Piles

I have just spent the majority of the afternoon (into evening) emptying my room of the many piles that have overcome it during the end of May. I am not sure when the last time that I cleaned my room was. Maybe early April, possibly sometime over Spring Break. In any case, it has not been rid of piles for much longer than that.

I think piles could be a fatality in my family. I myself have many of them: piles of laundry, piles of bills to pay, piles of holy cards (what does one do with these?). And usually while cleaning my room I come across a pile of stuff that has no place to belong.

But, not today! Hurray! No piles for Lisa today!! Yeay!

All of those little piles have found places to go - be they in a folder or a bookcase or a trashcan - they are banished from my room!

A little less rock and roll . . .

I made a decision this evening. The decision was that my blogs recently (as in the past few months cause things have been hecka busy) are too serious!! Seriously, I am a 26 year old single white female and I am too serious!

So this is my crazy and wacky post! hmm . . . I'm kindof stinking it up!! I'll try again later . . .

I want to be in love . . .

"Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance . . . nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It was . . . A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie. "
~ Sleepless in Seattle

For a long time I thought that it wasn't possible to find the love we all see in movies. The love I've dreamed about since I was a little girl. Now, I know that it isn't. But, it is possible to be in love in real life. It's something that I have been blessed to witness.

I could not have pictured a more special weekend for Kristi and Andrew. I knew that it would be big and I was pretty sure it would be a lot of fun. But, as in most big things in my life, I had no idea what would happen. Months ago Kim and I sat out on our back porch and developed our plot - the big thing for the wedding - the new Daisy House tradition for the first Daisy girl's wedding. We started out with a very little idea and it became very big.

The Daisy House (Andrew included) had all fled North by Thursday evening. We had a good old fashioned Great Country Getaway cookout with Ma and Pa Rausch and headed up to the church. Kristi and Andrew wrote their prayer to Mary, Kim wrote her part of the toast and I prayed that Mary would help me give my life to her son so that His will be done in my life. Then, as a house, we sang Sanctuary. "Prepare me to be a santuary, pure and holy - tried and true." We have definitely been tried in the past and God has definitely been true to us. And we have been blessed.

Friday was a laid back day - I have to hand it to Keeks for being so prepared. There was no stress on Friday. We had fun decorating and headed to Whitey's for some grub, then back to the Rausch house to chill. The rehearsal went off without a hitch and dinner was some amazing fun. Then the bridal party headed to the DQ for some deliciousness before heading off to bed.

Saturday began very quietly. We all just kind of wandered around the house looking for things to do. It wasn't until about 11 that we realized (ok, Kristi realized) that we should get our butts in gear and actually put on our dresses and all.

The rest of the day I can't really begin to describe. Beautiful? Yes. Holy? Yes. Fun? Hell Yeah! It was perfect. And yet it was real. It was not "love in the movies" as one of my favorites describes it. It was the flesh and blood beauty of two people that are very dear to me joining their lives in front of God and those that they love. It was Christ's undying love for the Church being shown 5 feet in front of me.

Father's homily was priceless. It fit Kristi and Andrew perfectly. The flower girls were the most adorable thing I've ever seen - or held! The peaceful love felt by everyone in the room was indescribable. Watching the daisies pile up before Kristi and Andrew took my breath away - I knew I had to go last! Dollar dancing with three of my best friends in the world was something I'll never forget - I sure hope I fall hard and fast Ray! Singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and giving my roommate a hug and kiss goodbye as they drove away was funny and poignant all at the same time. Swing dancing with boys from Andale was great fun even though my arms hurt for two days afterward. Chilling with 10 of my closest friends dangling our feet in the hot tub and drinking after the wedding was a blessing.

All of this made me cry. Then Father's homily on Sunday was about being corralled by a Shepard who loves me. Not the "love in the movie" type love but the real "I died because I love you" kind of love. And as I look back on all the blessings of Kristi and Andrew's wedding, I think the biggest of all was this. Love isn't like it is in the movies. It is so much, much more. And I get to experience it for real someday. I get to be married and have my own beautiful day. But until then, I have a Man, a God, corralling me into his arms with his unfailing love.

The Profound

We just closed up another one of those great Daisy House back porch sitting nights. And tonight was profound. I've been pondering the "bigness" of God for all of Lent; for a while now actually. How can he be that big and still love me, little Lisa from that little blue house down the street. But he does.

This little Lisa sat in her hammock in the starlit blue of breezy night - and it was as if God was holding me in his arms. There are so many things that have been going through my head the past few days. Christ's agony in the garden and his words, "Not my will but your will." I don't know where I am going to live in 2 1/2 months. This little daisy blue house won't be here then. One of my best friendsis getting married and it is beautiful and exciting . . . and sad in that way that changes things forever. One of my student's passed away yesturday. That little quiet girl who sat in the back of my sixth hour class and didn't say very much at all is no longer there.

And yet, Jesus died on the cross - a terrible death - so that he can hold me in the palm of his hand. During Sojourn in January we were sent off to write a letter to Jesus. And I couldn't get the words. I had just returned from one of our teacher's 13 year old son's funeral. So I went for a walk. What I found was a statue of Mary that I had never seen before. I've never really wandered around the SLC either, but even so. It was a statue of Our Lady of Guadelupe - an image that holds a lot of meaning for me and for the teacher who lost her son. And I went up to the rock that sits at the base of Our Lady, sat next to her, placed my head in her hand and I cried.

To imagine the depth of love that the Father has for me. A sword pierced her heart. Three nails, a bunch of thorns, and a spear pierced his body. All for me.

The world's shaking with the love of God
Great and glorious, let the whole Earth sing
And all you ever do is change the old from new
People we believe that...

God is bigger than the air I breathe
The world we'll leave
God will save the day and all will say
My glorious!

Clouds are breaking, heaven's come to earth
Hearts awakening let the church bells ring
And all you ever do is change the old to new
People we believe that

God is bigger than the air I breathe
The world we'll leave
God will save the day and all will say
My glorious! My glorious! My glorious! My glorious!

Thank you, Father, for choosing me to be a part of your glory.

Remembering

A year ago today, I remember sitting in my bedroom with Kimmy watching St. Peter's square as we found out that our beloved Pappa had left this world. Today, on a famous Sunny Sunday, I got to spend time with some of my favorite people in the world. We had a very starchy potluck and prayed a rosary and chaplet of divine mercy for John Paul the Great. I just left my back porch where there are even now friends gathered around the chiminea, smoking cigars, having a drink, sharing a story.

I have been given so much over the past year and a half. There are so many "legends" that have occurred that I have gotten to live through. Kim and I were planning wedding stuff yesturday (again, in the backyard - the weather is beautiful). She was telling the story of our plan later on and it just sounded so neat to be a part of.

Kristi and I went "mad shopping" today. We were looking for shoes and bought 3 skirts, 3 shirts and a pair of shoes. Let me tell you, Buy One, get one free is hard work!!

I am so blessed to have the friendships that I have. To be able to sit back and be. I was watching the firelight and listening to the conversations and daydreaming. It seems God has given me to OK to daydream about my future. The thing is, my daydream was and is very much of a reality. I want to spend my life deeply enjoying the company of those around me.

Good teachers steal ideas

And that is what I'm about to do!!

Here goes - my top four list!!

Four jobs you have had in your life:

1. Babysitting
2. Mr. Goodcents - I always smelled like oil and vinegar - eww!!
3. Bagging Groceries at the Commissary - best job ever!!
4. Teaching Freshman and Sophomore English

Four movies you would watch over and over:

1. Sleepless in Seattle
2. While You Were Sleeping (do you see a pattern?)
3. Sound of Music
4. Office Space (I had to mix it up a little!! But it's true - I love this movie!)

Four places you have lived:

1. San Francisco
2. Leavenworth, KS
3. St. Meinrad, IN
4. Atchison, KS

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1. American Idol
2. Dawson's Creek
3. Gilmore Girls (pre-skank)
4. Lois and Clark, the new adventures of Superman!!

Four places you have been on vacation:

1. Destin, Florida
2. Rome, Italy
3. Kitty Hawk, NC
4. South Bend, Indiana

Four websites I visit daily: (or almost daily)

1. MSN
2. school email
3. delightfuldelirium.blogspot.com
4. I don't know

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Chocolate
2. Italian food made by any of the women on my dad's side of the family - including my mommy!
3. Panera Turkey Artichoke sandwich
4. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. In my parent's living room chilling out
2. Giving my friend Manda a hug
3. Cold Stone eating ice cream
4. my living room talking to friends

Yay! A post from Lisa

I don't rightly know who else would post on my website - as that would be a bit weird and a teenie bit strange, to say the least - it is just an exclamation of, "Hey, after a month of dryness there is finally new postage on this site" (not to be confused with the new postage at the post office who we recieved a postcard from the other day with the cartoon character Cathy saying we can buy stamps at selected ATM machines - Yippeee!!! I always wanted to do that!!)

All right, enough LMM, let's get down to the good stuff. Keeks has been bugging me for a post and was speaking today about how she occasionally goes back and rereads the post from the previous year of the same month. (if that makes sense).

So I did. And I was reminded of the craziness of this weekend a year ago - the infamous "Weekend Off" after having some activity for 2 months strait - and all the drama of our "weekend off." I find it very ironic that my biggest post last February was my lamenting of my singleness. I then found myself wondering that if I lamented again then perhaps the single status would also take care of itself once again. That would be exciting! Alas, there are not any boys making my heart go "cuthump, cuthump" inside my chest as of now. I don't know when that could happen either. Anyway, I decided that this post would not be lamenting so here goes - Lisa not lamenting. I think that would make a great novel title! (a novel idea in fact.)

