Riding the Waves of Grief

Today would have been my Mom’s 58th birthday.  This will be the second birthday since she passed away.  I got an analogy the other day as I was sitting at the beach about grief.  It’s kinda like surfing, or at least how I see surfing seeing as how I have never done it myself.  

My Car Wish List

Well as you know I'm car shopping.  It's funny how everyone and their brother knows someone that can help you find a car.  It's awesome, and overwhelming all at the same time.

Roadside Rescuers Strike Again and... Chivalry is almost dead...

Today was going like any other Tuesday.  I was a little later than usual to work because I woke up feeling rather crappy.  Bronchitis seems to have turned into a sinus infection and the combination has the potential to make me feel very miserable.  Not to mention I don’t talk, I croak.  My plan was to wait until tomorrow, when we get paid, to go back down to the walk in clinic and say, “Help!  Your antibiotics didn’t work and I have to lead worship this Sunday!”  I had an appointment at 2pm to get my bangs trimmed and afterwards decided since I was halfway to the clinic I would head out there today.  

My Love/Hate Relationship with Planning

I love to plan and be organized and have goals, but sometimes the process of putting all of that in place gets me down.  I spent most of an entire work day making a to-do list for our media team and planning deadlines for some major upcoming projects.  As much as I LOVE planning I was frustrated by the process.  I had to keep in mind that in the long run the time, that was seemingly unproductive, spent marking things on a calendar, sending emails to assign task deadlines, and making our to-do list would make me happy in the long run.  

Confession: I have Thursday hair!

You read that right.  I have Thursday hair.  Most people would be very familiar with the idea of Monday hair - It’s the first day back to work after a relaxing weekend and the last thing you want to do is put any effort into fixing your hair.  You do what is necessary to make you look presentable for work, but everyone knows that the state of your hair is a silent protest to the end of the weekend and the beginning of another week.  

I will not succomb to comfort foods!

There's something about being sick, even if you don't feel that bad, that can be a challenge ready to derail you from any eating plan whether it's a diet or a fast.  I've been coughing since about New Year's Day, but just kept thinking, "Oh it will get better!"  Yesterday my sister called and told me that everyone in the family has either acute bronchitis or pneumonia.  Well... I decided I should probably go get checked out.  I don't want to mess with possibly messing up my lungs!  Sure enough I have bronchitis.  I was prescribed a ZPak and cough syrup with condone and sent on my way.

The wonder of a smoothie and a spinach salad!

I bought stuff last night to make smoothies in the mornings.  However, I have to actually get up in time to make said smoothie before leaving for work.  Despite my Sleepy Time Extra tea and my favorite night time cough syrup I didn't sleep too well and then overslept.  And as it would happen I HAD to wash my hair this morning.  So... I forewent the smoothie and grabbed a banana on the way out the door, my coffee with vanilla almond milk in the other hand.

Since I was late to work I hit the ground "running" and didn't break open my banana until the end of a meeting with my Media team.  Guess what happened as I was peeling my banana just about ready to take a bite?

Gotta love that post workout feeling!

I honestly love that feeling after a workout when my muscles are throbbing.  Then I know I didn't "phone it in," but I worked it!  And I LOVE Zumba.  I'm glad I can do it with the Wii in the comfort of my living room whenever I can fit it in.  I'm sure going to the gym would be awesome, but I just don't have the time for that.

Okay, day two of this fast... I had coffee with vanilla almond milk, no sugar added peach applesauce, a banana, and an Italian salad and Tag Pic Pac with whole wheat pasta.  I also drank LOTs of water, well over 100 ounces.  I just had a cup of Sleepy Time Extra tea with some honey.  I'll be sleeping like a baby before too long!

Bring on 2012!

It’s the second day of 2012 and I’m staring at a half lit Christmas tree.  I lack the motivation to take it down at the moment, thanks in part to a post vacation cough that I acquired.  Actually most of my family was sick and I thought I had avoided it.  But I suppose when an adorable 16 month old is

Things I Love! Keeping a good attitude!

This morning I posted a status on Facebook regarding my pet peeve of the misuse of “your” and “you’re.”  It started me thinking about my sundry list of pet peeves and I almost started to make that list a blog.  It would have been something like, “Kara’s Top 20 Pet Peeves.”  

However, I decided such a negative list did two things - 1. It makes me look like a pessimist.  2. It completely counteracts my current mission of giving thanks for one thing everyday.  Instead I have decided to make a list of 20 things I love.  Let’s consider this my contribution to all of those who post “Things I Love Thursday.”  (It is important to note that this is a list of THINGS - items, activities, etc. - not people.)

