April: Done

This has been a CRAZY busy month. Hard for me to believe it started with Easter. That seems like forever ago! Nevertheless...it was this month! And 600 or so pictures later...here's what I did!

In the land of Easter celebration, I went to see the Marion Easter Pageant, and I spent Good Friday afternoon with Amber, soaking up spring and coloring Easter eggs. (We embraced our inner preschooler.) And on Easter Sunday, Mom threw an Easter egg hunt just for me!

Purchased a new computer - which was initially NOT in the near-future plans, but it's so funny what a dead computer will do to your near-future plans.

Re-entered the world of dessert after Lent, trying to be as gentle as possible and not eat all dessert in sight. Not going to lie though - thoroughly enjoyed the Ivanhoe's strawberry shortcake I had when I got back in the game!

Went to 2 kids' birthday parties. April was a very popular month for my friends to have babies, it seems! Had to miss a third because of work. :( One of the parties...was at a fire station. That was a new and fun experience!

Went to hear Ken Davis' comedy in Fort Wayne with my friend Ronda. Really fun to just sit and laugh my head off for an entire night!

Shared some devos at a church service and really enjoyed it. (I actually prayed before it started that I wouldn't be so nervous that I entirely hated the experience...and I didn't!)

Worked the Women's Expo in Fort Wayne - with Miss Lynne. We got to meet a bunch of sweet ladies and make some new friends! Fun day!

Played photographer for Jim Barron's illusion show at the start of Daddy/Daughter Date night. I love taking pictures, but I was nervous I'd totally mess up when being brought IN for just such an occasion!!

Worked the Newsboys concert and had a TOTAL blast meeting them and spending the evening with my friend, Miss Jaye. (And that was my first solo emcee event!)

My house was shown three times - which is more than it had been in several months before combined! Showings are great...still praying for a sale!

Got the chance to see Brent Vernon in concert and have breakfast with him too...great weekend of catching up with my friend!

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday was the Newsboys Concert! You already read about that, but it was such a fun day. I was exhausted from having worked all day Saturday as well, but it was totally worth it to be able to have the experience I did - and to be able to share it with my friend, Jaye!

* Monday morning I ran around the house cleaning like a mad woman because the house was shown again that day. Then on my way to work, I found out we were getting this treat! I was, as you might imagine, thrilled. They wanted to thank us for our hard work over the weekend!

Then I came home and did n.o.t.h.i.n.g. all night. Because I could.

* Tuesday evening, Faith came over for a little minute so Hannah could get her birthday present. And would you believe, there in the presence of two hard-core scrappers, NO ONE took a picture of that event??? I'm embarrassed of both of us. Hannah's party was this past Saturday but I had to miss it because of the Women's Expo. So, if you would...imagine a photo of a cute kid holding two Lalaloopsys.

* Wednesday night I worked on getting the house ready to be shown on Friday. One good thing about all these showings is that it really doesn't get all that dirty between them...but I have to keep the dishes and laundry and clutter caught up! And I did that....right after my nap with this cutie.

* Thursday night I hunkered down in the kitchen to make this bit of scrumptiousness...to take to work on Friday in honor of it being a year since I submitted my resume for my job! (I considered that an event worthy of celebration. Guess the co-workers can tell you if they feel similar warm fuzzies. HA!)

* Friday night I got to see Brent in concert! If you missed that story...scroll down and read yesterday's post. SUCH fun. I interviewed Brent on Mid-Morning earlier this month but I've not seen him in person for a couple of years, so it was REALLY good to see him!

* Saturday morning Brent and I had breakfast and caught up on life. That was so fun...usually we chat on the fly after a concert or in Facebook comments, so it was good to just sit down and talk. (And drink a LOT of coffee.) It was a cold and rainy day here yesterday, so I spent the rest of the day just hanging out at home...candles burning and fireplace running.

One Thousand Gifts: The other night, during a conversation with a friend of mine, I knew I was experiencing that whole "hand of discipline" from the Lord. It HURT. Not going to lie. But whenever that happens, I always find myself very grateful that He finds me worth working on. That's a gift.

Pinterest Inspiration: Did you catch that peanut butter/chocolate scrumptiousness above??  Came from right here!

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Rebekah on Pinterest

Brent!