I have learned something in the writing of this post: One, that Crown and Coke's and Lisa blogging make for a very non-exciting blabbering blog that may be bubbley but not exactly beautiful - how's that for semi - drunken alliteration!! Two - I don't have a whole lot that I want to write about at 1 in the morning. Three - I just added three because it seems you can't have a list with only two. Four - I should really make my bed. I washed my sheets today (our dryer is finally fixed (after 10 minutes and $150 of our landlord's money) and have no sheets on my bed. Some clothes, yes but no sheets. Five - I was going to start singing the Ant's go marching song but I can't remember what five is. I think six deals with sticks . . .

Too true!

Your Fortune Is

To make a long story short, don't tell it.

The Wacky Fortune Cookie Generator

Remembering

This past week I had my freshman students write a Personal Portfolio, filling it with different entries telling me (and themselves) about who they are as freshman in high school. I figure that with a semester under their belts, they have more of an understanding of who "being me" really is.

I find it very interesting, in retrospect, how I was in high school, and how the "me" in high school has shaped who I am today. Sometimes it is hard to remember the Lisa who was a freshman in high school, getting lost (whether it be in the halls or in the eyes of the dreamy sophomore in my civics class - who by the way still ranks as one of the cutest guys I've ever held hands with (yay for praying during youth group!!).

I was so worried about the impression that I gave to other people. I was so shy and quiet. Wouldn't it be interesting to go back and live (just for a day) as you felt as a freshman? It makes me sad to think how much fear I had. I had to worry about wearing the right outfit, saying the right thing, sitting with the right people at lunch, eating the "cool thing" for lunch (which unfortunatly turned out to be pizza hut pizza and french fries - how gross is that!).

I know that if I had the chance to go back and change myself I wouldn't be the me that I am today (and I am pretty partial to myself). I also know, however, how many others are as scared as I was and that makes me sad.

We are diamonds in the ruff!! We need to let ourselves shine!!

Under Construction

Lisa is attempting her hand at html coding and all that jazz! Sorry for the craziness. Keep coming back to see the new site!!:)

It's a time for the seasons of . . .

Lisa!

I know that it is past the new year but it is technically still Christmas (as today is when the US Church celebrates Epiphany – what is up with us changing the 12 days of Christmas to 14?). So, here is my up to the minute recap of 2005. As Kristi names the seasons and they (unfortunately or not) usually have a pretty good idea of how my life goes, I am going to go through the year in that way.

The Winter of Anticipation ~

I started off the year spending some quality time with my sister. She came down for her now-annual Christmas visit. Teri rocks my face off. My best friends joined my on the March for Life. It was one of the most spiritual March trips of my life. We got to have a private mass in the crypt of the Basilica the day after the March. Besides an amazing homily from Father Jarrod, our voices filled the air of the basement with some of the most amazing acoustics I have ever heard. The trip started off my God high that lasted for the next six months.

It’s like God cradled me in his arms last winter and said, "Just wait, Lisa, keep anticipating – I have some amazing things planned for you!" All I can say to that is, "Wow." We got back and two days later I got to go to my student’s sophomore retreat. FJ talked about how they need to be like Dory and "just keep swimming" through all the crud that we have to deal with. The weekend we got back from the March for Life, I attended the Sojourn retreat for Young Adults in the diocese. I didn’t want to go but was blessed not only with some amazing friendships, but with some amazing graces as well. Father concentrated on the 1st chapter of the Song of Songs and how much God intimately wants to know and love us.

Talking about "God Highs," I got to go to the National Catholic Singles Conference which did not turn out to be the meat market as feared, but a spiritually enriching and educational weekend. When we got back, Kristi and I finally had our first weekend off for the year. And what a weekend that turned out to be. I think it was 5 couples that formed that weekend, me included . . . yes, yes, little Lisa got her first taste of love.

The Spring of New Beginnings ~

There were many beginnings last Spring. During Lent we had our first ever God Squad: 90 of our students gave up there mornings and showed up at school at 6:50 every morning for morning prayer, Mass and Ignatian meditations. God was taking me and holding me very close to his heart. My boyfriend was also my co-assistant coach and I felt like life was not as Lent should be, all somber, but a sweet celebration of God’s love for me being manifest throughout every part of my life.

It was as if He was giving me a new beginning in so many senses. An amazing prayer life, a new and sweet love, a house continually growing in people: life was good. My 25th birthday came with a bang. Our house was bombarded by my family and friends. I received my first dozen roses from a boy (along with some amazing presents) and got to spend the day in a private mass, watching movies and cuddling, and then chilling with my high school girls group, the Angels of the Holy Queen that night. The spring also brought my first date to Prom – and for the first time Prom was fun!

The Summer of Clarity ~

I think a better name for the summer would be "The one where Lisa was home for a total of three days," well, just in June. I went to the Steubenville YA Conference, met some amazing people and got a little more God stuff- ah the Praise and Worship! When I got back I left for the boyfriend’s parents house and learned one thing . . . a week is too long! I got to learn a little bit of Spanish, be a part of an amazing and loving family and be a little overwhelmed. When I got back, I left for the HS Steubenville, followed by a trip to Iowa to be a bridesmaid in Manda’s wedding (which was a blast – I’m so glad Matt was there to be my fellow BCer in the wedding party!).

It was during the rest of the summer was a bit of the clarity set in. Jose and I took a break and then decided that God was not calling us to be dating. I called it Lisa’s week of tears 2005 and was not all about the summer of clarity.

The summer ended with an extra special visit from a poppa – the Bishop of Wichita came for dinner and rosary (along with 70 others). It was amazing to see our house literally bursting at the seams with great Catholics.

The Fall of Contentment ~

This is the one that’s kind of weird. The fall was an interesting time and possibly too close for retrospection. It did, however, bring a level of contentment. The ex-boyfriend is now back to being one of my best friends and Kristi, my roommate (one of the 5 couples) is now engaged. Kristi is back to being home a lot more and life was good.

Now it is the Winter of Trust and I don’t really know what is going to happen with life. Kristi gets married in May and the Daisy House is a little up in the air. I thought about moving overseas to teach for the Department of Defense. At the moment, however, God is saying once again, "Trust me Lisa, I have amazing plans for you." I guess I’ll have to wait to see what 2006 brings!

The post that isn't a post

But it will be fun non the less.

I don't think we use the phrase non-the-less with enough frequency. It is such a fun phrase and yet hardly ever gets used.

I haven't blogged in forever and this makes me sad. I think I haven't blogged because I don't know what to think about things. My last post was posted in confusion and that confusion is still there. One of my roommates is getting married and I don't know what will happen to my house in four months. I don't know if I am going to leave Wichita or stay here. I don't know a lot of things. That is the reason for this "non-post." I can't really update because there is no update. I can't inform because there is no news. I can't think of any more allegories or whatever they are called so I'm going to stop posting!

- on the plus side, I think this semester is going to go really well. I flipped the chairs in my room to face the side wall instead of the back wall and it promises to be a fun arrangement. Plus, all the girls in my 4th hr are going gaga over the new guy at school - ah to be in high school again!!:)

Discernment

Discernment is such a chilling, scary word for some young Catholics. One might invision stoney cold convents with secretly silent nuns hurrying to and fro. Or perhaps some solitare monk on a mountain eating berries and praying all day.

For me, however, disernment is more than this; it is something that I am doing always. We were talking tonight - a famous Daisy House Priest by Fire night - about choosing God's Will. It seems like such an "out there" concept sometimes, and yet we continually strive for it because it will make us happy. "Where should I look for a job?" we might ask, or "When will I find my one?" "When will I know when I should date someone, at which point should we marry?" In my case right now, the question is "When do I move on?"

We were chilling out yesturday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Jose said, "You know, you won't be a Daisy Girl forever." There will be a new dynamic in my life someday, possibly someday very soon. The daily reflection I got today says that "God comes to us in many and various ways each day. Sometimes he reveals his goodness to us when he allows us to succeed in life. Other times he permits trials in our life so that we can cling more surely to him. The proper response to God’s constant action in our lives will only be possible if we are able to discern that it is indeed God who is acting –– We need the eyes of faith. A habitual interior attitude of faith and trust in God allows us to live with great peace and purpose."

I try to live with the eyes of faith and a trust in God. I have to give it over to him everyday and sometimes I hold more back. But at what point do we say that "here is my decision." I've heard many opinions on this from "Love God, do what you want," to "Pray about it" - my personal fav - hello, don't you think I am already doing that!, to "Follow the next step in your life."

I think that I have followed all of these in the past, a mixture of the three. When I chose moving to Wichita over staying at home, I was scared but I felt a calling. Now that I am here, I love it. But I feel something lacking. When do I go out to look for said lacking? Where do I look? Overseas or right here at home?

I don't have the answers but when I do, I'll be glad to share them with you!

Better Days :)

This Daisy Girl is in a better mood. I had a great weekend - prospects look up when you have a different from normal routine this week and I get to go home. (I think that was one of the most grammatically incorrect sentences I have ever written!)

