Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday! Last year on this day, I woke up in Virginia Beach and met the ocean for the first time. This year is a little scaled back compared to that, but I'm still excited about it!

I've already done some celebrating, though, so I thought I'd share that with you.

Last Sunday I celebrated with my family. Mom brought an ice cream cake (YUM!!!) to our Mother's Day lunch. When I got it out of the freezer, I thought it said, "Happy birthday, Sarah."I was trying to figure out who Sarah was and why I had her cake. Turns out I just can't read.
I'm also out of candles, so I had to just pretend.

PRESENTS!! This one was from my sister, Julie. Back when I had the March Pancakes with the Princess (with the Hancock family) I got out my plastic dishes for the kids to use. Savannah said, "My plate is dirty." Of course, it wasn't...but it was so old and scratched up that it looked dirty. So I decided this was the year to replace the summery plastic dishes. I bought super cute blue and green polka dotted ones, and Julie gave me some really cute serving trays to use with them.

And these napkins: "What part of Princess don't you understand?"

Mom and Dad gave me the glasses to match my dishes...and a gift card to Lowe's. :) I have big plans for that thing.

Ohhhh Rachel is going to kill me for posting this picture. She thinks she looks like an 80's workout girl. I don't think so. But anyway. Thursday she came into my office with a present...a book on writing about life. I'm SO excited to read this book because I think it's going to be extremely helpful as I work on my latest project.


And Friday, Miss Marie had these delivered to my office!

I LOVED them. The card said "Birthdays really DO start on Friday even if you are at work." Love that girl! (By the way - I consider work deliveries to be one of life's greatest treasures. So if you ever want to get on my good side REALLY quickly - there's one way to do it.)

I have to share this with you, too. About 10:30 last night, I was grocery shopping, and as I walked past the cupcakes, I thought, Oh...what a great birthday treat that would be. Oh my goodness. My birthday is in just a little over an HOUR! It just didn't feel like a birthday, for no good reason.

But about 11:30, my sweet mentor, Lara, started texting me. And every five minutes for that half hour, she'd count it down with me. I loved it. It started to feel like a real birthday! And here's what she texted me at midnight, which I just adored: Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! It's your birthday! How little did I know how blessed I was on this DAY! Thank you God for Rebekah! Now if that doesn't just start a birthday out with a bang, I don't know what will.

So there you have it! My birthday so far. I can't wait for next week, when I can show you the events of today. I'm so excited about them. :)

My First Book Club Dinner

*Thank you, Blogger, for FINALLY coming back up. I missed you! Today's post is, as a result, very late, but it's here. And if you were the nice person who left me a comment on yesterday's car wash post, can you leave it again? I saw I had one but because of Blogger's issues, I couldn't read it and now it's gone. Sadness. Okay. On to today's business.*

Doesn't it just sound so fun to say you're in a book club?

I'm not in a book club.

But I was invited to speak at one last night! One of the members of the Fairmount Book Club heard me speak at the IWU Staff Council Luncheon back in December, and she emailed me a few weeks ago to see if I'd be willing to speak at the May meeting of the club. Well, of course!

The meeting was held at the Hostess House:
Kind of reminds me of my house! Okay, maybe not. If you're not from around here, you can't possibly appreciate the goodness that is the Hostess House. It's this old historic home where you can have little tea-room-esque lunches. They also host group events in the evenings and will even do wedding receptions and such.

We had a fantastic dinner. Chicken salad (happiness) and fresh fruit and lemon poppyseed bread. Fortunately I didn't get stopped on the way home. I'd have tested positive for opium. :) And carrot cake for dessert. (HEY - serving of vegetables!!)

After dinner, the leader said, "And Rebekah, we'll let you entertain us now." No pressure. :)

I thought I'd begin my entertainment with a little opera. A little Nessun Dorma.
I'm kidding, of course. But it kind of looks like that's what I'm doing, don't you think?

There were 20 ladies in attendance and they were delightful. They paid attention, acted interested, laughed in all the appropriate places, and put me very much at ease.

While my planned talk was supposed to be mostly serious, it's virtually impossible for me to keep it entirely serious. There were many stories to be told...and they seemed to love them all.