I didn't have to work this weekend...so you know what I did? Went to a concert! HA!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I told you I had the chance to interview my friend Brent Vernon during Mid-Morning? Brent is from Florida, but he travels all over, singing in churches and schools and other venues...and this week HE'S IN INDIANA! That's pretty rare, so I've been very excited to see him. I think the last time I saw him was the fall before I met Isaac. So I was 50 pounds fatter and he had a beard. Times have changed.

He was at a little church about an hour and a half north of my house, so I drove over after work and settled in to enjoy his music.

I absolutely adore his music. As I have said before and said in the interview, he writes what I would say if I could be concise enough to write lyrics. And he has the most humble heart. I loved watching the others at the concert worship and enjoy the evening!

He has many talents...singing...playing...and he's written some children's books too about Audrey Amaka, the neckless giraffe. :) Brent, incidentally, wrote the song I used at my baptism last summer. Just some free trivia for you.

He's also a ventriloquist. And Sam the "ventriloquist figure" made an appearance. He CRACKS me up. I'm a HUGE Sam fan. I even bought a Sam t-shirt. True story. (It says "You're no dummy." Get it?)

Such a fun evening - even though the only person in the whole room I knew...was Brent! I insisted upon a new picture, sans beard (for him) and 50 pounds (for me).

After the concert, I hung around for a bit to help him tear down and pack up...which is something I'm now really good at since it's part of what I do at work! Came in handy! (Though I was admittedly nervous about carrying packed tubs in my wooden shoe clones. I almost broke my neck in them earlier in the day just walking across a parking lot.)

If you ever get a chance to hear him in concert (or buy his books or CD's) - DO IT!!

Dream a Little Dream

Let's talk about houses. Wanna?

I would like to say that my Fort Wayne realtor is THE most amazing and patient person I've ever met. She has (without complaining...at least to my face...no I really don't think she's complained at all) taken me ALL over Fort Wayne, because I have no idea where I want to land. We've looked at 2 story houses and ranch houses and condos and old houses and new houses and slab houses and basement houses...and she still answers my emails with a subject line of "Can we go house hunting?" We've looked in all parts of the city and on its edges.

Patience. Of. Job.

I don't have a huge list of non-negotiables in a house. Actually I only have one. There is only one thing that will make me walk away from a house: lack of dishwasher. I must have a dishwasher. When I hunt online, it's the first thing I look for and if it's not there: reject!

But when you're looking to move...you might as well dream a little...right???

So. Here are my wow that sure would be nice to have items:

* Attached garage.
* 2 car garage. (A double edged sword. Nice for storage...but would I become a hoarder?)
* Central air.
* Flat surface stove. (Not that I ever lose morsels of food down into the coils and have to fish for them...)
* Bathtub conducive to soaking.
* Minimal yard. (AKA no yard to speak of. That's almost impossible to find.)
* Laundry that's not in the middle of my bathroom space.
* Basement (it appeals more to me during tornado season)
* Pantry

Not too demanding, I don't think.

Wherever my house is up there...I know I'm going to fall in love with it. The new Bekahland. It's going to be so much fun. (And then I'm going to owe Abby the Realtor a big thank you dinner!)

Did I forget any dreams I should dream for a house? Tell me if I did!!

5 Hidden Crosses

Tis the month for anniversaries, I guess. And today I talk about another one. Do you remember this story of mistaken identity? Even if you're not from the middle of Indiana, you probably heard about it; it was plastered on the national news for quite a while.

Today is the anniversary of the accident.

I think about that accident every single day, because the people in that van were riding the exact path I take when I come home from work.

WBCL sits on the campus Taylor once operated in Fort Wayne. The van was traveling down the same interstate I drive. And the accident happened within view of the exit I take every night.

I couldn't find it online to show you, but somewhere in the media coverage, I saw a picture of the accident scene, and in the not too distant background was the brightly lit sign for the gas prices at the truck stop...and McDonald's. Every night when I round the bend and that sign comes into view, I think of the accident and how life stopped entirely for five...and changed forever for many more.

And then I look for the crosses. There were five white crosses placed near the fence along the road and I used to see them easily from behind the wheel. Either they've been taken down or they're overgrown by weeds, because I can't find them now. And I've searched. And still look every day.

Why?

