Sacrilege

Today walking out of Borders I saw a Starbucks coffee sleeve on the ground near the entrance. Okay, now, so I'm equally a fan of Borders and Starbucks but something about that just seems flagrantly adulterous!

Did Curiosity Really Kill the Cat???

Thanks to a recent post of friend of a friend, I stumbled upon this article earlier today ("Curiosity: Answering the Knock of Relationship") written by one of her seminary professors. All day long it has continued to stir my heart, invoking new questions for my consideration...

• Do I venture forth in my relationship with Jesus in a way that invites His curiosity of my own heart? Do I pursue Him with same curiosity?
• Am I curious about myself for the sake of being transformed more and more into Christlikeness?
• Am I curious about others in a way that invites them into similar transformation?

It's subject is a constant theme of conversation with my deepest of heart friends. If you're curious, have a read.

Good to Hear the Rain

It's raining today in my little corner of the world. As I was sitting in my little chair, drinking my coffee and sharing my heart with Jesus I noticed the soft and steady thump, thump of a much needed rain. Really such a comforting sound after months of drought...and so reflective of where my heart is found by Jesus in the last week. His word to my heart has been a constant refreshment to a wounded heart. Today as we visited, He reminded me of a favorite psalm:

Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him] and saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Ps. 34:5-8)

Taste and see that the Lord is good. So thankful for the invitation. So thankful that I've tasted. So thankful that He is who He says He is. So thankful that I've experienced His goodness for myself...

Pink Panther Marathon

A fond memory from my childhood was my father's enjoyment of the Pink Panther movies (and any soundtrack Henry Mancini). Because of that, I seem to remember getting up on Saturday mornings and watching the cartoon on tv. (Ah...Saturday morning cartoons and Honeycomb cereal. Those were the days!)

Anyway, since the new Pink Panther is getting ready to release in the next 2 weeks (and by the trailer it looks to be pretty funny), I moved the first two movies in the series along with A Shot in the Dark (another Inspector Clouseau flick) to the top of my Netflix queue. I forgot how funny the understated physical comedy of Peter Sellers is! I had some deep, good laughs. Something I definitely needed after a long, emotionally draining week.

"I believe everything and I believe nothing. I suspect everyone and I suspect no one. I gather the facts, examine the clues. And before you know it -- the case is solved! Oh, yes, there is much here that does not meet the eye." -- Inspecter Clouseau

Addictions and Other Cool Stuff

Thinking about my insane coffeehouse addiction got me thinking about why I generally feel energized during and after time there. I think the addiction lies in what generally comes out of the environment. Today for instance, before my first appointment with a gal, I spent time with Jesus. He spoke some truth to my heart that just deeply encouraged me. During the other times with different gals today, conversation ensued and life – Real Life – was exchanged between each of us. That looked different in each conversation, but in talking with each other, Jesus was a part of the conversation and I’m positive each one of us walked away closer to Christ. (Okay, so maybe my interpretation of the facts, but I’ve no doubt Jesus was there!)

Anyway, in pondering the day and just how loved I feel by Jesus, I just realized how so much of the atmosphere I’m addicted to contributes to the exchange of Life. For some reason, it’s an atmosphere that invites us to see Jesus in each person’s story. That, for me is like a drug – once it gets in your bloodstream you just can’t live without it!

Coffeehouse Junkie

You know you’re an addict when you start out the day at Panera meeting with one person and 6 hours later you run into that same person at a totally different coffeehouse. The disturbing confession is this -- between the first place and the last place you were at another coffeehouse in between!

The 180 Day

Do you ever have those days where you expect to live the day like any other day and then without any warning your entire life does a complete 180 degree turn in the opposite direction?

It could be that the 180 Day is a fabulous surprise, a day in which you feel entirely caught off guard by the events that evolve. Or it could be that the 180 Day offers you a new question to consider, revealing something alarmingly new about yourself and the ramifications of which you’re not entirely sure how to process. Or it could be that the 180 Day exposes you to something extremely painful, the hurt particularly numbing but offers with it an expectant hope?