Change...

Today I went to work late thanks to the pestering headache I woke up with.  Before going in I made a bank and Starbucks run.  My favorite Barista was there, but did not even say hello (insert pouty face).  I think that has something to do with the fact that there were lots of other employees there.  And I think the general manager arrived as I was leaving.  So Cute Barista (who really does have a name) may have been a little stressed... at least that’s what I’ll chalk it up to today.

Flying with a Broken Wing

Last Friday I got home and realized I had forgotten my song list at the office.  Though I was annoyed at having to go back and get it, I was again grateful that my commute is all of 30 seconds.  I pulled my car into the “loading zone” and left it running while I ran inside.  As I ran in I glanced down and saw a butterfly flapping what I figured were its last flaps before it died.  It looked to only have one wing.  When I came back out of the office a few minutes later that same butterfly was flapping with all its might... and FLYING with what I could then see was one full wing and one broken wing.  I wish I could have gotten a picture, but my phone was at the house.  Even if I had had my phone, I doubt I would have been able to adequately capture its struggle to fly in a photo.  

Dreams... Maybe I'm a little homesick...

I’ve had two dreams in the last week about taking really really long drives to visit people for a very short amount of time.

In the first dream I was going to drive 16 hours to deliver something near WV and visit my sister and the rest of my family while I was at it.  However, it was Monday and I knew I had to be back by Thursday so basically I would get to spend one day with my family and have to drive home.

This morning I had the second dream.  In it I got up early, early, early on a Sunday morning and drove to Baton Rouge getting there as Gena and them were getting out of church.  Her Mom and sister, Crysta, were there too.  It was 9am when I got there (the must have gone to the early service) and I had to leave by 1pm to get home for something going on that night.  I had four whole hours to spend there.

This morning as I thought about the fact that in both dreams I was willing to drive a long distance for a very short visit, I wondered if maybe I’m just a little homesick for my family and friends?  

I’m headed to Baltimore in a little over a week and a half to see Liz and Pete.  That will be a fun weekend.  I just wish I a. had more money and b. had more time off to visit a few other people.  I absolutely love LOVE my friends and “family” here, but I guess I’m just missing those people I don’t get to see as often. 

Unity!

Last week in staff meeting we were discussing unity.  It’s been a hot topic amongst some here lately.  I saw a picture as some of my co-workers talked and shared things God was showing them, but I didn’t share it.  I’ve been pondering it, and waiting for the right words to describe what I was seeing.

Sometimes the Simple Things We Say Mean the Most!

Yesterday my team had a major project with a deadline of closing time.  It’s something we had been working on for about a week, but my boss was putting on the pressure (understandably so) and we needed to get it done YESTERDAY!  Fortunately I have an amazing media team and we managed to pull it all together in time, even though the last hour or so was very stressful.

I want to be that Mom!

Tonight as I was making my homemade pb&j toaster pastries I was reminded of one of my Mom's favorite stories from my childhood. One of my good friends, Lissi, lived across the street. One day i came home from playing at her house and said, "Mom, Lissi's Mom made french toast from scratch!"

Another Mom Dream

This morning I had another dream about my Mom.  It’s left me a bit weepy all morning and made me unusually late for work.  It’s rather difficult to put on eye makeup when tears are streaming down your face.  Good thing I have waterproof eye liner!  And so thankful for understanding bosses and co-workers.

100 Random Facts About Me

100.  Despite my attempt at having other favorite colors I always come back to pink.  I suppose I’m just a girlie girl at heart!  

99.  I like peach flavored things - peach cobbler, peach candy, peach flavored drinks.

98.  I love roses, but specifically I love unique colors of roses.  Not a big fan of red roses though I wouldn’t turn them down if someone brought/sent me some.

Thoughts on Prayer

I have a confession to make.  My whole life I have been embarrassed to pray in front of people.  I can get up and lead worship, I can teach, I can do a lot of things that require speaking in front of people, but praying in front of people makes me panic a tad.  I’ve always felt like I didn’t have the right words, or like people would think my prayers were too simple.  I’m not really great at quoting chapter and verse, but I can usually get the gist of it.  I feel like I missed the lesson on the powerful prayer formula.  

Mom Dream 5.4.11

WARNING:  This may induce tears... or maybe I’m the only one that it made cry....

I didn’t sleep so well last night.  I had a dream that my Mom was still alive.  But it wasn’t a good dream.