Because while I knew no one in that accident, the story had a profound impact on my life. I read the book Mistaken Identity in one day flat and I soaked up every TV interview the families gave...with Matt Lauer...with Oprah...all of them. And in every interview, I saw nothing but amazing grace and unabashed peace. I've known Jesus personally since I was six and I was still blown away by the way He radiated from them in those interviews.

You think I have drama? They had drama. Drama beyond drama. And yet they never moved their focus off the Lord. They went through all the hurt and stages of grief. They weren't super-people. They didn't get to avoid all that. But in all that, they offered prayers of trust and thanks and praise.

Astounding.

I don't know that I could have had that much spiritual poise. But I do know I learned from it and I don't want to forget it.

So I look for the crosses. I see the lights of the sign...I look for the crosses...and I realize that path is no more guaranteed for me than it was for the Taylor van that night.

But if that kind of adversity comes my way, I hope someone else would see a girl as focused on God as those families were.

One Year Later

Sunday evening, as I sat in my little seat at the Honeywell Center, watching the Newsboys do their thing, one of those moments came over me. One of those moments when I thought...is this really my life? Did I just stand on that stage and NOT pass out while talking to a whole lotta people? Am I really part of the station?

It was one year ago today that I came home from church, exhausted out of my mind, went straight to bed without passing go or collecting $200 (come to think of it, I never collect $200 in this house!), and happened upon a little email before I fell asleep.

An email from one Jamie Bennett.

An email that changed everything.

I gathered the courage to submit a resume.

To drive to an interview. Then a second.

To say yes to a job in a city an hour away, not knowing how I could handle a 2 hour commute each day. Not knowing anyone in said city.  Not knowing how to get around. Not knowing where I should live or go to church. Not even knowing if I had what it would take to do the job and do it well.

Some of those things remain a mystery to me. And I believe, in time, they'll unfold. (And yes, I'd dearly love it to be time!)

But the night of the email...a year ago tonight...I remember feeling nothing but a surge of hope. For years, I'd been praying for God to let me move away from the calculator and into something that actually made a Kingdom difference. And even though, as my eyes skimmed the details of the email, it seemed a logistical nightmare, I felt hope.

I reminded myself of that last night as I geared up to clean the house (again) for another house showing. He brings hope when I need hope. He brings answers when I need answers. And in it all, He writes a spectacular story.

Newsboys!!

Sunday night I had a first in this new career of mine: worked an event by myself! The Newsboys were in concert at the Honeywell Center in Wabash, which is about a half hour from my house, so I was assigned to work that concert! Since I was working alone, I got to take a friend...and I asked my good buddy Jaye if she wanted to go with me! (Her husband, Brian, was the one who baptized me last summer.) So she got a t-shirt and a volunteer lanyard and the whole nine yards! (And then she had to help me set up the table. Work work work.)

My little table felt kind of naked! The station worked five events this weekend, so we had to share all the table stuff.

So we set up the table and then had dinner at the restaurant attached to the center (which I could have enjoyed SO much more if I hadn't been so blessed nervous about being on stage later!) and THEN...we got to attend the Meet and Greet! The Newsboys handed out bags to all the Meet and Greet attendees, so I got an 8x10 of them and their new CD and...drumroll please...MY OWN LANYARD!!! (Seriously. I'm obsessed with lanyards. I don't know why.)

The group came in (with their own Sharpies, which apparently cost someone in the room five bucks...little bet gone bad) and spent some time answering questions for us. (We might have qualified as their worst group ever. Everyone was too shy to ask questions!)

So they sang. We heard an acoustic version of The King is Coming. (NOT the Gaither song. Just to clarify.)

And THEN...we got to meet and greet. I handed the guy in charge  my camera and he noticed my nametag and told the group we were from the radio station. Michael Tait (who is their lead singer and the one standing next to me in the picture below) was really sweet and talked to us for a while!

After that, it was time to head backstage! I had to make announcements for the station and was SO NERVOUS! In case you're not sure why - THIS was what I looked out upon (picture from the Honeywell site). Yeah. That's a lotta seats.

But I did it! Made it through the announcements without shaking visibly, losing my dinner, tripping over a cord, or saying an inappropriate word.

Then the concert began! At the beginning they reminded me of the band from the movie That Thing You Do - I think because the drummer had on sunglasses. And they had matching suits.

