WWW = Wonderfully Weird Week

It all began on Sunday when I ended up taking advantage of a little "Jane time". Of course I squeezed in a birthday party for my 2 year-old cousin. Nothing like spending a couple of hours with a bunch of 2 year-olds at Gymboree.

On Monday my older brother called to tell me that he and his wife are having a girl! They told us they were expecting back at Christmas and we have all been anxiously waiting to know if it was a boy or a girl. Needless to say, our family is very excited and can't wait to meet this precious addition to our family!

Tuesday was fairly uneventful except for my doctors appointment. Actually it was fairly normal until she listened to my heart when apparently I decided to throw in a couple extra beats. To be on the safe side I had the opportunity to experience my first EKG. It was normal and I apparently have a low resting heart rate.

Today I had to go in for some lab work. She missed the first time, but was successful the second time. However, my arms look a little worse for the wear.

I hope these last two days are just normal no trip to the doctor, no more lab work, and no EKG days!

(In case you are wondering...niece = wonderful, doctor visit and EKG and lab work = weird)

Woman at the Well

I am a woman of no distinction,
Of little importance.
I am a woman of no reputation,
Save that which is bad.

You whisper as I pass by,
And cast judgmental glances.
Though you don’t really take the time to look at me,
Or, even get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved,
And to be loved is to be known and,
Otherwise, what’s the point of doing?
Either one of them in the first place?

I want to be known.

I want someone to look at my face,
And not just see two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and two ears,
But to see all that I am and could be.
All my hopes, loves, and fears

But that’s too much to hope for,
To wish for,
Or pray for
So I don’t, not anymore.

Now I keep to myself,
And by that I mean the pain
That keeps me in my own private jail.
The pain that has brought me here,
At midday, to this well.

To ask for a drink is no big request,
But to ask it of me,
A woman unclean, ashamed, used and abused,
An outcast, a failure, a disappointment, a sinner.

No drink passing from these hands
To your lips could ever be refreshing,
Only condemning, as I’m sure you condemn me now,
But you don’t.

You’re a man of no distinction,
Though of the utmost importance.
A man with little reputation,
At least so far.

You whisper and tell me to my face
What all those glances have been about,
And you take the time to really look at me,
But don’t need to get to know me.

For to be known is to be loved,
And to be loved is to be known,
And you know me.

You actually know me.
All of me and everything about me.
Every thought inside and hair on top of my head.
Every hurt stored up, every hope, every dread.

From my past and my future,
All I am and can be you tell me everything.
You tell me about me.

And that which is spoken by another
Would bring hate and condemnation.
Coming from you it brings love, grace,
Mercy, hope, and salvation.

I’ve heard of one to come
Who would save a wretch like me,
And here in my presence you say,
“I am he.”

To be known is to be loved,
And to be loved is to be known.

And I just met you,
But I love you.
I don’t know you,
But I want to get to.

Let me run back to town;
This is way too much for just me.
There are others–
Brothers, sisters, lovers, haters,

The good and the bad, sinners and saints
Who should hear what you have told me,
Who should see what you have shown me,
Who should taste what you gave me,
Who should feel how you forgave me.

For to be known is to be loved,
And to be loved is to be known.

And they all need this too.
We all do.
We need it for our own.

TGIF

I'm on my lunch break here at work, but I thought I would steal a moment or two and write a line. It's been a long week and I am very thankful it is Friday. Besides Bible Study tonight followed by a fellowship, I do not have any other plans for the weekend. Since I haven't felt 100% this week, I am looking forward to a quiet weekend.

Last night I had the rare opportunity to speak to my nephew on the phone. At 4, it is hit or miss with him. He might want to talk, but he might not. After hello, he immediately asked me how I was feeling since he had heard that I had been sick this week. I told him that I was feeling better and he piped in that we was too. (He has had another cold...got to love preschool!) He went on an asked one of his favorite questions, "What are you doing?" I told him that I was cleaning my room since I had Bible Study at my house the next day. He then asked, "What else are you doing?" I was at my computer (surprise) and told him that I was checking my e-mail. As only a 4 year-old in today's society understand, he asked if I had anything new. I told him no and that nobody must love me. Of course I was kidding, but he went on to straighten me out that he loved me very much. You just have to love that kid!

Okay, back to finishing day 5 of my Bible Study!

5 Things I Want to do Before Turning Thirty

Without further ado, here is the list:

1. Go on a mission trip. I might be pushing it with the time, so I will settle for getting signed up for a specific trip that will be taken after my birthday.
   
