Don’t think less of me October 15, 2008

I have something to say that may cause a lot of people to wonder about me.  I hope I don’t lose any friends over this.  Some of you will probably wonder if you can ever take me seriously again.  You probably won’t want my opinion about important issues either.  Then you will probably start to feel sorry for me.  You will think, “I don’t know how I would live if that was me.”  But don’t think this way.  It’s completely normal for me.  In fact, I kind of feel that way about you.  The truth is. . .

I don’t like football.

Believe me, I’ve tried.  In high school I went to just about every game during my senior year as a last ditch effort to learn the rules.  At CSU it was impossible to learn the ins and outs of the game because our football team never won.  I would come to the games to socialize and support my cheerleader roommates.  UConn is definitely more of a basketball school than a football school, and I wouldn’t have had the time anyway.

Every year when fall rolls around, everyone else is charged with anticipation and excitement.  I am filled with dread.  I know that I will have to suffer through countless conversations about games, plays, players, coaches and more.  I won’t understand any of it, and no one will want to do anything else.  I will just have to wait patiently for the season to end.  In the mean time, if anyone wants to do something besides talk about football, give me a call.

Under Attack October 2, 2008

Have you ever felt that something is out to get you?  I feel like there is something out to get me this week, and his name is Satan.  He’s mean!  Last night I was missing half my volunteers for Night Lights.  I was also missing a third of the kids.  The ones that did come were crazy.  I felt so defeated this morning as I walked to work (this time with proper footwear).  I just started praying up a hedge of protection around me, the staff of Pointe North, the KidsPointe/Night Lights volunteers, the future volunteers and the children.  I prayed that everyone would have the full armor of God on all day and tomorrow and every day through Sunday.  I did not want to take any chances.  Last night we still had kids memorizing scripture and having a good time at church, so I’m sure Satan didn’t like that.  I’ve got one thing to say to that – Get behind me, man!  Get outta my face!  I felt a lot better today, and I actually came up with some fun ideas.  Please pray for me this Sunday because I will be a little short-handed, and it’s a First Sunday, so it’s going to be busy.  If you feel like being a servant fo’ the Lawd, you can come to KidsPointe and help out!  We could use it!

Hello, old friend September 23, 2008

So for the first time this season, I stayed home sick yesterday.  I thought that I had done my time.  I was constantly sick for the first eight months of working in children’s ministry.  I chalked it up to that teacher thing – you just stay sick for the first year, but then the immunities are built up and you don’t get sick anymore.  I guess I’m just not there yet, or that theory is bogus.  Either way, I stayed on my couch all day yesterday, sleeping off and on, and I feel a lot better today.  I tried four times to watch Speed Racer, and I still didn’t make it all the way through without nodding off.  Maybe it was a bad movie, or maybe I was just really tired – take it however you wish.

It’s kind of strange to think about, but sometimes I feel a little nostalgic about being sick.  When you’re little and you stay home from school, it’s kind of fun.  Your mom or your grandma takes care of you.  You eat something special for lunch instead of school lunch or bagged lunch.  You watch The Price is Right.  You take the pillow and blanket from your bed and your stuffed animal to the couch, and you stay in your pajamas all day.  You get a day off from homework and chores.

On second thought, maybe I’m still sick.  (Wink, wink.)

My only mistake was the shoes September 18, 2008

In my effort to lose weight without actually changing what I eat, I’ve decided to walk more.  I did a few trial walks on the weekend when I don’t have to worry about the time.  I walked from my house to Wholly Ground, then I walked from my house to Blockbuster and back.  Both of these locations are so close to the church that I knew I could walk to work in about 45 minutes.  I planned to do this earlier in the week a few times, but I kept oversleeping.  This morning I woke up in plenty of time, so I decided to make it happen.

As I prepared my mind for this undertaking, I was also planning out my clothing ensemble for the day.  I never quite got over the desire to wear the outfit that I couldn’t find the shirt for on Tuesday.  I found the shirt and picked out appropriate shoes and jewelry to match.  Everything was going great.

I slipped on my silver strappy high-heeled sandals, and I thought, “Should I wear sneakers and just bring these with me?”  “No, I can make it.  I’m tough,” was my answer to myself.

I quickly planned in my head my route.  It’s pretty much a straight shot, but I wanted to make sure I was safe and cool.  I decided when I would make my crosses and what side of the road would be shadiest.  I noticed buildings I had never paid attention to when I’m in my car.  I waved at a family that was walking on the other side of the street.

About halfway to work I realized that the shoe choice was a big mistake.  When I reached the big intersection of Main Street and Highway 52, I could feel the liquid squishing inside the blisters forming on the bottoms of my feet.  As I approached the far end of the church parking lot, a gold-toothed man on a motorcycle asked what a beautiful woman like me was doing walking this morning.  I said, “I’m going to work, and I work at a church.”  That was enough for him, and he drove away.  I was thankful because if he had offered, I might have taken a ride from him, and my life might have gone in a whole new direction.

Next time I will wear the sneakers.

Does this shirt make me look grumpy? September 16, 2008

Have you ever just been in an unexplainably bad mood?  I am right now.  I am irritated with myself in every way.  I think the only thing that’s good about it is that when I’m in a bad mood, I know it.  I know it’s not anyone’s fault, I know that I should not take anything personally until the funk has passed.  I warn everyone around me so they know that I might snap at any moment.  It’s 10:20 in the morning, and here’s what has annoyed me so far.

