Just One - The Heart

Beginnings.

A few days ago I wrote about "Just One."  I confess it was done in a sarcastic mode and with a resentful tone.  As I've continued to enjoy Aruba, God worked me out of my funk.  Being a "Just One" is not a terrible way to go through life.  In the days since I wrote, the world around me showed me the beauty of the "Just One"(s).  I'm doubtful the book idea, even with the new theme, would go anywhere.  Therefore, as the "Just One" moments reveal themselves to me, I will share with all of you.

The Heart

Last night, I returned to my hotel room and found Housekeeping decorated my room.  A heart - shaped from a towel and accented with silk roses and petals.  I confess my first thought was dripping with sarcasm, "Wonder if they know something I don't know, since I'm a "just one" in Aruba."  Sigh.  My inner voice called to me, "Snap out of it, girl!"

I pondered the heart through the evening.  A heart.  Simple. The thought behind the gesture - beautiful. And then I realized that for me this heart is an even bigger reminder.  Emily is loved - by friends, family, and more importantly by the Most High God.  I am a "Just One."  None like me.  Unique.  A child of God.  Daughter of the King.  Beloved. 


From "Just One"
Emily

Unexpected Blessings

Unexpected Blessings come during times when you expect them least.  Do you notice this in your life?   I arrived in my vacation destination on Friday expecting a Junior Suite room with a view.  I admit I expected this view to be a glimpse of the ocean from a corner of the deck.  Upon arrival, the front desk mentioned an upgrade when I checked in.  So, I widen my expectations of the ocean view by just a tiny bit and hoped for a tub as well as a shower.  Imagine my surprise when the porter led me to the TOP floor one of the towers and this view.  Oh my.  Blessed beyond words.  A sweet suite.  Thanks Abba.  I appreciate the kiss from heaven.

Just One!

I'm writing while on vacation.  It has been SOME time since I wrote/ I blogged.  I expect I'm rusty and will ramble.

The Blogging Begins - Greetings Readers!!!  I'm thinking about writing a book.  The topic . . . singleness.  I know, I know.  A topic on which MANY MANY (did I say A LOT yet - ha ha) of books strive to eloquently capture pathos, humor, sorrow, anger, angst - and the list continues of the emotional condition of a single person.  I believe I have a unique twist.  A picture book!

A picture book?  Yes, a picture book entitled, "Just One!"  Come now, my fellow singles (or those happily married/ in a relationship/ dating/ engaged who may require a memory search to remember), you know exactly what I'm talking about here.  Still confused?  Let me set the scene for you.

You arrive at a restaurant with Me, Myself, and I.  Hostess greets you with the traditional welcome, "How many?"  You reply, "One."  Her welcoming face flickers a bit with hesitation, "Just one?"  In the moment between her question and your reply, the flush of emotions (anger, sadness, frustration, strength, (fill in the blank)) and clench of the stomach or jaw.  Deep internal breath and you rally a reply, "Yes, Just One."  Now imagine you are able to capture that moment on film - her face and the restaurant in the background.  Below is the tag line, "Just One.  Even single people eat in nice places."  (My tag lines have some work to make them shine with sarcasm or stir with laughter).

I experienced my own "Just One" moment this morning.  I'm vacationing at an All Inclusive Resort.  Sun and sand experience.  In order to eat at one of the "restaurants" (one grows weary of the buffet line after a while), a reservation is required and available to book during a specific time window of 9am - 11am.  During the appointed hour, I approach the reservation desk.  Japanese is my food of choice.  And the question comes predictably from the woman's mouth, "How many?"  "One," I reply.  The man next to her looks up with a surprised and sympathetic look, "Just One?"  I sigh and confirm the single number, "Yes, just one."  Even in the land of sun and sand, "Just One" is a rarity.

Just to spite them all, I've booked a sunset cruise for this evening and a Land Rover Adventure for Monday.  This "Just One" is going to have a da*n fun time.  :o)

P.S.  In regards to the book.  One thing I haven't figured out is how to manage the picture taking.  Not everyone I meet asks the "Just One?" question.  So, how do I capture these "Just One!" moments when they do occur?  A hidden camera with a discrete button to "click" the picture?  Hire a photographer to stalk me and capture these moments?   Quite the creative dilemma.  Perhaps enough to derail the project altogether :o)  Oh well, probably best, writing such a book might put me in a snarky mood for the entirety of the project and that would be unfortunate for ANYone around me!!

In closing - Singles.  Embrace your "Just One!" moments.  Me, Myself and I are good company.  Whether you are alone or out in public surrounded by 2s, 3s, 4s, 12s, and 20s, "Just One" is your moment.  Live it fully.

2013 - Ready or Not . . . Here I Come!

Good-bye 2012.  Hello 2013.  

I already know change lies ahead, in all walks of my life.  Sigh - I experienced a lot of change these past couple of years.  I hoped 2013 would be a year of calm.  Ha! All signs indicate this will not be the case.  Oh well.

I truly wish I had profound words to write.  They might make me feel better or make me feel super prepared for what lies ahead.  :o)  Instead, I'll share some quotes which I've been pondering of late.  Some make sense to me already.  Others I still feel I'm uncovering their meanings.  I hope they bring encouragement to your heart.

