My Cat Eats Yogurt

I'm sitting here on my bed, having polished off two chocolate graham crackers and a glass of milk while simultaneously successfully avoiding the utter vulture of a cat that circled my person during the process. Braeya can be in a complete coma in another room, but any attempt to sneak into the kitchen and rustle up a snack also rustles up her taste buds and she wanders in to see what goodness awaits her.

And by wanders, I mean marches straight up to my face and meows loudly in a demand for her own plate.

Was she born in a garage?

Oh wait. Yes she was.

I love to eat yogurt in the morning. (Again, I continue to be amazed by that sentence.) As I make it, I dutifully dig a treat out of her kitty treat jar, and she gobbles it up. And then she jumps into bed with me and cries (loudly) while I eat my yogurt. And the moment I put the empty mug on the bed, she attacks it as though I'd not fed her in six months.

What cat eats yogurt? Ferociously?

And it's not just yogurt. She loves ranch dressing, roast beef, and a variety of soups.

And if you leave any non-warm beverage unattended...guess what? It's hers.

Essentially the only safe thing to walk away from is a cup of coffee.

I'm not sure what disturbs me more...that she eats all that stuff, or that she won't touch the coffee!

I'm not gonna lie though. So hard to be mad at her when you wake up to this:

Live Like That

Saturday I went to my friend Arlene's funeral. I hadn't been to a funeral in years. Viewings, yes. Funeral, no. And this one was a blend of excruciatingly hard and overwhelmingly beautiful.

We sang a lot of songs...because she loved songs. But what I loved most was hearing what people had to say about her life.

I only knew her for about a grand total of four years. Met her when I started attending that church. But you could tell by the people filling the sanctuary and overflow space...and the people who sent messages because they couldn't be there in person...that this had been a life well lived. A life cut short, from the viewpoint of the 200-300 or so of us sitting there...but nonetheless, a life well lived.

Arlene was in her 40's when she got married, but it was obvious she'd spent every moment before that time...and after...pouring all of herself into everyone around her.

I heard from more than one of her nieces that she was the kind of aunt that every girl needs. The aunt that sees the value in a life and says to a girl in her formative years: the person you are is not only okay...she is good. Love her. Be her. She was the aunt you told your secrets to and knew they'd be kept and you wouldn't be judged. She tried to keep you from making mistakes, but if you did, she loved you anyway.

She would make a pot of coffee at midnight and wasn't afraid to start a long and hard conversation at that hour, because she knew you needed to talk.

That was her life. PEOPLE were her life. People of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Broken people, messy people, confused people, happy people...people, people, people.

I didn't stand to share out loud that day, but if I had, my words would have been similar. She's the one who came to me at the beginning of my desert journey and with sincere love, said to me, "I don't know what's wrong, but I know something is. My heart is heavy for you and I'm praying for you." And that was that. It wasn't a subtle way of getting me to bare my soul. If I wanted to talk, I could. But if not, I was still so loved and prayed for, and the lack of details didn't offend her.

And so it was, that Saturday morning, we stood to sing the final hymn and then we walked outside the church, sorely missing our friend. But I walked outside finding myself aching to live like that. To be the kind of girl who loves people until there just isn't an ounce of love left to give.

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday I was pretty pooped...after being gone for two straight days! So I enjoyed a super long afternoon nap, followed by a 5 mile run. FIVE MILES, PEOPLE! I was so proud of myself for finishing five miles in 53.17. For me, that is huge. And to celebrate, I sat straight down and cried.

* Monday evening I drove by this glorious sight...be still my beating heart. One week away from opening, and even CLOSER to my house than it was before. Miracles abound.

* Tuesday was such a hard day...the day our dear, sweet Arlene passed away. Oh how I miss her! That night I just took it easy at home, and I did take a trip down to IWU to get my first apple pie chai. It's one of their fall-only drinks and I've been waiting rather impatiently for it to hit the menu. Worth the wait!! (Sorry about the look. Do remember I'd cried off all my makeup.)

* Wednesday evening, I made a batch of caramel surprise brownies for Lynne's birthday. I was a little late with them but I'd failed to find the caramels! Kinda forgot it was Halloween season and all the candy migrated to the main aisle. Good grief.

* Thursday night was the night I stayed up late to have a little spiritual battle. And by little, I mean exhausting in every possible way. But you know what? I take great comfort in knowing those kinds of moments mean something is going right in life. Satan doesn't fight you when there isn't something to fight.

