On Such Things

2012 hear me roar!

2012-01-02T13:37:00.000-05:00

I like to launch campaign titles for years... For example:
Living great in 2008;
Getting Fine in 2009 (got in shape);
Staying Thin in 2010;
Plannin' a Weddin' in 2011 (ok, it was a stretch)

Unfortunately, nothing really rhymes with twelve except shelve, elves... so until the lightbulb goes off in my brain, I have nothing catchy.

However, I do have a few goals. I am blogging them as to announce them and make them official. They are not resolutions. They are goals.

1) Learn to ski. As of right now, I do not enjoy it. My goal is to get there without cursing, throwing my poles at my husband. I just want to enjoy it as much as Daniel.
2) Run the Denver Rock and Roll Marathon (Half) in 2:15 or less. I have done two other half-marthons without really training. This time I am all in!
3) Get back in my favorite jeans, they were too expensive to hang in my closet
4) Take my heart health more seriously. I am not getting any younger- my genetics are not good- and I love cheese. I hate taking pills. Goal is to be diligent every day with my supplements!
5) Write more. In my journal and notes to those I love.
6) Take a sewing class. I just want to stitch the basics like drapes and bedding.

Pickled Paper

2011-11-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

Rather than wait until Christmas, we decided to send a Thanksgiving card as a change of address! My friend Laura Pickard designed for us and I loved it!Check her out at www.pickled-paper.com, she has lots of templates or can design your original!Check out the background- map of Colorado!

I love the picture we used, taken by Robby Followell (Followell Fotography) right before we walked down the isle together at The South Warehouse. I was a little overwhelmed because we ran out of chairs and people were standing (a blessing to be loved) and Daniel brought me some water to ease my nerves (he does that well). What a special moment and Robby captured it!

November tha what?!?

2011-11-10T16:48:00.005-05:00

Hard to believe that today marks one month that Daniel started his new job at Memorial Hospital. I have bought lots of curtains since then. Mom is coming to visit on Saturday and then Leah is arriving on Thursday, they will both leave on the 20th (which also happens to be Daniel's birthday). I assume we will do some shopping, maybe a movie, make holiday wreaths, who knows....
We have gotten out and done lots of things, one if which even the locals are afraid of.. The Manitou Springs Incline (look it up)- One mile up. 2800 railroad ties. 2500 feet of vertical, some points with a 68% grade incline. And a four mile hike back down the Barr trail. So many athletes were out there running up, even saw one guy with 75 lbs in additional weight on his back and ankles. Needless to say, we were glad to get to the top with our "sea level lungs." But I might have inhaled all the oxygen available that day, but we plan to hit it up again when Leah is here!

We sold Daniel's Explorer in West Virginia before the move and have been sharing my Honda for over a month. It was nice while it lasted. Daniel, after much deliberation, purchased an 09 Tahoe, Black with all the bells and whistles. It is really nice and he loves it! He drove his Explorer since his senior year of high school, so he plans to do the same with this one! Here is a photo (it is missing the roof rack, ski rack and bike rack, haha, those are on the way of course)

My job application process is tedious and, to be quite honest, I have never had to deal with resume rejection like I am now. I have gotten several "thanks but no thanks" emails, and quite frankly, this is new for me. I have always known someone with pull and here I am with none of that. A transplant. An outsider. I have my eye on a few jobs with non-profits in the area, one at American Cancer Society and another in the corporate YMCA office as Director of Marketing and Community Outreach. I am being patient, but would really like a reason to wear a power-suit and 3inch heels again ya know?!? But regardless, the online job search and application process is exhausting enough to cross your eyes permanently.

I have made a friend here that just moved from Jackson, MS and we know lots of the same folks back home. Such a small world. We are loving New Life Church (you might own some of their worship tunes) and we have made a few friends which we invited over for the LSU/BAMA game last week. I served them red, beans and rice with cornbread since they were getting a "taste" of the SEC! New Life Church is a huge church with unending resources and dynamic leadership, we are really glad to get connected! And the church has the most published worship music in the US, only second to Hillsong in Australia. You know I am loving that aspect!

As for the weather... OH MY GOODNESS... contrary to popular belief we DO NOT live in a snowy tundra. Yes it snows but the weather here is perfect so far! Our neighbor jokingly told us, it is possible to experience all 4 seasons in one day here. But seriously, even when it snows, the sun has come out right after and it is breathtaking!

Our house is still a work in progress. I promise I will post more photos when the time is right! I am loving sharing this with Daniel and making a home together. He is wonderful, as is marriage. We are having so much fun!

I miss my family and friends something serious. I am thankful for skype, but do not frequent it enough. To my dearest friends, give a sista a call sometime!

