A Grocery Store Trip To Remember

Growing up I loved going to the grocery store.  My Dad and I went together on Saturday mornings.  It was our time.  While I still enjoy it, I don't look forward to it like I used to.  Since I don't enjoy cooking for one, the foods I purchase are much more mundane, so the trips themselves often leave much to be desired.  

After putting the trip off for more than a week, there was no getting around the grocery store today.  I proceeded to get my cart and scurry through the aisles as quickly as possible during my lunch break...head down so as not to be distracted by anyone.  Thankfully, the lines were short today.  I began to place my items on the conveyor belt...happy to be in and out in record time...when I heard a voice from behind me.  

The lady behind me in line appeared to be in her mid 50s and said she couldn't help but notice the book in my purse and wanted to know what it was about.  Now that I'm back in school, it's not uncommon for a book to find its way into my purse, so off the top of my head I had no clue what book she could be talking about.  A quick look brought a smile to my face.  She was looking at my copy of Made to Crave.  

Made to Crave was written by my sweet friend, Lysa TerKeurst, and it uses the idea of food to show how we were created to crave more than just food...we were created instead to crave God.  While many tell of pounds lost due to journeying through the book, Lysa is quick to point out that the book was not written as a weight loss book at all.  The book was written to help all of us get to the core of who we are and what we are wrongfully craving more than our Heavenly Father.  

As I explained the premise of the book, the sweet ladies eyes filled with tears.  She began to tell me that she had struggled with bulimia for years and had only recently gotten out of a treatment center.  I stood in the check out lane in awe.  As she spoke, I knew that this was no "chance" meeting.  This was God ordained.  I began rifling through my book...pulling out all of the little post it notes that I had stuck in it along the way.  With underlines and highlights, it wasn't brand new, but I knew that this book was supposed to go to my new friend.  Despite her protests for me to keep the book, I placed it in her hands and quickly prayed that the Lord would bless her reading it just as he did mine.

Thinking that was as good as it could possibly get for the day, I turned around to the cashier to pay for my groceries.  I slid my debit card and typed in my pin only to find out that it had been declined.  How in the world could that be?  I knew I had much more than enough.  Embarrassed, I glanced down at my card and noticed that it had expired last month.  As I was trying to see if it would be possible to hold my groceries while I ran down to get cash (the grocery store I was shopping at only takes cash and debit), my new friend stepped up and insisted that she pay.  I tried to stop her, but her card was run before I had the chance to put up a fight.  

As I fought back the tears while bagging my groceries, I couldn't help but smile as I heard the cashier discussing the series of events with the gentleman behind us in line.  The man mentioned he could hardly wait to get home so he could tell his wife all about it.  The cashier was just surprised that things like that even happened anymore.  

Before I left, I gave my new friend a hug, thanked her for her generosity and assured her that I would be praying for her.  While it's true I may never know what becomes of the book or my friend Linda, I know without a shadow of a doubt that God ordained every detail of the grocery store encounter today...and that leads me to believe that He's not through working in the situation!

Long time coming…

Last Monday night I found myself eating dinner with two sweet families that were meeting one another for the first time.  Two moms.  Two dads.  Two daughters…and me.  As I sat at the table and thought back to how they were even meeting in the first place, I couldn’t help but smile.  So here’s the back-story to how that meeting came about…as best I can tell it…because it’s almost just too difficult to put into words. 

Four years ago I stumbled across this blog.  I vividly remember finding it while I was traveling for work.  So, alone in my hotel room, and with nothing other to do that night, I read past posts and cried for hours.  While I had little in common with Paige, I loved it instantly.  Go ahead and read for yourself.  I’m sure you’ll love her too.  From that day on, I became a faithful blog stalker.  For years, I read every single post, but never dared to comment.