It was a high energy, high volume concert!!

Incredible light show. I about went blind a couple of times. :)

They did several worship songs and it was so neat to see everyone participating. (After the show, the cop on duty stopped by our table and said, "Wow. That was amazing." Love it when God shows up for the ones who are there just to work!)

Michael Tait. (My new buddy.) Okay so he doesn't remember me. But let me live in my delusion.

Toward the end, the stage holding Duncan the drummer started elevating and then....tilting!

And I mean TILTING!!!!!

And then it just became a tilt-a-whirl for drums. Around and around and around....

Really fast. And all the while...he kept the beat! Amazing. And now I know why I was not offered THAT job.

A great concert...long one but a great one. And at the end, they sang my current favorite of theirs. If you've not heard it, check it out. God's Not Dead!

Working the Expo

This past weekend, there was a Women's Expo at the Coliseum in Fort Wayne. Kind of the same format as the Home and Garden show I worked earlier this year, but on a much smaller scale! (And the booths were more varied in what they sold.) Anyway, here was our booth. It was like a tiny, homey living room. In fact, before the thing even started, a boy who wasn't over 10 came by and said, "You have the coolest booth in the whole room!" That's a pretty high compliment!

Lynne and I worked the whole day Saturday and we got to meet a whole bunch of Mid-Morning listeners, and also a whole bunch of women who didn't know anything about our show! We invited them in to sign up for a Cinda B purse and a spa pack.

Here's Miss Lynne kicked back with her water bottle.

Right. Like you would expect to see me with a water bottle. I had learned (several years ago, the hard way) that you don't take your own beverages into the Coliseum if you want to keep them! So I had waited (always a bad idea) to get coffee until I got there. I wandered up to the sole concession stand at 9:30 and said, "Do you guys open at 10?" The lady behind the counter said, "What do you need?" Coffee. I must have looked desperate enough. She served me on the spot. I was beyond grateful.

It was shortly after getting coffee that I realized I didn't wear any earrings. Woops. I'm one of those firm believers that if you punch holes in your head, you should always have something in them. FORTUNATELY the booth right next to ours sold jewelry. And get this - everything was five bucks. Now that is my kind of budget! So I went over and bought a pair. They were a smidge large. Just a smidge.

For the most part, we didn't leave our booth, but I do have one funny story for you from the end of the day. The last hour was really slow, because no new people were coming in, so Lynne went a few booths down to check out this cosmetic place. They did lipstick and she wanted to try it. While she was gone, a vendor from a couple rows over (named Dave) came over to our booth and he and I started talking. When Lynne came back, I looked up and HELLO LIPS!!! WOW. They were super bright. (Actually they were whatever word goes a little past super.)

Dave said he'd pay me $4.25 (all he had in his pocket) if I'd do the same color. Lynne said she had $5 she'd add to it. So I could make almost $10 bucks for trying on HELLO lipstick. So I said yes...and Dave walked DOWN to the booth and retrieved the lady, the mirror, and the coral lipstick paraphernalia and brought everything to me. I tried it on and oh.my.goodness. Well, just have a look-see:

It's really even brighter than that. And here's the kicker. It doesn't come off. Like ever. And to think I planned to "blend in" at Daddy/Daughter date night two hours later...

...oh the things I will do for $9.25 (which I ended up not even taking because it felt wrong).

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday I spent the whole day at church, helping with a special service we had in the afternoon. I'd been asked to share a devotion with the group, and I shared what I posted this week about the bleeding hearts. I was SO NERVOUS. I've determined whoever created the pulpit, did so because it hides a wealth of shaking. I love that person and would like to thank him or her with a giant hug. :) Anyway, it was a great service - very worship filled.

* Monday was, as you've already read, the two-year anniversary of Isaac's disappearance into the wilderness. I went to bed that night in tears - just processing that - and one of my friends and I were having a text conversation about something completely random. Out of the blue, he said he understood I hurt and that God wanted to heal my heart. He had no idea about the significance of that day or that I was crying in that moment. Goose. Bumps.

* Tuesday evening I had one of my favorite times of the week: phone call and Beth Moore study with Olivia. I love brewing a pot of coffee and imagining she's really right here like she used to be for our studies. So thankful we've kept up our chats even though she lives hundreds of miles away.
* Wednesday I had lunch with the morning guys at work. They. Are. Funny. They introduced me to a Chinese buffet in Fort Wayne. It was fabulous. Anytime I can have some quality time with crab rangoon, I'm a pretty happy girl.