I had a great weekend. It was kind of mellow, with half of our friends in Roma. I've decided that mellow may be buena!! Friday we ate soup and went to go see Harry Potter. Let's just say the part w/ You-Know-Who gave me the heeby jeebies this time . . . Then on Saturday I woke up to say Ciao to our flying friends, chilled out and cleaned our house and met a friend for coffee. Then we went to Erin's Party-Lite party - there was some way good food there and some candles that I don't want to afford - Wally-world is good for me. Maybe on a special day I'll buy a good smelling candle at an upscale place like Kohl's (I have a red white and blue one from them that smells divine!). Then a bunch of us (well, ok, it was seven of us - nice small number for friends) went karaoke-ing!! I have decided that my dream to be the next Patsy Cline will never come true but it never hurts to try!

Today rounded out the weekend w/ Mass - we got the stewardship homily from Fr. Daryl - I hear it's his best homily all year long! (j/k). I went to a TEC meeting, came home and chilled out for a while. Then I took a nap. When I woke up from the nap Kristi and Andrew were cooking us dinner (it was rocking, let me tell you - complete w/ pecan brownies!) Then we watched Christmas w/ the Kranks. Not the best movie ever. It was kind of draggy. But it was close to perfect chilling out, don't have anything to worry about Sunday night movie!

Needless to say, Lisa's mood has gotten a bit better:). Yay!!

P. S. Here's to lost drinks!

a blucky mood

Every few months I get this funk. I am annoyed at everyone (or at least it seems that way). I don't want to do anything (but I don't want to do nothing either). It's just this blucky annoyed sick kind of feeling. I don't like it. I don't invite it, it just comes. And when it comes I have to get out of my house that has 500 people in it all the time; away from cute couples and schoolwork and such. I wish that I understood this feeling and I wish that I could get rid of it!!

Joyful, Joyful Lord We Adore Thee

Sometimes joy comes when we least expect it, after we are feeling all blue. I was feeling all sad yesturday, for a variety of reasons but I cried and let it all out and gave it to God.

Then I went to our TEC meeting and had to give my practice meditation. It was scary and I went really fast (my half hour talk turned into 15 minutes . . . ) but it was great to get it out there finally and get some feedback.

After the TEC meeting I went to the YA Mass and dinner with the Bishop. During my cry session earlier in the day, I had asked the Holy Spirit to work through me and help me be open to His will. Then I got to be both a lector and a Eucharistic Minister at mass - completely on the spot. Even so, Mass was awesome and the Bishop remembers us from the Dish with the Bish! A little scary but way cool!! (Although, how could you not remember the girls that invited you and 70 of their closest friends over for dinner?)

We were cleaning up from dinner and I was playing with Abby - my five year old friend. I love having five year olds for friends, it gives me an excuse to act like them. I took Abby out to the middle of the gym and we danced together. It was so fun! We were all dressed up and pretty! It reminded me of when my friend Lenicka and I would twirl around the pillars in the basement of St. Ignatious while we ate donuts after Mass. It was great times!!

It seems that that joy has carried through today and it has been really neat. I like it!!

Hope

So, my roommate names the seasons. To get a background of these (and in essence the last 2 years of my life) take a look at Delightful Delirum. If you've read her post, this is Lisa's version of the past seasons and my reflection on what is to come.

The thing is, I have noticed something about the new seasons as I have lived through the naming of and the season itself; it brings hope to life. My first season was the Summer of Possiblities. I finally had friends in Wichita - that was a possiblity in and of itself what with semi-spontaneous road trips, evenings at the park and nights spent in karaoke at the Chalet, and that made it a great summer.

Enter the Fall of Making it Happen. Man did we make it happen, by moving into our Daisy House and cooking Thanksgiving dinner for a houseful of people, it was rocking.

On to the Winter of Anticipation. Going into the season I had no idea what I was anticipating but I can tell you that I was excited about it. It just seems like such a great thing: Anticipation. I used to stay up till all hours of the night when I was little, anticipating what Santa would bring or what our really neat field trip or the first day of school would be like.

When Kristi named the Winter of Anticipation, I knew what the spring's title would be, The Spring of New Beginnings (that's what's cool about having a roommate who names each season:). And as I said before, I didn't have any idea that the spring would bring with it romance and hope and hand holding and dreaming - so many things that I have anticipated for such a long time. At the end of my second year of teaching, I finally felt like a "full fledged, I know what I am doing" educator and really loved my kids. Having a date to prom didn't hurt matters in the least! I for one, greatly enjoyed the spring of New Beginnings.

To tell you the truth, I was not excited when Keeks announced the summers title (even less so when she said that she knew then what my clarity would be). The Summer of Clarity was a long one for this Lisa. There was a lot of crying (especially for a certain week in July - breaks are stupid, I don't like them but sometimes they are needed) and Jose and I got the answer to our prayers in that this was not what God wanted for us. Things are finally getting back to normal, if there is a normal between us but I can't say that it has been a fun process. Let's just say that clarity is not synonomous with ease.

A few months later I had kind of forgotten the whole season naming phenomina (even though this requires ignoring Kristi's screen saver that announces "Welcome to the Summer of Clarity" every time you walk past - not something I wanted to be reminded of. Needless to say, when talk began the other day about the naming of the fall, I got a bit excited. It seems as though Keeks has a way of summing up our seasons before they happen. And I know that is probably because we fit them into a mold of ooohhh . . . this was making it happen but I am completely all right with that; I like living in a dream world!

The fall's theme "is one that (according to Kristi) will be filled with things coming together. A lot of stuff that we've been waiting for is just going to fall into place. Things will just CLICK this season."

If anyone has been waiting for things to click, I raise my hand and repeat "Me! Me!! Make everything "click" for me!!" I have a feeling that some big things are in store. I don't know what they might be (although I have some ideas that can't be mentioned yet, stay tuned and see what happens with that) but I really hope they click. So, I am leaving them (whatever they are) in the hands of my Mother Mary, asking for her guidance and assistance.

A Woman Who Reads

My mom sent this to me today. As an English teacher I rather enjoyed it:).

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors and begins to read her book.

Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies. (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")

"You're in a restricted fishing area", he informs her.

"I'm sorry officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading.

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the
woman.

"But I have not even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL of this STORY

Never argue with a woman who reads. It is likely she can also think.

A Call; A Frustration

I was having a conversation about boys with my roommate and her fiance this evening and they said "Whatever happened to that one guy (whose name will be spared in the case that he ever happens to find my blog)." Good question, I thought to myself. I met a guy at a friend's wedding. He was a really nice, neat Catholic guy. We talked for a while, danced for a while (he can do a mean Cotten Eyed Joe) and talked some more. I had a really great time getting to know him, casually invited him over for rosary one night, and then he left, never to be heard from again.

Some of my friends are of the opinion that I should call this guy up and invite him to hang out with us, as a group thing. Herein lies my frustration (I told FJ I would use that word!!). I have conditioned myself, with good reason mind you, not to call a boy that I like and ask him to do something. Why, you may ask? Cause it sounds kindof dumb when I put it like that, even to me. The why is not in the asking; I invite people over to our house all the time. The why is in the unspoken hope somewhere deep inside that he will say yes and he'll be all excited about coming to see me and getting to spend time with me. The why is that when this little senario doesn't play out the way that I think it should in my head (cause come on - I am a pretty cool person to hang with, let me tell you!:) I get really sad and bummed out and the whole situation is much worse that when I was just thinking, "Oh, that boy is neat, I'd like to get to know him better."

So many things happen inside a girl's head. I wish that they did not (although they can be fun for a while . . .). But this isn't reality.

All right then, what is reality? Reality is that guys ask girls for a reason. They are supposed to do the initiating because they don't have all this head stuff going on. (totally made that up, but have sources from a few guys on that one). If a guy asks, we, as girls know that they like us, or are at least intruigued by us and they want to know more. The problem is that this doesn't seem to happen very often and therein lay my call. I don't just want to see guys out there. I want to see MEN! Men who will put aside a fear of rejection in order to ask a nice girl out on a date. I have seen far too many wonderful young ladies sit on the sidelines of the dating world all because no one would see fit to face the fire and ask them out. Most of the time, we are nice people (granted, sometimes we can be pissy but that's definitely not all the time). All you men have to do is just ask!

It is sad to me that I may never get to talk to the cute really fun guy that danced the Chicken Dance with me at a wedding this summer. I wish he would call . . .

Great thoughts and heated debates

My evening has been pretty rockin' (actually my whole day).

I got started way early with mass this morning (totally didn't want to go but made myself anyway). I got back and had some time to tidy up our house, work on some school work, watch some Big Fish and completely chill out with my roommates. It was fairly fantasmic. Phenominal even!

Then we headed to Olive Garden for Kimmy's bday dinner. After some fab food and great discussion we headed back to the Daisy House. We had some great discussions tonight (all started by the book "The ABC's of Choosing a Good Husband." Yes, I own this book, it has interesting thoughts.

I love talking about things that I am passionate about and hearing what other people have to say. I like hearing other people's ideas on things and having to formulate my own ideas on the subject. I love giving my brain a workout. I don't think this happens enough and it makes me sad. That is one of the reasons I like Kristi's blog. I am not right about everything all the time. I know what I think and feel and all, but it is nice to hear other people's opinions on things.

That seems like a very stinky evening so, fyi, FJ does not like 3 pronged forks!!

Holding out

I completely stole this from Raquel but I really liked it. Enjoy!!

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
who calls you back when you hang up on him,
who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.
Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats,
who holds your hand in front of his friends,
Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he is to have you.
Wait for the one who turns to his friends and says, "...that's her."

Delight

"Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." ~ Psalm 37:4

Have you ever been hit in the head by God? I mean seriously wacked with something?