Punk Rocker Nostalgia

2011-10-31T11:25:00.000-04:00

I have been really nostalgic as we have approached Halloween. It's probably due to the move across the country, marriage, being an full-grown adult- all of the above.
I LOVED halloween when I was a kid, as I am sure you did too! I remember my grandparents' homemade black cat body-suits. I found them yesterday in a box in our basement and pressed my face against the cat costume; I swore I could still smell my Pawpaw's Obsession cologne. I remember one Halloween, the golf cart speeding down the street at about 60 mph with my Pawpaw dressed in the annual black cat costume and one giant gorilla passenger (one of Leah's friends). Hilarious sight to see! I realized after my grandparents passed away, that my holiday traditions were now up to me and my siblings. That I would define traditions for my children one day, the memories would be up to us!
I dressed as a punk rocker, like, 3 years in a row. I just wanted a reason to use that colored hair spray in a can. Maybe it was Bon Jovi's influence or maybe it was a silly attempt for this chubby kid to be cool and grown up like her sister. There was one year I had a homemade clown costume with facepaint, round red nose, clown collar, black leotard and turquoise pants. Sound cute huh? Well, for some reason my mom stuffed my turquoise pants with cotton to make them look oversized- except they were just lumpy and made this cute clown look like she was smuggling candy. I suppose these are the memories that gave me the confidence as I grew up.
Confidence. That is something I have been pondering as this "holiday" has been approaching. I always hear conflicting spiritual opinions about halloween. But when I think back- I think about the confidence it takes for a little bitty kid to walk up to an unknown door, ring the doorbell and say "trick or treat." I suppose confidence is gained in many other ways, but for me, I think about how excited I was to get off the school bus and put on my costume. When I have children, I want them to have these memories, even if they are terrible homemade costumes that leave behind photos to haunt them the rest of their adult lives. I can't wait to hear my doorbell tonight and give candy to little excited kiddos!

rental truck and deer horns...

2011-10-17T16:27:00.003-04:00

Please pardon my lack of blogging, as we have just now gotten settled and internet connected in our new home. Yes, we are living in an incredible beautiful city, Colorado Springs. Please allow me to catch you up...

Daniel receives emails frequently about job openings in his field of radiation oncology. He had been working as a regional administrator in the greater DC area and did quite a bit of traveling. Soon after we married, we began praying in June and asking for the Lord to direct our decisions for where we would call "home." For some reason we felt that West Virginia was not going to be that place. Fast forward to August and Daniel learned of a few positions- one in Alabama, one in Florida and one in Colorado Springs. His gorgeous blue eyes lit up when he talked about Colorado. As much as I would love to be closer to family, I have desperately wanted adventure. I suppose meeting, dating, marrying and moving to WV to be with Daniel was quite an adventure to say the least- and NOW to Colorado. Is this really MY LIFE?

Daniel has always wanted to live "out west" and I encouraged him to apply. He applied, got a rejection email and then got an interesting phone call explaining the other guy had fallen through. After 2 phone interviews, a skype interview and a trip out on Labor Day- HERE WE ARE! He accepted the Director of Radiation Oncology position at Memorial Health (which is a huge title for a guy his age).

We sold his Ford Explorer and found a new home for his dogs- Jackson and Bella (they got a serious upgrade to 120 acres in WV!) His last day of work in West Virginia was September 28th and we packed the truck that night and drove away (with huge help from our "WV family"- Tim and Marsha Eggleston- they are truck-packing-beasts!)

We found a house to rent online, traveled 2100 miles in a Budget Rental Truck (towing my car behind us) from WV to Mississippi to Colorado! We had very little to pack in West Virginia and majority of furniture and all of our wedding gifts were in storage in MS. PS- driving a rental truck through WINDY Kansas was no joke!

So many of you have been wanting pictures of our house and such. Please keep in mind, the walls in this rental house as of right now are Beige. If you know me at all, you know I AM NOT BEIGE. I can't wait to paint, we just got permission!
But I was quick to get pictures hung on walls (if you have ever read Captivating, you understand this) along with my chic deer skull that my brother-in-law so proudly gave to me. (he said "I never thought I would see the day that you wanted a deer skull" haha)I am really embracing this "western" thing....We even live on a street named "Sundance Kid" and Butch Cassidy is one street over... ha!

Right now, we are living in NE Colorado Springs where there is a lot of development, but hope to eventually get on the west side of town where it is a little more green!
This is the view of PIKES PEAK from our BEDROOM! We got a dusting of snow the first Saturday we were here!

Some very boring shots. More later...

Simple Living (part 2)- Purpose statement

2011-08-31T08:17:00.000-04:00

Lately it seems that you can buy art that says "live, laugh, love" or "Dance like no one is watching" just about anywhere. I like to think of these as the modern-day, "Welcome Friends" country-blue art that my mother so loved in the 80's and 90's. But there can be significance in placing the words that resonate with you in your home. Chapter 3 of Organized Simplicity helps you identify your family's purpose statement for Living Holistically within your Family's Purpose

