Waiting

I don’t like to wait.

But I am often waiting.

Right now, I am waiting for some information so I can complete the church bulletins and get on with my day.

I am waiting for an email.

I am waiting for a delivery…or two.

I am waiting for a decision.

I am waiting for inspiration.

I am waiting for it all to be explained.

Chris

I found a long-lost friend today.
 
Chris and I went to college together.  At different points, we “dated” (although that’s probably not the right term since we never really went OUT anywhere) each other’s roommates.  We had a radio show on the campus station, “The Chris & Trish Show”.  He has seen me at my best and at my…well, probably absolute worst.  We had many late nights, some run ins, but a whole lot of fun.  I knew I could always count on Chris to be there for me, no matter what.
 
After college, like most, we drifted apart.  I remember the last time we talked.  It was around Christmas and I was living in my first apartment by myself.  I remember talking for a really long time while trying to string the lights (which, by the way, is difficult when you are using a phone with a cord!)  He was struggling to find his place in the world.  He wasn’t thrilled with what he was doing or where he was in life.  I didn’t have the right words to say.  I probably still wouldn’t, if I’m honest.
 
Fast forward several (yes, several) years.  I’ve googled him now and again but never had any luck.  Today, for some reason, he was brought to mind and I decided to google him once more.  And lo and behold, I find a webpage – for his wedding next year!!  What great news and what a very cool way to find him again.  I’m sure it’s him, as I recognize some of the names in the wedding party.  I dashed off a quick email asking the pertinent questions (such as “tell me all about her” and “tell me absolutely everything that’s happened in the last how-ever-many years”). 
 
I hope he writes me back.
 
 

I am tired.

I had a training I had to go to this morning, then to look at a potential office space for the church, then to the mall (can’t miss a really good sale!), then home briefly, then to a demonstration of one of my favorite things – Tastefully Simple! Then to the pet store and grocery store. Once I finally got home, put dinner in the oven and checked email, it was time to get working on my course…which I am SO behind in, I cannot even tell you. I emailed the instructor before I left for Arizona, asking if I could take an incomplete and retake it later. She wrote back that this was not an option and did I think I could finish. Well, I’m on unit 4, there are 12 units and I have to have it done by the 31st.

Hmmmm.

NOT LIKELY.

But I am trying. I’m in unit 5 now, but have some reading to do.

But I’d really rather go to bed!!

They Don’t Call it the Red Eye for Nothing!

Part of my whirlwind wildness last week was that I learned last Monday I was traveling to Phoenix for several days this week for a program and a conference. I flew home on the red eye last night…and probably had my worst travel experience of all time. The flight was supposed to go at 12:15 AM. I got to the airport really early, simply because I no longer had a room at the hotel and had nothing to do. But the flight was delayed arriving and we didn’t take off until after 1 AM. I did not sleep a wink on the flight, which arrived an hour late. Luckily, I had requested car service, knowing that I would be too exhausted to drive home. The one thing I didn’t count on, however, was the we had been hit with our first winter “storm” and there were accidents EVERYWHERE due to snow and ice. What shoudl have been a 45 minute trip from the airport took almost three and a half hours!!!! It was absolute madness.

I came home, called out of work and slept for a few hours. I had wanted to only sleep a bit and then stay up and go to be early tonight but my exhaustion got the better of me and I went back to sleep for a few hours. Now I am up, catching up on email and church work, and listening to a wicked wind blow outside.

I can’t even begin to describe the whirlwind and absolute madness of this week. I’m trying desperately to go with the flow but I am so NOT a go with the flow kind of gal.

So I am tired, I am stressed, I am juggling about 25 balls in the air and praying they don’t come crashing down and conk me on the head.

I may be out of touch for a bit but don’t worry – I’m still hear, checking in, reading Bloglines to keep up with everyone. And I’ll be back soon!!

Another Day

Back to work, back to routine.

