Greatness of 2011

I'm ashamed to say I haven't a 2011 recap yet! I don't think I did a 2010 recap either, for shame! But 2011 was a year that can't be forgotten!

+ I flew on a plane by myself!
+ I went to Harry Potter World with Kristy-Face
+ Went to my first ever karaoke and piano bars.
+ Visited the Dear Dashers in Delaware
+ Are at Max Brenner's Chocolate Factory in Pennsylvania
+ Made a super sweet peeps diorama for church. (Yes, I still have it. Thank you hairspray!)
+ Helped organize Spite Fight 2011
+ Went to National Harbor for the first time ever
+ Friends came to visit me in my new house!
+ I moved out of my parent's house!
+ Had a super amazing 80's themed 25th birthday party.
+ Made a legendary wish on 11/11/11 at 11:11:11. In fact I made 3 since it was my birthday. =)
+ Saw some family I haven't seen in several years
+ Made amazing new friends at work
+ Went to Canada!!
+ Ate in a spaceship in Canada
+ Went to Niagra Falls
+ Went to Tim Horton's for the first time eveerrr!
+ Swing danced in front of a bunch of random people with a random dance teacher in Canada
+ Hiked like a boss through Canada
+ Ran in the rain barefoot with fireworks overhead
+ Went to my first ever casino
+ Butterfly Conservatory!
+ Taught the most amazing 4th graders ever.
+ Did Daniel's fast for a month in March
+ Attempted to do a 5K (I didn't not do it of my own volition, that's a different story)
+ Saw Paula Deen live!
+ Went to the Metropolitan Cooking Show for the first time eveerrr
+ Went to a Celtic festival in Manasty
+ Hung out with donkeys
+ Made a speedo for a wombat (I wish I was kidding or exaggerating...)
+ Went to my 3rd (and best ever) Prom
+ Started a love affair with zumba.
+ Went to International Pillow Fight 2011 in DC. =)
+ Tried butterbeer
+ Nominated for Prom Queen at work (I didn't win, but that's ok! :) )
+ Was 1 of ~37 persons to have their picture showcased at work in the art gallery
+ Went to my first ever high tea
+ Survived the mammoth earthquake ( ;) )
+ Danced like a fool in front of roughly 2000 people at church for the block party
+ Swing danced at National Harbor under the moonlight. =)
+ Went to my first ever baseball game (Sad the Nats lost...)
+ Got my first ever Caps jersey! Woooo!
+ Attended my first ever show at the Kennedy Center
+ Attended a few lovely weddings :)
+ Sound of Music Sing-A-Long!!
+ Paid off one of my student loans
+ Took first ever work-paid trip. Woohooo!
+ Attended a bacon party and subsequently made the weird dish of my life to date: Maple Bacon Monkey Bread

How big is my barn?

I should know better than to say on my way to church "God, I think I need to cry in service today". Really? What did I think I was asking for? Did I actually expect to ask for tears and then not get them?

I'm not sure where to start with this blog post. Do I want to start with how I've been subconsciously malcontent with singledom for the entirety of 2011? Do I want to start with how I know 10 couples (not people, couples) that have gotten engaged in the last 2 weeks, or 11 in the last month? Do I want to start with the ramblings about a few male friends I know that I think would be excellent choices yet apparently God disagrees [at least for the time being] with? 

Let's start with my crying. That seems good given my initial question. I've been in a spiritual rut for a few months. And where before I was wondering who I was or what I was doing, I'm on the mend and Jesus and I are doing much better. To be fair, He wasn't ever not good, it was always me that wandered and did my own thing. So when I asked God this morning to let me cry in service, I needed something. Anything. I needed an emotional release to prove [I suppose] that I do still love God and I do still have a heart. Sitting next to a dear friend of mine they started to play "Be Thou My Vision". It's an old hymn asking for God's vision in your life despite all things that happen, and to keep your focus. Apropos, non? I told him not to judge me if I started to cry and he just smiled and said that it's worship- you're supposed to be emotional. I sang the words softly at first, then more loudly as my tears swelled in my eyes. I want God's vision. I want God's heart. I want God's best for me in all avenues of my life. I  thought back to college when I had actually wanted some of the lyrics tattooed on me, and it re-kindled that love for a tattoo reading "Be thou my vision" or "Thou and thou only be first in my heart". But that's a different blog post. 