Today is one of those days.

My 180 Day is unexpected, painful, surreal, and hopeful all at the same time. As I sit here trying to process the unexpected, I sense the Lord’s peace and pleasure all at the same time…words from Zephaniah 3:17 were offered before the 180 Day began:

“The LORD your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring [you] quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy."

And then since the 180 moment, words from Psalm 84:

"Happy are the people whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca [tears], they make it a source of springwater; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion…For the LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD gives grace and glory; He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity" (6-7, 11).

I am so thankful that the God I know, while not safe, is deeply good. It is good to know that a 180 Day for me is not so for Him! He is not caught off guard by the twists and turns of my journey…rather He leads me through it with every bit of boldness, love and care. He is my Warrior King and will deliver me to Zion. I am so glad to follow a King who knows me well and knows the plans He has for me.

Now That's What I'm Talkin' About

Sometimes I feel that recent movies have lost their originality in the area of new and fresh story ideas. Most of the time it feels to me as if they are telling old ones in new ways; remaking old classics with fresh spin; or just telling new stories but they're lame. This one caught my attention not only because I enjoy a good Adam Sandler flick every now and then, but the story seemed creative and extremely relatable. Who knew that the life I've always wanted was just a "click" away!

Friday Night Date and a Movie

Well, if you really believe that would I be writing this blog???

Actually, in my little corner of the world "date nights" are usually me, a movie and some great Thai food. (Really it's just more that I've been craving Thai food all week and in some vein of justification I call it Date Night. Which I had thought was kind of a fun idea until I ran into 2 of our dating couples at the Thai restaurant I ordered take out from. All of a sudden my fun justification felt kind of lame. Oh, well. (Gee, thanks for the empathetic sniff-sniffs.)

Regardless, tonight, did not disappoint. I finally got around to watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The version made back in the 70s was a favorite of mine as a child despite the fact that it never seemed to quite depict the quirkiness of the book. Leave it to Tim Burton to deliver on that! And Johnny Depp really was the perfect Willy Wonka. Much better portrayal than Gene Wilder's kind of arrogant, unfeeling version. And, while I did miss hearing "I've Got a Golden Ticket," the Ooompa Loompa song sung to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody was priceless!

But the best part of the night might have actually been the fortune in the fortune cookie: "A good memory is one trained to forget the trivial." For years I always thought that it was "a good memory is one trained to remember the trivial." Hmm...dating in my little corner of the world can be a definite growth experience.

I need ink! Stat!

This morning I ran out of ink for my favorite pen. Had to use a stand-in – Pilot G2. My time with Jesus just wasn’t the same. Over the last 14 years of walking with Jesus, I’ve just come to believe that the most spiritual conversations happen when 5 things are in place:

• the “fun mug” filled with coffee (if you need clarification on what actually qualifies as a fun mug, please drop me a line)
• my Tornado Retro51 pen (not only sleek and stylish, but best loved for its smooth ink flow)
• my leather journal (because it has the correct line width and the binding allows for just the right way of opening sans spiral)
• my oversized chair and ottoman (because it allows for the best conversational seating)
• silence and solitude (it’s the best way to hear Jesus)

Yeah, I’m a little quirky.

Back in the Groove

Well, it’s back to the lifestyle of the campus minister! Since Tuesday, I’ve been trying to reestablish my footing some although it is kind of like riding a bike…except it’d be way cooler with a little bell and funky basket on the front!

It seems that within the last two days, my life is beginning to get scheduled for me as I look at our semester calendar. By the time I start filling in the time gaps with one-on-one meetings with different gals, I’m not always left with the most convenient time slots for me. Today as I looked at my schedule, I began to feel that tug. You know, the one that’s sung to the tune of much whining, “But what about me?” Ever feel that way? These last few days I’ve found myself very aware of my selfishness. Aack. I hate seeing those attitudes and expectations in my heart. Very unpleasant stuff.