..."We're all given a finite amount of time, resources, and talents, which makes it rather impossible to achieve that noble, yet impossible ambition of doing everything well that you want to do. It's simply not possible, and it's a poor use of energy and devotion. One of the characteristics of a responsible adult is to recognize the difference between the important and the urgent. If your desire is to live simply, it's essential to know what's the most important stuff in life and what's urgency disguised as important. Within a busy world and a culture with an infinite list of demands, your soul needs some constant, a foundation that helps you determine what you can do and what you just can't or won't, and what can wait until later. This unshakable rock needs to be something that makes sense, that's clearly defined, and that is consistent with your priorities. This is when a purpose statement proves invaluably handy. I'm talking about a real, definitive, no-holds-barred statement that says what you are about. And if you're sharing a roof with other family members, it's a statement that says what all of you are about.
A purpose statement with an end goal to simplify your life should be simple in itself. It should be timeless. It should be general, but not too general (Live, laugh, love. HAHA) If it's too vague, it won't really help in your day-to-day decision making. If it's too specific, it may needlessly paint you into a corner you never intended.
Here is my family's purpose statement: As a family, we want to glorify God. We will: Put each other first, Cultivate deep relationships with one another, Extend love to those around us, LIve simply, Be true to who God made us, Take care of our health, Be good stewards of creation, Be lifelong learners. MaryJo Wieland, writer at TurnItUpMom.com and wife and mom in New Jersey, has shared her family's purpose statement as:
Kindness: Generosity of Spirit.We show people that we care. We are sympathetic and understanding, and we act with a warm heart. Responsibility: We have a responsibility to ourselves, our community, and the environment. Faith: We believe in God and in each other. We are loyal to each other, trusting that each person has something special to offer the world. Fun: We remember to approach life with a light-hearted playfulness, to laugh a lot, and the make memories together.
Pick these questions below that resonate most with you and jot down some thoughts. Write the first answer that comes into your mind, or simply write down some words that percolate as you mull over the topic.
1) What are a few strengths of each member of your family?
2) Collectively, we are at our best when we are...
3) Collectively we are at our worst when we are...
4) If we had a completely few day together as a family how would we spend it?
5) What are practical ways we can serve each other?
6) What are practical ways we can serve others outside our family?
7) Name three things we think we could do better as a family.
8) What would people say today about our family as a whole?
9) What would we like people to say about our family as a whole in thirty years?
10) If our home could be filled with one emotion, what emotion would it be?
11) Name three adjectives we would like people to describe our home environment.
12) What are the tope four priorities we want our family to value?
13) What is the main purpose of our home?
14) What is the secondary purpose of our home?
15) what is the individual purpose of each member of our family?
16) Describe the status of our family in ten years...financially, intellectually, emotionally, relationally, communally with our environment, physically, spiritually
19) What does your family/home look like in ten years?

Start drafting your purpose statement by way of your answers. There is no right or wrong way to write this, but remember to keep it simple and timeless. Consider displaying your statement somewhere for all family members to see. It is a powerful tool. It is a major instrument in your quest to live against the grain of modern-day culture. When you second-guess your decisions of your priorities, you can read your purpose statement and be encouraged that simple living is worth it."

The next blog will share her advice on time and money! Stay tuned.

simple living- what is it?

2011-08-21T22:27:00.006-04:00

Have you ever observed the way someone manages their life and home and thought, man, I could learn a thing or two or twelve from them. There are three people in my life that have inspired me with their simple living; and fortunately I worked with all of them (Stacey Bloodworth, Lacy Deese and Ann Hendrick). I observed healthy boundaries that Stacey and Lacy set for themselves; boundaries in how they spent their time, money and relationships- with great intention. I revered the way Ann cooks, invests in her own garden and local markets, and the adventurous-memory-making holidays and vacations with her family.
I have longed for the season of life where being "domestic" was important and appreciated; where investing in my home means more than upgrading to stainless steel appliances. I am in that season now.
When Daniel and I were writing our wedding vows, we sat snuggled up on a sofa and wrote down what was important to our home, family and relationship. I later read in a book that what we were doing was establishing our family's purpose statement.
Well, wouldn't you know....Lacy Deese recently mailed me this book for my birthday, Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider (yes, that is the correct spelling).

It's an easy read, but I am not going to be that friend who insists you read every book I read. Instead, I am going dedicate the next few blogs to the concepts in the book that resonate with me. Hopefully, making it more SIMPLE for you. I will not give my opinion; just some really helpful nuggets (i love using the word nugget).

from the book..."Our culture progresses toward more busyness, more options, more opportunites to make money and my heart runs the other way. One hundred years ago, a housewife didn't have an endless selection of toothpastes. Are we any happier today that we have twenty different toothpaste brands and thirty different flavors to choose from? We're stressed. It's those endless options that make us feel like we might miss something.
From 1950 to 2004, the average American home has DOUBLED in size- what was once 983 square feet is now 2,349 sq. ft. Today, we live in homes that provide almost the same amount of room per person that an average 1950s-sized house would have provided for an entire family. And the storage business is a lucrative business, to help us buy more, clutter more and hold onto all of our so-called valuable "stuff."
Simple Living is a buzzword in our postmodern culture, and concepts like frugality and going green are trendy. But 80 percent of American households are two-income families and do not have the time or desire to transport their families around on bikes, grow all of their produce or sew all of their clothes. Simplifying your life does not mean going to extremes or creating more work. Simplifying your life is about making life better. It's about choices to say NO to the things that don't matter so you are free to say YES to the things you truly want. The definition of simple living is "LIVING HOLISTICALLY WITH YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE."
Four extra benefits of simplfying and decluttering:
More time for people: being free to invite someone over at the last minute for dinner and a card game without the fear of the mountain of laundry or food stuck to the kitchen counter. Improved Health: Our mental, emotional, and physical health is taking a serious toll because of our cluttered lives. We're stressed, easily overwhelmed, and we are not sleeping well because our minds, checkbooks and homes are too crowded with our "stuff." All of the hard work to maintain it means less time in the place meant to be your haven. Financial well-being: We never feel like we have enough money while buying things with our money that we don't really need. De-cluttering our homes and shopping carts also creates emotional freedom which directly effects financial wellbeing.An ecological step in the right direction:You'll probably use less electricity, less gas, and less water to keep your place running.