* Friday evening I helped at the church for my friend Arlene's viewing. Man, that was a hard evening...BUT...one of her nieces used to be a student worker of mine when I worked at IWU, and she was able to make the trip out for the weekend. It was so good to be able to hug her for a while!

* Saturday was Arlene's funeral. Can't remember if I've been to a funeral in the last several years, but hers was quite a beautiful life celebration with lots of singing and tears - but good tears. I'm glad I went. Spent the rest of the day just recovering in my heart from a long and hard week. (That may or may not have included my first trip to our new Hobby Lobby AND my best run EVER. 2 miles in 19.37!!)

Pinterest Inspiration. I'm sad to say I was uninspired this week. Too much going on to even spend the appropriate amount of time on Pinterest! :(

Running and Such

One week, people.

One week from today, I can officially no longer say this:

One week from today is my 10K race. To be really honest with you...I still kind of feel like this:

The training has been going better than expected in some ways. For example:

* I haven't died yet.

* I haven't broken a limb (mine, my running partner's, or a tree's). Yet.

* My walking breaks are a little shorter and more infrequent than they were at the very beginning. (Like when I walked most of it.)

* I've learned to eat and hydrate before runs. But not to hydrate too much because six miles is a long time to have to use the bathroom.

* I've learned to take small hills. (By small, I mean imperceptible to the naked eye.)

* I've learned to work on my breathing.

* I've learned I will run faster when promised a blizzard or a coke. Imagine how fast I could run if I got BOTH!!!

* I've learned I'm AWFULLY hard on myself when I don't have a good time. (A good time, in my book, matches Usain Bolt. You can imagine how far I fall short of this.)

But Jill from my office sent me this the other day, and I hope to focus on this in the final week before the big day:

The Place of War

Sometimes this is a place of war:

Sometimes the hollow spot in the middle of the living room, surrounded by journals, a full laundry basket, and a blanket not warm enough for a cold night is the place you fight your battles.

Sometimes you wake up still wearing a red button-down shirt, jeans, and purple socks you donned to try to keep warm.

Sometimes you're shivering and you don't know if it's from cold, lack of sleep, or the fact that Satan is still hounding you furiously.

Sometimes your face looks swollen in places you didn't even know it could swell and you still feel your chest heaving from trying to breathe through tears that stuck so long you couldn't find breath.

Sometimes you stomp your foot in anger because you're trying to intercede but the prayers won't come out and you feel completely inadequate.

In fact, you feel like a failure.

Sometimes you try to write prayers and they come out as sloppily transcribed bullet points barely legible and even less intelligible the next day.

Sometimes you give up and fall onto the pillow you know won't support you enough and give in to creating a stiff neck as you whisper, "Help me. I can't do this."

And that's when He whispers back Be still, and know that I am God.

And as you crack open old journals, full of scribblings from days gone by, you find accounts of other battles, some fought on the same ground, and you remember you survived that one, and you'll survive this one.

And sometimes you find quotes you scribbled on another day:

Fear will look us in the face and tell us as many lies as our insecurity will buy. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. It's okay to stare. (Bob Goff)

What if your greatest fear, your heaviest burden, has been given to you for such a time as this? (Randy Frazee)

Joy is like wine - it can run the sweetest in the crushing places. (Ann Voskamp)

And sometimes you stand up, fold the blanket, put the pillow back on the couch, close the journals, and face the day, because you have to come to the place of knowing that the battle isn't done, but you can rest in the Arms of the One who already won the war.

Shabby Chic

Lynne told me the other day that she saw her daughter-in-law early in the morning and she was (in Lynne's words) striking. She said she had on cute jeans, little sparkly flip-flops, red toenails, a darling sweater that slid perfectly off one shoulder, hair back in a smooth bun, Hollywood-esque shades donned, oversized bag on one shoulder, and Starbucks in hand.

Oh to be so beautiful first thing in the morning. Oh to step out looking like this:

I told Lynne that the same day her daughter-in-law stepped out in style, I came home from my running partner's house wearing the following ensemble: Running pants with a rather embarrassing hole in the seat, a ratty old t-shirt, a too-big fleece, hair in the sloppiest pony of my life, makeup cried off entirely, and lovely sparkly chandelier earrings. (I'd had those on with my dress up outfit pre-run and wasn't sure how else to get them safely home except to put them back in my ears.) In short, I looked more like this:

Well. Sort of.

The worst part about that wasn't that I abused shabby like Lynne's daughter-in-law rocked chic.

It was that I sort of felt like my father's daughter.

