I have been writing so much this week that it seems my brain has dried up. I know, I know…you think you’re going to get out of reading…but nah. Even in the dried up days, I find something to say.
Life is fun. I’ve decided that. I can’t remember who I was talking to the other day…but we were pondering the great questions of life…with no real successful answers, you understand. We talked about how life doesn’t always (or perhaps EVER?) turn out the way we plan. But I’ve decided that even so, life is still fun. Or at least it can be if you let it.
One evening this week, during my nightly exercising ritual, I walked past the tennis courts on campus, and I heard someone yelling my name. A couple of the girls from the office were out playing tennis and invited me in to play. Mind you, I’ve not set foot on a tennis court since junior high, and my skills were questionable at best then. I bravely stepped behind the net and promptly missed more balls than I care to admit to you. But it was fun. Even looking like an idiot, flailing all over the court, missing half the balls and hiding from the other half, it was fun.
Friday night I came home from work and decided to work on my landscaping. Please remember, I live next door to professionals. My work pales in comparison. Some people would say “Just hire them to work on your yard.” Well, first of all, that would cost more money than I think my yard is worth…and secondly, where’s the fun in that? Even though I’m not a personal fan of manual labor, there is (don’t tell my parents I’ve learned this) something to be said for the satisfaction of a job well done. I drove to Home Depot, bought some edger stone, and proceeded to spend the rest of the evening digging holes, lining up the edgers and filling in the gaps with stone. I was caked in mud from head to toe. I don’t even think I ever encountered that much dirt as a kid. I had to completely hose down my arms and hands between every edger stone…and yet I thought to myself this is fun.
Last night some of my friends from high school came over for a game night. I would call it my second annual game night – but the first one was back in March. Guess that’s more than annually. Anyway, I’m typically not a fan of games. At church parties, I’m the one volunteering to sit out any round of catch phrase. Board games stress me out and raise my blood pressure. And sports games…well…I lack the eye/hand coordination. (See previous story about tennis.) But last night the three of us sat at the dining room table for about five hours and played games. I learned all kinds of new games – and really enjoyed them. In fact, at one point, we laughed until we cried. And despite my normal distaste for games, it was fun!
One of the game night guests had unearthed a video that I didn’t even know existed…from our fourth grade year. What a bunch of fashion statements we were! Anyway, it was a Christmas video, in which one other girl from my class and I had the duet for “two teddy bears” in a rewrite of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Most of the time, I stood swinging from side to side with my arms crossed, looking rather bored…which was probably code for embarrassment. At least it should have been.
In the fourth grade, my life plan was to grow up, go to college, be a teacher (or a secretary), get married, and have two kids.
The fourth grade plan didn’t really work out, but that’s okay. I think I forgot to work any sort of fun into the life plan of the fourth grade. What good is it to have a job, a husband, and kids if you don’t have any fun along the way?
I was looking at an old journal this evening – from back in 2004. I was not having fun then. I was stressing about the decision to purchase…or not to purchase…my house. I wrote about Philippians 4:6, which says Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Those were days of great anxiety for me. According to the fourth grade plan, I was going to be married and teaching (or secretary-ing) when the time came to buy a house for the family of four. I wasn’t supposed to have to make that decision by myself, and I was scared to death I’d do the wrong thing.
Much prayer was poured into the house decision and I felt very much at peace that God would provide a way for me to live here if I just trusted Him and followed His instructions as they came. And just a few days later, I signed four billion papers that made the house mine. Being a homeowner has had its anxious moments. Mostly when things break. I’m not handy with broken things. But every time that happens, I just remind God (okay, so I’m really reminding myself…just by talking it out to Him) that we have an agreement. I have chosen to stop stressing (as much as I am able) so that I can enjoy what I have…which is a house. And great friends. And no tennis skills.
That verse works. Still works now. It doesn’t mean that life is without frustration. But if I can look under the frustration…life is fun.
Life is fun. I’ve decided that. I can’t remember who I was talking to the other day…but we were pondering the great questions of life…with no real successful answers, you understand. We talked about how life doesn’t always (or perhaps EVER?) turn out the way we plan. But I’ve decided that even so, life is still fun. Or at least it can be if you let it.
One evening this week, during my nightly exercising ritual, I walked past the tennis courts on campus, and I heard someone yelling my name. A couple of the girls from the office were out playing tennis and invited me in to play. Mind you, I’ve not set foot on a tennis court since junior high, and my skills were questionable at best then. I bravely stepped behind the net and promptly missed more balls than I care to admit to you. But it was fun. Even looking like an idiot, flailing all over the court, missing half the balls and hiding from the other half, it was fun.
