Guest Posting at MODsquad today!
/I'm over at the MODsquad blog today. I hope you'll join me there!
Lookie Who I Met!!
/I have to say that every time my blog-life has intersected with my real life, I have been pleased.
As in "pleased to meetcha!" I have met some truly wonderful people over the past couple of years that I have been blogging.
But this time. Oh, this time I was better-than-pleased. I was giddy with excitement to meet Glenda on Tuesday.
Glenda started popping up in the comments section of my blog sometime in the past year. I clicked over to her place and loved the green color (my favorite!) and whimsy of her blog so I started following her. I loved reading about her life in Seattle.
Fast-forward a few months, and suddenly Glenda was moving to Chicago. I knew in my heart that we would meet someday, and Tuesday was my someday.
Glenda's husband had some meetings out here where I live, so she came along with him. He dropped her off at my house where we visited over coffee for a while, then we went to my favorite restaurant here in town where we talked non-stop for about two hours more.
The time just flew! Glenda and I actually have connections in a couple different spheres of our lives and we figured out that we had a few people in common. Such a small world! So Glenda and I met and ate and talked and talked and talked.
I'm sure it won't be the last of our Chicago get-togethers.
Thanks for a fun day, my "new" friend!
P.S. If you haven't "met" Glenda yet, pop over to her blog and say hello. You will find a warm welcome there!
Travel Tuesday Thursday - New York City, Part 2
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Welcome back to New York! You can find the first part of my New York trip report here.
Day 3 of our New York City Adventure began all the way at the south end of Manhattan at the Statten Island Ferry.
I had read about the ferry--how it gives you a free (catch that? FREE!) 30 minute ride across the Hudson River to, where else?, Statten Island.
I think it's the best way to catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty (for free) . . .
. . . and some pretty good views of the Manhattan skyline.
It was cold and windy that day, but the trip was fun.
After the ferry boat ride we walked down Broadway to Wall Street.
And on to Trinity Church, most famous (in our household anyway) for the part it played in the movie "National Treasure." We joked about asking if we could just take a quick peek inside their vault, but the guy at the door didn't look like he would think that was funny at all. Their noon service was just starting, and he asked us to take a seat. Or head over to the room to our right to have ashes put on our foreheads (it just happened to be Ash Wednesday when we were there). The girls' eyes got as big as saucers at the thought of that, so we turned around and headed out.
The glimpse we got of the church, though, was absolutely beautiful. Every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. they offer a free tour which would be very nice, I think. Next time.
Next time I also want to take time to stroll through the graveyard that surrounds Trinity Church. This marker dates back to 1750. Can you believe that?!
Standing in that neighborhood, you just can't help but think of what it looked like on September 11. All of that chaos. All of that ash. It must have been amazing to be there.
Speaking of September 11, our next stop was Ground Zero. There's not a lot to see there yet . . . a huge hole in the ground and the beginnings of a couple of buildings . . . but I thought it was really important for the girls to see the site.
Right across the street from Ground Zero is a fire station--the first to respond, I'm sure--and on the side of the station now is this copper frieze, depicting scenes from that terrible day.
"Dedicated to those who fell, and to those who carry on."
"May we never forget."
Indeed.
Next stop was Chinatown--the girls' request. We hopped in a cab and got dropped off near Canal Street, a paradise for purveyors ofcheap, stolen, gaudy handbags. And t-shirts. And sunglasses. And magnets.
And whatever other I ♥ NY paraphernalia you'd want to buy.
It's insanity down there. And I think I may have been just a little insane to take three beautiful girls down Canal Street, but thank goodness we were safe.
These pigs, however, are another story. Somewhere in Chinatown some pork is being roasted . . . and boiled . . . and fried. I should know--we had some in our dim sum. For lunch.
Here's a crazy sight--this is a parking garage on a street in Soho. Apparently they move the cars around on a platform to get them in and out. I don't know about you, but I was mesmerized by this sight.
After lunch we spent several hours walking through SoHo and Greenwich Village, shopping some, gawking mostly. By the end of the afternoon our feet hurt and we were exhausted, so we ducked into a small French cafe in Greenwich Village to warm up. As we were walking out, one of the girls in our group recognized someone famous--an actor who had been on Gilmore Girls for a while and had a fairly big part in one of my personal favorites, "Sydney White." Unfortunately for us (but fortunately for him!), we decided against our better judgements to NOT run back inside the cafe and ask for his picture.
I totally would have done it. They held me back.
After a rest in our hotel, we ended our evening at a sushi place the girls found. They had to find it because I was going to have no part in tracking down sushi. True confessions time . . . I had never eaten sushi before. It scared me. I thought I wouldn't like it. But the girls all convinced me that I just had to try the right kinds of sushi.
And you know what? They were right! I ended up loving the sushi we had at The Loop restaurant. Because, as you can see: "It's Japanese!"
I realize this is getting kind of long and maybe kind of boring if you have no interest at all in New York City (but then, why are you still reading?), so I will end my report with Day 4. The day we were heading home anyway.
The girls had one thing at the top of their list of things to do in NYC and that was to visit the Today Show. Thankfully, not that many people want to stand outside for hours in the chilly, nearly-raining, March weather, so we had a front-row stand (not seat--we stood). We got to shake Al Roker's hand (he's a very nice, very funny man), wave at Matt Lauer (apparently Matt had better places to be than outside with us that morning), and meet Meredith Viera.
Can I just say that Meredith Viera was a completely pleasant surprise? She was so nice! We politely asked if she would take a picture with the girls and she politely said yes. And after the picture she turned to them, asked them where they were from (we told her they were all on Spring Break from Wheaton College), and she took about five minutes to talk to them about college, ask questions about what they were studying, and generally showed sincere interest in all of them.
