30
Thirty is a milestone. Three decades. If you were furniture or a car, you would be considered vintage. I’m just grateful that for most of that 30 years, you’ve been my big brother. So, in honor of your birthday, a few of my favorite memories of us…
- That time I bloodied your nose.
- That time you buried me in pine straw under the tree in the backyard cause you were afraid I would get cold waiting for Mama and Daddy.
- Every time you pushed me up into a tree or over a fence since I never learned to do it myself.
- That time you and Justin reluctantly agreed to let me go with you to the Big Ditch and then I got tangled up in the barbed wire and ended up dangling upside down by my ankle and you had to go get Mama and then you got in trouble cause we were definitely not supposed to go to the Big Ditch.
- That time we built the fabulous fort in the backyard.
- That Christmas we bought Mama that rug and you creatively wrapped it.
- Playing “TL Lowery” and perfecting our helicopter/chicken bop/two-step.
- That time I convinced you to be my tee so I could practice my hitting. I only wanted to be as good a baseball player as you were.
- That time you saw me sneak into the library during lunch and followed me in. I told you I had a test to study for but really just didn’t have anyone to sit with. You didn’t call me on my lie, but you probably knew cause you sat with me until you had to go to class.
- Every time you’ve ever made me laugh til I cry or cry til I laugh.
In case you didn’t know, I love you. You’ve always been one of my favorite people. I’m proud to call you my brother. Happy Birthday.
By the way, I hear 30 is the new 20…
Update
So my last post was primarily random nonsense, although perhaps enlightening for some. However, I figured I should post a real update. I think my last post before my birthday list mentioned that I was preparing to move again… well, I have moved. I’m currently typing this from my parents’ home in Cleveland, TN. I finished classes at Fuller the last week of July and my mother and I drove from California to Tennessee the next week.
So now, here I sit. Things didn’t quite turn out as expected once I got back (if you really want to know, you can ask), but everything is working out well, I think. I’m currently enrolled as an MDiv student at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Shocking and unexpected, I know! Between classes and work, I’m trying to figure out the next step. There are a couple potential opportunities, with India and Thailand being at the front of the line. So, you can pray with me about that.
Other than school, work, and figuring out the meaning of life, I spend as much time as I can with this entirely kissable, squishable, adorable little person…
Lucky to be home!
28
I decided my birthday would be a good time to return to the blog. In recognition of my 28th year, I thought I would post 28 things you may or may not know about me. It has taken me 2 full days to think of these, the reason I’m posting the day after my birthday instead of on my birthday. Oh well, on with the list…
- My favorite color is blue.
- I recently developed a love of kale.
- I’m a ridiculous procrastinator.
- I like making things by hand, particularly baking bread, knitting, and sewing. My next goal is to learn to quilt.
- I have cracked my knuckles since I was a kid and have tried at least once a year to quit. Apparently, I even crack them while I sleep.
- I am always deeply affected by celebrity divorces. To a ridiculous, irrational level. I will think about it for weeks. Seriously, I think I need help.
- When I was a kid my dream was to be an Olympic synchronized swimmer. I would make up routines, which I would perform in our backyard pool while I sang the accompanying music. I’m hopeful the incriminating videos were destroyed in my parents’ house fire.
- For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to make Rice Crispy treats. According to the most recent Rice Crispy commercials, this ineptitude will make me a bad mother.
- I’m a reluctant, semi-closeted Twilight fan. I blame this on my last housemate and my sister-in-law. I had never even heard of Twilight until just before the third movie came out last summer, then managed to see all three movies and read all four books in less than two weeks. And I will be seeing the next two movies. Shameful.
- It’s quite possible that I am addicted to filing my fingernails.
- I am definitely addicted to coffee and sweet tea.
- My favorite movies are: Pretty Woman, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Pride and Prejudice, and The Godfather Trilogy. I will stop whatever I’m doing if I realize any of them is on tv. Even if it’s only the last 5 minutes.
- Despite years of trying, I have never learned to do a cartwheel.
- I love to cook and bake bread (and do a pretty decent job) but cannot bake sweets – cakes, cupcakes, and the like. They always turn out ugly and not especially tasty. Unlike my bread, which is generally fabulous.
- I didn’t like avocados until I moved to California, now I love them.
- I have a twitter account that I’ve never used. I think my blog is attached to it and maybe I automatically tweet when I post a blog, but other than that I have no idea how to use it.
- I cannot whistle like a normal human being, but have my own special method of “whistling.” The Godfather theme is my favorite song to “whistle.”
- I love scarves. I’d wear them every single day if I could.
- I found my first gray hair this year and took a picture of it (after removing it from my head, of course). I’m weird.