But that's what I want and need: I need God to be first in my heart again. I need God to be my vision. 

Next instance of crying? The children's pastor at my church that I'm close friends with said she thought of me this morning and was "writing a card in [her] head to [me]". The general jist of it is that 1) she thinks I'm absolutely beautiful and an amazing person, and 2) God is still good and I have a special season in my singledom. And she brought up a brilliant point: every lesson I learn currently isn't just for me, but it's for everyone around me in my life: for the kids I minister to, for my future husband... I need to take certain things in stride as I keep preparing myself for my future husband. 

 I'm trying out a new young adult group at another church (while still going to/volunteering at my home church) and tonight the pastor was speaking on idolatry and how all of our problems have a root of idolatry. Basically there's a parable in the Bible about a guy who's too successful so to accommodate all his crap he wants to tear down his original barn and build a bigger/shinier one. He was focused on his wealth. The moral of the story was: when you die what happens to this stuff? What does it benefit you? Well the pastor turned it around on us- what's our "barn"? What do we focus on? And he brought up examples as any learned pastor does, and one of them was "Oh if I just get married that'll solve all my problems." How is it that in a 9 hour time span at 2 different churches across town from each other they manage to have similar messages in different packaging? 

Bottom line all day for Redhead? Breathe. Be faithful in this. Prepare yourself for your future husband and your future YOU. At my home church, the pastor was talking about surrendering up finance, relationships, physical needs, etc. Again what did I hear? Breathe. Be faithful in this. The CP I was talking to earlier even said "well yeah but you can still acknowledge that it's hard when so many friends are getting married/pregnant." 

Honestly there are a few times this year when I've looked at myself and wondered "Who ARE you?!" I didn't used to be so worried about getting married or being in a relationship. I was just happy that God loved me enough to get me out of the last one. And that he'd made a promise that I held onto with a rigor mortis death grip. But as my other friend pointed out earlier- it's amazing how much your sweater falls apart when the main thread is pulled out. I've felt that way for a few months now: just kind of floating along doing my own thing, not paying any mind to God. And I've seen myself without Him and I don't like it or who I become or my apathy. It's all so... blah! I want God's warmth and passion back in my life! And I think it's coming, slowly but surely...

Don't get me wrong please! I'm *so* unbelievably happy for my friends that are starting a new life together soon. It's just difficult when you've been attempting to wait patiently for almost 5 years with just a string of ridiculous date stories to show yet people around you come in from out of town and meet someone within 2 minutes of being here. I'm honored to be part of a couple of weddings, and I'm excited to go to a few others. But it's difficult helping one person plan an engagement and planning another's baby shower when there's a part of you that physically aches for what they have. 

Pray for me, will you friends?

-Redhead

Life, Love, and Divorce

At the end of swing from my 25th birthday.

I've been mulling this post over for a few weeks now.... Thinking of ways to word things, pondering how to say things without seeming like a jerk (because that's not my intent!), and just really trying to figure out what the crap I'm even trying to say.

I just turned 25 on Friday, and the weekend so far has been an amazing amalgamation of laughter, a few tears, dancing, and yes, a pinata. I feel like at 25 there are currently 2 thoughts bouncing around in my brain: "Man, I'm so young but I finally feel like I might actually be growing up" and "Dang, why the crap am I still single?" True story. But then I get on Facebook, and I see Yahoo news, and I see "The Big D".

Divorce.

I get on Facebook and there are a handful of women that either I once knew from church, or knew from college, and they've already experienced the heartache of divorce. These aren't women with grown children who's husbands left them for a younger model (I'm assuming)- these are girls my age. Please please please, whoever lays eyes on this post, don't read this as judgment or condemnation- it's neither. Or any other negative word you could attach to my writing. It's really just confusion and sadness. These are women I know who are beautiful and smart and love God and just great people, so how did it happen? Did someone in the marriage not love the other enough? Was their infidelity? Was it a mistake from the beginning? ...Was their abuse, physical or emotional?  My heart hurts for these girls.