I think that was one of the highlights of our trip.
In the end, I'd say the trip was a huge success. Every minute was so much fun, and I felt it was such a privilege to spend that much time with my daughter and her friends. I know I will never forget it. I hope they won't either.
Day 3 of our New York City Adventure began all the way at the south end of Manhattan at the Statten Island Ferry.
I had read about the ferry--how it gives you a free (catch that? FREE!) 30 minute ride across the Hudson River to, where else?, Statten Island.
I think it's the best way to catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty (for free) . . .
. . . and some pretty good views of the Manhattan skyline.
It was cold and windy that day, but the trip was fun.
After the ferry boat ride we walked down Broadway to Wall Street.
And on to Trinity Church, most famous (in our household anyway) for the part it played in the movie "National Treasure." We joked about asking if we could just take a quick peek inside their vault, but the guy at the door didn't look like he would think that was funny at all. Their noon service was just starting, and he asked us to take a seat. Or head over to the room to our right to have ashes put on our foreheads (it just happened to be Ash Wednesday when we were there). The girls' eyes got as big as saucers at the thought of that, so we turned around and headed out.
The glimpse we got of the church, though, was absolutely beautiful. Every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. they offer a free tour which would be very nice, I think. Next time.
Next time I also want to take time to stroll through the graveyard that surrounds Trinity Church. This marker dates back to 1750. Can you believe that?!
Standing in that neighborhood, you just can't help but think of what it looked like on September 11. All of that chaos. All of that ash. It must have been amazing to be there.
Speaking of September 11, our next stop was Ground Zero. There's not a lot to see there yet . . . a huge hole in the ground and the beginnings of a couple of buildings . . . but I thought it was really important for the girls to see the site.
Right across the street from Ground Zero is a fire station--the first to respond, I'm sure--and on the side of the station now is this copper frieze, depicting scenes from that terrible day.
"Dedicated to those who fell, and to those who carry on."
"May we never forget."
Indeed.
Next stop was Chinatown--the girls' request. We hopped in a cab and got dropped off near Canal Street, a paradise for purveyors of
And whatever other I ♥ NY paraphernalia you'd want to buy.
It's insanity down there. And I think I may have been just a little insane to take three beautiful girls down Canal Street, but thank goodness we were safe.
These pigs, however, are another story. Somewhere in Chinatown some pork is being roasted . . . and boiled . . . and fried. I should know--we had some in our dim sum. For lunch.
Here's a crazy sight--this is a parking garage on a street in Soho. Apparently they move the cars around on a platform to get them in and out. I don't know about you, but I was mesmerized by this sight.
After lunch we spent several hours walking through SoHo and Greenwich Village, shopping some, gawking mostly. By the end of the afternoon our feet hurt and we were exhausted, so we ducked into a small French cafe in Greenwich Village to warm up. As we were walking out, one of the girls in our group recognized someone famous--an actor who had been on Gilmore Girls for a while and had a fairly big part in one of my personal favorites, "Sydney White." Unfortunately for us (but fortunately for him!), we decided against our better judgements to NOT run back inside the cafe and ask for his picture.
I totally would have done it. They held me back.
After a rest in our hotel, we ended our evening at a sushi place the girls found. They had to find it because I was going to have no part in tracking down sushi. True confessions time . . . I had never eaten sushi before. It scared me. I thought I wouldn't like it. But the girls all convinced me that I just had to try the right kinds of sushi.
And you know what? They were right! I ended up loving the sushi we had at The Loop restaurant. Because, as you can see: "It's Japanese!"
I realize this is getting kind of long and maybe kind of boring if you have no interest at all in New York City (but then, why are you still reading?), so I will end my report with Day 4. The day we were heading home anyway.
The girls had one thing at the top of their list of things to do in NYC and that was to visit the Today Show. Thankfully, not that many people want to stand outside for hours in the chilly, nearly-raining, March weather, so we had a front-row stand (not seat--we stood). We got to shake Al Roker's hand (he's a very nice, very funny man), wave at Matt Lauer (apparently Matt had better places to be than outside with us that morning), and meet Meredith Viera.
Can I just say that Meredith Viera was a completely pleasant surprise? She was so nice! We politely asked if she would take a picture with the girls and she politely said yes. And after the picture she turned to them, asked them where they were from (we told her they were all on Spring Break from Wheaton College), and she took about five minutes to talk to them about college, ask questions about what they were studying, and generally showed sincere interest in all of them.
I think that was one of the highlights of our trip.
In the end, I'd say the trip was a huge success. Every minute was so much fun, and I felt it was such a privilege to spend that much time with my daughter and her friends. I know I will never forget it. I hope they won't either.
Wordless Wednesday
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My next installment of the New York trip will just have to wait because I just have to show you what was waiting for me on the kitchen counter when I came in from a meeting last night.
Julia, my 13-year-old, made these all by herself. All. by. herself! They were delicious!
And the best part? Here's what my kitchen sink looked like:
I'm so proud of you, Julia!!
Julia, my 13-year-old, made these all by herself. All. by. herself! They were delicious!
And the best part? Here's what my kitchen sink looked like:
I'm so proud of you, Julia!!
Travel Tuesday - New York City
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Hello, New York!
Did I tell you what I did last week? Where I went?
That's right! I was on the road again, this time to New York City with my daughter and two of her friends.
Doesn't everyone go to New York City for Spring Break?
We spent four days in the Big Apple, arriving on Monday around noon and leaving Thursday afternoon. Today I'll report on Days 1 and 2 and tomorrow I'll tell you about Days 3 and 4. Sound good? Good!