You can't do it all, but you can control what you bring into your home and what you do with your resources. Simple living means that all the parts of your life are pointed in the same direction, one that has purpose and vibrancy.

I will continue this synopsis in later blogs. it gets good!....
Heather

a former dental hygienist's lament

2011-08-17T10:19:00.000-04:00
I am often amazed that people know very little about oral health. I was just watching a segment on the Today show about Heart Disease and the hostess was shocked that daily flossing could prevent plaque build up in the arterial walls.
The mouth is the dirtiest place on/in your body. THE DIRTIEST. And it has access to the same blood stream that goes straight to the heart.
If your gums bleed, you have unhealthy gums. Period. You should get to a point where the gums do not bleed when you floss. If your ears bled every time you used a q-tip, wouldn't you see a doctor?

If your idea of oral hygiene is quickly swabbing your toothbrush over your front teeth or popping a piece of gum to fight bad breath, the rest of us really wish you would learn a few things.

So, please, allow me:
There are two different concerns in the mouth dealing with your hygiene habits:
1- dental decay and 2-gum/periodontal disease.
Dental decay ("cavities")of the tooth often results from sugar/food that is not cleaned from the tooth and turns into maturing plaque. The "sugar" doesn't necessarily come only from candy, but also comes from carbohydrates especially all the refined sugars in our boxed foods. Most often cavities form between the teeth and in the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the tooth. The way to fight cavities in between your teeth- FLOSS DAILY. This interrupts the plaque maturing process or what I like to call the "breaks up the bacteria party." Thorough brushing the chewing surfaces of your teeth will help with cavities there.

Gum/Periodontal disease typically can be smelled by others right when you start talking. For trained noses in the dental profession, we typically can smell periodontal disease across the room. FLOSS. FLOSS. FLOSS. What happens if you don't floss? The plaque or "gunk" around your teeth matures and calcifies if not removed. This calcified plaque or "tartar" will first create inflamed gums. Fire red and bleeding. Then the calcified plaque works it's way down the roots of the teeth, eroding the bone that holds your teeth in place. If not treated, this can result in painful and expensive gum surgery. Periodontal disease is the cause of tooth loss. This is why generations before us lost their teeth at an early age.

If you have bad breath, more than likely it is NOT "halitosis," more than likely it is plaque, lots of plaque in your mouth. Talk about this with your spouses and make them a dentist appointment. (if you are in Jackson, call Belle Meade Family Dental).

Oral hygiene tips/tricks:
1- Floss and then smell your floss! If it smells like bacteria (moth balls) you have mature bacteria in that pocket around that tooth. You need to increase flossing frequency. If it doesn't go away, you need a dental exam.
2- If you brush too hard and are wearing the gums away, brush with a fingertip grasp instead of full-handed grip. The harder your you press your toothbrush down on your teeth, the less effective the bristles.
3- If you have a recurrent problem with cavities, ask your dentist for a flouride prescription.
4- do not store your toothbrush near your toilet. The air is filled with micro-sized mist from the toilet everytime you flush. Gross. I know.

I hope you learned something.
I am a nerd, I know.

I admit... (from the other side of the story)

2011-07-26T10:34:00.004-04:00

I used to hate reading on Godly feminity and masculinity. I thought it too narrow-minded, too simplistic for all of us to fall under these labels. No one lives the same life, we all have different paths. Don't get me wrong, I had grown up reading Proverbs 31 and I believed in the beauty of a woman and her gifts and likewise for a Godly man. I now realize it was because I had not experienced the beauty of healthy pursuit and I was defiant. Boy was I defiant, having freely placed my heart in the palm of an unsafe relationship despite the warnings I had read and heard. I was not a victim. I chose to do that. Over and over again. I didn't want to believe that feelings of "safety and stability" came from a relationship with a man. I thought that was between me and my God. I wasn't in a season of waiting because I wasn't "waiting for my life to begin" like the world told me. I was living my life! I actually felt sorry for the women who didn't get to explore their own dreams and choose their own goals. After all, most women and men only complain about marriage. I didn't really hear of many "life-giving" marriages. I didn't want to succomb to what everyone thought my life should look like.

At the nudge of friends, I read Wild at Heart and Captivating over the spread of my single-girl decade of my 20's. The words lept off the pages into my defeated heart, and it eventually took a painful purging and submission to acknowledge those books were right. Very right.

