Lifelong Friends

Two of my college roommates were in town visiting this weekend.  There were 2 sad parts:

1. Katie - my 3rd college roommate and queen of awesomeness - was not here.  I'm still crying over that fact.
2. They left to return to B-town.  Boo.

However, there were many many highlights.  Here are a few.

1. I got the best ab workout of my life (all from laughing.  score!)
2. Collapsing onto my bed giggling and eating peanut brittle immediately upon arrival.
3. Amazing dinner.  A classic "cardboard shack" concoction of pasta deliciousness.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
4. Curulean: Japanese Restaurant/Sushi Lounge of AMAZINGNESS in Winona.  Best meal I've had in a long time...maybe ever.  I want more now.  Now...
5. Reading, chatting, and drinking coffee all morning long.
6. They like (put up with) my dog (when she's well behaved.) 
7. Popcorn.
8. Spontaneous Dance parties in the kitchen
9. French Techno music
10. Falling asleep on the couch watching a movie.

It was a weekend of sharing old memories and making new ones.  They are life long friends and I love them.

Two weeks and I'm going to St. Louis to visit my Katie!  More epic greatness to come.

But for now...I am content, having had an amazing weekend with great people.

*There may or may not be pictures coming soon.  Fortunately I was the only one taking pictures all weekend...so that means I am in COMPLETE CONTROL of what gets posted.  (evil grin)

Impress or Impact

I was visiting a church this past weekend for work, and got the chance to hear a different Pastor preach...and I was challenged!  Love it when that happens...

Have you ever considered the difference between Impressing someone versus Impacting someone?  I never really had, but he offered a good thought.

You can impress someone in the short term....but impacting someone takes long-term effort and energy.

You see, impressing someone can be fairly simple, it doesn't necessarily take a lot of time, and the person you are trying to impress doesn't need to have a deep understanding of who you are.  You can keep them at arms length, yet let them get just close enough to impress them.

Yet impacting takes work.  It's difficult, it takes time, and it requires closeness: them in your space, and you in theirs.

I think this rings true in many areas of life....not just relationally.  Take a job for instance.  In the short term, you can come in, show proficiency, keep things running smoothly, and earn praise and accolades.  But have you made a dramatic difference?  Have you tried to leave a lasting impact in the organization?

Often in our lives, we sail through the impressing phase, hit a difficult spot...and rather than digging in and fighting through it, we give up thinking "I've done something good here.  It's time to move on."  NO!!!!  The good stuff...the great stuff is just ahead! 

Impact comes when you hit a challenge, dig in, fight through, and come out on the other side.  You've worked hard, taken time, and gotten messy doing it....but what a glorious mess.

I'm tired of just making an impression...I want to make an impact. 

Finding the Bright Spots

It's been an interesting/chaotic/rough week.  Lots of stuff happening...good, bad, and other.  And I'm exhausted.  So I've decided to look for the bright spots of my day that make me smile.  Today's bright spot was early this morning.  

I was up visiting my grandparents last night, and by the time I was ready to head back home with Misha (my dog) in tow...it was super windy, raining/snowing, and altogether gross.  So I stayed at my parent's house and decided I would just leave early this morning to get back to the office.

This morning, I loaded the dog in the car at about 6:30, ran to Starbucks, and was on my way.  I realized after Starbucks that I had forgotten something at the house...so I ran back, left the car running, ran inside and ran back out to find.....

Misha sitting in the driver's seat.  She looked so cute and innocent as if she was saying, "Come on mom...let's go home already!!!!"  I stood in the driveway laughing for a good minute or 2. 

Normally I make Misha ride in the back...but she just looked so stinkin cute that I acquiesced and let her sit in the passenger seat....where she remained with her head in my lap the whole way home.  Awwwwwww.  (Sarah N. please refrain from gagging or mocking me as I know you will upon reading this since I know how much you love Misha and dogs in general....)

It definitely made me smile.

That's all I've got...Now I'm on my way home to run, grab dinner, watch The Office and do massive amounts of laundry.

Acts

Tonight, I had the opportunity to speak at a college service in West Lafayette.  I am too tired right now to really say anything of substance about what I talked about....but in a nutshell, it was about the community of believers in Acts.  (More on this later....maybe tomorrow)

If you haven't read the book of Acts...READ IT.  It's amazing.  The church has such an incredible beginning!

I was blessed by the opportunity to be there speaking to the group.  Although I was nervous and felt unprepared, I enjoyed being to able to share from scripture.  There's something that fires me up about challenging people (students specifically), and I find that I walk away challenged myself.  Even beyond that, I want so desperately for people to "get it"...  To truly understand what their faith is all about, and if God gives me a chance to play a tiny role in that...I'll take it!