Like I said, we arrived on Monday around noon, headed straight to our hotel in Chelsea (Fairfield Inn by Marriott on 28th street--got it for $129/night on Travel Zoo. Pretty good, huh?), dropped off our bags, and immediately headed out. We were just a few blocks from Macys, so that was our first stop--for lunch. They had a great food court in the basement (Oh, sorry, in New York they call it the cellar) where we enjoyed our first meal.
Finally refreshed and fully fueled, we set out for Times Square. It was a beautiful day, as you can see.
After a quick stop at the Hershey Store for a few goodies to take home . . .
Did I tell you what I did last week? Where I went?
That's right! I was on the road again, this time to New York City with my daughter and two of her friends.
Doesn't everyone go to New York City for Spring Break?
We spent four days in the Big Apple, arriving on Monday around noon and leaving Thursday afternoon. Today I'll report on Days 1 and 2 and tomorrow I'll tell you about Days 3 and 4. Sound good? Good!
Like I said, we arrived on Monday around noon, headed straight to our hotel in Chelsea (Fairfield Inn by Marriott on 28th street--got it for $129/night on Travel Zoo. Pretty good, huh?), dropped off our bags, and immediately headed out. We were just a few blocks from Macys, so that was our first stop--for lunch. They had a great food court in the basement (Oh, sorry, in New York they call it the cellar) where we enjoyed our first meal.
Finally refreshed and fully fueled, we set out for Times Square. It was a beautiful day, as you can see.
After a quick stop at the Hershey Store for a few goodies to take home . . .
. . . we hopped across the street to the M&Ms store.
I'm not a big M&Ms fan--they just aren't my favorite candy. But the colors sure are pretty!
Now this guy . . . he's another story.
Hey, Buddy! Watch your hands!! (And if you think I'm kidding, just ask the girls.)
Moving on . . .
Next stop, Rockefeller Plaza where we headed to the Top of the Rock because the day was so lovely and we knew there were views to be had up there.
We were right.
Have I mentioned that my daughter is a goofball?
She may be goofy, but the views sure weren't. Loved it up there!
We ended our first day (is it still really only Day 1?) at a place called Burger Joint.
This little dive is in the corner of a fancy hotel. You'd never know it was there, and you'd never know that the burgers in this little corner of the hotel have been named the best burgers in NYC. Truly! It has!
This place, in the Le Parker Meridian Hotel, is so cool that celebrities sign the walls (and other people do too). You just have to check it out. And it's not just about the atmosphere . . . the burgers really are good too!
After this long day full of sightseeing and walking miles and miles, we practically fell into bed and slept like babies.
DAY 2 - Uptown
We decided to split our time in the city between Uptown and Downtown. Today was Uptown, and where else does one start but The Plaza Hotel.
Isn't it lovely?
We found the cutest doorman EVER!
And Eloise. Kate's favorite!
Next stop, FAO Schwarz where you can find very nice doormen (smiles are free!) . . .
. . . or a Barbie foosball table (a mere $25,000).
After nearly an hour in FAO Schwarz, playing with everything!, we stopped briefly in Central Park.
We all agreed that next time we'd like to spend more time exploring Central Park.
But we had more shopping to do. Next stop . . . Tiffany!
We explored every floor of that place and found every sales person and elevator operator to be so NICE! Move over, Audrey Hepburn! We'll all happily have breakfast here.
While the girls shopped 5th Avenue, I ran over to Times Square to the TKTS booth to get tickets for a show that night. We had decided to see Billy Elliot, and, thankfully, tickets were still available.
But prior to the show, we wanted to have dinner. Unfortunately, there were no reservations available, so we decided to just show up at a New York classic and see what happened.
This is Carmine's.
Where, despite not having reservations, we were able to eat this amazing meal.
Basically, we showed up early (around 4:40 p.m.) and asked if they might possibly have a table for four and unbelievably they did! The only "catch" was that the table was reserved at 6, so we kind of had to eat fast. No problem there. We were well treated and had a wonderful meal. All-in-all, a great experience at Carmine's.
Next stop, Billy Elliot. I'm not going to tell you about the show, other than to say that we all loved it and had a great time. After a quick dessert at Junior's, a diner near the theater, we fell into bed once again and slept like babies.
Tomorrow, Days 3 and 4--Downtown and a surprise!!!
Hey, Buddy! Watch your hands!! (And if you think I'm kidding, just ask the girls.)
Moving on . . .
Next stop, Rockefeller Plaza where we headed to the Top of the Rock because the day was so lovely and we knew there were views to be had up there.
We were right.
Have I mentioned that my daughter is a goofball?
She may be goofy, but the views sure weren't. Loved it up there!
We ended our first day (is it still really only Day 1?) at a place called Burger Joint.
This little dive is in the corner of a fancy hotel. You'd never know it was there, and you'd never know that the burgers in this little corner of the hotel have been named the best burgers in NYC. Truly! It has!
This place, in the Le Parker Meridian Hotel, is so cool that celebrities sign the walls (and other people do too). You just have to check it out. And it's not just about the atmosphere . . . the burgers really are good too!
After this long day full of sightseeing and walking miles and miles, we practically fell into bed and slept like babies.
DAY 2 - Uptown
We decided to split our time in the city between Uptown and Downtown. Today was Uptown, and where else does one start but The Plaza Hotel.
Isn't it lovely?
We found the cutest doorman EVER!
And Eloise. Kate's favorite!
Next stop, FAO Schwarz where you can find very nice doormen (smiles are free!) . . .
. . . or a Barbie foosball table (a mere $25,000).
After nearly an hour in FAO Schwarz, playing with everything!, we stopped briefly in Central Park.