• I woke up at 4:30am and couldn’t get back to sleep until 5:30am.
• When my alarm started going off at 7:00am, I must have done something to it because I was still in my bed at 8:40am.
• I had planned to walk to work this morning, but I slept too late and didn’t have time.
• I haven’t lost any weight since the beginning of the weight loss contest, mostly because I eat whatever I want and don’t exercise.
• I couldn’t find the shirt I wanted to wear because my laundry is EVERYWHERE.
• My desk is a mess.  It is covered with papers and junk.
• I was excited to find out that there is a Third Day concert in Savannah, GA on Nov. 14.  When I tried to buy tickets, the website informed me that they are only available for pre-buy if you have some password from somewhere.  So I have to wait until Friday and hope there are still some good seats available.

Update:  I came back from lunch to discover that the UPS package I refused yesterday is actually the one I needed to keep, so the stuff I need for tomorrow night may or may not get here in time.  So the funk continues. . .

New week September 15, 2008

Last week was very busy.  Maybe my busiest week since I started working here.  And that includes Christmas.  First of all, it was a new series changeover week for KidsPointe, which is more and more work each time we do it.  We keep challenging ourselves and get more and more creative, so that is a good thing.  This time the new series is called “To the Depths,” and it is set on a submarine.  We had a great team of volunteers to help us out, but we were still working well into the evening several times this week.

We also started our midweek program “Night Lights.”  We had 35 kids there, so we had a good turnout.  I think even the most rambunctious kids were entertained.  They were literally moving around and doing something different every 10 minutes.  After 2 hours my head was spinning.  Some of the volunteers are just getting back into children’s ministry, and some have never done it before, so it was a learning experience for everyone.  I’m just glad we can offer something worthwhile for the kids to go to so parents can have the opportunity to go to a class or get involved with a small group.  No more excuses!

Now I can take a breath and gear up for this week.

That’s just the way the cookie crumbles September 3, 2008

So I began the Pointe North Weight Loss Challenge this week, and I have already fallen.  Molly M. brought in a delicious treat, so I had to eat some.  Don’t judge me yet – let me tell you what she brought.  She made those Ritz cracker peanut butter sandwich dipped in chocolate things.  They are so good!  Why do I have the willpower of a something that doesn’t have any willpower?  I’m determined to get back on track.  There’s money on the line, people!  Don’t get too encouraged, all you other Challengers.  I will succeed!

The Challenge August 28, 2008

It seems that not a day goes by that someone around here doesn’t talk about their weight, needing to lose weight, needing to be healthier, clothes not fitting right, or something like that.  Sometimes I am that person.  I’ve had many conversations, too many to count, about actually doing something about it.  We’ll hold each other accountable, we’ll encourage each other, we’ll karate-chop each other’s hand off if we see you reaching for a cookie or french fry.  However, it doesn’t work.  By the end of the week, we’ve all cheated and we’re all getting an All-Star breakfast for lunch at Waffle House.  Accountability is not enough motivation anymore.  This time the stakes are higher.

Now there’s money on the line.  The competition starts on Monday.  The entrance fee is $50.  For the next three months (Sept. – Nov.), whoever decides to join in will compete to lose the greatest percentage of their original weight.  The winner will get all the money.  So if you want in, weigh yourself on Monday.  You keep track of your own weight, so be honest.  Are you in?

Stuff Christians Like August 19, 2008

You need to check this out.  I read it every day.  Most of the time it is super funny, but today it had some really thought-provoking words to say about accountability.  I won’t rehash it because I couldn’t say it any better.

Things that go “pop” in the night August 18, 2008

The tens of you that read this blog already know this, I’m sure. I’m not good at the inspirational, life-lesson type stuff. I like to share stories of really mundane things that happen to me. I try to put a fascinating spin on them so they are way more entertaining. It’s fun for me.

Last night I could not fall asleep until about 1am. (olympics) At 4am I woke up to something that sounded like a slow drip hitting my pillow. I turned the light on to check things out. I heard the sound again. There was nothing on my ceiling. Thirty seconds later I heard it again, still hitting the pillow. There is an electrical outlet behind my bed, so I got close to it to see if that was the source. I heard the pop again, but I didn’t see anything. I moved the pillow out of the way so I could get closer and waited. The next pop did not come from the same place. The pop was coming from my pillow!

I quickly threw the pillow onto the floor. I just knew there was a bug in there. You see, the deal with me and bugs is this. I DO NOT LIKE THEM. I started running scenarios in my head. If I removed the pillow and found a roach in my pillowcase, I would completely freak out from the thought of a roach crawling near my head while I was asleep. I would have to go to the emergency room, then come home and burn my sheets, my pillows, and possibly my hair. Then I would probably have to go to the emergency room again. I was tempted to just leave the pillow on the floor and go back to sleep hoping that the popping thing would go away.

Then I started thinking about the fact that if I left it there, the thing would still be alive. For a long time, I just watched the pillow for any sign of movement. I needed to get the specs on this creature. I still heard the popping, but I saw nothing. I grabbed my trusty can of Raid. There was only one thing left to do.

I grabbed the closed end of the pillowcase and started shaking. I like really thick, really firm pillows, so it took about ten minutes for the pillow to shimmy its way out of there. As soon as it flopped out, I dropped everything, ready to spray. I saw nothing. I bravely reached down and flung the pillowcase and pillow away from the scene.

I was very pleased to discover that the source of the popping was not a roach. It was one of those little beetle-type things. The kind that you grab with a tissue and crunch, but then they are still alive. My dad always called them “popping bugs.” Now I know why.

I hope “popping bugs” like Raid.