Yes, I get tired of being single sometimes, but I thank God that I haven't had to hire a lawyer to figure out how to sign a thick document declaring who gets the couch.  I want so much happiness for these girls I know, yet they've seen a heartache I can't even begin to comprehend. My chest tightens and tears well up in my eyes at the thought of a marriage I don't even have crumbling. How do you survive it? How do you comprehend it? Now, in cases of abuse, I'm sure there is some relief to be out of the situation. But what if you wanted it to work? What if you said yes while they said "maybe"?

Because this is my blog and I don't think there are people who read it, I take free reign in being as [naively] honest as I want on here. There is someone I like. But, I caught my heart yearning for something, anything from him really. And I don't mean anything in a physical manner, but maybe just a sly glance, or an extra smile- something that would be a little glimmer of the hope I have some days. And in that moment there was a small voice that I haven't heard in what seems forever that said "Just be patient."

This isn't saying that it was "Be patient for this person to ask you out." This was a "just be patient until MY plans come to fruition." It was yet another reminder from my Abba that I don't get control. My plans don't matter. Now, it's not that God's heartless. It's that He already has a plan that I'm in the midst of living out, and I just don't know the next big steps. And while it's frustrating at times, and lonely at others, I know that it does have a happy ending. And the happy ending isn't my marriage to "the man of my dreams", the happy ending is knowing that someday I'll stand before God and [hopefully] hear "Well done my girl."

I want to be married. I want to move forward in that part of my life. I want kids before I'm 30 (which now seems a lot closer given recent celebrations). But more than all those things I want to follow God. I want to know Him more. I want to live the fullest life with God that I can't even fathom. And in the sake of transparency, I'll even say that as I type this tears are just rolling down my face. I know good things are coming my way and if I'm just patient a little longer, it will be the most rewarding and satisfying thing ever. For years I've prayed that God would give me a great love story- something I'd be proud to tell my kids and friends. And I think I'm living that. I think any tear, every smile, every ridiculous date is all part of this amazing love story where I have yet to meet the other lead player.

How do I know all this? Because God told me in 2006 that if I were to end the current relationship, he'd bring someone so much better. And while I was afraid of being "alone" and having to start all over in the dating scene, I have gone on dates. I have had admirers. This isn't to brag, but I really believe it's been God's way of showing me that I am desirable to men, despite what I think of myself sometimes and my positivity that upon singledom in 2007 I would be a spinster until I breathed my last breath. I received an e-mail from a dear friend this morning that actually moved me to tears. Since I'm not using her name, I'll assume her anonymity and post the tear-inducing part below:

"I know you are discouraged and desiring for the day when your heart's cry is answered by the one man who will be yours.  I believe it will happen, and I strongly believe that your love story will be nothing short of amazing.  For now, until that day comes, let God be your love story.  Let him saturate your life with continued love and blessings.  Let him continue to make you smile with rainbows, sunrises and music. Let him pursue you through friendships, noisy and quiet times and random unexpected things.  You are precious to him, his ruby.  He knows your heart, and he knows it hurts to wait.  Be sure something far greater than you can imagine is coming at his time.  Continue to learn, grow, love, live and strive for more of God in your life."


And because I'm still too honest on here, I'm moved to tears again. These are words that couldn't have more timely arrived in my inbox this morning, as last night I was again wishing for things that aren't meant to be just yet.

My time will come. And because in my life I made a choice to listen to God in 2006, I know I won't have to sign a thick bundle of papers which will end something so precious that should be treasured.* I know I'll never have to question again like I did before. I know that my friends won't wonder about my choice in partner again, and they won't resent me asking them to be a part of my day. I know that one day I'll wear the lovely dress and make the long walk towards The Man, not A Man. My marriage someday will last longer than 72 days and will honor God because it was an event years in the making.

Abba... Help me to be patient. Pursue me, and I'll let you worry about who He is. 

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Matthew 19:4-6

*Please please please hear me when I say this, I'm not saying that people who love Jesus don't get divorced. I'm not saying that you don't love Jesus if you do get divorced. I don't know God's reasoning, I don't know His plans, none of it. But I know that He loves all of us at all times, through all things. 