It was hard getting going today…and keeping going. I so badly want to finish up the office/spare room clean out, mainly because I feel like there is now stuff everywhere. But this will probably have to wait until Saturday – I can do a bit here and there before that but the major sorting needs to be finished when I have more time to dedicate.

Tonight I came home from work, made a Dream Dinner (lemon chicken piccata – yum!), sorted a few things, ate dinner and went to home group. I called the Y on the way to group and asked how late they were open and I decided then and there that even though it was “late”, I was going after group. I stayed around and talked longer than I planned and it was 45 minutes before closing when I turned down the street. BUT I DID IT. I went in and did almost the full workout the trainer had worked out for me. It’s not much, because my frail body can’t handle much, but I did it! I was very proud of myself – and now I know that I can fit it in to my schedule, even if it is after everything else in the routine is finished for the night. I’m kind of worried it might keep me up, exercising so late, but I’m feeling tired now so hopefully it won’t!

I got home and sorted a bit more and paid bills that I was ridiculously behind on. It’s amazing what I let slip over the holidays. And crazy, too! But that’s organized and caught up on at least and that makes me happy. Now I have a couple other things to do and then it is off to bed for the workout queen!

The Dawning of a New Year

Hope smiles on the threshold of the year to come, whispering that it will be happier.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

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2006 was quite a year. Many things didn’t happen or turn out as I had planned, but when I think of that, I think of a quote that says something to the effect of “man plans and God laughs”. So true.
I posted some of the stressors of the year in the post “It’s Official” about canceling my annual New Year’s Day party, so now I’ll focus on the high points of 2006 instead:
Changing jobs…twice. I started out the year on January 3 at a new place of employment after being at my previous job for six and a half years. I was excited for the change and a new perspective. But in the early fall, another, better opportunity opened up for me and I started at the end of September. It has been all that I hoped for and more. I’m so glad for the work and for the new friends I’m making there.
A first birthday party. When my friend’s baby came early last October and he spent time in the NICU, it was frightening and heartbreaking. They had a difficult year and were basically in quarantine for the majority of the winter and spring months due to the risk of RSV on his underdeveloped lungs. This October, we rejoiced at his first birthday party and are so happy to see how strong, healthy and happy this little guy is.
Another workcamp. Although my role was different this year and I didn’t get to spend nearly enough time as I would have liked with my youth (I love you guys!), I really enjoyed my role as camp photographer. It was wonderful to spend my days driving around the West Virginia countryside, meeting the residents of the homes we were working on and seeing how the youth were really touching their lives. I am going to two this year – one as a staff member (by myself) and one with my youth group as a camper. I simply cannot wait. Although its MONTHS away, I’m already gearing up.
Our women’s retreat. How can you go wrong with a retreat revolving around chocolate? But really, it was a great time to get to know some of the women at church better and to strengthen our relationships. I’m looking forward to our next retreat in the fall already – have the dates and rooms booked, if you can believe it! The camp where we stay is wonderful and very accomodating and we’ve already been in touch several times.
My women’s Bible study. I’ve had the opportunity to meet other women from all different backgrounds and ages at the Bible study I’ve been attending weekly at another church. My heart longs for this at my own church but right now, it doesn’t seem like it’s a possibility. And so I am thankful for the women I’ve met at this new church and their kindness and sweet spirits. I’m also thankful for the study itself which is making me look at things so differently.
Friends and family. This year, I was blessed to draw closer to some friends I hadn’t been able to spend much time with lately and that truly made my heart happy. I’ve made some new friends, which was also answered prayer this year during a particularly lonely period. I truly believe that God sends people into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime and I am thankful for all of them.
Surprises. This year, I suprised my dad on Father’s Day with a lobster and seafood dinner at their house. It was a nice day and I know he was happy. We surprised Michelle (kinda) with her 40th birthday party…but the biggest surprise was having her brother there. That was wonderful! And on Christmas, I surprised my dad with tickets to the Pennsylvania 500 this summer. Yahoo! It is so important to me to make people happy and also, in times of gift giving, to find the “perfect” gift. I think I did pretty well with this one!
And so a new year begins. A friend and I used to share our resolutions with one another each year and try to spur one another on to achieving them. I think the same ones ended up on my list each year! There are so many areas where I lack self-discipline so completely (like right now, when I am supposed to be clearing out the office space but am blogging instead!!) but I know I need to become more focused and work harder. But instead of resolving to achieve this or that, I’m going to focus on my hopes for 2007:
  • Financial stability and increased responsibility
  • Two great missions trips
  • Increased physical fitness (or maybe instead of saying an increase…since it’s at ZERO…to say some degree of physical fitness!)
  • Make better choices…in what I eat, how I spend my time, how I spend my money….
  • Grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus Christ
I keep wanting to say to find balance but I truly believe that the idea of balance is a fallacy. I don’t know anyone who isn’t seeking it and I know no one who has found it…life is simply to unpredictable. So I’ll leave it off the list!
I wish you all a happy New Year’s Day and wonderful blessings in the year to come!

