A life of crime

This week started with a gluten-filled bang and somewhere around the middle I gave up on the idea that I can do everything well. 

I think my epiphany about not tackling every single thing happened on Tuesday night, which I spent semi-recovering and not over doing it.

Wednesday night was spent at the gym because stress at work means a stop at the gym is a MUST. 

Celia needed to go see the vet.  Since I love this crazy feline, I had to rearrange my Thursday morning schedule to get her there before work and ensure that I would be able to pick her up after work.  This meant making sure I left work on time because I wanted to fetch her and make it to my pre-planned coffee date with my fabulous friend.

Friday - the last day of June - and the last day for my valid State of Illinois license plate tags and an unbelievably ridiculous mail merge left me questioning my sanity and making me throw caution to wind.  "Sticker-schmicker," I said to myself as I stayed at work and wrapped up the work week nicely...like with a pretty bow and maybe a dash of sparkle.

It was beautiful choosing to break the law from midnight July 1st until 7:30 a.m. July 1st when I will be in line for my valid license late tags.

I mean really - in a city the size of Rockford, a city ridden with crime up to here, are the authorities really going to be looking for a nice, Jesus-lovin' gal who chose staying at work in lieu of renewing her $101 license plate stickers?  For real!!!!  Gangs and shootings...and the police are going to cuff me?  I like to think not. 

It is weird this whole expired license plate quasi-criminal activity I am taking part in.  Never in my 26 years have I done this.  I am not this girl.  Apparently in 2017 in the year of our Lord, I am that girl.  :)

Transparent

As of late, my well-meaning co-worker has been heckling me about getting brave and extending a supper invitation.  (After I clicked the period ending the opening sentence, I sighed.  I sighed loudly.)  I know my co-worker means well.  He really does.  He just doesn't get it.

I'm not going to be the kind of girl that pursues a boy. 

This afternoon when he suggested that I call so-and-so (awwww...are you sad that I wouldn't insert his name?  It's cute when you pout.) and extend a hey-let's-grill-out-while-I-am-house/dog-sitting.  In my head, I said an emphatic, "No!"  However outloud, I said, "You know what.  I'm going to be completely honest with you.  Several of my girlfriends were the initiators in their relationships and those relationships turned to marriage...and years later, I see that my friends are still initiating and being kind of the 'boss.'  I don't want that.  And I understand if you don't get it," (those dreadful tears filled my eyes and nearly spilled over), "but I want you to understand that I want to be pursued not vice versa."

I know that I have friends who think that I am completely ridiculous and that is fine.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 

The girl I want to be....Part 2

I've been thinking a lot about guarding my heart.  Infact, today I was considering the verse, "Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life."  I couldn't remember the exact reference so I searched Bible Gateway's website only to discover "No Matches."  I, then, searched "heart" and Proverbs 4:23 popped-up which just so happens to be verse I apparently paraphrased.  :)  It reads... 

Keep thy heart

with all diligence;

for out of it are the issues of life. 

Keep...guard, protect.  I thought about those guards at Buckingham Palace. 

Their one job is to protect AT ALL COSTS the palace.  God wants me to protect my heart with that same intensity.  [Thankfully, He has not called me to life of a Palace guard.  Those hats!!!  Talk about hat hair!!!]

According to Dictionary.com - Keep means to persist in; be steadfast.  What a perfect description of how God wants me to guard my heart.

Pastor preached on our heart and defined our heart as our emotions, feelings, innermostself (I'm pretty sure that's a word).  When I am not guarding my heart, I am prone to attack.  The Devil knows this and he is on the lookout as a roaring lion (the Bible says).  He wants to devour me and my desire to serve the Lord.  He wants me to doubt God's perfect plan.  He wants me to settle into a life of complacency...so that others won't see Christ.  Settling is not trusting.  [It's funny - not in a LOL way, but in a wonderful blessing-ish sort of way - when I struggle with settling, the Lord puts little reminders in my life...a text from a friend, a note of encouragement, a random phone call from a friend, a radio broadcast, songs reminding me of God's amazing love & His amazing plan!]

I want Psalm 27:14 to resound in my heart and be on my mind at all times... 

Wait on the Lord: 

be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen

thine heart:  wait, I say, on the Lord.

The girl I want to be

I'm no longer going to be willing to play the the-girl-you-contact-when-you-are-bored and/or frustrated and/or lonely.  You either want me in your life or you don't.  This whole game is not [imagine me snapping my fingers thrice in a "Z" formation] working for me! 

I want to be the girl...

 

...you call just because.

 

...you bring tulips to when you pick her up for dinner.

 

...you want seated beside you during a Star Wars marathon.  Please bring Junior Mints!  [Note:  I will turn my head in that creepy Darth Vadar scene when he burns his face.  Ick!]

 

...you want to change my last name.

 

...you don't mind seeing cry.

 

...you want to take to a baseball game!  [I heart baseball.]

 

...you want your parents to meet.

 

...you imagine in your future.

I'm tired of being treated like a therapist...or, even worse yet, the girl who you don't mind breaking her heart.  I'm done being that girl.  [Insert the "Z" snapping thing.] 

I'm choosing life.  An abundant life!

Cashews, Seattle, and Pencil Skirts :)

Within the past year, I have discovered that I love...

1. Cashews

2. Seattle

3. Pencil Skirts

First -- cashews.  I must confess that I am an anti-nut sorta gal.  I like peanuts especially with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup -- TIN ROOF!  :)  I will tolerate almonds because they are extremely healthy.  But cashews, they took me by surprise.  I love them.  Salted.  Unsalted.  Covered in dark chocolate...technically I've not had them covered in dark chocolate, but isn't everything better covered in dark chocolate?  Grasshoppers would not be better covered in dark chocolate.  Infact what a tragic waste of dark chocolate to cover an evil grasshopper with such preciousness as dark chocolate.  


I think it's safe to say...I could consume my body weight in cashews.  Not all at once.  Goodness.  I would pace myself....so it might take me 6 months.  Yes, given an ample supply of cashews, I could eat my body weight in 6 months time.




Seattle...you've read the blog posts.  You know, blog-stalkers, about my smitten-ness over the Emerald City and a certain 7-member clan that now resides there.




Pencil skirts.  Again...HELLLLLLLLLLLO...where have I been?  Living under a rock?  Pencil skirts.  They are fun and remind me of my days working for Rockford Public Library.  I particularly enjoy wearing pencil skirts with a cardigan and my glasses.  This way, my co-workers will teasingly ask, "And when are my books due back?"  No worries -- I enjoy it so I reply, "Three weeks.  And keep your voice down.  Shhhhhhh..."