Now notice, God does this in a nice way. It is like being wacked with one of those floating noodles for the pool in the summertime. It startles you, you may fall into the pool because of it, but it is a gentle, playful push in the right direction. The right direction may be completely over your head in 9 feet of water, but non-the-less, it is the right direction.

So about this Bible verse. It has come at me with some force for the past week and a half. It shows up everywhere, the websites that I am browsing, the fun little card that Katie brought me last week, the psalm at mass one day, just to name a few.

This leaves me pondering, what am I to do with this? There has been much drama in my life the past week (lets just leave it on the note that Lisa is single once again). This is a good thing. It's stinky that I haven't found my one yet, and I get to watch those that have be all happy - this is cute hoewever disgusting it may be:).

But the love of my life is somewhere out there, just not here and now. I think this is where the verse comes in. "Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." God knows that the desires of my heart are to find my love, settle down, be happy and have many babies. So, I have to take delight in him. The dictionary definition of delight, according to Merriam- Webster is the following:
delight
1 : a high degree of gratification : JOY; also : extreme satisfaction
2 : something that gives great pleasure

God has also been showing me how amazingly deep his love for me is. He desires me more than I will ever know. He loves me enough to passionately die for me a horrid and inhumane death. And all I have to do in order to receive the desires of my heart is to find "a high degree of gratification : JOY; also : extreme satisfaction, and great pleasure" in Him. To be happy and receive all of my dreams in a way that will totally boggle my mind, I have to find joy in God alone.

I wish this were as easy as it sounds, instead of the life long, everyday surrender that it promises to be. But hey, the rewards are pretty darn good. Much better than any frequent flyer miles or rebates on gas money. And I have to be joyful!! How hard could that be (I know, I know, pretty hard sometimes)? But, here I am, Miss Lisa, attempting to find the joy of my love, Jesus, in everything that I do.

Thoughts

I'm not really sure what will come out in this post. This has been a, let's say interesting week.

There are a few people that are "not reading blogs anymore." I've heard of them described as "blurtings out of whatever is in your head that no one really needs to know" (non-direct quote).

I think this is kindof dumb and naive. I'm sure that is true for some blogs. And I am not saying that my writing is in anyway award winning. But it is my thoughts and feelings.

My past week has pretty much stunk. It has had some amazingly good parts. I've had some amazing talks with my girls that I haven't had for a long time. And I am back home, which in itself is a relief. But I have had to do a lot of evaluating and a lot of waiting, because some of the evaluating can't be done until next week and that stinks. Really, I just want it to be over with!

Throughout all of this thinking, I have been praying and talking a lot. But I've also been reading. I've been reading my journals - and reading my blog. And some of the stuff that I write I need to hear again. It is good stuff and thoughts that I have had that I would have forgotten otherwise. And, I like having other people know my thoughts - even if I don't know that they read what I write because they never comment. When they do have something to comment they do and that is neat because they add something to my life and make me smile.

These are my thoughts on blogging. It's not neccessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it is good. For me it is good. And I like it that way.

Happy Blogiversary to me!!

I almost missed it!! (ok, so I did, it is technically 1:10, but we'll pretend I live in CA (that is where I was born) and that it is still the anniverary of Lisa's very first blog. In honor of this momentous occasion that I almost forgot, I figured I'd give you a list. A Lisa kind of list, not like Kristi's (see Rebuttal - Dec 2004). Therefore, I cannot promise much from this list, except that I will try!!

Great Events/Happenings/Things of Random Ramblings

1) The Daisy House - in September I moved in with Kristi and Kim. Since then God has not only blessed me with two of the most wonderful roommates ever, but some of the most amazing friends a girl could have.

2) The Spring of New Beginnings - I am still waiting to see all that will happen from this Spring, but the beginnings were pretty good:).

3) An uneventful second year of teaching - the second year was so much easier! My kids were great and I felt like I could be Lisa while I was teaching. It was amazing!!

4) Our March 4 Life trip - I got to go to the March for life to stand up for life with my 3 best friends - it was pretty rockin!!

5)Parties - I could name them all - the Housewarming party, the pumpkin carving party, the Great BDay bash of 2004, the Wine and Cheese Party, the Super Bowl Party, the Christmas Party, the Sojourn Reunion (wasn't even here for that one), the Muppet Party, the Cowboy themed party . . . oh, wait - guess I did name almost all of them!!

6) Cozy Sundays - I miss these!! I am tired of traveling!! Can I have my life back, and a cozy (or sunny) sunday? It'd be great! Thanks . . .

7) Roses . . .

Ok. So if I tried to name all of the wonderful stuff that has happened in the past year, it would take the rest of my night (of the only 5 or so that I will be home for in the month of June) so I will stop. Needless to say, it was a great year. I pray that next year can be this great as well. I also pray that as I look back on this year, I will be reminded of the very many blessings that I have been given - all of you!!

quick post from a tired little lisa

Hey all - I feel so far away from everyone (except for one:)

I have been in Rockford, Il for the past week (almost) and things are going well. I experienced my first Peruvian wedding yesturday and man was it a blast!! Jose's cousins are all really fun (it's nice to hang w/ family that is actually your age). I feel like I have been flying a whirl wind the last few days, spending time w/ Jose, following him car shopping - he got a Nissan Altima that is really cute (can I say that about a guy's car?), picking up brothers and chilling with family, besides meeting all of Jose's really neat friends from youth group in hs.

Over all, it has been a great trip. I feel like I am quiet all the time because everyone is speaking Spanish, but hey - it also gives me a reason to not have to talk as much. Not that I need one of those, but I haven't said anything really stupid to anyone but Josie in days (poor guy). It is great:). Anyways, I will post more from my parent's house sometime around Wednesday. I love you all and miss you!

My thinking problem

One of my friends in high school told me once, "Lisa, you think too much." And I do. Even now, years later, I have not outgrown the habit of thinking - overanalyzing every little situation into something big and huge and un-deal-with-able. Ok, not every situation but pretty close.

I think this is part of my problem with being undecisive. At a restaurant, during the day, it takes me forever to decide what I want to do. Why is this? Sometimes it is so easy. I want to wear this today. Other times, I try on 10 shirts before deciding to go with the first one with a different pair of pants. For those of you that know me, and have talked to me in the past few days - it has been one big Lisa Think Tank. Seriously, I can't get it to stop!! And what does this do? It blows everything out of proportion and I get freaked out.

So, how do I get over this over thinking problem? It works to talk to people. Late night conversations about crazy things like boys and whatever else we talk about. But what about when there's no one to talk to? What do I do then? I write in my journal to God, but it is so nice to get a human response - one that I can get a hug from.

I don't know if I have a solution. But I am tired of thinking!!

Correction

I reported in my last blog that summer starts on Saturday. I am here to report that I was sadly mistaken (hello, it was early on Saturday morning - who gets up that early? oh, yeah - me, two Saturdays in a row - but this Sat it's for Katie's wedding and I'm pretty darn cool with that.).
All right, done with LMM, back to the post.

Summer starts today (well, today in 6 minutes at least). Ok, so I don't' have everything crossed off of my "to do before leaving the building - gots to talk to the principal list" done yet. But, at precisely 11:10 am, all students will be issued out of the doors and (cross my fingers) all grades will be in the computer!! It will be amazing. This will be followed by the Mission Club/Liturgy Club picnic and much shopping for our GIANT luau on Friday, along w/ Angels getting together w/ the Grace girls (way exciting!!). Then I'll hop on over to Ray's grad party and have fun - all in moderation of course.

But seriously - is this really summer? I have two parties, three weddings and some major chilling out to do this weekend. It is ridiculous the amount of activity planned for this memorial day!! I am way excited, don't get me wrong (FJ is getting us tiki torches- our back porch is going to be the bomb!!). But I think it may possibly be a bit overkill on the fun scale. I just want to sit back and sunbathe for a day people!! Ah, well - my time will come.

I haven't written a late night post for a while now. I miss them. There will be many more to come in future days!!! (cause I can stay up past 10:30!!)

Early on Saturday Morning

When you don't know what to name your post, it is best to start with what you are thinking. I am thinking that it is very early in the morning and wondering why I am awake at 8. But, I had my alarm set to go off in a few minutes anyways so I can make it to the CORE meeting for SALT.

Summer is quickly approaching and it is so exciting. I have been grading like a mad cow all week long. Seriously, I had to stop giving assignments cause I won't have time to grade them all before I have to turn in grades. It is ridiculous. But alas, there are only 4 more days. It is kind of sad. I really like all of my classes this year. Even those kids that drive me crazy in class are really good kids - it's just that when they get to my class they go a little wacko.

I am excited for this summer. I think some really neat things are going to happen. I am going to be the world traveler - ok, just midwest/southern US traveler. But - I get to go to Chicago and New Orleans and I've never been to either place. That is exciting. And I get to go with Jose which will be fun. I will be freaking out about meeting his family - I don't know how to speak Spanish and it will be like My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Meet the Parents and I hope not that dramatic!!

So, I wait - in joyful anticipation - on this early Saturday morning with the knowledge that next Saturday is the beginning of summer!!!

"Ru-ha"

Otherwise, if it was spelled correctly - breath of God, the breath of life that is the Holy Spirit. I find it interesting that sometimes you can feel the Holy Spirit moving. Like I just know that something "big" is about to happen. God is prepping me. He's saying "Get off your butt, Lisa! Get a move on. I want to see some things from you!!"