We all agreed that next time we'd like to spend more time exploring Central Park.
But we had more shopping to do. Next stop . . . Tiffany!
We explored every floor of that place and found every sales person and elevator operator to be so NICE! Move over, Audrey Hepburn! We'll all happily have breakfast here.
While the girls shopped 5th Avenue, I ran over to Times Square to the TKTS booth to get tickets for a show that night. We had decided to see Billy Elliot, and, thankfully, tickets were still available.
But prior to the show, we wanted to have dinner. Unfortunately, there were no reservations available, so we decided to just show up at a New York classic and see what happened.
This is Carmine's.
Where, despite not having reservations, we were able to eat this amazing meal.
Basically, we showed up early (around 4:40 p.m.) and asked if they might possibly have a table for four and unbelievably they did! The only "catch" was that the table was reserved at 6, so we kind of had to eat fast. No problem there. We were well treated and had a wonderful meal. All-in-all, a great experience at Carmine's.
Next stop, Billy Elliot. I'm not going to tell you about the show, other than to say that we all loved it and had a great time. After a quick dessert at Junior's, a diner near the theater, we fell into bed once again and slept like babies.
Tomorrow, Days 3 and 4--Downtown and a surprise!!!
Gratitude Journal
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"Crazy" doesn't even begin to describe the past two weeks. I've been to a workshop in Chicago that I can't wait to tell you all about . . . when I have a minute. And I've been to New York City, which I also can't wait to tell you about . . . tomorrow.
Until then, a few things for which I am so grateful . . .
103. Traveling mercies. So many details needed to be worked out over the past couple of weeks, and everything went perfectly.
104. Safety on the streets of NYC.
105. This:
106. Getting to know Kate's friends a little better--a true blessing.
Until then, a few things for which I am so grateful . . .
103. Traveling mercies. So many details needed to be worked out over the past couple of weeks, and everything went perfectly.
104. Safety on the streets of NYC.
105. This:
106. Getting to know Kate's friends a little better--a true blessing.
107. Good weather.
108. Available tables in restaurants.
109. My family at home, holding everything together.
110. HOME!!!
111. These:
112. Excellent Bible teachers.
113. Time spent digging into God's word.
114. Learning new truths.
115. Reconnecting with old friends.
116. Connecting with new friends.
117. Daylight Savings Time--an extra hour of daylight!
118. My husband, who serves in so many ways.
119. Slowly creeping temperatures.
120. Time to rest before a busy week.
I'm excited about the week ahead; I'm sure I'll have lots to share.
So tell me, what's ahead for you this week?
I'm linking up with Ann today. Hope you'll join us there!
I'm linking up with Ann today. Hope you'll join us there!
Good Reads
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First up: Amanda. Amanda is a new blog friend who actually knows someone I know! Small world, huh? I love this post about simplifying your life because, well, I read it and realized that I'm pretty good at it. My life (aside from the crazy travel I've been doing this year) has always been fairly simple and organized. I can't handle chaos.
Next, Jon Acuff. The Stuff Christians Like guy has a new blog, and this is his first post. About perfectionism. And getting things done. This kind of convicted me:
"90% perfect and published always changes more lives than 100% perfect and stuck in your head.*gulp*
The things you create and actually share will always out perform the things that stay stuck in your head or your desk or your laptop. You might love the ideas you have inside you. You might be blown away by how awesome they are, but if you don’t share them, it doesn’t matter."
Finally, my friend, Mary, is hosting a series called "Remarkable Faith." Each week she'll write about one aspect of faith, and she's inviting you to join in too. This week was "baptism" which I missed because I was out of town, but there are lots of interesting topics on her list. I'll probably join in for some of those weeks, and I think you should too (if you have a blog, that is).
The list is short this week because when I got home and opened up my reader I had over 200 blog posts on my list to read. And because I like to keep things simple, I simply (get it?!) deleted them and started over. There's just no way I could catch up on all that reading and do all the other stuff I had to do (like laundry).
Anyway, I'm back in business now, and I'll be back to posting again on Monday, so I hope you'll join me. Lots of fun to be had next week!
Have a great weekend!
I Am Loved
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Today is Friday, and since I just got back from a trip and I have nothing prepared to give you just yet, I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo's Five Minute Friday. And her topic today is perfectly appropriate for me: "I feel the most loved when . . . "
So here we go.
*start*
I just got back from a trip. Four exhausting, but fun days in New York City with my oldest and two of her friends.
Walking into my home last night I realized, I am loved.
When one girl hugged me longer and harder than she usually does.
I am loved.
When I noticed that all have pitched in to make the house ready for my arrival—dishes done, beds made, everything picked up.
I am loved.
When my husband smiles and says, “I’m so glad you could do this.”
I am loved.
When my puppy won’t leave my side for a minute.
I am loved.
When I hear, "Thank you so much for taking us, Mom."
I am loved.
When my youngest leaves for school this morning, hugs me hard, smiles deep into my eyes and says, “I’m so glad you’re home.”
I am loved.
Love is not the stuff around me or the trips I am able to take. Love is not the feeling of mushy-gushy warmth. Love is not experiences.
Love is home. Love is where I live.
*stop*
Thanks, Lisa-Jo, for a great prompt and for hosting Five Minute Friday! I'll be back later with a few thoughts from our trip.
Hello? Spring? Are you out there?
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Where I live, Spring doesn't come early, if it even comes at all. Somewhere around Mother's Day we might start to see some greenery pushing its way through the stubborn ground, but until then, there's just not a lot of springtime happening around here. And pretty much as soon as Memorial Day hits, it gets to be about 95 degrees with humidity that will make your hair stand on end and stays that way until somewhere around October.
