Laundry Woes

I am blogging to avoid putting away laundry.  I have a pile the size of Mt Everest on my bed and it is calling to me “Put me away….Fold Me…Hang Me”, and I am successfully ignoring its call.  The washing of the laundry is no problem for me.  I love the smell of Tide and Downy and the sense of accomplishment I feel as the hamper goes from full to empty, but I cannot stand putting the laundry away. I don’t even allow myself to put clean laundry in a basket, because it would be to tempting to leave it there.  This is why I have the ultimate pile of clean laundry on the bed, because it forces me to deal with it, if I want to sleep.  I actually think that the laundry multiplied when I put it in the machine (Maybe it is like the movie Gremlins, when the little ewoks got wet they multiplied, maybe the same rule applies to boxers and towels when placed in the washing machine.) 

Well…I probably should stop writing and start folding.  At least I do not have sheets to fold.  Sheets are the worst…I probably would just sleep on the couch!

Enough about Jello and onto Hello

I hope it still counts as blogging everyday even though it is past midnight….I am counting it! The best part is I just finished eating some Jello. (By the way it is also on sale not just at Shop N’ Save, but also Dierbergs.  What a wonderful week!)  I think my Jello eating is a theme, but I am done blogging about it.

Today I realized how often I talk about community and the importance thereof, but don’t take the time to actually engage in it.  All to often I don’t take the time to actually see people.  I don’t intentionally do this, I just get caught up in my own little world and forget to take the time to engage others.  What a sad state!  After a staff meeting at work today, I had a really amazing conversation with one of my co-workers.  It started with a simple hello that lead to a realization that I had never taken the time to really know his story.  I had done the small talk thing for the six and a half years I have worked there, but had never taken the time to really ask about his life.  For some reason God opened a door today and I got to see what a beautiful heart this man has for the Lord, for his wife and for his family.  I had always known he was a kind, gentle man, but today I got to see the beauty of who he really is.  I wish I had taken the time earlier. 

I know that it is not possible to know each and every person on a deep level, but it is still important to take the time to see them.  When this happens, I think we have a lot more patience and kindness.  We treat people in a different way.  We let them know they matter, and they do!

I’m So Exciting!

O.K. so I’m sticking to this blogging everday.  (You may stop reading…or you may keep reading because I make you feel so enlightened. I just laughed out loud at that last statement.)

A Glimpse at My Day:

I walked on the treadmill: My sixteen and a half minute miles are pretty sweet.  I think everyone in the gym is going to want me to be their trainer.  You to can do a marathon in 7-8 hours.

I worked: You don’t want details…did some graphics in microsoft paint…I am bringing retro back…who needs photoshop.

I bit my mouth: I was eating and got confused between food and my cheek.  It bled so much I had to walk around two paper towels in my mouth. 

I lost my camera: I wanted to take a picture of the paper towel in my cheek and realized I could not find my camera.  (I did get a pic on my old camera…which I will post tomorrow.)  I cannot find it anywhere.  We leave for Germany in two weeks so I really need to find it!…. Oh…where are you camera?  I need you!  Please come back to me!

I ate J-E-L-L-O Again!: You will have to read yesterdays post.  I think I am addicted.  Remember Strawberry with Peaches…Yum!

I ignored that the Democratic Convention is happening: I have refused to watch news coverage in the last few days because I am trying to ignore that the democratic convention is occurring.  For those of you that this offends….don’t let it!  I plan on doing the same during the GOP convention.  So if major news occurs outside of sports world (because I am still watching ESPN) please let me know.

I thoughts deep thoughts and dreamed big dreams: Not really but I thought I would throw it in for good measure.

What I really thought about:  How much I love Sonic beverages.  Why does that place have such good drinks?  I really like their ice as well. I really need a Strawberry/Pineapple Lemonade about now. (Sidenote: Half Price Drinks from 2-4p.m.)

J-E-L-L-O

Recently I have been told many times that I do not blog enough.  The truth is sometimes I do not think my life is interesting enough to blog everyday.  You may actually fall asleep reading….but I decided today I would just randomly give you a glimpse into something I found exciting or interesting.