Rest in Peace

I watched the funeral service this evening for President Gerald Ford. Although I am too young to remember much, if anything, about his presidency, I do remember my Grammy coming to the house on election day. She asked me who I thought should be the next president – Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter. I said that I thought Mr. Ford should be the next president and when she asked me why, I said because he seemed like a nice grandpa. I remember crying when they told me later that Jimmy Carter had won and would be our next president instead.

And so tonight, I watched and cried for Mrs. Ford who lost her love of nearly 60 years and for their children and grandchildren and those who dearly loved this man. I cried because I miss my Grammy, especially at this time of year.

I wish that I could drive down to DC and walk in the rotunda, to pay my respects to this man but I don’t want to make the trip alone. So I will stay close by the television and absorb as much as I can. I so appreciated one of the eulogies tonight that ended with “well done, good and faithful servant”. It is what we all want to hear some day and I believe he already heard them, Tuesday evening after his passing.

It has been a busy week. I feel like I have constantly been on the go since the Friday before Christmas (and surely before that!) And as my vacation week winds down, I am thinking of all the things I wanted to do but didn’t quite get to yet.

I did organize the pantry and the hall closet. I still want to organize the linen closet and then the biggie…the office! I spent the day today with Nan and we challenged each other to get our offices cleaned out and in functioning order by the end of January. We gave ourselves to the end of February to sort through, discard, etc. anything we remove that isn’t brought back in immediately to make the room (and ourselves) functional. I also called my parents and asked my dad to come build some shelving for me around the room. That should be a nice place to put my collectibles and such so they aren’t taking up valuable space on the desk, bookshelves and so on. I don’t think my landlord will mind – it’ll be a nice addition to the room and when my dad did it for my mom, it turned out very nice.

On another note, I was supposed to go with my friend to visit our old pastor’s church tomorrow. But my friend and his family are down with the stomach flu. So now I am trying to decide if I should take this opportunity to go visit another church (which I’ve never done on a Sunday) or just go to mine as usual. I don’t know. I’m torn. I was just looking at some of the local churches online but only found one that was appealing to me. On the other hand, our pastor is going to talk about a new study we are going to be doing at the beginning of the year and I’m somewhat interested in hearing what he says about that to the congregation.

Tomorrow night, I’m hanging out with some old friends. I don’t want to stay out and ring in the new year…I’d rather be home, safe and sound, watching the ball drop at midnight than driving home with crazy people who have been drinking. So we agreed to dinner, maybe a movie, just having fun but calling it an early night.

Monday I am sleeping in! And, if I can store up enough energy (and boxes), clearing out the office!!! I’ll do more before and after shots. I wish I had done a before of the pantry and hall closet but they do look fantastic now, if I do say so myself. I don’t know what it is about me and the overwhelming desire to reorganize everything to start the new year but I do this every year.