Welcome to life in the Windy City. Ugh.
On Saturday, I was driving home from the city with a friend. We were tired from three days at a conference, and the weather was gloomy. In fact, "gloomy" is an understatement. It was downright nasty. Gray. Clouds so thick you could reach out and touch them. And the worst--it started snowing . . . sideways.
Seriously now, it's March. Time to be done with the snow. Saturday's weather really was enough to challenge even the happiest person, and it was enough to just about push me right over the edge.
Solution? Turn on some music. I turned on our local Christian radio station and we started humming along to some of our favorite songs. But then the announcer came on and ruined everything. "Ahhhh, Spring." he said. "All the flowers were blooming as I was driving to work today. It was so beautiful." (And then he probably went on to say something about how wonderful God is to give him such gorgeous weather and to fill his life with such beautiful flowers. Blah, blah, blah.)
Immediately, and in unison, my friend and I said, "OH, SHUT UP!!!!!" We actually yelled at the radio guy! It wasn't his fault. How could he know that as he opined about the beautiful flowers we were driving in a sideways sleety, slushy, snowy mess?
My friend then said, "Hey, that's not K-LOVE. That's not loving at all!"
To which I replied, "No. That's K-HATE. It is absolutely hateful to talk about spring flowers when we're dealing with this."
And so, I have a feeling that my favorite Christian radio station will forever be known to me as K-HATE. Only because I am so tired of winter that I feel some seriously strong reaction to anyone who has better weather than me right now.
And that's pretty much the rest of you.
So tell me, what's the weather like where you are? Please give me some hope that spring will actually come someday.
A List for Thursday
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All sorts of random thoughts are floating around in my head today, so I thought I'd just list them out.
1. My 13-year-old daughter informed me on our way to church last night that she really, truly is the only person in her entire school of 650 people who does not have a cell phone. She thinks that makes her a geek. I think it makes her unique.
2. I must write a post sometime about our cell-phone policy. The Wildman Way (Thanks to Caroline's friend, E, for coining that phrase) states that cell phones shall not be issued until said user enters high school. I guess we like to keep them geeks for as long as possible.
3. I also learned at church last night (hanging out with junior high girls is SO informative) that kids no longer use the phrase "burnout." Go figure. Apparently "druggie" is more PC. Go figure again.
4. Why was I using the term "burnout" at church last night? It's a long, complicated story. Kind of like, "Give your life to Jesus and don't end up like the burnouts do" kind of thing. Only not quite that bad.
5. Charlie Sheen is probably a burnout, but whether he is or whether he isn't doesn't really matter to me. I'm tired of him now.
6. I'm having a mascara crisis. I'm using Loreal somethingorother right now, but it just doesn't seem to be, I don't know, enough. I have very thin, skimpy lashes. Any suggestions?
7. I miss these.
Now go make it a good day!
P.S. There will be no Fabulous Friday Food this week because even though I made THE most delicious beef stew of my life this week, I neglected to take pictures of it. And besides, I'm attending the Women of the Word seminar in Chicago for the next three days and things like cooking and blogging will have to take a back seat to meeting people and learning good stuff and laughing like crazy with my friend, Cheryl.
You? Again?
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I am about to tell you something completely embarrassing. The kind of information that, if I would ever be tempted to think too highly of myself, the mere thought of this situation will plant my feet firmly on terra firma.
Oh, there are so many ways to keep me down-to-earth, and I have plenty of friends who will happily join in the discussion about the many ways I’ve embarrassed myself over the years (if, that is, my friends actually read my blog *ahem* ). And then there’s the fam. They will always keep me humble.
But this one. Oh, this one was all mine, observed by my husband and a roomful of people who had no idea what was happening. Only B and I really knew.
I haven’t thought about this in a while, but I was reminded of it this weekend while Julia and I were watching the movie “You Again.” You probably haven’t seen it. I’m sure it was NOT a smashing success at the box office, and I’m equally sure it will turn up next week on ABC Family where they will play it over . . . and over . . . and over again. For weeks.
Anyway, “You Again” is about a girl who was a total geek in high school (let’s not go there because I can SO relate) and who gets tormented for four years by the most popular girl in the school. Fast forward a few years. The geek has turned into a beautiful princess who has found great success in the P.R. world (nope, can’t relate there). Her brother is getting married, so she flies home for his wedding to a girl she has not yet met. Or so she thinks!
Here’s where fiction meets the reality of my life. The ugly-duckling-now-turned-swan enters her mother’s kitchen to find . . . you guessed it! . . . her arch-nemesis from high school. She says hello, coolly, and her arch-nemesis says, “Oh my goodness! It’s so nice to MEET you!” Like she’d never even seen her before!
Now, here’s where the truth is stranger than fiction. And where I reveal what might have been the most humiliating experience of my life.
Several years ago a friend of mine was having a party, and she mentioned to me that she had invited a new couple who had just moved here. She told me their names, and I knew immediately that the guy was a guy I had gone on a date with in college.
One date. Only one.
B can absolutely confirm this because we (B and I) had been dating, but we broke up for a couple of months. It was during those couple of months that this guy asked me out. Shortly after that B and I got back together and the rest is history. Mr. X was no more.
Until my friend’s party. When she told me he was coming I simply said, “He probably won’t remember me” because I have a huge ego like that. Huge. I always assume people won’t remember me.
But my sweet friend said, “Oh yes he will! How do you forget someone you’ve taken out on a date?”
How do you, indeed?
So I made a little wager with my friend. Nothing on the line because we’re not huge gamblers, but I think I said something like, “I’ll make you a million dollar bet!” I told her not to say anything to him. We would just see what happened at the party.