Gulp.

Stopped by their house one Sunday after church and Dad came wandering out wearing plaid pajama pants (rolled up at the cuff), a different plaid button down shirt, tan socks, and brown shoes.

(Note. The man in the photo is not my dad. We know this largely because of the hair. Dad has none of that.) (But you get the idea.)

I about died. "DAD!!!," I said. He looked rather innocently at me and I said, "DAD. Listen. One of these days something is going to happen and the news is going to show up. Do you WANT to be on the front page of the paper IN COLOR in that outfit?"

He shook his head. "Never going to happen."

The next week I sent him the front page of the Fort Wayne newspaper, where the above-the-fold color photo showed a man who got stuck in a tree and had to be removed by emergency personnel.

I said, "See? All it takes is one bad combo on a slow news day and you're in color on the front page. Think about it."

Better to be on the shabby side of chic than bad plaid on the front page, don't you agree?

Not for a Moment

I was sitting at my desk yesterday, alternating between working on show stuff and enjoying Lynne's birthday with her when I got the text.

Don't know if you heard, but Arlene passed away.

I held the phone in my hands and shook my head no, as if in some way, that would change the news.

My response: Are you serious? Even after a second affirmation, I went to Facebook page after Facebook page looking for news that someone else knew, hoping in my heart if no one else did, it might just be a rumor. Then I saw the words from her sister...I will miss you so much. You are beautiful, so beautiful...Your work was completed on earth.

It didn't feel complete to me. It felt so very unfinished.

She should be at church Sunday morning to shake her head when I walk in to Sunday School, followed by a "Look at you...always coordinated...even your purse and nail polish match. I just love you." She should be in her pew during the singing time, praising away right there in my line of vision. At least that's how it goes in my mind.

His Mind is higher than mine.

Last summer, when I was baptized, she and her husband were the only two attending who had actually asked to attend. When she heard what I was planning, she pulled me aside and said, "I don't know if this is okay to ask but I'd love to come to your baptism if you'd let me."

How glad I am that she asked. I treasure this picture.

Yesterday afternoon as I tried to wrap my brain around the news, I searched my mind for our last conversation. It would have been about a month ago, right before her stroke. I could not think of our last talk. I searched harder. I had to remember. What had I said?

Then I remembered. We were in our Experiencing God study, and before Sunday School started, I'd wandered over to her table to talk to her. She said her back and neck were sore, so I started rubbing them. She said I could stay all day if I wanted. So I did stay. I stayed until the class began and I had to go back to my own table.

I settled back into my seat with much relief. Our last moment together was filled with doing something for her that she wanted and she loved. If there has to be a last memory, I'm glad it's that one.

And then I remembered another talk we had just a week or so before that, I'd imagine. Church had ended and she stood behind my pew asking how the house sale was coming along. I rolled my eyes and said, "Well, I still own it!" She gripped the pew and said, "I pray for you and I don't understand why it hasn't sold, but selfishly I'm glad God still has you here with us. He has something special for you. I just know it."

Oh Arlene. He does. I know it too and now you know it from Heaven's viewpoint. How I love that while simultaneously missing you so much. When those answers come to pass, how much I will miss sharing them with you and seeing the joy on your face and feeling the warmth of your hug.

Arlene loved her some life...and now she's loving it to the full and I love that for her, but oh how my heart aches. And through my tears, I hang onto these words.

Being Taught

Sometimes when I need to stay awake while I drive, I drink coffee.

Sometimes I sing.

Singing not only keeps me awake, but everyone within a ten mile radius as well. For the times I drive after ten p.m....my apologies to those fine folks.

Last night I drove home singing duets with David Phelps, and I hit the old hymn It is Well. Love that song. How many thousands of times have I sung it?

Whatever my lot...they can be such difficult things, those lots. Like when my nephew died 24 years ago today. Or when Craig died 16 years ago this past summer. Or when baby Carol died almost 12 years ago. Or when the tornado hit my sister's home five years ago. Or when Isaac left our budding relationship two years ago.

Those days were devastating. The kind of days when you can't find breath. Nevertheless...whatever my lot.

Right now I don't have a big cloud of devastation looming over me (and I'm grateful!!) but I do have a lot. A lot to think through, a lot to embrace as my own, a lot to ponder and wrestle through when Satan's lies threaten to drown out God's truth. That's my lot today. You have yours too...

But here was the part of the song that got me as I drove along, thinking about my lot and how it's teaching me to say it is well....