So here it goes:

I ate Jello Fruit Passionsthey are delicious.  I suggest everyone eat them.  They are currently on sale at Shop N’ Save in the St. Louis Area.  My favorite flavor is the Strawberry Gelatin with Peaches.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Jello, but you throw the fruit in there and it is majic!  (Also not having to make it myself and having to wait for it to set….suddenly I need need my J-E-L-L-O.)

That is all!

A Beautiful Story

I am currently at the Echo conference in Dallas, Texas, which is a church media conference.  It has been really good, with some great speakers.  I am the only person who came from our church staff, so I have had to process a lot of the information on my own, which has been both good and challenging. 

Donald Miller the author of Blue Like Jazz spoke tonight and it really got me thinking.  His whole talk was centered around story and this has been a major theme in my life over the last few months.  I feel like everything involving my health has been a major part of my story and my character development.  I guess as far as narrative goes this disease has been my conflict.    It has changed my character in more ways than I even think I know and has left me wondering what is on the next page.  Donald Miller was saying how that in the tragedy and the pain, sacrifice can be produced and in turn the beauty is revealed.  I believe this!   The Gospel is exactly that… the beauty produced in Christ’s pain and ultimate sacrifice. (The ultimate sacrifice made out of love!) 

All this to say is that I believe that God has kept me here on this earth for a reason.  My actions should show who I am and who the Lord has made me.  All to often I just want it to be easy, but isn’t it true that in most great stories it doesn’t get good until the conflict and the difficulty occur.  I guess what I am saying is that even though sometimes it feels just a little to challenging, maybe the story is just getting good.

Life Giving Words

I was just thinking about those moments in life that change us forever.  Especially those times when a friend is willing to say something that is difficult, but loving.  Those words we need to hear, but do not want to hear.  Those statements that call us to be the person God intended for us to be.  After spending the evening with one of my best friends I was reminded of one of those moments in my own life.

In 2002, I was one the busiest people you could imagine.  I was balancing 11 hours in Law School and a full time job…actually it was more like full time and a half (If you know what I mean.).   I lived with two wonderful women and one of them changed my life forever.  We were talking one night and she stared at me for a second.  I thought she was going to tell me she was angry at me about something, or that I had forgotten to do something important like mail the electric bill, but instead she said one of the most impactful statements ever said to me.  “Alisha, you are nice. That is what you are nice, but that is about all I can say.”  “No one really knows you….you are just nice.”  “They don’t know who you really are.”  ”That is really sad, because I know you are more than just nice.”      I was shocked to say the least.  How do you respond to such a comment?  How do you respond to a comment that is so true?  Her statement basically summed up my existence.  I lived to be nice, not known.  How could anybody know me, if I didn’t know myself.  Her words changed my life forever.  I cried myself to sleep that night, realizing that I had never let anybody get close enough to hurt me.  Distance allowed me to be safe and “nice”…and she had seen right through me.  I knew I wanted so much more. 

Her honesty and love started a refinement process in my life.  Her strong yet loving words were exactly what I needed to hear.  I am so thankful for those words and know that God provided those words to her…to change me!  I will never be the same because a friend was willing to say something tough, because she loved me. (Thanks Sylvie!!!!)

Two Weeks, Two Nieces (One Great)

Within the last two weeks I have gotten to have fun times with both of my nieces. ( Actually, one is my great-niece.)  A week ago Friday, Jim and I took Elle to the Magic House on our day off.  It was so much fun!  (Hair raising fun…checkout the pics below! ) It was crazy busy, but we had a great time anyway.  She also chose my favorite place to eat for lunch….First Watch.  (She wasn’t even prompted.)  I cannot wait till our next outing!

This past weekend as I mentioned in my last blog, Jim and I took my niece Erika to Tablerock Lake for a a quick trip.  What a wonderful time!  It was such a special couple of days with my niece.  We took Jim to Lambert’s in Springfield for his first thrown roll experience.  We then continued onto Tablerock and stayed at a condo on the lake.  It was perfect. (Close enough to Branson to see the ridiculousness that is Branson…oh Mickey Gilley and far enough away to escape.)

We just got to hang out and have fun together.  It was one of those weekends I will cherish for the rest of my life.  It is amazing what you can learn from a 13year old.  I forgot how wonderful it can be just to make dinner and then sit outside on a deck and eat together.  (Sidenote: I also learned Walmart ketchup is kinda tasty!  Just thought you should know.)