You know what’s coming. I was introduced to him and his wife at the party and there was the look. That absolute blank look of no recognition whatsoever. “It’s nice to MEET you!” just like the movie.
Then B-with-the-big-mouth piped up (I think he may have had a slight grin on his face) and said, “I think you and Shelly might know each other.” To which I added one very obvious point (aside from the date) where we would have crossed paths in college.
But still, the guy looked at me and said, “Hmmmmm. Nope. I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.” Blank looks all around.
At this point I just wanted to run away. Far, far away. But there’s my husband, standing there grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Oh yeah, this is one funny situation, Honey, isn’t it? Your wife is such a fun date that he DOESN’T EVEN REMEMBER ME!!
And there’s my friend, the hostess of the party, who is watching this whole situation unfold . . . badly . . . from across the room. As soon as I could excuse myself from the conversation (that was my punishment to my husband—I made him hang out and talk to him for a while. Talk about squirming!) I ran into the kitchen and grabbed my friend by the arm.
“I was right! I was right! He didn’t remember me!” Imagine the hilarity. Imagine the laughter. We suppressed giggles all night long.
So now I have to ask you . . . have you EVER forgotten someone you went out with—even if you only went out once? How do you forget taking someone on a date? And really, am I THAT forgettable? ARGH!
Gratitude Journal
/Linking back up with Ann today. My list grows. And so does my heart.
90. A full day of quiet to write.
91. Freshly fallen snow, a blanket of white.
92. Unbelievable opportunities for an unbelievable group of people from our church to travel to France.
93. Women reaching out to refugees.
94. Missions festival at church yesterday--it always makes me weep to think of the work those people do.
95. "Growth opportunities."
96. A wonderful dinner made by Julia.
97. Having Caroline back from retreat.
98. A long walk with my middle girl--doesn't happen often.
99. Oh-my-goodness friends who are willing to sacrifice for me.
100. Getting an important appointment in just one day when I thought I'd have to wait weeks.
101. Reaching 100.
102. College girls filling my house with laughter.
I'll be honest, looking for the gifts around me hasn't been as easy as I thought it would. I forget. I'm lazy and don't write things down. And then I forget some more. But I'm not giving up because this week it got just a little bit easier. And I know it's going to get easier still.
Here's what I read this morning--one of my favorites: "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." Lamentations 3:22-23
Good Reads
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Oh my goodness, I've saved so many great and thought-provoking posts lately that I just have to share them with you today.
Let's start with some fun. Gussy (my friend from Blissdom who saved me a seat on the airplane) shows how to make this adorable craft with old spools. I'm not crafty, but this just inspires me.
Talk about inspiration! Do you have a dream? Do you believe you can achieve your dream? This post at Success {Your Way} really encouraged me to keep trying and to keep believing that I do have what it takes to accomplish my dreams.
But then again, we can't just sit around dreaming, can we? We have to sit down (or get up) and do the work, as Donald Miller explains here. And here. I love this!
This post goes back to January, but I think it's still applicable. Emily (who is sweet and dear and wonderful) wrote some things at (in)Courage that I could have written about living more simply, more intentionally, and just enjoying what's around you.
Finally, my sweet friend, Glenda, who recently moved to Chicago, gave me an award this week. Woo hoo! I'll write more about that next week, but I just wanted you to go over and say hello to Glenda today. Tell her thanks for me. :)
Let's start with some fun. Gussy (my friend from Blissdom who saved me a seat on the airplane) shows how to make this adorable craft with old spools. I'm not crafty, but this just inspires me.
Talk about inspiration! Do you have a dream? Do you believe you can achieve your dream? This post at Success {Your Way} really encouraged me to keep trying and to keep believing that I do have what it takes to accomplish my dreams.
But then again, we can't just sit around dreaming, can we? We have to sit down (or get up) and do the work, as Donald Miller explains here. And here. I love this!
This post goes back to January, but I think it's still applicable. Emily (who is sweet and dear and wonderful) wrote some things at (in)Courage that I could have written about living more simply, more intentionally, and just enjoying what's around you.
Finally, my sweet friend, Glenda, who recently moved to Chicago, gave me an award this week. Woo hoo! I'll write more about that next week, but I just wanted you to go over and say hello to Glenda today. Tell her thanks for me. :)
That should keep you reading for a while. Happy Weekend, friends!
Fabulous Friday Food - Molten Chocolate Cakes
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I know, I know, Valentine's Day has come and gone, but I still have to share with you the dessert we made that night. It's one of our favorites because it seems a little fancy, but it's oh-so-delicious. And perfect for Valentine's Day.
Butter and flour the ramekins--the full recipe will make about 8 individual cakes (we only made four on Valentine's Day and made the rest the next day).
Add the sugar.
If you want the printable version of my take on Giada's recipe, you can click here.
Have a great weekend!
So, since it's still technically February and I'm still in love (tee hee!), I thought I'd share our Valentine's Day dessert with you.
I'll be honest--it's Giada's recipe. So if you want to just use that, you are more than welcome to go there and print it off. I don't use the liqueur or the berries, so I guess you could say that mine is a variation.
And if you've ever thought that making Molten Chocolate Cake is just too hard, think again. It's not. It's a little more involved than, say, making a cake from a box mix, but not too much more. The key is in the beating of the eggs. If you can beat eggs, you can do this.
Here we go. Assemble your ingredients (don't I say that every week?): Butter, flour, sugar, chocolate, eggs, and coffee. Super-basic, don't you think?
Chop up the chocolate.
Melt the chocolate and butter and instant coffee over a double boiler, but don't let it get too hot.