Therein lies the key. THOU HAST TAUGHT ME TO SAY....

This ability to open my mouth and declare with certainty that it is well with my soul comes at the hand of much teaching. God-breathed teaching.

I'm a student right now. A student learning how to rely on her Abba to answer questions. And just as I struggled a bit to learn in school, I have to admit I struggle a tiny bit to learn now. To learn that He has a bigger plan and picture and He will work everything out for my own good.

Whatever my lot....

...Thou hast taught me to say...

It is well...it is welll with my soul.

A Day at the Apple Festival

Saturday I made my way north to the fine, fine state of Michigan to work the Apple Festival in Coldwater. I can't even remember the last time I was in Michigan!

Sheryl and I worked the festival together, and I had to be at the station in Fort Wayne at 7:15. That would be a.m. I was PETRIFIED I would oversleep, so with only 4 1/2 hours of sleep under my belt, I loaded up the coffee cup and headed north! I made it to the station on time and Sheryl drove the rest of the way. Why is it that I'm only sleepy BEHIND the wheel? As a passenger...wide awake!

Well, hello, Michigan!!

 We set up our tent (with the help of three kind passers-by) in front of a Salvation Army thrift store. The other side of the street was in the sun all day long. We were in the shade all day long. It was only 70 degrees at the highest point of the day, so we were ummmmmm kinda chilly! But that's okay!

 Hello Sheryl!!!!

 The first of four coffees for me that day. I consumed them both to keep warm (my toes were FROZEN!) and to stay awake. Not because the festival was boring, because it definitely wasn't...but because I knew I had to drive home after and I was afraid that would make me sleepy!

 You can't go to a festival and not eat festival food - at least a little!! So here was my treat. A waffle cone filled with warm apple pie filling and graham crackers, topped with whipped cream, a delightful crunchy something or other, and caramel. YUM.

 Our tent was set up directly across from this darling coffee shop/cafe/store. I got my lunch there - lobster bisque (how fancy pants, no?) and a ham sammich. The perk of buying lunch there? I could use their bathroom! It was a lovely warm room with real TP and a candle burning. It was such an improvement over the portapotty option that I made another purchase later just so I could use the bathroom again!

Sheryl and I had a fun day and enjoyed meeting our listener friends!

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday was, as you saw, Savannah's baptism. Despite the frigid water (for them), it was a lovely, sunny beautiful day, and the perfect time for such an occasion! I missed being at my own church but was so glad to spend a Sunday hugging friends I don't normally see!

* Monday, I was emotionally wiped out. Lots going on in my heart these days, and while that "lots" doesn't mean bad, it does mean that sometimes I just need a night to sit and regroup. That was just such a night. I did watch the first part of the season premiere of The Voice.

* Tuesday, of course, was September 11, and this scene struck me as I got in my car after work:

That evening I obeyed the Spirit's promptings and went to a friend's house to do a foot-washing in an act of apology and as a symbol that I'm committed to changing the things I saw myself doing wrong. I cried all the way through it, but the sense of relief, forgiveness, and relief I felt at the end was completely worth it.

* Wednesday evening, I made fajitas for the first time ever in my life. They're not really a pretty food, I've decided, especially when you're eating them and the juice is running down your hands and onto your plate, but MAN are they good?

* Thursday was BLT show number two - also known as the day I cried on air because I read one of my journal excerpts and it got the best of me. Still love this show concept with Miss Lynne! And that night...I made a Better Than Sex cake. I don't name them. I just make them.

* Friday night I was invited to dinner at some friends' house, and I have a confession to make. Are you sitting down? No, really. You need to sit down. I had seconds on the vegetables. I know. GASP. I'm not sure what is wrong with me unless I'm coming down with a rare illness. They were just so PRETTY and GOOD. (What am I saying???)

 * Saturday I worked the Apple Festival in Coldwater, Michigan. More on that later but in another rare what-is-happening-to-me turn of events, Miss Hot Flash actually FROZE the entire day. AAAAHHHHH!!!! Had so much fun, though!

Pinterest Inspiration. I didn't actually finish this one this week because I"m missing the stamper I want to use. But I have the cards, and I LOVE this idea. You make a card for every day of the year, and then you write the year on a line and a highlight from that day. After 10 years, you can see at a glance the highlight of that date on each year. Want to start this come January 1!!

Source: designspongeonline.com via Rebekah on Pinterest

ABC's...dos

And now...the (not so) dramatic conclusion to yesterday's alphabetical randomness.

