Thank You

As many of you already know, I had a birthday this past weekend. And first and foremost I just wanted to thank EVERYONE for showering me with birthday well wishes. I am still overwhelmed (in a good way) by your kindness in remembering me. I am usually not really big on celebrating my birthday...probably because I am uncomfortable being the center of attention. But I have to say, this was truly one of the best birthdays I've had. No, I didn't have a big party with lots of noise and excitement. Quite frankly, that's just not me. No, instead I celebrated my birthday in the best possible: by spending quality time with my mom, dad and sister. [Now I'm going to brag about my amazing family!]

Mom came bearing gifts in a big purple bag, looking stylish, slim and hip. Since my sister moved into her own apartment a few weeks ago, mom has been busy playing home decorator for both Nicole and I. And I reminded that a mom's job is NEVER over...not even when both of her daughters are off on there own. We/I still need mom more than ever. And I am thankful because she is ALWAYS here for me. And even more, her love and whole heart is in everything that she does. I am so thankful.

And dad, looking handsome as ever (in a shirt that mom bought for him), carried in his tool kit and wanted to get right to work...I needed his help hanging pictures, arranging furniture and balancing my check book. And it was definitely DAD TO THE RESCUE....I am so so thankful for his patience and constant love. I am a daddy's girl after all.

And my older and much wiser sister brought the cake: Reeses Peanut Butter Pie. Do I need to say anymore??? I love Reeses and I love my sister. She is the reason why I can see the positive in a bad situation. She is the reason why I am who I am...because growing up, all I had to do was look to her and follow her lead knowing that she would lead along the right and best path. And even though we're very different people today, we still share that sisterly bond that is so special.

Sharing the day with these three persons plus all the calls and messages (and songs) wishing me a happy birthday were the best birthday presents I could have asked for. I am so thankful for the love of my family and friends. I hope and pray that they know just how much I love them in return.

Thanks again for making my day so special!

Gifts from the weekend.

23. Sunday afternoons. Spending the day with my mom, my sister, John and Nanny. Cooking dinner for mom and Nanny (first ever)... it was a lot of pressure being that they're both EXCELLENT cooks. Eating. Laughing. Eating some more.

24. Kids. They're even cute when they drop a jar of tomato sauce on the floor. Yep, still cute.

25. Spirits lifted. Realizing that just being amongst others is therapeutic in taking the focus off myself and putting it in a bigger context.

26. Saturdays= cooking. Rice balls, bread, pancakes, hummus...homemade makes for one messy kitchen!

27. Music. Melodies and Harmonies.

28. Approaching birthdays. My favorite part is talking to friends far and near on the phone.

29. Sunshine after days of rain. Warmth. Sunglasses.

30. Prayers. More powerful than anything else. ANYTHING.

Dear reader

Dear Reader,

If you received an email with the post, "love story" I want to apologize. I accidently pressed the "publish post" button without intention to. I wasn't really finished writing the post, and actually I'm a little embarrassed for writing as personally as I did. Nonetheless, I guess you got a quick unsensored look into the going ons of my brain. Again, I apologize and thanks for reading!

Virginia is for lovers.

This weekend I returned to my home away from home in Harrisonburg, VA (Go Dukes Football: 8-1). It was so so nice to visit with friends and catch up on each others' hectic lives. To see how Angie's kids have grown up so quickly. And I didn't think it could happen, but they're even cuter than I remember. It was so so nice to stroll through JMU's campus with Angie and just BEING with her and talking with her...face to face, heart to heart! I am so so thankful for Angie's friendship.

It was refreshing to sit with Kate on her awesome new screened-in-porch and to hear Charlie play his Marimba (that big wooden instrument thing!). I am so thankful for Kate's patience and willingness to listen with all her heart. I do miss her and the fun we used to have together!

And I am thankful for my church family in Harrisonburg. I am thankful for opportunities like these to worship and sing and exchange hugs with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am thankful that when I am with these brothes and sisters, I feel God's presence ever the more.

Yes, I am thankful for a sweet sweet weekend away. I wish could have stopped the clocks rather than turned them back. But I guess instead, I will look back into the past and remember the good times spent in Harrisonburg and as a student at JMU. Time must go on. I'm just thankful for these chances to revisit the past while living in the present.

11 More gifts, Only 978 left to go!

I have to admit...it's been a slow start toward the One Thousand Gifts goal I made. We'll keep truckin' though...

12. Moonlit walks after dinner. Listening to sounds of the crickets. Looking up to see the stars shining down on me.

13. Realizing that THIS moon is the same moon no matter where you are. Whether you're in New Jersey or California, Japan or Italy, South Africa or South America. All nights are brightened by the same moon.

14. Walking past the high school when "classes" are over for the day. Then, being surprised to see lights on in a few classrooms. Night Classes... I have the greatest respect for those people who work all day and then go to school at night. I don't know how they do it!

15. Dinner Date with a college friend. Cooking for two is so much better than cooking just for one.

16. Singing songs and making harmonies...sort of.

17. Co-workers. Truly working as a team to accomplish our goals.

18. A new ceiling in my apartment. I almost have my cute little kitchen back again.

19. Things I'm looking forward to (they keep me going on those longgg days) : Nicole's new apartment, seeing my parents this weekend (you know I had to say that mom and dad!), visiting college/church friends in VA, spending the summer in London (I know, I know, I'm not getting too far ahead of myself now)

20. Dinner Date #2. Making homemade pizza. Note to self: put pizza crust on pan before loading pizza up with toppings and sauce.