Now here on the other side of the story. Receiving text messages from single girls in the middle of the night who are aching, longing and disillusioned. Married to a strong, stable man who fears and loves the Lord. A man who prizes me. For me.
You see, he (Daniel) knows his purpose in the Lord and his purpose in this world. He is confident in his gifts and talents. I don't have to help his find them. Nor, do I have to help him find his battle, I don't have to help him fight it, I don't have to find his adventure. Because of this, I am free to be his beauty. I am free to be his companion in his battle and adventures. His masculinity does arouse feminity and vice versa. I truly believe it. I watch Daniel in his work, his serving others, his goals, his confident strength and it makes me feel beautiful, safe and free.

I see it so clearly now. I am thankful for the pain, for it was there, that I was learning to appreciate what the Lord would eventually provide. If you are waiting, keeps your eyes open, surround yourself with wisdom and keep walking straight until you can recognize that "he" is committed to pursuing you and demonstrating desire for you to be in his life. Until then, keep straight ahead with your Lord.

Home is where the heart is. Literally.

2011-07-06T18:17:00.003-04:00
Everyday, I take a trip to our mail kiosk. For the first few days I would find boxes from Belk packed with wedding gifts that didn't catch us before we left mississippi. Today, I found a package from Laura. The incredibly talented, stylish, and apparent experienced gift-giver Laura Pickard. (eh hem, she reads this blog). She had shown me a picture of the gift that she had ordered from Etsy and I love it even more now that I have it in person. The package lacked a packing slip or card, but I knew it was from her. She told me it was supposed to say "don't forget where home is!" It's a wooden cutting board with hearts are placed in Jackson and Vaiden, our hometowns. I love this. Perfect.

favorite color: orange

2011-06-30T21:30:00.001-04:00
I love orange. The color. The flavor. Especially the popsicle! My wedding decor was orange, didn't care what it was, as long as it was orange. In my searching for ideas for the porch today, I stumbled across rooms with orange and turquoise. LOVE THEM.

Before wife; After wife

2011-06-30T16:24:00.003-04:00
I am not an animal person, we all know that. But I did say "I Do" to two large dogs- a Boxer named Jackson and a Black Lab named Bella. They are sweet, well-behaved dogs with slobbery jaws and smelly coats. They have occupied the screen-in porch area of our house (cabin). By occupied, I mean, they made the screen-in porch completely disgusting. Hairy and Stinky. But it was convenient for Daniel to feed them quickly before bedtime and kept them close to the heat during the bitter winter months.
The porch is absolutely beautiful and extends around 3/4 of the house. I knew it would be one of the first things I tackled once I moved here. There is something incredibly festive, romantic and cozy about a screened area used for dining and entertaining.
The first Saturday after our honeymoon, the pressure-washer was in motion. After a trip to Ikea and Target, I have achieved my goal.
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Wythe Blue

2011-06-29T10:05:00.001-04:00
Many of my friends have used the Benjamin Moore color "Wythe Blue" in their homes. In my NE Jackson townhouse, I used it in my bedroom all the way up to my tall vaulted ceilings. It still remains one of my favorite paint colors. Once, I get out of our wood-paneled cabin in THE WOODS resort, I will revisit the Wythe Blue Walls. Here are a few examples of the so called blue in rooms I love from the internet.

where in the world have i been?

2011-06-24T15:47:00.003-04:00

Well, currently i find myself in West Virginia. Yes, living in West Virginia. And MARRIED. I haven't blogged in a long time. I have a lot of catching up to do. I thought about starting a new blog, you know, now that I am in a new season, but I decided against it. I have decided to add more "such things" that I have stored up in years past.
I plan to blog on a few of my interests: interior design, fashion, organization and communication/advertising commentaries.
I hope you plan to read, I promise to deliver!

On Forgiveness...

2009-06-08T16:41:00.002-04:00
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you"Colossians 3:13

We all have wounds, small ones, big ones, deep wounds and shallow wounds. We can try to figure out why others do us wrong or why they hurt us deeply. And sometimes in our warped view of God, we think that anything bad that happens to us, or any hurt we experience, is some sort of judgement or punishment if we step slightly out of obedience to Him. Many times, I have been hurt because of someone else's inablity to do certain things. And truthfully, that is not their fault- it is the fault of my expectations of them.
"Forgive and Forget" that ole cliche' phrase has convinced us that forgetting is the goal of forgiveness, but forgiveness means wishing good things for that person, setting up boundaries so they can't hurt you any more. That is when forgiveness is in its fullest.