Nicknames. My sister named me Motor Mouth when I was a kid. I'm sure I have no idea where she got that. And in college, my friends named me Princess.

Overnight hospital stays. When I was five, I was hospitalized for strep throat...that settled in my hip and rendered me unable to walk. I promise I don't make this stuff up.

Pet Peeves. Gum. I hate to see it, smell it, or see it on the side of anyone's plate or cup. I'm getting the heebie jeebies just writing about it so I'm moving on.

Quote from a movie. The movie I quote most often is Liar Liar. Not my proudest ever...but still true.

Right or left handed. Right!

Siblings. I have two. Both are sisters, and both were in high school when I was born! WOOPS!

Time it takes you to get ready. Depends on if I straighten my hair or go curly. Curly - 45 minutes. Straight - at least an hour. Probably more like an hour and fifteen minutes.

Ultimate vacation. A honeymoon. :)

Vegetable you hate. Brussel sprouts.

What makes you run late. Failure to respond to the alarm the first half hour it goes off.

X-rays you've had. Broke my leg in the sixth grade. PAINFUL x-ray. They had to move it around and um....IT WAS BROKEN.

Yummy food that you make. Cinnamon swirl pancakes

Zoo animal. It would have to be the lion that I took such amazing pictures of a couple of years ago. Not ANY lion. THAT lion.

And there you have it! Hope you can win a round of trivia sometime...

ABC's...uno

It's a slow week in blogland. Sorry about that!! So in the absence of more to write about...I'm stealing this ABC fun from the Living Proof Ministries blog! I'll use it today and tomorrow!! Random factoids about yours truly!

Age... Thirty-four. How did I get to be THIRTY-FOUR???? (Don't explain it to me. I actually do know how it happened.)

Bed size... King. Converted to this bed several years ago after deeming a twin bed too depressing. Turns out it takes a king size bed to stash all my books, journals, computer, and of course - Braeya. She does have her own side. And if I inhabit it...I pay.

Chore you hate. RAKING LEAVES. I think there's nothing I hate worse. It's like dusting. You take forever to do it...get it done (finally!) and then BOOM. New leaves already.

Dogs. I once had a chihuahua named Lassie. True story.

Essential way to start your day. Um....COFFEE??? (Was that a necessary question?)

Favorite color. PURPLE!! My bedroom is purple. (Times three shades.)

Gold or silver? Silver ALL the way.

Height. 5'6". More on a good hair day!

Instruments you play. I took piano lessons for 11 years and I couldn't play anything more complicated than John Thompson, Book One, if I sat at a keyboard today. Sad.

Job Title. Mid-Morning producer

Kids. Nope! Just the feline kind.

Live. In Indiana! Lifelong Hoosier!

Mother's Name - Marilyn! (Or Mom. Or if you want her to answer...Mrs. Freelan)

Messes

When Angela lived here, one of our biggest arguments (continual arguments, I mean) was over our Mary/Martha complex. She was Mary. I was Martha.

I tried my best to instill in her the value of a chore well done. Have weekend plans? You don't get to start them until the dusting is finished, the yard is mowed, the groceries are purchased, the bed is made, and the laundry is folded. It's the responsibility of a grown-up, I reasoned. We don't have the luxury, any longer, of flitting about having fun with others when responsibilities remain undone at home.

She disagreed. People before chores, she said. Have the chance to spend time with a friend? Invest in the relationship instead. The dusting and mowing and shopping and laundry will all still be there when you get back.

But what if it rains and you can't mow? What if someone stops by and the house is a mess?

Over the three year period we lived together, guess who started to win the ongoing battle of the M&M complex?

Clue: Wasn't me.

She slowly taught me that people and relationships ARE important and in fact...gasp...more important than dusting. (Because let's face it. Whenever you dust, it will need done again in five minutes.)

I thought of her as I looked around the house tonight:

* A half-finished Pinterest project is haphazardly thrown on the dining room table.

* Tonight's dishes are still on the counter because I haven't gotten around to emptying the dishwasher I ran today.

* I need to mow but it may not happen for just a few more days yet.

* The laundry bag is full...but there's always tomorrow.

And yet, this week I've gotten to spend time with friends. And how I wish I could tell her she's right. That those conversations I've had, the hugs I've swapped, and the investments I made far outweigh a spotless countertop.

Angela, I miss being able to tell you you're right. I hope God lets you know, in some way, the impact you made on my life. And I know now that those moments you spent investing in people were absolutely the right choice. You didn't have a whole life ahead of you. You made the most of the time. You left the mess to love on hurting hearts.

