Jonah

Today, I've been thinking about Jonah. Remember him? Yep, the guy in the Bible that got swallowed by a whale. Even the song has been stuck in my head all day.... "Oh I wonder how it felt to wake up in the belly of the whale? I wonder how it felt to know the mouths of lions had been sealed? I'm just a child, my life is still before me, I just can't wait to see what God has for me, but I know that I will trust Him and I'll wait to see what life will bring for me!" Holy cow... innocent words sung by a 10 year old version of me. But really? I will trust Him and I'll wait... geez... easier said than done most days.

God wanted Jonah to go to Ninavah. For him to talk to the people. But Jonah was scared, and knew he wouldn't know the right things to say. So Jonah told God no a few times (hence the whale).

Personally, I've gotten a little scared lately that I don't know the right things to say (or do) either. And, subsequently, I'm kinda saying...no. I feel the big whale lurking in the dark water. So, today, I thought of Jonah. And I felt a reassurance that if I just obey... He'll give me the words to say.

Because it's never about us. It's always about Him. He is God, and I am not. Simple as that.

campaign for real beauty

I love the new Dove commercials & ads. The ones with normal women with zits and rolls. Still probably only size 14 & 16's, but more closely resembling the women you see in passing these days. And ironically, I stubmled onto the Dove website the other day and watched the most compelling short film... http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com I guarentee it will change the way you look at every billboard and magazine cover from now on. Watch it. Send it to friends.

If you've got young girls in your family or circle of influence... remind them today what real beauty is all about. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that the body images I battle today started when I was 14 or 15, because of myperception of what was beautiful and what I should be ashamed of.

As smart women in the year 2006, shame on us if we don't interrupt the damage that we see girls doing to their self-esteem.

water in the floorboard

My car leaks from somewhere when it rains hard. Maybe the windshield, maybe the airconditioner... I can't seem to find it. It always happens during the night, when we have a hard blowing rain. Much like last night. It was the kind of weather that makes the siding on the house rattle and scares a child. Makes her want to sleep with you. Makes her wet the bed because of the perpetual sound of water dripping in the gutters. Just a bad night all around. Nobody got much sleep, and as a result we're a little groggy and grumpy this morning.

Then, as I emerged into the dreary morning dragging my half asleep child to the car for preschool, I found the puddle in my floorboard. Great. Then, my heart sunk to the bottom of my soul to discover that I'd left my bible laying in the floorboard of the car. It was soaked. I cried heaving tears. My dad bought me that bible for my birthday two years ago, after I gave my life to Christ in Beth's kitchen. He and I had a father-daughter day and went shopping for it and had lunch together. Just like when I was a kid. Now, it's all wet and swollen. The underlined parts are smeared all over the pages, and my notes in the margins are blurred. It makes me sad. But, it's sitting in front of a fan now, and I'm hoping Genisus - Judges didn't suffer too much distruction. I'm sure they endured much worse peril to get to my blog.

Note to self... don't leave anything in your floorboard!

Rainy days and Mondays...

When it comes down to it, I guess there are two types of people in the world. Those who like rainy days - and those who don't. I, always have. Well, except for those rainy days that look a little tornado-ish, or those rainy days that ruin outdoor plans. Ok, so, in general... I like rainy days.

Great for finding the snooze button and enjoying 8 more minutes of sleep. Any idea who decided that the snooze button should grant you 8 extra minutes? That's always struck me as strange.

Great for making a big breakfast and hot coffee. I'm liking mine with carmel syrup in it these days. Just when I think that I've exhausted all the sources for sugar... I find carmel coffee syrup. Thank you oh sugar god in the Kangaroo Mart.

Great for catching up with friends. Sitting on the sofa with a lap blanket and talking on the phone. Everybody has something that they want to share with someone else. And what a hopeless feeling to think that nobody out there cares to listen.

Great for going on a date with your man. I want to go shopping or see a movie with mine. We're busy, co-existing, working, not enjoying much quality time. Life just pushes us around in an opposite orbit sometimes.

So... it's Monday, and it's raining. I've had the carmel coffee, the big breakfast, talked with a girlfriend. I think right about here, I'm going to hit the big perverbial snooze button and go grab 8 minutes of quality snuggle time with my man...

Be somebody's fan!

I met a woman yesterday (she needed a wedding photographer) and after my pitch, she was enthusiastic. She gave me good signals. Today, when she came back with her contract & check, she was still excited to have met me. Genuinely. As I sit here now, still on a little bit of a high from the acceptance, it dawned on me how badly we all need somebody to adore us every once in awhile. It felt great. I kinda let her go on and on.

It's not really that hard to do... make somebody's day that is. Walmart has 50% off flowers right inside the door almost every day. I got two dozen last week for only $4. I split them 4 ways and gave 4 friends a half dozen roses. I guarentee that your child's teacher would appreciate flowers today. Remeber postal mail? Every now and then I get a card in the mail. The kind that somebody licked. www.coolpeoplecare.org still remains on of my favorite websites. It's full of easy ways to be somebody's fan. Pay for the car behind you in the drive through, invite your widow neighbor over for dinner, take a bag of dog food to the pound, leave a thank you note for your mailcarrier, pick up your child early from school and go to chuck e cheese for no reason. Random Acts of Kindess... it makes my day when it happens to me, and it makes me feel more alive when I do it for others.

Stay Encouraged!!!

Ok, so there was this 3-mile walk straight up a mountain for the CCFA Guts & Glory Walk. I survived. Felt encouraged. Decided, I AM READY!! (thanks Amy & Mandy!!) Of course that was just hours after seeing a picture of myself covered in cellulite by the atlantic ocean. I definately have a new 'fat picture'!

That was 9/30/06. Since then, I've gotten out of bed earlier, put on my walking shoes (& clothes) and hit the pavement. Two miles each day. Rearranged my kitchen cabnets to put all the junk food far away from my healthier choices. Prayed, a lot. Diet drinks suddenly taste good, and I hardly notice all the extra water & crystal light I'm drinking. Even double-fiber bread & spray butter. Lightening might strike any moment.

I'm LOVING my time alone in the mornings. It's made my whole day, my outlook on the day, and my time spent with others better. While I'm feeling great mentally... I've gained 3 pounds!! Muscle, I tell myself. Muscle!

So, it hit me as ironic one day last week when the check-out woman in Wal-Mart ended my debit card transaction and handed me my receipt with the phrase... "Stay Encouraged!" Wow. It was heartfelt and genuine like she we were long lost friends. Like we'd just had a long talk over a latte. Was it because she noticed all the high-fiber low-fat items that she scanned, or because we chatted about our daughters and the Backyardigans cartoons. I don't know. But whatever the reason, she left me with the best advice and my newest philosophy on life.... STAY ENCOURAGED!!!!