A Sleeper's Lament

2009-06-03T10:43:00.002-04:00
I always wondered when i would get to the honorable ranks of older folks who needed less sleep than I did. You know- the older generation rises early, has time for coffee, newspaper, a load of laundry and a chat with their significant other over an omlet....and all of this before heading to work at 8am.
Well, maybe i am getting there. I have had a noticeable decline in my ability to nap. And I am not able to fall into a "deep winter's" sleep like i once could. My family always pinned me as the sleepy one, who after a family meal, went straight to sleep on the couch like it was my duty.
Is it because I am knocking on 30? Is it due to hormones? Is it because I need less sleep? (i realize my friends reading this who have children, think i am spoiled, bc i STILL get more sleep than they).
Now, if i could just commit to reading the newspaper every morning, i would be officially old!

new season

2009-06-01T12:36:00.002-04:00
I feel almost as if i have had a pivotal 5 months or so, focusing on some improvements for myself. I am refreshed and empowered in a way that is hard to write. One of the major changes, is due to losing 41 lbs via a very strict all liquid diet. Now, before you judge me, and tell me that I will gain all of it back, just hear me out. I chose this program because i wanted to force myself to live nutritionally on the bare minimum. Most importantly it made me test 'Heather' to discover what she was made of, thus giving me control over soemthing that I have complete control of- my body and spirit.
For the past few years, a part of me had died and i slowly crept into a oppressed state, so slowly i didn't know that i was even experiencing it. There are other parties involved in this process, but i can't change them, accepted that and moved forward- i can only change me. So cheers to being a better heather. i always want to move forward with momentum.

here comes the sun

2008-12-16T12:49:00.002-05:00
I am like a plant. I need lots of water and lots of sun.
This dreary weather is for the birds I tell ya...
I want to curl up on my sofa and not go outside. ever. (until March or so, ha)

time in the slammer

2008-12-16T11:49:00.004-05:00
In the past few months, I have had opportunities to lead worship in correctional facilities in Rankin County, but none have been as impactful as last night. You see, all the previous times have been in a room filled with female inmates. Last night was different. Very diferent.
The room was filled with male inmates. Once seated, their stoic posture and pervasive stares became quite a distraction and honestly, somewhat of a let down. I prayed for concentration and most of all, i proclaimed God was more powerful than any word or song we would share. I knew that God, the mighty God He is, had work to do with or without us.

The differences between men and women were evident from the moment the men walked in the door.
The women on Sunday were smiling and waving to us, they were dancing and singing with us. They were emotional and verbally responded to the songs and message that was spoken. They are mothers and they are broken.
The men did not smile, they were hardened, they stared at us, they did not clap, they did not sing. But as our choir men began to share and we sang more songs, the barriers came down. They began to dance and sing with us. They were emotional and verbally responded to the songs and message that was spoken. They are fathers and they are broken. Hmmm, maybe they aren't so different.
We all have been imprisoned at one time.We all need healing and restoration. We all need peace and freedom. The truth is, we all need Jesus, with or without striped pants.

everything i need is on old canton road...

2008-11-30T00:57:00.002-05:00
i was returning home from a movie tonight, dropping off a friend at her condo that is 1 block from my house, when i realized that everything a girl could ask for is on Old Canton Road (by our houses). Here's a list of things we came up with:

(in order of importance)
1. a new DQ
2. Chinese takeout that can be ready in 5 minutes flat
3. Courthouse gym (literally 100 yds from my front steps)
4. VIP Nails
5. Amerigo
6. Fred's dollar store
7. both of my banks
8. Blockbuster
9. my dry cleaners
10. my grocery store
11. my drug store (where the pharmacist says "Hello, Heather")
12. a huge produce stand
13. the best bakery in Jackson
14. drive-thru coffee
15. and last but not least- i can get to Northpark in 3 minutes!

THIS is why i live in Northeast Jackson!

air brushed t-shirts and homemade pork skins

2008-10-18T20:48:00.003-04:00
They are ALIVE and WELL!
Today, yes Saturday, i had to drive to Co-Lin community college for work. As I approach my turn i see cars lined up as far as i could see. As I get closer to the madness, i see the sign, "Wesson Flea Market; October 18th"
My initial thought was, "crap, I am going to be late." But the humorous situation I found myself in was second to none. People everywhere. I literally was driving my honda through a sea of people brushing against my car with their bodies. It was insane. But, in the crowd, there she was, wearing a doo-rag, and wearing a big smile. She was showing her husband her newly airbrushed sweat shirt... and then a few seconds later, I notice everyone carrying bags of something and as I looked closer, I noticed it was homemade pork skins!
Friends, to my knowledge this is a rebirth of a lost art. God bless America!

stuck in reverse

2008-10-18T20:44:00.003-04:00
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...

in my travels...

2008-09-17T16:48:00.003-04:00
One of my personal goals this "school year" is to take photos of the hilarious things I witness while i travel. But my camera no longer works. so maybe soon.
BUT, last week i did make a note of 3 things that i thought to be funny...

1. it seems that every high school has a janitor named "Willie"

2. Attention: all grown men, in big trucks, with mud tires, dressed in camo... Please note that it is NOT OK, to cut the sleeves off of your t-shirt in such a way that exposes your hairy, chubby nipples. We, the population around you, DO NOT want to see the jiggly masses of flesh pointing at us in the office at your child's high school. Read a book.

3. When renting a car for work, I always wonder who drove the car before I do. What are they like? What is their story?
I often look for signs in the rental car, maybe a cd left in the cd player will give me a hint, or maybe a receipt.
This time I found a Popeyes chicken box under the seat.....

shadowfeet

2008-09-12T18:51:00.001-04:00
Walking,stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home,
a land that i've never seen
I am changing: less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all alongfast approaching is the day
when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true realitywhispers of a well-lit way
You make all things new
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

parental doubts.