I don't really have a clue of what he is prepping me for. That is the exciting, scary faith part. I think it may have something to do with my crazy summer. And the two trips to Steubenville that I am taking - can we say charismatic and Steubenville in the same sentence? Hello Holy Spirit!

I don't know what this could be. And although I am excited and a little freaked out - it is coming from Jesus - through Mary - are they going to make my life bad? No - they are going to make me closer to Jesus which is closer to heaven which is the true happiness. So although I am freaking out a little, it is good to freak out, it will bring me closer to Jesus.

- ok, don't know if that logic works in reality but it does in my head so flow with me here people!!

Red is for . . .

First it was pink and white.

Then yellow with a tinge of red.

Now it is red, a deep meanful red.

. . . for love.

Fun Stuff!

Elisabeth Anne's Aliases

Your movie star name: Twizzlers Joe
Your fashion designer name is Elisabeth Rome
Your socialite name is Lioness Wichita
Your fly girl / guy name is E Car
Your detective name is Cats Carroll
Your barfly name is Cake Sex On The Beach
Your soap opera name is Anne Birch
Your rock star name is Chocolate Jaguar
Your Star Wars name is Eliril Carjos
Your punk rock band name is The Happy:) Nose

courtesy of http://blogthings.com/meganames/outcome.php

Interesting Encounters

This weekend was fantastic! On Friday Kim, Jose and I went to the airport to pick Kristi up from her two-week training in Chicago. It is so good to have all us Daisy Girls together!! Saturday was wonderful. I slept in and then cleaned my room (my closet is full for the first time in months!!). We went out to lunch at Hog Wild Pit BBQ – yummy – with Peter Carney who was home for the weekendJ. Then, Kim, Kristi, Amy and I went hammock/porch swing shopping.
There were some amazingly great songs on the radio while we were shopping. And, it was a beautiful day so we had the windows open in the car. We were sitting at the stoplight next to a guy on a motorcycle and I started singing really loudly. He looked over at us like we were crazy. I kept singing, just a little more quietly however. Here we are in the car, jammin’ and snapping our fingers. It was great. So great it was that when we got to Target I really didn’t want to stop singing. Kristi and I broke out into a chorus on the way to the porch furniture section. We were all singing and groovin’. Then we noticed this guy in the aisle that was staring at us. We both noticed him at the same time and stopped our singing. He looked over at us and said “Hey, good job with the song girls!” It was all we could do not to break down into laughter, it was great!!

Do you know . . .

how happy they always seem in musicals? They're all goo-goo and it is really gross to watch.

I feel like that this week :). I like it, it is neat!

Eight years later . . .

Tonight I experienced a first. Pretty late for an almost 25 year old, but that's ok. I had my first date to a dance (if you don't count my pappa who is amazing, but really - who else is he going to ask to the Father/Daughter dance?). After experiencing all of my high school dances going either stag or stag w/ one of my best friends' dates (I couldn't even get a date to Sadie Hawkins man!), I finally had a date!

Let me just say that I like dates. They are neat. I like having a boyfriend. He is pretty neat. I like him. He likes me too. He picks out really good roses (and knows it too). And even though I will have a gazillion questions to answer Monday morning from each and every student that I have, going to prom this year was a blast!! Yeah for chaperones - aka - one who buys alcohol (just had to remember the Nathaniel there:)!

btw - I have a "suprise" date tomorrow. I hear it will be fun. I will let you know:).

It's been a long time . . .

. . . since I blogged so I thought I'd give you all an update on Lisa Land. Things here (or there depending on where I am) are good. I have just returned home from a week and a half Spring Break trip. Let me just say - it is good to be home. (It will be even better when everybody else gets home - ok, when my boyfriend gets home tonight) I can say that! It is pretty neat. Ok, it is really neat. Before I left he got me a really pretty rose and then when I got back there was an Easter basket waiting for me. Needless to say, it made me smile - a lot. Ah, the hopeless romantic that is me. Usually, however, I get to watch it on Sleepless in Seatle or A Walk to Remember or some other sappy romantic comedy. Nope, not this time. This time it is real. And neat. And smiley. Poor Kimmy has to live with us smiling girls.

I love home. And days off. Today I woke up at 7 - yes that ungodly hour on a vacation day. I chilled until 11, went to mass at the Cathedral - oh so prettily decorated for Easter - ALLELUIA!!, went to my favorite store - yay for Wally World, called bunches of people for dinner tonight - if you are in town, stop by it is going to be good! When I got home I made my lunch, including a caffinated beverage of the cherry-vanilla diet dr. pepper variety, got a book and a CD player and chilled out in our back yard for a couple of hours. The best day to spend a Spring day if you ask me:).

Spring of New Beginnings

My roommate Kristi decided about a year ago that it would be fun to theme the seasons. This gives us something to look forward to while bringing excitement to life. I have thus far lived through the "Summer of Possibilities," the "Fall of Making it Happen," the "Winter of Anticipation," and now the "Spring of New Begginings" is upon us. Check out her blog!

For one thing, it is beautiful outside! I love the spring and all the dead stuff becoming alive and the smell of daisies and daffodils blooming! It is great. As for the new beginnings - God is working some amazing stuff in my life right now. We were at Lenten Season (affectionately known as "The God Squad") this morning and reflecting on how much Jesus loves us. His mercy is flowing down on me in so many ways that I don't even realize. (LMM - a few years ago I went convent hopping for spring break. We visited the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. They are amazing women. Anyways, it was during Lent and we were talking about sacrifices. Their sacrifice was to let God love them - because so many people don't.) That's not really an LMM because that is what God is asking of me right now. He's there, with his arms open on the cross saying, "I love you Lisa. I want to give you the desires of your heart." And he is. It is amazing! I love it! I feel very blest:).

Thoughts of an English Teacher

Yes, Jason, I agree that the "So, . . . " could and is getting a little old. But it is a fun way to start out a paragraph.

But, the whole discussion made me think about how none grammatically correct I write on my blog. And how, as an English teacher, this should annoy me greatly. But - it doesn't. I think that I am rebelling. I have to grade a hundred and five papers (ok, I am supposed to grade 105 papers, that doesn't mean I get that many). Many of them say the same things over and over and over again - not a whole lot of creativity. Also, very few of them stay on topic (or at least the topic that they are supposed to be on). I think that may be why my blogs are so random - I don't have to grade my blog, or make sure that the spelling is right or that I have the right sentence structure or dangling modifiers or run on sentences . . . And, you get to read them! joy of joys!!

On a slightly different topic, I have been thinking a lot about being content. Actually, it has been more praying about being content. The conclusion that I have come to (at least to an extent) is that you have to want to be content. It is a choice. I know that God loves me. I know that He cares for me and that if I am open to it, he can do wondrous things through me - and for me. In order for this to happen, I have to give myself over and let him know that I want Him to - to allow him to.

It is amazing that gifts that God has given me in the past year. Not a year ago, I was sitting in my apartment wondering why I did not have any friends - hello, I am a fun person! Since then, God has blessed me with some life-long forever friends that love me even through my grammatically incorrectness and annoying spells of not cleaning anything and just being annoyed. It took a while to find them, but I am so blessed by them that it amazes me. You guys add to my life in such an important way!! I love each of you more than I can say!

btw - happy Sunday during let - yay for Feast days!

Note to self -

I am not allowed to start any more posts with "(insert word) . . ." It is getting on my nerves!!

Single . . .

. . . that is what I am. It has defined me for about 25 years now. After going to a singles conference, this is very apparent. and I don't like it!!

I do, being single is wonderful. I get to do what I want to do when I want to. I don't have to worry about planning things because it is just me. But it gets to the point where you've had enough. Especially when Webster's dictionary defines single as "a : not married b : of or relating to celibacy." Not exactly the definition I have of "Lisa" in my life plan - I know Soujourners - it's not my life plan it is God's life plan. But the two have faired pretty well together so far.

So where do I go know? One of the speakers at the National Catholic Singles Conference (Dave Sloan - check out God of Desire . com - it rocks my face off) said that we spend too much time looking for "features" of a mate; what kind of car he drives, what clothes he wears, that sort of thing. I don't think of myself as a materialistic type person, but here is what I wonder. I wonder if I am concentrating on too many specific qualities and missing out on some amazing relationships because of this.

This is what I have been wondering. and wondering and thinking and things keep happening. Things have been crazy amazing this week. Here are just a few of them:
Our Lenten Season at school - Get this - we have 75- 90 students coming to school at 6:50 every morning for morning prayer, meditation and mass. We have all kinds of kids coming to pray, the captains of the football team, volleyball players, cheerleaders to our liturgy club members and guys that come all the time to pray morning prayer - and of course my own Angels of the Holy Queen!! It is amazing to see these students give up their sleep to grow closer to God. I love Lent - it is amazing and it is hard!!!
The Daisy House - God is totally working some wonders through our house. All we are doing is living our lives, attempting to be good Catholics. All of a sudden we are meeting people in Denver (from Wichita) that know about our house! This amazes me - St. Therese is building herself a bouquet of friendships right in our living room.
Angels - some awesome things are in store for the Angels - they are amazing women that challenge me to grow in my faith. God has some wonderful stuff planned for us!!
God of Desire - So, I mentioned Dave's site when I started writing this blog this afternoon before Mass. We get home from the evening's craziness only to find that the Dave Sloan has posted on Kristi's webpage. God rocks my face off!