And then tonight as I was driving to our team meeting, I realized that I felt overwhelmingly tired. (There’s something about going from crazy hectic schedule, to hermit woman, and then back to a set schedule that’s kind of exhausting!) I just wasn’t sure where I was going to scrounge up some extra energy to welcome students back and help cast vision for the upcoming semester. Most of the car ride found me praying for strength, energy, and the ability to listen well into students’ lives. It turns out He reminded me during that time that tired was exactly where I needed to be – after all, in my tiredness He gets to prove His strength. And on top of that, without Him, I’m nothing. How I needed to be reminded of that going into this semester!

I heard someone say once that if you want to have a ministry it will cost you your time, your money and your convenience. It’s really true. It costs something. Ministry is life. It’s not compartmentalized. It’s not something I whip out when I feel like it or wait until I have all my relational resources in place in order to engage with others. All of ministry is all of me. Something I definitely need to wrap my heart and head around!!

Well, I’ve rambled long enough. Just wanted to send these thoughts out into that great cyber void. Time for this tired chick to wrap this up and head to bed – nearly 11pm, you know.

The Bowl Championship Series – Hollywood Style

It’s gearing up for my favorite time of year outside of college football season – entertainment award season. The Golden Globes are up first tonight and while I’ll be sitting in front of my TV, I must say, along the television noms line I’m a little disappointed. Michael Ausiello of TV Guide summed my own thoughts up nicely:

“My reaction to this year's Golden Globe nominations ran the usual gamut. I laughed (My Name Is Earl! The Office! Grey's Anatomy!), I cried (Where's Lauren Graham? And Veronica Mars? And Battlestar Galactica?) and, yes, I hurled (five nominations for Desperate Housewives?). And then I did what any self-respecting awards-show junkie would do: I started handicapping.”

Exactly. Respectable applause to Ausiello from my little corner of the world.

Melancholy Monday

It’s taken me awhile to actually get myself to sit down and write something today. So, right now I’m just typing…letting the words spill over from some semblance of a stream of consciousness.

It’s not that there isn’t anything to put into words – my Sunday was filled with a number of things that I could pick apart for the comedy, the drama, or the deeply sentimental. But it seems that my thoughts this morning have no theme. They’ve just been thoughts not yet simmering a little beneath the surface, not really near a steady boil. Do you ever have those days? Days when your heart and head are so full of a number of different questions or thoughts? Days when you know if you ask your heart the right questions that you’re not really sure you’re ready to hear the answer?

I blame it some on my return from hibernation. Yes, I’ve made cameos at some of my favorite places to frequent this past week. But as far as emerging from definitive alone time and intentionally entering into the activity of engaging in other people’s lives, it’s been awhile. Life for me these past few months have bordered a little on the insane. I was the detail point person for a regional conference that took place in our city the first week of January. For me, dealing with people within this context kind of forced me to operate at a red-level relational alert for a couple of months now. So, for this past week I pulled away from spending time with people.

And yesterday was the first day out of the hole. As I got ready for church, I realized that I was really nervous. A part of me didn’t want to venture back out into the trenches of relational life. Being an introvert by nature, I was fully aware that there’s such safety in my internal world. This inner life can be so rich at times and it feels risky to have to share it with others, you know? Ironing my blouse for church, I felt a tug of temptation to just avoid the day altogether. I chose to avoid the temptation (and the fact that my singles group was coming to my place after church kind of made it easier!) despite the frantic little voice screaming, "Danger Will Robinson!"

So, nerves and all, I made my way out into the world once again. First church, then hosting lunch at my home for my singles group, some catch up time over coffee at Starbucks with a dear friend, and then finally catching the latest version of Pride & Prejudice with my Starbucks companion. Definitely a full day for the cold turkey brush with community!