2008-09-08T11:45:00.003-04:00
i love kids, i do. they bring me so much joy. I have lots of newphews and a niece.
yesterday, i picked up my friend, Shelley's, children (7 yr. and 3 yr.). I offered to take them for the day because Shelley is very ill and needed rest. I have no idea how I can help, except in this way. They are precious. Really.
But after about 4 hours, this is what was confirmed (things I already knew, but it was confirmed).
i like things to be tidy. a place for everything and everything in its place. not clean- tidy. Therefore, i spent the whole time picking up behind them. i guess that is what mothers do, afterall that is what my mom did. and i thank her for it.
i can't be "silly" all the time. My best idea was to play Connect Four, at which the 3 year old didn't quite cooperate. I usually sing, dance around and make the 7 yr old feel like a superstar, but yesterday, i just didn't have it in me.
i do not like "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," its not funny, and it's surely NO saved by the bell. i know, i have unrealistic expectations.
i like my space. not used to having kids follow me around, onto the deck, into the closet, into the bathroom, out to the mailbox.
i am not so sure I can afford kids :-)
kids just want to be loved and be at the center of your attention. Can you blame them? They just want you to play with them.
My sister always says 'Your world is gonna be rocked when you have kids' (her attempt to tell me I am not qualified, haha). And she may be right, haha.

to get something free

2008-09-01T17:54:00.005-04:00
It's a rainy Labor Day spent with my friend Chrissy, helping her shop for and purchase a new TV. She shows up wearing a MS State t-shirt reminding me that you can get free chicken strips today at Chik-fil-a if you wearing a college t-shirt. This was a marketing launch for their new chicken strip recipe, just another part of their genius marketing. So after purchasing a new TV across the street at best buy, we swing into chik-fil-a. If you know me, you know that i only exercise in collegiate shirts, i don't sport around town in them. As we are waiting in line, I notice that everyone in the place has on a collegiate t-shirts. Charlie and I, not wearing a team shirt, also got our strips for free and got a kick out it. Full grown folks in college gear always cracks me up.
BUT THEN, she walked in. The one to top it all. A mom with 4 kids. All the kids had on team t-shirts. Mom, as cool as she is, had turned her purple shirt inside out, tag on outside. She used masking tape to spell LSU on the front of her t-shirt. We all, simultaneously, looked at each other trying our hardest not to laugh.

We salute you, homemade t-shirt making mom!

SUV victim

2008-08-31T00:15:00.002-04:00
Why in the world are people still buying large SUV's? And why are the drivers of these machines women? Women who can't reverse in one swipe, instead it takes them 2 or 3 tries before reaching clearance. If you are gonna own it, own it. Men, please quit buying these vehicles for women, they are only making our species look more and more stupid.

tonight, tonight, tonight....

2008-08-23T22:01:00.006-04:00
today, a rainy saturday, turned into a beautiful evening. quiet, nice dinner, candlelight, meaningful conversation and music with , yep, you guessed it....me, myself and I.

I am reading a new Erwin McManus book, Wide Awake, its about discovering dreams and living life to its fullest of God's design. I can only read one chapter at a time because its so much to digest. And I am a pea-brain.
You see, in the last 6 months or so, I have really be searching for what's next...What directions do I go? Who is it that God wants me to become? Because life is about evolving right?
There are so many things I want to accomplish. And at any given time, I can list about 7 careers that I want to pursue, 4 business ventures I want to launch, 3 hobbies I want to begin, 8 cities I want to live in, and about 10 countries I am dying to visit.
Maybe that's the problem. Maybe that's why I feel I am sitting still.

McManus' writing is encouraging....

The Bible is all about change. All the words that describe the spiritual journey are about change. Transformation means change. Conversion means change. Repentance means change. Sanctification means change.
And if you are a follower of Christ, get ready for change, because who you are today is not who you will be tomorrow. Keep fueling your insatiable curiosity.

my former outlet...

2008-08-23T20:47:00.001-04:00
a few things happened when i said goodbye to MySpace ( in effort to maintain privacy from certain folks). But the one thing I do miss is My Space to write. I write frequently. Privately. But some not so private. So i will use some space to share some writings that are very personal to me. Some of you know what or who these stories are about, some of you won't either way, I hope you enjoy.

So on to the writings below....

One day at a time sweet Jesus

2008-08-23T20:38:00.000-04:00
from Sunday, October 29, 2006

I missed her call, checked her voicemail. Its a call from Roxanne telling me her grandmother, whom we called "Ole Yeller" passed away on Thursday night. She then proceeds to ask me to sing at the funeral. For this friend, I would do anything. She knows that.
But then she began to laugh, "You don't know what song I am about to ask you to sing," she said. So I waited, listened to her laughter and not knowing what I was laughing at, I began to laugh myself. Roxanne said "One day at a Time, Sweet Jesus-you know that old song. I think Loretta Lynn sang it." I could hardly distinguish the words from her laughter. I reassured her that I would sing no matter what it was and even though my voice is still hoarse, I would do it the best I could.