2. Take on a new hobby. I'm still working on the specifics of this one. I have thought about calligraphy or even knitting. Something random that people might surprise people.
3. Read two classics. You know those books that you had to read in high school or at least bought the Cliff Notes for, but didn't actually read. I am thinking that one will be Pride and Prejudice since I haven't ever read that one.
   
4. Finish painting my nativity scene puzzle. I finished the first two which were Christmas gifts in 2006 for my brothers and their wives, but never finished the one that is for me. These were originally supposed to have been painted by my grandmother, and I promised her I would finish them.
   
5. Train for and complete a 5K. This one makes me nervous, but I am going to do it. I have found a plan that should have me running three miles three times a week in 2 months.
   

My goal was actually to come up with seven things, but this is all that I can come up with at this time. What do you think?

100th Post

In my mind I have allowed the importance of this 100th post to grow out of control. I felt that it had to be deep or profound, and I got nothing! However, my sweet sister-in-law called me out on the fact that I have been neglecting my blog. So, Michelle, this randomness is just for you. (Hope you get to feeling better too!)

• If you get a shiny, new, black BMW convertible for your 16th birthday, what do you look forward to the rest of your life? I thought this one my way home today. I was in S. Tampa and passed three teenage girls in that very car. My first car was an 1987 baby blue Ford Escort. The steering wheel began to shake when you hit 60 mph. My older brother, Stuart, had already driven it for 4 1/2 years. My second car was a 1995 Honda Civic, but red. Stuart had also driven that before me as well. Driving a used that had been previously driven by another family member was a right of passage in our family.
  
• Wednesday I was in a local grocery store when I overheard a woman at the checkout. Her son who had to be about three or four was pulling on her sleeve saying, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy..." She looked at him and told him that was not her name right then. It reminded me of growing up when my mom used to threaten to change her name and not tell us what she had changed it to. I wanted to that poor mom that it would be okay. That in 10 years all she would want was to have a conversation with her son. In twenty years she would wait for him to call her and she would send him Valentine's in the mail telling him how much she loved him.
  
• On Wednesday I was also called ma'm...twice! When did I become my mother? When I hear ma'm that is who I think about. Maybe I am paranoid because I just had a birthday. Oh well, at least manners aren't dead. Just don't call me ma'm!
  
• Apartment life...There are advantages to living in an apartment- no yard work, maintenance men, etc. However, I have new upstairs neighbors who I think bowl and/or drop heavy weights on the floor. It sounds like they are going to drop through the ceiling. There is also someone who drives by with the bass blasting...it shakes the whole apartment. I can feel them now, but have no idea where "they" are.
• I am working on a list of things that I want to accomplish before my 30th birthday. It is a little less that 11 months away. The only problem is, I haven't finished my list. How will I ever accomplish everything. I'll share the list with all five of you who read my blog when I finally finish it.
• I read a book this week about a single woman who had an anonymous blog. She would write all these random things that she thought and what was going on with her job and family. She never had to worry about what others thought since it was all anonymous. I like the idea. I think I might do that too. Don't worry, I'll let you all know what the address of my new anonymous blog is so that you can see what I or someone else writes! ;)
  

As you can see, I don't have any deep or thought-provoking...at least I gave you fair warning!

(I apologize for any misspellings or typos...my spell check isn't working.)

Favorite Lines

Music is very powerful. As I have been trying to put some of the things that I have learned recently about worship (you know those posts that I keep writing about, but have yet to finish...) into practice, I have begun to set aside time every morning to worship. iTunes have made this much easier as I have created a worship playlist and have the ability to download new music and combine it with some of the older songs that I love.

These are some of my favorite lines of the songs that I have been listening to or that have really spoken to me as of lately. I have listed the name of the song and either the band/artist whose recording I listen to or in the case of hymns, those who wrote the words.

I can't live by what I feel
But by the truth Your word reveals
-East to West, Casting Crowns

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
-Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thomas O'Chisholm

Then I hear you sing to me
You don't have to do a thing
Just simply be with me and let those things go
It can wait another minute
Wait this moment is to sweet please stay here with me
And love of me a little longer
-A Little Longer, Brian and Jenn Johnson

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man
-Creed, Third Day

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
-Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson

You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?
-Everything Glorious, David Crowder

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resounds, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul
-It is Well with My Soul, Horatio G. Spafford

Of course these are just a few. What are some of your favorites?