• “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.” (Mary Anne Radmacher) 

• Winston Churchill is credited with saying "Never, Never, Never Quit."  His speech from Harrow School actually contained these lines, "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."   

• "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'". (GOD via Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

• "I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflections." (Thomas Paine)

• "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

• "Whatever your sex or position, life is a battle in which you are to show your pluck, and woe be to the coward. Whether passed on a bed of sickness or a tented field, it is ever the same fair play and admits no foolish distinction. Despair and postponement are cowardice and defeat. Men were born to succeed, not to fail." (Henry David Thoreau)

• "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Joshua 1:9)

• "Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood." (Charles Swindoll)

• "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)

• "Courage is being scared to death—but saddling up anyway." (John Wayne)

An adventure begins.  2013 - Ready or Not . . . Here I Come!

 

 

Life, Change, and all that other stuff

This summer has been one of significant learning and change for me.  I have to say it started with a retreat weekend the last weekend in July, which I shall forever consider a milestone event in my life.  Significant personal and spiritual revelations.  The uncovering of lies and courage to embrace freedom.  (Yes, I know I'm not being specific, but the experience was deeply personal and not something I wish to blog about casually.)

And then August
- HMR (Health Management Resources) Health program resulting in weight loss, increased endurance, and hope for a healthy and life filled future :o)
- Implementing/ leading change at work
- And an announcement that I'm leaving Greenlee Louisville and relocating to Illinois.  Greenlee is moving me to become the Plant Manager at their Genoa, Illinois facility.  New challenges and increased responsibilities.
- A letter was written and mailed - a hard letter, but needful one.  Believing this situation will be yet another example of God working all things together for good.

So September is going to contain more change
- Projects to start and close out at Louisville
- Continued journey with HMR
- And mentally preparing for a new home, a new job

And October
- New job, starting October 1
- Moving to someplace in Illinois - where exactly TBD - but it will be in the Rockford/ Genoa area.  Praying for wisdom on whether I should buy or rent.
- HMR phase 2 (where I introduce lean meats and grains into the diet)
- And the beginning of building a new life for myself in Illinois. 

Life, change, and all that other stuff . . . :o)

The Diet - Food Style Change

Tuesday evening this week I attended a class - a weight loss program at my gym.  My doctor recommended strongly that I join some program in order to lose weight and reduce my cholesterol.  It took me a few months to come to terms with the fact that I had to do this, make a dramatic change in my eating habits.  So, I joined the HMR program.  http://www.baptistmilestone.com/weight-loss/

Phase 1 is 13 weeks.  3 Shakes, 2 Entrees (made by HMR), and min of 5 fruits and veggies.  Believe you me, I am eating more than 5 fruits and veggies.  You want all the food you can get.  No breads, no sugar, minimal caffeine, and stay in the box - no cheating!!  It is about 1250 calories.  I can drink more of the shakes if I'm hungry.  The goal is to break the bad habits, and dig right in to teaching your body not to crave unhealthy food. 

It is a regime change for me.  No to much a diet, but rather a Food Style change.  After 20+ years of eating what I wanted, it is time for self-control. 

This will not be easy.  But, I know it is time.  Join me in praying for strength and endurance!  Thanks.

Question of the Day: "Are you married?"

Do I have something written on my forehead, which says, "This woman is single.  Talk to her about marriage?"  It started this morning with the Hertz bus driver.  The initial questions were general enough - I expect ones he asks just about everyone who climbs on his bus wanting a ride from Hertz drop off to O'Hare - How are you?  Where are you heading?  Where are you from?  And then the surprise bonus question - "Are you married?"  Now my standard reply to that particular questions is, "I haven't met Mr. Right, yet."  To my surprise the conversation continued.  Roosevelt (the driver) told me, "not to worry.  It would happen.  I was young with lots of time left."  As I got off the bus, he reminded me, "Make sure you marry someone who will take care of you.  Even better, a partnership where you take care of each other."

Fast forward through my day.  6:00pm I'm home crashed on my couch watching a movie and there is a knock on my front door.  At the door is a salesman - Ahmad ? - who is part of a Fresh Start program selling magazines.  Side note - I get suckered into these buy 3 magazine deals about every 10 years.  So, it was time :o)  Anyway, Ahmad was all kinds of nice and a mouth filled with flattery.  (Oh yes, I know this is all part of the sales pitch.) In fact, he offered to marry me on the spot once he knew I was single.  Ahmad assured me that I was exactly his type of woman and that my freckles (which I believe he also called tiger stripes) were "cute."   I laughed, bought the 3 magazines, and wished him well on his life journey.

So, I want to know, is there something written on my forehead?  Because two times in the same day feels a bit excessive to get the "Are you married" question.  Oh well, I hadn't been asked in a while, so perhaps my standard answer needed some practice and polish.  Who knows perhaps Mr. Right will be asking the question one day soon :o) 

P.S.  I learned today from Ahmad that I have an accent.  Guess after listening to the drawl of the average Kentuckian, my fast paced "California Girl" manner of speaking sounded pleasing to his ear.