It was an honor to be asked to sing at a funeral of somone so precious to my friend. Hopped on iTunes and downloaded "One Day at a Time". Surprisingly, many artists were listed. Who could have guessed that gospel albums from the early 80's would show up on iTunes? The song has the deepest "twang" and a standard country beat with 2 verses and 2 choruses. Totally not me. I knew at this point that I would not be able to sit in sight of Roxanne's face. Not because of her tears, but because she would be laughing while I sang. And you know how it goes- you ALWAYS laugh harder when you are NOT supposed to laugh. i.e Funerals, Weddings, Ceremonies. Fortunately, the song was the very first thing in the service and I was hidden behind a flower arrangement. And although I struggled through it with my damaged vocal chords- it was still an honor and she and I had some good laughs!

As I sat listening to the obituary and the message about death and eternity, I couldn't help but be reminded of my grandfather's funeral. You see, this was the first funeral I have been to since my grandfather's death in January. My mind drifted back to the hospital room, where I grieved over my PawPaw as he lived his last minutes with us. I started thinking about how long it has been since I have seen him. I remember how much pain he suffered, but then I was reminded of how much joy he brought us. Even in his last days at home during Christmas, he still made us laugh. When I was 4 years old, my father died and I don't have one memory of him, so my PawPaw was the first death of someone so close to me. He was the man who taught me how to pick a "good tomato", he taught me how to drive, how to make people laugh, how to eat watermelon, how to shoot firecrackers, how to ride a lawnmower, how to bait a fishing hook. He was the best cook- he cooked the meat for our family gatherings, even though he was vegetarian. I miss his goofy dancing, his kiss on my cheek and his approval when I walk in the room. I remember so many funny stories of him.

I cheered in high school, and as we would run down the sidelines he would always stand up and yell "Hey Heather" waving his hands in the air. My friends on the squad learned to look for him at every game, b/c they loved to see him act so crazy. The first time Roxanne met my grandfather, he did a kart-wheel for her right there in the front yard . When I was in Miss Mississippi, he told everyone he would meet, seriously-even the check out girl at Kroger. And that was the case for all of his 5 grandchildren, he would brag of our accomplishments to everyone. We wanted to act embarrased, but we loved it! He didn't miss a thing, he was at every event!

My grandmother made him biscuits every morning for 56 years and cornbread every night. I bet she would love to have him at her table again. I am so glad he is not in pain anymore, but I sure do miss him. During his death I was encouraged to grieve .

Grieving takes time, grieving doesn't happen all at once. As I wiped tears from my cheek at Roxanne's grandmother's funeral, I realized that I was doing just that- 10 months down the road, I was still grieving. It was a good feeling though- knowing that I am normal, knowing that I haven't supressed those feeling so far down that i am unaffected, knowing that I could grieve alongside of my friend during her loss, too. I don't consider myself a real sympathetic person, but this day the feeling were so fresh, they were way to close to home.

We were just here...

2008-08-23T20:23:00.000-04:00
From April 13, 2007...

we drove up to the church for the funeral and I was still in shock. "it seems we were just here." the shock of my grandmother's sudden death left all of us wishing we had one more chance to eat at her table. you see, its just been over 15 mos. since my grandfather's passing. they left a legacy of humilty, contentment and marital commitment, having been married for 57 years.

Nanny died suddenly from what we think to be a massive stroke. you probably are thinking silently "oh, well she was probably old and sick." nothing could be more untrue. she was well, she was still employed- shuttling cars for a rental company, driving to and from new orleans several times a week. she babysat her 2 yr old great grandchild every friday night. she loved watching sports, soap operas and Dancing with the Stars. she was a young 77- healthy mind and strong willed. she was fiesty with a great sense of humor.she missed my Pawpaw, but tried so hard to not burden us with her emotion. she cooked like no other. you were lucky to eat her food. she taught me hospitality and service. if you entered her house- you were never thirsty or hungry- she took care of you and I will continue what she taught me for the guests at my house.

i miss her, its only been 12 days since she passed. our families are sifting through her house, cleaning and selling. this is the home of our family- every holiday meal and our memories in that house- will be sold soon and we will grieve on yet another level.

her ceremony was perfect. it was sweet, beautiful and there was laughter. she was buried in pj's (that is what she had mentioned long ago) she never quite understood why others were buried in nice clothes, she wanted to appear that she had just fallen asleep. here we were again, carried by my best friend's arm to the same pew, ceremony almost the same order, same pastor, letter of memories read by a family friend, and a church filled with those that loved her and those that love us. my sister chose the song "Come to Me" by Kari Jobe. Perfect. Sung by two very dear friends, Courtney Yancey and Kristi Christian on the piano.

the lyrics...
Come to Me you weary one
And I will give you rest
For My yoke is easy and My burden light
Take me upon you and I will give you rest
Come to Me you broken one and i will give you peace
I will calm your waters and I will whisper peace be still
Take Me upon you and I will give you peace
Come to me you burdened one and I will give you joy
You will rise as eagles and My joy will be your strength
Take me upon you and I will give you joy

Nanny was not sick. She was tired, she was sad, she was lonely after losing pawpaw. the greater plan here- we all see it. our sadness is accompanied by complete understanding of God's purpose and timing. by faith, we are renewed