But in the midst of all these thoughts this morning, one thing that I’m left with from yesterday is the equally fresh tug of desire for authentic community. As risky as it felt to come out of my internal world yesterday, I tasted it once again. Getting a taste of good community is kind of like eating something salty – it always leaves me wanting more. As nervous as I was initially, I have to say that I walked away from the day feeling charged up in a way that I never experience in seclusion. It was good to be a part of a church body; it felt good to laugh with a group of people who I’m just beginning to get to know; it was good to exchange hearts with a gal who’s love for the lost both inspires me and challenges me; it was good to escape to a world of perfect romance when I feel a shocking lack of it to my own feminine heart…

Ah, there’s the rolling boil…beginning to see the theme now. Yesterday’s journey resonates a theme to my heart that it’s good to know yourself well. But it’s equally blissful to be known…

Saturday Stroll Through My Little Corner of the World

Saturday’s are not really that eventful but since you’re new to my little corner, I thought I’d share a few highlights:

Living the Vida Laptop
It has always been a dream of mine to own a laptop. And today I officially introduced Laptop to Borders. It was fairly uneventful other than the near fight I had to keep her out of over a wall outlet. I had no idea that other laptop owners were so territorial! Learn something new everyday. I think I’m going to start traveling with one of those wall outlet extender thingys. That way we can all be happy.

Things That Make You Panic…
I wore a brand new pair of jeans today. In the middle of Borders had the sinking realization that I didn’t wash them before I wore them. This thought hit me when I felt some shortness of breath and became a little light-headed.

Wait a minute. What was that pang? I sure hope it’s not internal bleeding. Or kidney failure.

No, wait. It’s gone.

Well, it happened on House.

First thing I’m doing when I get home is wash these jeans.

And they say you can’t learn anything on episodic TV.

Age-Inappropriate Jeans Citing
In the parking lot at Borders I saw a woman in her late 30s wearing a pair of jeans I’m sure she bought in the juniors department at JCPenneys – they had Mickey Mouse appliquéd on the upper thigh. From then on I was distracted – kept expecting Stacy and Clinton to pop out of hiding behind some bookshelf.

Either my toaster’s broken or it just copped a ‘tude
I was toasting a piece of toast for dinner and when it was done, the toaster flipped the toast up into the air and it conveniently landed in the no-man’s land crack between my counter and the refrigerator – do you have any idea what lives there??

So, not wanting to jump to any quick conclusions and extend a little grace, I popped another piece of bread in. It came out the normal way.

How rude.

And, oh yes, House, M.D. has a new Home
Just call me “Sucker.”

Some Questions for the Blog Perusing Telemarketer…

My phone has rung 15 times today beginning at 9am. Yesterday it started at 8am. Not one of them has been someone who knows that I don’t really care to have Dish network installed; that I don’t want, need, or care about debt consolidation; or that I have caller ID and if someone dangled me over the edge of a cliff, I wouldn’t answer their call.

So, my dear Telemarker nemesis, on the off chance that you’re bored there sitting in your little booth today because someone like me refuses to pick up the phone and you happen to come across this blog, can I give you a few questions/thoughts to maybe guide you in some sort of life altering career change…

1. Is this really your dream career? Are you just currently stuck in some sort of holding pattern?
2. If it’s a temporary gig until you get discovered …were there really no other jobs available?
3. Do you enjoy constant rejection?
4. On the chance that someone actually picks up the receiver and listens to your spiel, does it occur to you that maybe “I’m not interested” really means that “I’m not interested” and that it’s okay to end the conversation?
5. When you’re at home, do you like it when other telemarketers call you?
6. Don’t you think that if I really wanted what you’re selling that I’d be calling and bugging you?

Okay, I’ve really got to go to bed earlier tonight.

