhat attainable and it won't make me some kind of crazy woman who may just very well lose it if one more school makes it like a game of finding Waldo to figure out their application deadline on their website. Hint: BOLD letters "Fall Semester application due date: xxxxx" I HATE FINDING freakin' WALDO. Why are you lost all the time anyway, Mr. Waldo?? Don't push me....but I digress. Maybe you can relate or maybe I'm weird (probably) but if I don't have my 'search' narrowed down, I am ALL OVER the map and my mind will not let me rest.

So here's my list:

1. Get packing paper

2. Pack out kitchen and laundry room

3. Take down, wrap, pack all frames/artwork

4. Call Good Will to pick up give aways

5. Work on desk and organizing documents

6. Organize a moving crew (hopefully friends) when close to finishing packing - goal 29/30 Jan

7. Pack up clothes and remaining room items

8. MOVE - storage/casa a la Campbell

9. Clean and figure out what needs to be fixed

*10. (b/c you can't stop a list at 9) pop cork, feet up, glass of red wine in hot tub a la Campbell!

Well, it's a start... We'll see how it goes. Is anyone watching this game?!? Holy cow... a great BCS Championship game as far as making it competitive! Good night all...

The reason I'm not in bed... asleep.

So I was about to sign off and head to bed but I took one glance at the guide on tv and this is what I saw...

...This scene makes me laugh every. single. time. Hard to believe this movie came out over five years ago. YIKES! I remember when it came out... I'm pretty sure I saw it three times IN the THEATER. "What? I'm just expressing myself."

Cheers to you 2010... here I come 2011...

.... as if you were waiting on me.

I suppose I should put something up here about the fact that somehow the 2000's* have passed me by in what was seemingly nothing more than a long exhale after a deep breath and that I'm ready for 2011 to give me it's best shot. And that would be true. I'm excited for 2011 and where it will take me as I put one foot in front of the other. But I need to know if I'm the only one that is in disbelief that it is ALREADY 2011?? I mean I'm still bumpin' Outkast, J-Lo (don't judge me), and Ashlee Simpson's 'Pieces of Me' when I feel like rolling back the sun roof and belting out a few songs that I know ALL the words to. I'm not sure I should've admitted that, but it's true. The point of me telling you that (other than the fact that yes, sometimes I listen to bad music if it puts me in a good mood) embarrassing fact is that time is a movin' and it's not stopping! So here are a few moments from 2010 that I have conjured together and will post on here in case my memory goes quicker than it should, I will have something to remember at least snap shots of 2010. Because honestly, if I were to try and tell you about my 2009, I'd have to look through my facebook albums to 'remember' where I was and what I did that year...

Feb 2010:

My first real vacation to Hawaii (other than a bball tourney). I got to hang with Melissa, surfed (kind of), had the best shaved ice I've ever had, laughed, ate and laughed some more, saw some whales, got to see Melissa preggers, got our toes done, saw Hawaii rainbows and laughed some more... then got to visit with some of the friends I made while over in Iraq. Decided I need to make it back there before 2012. oh and how could I forget the Blizzard of 2010?! Enjoyed a few snow days as all of the metro area closed down due to 36'' plus of snow! We had a ball!

April 2010:

Girls weekend in Miami with Hamm, J and Ashley. Relaxed, laughed a LOT, girl talk, had some fruity drinks, saw Jeremy and Sofia, romped around Miami for a night or two (I could never live in that city, we ate dinner at nearly 9 or 10pm every night), hung out at the pool, hung out at the beach, girl talk and more fun. THEN I went to San Diego for Chief and Melissa's wedding... (I'm starting to see a theme for 2010- travel, friends and beach destinations) which of course was like a mini reunion in getting to see some of my peeps from my time in Annapolis. And we all know how fun that always is... nothing but laughter and good times, especially when celebrating a marriage!

June 2010:

Surgery. um... yeah, I don't have much to say about it being that I'm still not fully recovered. Next time, I'll opt for more rehab.

Summer 2010:

Filled with lake house fun when my cousins came to visit, Megan came back from China for a short stay, almost the whole family was there and it floods my heart with sappy songs like "through the years" and "that's what friends are for."

Fall 2010

September/October:

My trip to NY....  got to celebrate wedding nuptials with one of my favorite couples, Carrie and Sean, in one of my favorite cities. I loved it so much I came back the next month to visit Janetta and JJ... met up with another friend from college and realized just how fast time has flown. Amy and David Preggers!!! - My roommie moved out. Sad. Day.

November:

More lake house and family gatherings which lent time for us to catch up, play, watch football, eat... a lot, play some more and just hang out as a family.

December 2010:

Christmas in VA! Mom and Dad's surprise 40th anniversary party. Celebration of their love and commitment with old friends! lots of cookies. Matthew growing up way too fast.

Well these are just a few things that stuck out to me... 2010, you were a fun but trying year. You exposed me in more ways than I was ready for but in that helped refine me and showed me more of who I am... Flawed and messy. Redeemed and loved. So 2011, I'm pretty sure I have not a clue what you have up your sleeve but whatever it is I'm praying it leads me to more truth and more of Him. Cheers!

*and yes, I realize that TECHNICALLY the 2000's passed me by last year... EXACTLY MY POINT.