Always a flare for the dramatic.

Since I was speaking to lovers of the written word, I spoke about how our lives are stories...and how God delights when we embrace the plan He's written for our days...the good along with the bad.

I'll leave you with a little excerpt of what I said...but before I do that, thank you so much, Fairmount Book Club, for inviting me to spend the evening with you. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and sharing with you.

The words themselves work in us in ways we sometimes can’t understand…but we love the way they transform us.

But what I’m growing to understand more and more…and love…is that we’re all living a story. Each day, we live a new page…and just like the books we are drawn to, our lives are filled with heroes and villains, cliffhangers and resolutions, tears and laughter, questions and answers, heartache and healing, love and hate.

I want to encourage you to love your story as you live it every day. Rejoice in knowing that He has crafted each scene with great care and deepest love. And He is honored when we choose to embrace this life-gift with reckless abandon.

Car Wash Drama

I posted a couple of days ago about my only-Bekah talents, one of which was getting stuck in a car wash.

Twice.

I had a request to elaborate on that story...so I bring you...the elaboration.

The first time, I very clearly remember, happened on a New Year's Day. I don't remember which one. I'd gone shopping in Kokomo with my mom, who mentioned that my car really could use a wash.

So we went to this little car wash behind a gas station. A car was inside when I pulled up, so I maneuvered my tires into the tracks (which is honestly my least favorite part of any car wash experience) and rolled up to the little token/payment machine.

I put in my dollar.

It spit it out.

(Reread the last two sentences about six times.)

I found another dollar...same thing...a few more times.

By this time a truck had pulled in (and by that I mean he was also secured in the tracks) behind me, and I was stuck.

Literally stuck. I couldn't even open my door because of the token machine. Happy New Year!

Mom crawled out her side (Mr. Truck was, I'm sure, at this point regretting his decision to start off the new year with a clean vehicle) and traipsed into the gas station to find out what might be wrong.

Turns out the cash portion of the machine was broken. Apparently they thought they'd posted a sign but maybe it blew away. Maybe? Mom paid for a token, brought it back to the car, crawled back inside...and off we went into the land of clean cars.

Lesson learned on that one. Don't go to a car wash with a long track.

So the next time (which was a good 2 or so years later) I went to a car wash, I again took someone with me...I think it was Dad that time...and went to a little car wash over here by my house.

I pulled up to the automatic wash door, prayed over my dollar bills, and put them in the machine. It gobbled them right up and the light ahead turned green.

That's when I saw them.

Tracks.

My nemesis.

I felt my car jolt into them and the spray began (which is actually my favorite part of a car wash). I rolled slowly through the wash, enjoying every moment, and when I reached the end, the light turned green for me to exit.

I stepped on the gas. The engine revved and I went nowhere.

I checked my gear. Yep, it was in drive!

I pressed the gas again, a little harder this time. Nothing.

It's not possible that this is happening to me again!! I thought.

Just a few short feet in front of me was a wooden privacy fence, and I knew on the other side was someone's back yard.

Super. I'll press on the gas and go flying through the fence and into someone's evening barbecue.

I prayed hard, floored the gas and my car squealed out of the track with a huge jerk. I slammed on the brakes and managed to miss the fence.

And in case you're wondering, Jesus washes my car now. I'm done with automatic washes.

A Post for the Mama

By special request....of my mother...I bring you this post.

As you may or may not remember, I've attended four childbirths in my life. (Same family - four kids.) During childbirth #2 and its accompanying 21 hours of labor, I spent a lot of time staring at a sign in the hospital room. It had a variety of faces drawn on it and below each, the explanation of what said face meant. This was supposed to help us interpret our laboring friend. (Personally I just took my cues from the degree of hand squeezing and the intensity of the crying, but I can see how cartoon faces could be of assistance.)

My Mom has mentioned that I have a variety of facial expressions and wanted me to do a post on the many faces of Bekah. So...in case you aren't sure what they mean, I thought I'd give you a little guide.
1. HELP!!! (Seen most often when touring the south of Florida in my bathing suit without my ID.)