Insomnia??

It's currently October 31st, 2011, 3:21am.

And I am awake.

Why, you ask? I have no idea! I do know that I've been sick since Tuesday (we've officially entered day 6 here) and before all I wanted was to sleep and be under my covers, whereas now I've tried to sleep and yet... nothing.

I slept today roughly from 2:30-5:30pm, so at 11pm I wasn't too surprised that I was still awake watching Step Up. I crawled into bed finally around 11:30, shut my eyes, and still... nothing.

I hopped on Facebook for a few minutes- typically something mundane and pointless will make me fall asleep. But still? Awake.

I laid back in bed, trying to convince myself I was asleep. I breathed slower. I rolled around. I turn my pillows over looking for the coveted cold side. Still awake.

I got onto Pinterest because I thought of some weird fitness tip that looked neat that I wanted to try to remember. I hoped Pinterest would put me to sleep where Facebook didn't. Instead I spent ~20 minutes trying to figure out why I couldn't make a darned board for motivational things.

I laid in bed thinking of weird dreams I'd had, hoping to convince myself I was indeed dreaming.

I planned things for my 25th birthday party (12 days away, mind you!).

I prayed.

I reflected.

I read all of Galatians (not that impressive- it's only 6 chapters).

I moved all of my jeans from my closet to this under bed storage thing.

I moved a bunch of comfy/bummy pants to the same under bed storage thing.

I cleaned out a few shirts + 1 jacket from my closet to give away to Goodwill.

I contemplated keeping an argyle sweater that was compliments of Black Friday 2010.

I realized I desperately need to vacuum my floor.

I've sneezed compulsively.

I wished that there was a vacuum in my room so I wouldn't have to leave my little haven.

I coughed and have been sick.

I re-read e-mails from months past.

I did wall crunch-y things (they were the fitness tip on Pinterest I wanted to remember!).

I determined to drink lemon water more.

I thought about doing the wall crunch-y things on hard floor with a towel underneath to avoid rug burn again.

I stared at my dresses.

I contemplated Jesus.

I wished for other people to be awake so I can commiserate with other insomniacs.

I pondered reducing my regular drink order at Starbucks from Grande to Tall. I already went from Venti to Grande, why not drop off another few ounces?

I wondered if I showered tonight what my hair would look like in the morning.

I realized that no matter how much I convince myself otherwise, I will never be one of those girls who can pull off great hair the morning after a night shower.

I've had a ridiculous productive 4 hours, hoping something would lull me into the sweet arms of sleep, but still.... nothing.

There is a highly good chance I'm not going to bother going to sleep at all. I'm almost looking at this like a challenge to see what can happen. Then again, who wants to see this on no sleep? Not me, that's for sure.

Oh look! A yawn! Maybe it's a sign of things to come...??

-Redhead

Puffy Clouds

I was driving home from work yesterday and I was completely struck how amazing the clouds were. They were huge and puffy and filled with such... poof. Silly but true. After yesterday's earthquake it got me thinking about life... Doing things I shouldn't do, saying things I shouldn't say, quit my job and move to California or Washington state... Anything. But then it got me thinking of when I was a kid and I had this romantic idea that Heaven was on top of the big, bulbous clouds. I remember being disappointed when I was flying and at the top of the clouds I didn't see paved streets of gold or God waving at me from a throne.

Down the rabbit trail, I thought about how while Heaven might not be on top of the clouds, that doesn't mean Heaven isn't in the clouds... Not saying literally, but figuratively of course. I feel a sense of calm and peace when there's a gorgeous blue sky with billowy white clouds. It makes me think of how creative God is and how much effort He puts into everything. And He puts effort into stuff for us to join- how do we take it for granted so often?

Lord please help me to appreciate You and Your creation more.

Overwhelmed & humbled

I recently sent out an e-mail to some of my dearest friends asking for prayer about something, and the response, quite frankly, has me completely overwhelmed and humbled. Between the love I'm being shown by friends and the realization yet again of how much God has actually blessed me with the people surrounding me... Yikes. I almost cried the other day just thinking about it.