I want to end this post in prayer:
Father - Thank you for the amazing love that you show us throughout the season of Lent. Thank you for those that you have put in our lives. Help us to be aware of your ever-present reality and care for us.

Acceptance

I just went to see Phantom of the Opera with one of my lifelong friends. She is moving this weekend and I am sad because even though we don't hang out much, it is nice to have her around.

I've been in a reflecting mood recently and the movie was no exception. The story of a man how is not accepted for who he is and what he looks like. It is a sad and poignant story. And yet, unfortunately, it is the story of so many of us quote-on-quote undisfigured people. I think that we are all disfigured in many ways - or at least think that we are.

My weekend was amazing. I went on a Sojourn and it was great. I did not want to go on Friday. As I was driving in the snow, I just wanted to come home and sleep. But I got out there and God did the rest. Father Jarrod pointed out a verse in Song of Songs chapter 1 that says "Ah, you are beautiful . . . yes, you are lovely." I don't feel lovely. Most of the time I feel rather frumpy. I can't imagine how the Phantom felt.

The thing is, however, that God desires me no matter how broken I am. When it doesn't feel like I am good enough, he holds out his hand to me. A hand that has been pierced by a nail just because he loves me. How amazing is that? All he wants for me is to desire him the way he desires and loves me. I pray that I can give back to him - through giving to those around me - a measure of the love, the happiness that he has given me.

Power Outages . . .

So, our power went out the other day. Not for as long as some people. Ok, for 45 minutes. But, I don't know that I would have minded if it had been longer. (I know what you are thinking; "You didn't have to get up early, clean off your car and drive the icy roads to work after taking a cold shower and not being able to blow dry your hair.") Nope, I have a cushy job (ha, if you think teaching is cushy, try it for a day.

Anyway, I am totally off the subject. The power went out and I was sitting with my two roommates with the fire glowing its warmth and the french vanilla candle permeating the room with its light and its scent. We just sat there (after we did our Windsor Pilates tape workout from memory in front of the fire). We could just "be." It was so refreshing to just "be." There was no pressure that we should be doing anything. There was nothing to do. We just took cozy naps and sat and watched the fire glimmering. (can a fire glimmer).

I was almost disappointed when the lights came back on. It was, as I explained to my girls, "loud in our house." There were machines humming and lights murmuring and life trying to track us down saying "Why aren't you watching TV or playing a game or working on something for school tomorrow." And I was sad.

I think that we, as an American culture, have forgotten how to be with each other. We can't just sit and not do anything. I think that we do it more here at the Daisy House. When I went home for Christmas there was no time for "being." We had to watch this movie or that show or eat or cook or go somewhere. There was very little "being."

That is my challenge. For myself as well as for you, my reader. Take some time this weekend to "be" with your family and friends. It is relaxing. It is non-stressing. It is good.

A rebuttal

I keep giving my roommate Kristi a hard time because she likes to list things. Ok, that is an understatement. She loves to list things. It is one of her favorite things to do, just check out her recent blog. But, I realize that lists are fun things to make (especially when you are bored in class, I miss making to do lists in college classes) and I decided to make my own.

Without further ado, I bring you some of Lisa's favorite things. These are things that have happened this past year, stuff that I like, things that make me smile, the like. And some stuff that just seems like it should be listed!!

1) Feeling at home - whether at my parent's house, at the Daisy House, in front of the Eucharist, or just with my friends, I love feeling at home.

2) Cozy days - seeing as I've blogged about them a couple of times, I feel they should make the list. Yeah for chillin' out on Sunday afternoons!

3) Hanging out with my sister - she is amazing and fun and I love her

4) Making it happen - even though this was the theme for fall, it seems to just keep on going. I love making things happen. Can I get a job where I make things happen? That would be great man, fantabulous. Fixing things and making things happen.

sublist of making things happen

• Random Road Trip to Indiana - seeing Notre Dame and meeting Chris and getting completely lost in rural Indiana
• Nutcracker - I have always wanted to go and it was awesome!!
• Wine and Cheese party
• Getting involved with the Angels of the Holy Queen and dedicating my life to Mary - amazing things, let me tell you. And I love my girls - they are so fun!
• Feeling like I know what I am doing while teaching - big thing, let me tell you, big thing
• Getting some SALT stuff going - ok, still making this happen but let me tell you, it is going to be pretty rad!

end of sublist

5) Ok, so this is why I don't make lists. I always go off into sublists in my brain and then I run out of things to talk about. So, you should go read the middle of my rebuttal and then leave me a comment!!

I pray that all of you have a safe and happy new year's eve and that someday I get a kiss at midnight!!

in the middle of a rebuttal

So, I am in the middle of writing another blog to finish out the year of 2004 but my thoughts got interrupted (blame it all on the little man, it is totally his fault).

I just have to say that I love guy hugs. They have to be the greatest thing ever. Which brings me to a funny story. (does it seem that all stories start like that?) Think back to junior year of college (my junior year not yours). I was walking down the steps of the student union on my way to check my mail or something and ran into my friend Patrick. We were both like "Hey! I need a hug." And seriously, it was the best hug ever. Unfortunately Patrick transferred to some school in Colorado the next year but in January of the next year I saw him at a conference. We were talking about all the good old times (like when he borrowed a clean pillow case from me after a friend sat on his while we watched Tarzan) and he brought up the hug. "Do you remember that hug on the steps of the student union that day?" he said to me. "Yes! I do, that was great!" I replied.

And that is my ode to great hugs.

End of LMM.

Pointage . . .

We went out tonight (the 10th night of the fourteen days of celebration;). Let me just say that I love Biggins. It is my favoritist bar ever. The whole time we were there I was "eye flirting" with a guy. (see little house blog #325). No possibilities, no waiting if he'll call, just some harmless flirtting and batting of eyes. And let me tell you it was fun!

FYI, the Daisy House girls are sponsoring big mondo gondo party on Saturday. Come on over and bring your friends.

. . . and Mr. Grey sweater over at the next table, you are welcome to come over too!

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

My week is going much better than it did last week. I couldn't tell you whether it is because my brain decided to come back from vacation. Or, it could be that while my brain was on vacation last week it decided to show a movie in class this week. I would vouch for the latter.

Either way you take it, this week is going by very quickly. I am getting a ton of stuff done (except for the Advent Angel gift for tomorrow - what do you get for the new principal - who is male? This is why I don't have a boyfriend. Because I would not know what to buy him . . . LMM, sorry, back to the story). I even stayed late after school today just to be productive!! I was writing down our assignments for each day (so that when the students say "hey, you didn't tell us that!" I can retort "Hmmmm . . . It has been on the board all week . . .") I was getting to next week and couldn't even get through the week! Before I knew it, the word "Final" was on the board. What is that? Time to have a week off already (not that I am complaining, it's just that the semester has flown by).

Totally off the subject . . . Does it annoy you all that I speak in parenthesis? That is how it comes out of my head. I just wonder . . . Also, then I will know if you are actually reading:).

Blah!

That is how my brain has been working. It's like it is full of "blah, blah, blah," instead of tangible thoughts that make neurons connect in my brain. Here is the list of random things that I have done this past week just to give you an example.

1) The Debate tournament - This in itself could give you ten ways my brain is already on Christmas break. I was sponsoring the day. First, I slept right through our projected SP (starting poing), got there late, could not for the life of me figure out how to open the bus doors (I was driving one of the mini school buses and it totally baffled me), and got lost on the way to Augusta High. I was so glad we finally got there and I was so excited that I left the lights in the bus on and our battery died. Then, somewhere between Augusta and Wichita, I got passed the students ballots from the day - no idea what happened to those . . .

2) Drive by - I am still not used to driving to our house sometimes (especially when the night is dark and foggy). In fact, I totally passed our turn the other night coming back from something or other.

3) Totally Tot becomes totally blown off - Not really, I just was not thinking about it being the holiday season! On my first official month in charge of Wichita's Theology on Tap, I didn't call Willie C's (our usual restaurant of choice) until after they were already booked for another party. Hence I ended up calling mucho restaurante's in the phone book to try to find us a spot. Kristi finally bailed me out of this one! She is amazing:) (and pretty, you are, as you will need to know before reading the next reason I am dumb).
Hightlight for this one - we get to try out a new restaurant and see if it works!

4) So, the girls of the Daisy House have been planning to go to the Nutcracker since September. I was all excited about it and said I'd be in charge. I ordered tickets and thought everything fine and dandy. We're going to get all dressed up and go out to eat, it's going to be a ball (or ballet as the case may be). But, when counting people to mail our last email to, I realized that I had forgotten to add Kristi (one of my roommates) to the list!! How do I do it? My brain is full of blahs!! Fortunately, all I had to do was call and add another ticket and it worked out well:) Thank goodness!!

I am sure that I have forgotten a few things, what with my brain blahhhs going on vacation two weeks early. What will we do? I don't know!!

Why do girls do that?

This was the topic of conversation at the Daisy house the other night, brought up by our friend Jim: "Why do they do that?" he asked, "Why do Girls have relationships with guys in their heads?"

The answer I gave at the time (at least in my head, I can't remember if it was out loud) was that girls are dumb. The real reason, however, is that most girls (me) find that having a boyfriend (or even the thought of a boyfriend) is exciting and fun.