Friday night I came home from work and decided to work on my landscaping. Please remember, I live next door to professionals. My work pales in comparison. Some people would say “Just hire them to work on your yard.” Well, first of all, that would cost more money than I think my yard is worth…and secondly, where’s the fun in that? Even though I’m not a personal fan of manual labor, there is (don’t tell my parents I’ve learned this) something to be said for the satisfaction of a job well done. I drove to Home Depot, bought some edger stone, and proceeded to spend the rest of the evening digging holes, lining up the edgers and filling in the gaps with stone. I was caked in mud from head to toe. I don’t even think I ever encountered that much dirt as a kid. I had to completely hose down my arms and hands between every edger stone…and yet I thought to myself this is fun.
Last night some of my friends from high school came over for a game night. I would call it my second annual game night – but the first one was back in March. Guess that’s more than annually. Anyway, I’m typically not a fan of games. At church parties, I’m the one volunteering to sit out any round of catch phrase. Board games stress me out and raise my blood pressure. And sports games…well…I lack the eye/hand coordination. (See previous story about tennis.) But last night the three of us sat at the dining room table for about five hours and played games. I learned all kinds of new games – and really enjoyed them. In fact, at one point, we laughed until we cried. And despite my normal distaste for games, it was fun!
One of the game night guests had unearthed a video that I didn’t even know existed…from our fourth grade year. What a bunch of fashion statements we were! Anyway, it was a Christmas video, in which one other girl from my class and I had the duet for “two teddy bears” in a rewrite of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Most of the time, I stood swinging from side to side with my arms crossed, looking rather bored…which was probably code for embarrassment. At least it should have been.
In the fourth grade, my life plan was to grow up, go to college, be a teacher (or a secretary), get married, and have two kids.
The fourth grade plan didn’t really work out, but that’s okay. I think I forgot to work any sort of fun into the life plan of the fourth grade. What good is it to have a job, a husband, and kids if you don’t have any fun along the way?
I was looking at an old journal this evening – from back in 2004. I was not having fun then. I was stressing about the decision to purchase…or not to purchase…my house. I wrote about Philippians 4:6, which says Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Those were days of great anxiety for me. According to the fourth grade plan, I was going to be married and teaching (or secretary-ing) when the time came to buy a house for the family of four. I wasn’t supposed to have to make that decision by myself, and I was scared to death I’d do the wrong thing.
Much prayer was poured into the house decision and I felt very much at peace that God would provide a way for me to live here if I just trusted Him and followed His instructions as they came. And just a few days later, I signed four billion papers that made the house mine. Being a homeowner has had its anxious moments. Mostly when things break. I’m not handy with broken things. But every time that happens, I just remind God (okay, so I’m really reminding myself…just by talking it out to Him) that we have an agreement. I have chosen to stop stressing (as much as I am able) so that I can enjoy what I have…which is a house. And great friends. And no tennis skills.
That verse works. Still works now. It doesn’t mean that life is without frustration. But if I can look under the frustration…life is fun.
9 comments:
YAY! I had so much fun Saturday, we'll do it again for sure.
on to the post, I won't touch the tennis part because i tried to get you to show me your skills Saturday and you declined.
Your neighbors?? You mean the MPD House??
As for game night it was fun, I still like Dutch Blitz, because I didn't need a green light to go!!! And you're welcome for the 4th grade video
Everyone is going to be so shocked that you've persuaded me to like games. Quite an accomlishment!
I'm willing to look like an idiot playing Dutch Blitz - I'm NOT willing to show you, the pro, my tennis skills...or lack thereof.
NOT those neighbors. The OTHER neighbors.
And as for the games...I liked the one where you needed a green light to go. What was it called again?
Bekah,
Your tennis skills are so much better than mine! I can hit the ball, but then it always flies way over the fence (the outside one that surrounds the courts). I'm no fun to play tennis with at all.
Wonderful post!
Skyepuppy - HITTING the ball. Now there's a concept! I thought you were supposed to cover your head and scream. LOL. Maybe we should play anyway. We'd get the exercise by running in and out of the fence....
I had loads of fun on Saturday!! I love board and card games!! They are so much fun. Yeah Miss Kistler rocked! I am still pretty impressed I thought of that.
You get the prize of the day for that one! It was a super one! LOL.
I never could get a green light!!
I think it was milborne
But because you couldn't get a green light...I stood a chance in the game! It was a good sacrifice you made. Now if you can just teach me to be mean while playing the games...
Next game night, I think you'll be ready for it!
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