2. Now listen here, Missy!!!!

3. Check THIS out! (Meaning the pen. Come on, people.)

4. Oh look! I've gotten myself in yet another awkward situation so I'll just laugh my way out of it!

5. So close.

6. YUM!!!!!!!

7. Rebel in action. Don't tell.

8. Please don't let me kill anyone.

9. Whew.

10. Watch it, buster.

11. What's my next line????

12. Can I have another one of those brownies??? (That will only be meaningful to you if you remember the story from Jonathan and Austin's open house.)

13. Brrrrrr.

14. Shoveling is for the birds.

15. Are you KIDDING ME????!?!!?!?!?!!!!!!!

16. It's a good little day.

17. Please don't make me go.

18. This is a bad idea.

19. Don't mess with me. I haven't percolated yet.

20. Seriously?

21. Focusing......focusing....

22. Fear.

30 Days of You and Me: Day Nineteen

* I interrupt my post to share a link with you. I don't normally do news story links because...I don't normally read the news! But someone posted this link on Facebook and I thought it was a "good" piece of news, so I wanted to share it. It's about a former IWU student who now teaches music at a struggling, low-income school in Indianapolis. They've been invited to sing at Carnegie and the article is about the massive financial obstacle they face. I remember this student, Spencer. He spent a lot of time in our office talking to our secretary. Great guy. I'm proud to read about the work he's doing, and I think you'll like it too! Okay...back to day 19. *

It's been so busy here in Bekahland that it's been a while since I wrote a 30 days post! Alas, we've hit a slow spot in the happenings of life, so I bring you day nineteen: a talent of mine.

My talents are many. Most of them are not things that will earn me much (okay, any) money nor will I win an award for them. But they are many.

I have a talent for being a giant embarrassment to myself. Say...for instance...when I was shopping in Penney's yesterday and my giant Mary Poppins purse whacked a mannequin as I walked past. I instinctively reached out to steady her and, well, let's just say I grabbed a really inappropriate location. Super. Right there in the main aisle of the store with dozens of shoppers milling about...I felt up a mannequin. And a headless one at that.

I have a talent for saying things that make me want to amputate my own tongue. I don't remember if I blogged this when it happened, but within the last few weeks at work, I got ahead of myself while talking to a parent on the phone at work. I needed to put him on hold while I checked something and this is what came flying out of my mouth: "Hold on just a secs." (Say that out loud for its full effect.) Good grief.

I have a talent for being a complete klutz. A couple of weeks ago I tripped over an ice cube in my kitchen. That's pretty special, Bekah.

I have a talent for finding myself in some interesting predicaments. Like the time I got my car stuck in a car wash. Oh wait. That happened twice.

And then there are my real talents. You know...like writing and scrapbooking...cooking and hospitality...giving backrubs and listening to my friends' stories. The things that make me...me.

So that's me! What about you? Do you share any of my extra special talents? :) Please, oh please if you've tripped over an ice cube, you have to tell me!

Mother's Day

Yesterday was, of course, Mother's Day. I always try to spend the day making it up to my Mom for making her go through labor on that one Mother's Day a few years ago. :)

This year my heart was extra sensitive to how fortunate I am to still have my mother here to talk to - even if we do get cantankerous at times. (Not that this would ever happen.) One of my friends recently lost his mom and hearing his perspective on this day made me realize the importance of valuing what I have so I don't live with regrets later.

I hosted the family meal this year, which consisted of hot chicken salad, dinner rolls, fruit and dip, veggies and dip, and cupcakes. I thought it was very colorful; my high school home ec teacher would be proud.
Cut some fresh lilacs from the yard to pair up with the Mother's Day balloons - and that was about the extent of the decorating.

The orange cupcakes were very springy and Mother's-Dayish, but they weren't the greatest. I preferred the frosting.

My sister Julie drove up to have lunch with us, and my Aunt B came too. And of course, Mom and Dad. I told Dad to take off his coat and stay a while but he said he was cold. Sorry. It's May. I refuse to run the heat.