Here's my helper mixing the chocolate and butter.
Butter and flour the ramekins--the full recipe will make about 8 individual cakes (we only made four on Valentine's Day and made the rest the next day).
Put the egg yolks and eggs in a mixing bowl. Room temperature eggs work best.
And beat the heck out of it. Really. I mean, like, beat it for a few minutes until the mixture is nice and thick.
Add the melted chocolate and butter once it's cooled a bit (you don't want to scramble the eggs).
Add the flour. (It's crazy, but this recipe only takes 4 teaspoons of flour!)
Pour into ramekins.
Mmmmm. I could dive in right now, but you have to bake these beauties for 8-10 minutes.
Now, the tricky part, of course, is turning the cakes out of the ramekins. Which I can never do like they do in a restaurant. What can I say? It's my one cooking weakness.
But we've come up with a happy solution in our family . . . don't turn them over. Just serve them in the ramekin.
With a dollop of fresh whipped cream, of course.
If you want the printable version of my take on Giada's recipe, you can click here.
Have a great weekend!
Five Minute Friday
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I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo again today for her Five Minute Friday prompt. Today's topic is "Five Years Ago."
Now remember, the idea behind Five Minute Friday is to just write . . . quickly and without edits. Just get something down on paper and see what happens. So that's what I've done. It's always fascinating to me to see what comes out.
Anyway, here's my Five Minute Friday on Five Years Ago.
*start*
Five years ago my girls were in 2nd, 6th, and 8th grade. We were looking forward to high school and trying to survive the middle school years. College plans and dreams seemed a long way off.
Five years ago we lived in the cocoon of sameness. Our house had recently been remodeled, and we were trying to figure out who would occupy which room. We felt (and still do!) incredibly blessed.
Five years ago we met Matt “randomly” in the church lobby, and he moved in with us for a few months. The girls got their first taste of living with a big brother. Awesome to share what God had given us with someone who needed a place to stay, but more awesome to gain a “son” and a friend for life.
Five years ago seems like forever ago, and yet it seems like the blink of an eye. Second grade has turned into seventh grade with contacts and braces and not-yet-makeup. Sixth grade has turned into eleventh with college searches and ACT tests and almost-senior-year. Eighth grade has turned into college with new friends and interesting classes and dreams of the future.
Five years ago, my life was just fine with three little girls under one roof. My heart did not know how much it could hold, nor how it could miss someone so much.
*stop*
So tell me, where were YOU five years ago??
Also, don't forget to come back again later for Fabulous Friday Food. You're gonna like this one!!
Now remember, the idea behind Five Minute Friday is to just write . . . quickly and without edits. Just get something down on paper and see what happens. So that's what I've done. It's always fascinating to me to see what comes out.
Anyway, here's my Five Minute Friday on Five Years Ago.
*start*
Five years ago my girls were in 2nd, 6th, and 8th grade. We were looking forward to high school and trying to survive the middle school years. College plans and dreams seemed a long way off.
Five years ago we lived in the cocoon of sameness. Our house had recently been remodeled, and we were trying to figure out who would occupy which room. We felt (and still do!) incredibly blessed.
Five years ago we met Matt “randomly” in the church lobby, and he moved in with us for a few months. The girls got their first taste of living with a big brother. Awesome to share what God had given us with someone who needed a place to stay, but more awesome to gain a “son” and a friend for life.
Five years ago seems like forever ago, and yet it seems like the blink of an eye. Second grade has turned into seventh grade with contacts and braces and not-yet-makeup. Sixth grade has turned into eleventh with college searches and ACT tests and almost-senior-year. Eighth grade has turned into college with new friends and interesting classes and dreams of the future.
Five years ago, my life was just fine with three little girls under one roof. My heart did not know how much it could hold, nor how it could miss someone so much.
*stop*
So tell me, where were YOU five years ago??
Also, don't forget to come back again later for Fabulous Friday Food. You're gonna like this one!!
What Would YOU Like to Say?
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Earlier this week Megan at Fried Okra was telling about a friend of hers who recently lost her husband. She said her friend had a good sense of humor, but that even a good sense of humor just wasn't enough to handle all the strange, rude, inappropriate comments she sometimes gets.
Megan came up with a great solution for her friend:
"So I was thinking . . . maybe she [Megan's friend] WOULD be comfortable, and maybe would even ENJOY, having a stack of brightly colored business-sized cards to keep with her that just say, Bless your sweet heart for wanting to help me. What you are doing right now ain't helpin'. If you really want to help, shut up and bring me another glass of wine!, that she could hand to people when they're saying or doing something that isn't hitting the mark with her. It'd all be in good fun, of course, but would also be her get-out-of-jail free card, in a sense, and may perhaps light-heartedly open a dialogue with people as to how they could better support her. You think?"
Well, that just made me laugh, and I got to thinking about all the business cards that I'd like to pass out in my life.
Like to the person who just will. not. shut. up.: “Could you stop talking now? I’ve had enough.”
You could just put this one underneath the windshield wiper: “You’re going to get rear-ended with all those bumper stickers on your car.”
Oh, I could use this one every now and then: “Hey, mom-in-the-grocery-store-yelling-at-your-little-kid, calm down.”
For when you find yourself just plain incredulous (like I do . . . a lot): “Dude. Really??”
I'd like to have this one in the library or in a book store. Of course, you'll need an attachment: “Here’s a Kleenex. Use it.”
And my favorite, for when you're waiting to get on an airplane and everyone is crowded around the gate, just clamoring to get through the door so they can be the first to get their carry-on luggage in the overhead bin: “You just cut in line. Go back. Allllll the way back. And start over.”
How about you? What would your business card say?