Example: My senior year of high school I had already ruled out all the boys that I would actually date (Ok, so none of them asked me out so it was fruitless). And, having a crush is a fun thing. (LMM - My friend Jen once said that she wanted someone to have a crush on our friend Brandon so I said ok, I will! little did she know I already had a crush on him but that is another story). So . . . back to senior year. I had decided to have this huge crush on a Mormon boy. I knew nothing would ever happen and therefore it was "safe." It made life fun: I made a big deal out of it when I saw him in the hall, and English class was always looked to with anticipation.

In other words. we gals like to plan and dream. Many of the girls that I know have planned much of their weddings. I know what colors I want, what songs I want played at the reception, what type of dress I want to wear, that there must be some pink somewhere. All I don't have is the groom. The point of this diatribe? We like to plan. We like to dream. It puts a smile on my face.

So . . . why do we have relationships with boys in our heads? It gives us something to think about while waiting for Mr. Right. It is a lot safer to "pretend" to be dating someone, wondering what it would be like than to face the rejection of a real life "I don't like you like that but you are a great friend," or the falling in love with a guy who isn't worth it.

Unfortunately, when your imagination doesn't happen to coincide with reality, that can be more depressing than being bored in the first place.

It is a blogaversary!!

Ok, so I missed the sixth month anniversary of my blog last Friday due to the whole being off for Thanksgiving break. But, it is an occasion in which to reflect (one of my favorite things) and to ponder the future (another favorite thing), as well as an opportunity to get some more readers!! comments are welcome :).

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes . . .

A few of my favorite bloggings . . . and other random thoughts (this is random ramblings, you realize)

1 ~ The simple things in life . . . I love the little things. The Daisy House had a Thanksgiving Dinner at our house last week. After we were done gorging ourselves on a scrumptious feast, we sat around our fireplace and sang praise and worship. It was amazing because it was so simple; and yet the simple is not recognized in everyday life. It makes me sad.

2~ The romantic things in life - This blog happened to be about musicals, but reminds me of the sad state of my love life. Ok, the completely non-existent state of my love life. I want the whistles and bells and the butterflies and the walking on clouds sensation that seems to be an everyday occurrence in musicals. You can just (as a man) ask for a "beautiful hide" and there she comes. It is crazy.

I worry - will I miss it when it comes. Will I over analyze? (whatever I do, the answer to this one will be yes) And the ever faithful - When the stinking time will he come, man, I am done waiting!! But then, when he gets here, will I be completely annoyed with him and rule him out? (probably not but how will I know?)

3 ~ LMM - nuff said, read the blog, it is totally me

4 ~ Standing outside the fire - I have a fervent belief that we miss out on a lot of opportunities because they take work and we are lazy. Tonight, driving home from the east side, my roommates and I got all excited about things that need to happen in the young adult world of the Wichita Diocese. We were full of ideas and great thoughts, but it all comes down to this: What are we going to do?


These are a few of my random thoughts on the last six months. I am full of LMM's and have so much that wants to come out of my brain but my fingers just can't keep up and the rest of my brain fell asleep because I woke up early to work out.

All in all, there are things that I want (my favorite things). Some of them are way out there (staging a musical in the Wal-mart). Some are everyday things such as getting through the day with a 100 16 year-olds. Others are hopefully long term things like meeting the man of my dreams and having babies.

I don't know what to do with these dreams but just keep dreaming. And, when I really don't want to, stand outside the fire and make it happen!

"I found myself in college . . .

. . . then I moved to the real world and lost myself again." - Kiki

My roommate and I were discussing life issues the other day when she put into words what I have been feeling for the past year. I feel lost some days. By my senior year of college, I loved myself. I knew what I liked and disliked, I knew how to change what I didn't like and knew what not to mess with. I liked being "me" and I knew exactly who "me" was. It was great.

Since then, I moved to a brand new city where I only knew a handful of people (from my college of app. 800 where I knew, or knew of, everyone). And although I still know "me" and love being "me," it seems harder for that me to come out of my "me" shell.

This seems to happen every time that I move on. In high school, I thought I knew "me." I knew which people were my friends, I became what my friend Sarah and I call "a floater" when my best friends had a huge semester long fight, and I was happy being Lisa. Then, when all these friends went off to college and I was at home driving an hour and a half back and forth to the local community college, it took me a while, but I found my crowd and we were happy.

When I transfered colleges, it took me about a year to find my niche. The year was hard and full of tears, but eventually I found the me that had been emerging for a while. And it was great. I was finally around Catholics that loved their faith as much as I did. I learned how to live that aspect of my faith (before, I had been surrounded by Christians who were amazing, but something was lacking). I developed a greater zeal for the Mass and relying on my Heavenly Father and Mary as my mother. Through all of this, I became what it seemed I had been trying to become for quite some time. And I was happy.

Since moving to Wichita, I have lost some of the things that I attribute to be "Lisa things." I call myself an "introverted extrovert." I love being around people and being a leader. It is something that drives me and makes me happy. The thing is, I have to get over the introverted, "I am scared to get involved" mode that dominates new things for me. I have got to get in there and do something. To let Wichita know that I know myself, I like myself and I want to get involved!!

Now, I just have to act . . . why is that the hard part?

A Case of the Mondays

I finally bought "Office Space" the other day! I am very excited. I love the beginning when they are stuck in traffic . . . and the fact that Michael Bolton looks like my friend JP that I have not seen for years . . . Where are you man?

Tonight, it feels as if I am having a case of the mondays. But see, school was just fine (except for the tired part, I think the waking up at 5 am to get Rascal Flatts tickets finally sunk in around 5th hour today). But seriously, I just feel blah.

I miss my family like none other. I don't know how I could live very far away from them. This whole three hour thing seems really hard some days!! This brings up my other dilemma.

So, I gave living in Wichita two years when I moved here. This was a kindof unconditioned, unplanned response. But I figured that the first year always stinks, especially in a new place. I want at least two years to figure out this whole grown up thing before I think about moving.

Well, I am in the middle of a second year. I have got things going pretty well in the whole "having a clue what it takes to be a teacher" department. I think that I am doing fairly well. So know, what do I do? Do I move to Kansas City where, although I do know a lot of people, I don't know very many very well. And then I would have to get in with a new English department and that kindof stinks. And possibly teach all new books (that would really stink). But the thought of moving on is also very exciting.

I don't know. This is at the beginning stages of praying and planning. And all in all, maybe it is a case of the Mondays.

Keep Holy the Sabbath

In high school, I was always annoyed that my mom would never go shopping or anything on Sunday. Now, however, I realize that she was attempting to give us some time off of the real world.

I was never a "no work on Sundays" type gal till college. Taking a day off of studying seemed like a great idea. There were some great Sundays too. Hanging out watching Pappa's Angels with my suitemates in the 1st Atchison Benedictine Abbot's room (hurray for Abbot Innocent Wolf!!) and taking long walks to the abby pond with random people (LMM - one time my friend Jeff Block and I (he was great, I miss him) walked down to "Lake Angelas" only to find freshman boys swimming in the pond (quite scary, let me tell you, plus they were loud and it ruined the quiet, out in the country feel of the afternoon (with the exeption of being able to hear the train pass)). But I digress . . . a lot . . .

The girls of the Daisy House have instituted "Cozy Days" for the sole purpose of chillin' out on Sundays with our friends. Let me tell you. This makes my weekends feel like mini vacations. It is so nice to be able to play cards or carve pumpkins or bake goodies for my friends. It is all that stuff that I never have time to do during the week that I get time for on our Sundays.

So, I just wanted to give a shout out to the big JC - Thanks for giving us this time to fellowship with you on this sacramental day, it is rockin!!!

The Candidates as Real People

I just read this article and found it quite interesting. Check it out!!

How Bush Did It

Who We Gonna Save? Part II

For the beginning of this blog, check out the Daisy House webpage.

So, the dilema . . .

I have recently, along with Kim, found myself leading a group of high school girls called the Angels of the Holy Queen. We consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary. It is a wonderful group of girls. The thing is, there are not very many of us. Eventually, I would like to reach more.

Before, the focus of a group that I have helped lead has always been smaller. A church youth group with 20 kids in it. Before, I have never been "the" leader. Now, however, it seems to have fallen on me and Kim to be leaders. I love this! I am so excited about the fact that I get the chance to help these girls get closer to Jesus. But I am also overwhelmed by it. I teach at a school of 1,000 students. We have twenty girls come to Angels (on a good night). Some nights, we have less than ten.

For now, I love the small group. I love getting to know these girls on a personal level. (This is why I am not sure I am supposed to be a teacher but that is another blog for another time). The problem is, especially with girls, how do you get more girls involved without it becoming a clique? I hated (hate, to be more precise) groups that exclude themselves from others. I feel that that goes against everything I stand for as a Christian. Jesus said to "let the little children come unto me." The song goes, "red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in his sight . . ." But what about the popular girls and the band geeks (I was a band geek and reserve the right to use the title!) and the drama queens and the normal girls and the outsider girls? How do we, as Angels, not exclude any of these very special people? How do we involve all types of girls, not just the ultra-religious ones?

I know that I can't answer this question. But it makes my heart ache. I don't want anyone to feel left out!! Why do I have to be the eternal optimist that doesn't want anyone's feelings hurt? Why can't the popular girls and the non-popular girls just be friends, without the stupid popularity thing getting in the way. I don't understand!!

The True Essence of Cozy Days

This past weekend, my housemates and I instituted "cozy days." They are days where we can truly just chill out on the Sabbath. The great thing about it is that my whole weekend felt like a weekend for once. I was not running all over doing crazy stuff, I was just hanging and it was great. Sure, I worked the football game on Friday, went to a haunted house with our parish youth group, made a house shirt, carved a pumpkin watched a couple movies, slept in, and assisted in chalking "Vote 'W' '04" on our driveway, but I really just chilled out and it was great!