Good choice. I hope I can be like you when I grow up.

Let's Laugh For A Minute, MMMMKAY?

It’s been a while since we had a good laugh here at Bekah’s Bits. I think that’s a direct result of it being a while since I’ve done something so incredibly stupid that it’s made a good blog post. Although I guess there was that run-in with security down at the Women of Faith conference…but I digress.


So yesterday I got an email forward from my mother…that had me in tears laughing because I do some of these things!!!!

Let the record show, I am NOT a germophobe. If you are sick and you enter my presence, I will not chase you out in an eye-burning deluge of Lysol. I will not Clorox wipe the surfaces of the room upon your exit. I will even give you a hug, because everyone who feels sick needs a hug.

But I do admit that a couple of years ago when that whole H1N1 scare came out, I did start carrying hand sanitizer in my purse and I developed a strange aversion to carrying trays at fast food restaurants.

It is in this spirit that I share the items from the email that do apply to me – at least upon occasion.

I can no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't touch any purse for fear it has been placed it on the floor of a public toilet.

I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers. (Not true. I can still eat it. But I do ponder the mutant freak as I eat.)

I no longer buy fuel without taking someone along to watch the car, so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt. (In truth, I worry about this with my own toilet too.)

I can't do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off. (I’m actually not afraid of this but it is my story and I’m sticking to it when it comes to why I cannot garden.)

The email concluded with this:

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor’s ex mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's best friend's beautician!

Of course I don’t believe that, but that’s also the reason I don’t forward emails. It’s a matter of principle. You told me to do it…so therefore I refuse. Same reason I refuse to like or share things on Facebook. If I want to like or share it, I will. Otherwise, NOPE!

Great. Now the next time I boil a cup of water in the microwave, it will blow up in my face, disfiguring me for life. (Another suggestion of the email.) (Why do you think my microwave is on top of my refrigerator?)

Baptism

This past Sunday was a sweet day. I had the chance to attend the baptism of one of my "nieces" - Savannah. Hard to believe this darling young lady is the same tiny baby whose first breath I witnessed (around some tears). She is a special gift...given to parents whose hearts were still healing over the loss of their first baby.

Since she and I don't go to the same church any longer, I don't see her regularly. I sat in the church service Sunday morning, listening as she heard Pastor Brian read the purpose of baptism and without missing one moment of confidence, she answered that she understood and believed what he was saying.

Loved that moment. Loved seeing this girl whose tiny being used to fit in one of my arms...all grown up enough to unabashedly say she loves the Lord. And at the same time, I loved the little girl in her that said to me, "I'm gonna jump!" about two seconds before she leaped into my arms.

And then we made a little field trip a couple of blocks away from the church, where Savannah and Pastor Brian climbed into a (very cold, I understand) swimming pool. (And this would be why I got baptized in July.)



 And she did not exhibit one ounce of nerves about going under the water at the hand of someone else. (That was my greatest fear. Not kidding.)

 And to see the same man who baptized me....baptize her...

...was such a beautiful moment!

 So thankful she's chosen to follow the Lord. He has great things for her life. I know it.

Proud of my girl!

Selah!

Saturday night I had the chance to see Selah in concert. I heart Selah. I've listened to them for years...many, many years now! Love their sound, their blend, and how much they love hymns! (Yep, I'm still a sucker for a good hymn!)

The concert started just a wee bit late, because the two guys got stuck at the airport in Detroit. (Ahhhh, air travel.)

Larry and Jim from our morning show were the emcee's...they always crack me UP!

 Todd Smith...Selah's lead singer, and husband of one of my fave writers, Angie Smith. He has some incredible power to his voice! Love it!

 Amy Perry is the female vocal, and I love her. I was so nervous when Todd's sister, Nicol, left the group because her voice is incredible, and I wasn't sure how they'd replace her. Amy is AMAZING.

 Love their hymn arrangements. Here's a vintage take of Todd singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness."

 One of my newer faves of theirs: "I Turn to You."

 Amy shared some of her personal testimony too...some of her struggles with her self-image and weight. Yep. I sat there and cried my way through THAT.

 If you haven't heard Todd and Angie's story of their daughter and her life and death...check this out.

 Todd's parents were missionaries in Africa, so they did a song in Congolese (is that the right word? All I know is it WASN'T English. He pulled some people out of the audience to help. The lady on the far left actually grew up there and could sing it better than he could, he said.