Fast forward to last August.  I was in Tuscaloosa to help my sorority out with sorority recruitment.  After practically living at the sorority house for two weeks, I got to know lots of the girls, Emily being one of them. In one conversation we had, she mentioned that she had a younger sister that was a senior in high school that was thinking about going to TCU or Ole Miss.  I told her that I knew a girl named Libby from Birmingham that was interested in the same two schools.  How fun would it be if they ended up going to the same school and becoming friends?  Since we live in the world of technology, we both pulled up facebook to show each other pictures of the respective girls.  As she clicked through the pictures of her sister, Abby, I sat speechless.  I had seen these pictures before.  I had seen them on a blog.  Not just any blog…they had been on Paige’s blog.  I immediately began explaining to Emily how I knew her sister because I was obsessed with a blog that I remembered her being on.  She laughed and said something to the tune of “oh yeah…that’s our friend Paige.  We’re good family friends.”  In my mind I thought FRIEND?  You actually know this awesome lady and her husband and daughters and they know you?!  It was almost too much for my little brain to handle.  Though I had only known Emily for a short period of time, and didn’t even know Abby at all other than her pictures, I decided right then and there that any friend of Paige’s must be fabulous, and if Abby and Libby did go to the same school, they would need to meet for sure.

Let’s skip ahead again to this past January.  I got a call from Emily to tell me that Abby had been accepted to TCU and was going to go for a visit.  I told her that Libby had also been accepted and since she had visited earlier had already made up her mind that she was going to go there.  We introduced the girls to each other through Facebook…what did we do before that came along??  Abby made her visit to TCU and fell in love with the campus and the town of Fort Worth. When I heard the news I could hardly stand it.  I was so excited that the girls would have the chance to meet and get to know each other. 

I guess that brings us up to the present.  Earlier this week, Abby’s family was passing through Birmingham, so the girls and their moms worked it out for all of us to grab dinner.  While they had been talking on the phone for a month, this would be their first in person meeting.  It was such a special treat to be able to see both families interacting…and from the looks of it, I’d say that they are going to have a great time in the fall.  I can’t wait for my first visit!

I know it was long…but I really couldn’t cut anything out.  I just love how the Lord wove all of the strands together…from Paige, to Emily, right down to the girls choosing on their own accord to go to the same school.  So, the next time you think that God’s not in the details…I hope you’re reminded of this post.  He is most certainly in the details…some of the details just take longer to show how they are part of the bigger picture.

Yet another recap post

Sorry for the long hiatus again.  One of these days I’ll get better at posting regularly.  I guess it just goes to show that I still have a ways to go when it comes to getting my life in a more balanced state.

The past two weeks have been unbelievably busy with school.  I’m happy to say that I made it through without complaining…and let me just go on record to say that I really think it made a difference!  Now that I’m on the other side of the crazy, here’s a recap of some of the highlights…

I’m not a runner…and really have no desire to be…but I sure do love cheering on all my friends!

Spent the afternoon in the library writing a paper…thankfully I finished in enough time to the birthday of my sweet friend, Megan!

Sunday School weekend retreat…complete with a bonfire and smores!

                   

Cheered on these two beautiful girls in their high school beauty walk!  The best part is the outer beauty is really just the inner beauty shining through!

 

Ben Rector / Needtobreathe concert.  I had a big test the next morning, but it was definitely worth the 3 hour study break! 

The next night’s study break was used to watch these cuties play their final basketball game.  They’ll probably kill me for posting a picture from AFTER the game…but I think they look adorable. 

This past weekend was fabulous…too bad I don’t have any pictures.  I kicked it off with lunch at the high school and spent my Friday night with the Porter family.  So thankful for the way they have adopted me like I’m one of their own!  Saturday was filled with baseball games and date night with my aunt and uncle.  Yesterday was absolutely BEAUTIFUL in Alabama…the perfect day for a walk with a friend and then it was off to see Wicked with the roommate.  All in all, a refreshing and relaxing weekend filled with all things that make me happy. 

Now, it’s back to this…

    

Last Dance

February 6.  I’ve had the day marked on my calendar since last December when I wrote all of the Mountain Brook High School basketball games into my calendar.  February 6=last home basketball game.  Last home basketball game=senior night.  Senior night=last dance and senior dance. 

With months to prepare myself, I hoped that I would be able to watch their performances without crying.  I even made sure to not sit with my family that night to try to cut down on the tears induced from others’ tears. Unfortunately,sometimes the best laid plans don’t always work out. I cried during 3 of the 4 dances…but that one time…that one time I was all dry eyed. So, I guess I should give myself credit for that.

With the exception of my fabulous cousin that I’ve known her entire life, I’ve only really known these girls for about two and a half years. It’s embarrassing how emotional I get. I’ve tried and tried not to…but the fact of the matter is, just like my mother, when I’m proud of someone, I cry…and Monday night as I watched those sweet cheerleaders and dorians dance together for the last time I was oh so proud.