Pretty sure I got flirted with just a tiny bit while I was out exercising that night. When you're gasping for air, sporting questionably mismatched attire, and limping along somewhat unattractively and someone still looks twice, it's a good day.

* Thought I'd give you a glimpse of what a pack mule I am at work! I got ready to leave on Thursday and this was what I had to haul out to my car:

I had mow my yard that night, and you KNOW how I love that. Where I went wrong was walking 4 1/2 miles FIRST...and then doing an hour of yardwork. (I did the trimming and everything. It was hard core.) By the time I was done, I pretty much walked like an 82 year old.

* Friday was ex.haus.ting. (In a good and productive sort of way.) I was on the air with Miss Lynne for our One Thousand Gifts update, and then I spent the afternoon "helping" set up our booth at the Coliseum for the Women's Expo. I say "helping" because in that time, I managed to lose control of a massive loaded cart, break a glass globe, and were it not for my dear friend Marsha watching out for the overgrown toddler named Bekah, I would have also fallen off a chair and broken my head. Good grief. Spent the night at Lynne's house: check out our dinner! (I eat so much better at her house.)

* Saturday was a long but fun day. Lynne and I worked the Women's Expo all day long and it was much fun. More about that later.

Then the minute I was done working that, I changed into my "semi-formal" wear and headed to another station event (that I wasn't working) - Daddy/Daughter Date night, so I could take pictures of Jim's illusion show. It was still in full swing when I left!

One Thousand Gifts. One day this week, when I needed an attitude adjustment, I went to a park near the station, sat in the sun and ate my lunch while looking at the pretty trees and flowers. I don't normally leave the station at lunch, so it was just a nice little break and helped me regroup. I appreciated that!

Pinterest Inspiration. Yesterday's blog post was inspired by this pin:

Source: cookingwiths.blogspot.com via Rebekah on Pinterest

Duly Reminded

I found a quote on Pinterest the other day that really got me. It's a Louie Giglio quote and it says, "God's plans for your life far exceed the circumstances of your day."
Oh how hard it is to look past the circumstances of my day, though! Please tell me you are with me in that boat!
Let me tell you this little story from this week that reminded me of it...
You know how I'm waiting (and waiting and waiting) for my house to sell? I try to be SO patient with God's timing on that because I know He has a bigger picture than I can see. (AKA - His plans for my life exceed the circumstances of my day.)
But the other night I had, as the secretary in Financial Aid used to say, "reached my saturation point." I was just flat out annoyed at gas prices and commutes and lack of house sales in my world. As respectfully as I could, I told Him I needed SOMETHING. A sign of SOMETHING.
The next day at work, I sat at my desk, trying not to think about the price of gas and the fact that an hour's drive separated me from an afternoon nap. As I mulled these thoughts, one of my work buds came in to go over some details with me about an event I'm working soon. Her last comment was "Don't forget to turn in mileage."
Say what?
Definitely didn't know to do that.
And less than 10 minutes after she left my office, my phone rang. Could the realtor show my house on Monday?
Thank you, God. I know it's a little mileage and one showing that may or may not be the showing. But it WAS a sign from God that He's listening and He sees what concerns my heart.

His plans exceed my circumstances. No two ways about that. But just the same, I'm thankful He is merciful to the way my circumstances affect my heart.

He is good.

Let's Talk about Exercise, Mmmmmkay?

Okay, people. Today is just a keepin' it real sort of day. You know I work out. And by that, I mean I do some exercise a few times a week for the sheer purpose of lessening the guilt of the chocolate (etc.) I consume. I am NOT (as if you couldn't tell by just looking) some sort of exercise nut. I have nothing against exercise nuts. I just don't have that sort of dedication.

After 2 years of keeping the big chunk of weight loss pretty much under control, I'm more or less happy with my size. But you know how we all have something we hate about ourselves? For me, it's the abs. (Or the fat that occupies the general area that should be sporting abs.)

So I've been working on that lately. Trying some different stuff. But um...yeah that's not going so well.