My Mom HATES having her picture taken. How in the world did she get stuck with a Bekah-razzi daughter then? :) This was her solution. I think she lives next door to Tim Taylor.

Her gift from me: flowers. I bought impatiens because I thought they best described both our personalities. HA!

Aunt B, Julie, and Mom - who was, of course, THRILLED at the opportunity for more photos!

I wanted a picture with Mom, so we ended up taking a whole series of them to try to get a good one. She started with her Wilson impersonation again - and here are my thoughts on that.

My favorite of the FIVE takes:

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Sunday afternoon was Rachel's open house. Notice that I did much better than I did at Jonathan and Austin's open house...took a picture of the cake and the traditional empty diploma frame! She had Mexican food at her open house and it was yummy.
* Monday was the first work day of the new month, so check out the new view:
Monday evening, I decided to dye my hair. (I did this because someone asked me during the day when my next color was scheduled. Not a good sign. LOL!) I decided to do it myself this time, to save money, but when I got to the store, this was the sign under many boxes of hair color:
Seriously? And people will buy the remaining boxes? Just because they're on sale? I bought a different brand. Bought blonde, put it on, went back in the bathroom 25 minutes later, and my head, y'all, was orange. I said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I did NOT do this again!! Fortunately it rinsed out fine. Leave it to me to go orange twice in my lifetime.

* Tuesday night I was so excited for Biggest Loser Makeover Night! I haven't talked much lately about my favorite shows, but I'm still faithful to the Biggest Loser, and my favorite show every season is the makeover show. I sort of felt their victory this time, because as I'd scrolled through some of my own pictures from last year, I could actually see the huge change in my life and I know how much happier I feel now.


* Wednesday was, as you saw, Braeya's birthday...the big FIVE. Apparently turning five is exhausting on a variety of levels:
That was how I found her when I came home from work. (I wasn't kidding when I said this is her house and I just live here.) Wednesday was also my sister's birthday...happy birthday to you!!!! And it was the fourth anniversary of the Greensburg tornado. My brother in law posted some pictures of the town now - looks so good!

* Thursday evening I went to Ivanhoes with Rachel. I'd been craving a strawberry shortcake forever and it finally worked to get one. Oh my word. These are the best shortcakes on the entire planet.
* Friday, IWU hosted a simulcast to the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast held in Atlanta. Three of us from our office were able to go, and I enjoyed it. There were some great speakers (like Dave Ramsey and John Maxwell), and I learned good stuff (including random trivia about climbing Mt. Everest...which I will likely never do). AND I won a Starbucks gift card. I never win door prizes. It was great!

* Saturday was very busy. Among the activities...I went to my friend Llita's book signing! She and I have the same job - and we both write on the side. This year she's published two children's books, and she had a signing here at a store in town, so I went over to check it out. And now I own two new books! Congratulations, Llita!
And then I came home and cooked my fool head off for Mother's Day lunch. I succeeded in preparing a dinner that takes absolutely no day-of preparation, but it sure took a lot of day-before prep!

Books I am Reading: Reading along in Sparkling Gems from the Greek. Re-read another toe-stepping chapter in In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. And sadly did not finish...but made good headway in The Preacher's Bride.

Favorite God Moment of the Whole Week: As the Bible says, no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but looking back, I have to say my favorite God-moment this week was Friday evening. I was out for a walk (hurt my knee, so running's on the back burner at the moment) and spent some time praying about a situation. As I so boldly offered God my perspective, He reminded me that it's pretty arrogant of me to tell Him what I do and don't like about His plan. Didn't love the humbling, but love knowing He's at work.

Update on Last Week's Goals: Every now and then a week brings things you just don't expect. They're not always bad, but they sometimes are a better use of time you'd previously allocated elsewhere. Such was the case for me this week. As a result, I didn't finish Jody's book. And I got one of the two writing goals completed. (It was the bigger of the two and had the closer deadline.

Goals for the Coming Week: I have some big decisions ahead of me, and I'm aware that I need to be spending some serious time in prayer. Since I didn't get last week's goals finished, I'll carry them over to this week. I'll try to finish Jody's book and knock out the other writing goal!