25 Random Things

Because I've been tagged in this on facebook....Here goes.  I may or may not go back and tag people in this on Facebook.  I am still undecided.

1. I hate being cold.  It is one of the worst feelings in the world to me.
   
2. I once earned the nickname Ballerina Barbie (don't ask, and please, for the love of all that is good, don't ever call me that.)
3. Oh yea, I used to be a dancer (ballet, clearly...see above.)
4. I am petrified of heights
5. I love climbing and working high ropes (clearly 4 and 5 make no sense...that's why 4 is an irrational fear.)
6. I am also petrified of bridges
7. I am very shy, but wish I was more outgoing.
8. I have a yellow lab named Misha.  I secretly thing she is awesome even though I call her "the beast" and blame all disorder and chaos on her.  Shhh....don't tell
9. I love having an excuse to get dressed up and go out with friends.  Always a good time.
10. Back in college, my roommates and I had a traveling can of rutabagas that mysteriously appeared in random places.  My favorite was in my purse, which I discovered after I got to class that day and opened it up to find...not a pen like I was hoping....but a can of an unknown, orange, root vegetable. 
11. I used to hate The Office....until I watched the bloopers of Season 2 with some friends, and I have been addicted ever since.
12. I am one of those people that watch almost all the bonus features on a DVD or TV season...."The Making Of" features, gag reels, you name it.  Yep, I'm a dork.
13. I want to move to Boston some day
14. I still watch the TV show "ER."  Feel free to judge me.  Yes I know it's been on for way too long, and is really bizarre...but it sorta fulfills my former desire to be a doctor.
15. I have an intense fear of drowning (even though I am a decent swimmer and used to be on a swim team).  And don't even think of dunking me unless you want me to start crying hysterically
16. I only went to 1 high school dance....and I DO NOT regret it.  Turns out for being a former dancer, I'm....not much of a dancer.
17. A good day to me involves a couch, a hot drink, a good book, good music, and snuggling with my dog.  Maybe a good movie to finish the day.
18. I secretly wish I had Sarah Neel's sense of style...but don't think I could ever pull it off.
19. My sister is my hero (awww.....)  If you haven't met her, you probably should.
20. Flattop Grill is one of my all-time favorite restaurants.
21. If I could do anything right now and be guaranteed I would succeed, I would want to open a residential program for young girls who have nowhere else to go....Maybe they have psychological problems, have gotten kicked out of school, their homes....Not really sure what exactly...but something along those lines.
22. I am not a competitive person, however I become competitive whenever I am around my brother-in-law, Jon....and I tend to make lots of empty threats.  It's highly entertaining (and he usually schools me anyway).
23. I wish I was more witty....My staff is crazy and I can never keep up with them.
24. I have flown a plane....and it was awesome.
25. Bring me a cup of coffee and chocolate and you are guaranteed to become my friend.

A Tradition

This fall a tradition started at my house.  Every Thursday, friends in the area gather at my house for dinner and to watch....The Office (one of the greatest shows ever, thank you very much.) 

To be honest, I didn’t think it would become a tradition, but I think it’s GREAT that it has, for so many reasons: It gives me an excuse to cook (I love cooking, but it seems a little silly when cooking for one), It gives me a chance to catch up with friends, and last but certainly not least....The Office is way more funny when watched with friends.

As this tradition has developed, I have enjoyed noticing some things about great friends and great friendships

• The door is always open.  People come on over whenever, let themselves in, and make themselves at home.  I LOVE it!
  
• The door swings both ways.  I know I am welcomed to their places whenever the opportunity comes up.
  
• They move from “guest” to “family.”  They know to help themselves to drinks, snacks, blankets, and pillows.
  
• No lost time.  No matter how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other or talked, we pick right back up where we left off.
  
• Great friends have earned the right to push, poke, and challenge.  They can say things that I may not like, but I know that they still love me.
  

I am thankful for friendships like these.  They encourage, challenge, and strengthen me.

*Side note: I also found out this week that some friends of mine are actually attending a Journey Class on Friendship at GCC.  How cool is that?!?!

In You

I sing for joy
In my remorse
A well within prosperity’s curse
That drowns the mighty oak of pride
But feeds the root of God inside.

In You
I find my rest
In You
I find my death
In You
I find my all and my emptiness
Somehow it all makes sense

In You I’m rich
When I’ve been made poor
Comfort found when I mourn
The prideful one You see from afar
Drawing near to low, broken hearts.

In You
I find my rest
In You
I find my death
In You
I find my all and my emptiness
But it all makes sense

"In You" Shane and Shane