I am really just writing this so I can look back in two weeks when things are crazy and remember how nice this weekend really was. But I thought I would share the joy of relaxing with all of you as well!!

Random Meetings

So, I have to tell y'all a story. My roommates think I am hilarious (and I quite agree sometimes, check out our craziness on the little blue house blog!!) They thought that I should share this story with you
It all started on an early Sunday morning at the Kansas State Fair. Kim, Kristi and I were working the Kansans for Life booth. I was taking a break and walking around early in the morning before there were very many people there. I was headed down the aisle (extra credit for me, I used a usage word, sorry LMM) walking toward the concession stand.
There was an older man standing in the middle of the walkway. I had never seen him before but he looked like someone's grandfather. Anyhow, he stopped right in front of me and stuck out his arms halfway as if to say "Hey, can I have a hug."
Instead of turning the other way and dashing past him (which my roommates feel would have been the normal response) I gave him a quick but nice hug, then turned the other way and dashed off. I could not leave the nice little grandfather in the middle of the Kansas State Fair hugless, I just couldn't.
So, now I fear I have earned the reputation for giving hugs to people that I don't know. But I am all right with that:).

The Little Blue House. . .And other fun blog happenings!

And next up, an update on Lisa's very fun blog.

Fun, new and exciting things have been happening at Random Ramblings (23).

1) I have a new commenting system where you don't have to sign in or even leave the blog page! All you have to do is type your comment. You may even be anonymous! (but I would much prefer you leave a name so I can know who you are:)

2) We have a fun new house blog page for your enjoyment. There is a link on the side of the page, or you can just click this link here:
http://www.daisyhouse.blogspot.com

3) On this fun new site, you can hear (or read) the new happenings of the Daisy House (if you want to find out about our name, read the blog!!). You also have a chance to meet my roomies, Kim and Kristi (fondly known as Kimmy and Kiki).

4) It is already Tuesday night and an 8th of the school year is over!!

that is all, I bid you good whatever timeitisthatyouarereadingthis.

Gifts

Welcome back to my blog!! I finally have a chance to write. One of the gifts I have been given is DSL. I love technology. Of course, at the moment, I am coming to you live from the school I teach at but the point is that I could be emailing you from home.

God is so amazing!! He has given me so much. Here is my story . . .

Six months ago, I was lonley. I had a few friends in the great city of Wichita but not that good group that will help you and think like me that I had in college. So, I prayed. And I prayed some more. And one day I got invited to Bible Study and things happened!! (I know, prayer works, it's amazing!) Now, I have a new house, two wonderful, God-centered roommates to share it with, a good group of Catholic friends that will support me and help me out . And, I don't have time to even think about sitting down, much less the whole lonliness thing.

So I was thinking. If God will grant me these simple things, what kinds of amazing stuff does he have planned for the future? I am excited to find out!!

LMM - the story of my little man

"This old man, he played one, he played nick-nack on my thumb"

Hold up, wait one minute! The subject is "little man" not "old man!" Who said the little man was old?

Here is the real story of the little man of Lisa's life.

My thoughts ramble. They go on and on and do not like to stop. They often like to go off into tangents. So, my friend Kristi, the great gal that she is, named my tangents.
"Lisa," she said, "It is like you have a little man in your head. He is trying to reach a destination ( the end of my story) but in the meantime, he gets sidetracked. So, here he is, walking the straight and narrow and all of a sudden . . . (the suspence builds) I remember something off the topic, but so totally related that it has to be in the story. Before I know it, the little man has veared off of the straight and narrow and gotten lost on a back road (much like my trip to Indiana, read previous blog).

And so the little man has to go back to the straigh and narrow, after half of his listeners have forgotten the beginning. The thing is, the little man gets lost an average of three times per story. It can be very breathtaking for him.

That my friends, is what has come to be known as a Little Man Moment (LMM). Those of you that have known me for ever know my rambling to be trademark of a "Lisa conversation."

The Simple Things in Life

I have just returned from spending a week with my grandparents in Colorado (a lovely state I might add). We had many fun talks about boys and the good old days and we even got to see some extended family members (one of which I don't even remember knowing:).

The best part of our trip, however, was the afternoon we spent playing with our "As Seen on TV" toys from the Walgreens. My grandmother bought the "eggstractor" which looks like a round accordian on stilts. To try it out, we hard boiled some eggs (my grandfather thought it would be a mess if we tried to peel them raw:). Then, all seven of us (my two grandparents, my great-uncle and my immediate family) all crowded around the dining room table to watch the charade.

After a few tries, the egg finally poop, oops, popped out of the shell and landed on the plate awaiting it on the table. To our chagrin, it smelled like it had pooped - much sulfur smell going on. We found this very funny and all had a great laugh.

I'm not sure if this is connoted well onto the written web-log, but I thought I'd share a little of my laughter with you.

Karaoke

I just have to say that English teachers can still make mistakes:)

The Thrill of Karioke

When I was a little girl, I would spend hours in my room listening to tapes and singing at the top of my lungs.  I would pretend that the area in front of my bed was a stage, in front of which millions of adoring fans were awaiting a touching performance from who else, ME! 
 
I believe that this is where the idea of karioke begins.  It addresses that need, deep inside, to be the STAR. 
 
(Side Note (LMM if you will, I'll blog about this one later) When I used to go to daycare before preschool, I would always wear sunglasses.  All the ladies called me the movie star:).
 
Even today, I think that it would be a rush (although a scary one) to get up and sing in front of a large number of people and sing a special someone a song.  As of now, however, there is no special someone.  So, I will have to make do singing karioke at the bar my friends are "regulars" at.  And although my singing is not beautiful, gosh darnit, it is fun to get up there and sing!!

about the trip where it rained . . . everywhere!

I am realizing that I have blogged much about my thoughts of my roadtrip, but not much about the roadtrip itself. And, seeing as you may want to know, I will tell you. (If you do not want to, I do not mind at all if you exit this window and come back to read my next post).

Let's see - our roadtrip was full of rain. I believe that it rained everyday. We also got lost. Very lost. We kept telling ourselves of a wise priest's words - Nothing in God's creation is bigger than he his and even more exciting: This great big God created all of creation just for us! This came to be very comforting as we were lost in the backwoods of Indiana surrounded by many fireflies (it was very pretty) and even more so when we were lost in downtown St. Louis (a bit more scary).

Between being lost, we had a wonderful trip (for the top ten list check out kristi's website, link on previous post). We headed north from Wichita to travel to a destination found in a well beloved book. It seems that many of my destinations have come from books. (This is what comes of being an English Teacher). This book is Pierced by a Sword by Bud MacFarland Jr. It is a must read for any Catholic, and a great read for those who are not. We saw many of the destinations mentioned in this great, if not so classic book that took place mainly on the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, IN. One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was praying a rosary at the grotto on the campus of Notre Dame. During the middle of the rosary it started to rain and we finished the rosary inside the grotto. This was extremely neat because there were so many candles lit inside the grotto that it was warm inside!

On Sunday, the 4th of July (my favorite secular holiday) we drove to St. Louis, followed by our new friend Chris, got a leak in our tire, switched our rental car, got lost in St. Louis, decided to stay at Harrah's Casino to make up for being lost, got turned away, and stayed in a hotel down the road.

The day would not have been complete without some fireworks. So, seeing some from our hotel, Chris and I wandered across the street and stood in the median watching the fireworks through the trees. Not the most magnificent show I've ever seen (any A-town people reading this!!) but it was fun and with good company.

Monday we woke to rain (suprise, suprise) and headed back to the real world. We did however, make a few fun stops - one at a winery in Bland, Missouri (very good wine suprisingly) and another at a Marian shrine in Laurie, Missouri. The statue of Mary there is modeled after JPII's mother and is really neat.

Ok, I will stop posting now, as I am sure you are done reading. Really, our road trip did not entail a whole lot except spending time with friends and getting out there doing something. But, these activities in and of themselves can bring a lifetime of warm fuzzies, just think about adding them to the fun of the road!!

hmmmm...

So, reading back at my last blogging post, I realize that I may have been a bit delirious from our road trip. My arms were still tingly from driving and apparently my brain was not functioning so well. Ah, well our road trip was delightful. Just like my friend Kristi's blog, www.delightfuldelirium.blogspot.com.

About the things that you should do. But don't. We were conversing about this the other day and I got to thinking. How do we know what we are supposed to do (what God is telling us to do) and those things that just pop into our head. What if they are one and the same? And what if we miss out on those things that God wants us to do? (Can we miss out on them?) - quoteth Kristi as she reads my blog aloud in monotone boring voice...

I read somewhere that if we are trying to do God's will but we don't know what he wants us to do that we should do what we want and trust God that it will all be good. Is this how it works, I wonder?

A Call: Standing Inside the Fire

My friend Kristi and I have just returned from a weekend of craziness in which we have taken a road trip. We decided that we wanted to go on a road trip on Tuesday. It would be fun, we said. But, how often do we do the things that we say will be fun? It has happened to me on many occasions.

I believe that sometimes fear or practicality can get in the way of something God may be calling us to do. What if he is calling us to go to South Bend, Indiana and meet fun and exciting people on the way?

So, as the Garth Brooks song says, "life is not tried, it is mearly survived if you are standing outside the fire." who wants to just survive? I want to live!!