For starters, this is totally me:(Source)
So the other day, I lugged out the Health magazine I inherited from Lynne. I creased open the page guaranteed to "tone up in no time with this back beautifying series of poses." I present pose #5:
There will be no photo of my attempt at that pose. But let me assure you. It looked more like I'd been bound and gagged in a robbery gone bad. This body does NOT bend that way. I said to myself, "Well, guess you're destined for a life with an ugly back. Turn the page."
This one promised a firm hiney.
I figured it out. It gets firm when you collapse onto it because your arms aren't strong enough to support your entire body weight. It's kind of like a sandwich press for your rear end. Mmmm...sandwich...
So then I switched to the Fitness magazine and the "Flat Abs Fast" article. I do not even know what possessed me to think I could attempt this one:
Anything that works the "rectus abdominis" is something I should avoid. I was doing okay (and by okay, I mean my back leg was horizontal, not all extended like hers) when I realized I was on my tippy-toe, not my flat foot. In trying to rectus abdominis that mistake, I got a cramp in my hamstring. Notice there where it says "Make it Easier?" Let me help you with that. DON'T DO THIS ONE.
But surely I coulde do the "Magic Carpet Ride," don't you think? Yeah you know why it's called that? Because you get rugburn when you fail.
I think I'll go back to sit-ups...inspired by a Cadbury egg dangling from the ceiling just out of reach.

Three Alarm Birthday!!

Last Saturday was my little buddy Liam's birthday party. I'm always excited to go to the parties of my kiddos, but I'll admit to being extra excited about this one because...it was at the fire station.

And you know me...I'm just an overgrown kid!

It was such a cool party. Started out with cake and ice cream before presents. This cake was to. die. for. It had more icing on it than I've ever seen in one place before. I was in chocolate heaven.
I helped corral Mr. James (aka the little brother) when he got fidgety. I was holding him and he asked for a chip. I said, "What do you say?" He immediately shot back, "I'm sorry." LOL!! I said, "No, buddy. What do you say?" He thought for a minute and said, "Excuse me?" Hmmm can you tell his frequent offenses??(I was taking a self portrait of us and one of the firemen felt sorry for me and offered to take our picture instead. So this is the better one.)

After the food and presents, we took a tour of the station, which was pretty cool. I'd never been in a fire station before!

Then we went out by the trucks and Jake the fireman put on all his gear so the kids could see it and know what a firefighter looks like in full gear. A couple were scared of him once he put his mask on, but most of them thought it was pretty cool.
Then they pulled the fire truck outside...so of course that was pretty awe-inspiring for the little kids.

I love this picture. Liam was completely mesmerized by this point and just stood there, holding his dad's hand, taking it all in.

More staring at the big fire truck!! (He got so excited it was more like "Look at the fi-er twuck!" (Or is it Chuck? I can't remember how he says truck when he's being very purposeful about it. Whatever it is - it's cute.)

He took a moment to say cheese for me. I love this kid. He is so not camera shy!

THEN the cool part came. They got to try running the fire hose! Liam wasn't sure about it at first, but Jake the fireman promised him it wouldn't be scary, so he gave it a shot.

This one, on the other hand, had been waiting his turn almost longer than he could stand! He was PUMPED (ha! get it?) to get in there and take his turn!

And THIS little missie...well...she "accidentally" slipped and moved the hose - and y'all, she got me! Camera and all! I wasn't mad that she got me wet (even though it was blessed cold and rainy that day) but I was pretty quick to dry off the camera!

And then he said, "Do any of the aunts and uncles want to try?"

Are you kiddin' me? Sign me UP!!! (And yes, I was the only adult wearing a fire hat.) He told me to hold the hose under my arm, grab the trigger with one hand and steady myself for a kick-back when I pulled back to turn the water on. And he stood behind me and held the hose. (I wanted to think this was much easier than he said it would be...but if he'd not been there, I probably would have fallen over or something. Still - let me live in my delusion that I could do it myself.)

Oh yeah, baby! Bekah the firefighter!! What do you think????

After everyone had a turn (that wanted one) - it was time for a ride in the fire truck. Did I want to go? Um, YES!!! That was fun. And here is my truck-ride self-portrait.

Excuse the hair. I had, after all, been standing in the rain/direct spray of the hose.

And that, my friends, is one fun three-alarm birthday!