 

 

So, yes…I cried.  Some of the tears were because I knew this was my last chance to see them dance as a group…but most of the tears were because I was oh so proud of the women they are becoming.  It’s been a joy to watch them grow these past few years. 

 

**sorry for the picture overload…it was hard enough narrowing it down to just these!**

No More Complaining

 

After years of conversations with high schoolers, I have found more times than not the advice that I’m giving them can be applied to my life.  Sometimes it has to be adapted a bit to fit a more “grown-up” situation…and then there are the times where it applies directly.  Like today.

Most of my sweet girls are getting ready to graduate high school in a few months. That is not the topic of conversation for today, as my heart is not ready to deal with it.  With graduation looming, some have acquired senioritis…and some have it much worse than others.  I’ve also realized that senioritis doesn’t look the same for everyone.  When I had it, I was sentimental about everything.  My cousin has it…but she adopts more of “I’m a senior, and I do what I want” mentality.  Then there is the type that complains. 

I have a few complainers in my mix too.  For months I had been saying “complaining doesn’t accomplish anything, it only makes you more miserable”…”quit wishing this away. school is here to stay, so make the most of it”…”when you’re complaining, it’s hard to be the light for God to your classmates and teachers.” 

After listening to months of complaining, I had reached my breaking point.  Of course, I couldn’t tell them that….whoops, guess they probably know it now that it’s on the old blog…oh well, they probably realized it.  So I declared February to NO COMPLAINING ABOUT SCHOOL MONTH.  I actually did it over text and as soon as I hit send and read it, I knew immediately that this was something I needed to declare for myself as well. 

At the time, I was getting ready to start my second semester of Divinity School.  The first semester was hard for so many reasons…but I didn’t make it any better by complaining about it.  In fact, it only made me and those around me more miserable.  I’m typically a positive realist…so this complaining about things was new for me…and I didn’t like it. 

So, now here we are.  February 1.  No complaining.  My girls know it.  My friends know it.  My family knows it.  No complaining.  When I get the urge to complain, there are plenty of other beneficial things I can do instead…pray, read my Bible, study for a class, exercise, call a friend and ask about THEIR day…the list could go on and on.

Since you’ve read all the way through the post, if you hear me complaining, you have permission to call me out on it.  You also have permission to call these two precious girls in the pictures with me out on it because we are serious about NO COMPLAINING. 

The Perfect Break

On December 13, I finished my last final of my first semester of Divinity School. I packed up my things and left the building that I had spent so many hours of the previous 16 weeks and haven’t been back since.  Well, after 7 weeks of a much needed break, the time has come to load my backpack up with books and my body up with coffee.  While the break has not been void of all things school…I’ve read and outlined the New Testament and have tried to get ahead for my Greek and Reformation classes, for the most part I have used the time to reflect and refresh, and it has been so good.

I wish I had done a better job of describing the moments as they happened, because there really have been some incredible ones.  For those of you that know me well, you won’t be surprised to know that many of my favorite memories involve high-schoolers.  I know it’s probably weird to some most, but for whatever reason, that’s just how God wired me.  I’ve loved being able to immerse myself in their worlds over the break.  There were birthday parties and basketball games, a trip to Atlanta for Passion and a fancy ball, more basketball games, Disciple Now with the church, and then lots of walks, spend the night parties, lunches and coffee dates thrown in the mix.  I was reminded with each activity and conversation that God has me in school for a reason…and they are it.  While it can be difficult at times…or pretty much all the time…in the end, I will come away better equipped to teach the next generation…and that is exactly what I want.

Sorry for the picture overload…that’s what happens when I don’t really document much.

 

 

My fabulous cousin, Allison, turned the big 1-8.  Her friends wanted to throw her a party, so she asked that it be a lumberjack theme.  By far, one of the most fun parties I have ever attended. 

Got to take this fun group of girls to Atlanta for Passion.  Such a blessing!!

One of these days, I’m gong to figure out how many Disciple Now weekends I have participated in over the years.  While I don’t know the exact number off hand, I do know it’s in the double digits..and this group of seniors is as good as it gets.  Thankful every day that God saw fit for my first “group” of Dawson students to be these kids.  Love them oh so much!

Nothing like seeing my sweet girls all dressed up to get the tears flowing. This senior year has been so fun, I think we should just delay college and do it all over again next year!!