- One day, I will get a tattoo. I have the design, I’m just waiting to discover the perfect location. Thus far, the decision on where to put it has alluded me.
- My car has a name (Rolonda the Honda) and a motto (Roll on Rolonda).
- I want to live in a houseboat in Sausalito.
- I used to play the piano pretty well. I wish I still did.
- I stopped using shampoo about 5 years ago. Now I don’t use any chemicals on my hair or face (except mascara).
- I have said for many years that when I grow up I want to live in a house with dirt floors so I never have to mop or vacuum. I’m still holding out hope.
- I have an irrational fear that when I kill a bug/spider/creepy-crawly, it’s family senses its death, either by their natural heightened buggy senses or some buggy sixth sense, and they will come together in a buggy army to avenge the death of their buggy brethren. I literally can’t sleep at night after I kill bugs, for fear they will come get me. No, I am not psychotic, I just have a very active imagination that sometimes gets a little carried away.
- I love Top Chef and Project Runway and wish I was skilled enough in either area to be on the show. And I totally have a celebrity crush on Tom Colicchio.
- I truly think I should be vegetarian and maybe even vegan (but probably not). It’s just such a difficult goal for a good southern girl like me.
Okay, so 28 random things about me to celebrate my 28th year. The end.
A Patchwork Quilt
I’m moving.
Again.
Soon.
Like less than a week soon.
And today I realized… my life is a patchwork quilt.
In the 10 years since I left home, my life has included 15 roommates, 6 churches, 3 states, 4 countries, 1 grad school, 2 jobs and more friends, acquaintances, and random encounters than I ever could have anticipated.
Every single one of those people and experiences left a mark on my life, patches of different sizes, shapes, patterns, and colors. Some patches are sewn tightly together with the surrounding patches, creating a distinct shape that draws the eye. Other patches seem disparate and disjointed from the rest but still make their presence known. There are common threads and themes running throughout, creating calm and stability in the chaotic places.
If you look at my patchwork quilt, two things are clear. One, it tells a story. You can see how I got where I am and maybe see a little of where I’m going. Two, it is incomplete. There are places that need mending and the edges are unfinished, so more patches can be added.
This is my life… a piece of patchwork carefully designed by the master designer. Thank you for giving of yourselves to help my patchwork take shape. For offering pieces of the fabric of your own life to make mine a little bigger. For stitching up my holes and snipping my frayed ends.
It is a beautifully frustrating thing to be a work in progress. But as I look over the many pieces that make up my life, I am excited to see what comes next. Only time will tell how this little patchwork quilt will expand and take shape.
image taken from http://carterquilter.wordpress.com/tag/patchwork/
My New Toy!
Do you remember this post? Well, I got me one! It was part of a graduation present from my parents. I have to say… I LOVE IT!!! It came just as I was walking out the door to go work on a paper. Talk about terrible timing! You would’ve been very impressed by the measure of self-discipline I exercised though, had you been here to witness it. I brought it in the house, opened it, looked at it…. and put it back. Didn’t even take it all the way out of the box. Taking it out and playing with it was my reward for finishing the paper (which I did and got 5/5 on, btw!)
I’ve played with it several times in the past week-ish since it came. It really is a fabulous little thing. And super easy to use, which is key for my non-tech savvy self.
Enough with the words… Pictures! These are my first few attempts, so they aren’t perfect and the pictures aren’t great. But really, anything baby-sized is cute, right?!
Froggy onesie and burp cloth… ribbit
Fishy onesie and burp cloth…
Little baby necktie? Yes, please!
I’ve got a lot more experimenting lined up, but kinda gotta finish school first. You see, they let us act like we graduated even though we didn’t… yet. But as soon as I’m done with these last three classes… it’s on!
Dear Blog,
I’m sorry. I’ve done it again, haven’t I? This on-again-off-again relationship we have must be killing you, especially when I’m the one with all the control. I don’t know what to say, except… I’m sorry.
To make matters worse, while we’ve been off-again, I’ve been seeing other blogs. Yes, more than one. I know. I’m awful. Actually, these other blogs might’ve, maybe, perhaps, a little bit contributed to my off-again behavior. Again, I’m sorry.
But, they are also what pushed me back to you. Seeing all their fancy pages and regular posts made me miss you. Will you have me back? Can we pick up where we left off? Of course not. That’s silly of me to even ask… can we pick up from where we are now?
I can’t promise you that I won’t abandon you again at some point in the future. It’s actually quite likely that I will… only time will tell.
Your on-again-off-again blogger,
Becky
Would you like to meet a few of the new blogs I’ve met? I thought so…
So, I might be on a bit of a crafty kick… more on that soon.
Abandoner
I am an abandoner…
Sorry
I’m sure I’ll return soon(ish).