A few things my dear friends have said to me:

- I will pray that God opens your heart and draws you closer to Him so He can reveal this wonderful treasure to you.

- You’re so amazing for sending this email!

- You are so special to Him!

- Be encouraged bc just as God said he starts us out on milk and slowly brings in solid foods as we mature in age...He's bringing in the meat and potatoes to ya babe.

- so I just wish you were right here so I could give you a giant hug

- For one, you are in Christ Jesus!! You are His, and He is in you through the Spirit! He has taken care of your sin, and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!!

- Yup. Praying. LOVE you.

I am surrounded by people who love me and care about. Genuinely care. I sent out the e-mail asking for prayer in a season of change I see approaching, and above is a fraction of the responses I got back. A few e-mails almost brought me to tears because I don't tend to feel that I deserve that kind of admiration.

Beyond that, I know such caring people. I really do. The above responses were from friends I've known for anywhere between ~8 months to ~7 years. I was praying on my way to work the other day and I thought about when I was moving back to Virginia from Pennsylvania... When I made my big move my biggest fear was that I would have no friends here. Almost every one of those responses are from "newer" friends- as in people I've met in the ~2 years that I've been home. How crazy is my God that He would know who to bring into my life and when?

Another friend told me to read Romans 8 and I read it at work... The below verse struck me hard... "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Since I've felt the oncoming of this Spirit, I've felt increasingly weak spiritually. But not weak in a way that I'm about to collapse; weak in a way that I'm malleable. I was praying for someone a few weeks ago on my way to work, and out of prayer for this friend came prayer in tongues and tears that I didn't even know existed. It wasn't even a pained cry, it was a joyful cry. And on my way to work. Thankfully it wasn't a bunch of sobbing, just a few random tears....

Romans 8:26 has absolutely wrecked me.

"Father I don't know what this season holds for me. I know what I want out of it, but that is irrelevant. Help me to seek Your face and read Your word more."

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

Confessions of a 20-something swing dancer

(*Please take note, there's no romantic anything between me and the guy in the picture; swing dancing just has you dance with any and everyone. That's my buddy who makes goofy faces. We were fake ballroom dancing. :D )

I went swing dancing last night, as is my custom to do on [most] Friday nights. And I realized that there is some of the most phenomenal people watching there, some of which can even rival a shopping mall or casino.

I don't consider myself an awesome dancer. I don't think I suck, and I think I have a grasp on what to do, so I try hard to be a good follow. I was standing on the sidelines of one dance just watching people, and I realized that on the dance floor we all have the same goal: to shake our butts and work it out. Granted there are people who do it for different reasons, but it boils down to wanting to be so expressive with yourself. Dancing really is freeing. I know every time I spin or do the Charleston, I feel more free to be myself than I do outside of dancing. Now, there are people who are there to show off, girls who wear this or that to get more attention, guys who try moves beyond their skill level...

Last night in the ladies room a woman told me that I look great on the dance floor, and I look very coordinated. I blushed a little and thanked her because most of the time I feel a bit awkward and like I completely miss cues. Then later on I was slow dancing with this guy, and I made a comment that I never knew what to do with slow awkward songs (which the band last night is infamous for...), and he said there's plenty you can do! So we started doing different things and I made grandiose gestures and had ridiculous expressions on my face. He was cracking up the whole time, which was my goal, so score for me. :o) Then he said that I'm a beautiful dancer and very light on my feet. Again, I blushed and thanked him. It took me back to my first time swing dancing in January of 2010. I was dancing with a friend of mine that I knew from church, and he made the mistake of saying these fateful words: "I'm going to try 'The Whip' on you." Me, being a naive 23 year old had no idea what "The Whip" was and swing dancing scared me so I went along with it. Coming out of the move somehow I punched him right in the chest. After making sure he was ok it was hilarious. :)

All that to say, it's fun to think about where you've come from in things. And it's nice to have a tangible way of measuring your success. Future goals include doing a jam at one of the dances, and eventually doing aerials. But I need to lose weight for that one. That's all good though, that's on my list of things to do as well. ;)