I'm not 5... although sometimes I feel like I am =o)

It was so much easier as a kid. Making friends. We both liked dogs or swinging or maybe our parents were friends or we were the only two kids in out class with only brothers. Making friends was as simple as one common denominator between you and me. I know it wasn't always that easy and I know that there had to be something more to stick it out longer; to become good or even best friends.

How does it work now? Sometimes it seems effortless, like sharing a room with someone when you're on vacation and talking until 3 am (or later) or sitting on the floor of your living room singing Bohemian Rapsody into hairbrushes (I told you, I'm younger thanmy 31 years!) but sometimes... just sometimes... do you ever meet someone and think to yourself, "I want to be friends with them."

I've had that a few times lately, and I'm almost at a loss of how to go about getting to know these people better. I think it would be easier if I was in... I don't know... the same stage of life as these people? If I was married, if they were single. There would be more common denominators, maybe? But what if the only common denominator that you could think of is their love of God, their deep faith along with how much you both like (uuummmmm) cute headbands?

Sure, there's facebook, but as a friend recently blogged about facebook, twitter, technology isn't necessarily real friendship. I think that's why I have given it more and more of a back seat or even trunk location in the car of my life lately. How can you get deep with people and really get to know them across the interwebs? Can I, as an adult, go up to someone and say, "hi! I know we're facebook friends and we see each other at church sometimes... I know you're ________ (married/kids/in school, fill in the blank), but I'd really like to be real life friends with you".

What if I just wanted to see if the limited knowledge (i.e. facebook knowledge) I have of them could turn into something more meaningful."

Would I need to end that with, "I'm not a stalker, I promise"?

Why does this feel so much trickier as a 31 year old?

Wordless Wednesday

A Haiku

The road is empty,
The skies are sunny and clear.
Let's go for a drive.

Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde

Mr Dumby: What a mystery you are!

Lady Plymdale: (looking at him) I wish you were!

Mr. Dumby: I am -- to myself. I am the only person in the world I should like to know thoroughly; but I don't see any chance of it just at present.

__________________________________________

Sometimes I feel dreadfully like Mr. Dumby. I'd love to get to know myself better and just don't always seem to have the time.

I am trying, however...

Plans?

What are your plans for the weekend, blog friends? Anything big and fun? Relaxing? Celebratory?

Today is my beautiful niece C's birthday and I can't believe she's 6!!! Of course, I still need to get her present in the mail, but I've never been the best at 'on time' ;o) It's on my plans for this weekend...

I have to work tomorrow, but then I'm going to do my best to make it to the post office to mail C's present, a USB of some photos to my uncle, and some netflix movies... then I need to drop off my rent and go to the grocery store and then to the butcher...

That made me feel a little Olde Timey to say... going to the butcher... but I'm excited! My awesome coworker PB gave me her old stand mixer (my very first ever!)

I used it to make this cake, which was also my first time trying to use fondant (it was made from scratch!)...

I painted it with a food coloring/vodka mix which was like watercoloring! It turned out ok... not my best by a long shot... but it tasted good (per all of my coworkers!)

But back to the Butcher... One of the attachments that came with the mixer was a meat grinder! AND after talking to my Mom, I got a recipe that she found written in my Grandpa S's handwriting for Polish Sausage!! I'm going to make it... I also might make a sweet bread for PB (from a recipe she loves and hasn't had in years) for giving me the mixer and a quick batch of gum drops because they looked so cute and quick on Bakerella's website!

Be prepared for some future photo baking blogs =o) I hope you have as fun a weekend as I'm planning to have!

Wordless Wednesday

My Car's Name is Charley

And today, Charley attacked me. I was getting out of my car at work and before I could move to close it, the door slammed shut hitting my shin on its way.

Now my shin is hurting and bruised and it had been bleeding but all I can think of is:

"OW! Charley bit me... and that really hurt Charley...... and it's still hurting....."

Wordless Wednesday

School's Back In & It's Stil Summer

Can you believe it? Does it seem to anyone else that kids are starting school earlier and earlier? I remember maybe a 1/2 week of school before Labor Day and then we had a three day weekend and back to school full time. Of course here in TN there's a fall break... is there fall break by you? I feel cheated by not having one... only not really, because I didn't have to go to school for most of August!!!

It's been a tough summer for me, but a great one, too. Some friends threw me a wonderful birthday party complete with photo booth and balloons, cupcakes and punch, a scrapbook that made me cry and a projected movie under the stars =o)

 (click on the photo to make it larger)

I went to the ATL to relax with family and I learned that there is actually a proper way to use the word "eh" and I learned how to use it! You can see posts about that (the ATL, not 'eh') here, here, here, here, and here!

I spent a couple of hours with R at the Stones River Battlefield watching some Civil War reenacting. Her mom and brother both reenact (although only her mom was there that day) and there were several things to see... 

(click on the photo to make it larger)

I'm most proud of the shot where I got the fire coming out of the barrel of the gun! Awesome, no? I can't wait to go to a full battle reenactment to try to get more shots like that (it's harder than it looks... I took close to 100 shots and only had 2 with any kind of fire, and the photo in the top left corner was really the only good one...)

Next up for my end of summer plans is to complete #40 on The List. Go to a Bears game! I'm going to a preseason game they have against the TN Titans at LP field!! I'm going with a good friend of mine, PC, and we're in section 116... here's a view from our section!!

I'm so very excited!!

Other than that, I'll be bringing back the Wordless Wednesday's to the blog now that I'll be back into some sort of a schedule, and working on posting more regularly... Thanks for meandering your way through my very random summer with me, I hope you had a good one with a mix of fun busy and relaxation... =oD

Theraputic

Yesterday was a very rough day. My emotions were all over the place... I teach 1's & 2's at church and this was our last week with some of them as they've grown up and are able to move on to the next class. This on the heels of losing one as her parents moved out of state and another family moving this week...

The family moving happens to be one of the pastors at my church and I'm having a hard time even typing about them going. DO is... was.. my singles pastor and he and his wife MBO along with their kids have meant so much to me in my life in TN, in my walk with God... They came to the church a little over 6 years ago and about 3 months before I started going there; and have been there for me through so many of the ups and downs I've had since then. I am going to miss them so very much...

But I'm excited for them! DO will be going to a pastoral school to be able to do church planting through Sovereign Grace Church and it is going to be exciting to see how God uses them!

I'm just bad a goodbyes.

But in this time of transition, I'm also in this struggle in life... in my faith. It's personal and I haven't really talked to anyone (other than my mom) about it. So as this goes on, as I say goodbye, as I'm beyond emotional, I've had this song breathing through me... the words the peace of it. It's been theraputic for me, and I hope it blesses you.

Still, My Soul Be Still

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend

Still my soul be still

And do not fear

Though winds of change may rage tomorrow

God is at your side

No longer dread

The fires of unexpected sorrow

God You are my God

And I will trust in You and not be shaken

Lord of peace renew

A steadfast spirit within me

To rest in You alone

Still my soul be still

Do not be moved

By lesser lights and fleeting shadows

Hold onto His ways

With shield of faith

Against temptations flaming arrows

Still my soul be still

Do not forsake

The Truth you learned in the beginning

Wait upon the Lord

And hope will rise As stars appear when day is dimming

Janis Sometimes Sings for Me...