Two Pots of Coffee Kind of Morning

Okay, when I was grinding the beans for the second pot of coffee (don’t worry, I’m a half-caf gal so it was more like drinking one full pot of regular), I realized something new about my 32-year old self: I’m getting too old for anything that happens past 11pm.

I’ve mentioned this new obsession for House, M.D. Well, after I got home last night from a “catch up on life/planning for the upcoming semester” meeting with some ministry colleagues of mine, I decided I’d just watch a few minutes of the next episode of House. A few minutes turned into 2 episodes later and that meant it was 2:30am when I was turning off the lamp on my nightstand! The unfortunate thing for me is that that little internal clock still wakes up with the dawn. Ugh. You’d think working with college students I could have fooled that nasty internal ticker into operating on a different time zone. Very annoying.

Need a good book to read on a friday night?

For anyone who likes to stay afloat of resources for the single person, here's the first chapter of a new book coming out by Camerin Courtney and Todd Hertz. I'm probably the roughest critic of any book that pertains to offering advice to the singleton but I really enjoyed Camerin's Table for One. She was surprisingly realistic and honest about the emotions, frustrations, and joys of being single.

“But you are damaged. Aren’t you?”

It’s a statement Dr. House posed to Dr. Cameron, one of his staff. She was prodding him for answers as to why he really hired her. It was obvious by Cameron’s expression that when she came looking for answers to validate her place on House’s staff, that she didn’t expect to be exposed. But, House, as I’m quickly learning, is not one to avoid the intrusive, red-light kind of questions.

This morning that scene kept surfacing as I chatted with Jesus over a cup of coffee. So, I asked myself,

Am I damaged? If so, what value does damaged goods have in the kingdom of God?

House exposes Cameron. While we don’t know at this point what her backstory is, the truth is out – she is damaged. (Frankly, so is he.) But House confronts Cameron with it. Now, because it’s out there, because someone else has identified it, she’s exposed. What will she do with that, I wonder?

Jesus’ work in our lives is no different. Through the Holy Spirit’s involvement, He exposes our “stuff” (John 16:8-15).

Yes, Blythe, you are damaged.

Yikes. That's not very nice.

But it doesn’t end with exposure. Exposure is only the beginning. There’s a response to being exposed.

Dr. Cameron’s response is to merely turn and walk away from House. Somehow, for us, I think the more critical response when Jesus exposes us is to stay in the conversation. No matter how painful. No matter how ugly. No matter how vulnerable and laid bare we feel.

Are you kidding me? Why would I want to do that???

I was reminded of 2 Cor.1:3-7:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so our comfort overflows through Christ. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in the endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.”

Because maybe it’s only in the conversation with Him that I can open myself to receive comfort from Him.

I looked up the Greek here. Parakaleo. A Greek word meaning admonish, exhort; to beg, entreat, beseech; to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort; to encourage, strengthen; to instruct, teach. Even more fascinating was the root, kaleo. Kaleo had the idea of calling or inviting to one’s side in a loud voice. It seems being comforted by Him is a conversation that He doesn’t want us to miss out on! He invites us boldly and loudly to Himself.

Why?

I think the obvious answer is that He wants to. He said in John 16 that He would send a Comforter when He left this earth. He wants to bring a peace, a hope, a joy to our hearts whether our circumstances change or not.

Back to the House scenario one last time: Because he’s a doctor who makes no bones about his loathing of interacting with people, I think Dr. House knows that Cameron’s brokenness is of great value to him.

Jesus doesn't just want His comfort of our hearts to be the end. Another reason He doesn’t want us to miss out on this conversation is because those who have been comforted by God are useful to the kingdom of God.

So, are damaged goods valuable to the kingdom of God?

Oh, yes, Blythe Lane. Damaged goods that have been refurbished by Me are the only ones I use.

Damaged hearts that have been comforted by Him are of great value. He comforts us so that we in turn will comfort others.