Behind My Bedroom Door
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I caught the bug when I was about ten years old.
My grandpa had it too—he passed it on to me. And even though my poor grandma didn’t have it, he made her take part in it.
The travel bug.
Grandpa Earl retired early, and he and my grandma spent probably 20 years traveling all over the world. Twice that I recall they went literally around the world. They went to Europe several times, to Central America, to Asia. And every time they got back from a trip I’d say, “So, Grandpa, where are you going next?”
He always had an answer for me.
I knew I had it when I started pilfering the Travel section of the Chicago Tribune on Sunday afternoons. I’d take it to my room, close the door softly, and grab my scissors and tape.
“Rome is for Lovers”
“St. Barts: A Romantic Getaway”
“The Stunning Beaches of Puerto Rico”
“Switzerland on $10 a Day”
The headlines grabbed my attention, not so much for the content, but for the place names. I would carefully cut out the name of each place that sounded romantic, mysterious, or intriguing—places I wanted to visit someday—and then I’d tape the names of these places to the back of my door.
“Rome”
“St. Barts”
“Puerto Rico”
“Switzerland”
The back of my bedroom door was the perfect hideaway for my dreams. During the day, while my door stood open, the names could not be seen, so my sisters couldn’t tease me about them.
But at night, while I studied or read or got ready for bed, the names remained fixed in their spot, for my eyes only. For my dreams only.
Throughout junior high and high school I continued to steal the Chicago Tribune Travel section, and I continued to cut out names of places I’d someday like to see. By the time I graduated from high school, the back of my door was completely covered.
I still remember the day I left for college and had to remove those place names, those destinations that had become very much a part of me. I slowly peeled back the tape so that I wouldn’t rip any of the newsprint, and I remember thinking for a minute that I should save them but then chastising myself for the ridiculousness of it all.
After college I got married, but before we ever walked down the aisle I made sure that B understood that I was just like Grandpa Earl, always dreaming about the next trip. I would happily forgo a huge house or nice car for a trip.
I indoctrinated him before we had kids by taking him to England to see many of the places I had seen in college. We backpacked and stayed in Youth Hostels and did the entire trip for $2,500, which was an absolute fortune to us back then.
Since then I have seen a lot of those places—St. Barts, Puerto Rico, and Switzerland, even—and we have made family memories to last a lifetime. And I still contend that spending money on travel is never a waste.
Nor is spending time in your bedroom cutting out place names from the Travel section of the newspaper, dreaming of the next trip you will take.
The world is vast and huge and diverse and a blessed place to be. When I travel I sense that God is in it all and sees it all and controls it all. I see His creativity and His ordering of things and His hand reaching out to the world. I feel a part of the vastness and hugeness and the diversity of God.
And that is a blessed place to be.
Now tell me, do you like to travel? Why or why not?
Gratitude Journal
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This has been a week.
A week of travel.
A week of sorrow.
A week of sorting out.
A week of dear friendships.
A week of thankfulness.
I've been in Florida for a few days. Just arrived home last night to the arms of my family whom I love. I hated to leave all that warm sunshine (it really did me a world of good), but it just doesn't sit right with me to be away from them all for too long.
I went with my mom to sort through my grandmother's things. Grandma Nell, whom I visited last November, passed away a couple of weeks ago. She had obviously lived a good, long life, but she couldn't hold on any more. She would have been 100 years old on May 16 this year.
Our time there was bittersweet, but mostly sweet thanks to my dear friend, K, who opened her home to my mom and I. Mom was able to rest and gain some strength while we were there, and I will be forever thankful for K's hospitality.
My list continues . . .
77. Warm sunshine kisses on my back.
78. Palm trees
79. Crazy-cawing birds
80. Long, loud laughter
81. Generous friends
82. A family heritage worth sharing
83. Bonds broken and the grace that breaks them
84. Safe travels
85. A family to come home to
86. Kate, who made the effort to come see me when I got home.
87. Fun family times around the table.
88. Girls who actually WANT to go shopping with their mom.
89. Red shoes (they make me smile)
Tell me, how was your week?
P.S. I'm posting over at MODsquad today about How to Really Love our Daughters. Come check it out!
A week of travel.
A week of sorrow.
A week of sorting out.
A week of dear friendships.
A week of thankfulness.
I've been in Florida for a few days. Just arrived home last night to the arms of my family whom I love. I hated to leave all that warm sunshine (it really did me a world of good), but it just doesn't sit right with me to be away from them all for too long.
I went with my mom to sort through my grandmother's things. Grandma Nell, whom I visited last November, passed away a couple of weeks ago. She had obviously lived a good, long life, but she couldn't hold on any more. She would have been 100 years old on May 16 this year.
Our time there was bittersweet, but mostly sweet thanks to my dear friend, K, who opened her home to my mom and I. Mom was able to rest and gain some strength while we were there, and I will be forever thankful for K's hospitality.
My list continues . . .
77. Warm sunshine kisses on my back.
78. Palm trees
79. Crazy-cawing birds
80. Long, loud laughter
81. Generous friends
82. A family heritage worth sharing
83. Bonds broken and the grace that breaks them
84. Safe travels
85. A family to come home to
86. Kate, who made the effort to come see me when I got home.
87. Fun family times around the table.
88. Girls who actually WANT to go shopping with their mom.
89. Red shoes (they make me smile)
Tell me, how was your week?
P.S. I'm posting over at MODsquad today about How to Really Love our Daughters. Come check it out!
It's Coming!!
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Since it's going to be in the '50s today in Chicago and we're all getting a little Spring Fever, I thought I'd share this with you.
(Thanks, Jenn!)
(Thanks, Jenn!)