 Allan Hall is the piano player for Selah, and he also sings on a few songs. He is INCREDIBLY talented!

 Such a great night....so enjoyed the chance to see them live!!

It's the Weekly Recap!

* Last Sunday evening I had dinner at Mi Pueblo, which is (in my opinion) the best Mexican Restaurant in Marion. I could make a whole meal off their chips and salsa. Or just the salsa. And Kristin, in your honor, I had arroz con pollo. (Or con polly, as I first typed. Poor Polly.) I would have taken a picture but I was far too busy EATING.

* Monday I had the day off work, so I labored by running 4 miles in 289347290470293740% humidity. (Roughly.) This was the before photo. There will be no after photo, as I looked like I had jumped in a swimming pool of sweat. SO attractive.

* Tuesday I had a rare evening at home...which makes for lovely rest but very boring (and picture-less) blog news. I spent the evening catching up on chores and cooking. And talking on the phone. (Gasp.)

* Wednesday evening I went to my friend Amy's book signing! She and I have known each other since we were (very small) kids! I'm so proud of her for writing this children's book about living with Huntington's Disease. Both her dad and her grandpa died from it, so she knows it well and I'm proud of her for tackling such a hard topic with such grace!

* Thursday was our first BLT show! Lynne and I had such fun on the air together and we hope everyone else had as much fun listening! (Heaven help us all when she dragged out the topic of shaving legs. My DAD was listening!!! Bet he loved THAT.)

* Friday evening I headed to...are you ready for this? THE LAKE!!!!! :) It was a wee bit rainy but I didn't care. Can I sit and look at the water? Oh yes please!!

*And Saturday night I saw Selah in concert...for the first time in my life! Love them so much. SUCH a good concert. Very, very worshipful!

Pinterest Inspiration. Used my "A Girl Can Dream" board to make a blog post this week!

25 Things...Part B

Before I launch into the continuation of yesterday's post...may I just say a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Mama? Why thank you! I believe I will! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!!!

Okay. Back to the 25 things brought to you by the letter F...

14. Fade - This is what my hair does about 1 week after coloring. And by fade, I mean it goes into a lovely shade of gray/white. I totally empathized with this post by Kelly Stamps earlier this week. THIS IS ME!!!!!

15. Fake - wedding ring! I realize this is a dumb thing to admit to on the blog because DUH...now my secret is out!...but it's true. I have a fake wedding ring. Several years ago I had a small ring of "stalkers." Not serious, go-to-the-cops-over-it kind of stalkers but just creepy (usually married) guys who always found a way to hit on me. HATED IT. So I bought a fake wedding ring and when I knew I would be in places around them, I'd wear it. Know what it did to help the situation? NOTHING. (sigh.)

16. Fall - not the season...but rather off my bike. It's what I did when I was 11 years old and I sported the cutest little pink cast for several weeks after that. Just call me Grace.

17. Fast - I know. You think I'm about to talk about my running, don't you? Well...you're...wrong. :) For several different seasons of my life I fasted on Tuesdays at lunch and spent the time in the little prayer chapel on the IWU campus praying for Mr. Missing. Those were really sweet seasons and I'm so thankful for them. I miss the prayer chapel. There isn't anything like it by my new job.

18. Feisty - is what I'm sometimes accused of being. I have absolutely no idea why. I mean, with my sweet, quiet (okay even I can't type that with a straight face) demeanor...

19. Feline - The resident queen of my castle is actually a feline. I like to think I'm in charge, but who are we KIDDING? This is the drama queen of this house:

20. Friends - church. This is the denomination I belong to. (Not to be confused with "I attend my friend's church" as someone once thought I meant.) Friends is another term for Quaker, but when I say I'm a Quaker, people think my pastor is the Oats dude. Not so much.

21. Flat iron. - My best friend. Remember yesterday? Monica Gellar hair? Sometimes even a good half hour date with the flat iron isn't enough but I call it quits after that much effort. I mean, come on. If it doesn't take by then...forget it.

22. Filter - Something I need to have when stuck in checkout. I will admit things have gotten a lot better since I became the proud owner of a smart phone. I can check Facebook and Twitter (and text) while trapped behind a never ending price check. Thank goodness!

23. Fireworks - I LOVE THEM. The 4th of July is my favorite single-day holiday in the whole year, and fireworks are the main reason why. Oh I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!! They are gorgeous and loud and dramatic...and I love them. (Did I mention how I love them?)