So all this pondering has led me to 3 new questions…

• Are there some areas in my life I’ve not allowed Him to expose my heart?
• In the areas that have been exposed…have I stayed in the conversation long enough to really receive the comfort He longs to give?
• Who in my path does He want me to comfort with the same comfort I’ve received from Him?

My Backyard...the Disneyland of the Neighborhood

Apparently, my backyard is now a holding pen for the neighbor's kids. I'm not kidding. As I sit here typing I'm looking through my sliding glass door directly to the backyard.

Ouch.

One kid just took a whack with a twig at the smaller one.

So, what do you suppose, might this be a sign of???

Good grief, I’m hooked. Again.

Because my ministry “job” has been on pause since university doesn’t begin until next Tuesday, AND because I’m “recuperating” with a little hibernation since being bogged down in the details of a large-scale conference that just culminated last week, I decided to treat myself to checking out another TV series I’ve heard a lot of praise about.

House, M.D. In a nutshell, I’m hooked. In the first 10 minutes of watching, it was a “you had me at ‘hello’” kind of moment. If I didn’t have the rest of the series in the Netflix queue, I probably would have gone out tonight and bought it! (I won’t tell you how many other series I’ve done that with.) It will join a number of other series that I’m currently watching. And, well, just in case you’re wondering what a hip, single, campus minister in Oklahoma is watching, I’ll fill you in:

• Gilmore girls
• Veronica Mars
• Lost
• Alias
• Related
• What Not to Wear (cause the girl has got to stay hip)

Previous shows of noteworthy interest within roughly the last 7 years:

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Angel
• Tru Calling
• Friends
• Roswell
• 24 (I know it’s current but I’ve only watched the first season)

I kind of like shows that are a little bit different than some of the normal fare. (Normal to me being The West Wing or CSI or ER.) I typically stay away from the crime scene dramas, most sit-coms from the late-90s til present (I hung in there with Friends), and reality TV. Just thinking of reality TV makes me throw up a little in the back of my throat.

Anyway…House, M.D. has captivated me. I hope the rest of the season lives up to the first four episodes.

They know.

Categorized a morning person, my morning routine is fairly basic.

Get up. Visit the bathroom. Grab a sweater (for some reason my house is always cold in the morning). Make my way to the coffee pot. Grind the beans. Put the coffee on. Open the drapes to the backyard to the let the sunshine in. Say hello to dog.

Whoa. Back up. Where’d that dog come from???

If you know me well – and chances are if you’re reading this you do – you know that I own no pets. Not a pet girl. At all.

But for some reason my backyard becomes from time to time a holding pen for all the neighbors’ pets. There was the Annoying Pomeranian. There was the Dachshund/Chihuahua mix. There’s Miller the Mutt (don’t even get me started on how he probably got that name. Let's just say I find a few beer bottles lingering in my yard every now and then!) There was also the snake, the turtle, the black cat. And let’s don’t forget the Dead Crow…which after a period of three days apparently went through some kind of resurrection and decided to finally live a new life elsewhere.

In any case, when I pulled back my curtain this morning and there found Minnie (Yep, that's Minnie on the left. Took a picture just for proof!), a scene or two from the Gilmore Girls flooded my memory.

Like me, Lorelai is going through her own morning routine, opening the front door to get her newspaper when she is perturbed to find a cat sitting on the porch. She dials the phone:

Rory: "Hello?"
Lorelai: "They know."
Rory: "Who knows?"
Lorelai: "The cats. They know that I've broken up with Jason and that I'm alone and they've decided it's time for me to become a crazy cat lady."
(More crazy lines I can’t keep up with)
Lorelai: "I give up. I guess I need to start collecting newspapers and magazines, find a blue bathrobe, lose my front teeth."
Rory: "Well, obviously, you've got a busy day ahead of you, so I'm gonna let you go."
(Later that same morning, Lorelai talking to Luke)
Lorelai: “She’s trying to set me up with Shel the poultry guy? Why would she do that? I’ve just broken up with someone.”
Luke: “Yeah.”
Lorelai: “We’ve been dating for a few months now.”
Luke: “I figured there was someone in the picture.”
Lorelai: “You did? How?”
Luke: “Just clues, you know. You never dress weather appropriate. That kind of thing.”
Lorelai: “Well, I can bundle on up now. Cats came to my house today. Cause they know I’m a loser and I’m destined to be alone.”
Luke: “You’re not destined to be alone. You have Shel.”
Lorelai: “Why is it so hard?’
Luke: “What? Relationships? Look who you’re asking.”
Lorelai: “At least you got married.”
Luke: “At least you had a kid.”
Lorelai: “Yeah. It makes me sad sometimes. Does it make you sad?”
Luke: “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Lorelai: “I see Dr. Phil books in our future.”
Luke: “Unless they stock ‘em at Home Depot they’re not likely to cross my path.”

Personally, I’ve always felt that these pets just merely see my backyard as a vacation hot spot from their own dull homes. Something like, the Aruba of the Animal world, I suppose. (Maybe Aruba’s not such a good reference.) But thinking of Lorelai this morning, I’m beginning to wonder: Is my backyard less a meaningless diversion for these mammal misfits and more a cautionary sign that it’s time to pull out the oversized flowered muumuu, start clipping coupons, and move the social life to Furr’s???

Unbelievable

Read this on one of my favorite blogs.

I'm sure you may already have heard. Frankly, I haven't turned the TV on much in the last few days.

My Little Corner of the World

Lest you sit around wondering where my blog title derives from, I will put your anxious thoughts at ease. Inspired by the Gilmore girls, it comes from the song “My Little Corner of the World” by Yo La Tengo. It’s a simple song, but one that resonates with my heart. If I knew how to post a sound bite, I’d offer you a taste. Since I’m new to this blog scene, I’ll just post the words:

Come along with me to my little corner of the world
Dream a little dream in my little corner of the world
You'll soon forget that there's any other place
Tonight, my love, we'll share a sweet embrace

And if you care to stay in my little corner of the world
We could hide away in my little corner of the world
I always knew that I'd find someone like you
So welcome to my little corner of the world

And if you care to stay in our little corner of the world
We could hide away in our little corner of the world
We always knew that we'd find someone like you
So welcome to our little corner of the world

Confession: I adore the Gilmore Girls. I’m not sure if it’s the Pallandino team’s amazing writing abilities; Lauren Graham’s perfect comedic delivery; the Stars Hollow world; or Lauren Graham’s amAzing wardrobe (confession #2: I try and model my own wardrobe after hers!) that I love the most. But, I’m definitely a fan. I think it borders a little on the obsessive.

Is it silly that a 32-year old single woman has a nearly obsessive fascination with a TV show??? Does it reveal a shocking lack of productive social life??? As far as I know, no cats have shown up on my doorstep…although many other types of animals and, yes, reptiles have made appearances in my backyard…

Blogger Virgin

Okay. So I admit it. I'm a blogger virgin. For years, I've listened to people around me (many of them the college students I labor amongst and my best friend, Jill Pole) speak of the blog. I've voyeuristically enjoyed many of their own musings. Some of them have allowed me to think more deeply upon the desires and questions of my own heart. As a former journalism major, I must confess that I've been intrigued. The desire to write is a common theme in my life -- it seems that my heart is always pondering something. I have a number of leather journals filled with thoughts about life, frustrations, and my Story as the Lord lovingly shapes it. But the discipline to actually sit down and put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard) has completely alluded me.

So, recently, I became a laptop owner. Something about the sudden mobility of technology has dredged up a desire to be more internet vulnerable. Sounds silly, I know, but the desire to write has surfaced and I'm determined to step into the risk of writing...something. I don't really know what the theme of this blog will be...maybe that will be shaped over time. But, for now, I'm here and ready for a writing adventure...