21. Making new friends at work. Talking as we work. Working as we talk.

22. Reality checks. Catching "dumpster divers" after hours at work. Realizing that dumpster diving is a way of life. Feeling extra grateful that I have what I have. Saddened that others resort to 'search and rescue' techniques, even if it means breaking the law.


22.

Dare You to Move...

A little over three years ago, one of roommate's father died in a terrible plane crash. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember being in my bedroom when my friend Kate knocked on the door. I thought she had just stopped by to say hello and such. But instead, she was there to break the news of our friend's father's death. I was completely and utterly shocked. How was that even possible?!? It can't be true. It just can't. I remember walking around the rest of day in a daze and stupor. Chemistry lab seemed so insignificant. Everything seemed duller and less important and less meaningful. I remember driving in my car and hearing the Switchfoot song, "Dare you to move." The song gave me some hope and drive. Yes, there would be a time of mourning and sadness. And this was necessary. But, the song then challenges you to "lift yourself up off the floor. Dare you to move, challenges the vocalist. Dare you to move like today never happened. I was not ready to move that day. Nor the next day. Nor the next week. But when the timing was right, I moved and I moved past the absolutely horrible situation. I moved on for my friend who COULDN'T move. Life changed forever for my friend. And it will always be changed and she will always miss her father. But, even she, even my friend dared to move. We have to move. Or we too, will pass away.

I am reflecting upon this subject because once again, I am speechless and I am in denial. A beloved professor who taught my classes last spring died last week from cancer. She was 38 years old, married, and with two young children. I keep thinking to myself, it cannot be true! It just can't. She had had so much energy and drive. She was a wealth of knowledge. She was so young. But, it is true. After a three month battle with cancer, she has passed. A mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, a physical therapist, and many other relationships she had formed. How can it be true? I think of her family and friends. Their new pain, a pain they never asked for. Will her children ever know what an amazing person their mom was? Their lives have changed forever. Willl they, one day, be able to move again? Will those who have experienced loss ever truly laugh again?

I don't know the answers to my questions. Thanks be to God, I have never lost a close family member or friend. All I know is that tonight I will say a special prayer for my professor and her family. And I will continue to say that prayer. This world is constantly changing. Time will not stop for us. The question is, how long can we stop, and reflect, and remain stagnant before the world become unrecognizable? Before our lives are no longer our own because we fail to move on and accept the change that is upon us.

Tonight, I dare you to move. I dare you lift yourself up off the floor and grab hold of your life. It may hurt. It may hurt a lot. But it might feel really good at the same time?. It's truly sad to say it, but the world will go on without you. Change is inevitable.

Will you dare to move?

One Thousand Gifts

In High School or maybe it was college, I can't remember, I started keeping my "best thing of the day" journal. And ever since, I have kept the journal on and off. Some months, I will be really good and excited to write in it. Other months, I lose interest altogether. It'd be interesting to look back and see if I can find out why I did or did not write it in during different periods of my life. Whatever the case is, I'd like to start sharing the good gifts in my life with you. Not just the big and obvious gifts, but also the everyday gifts of living, breathing, learning and growing. I know that it will be a lesson in gratitude. In living in the moment. A lesson in seeing the real and present person of God and His presense in every aspect of every day.

A "One Thousand Gift" Challenge was initiated in 2006. A fellow blogger and foremost friend, accepted the challenge in April of this year. And I too, now accept the challenge. A challenge of gratitude. Everyday, I am blessed with ATLEAST 1,000 gifts from God. Unfortunately, I admit that my eyes are closed to most of gifts. It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in my "situation" and dwell on my "problems." So, I accept the challenge. The challenge of counting of my blessings. Literally. One thousand, this year, is my goal. I hope that through this challenge my eyes will increasingly be opened to the every day, every moment gifts from my God.

Shall we begin then? Won't you consider accepting the One Thousand Gift challenge too?

1. I am thankful for Sunday mornings. Gathering with my sisters and brothers to worship together. Catching up with friends and asking about each others weeks.

2. For the man washing his little red Corvette on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Watching him take such care not to miss a spot. Thinking of my dad and how he loves making his Corvette shine!

3. The guy mowing his lawn. And mowing the side-walk at the same time. For the smell of freshly cut green grass.

4. Two younger girls chatting by the bus-stop. Their giggles bring a smile to my face.

5. For friends. For long overdue phone calls.

6. Walks into town. Stopping by the produce store with only seven singles in my wallet. I'll take one aspargus, a brocolli, and crunchy red grapes. Total = $6.50.

7. Thankful for my first pay-check from my new job. I'll deposit that tomorrow.

8. 4:00-5:00p.m. is favorite hour of the day. The sun shining straight into my apartment windows. Most of the day's work is just about done. Getting ready to prepare dinner. Maybe I'll try a new recipe.

9. For change. The leaves haven't started to change yet. But I know that it will happen any day now. And I'll wonder, when did the leaves start changing? They were green last time I looked!

10. For delicious fruit smoothies. Peaches. Pineapples. Strawberries. Yogurt and OJ. Blending them all together to create a refreshing treat.

11. Listening to Pandora radio and realizing that "it is well with my soul." For I am blessed with more than one thousands gifts. every day. every moment.