24. Fleece - sheets. My favorite. Not flannel. FLEECE. I am too cheap to run much heat in the winter, so even I, broken thermostat, party of one, am cold in my house in the winter. As a result, I enjoy the comfort of fleece sheets. God bless their inventor.

25. Font - My go-to font at work is called Maiandra. I use it for everything. It has the perfect blend of professional and whimsical.

And there you go. Hope you read well. There will be a quiz. (I'm kidding.) (Maybe.)

25 Things...Part A.

I seem to be stealing a lot of post ideas lately. I'm not sure if this speaks for the interesting topics of the blogs I read or my own inability to come up with blog material, but right now I'm not going to try to figure that out. I'm just going to steal Sarah Forgrave's topic from earlier this week! Well. Sort of. Her post was about 25 favorite things...and she had all of them start with the letter F, in honor of her last name. Mine are not all favorites, but they do all start with the letter F, in honor of my last name! :) So here you go. Randomness, courtesy of the letter F. (I feel like I'm on Sesame Street.)

1. F - The letter. My LEAST favorite letter to write in the cursive alphabet. (Well, that and T because in proper cursive, they're the same letter.) I've always been anxious to change my name so I can kiss that cursive letter GOODBYE.

2. Frankenmuth - Michigan! Have you been there? It's a Christmas town, so as you might imagine, I'm never happier than when surrounded by its goodness. Mark and Lynnette took me there right after Thanksgiving a few years ago and I adored it so much!

3. Floppe - is what the lady at the McDonald's drive thru window called a frappe when I ordered it the other day. So now I call them floppe's. And one day, that is going to get me in a whole lot of embarrassing trouble. (Much like my use of the word skabetti instead of spaghetti. My niece called it skabetti when she was little, so I started saying it too and now I don't know how to say the correct word without concentrated effort.)

4. Farapithia - was the name of the imaginary land I created with my friend Amber...after we read the book Bridge to Terabithia. (Her imaginary land was Carapithia, because her last name started with a C.) I'd forgotten all about Farapithia until Lynne interviewed the author of Bridge to Terabithia a couple of weeks ago. I got to talk to her the day before the interview, and while I told her I loved her book, I was too chicken to admit to the creation of Farapithia.

5. Frizz - is what my hair does (with much gusto) in humidity. You've seen the episodes of Monica Gellar in the Bahamas, right? Yeah. That.

6. Fish. I hate fish. ALL fish. (Although I was very brave the other day and tried some Tilapia and I dearly hate to admit it wasn't as awful as most fish.) Shrimp - yes please. Crab - yes please. Fish - No thank you.

7. Fifty states. Kind of a little secret dream of mine is to one day (you know, like after I'm married and I can turn this into a big long date) visit all 50 states. Not all at one time, of course. But to get to all of them at some point with my husband. My grandparents made it to 49 of the states before they died, and I thought that was pretty cool.

8. Forks. I'm with Vivian in Pretty Woman on this one. (And therein the similarities to her END, thankyouverymuch.) I never know what fork to use. This may be why I so love restaurants with dollar menus. You don't even GET a fork there.

9. Frightened - I don't have nearly as many fears as I used to but since I admitted this one on the air this week, I might as well admit it in print, too. I'm scared of the dark. Yep. It's true.

10. Frogs - are icky. There may or may not have been an incident within the last week where I saw a frog approximately the size of a nickel and nearly had to have CPR. It's that they jump....And I don't want them jumping anywhere near me!!

11. Free stuff - I LOVE!!!! Some of the blogs I read are so good at reporting on free (or nearly there) deals. Love that! Case in point. Last year I scored this vinyl banner for 1 penny plus shipping. I used it at my baptism and LOVED IT.

12. Fact about me - that you may not know...ooooh. Harder than I thought since I pretty much tell you everything...but you might not know this. I don't care to be a mom. I used to think life wasn't complete until I was married and had kids, but my mind has changed over the years. I still really want to get married, but if I never have kids, I'm fine with it. I've watched too many of my friends have kids and live the life of a married single mom and it just doesn't appeal to me. So I'm a-okay without a kiddo to call my own!

13. Fad I wished I could have caved to. Ready to laugh? I wanted nothing more in life (in the sixth grade) than to peg my jeans. Oh my goodness. Did I seriously just write that? It's true! I wanted to. But I wore skirts (per my dad's wishes) until I went to college, so there wasn't much that could be done to fall into the pegged jeans crowd. I felt I'd been cheated. Looking back I see it wasn't that great a loss. :)

To be continued tomorrow...