this is different

(from my very favorite chick flick of all time)

Frank: I could never be with anybody who doesn't take politics seriously.
Kathleen Kelly: I have something to tell you. I didn't vote.
Frank: What?
Kathleen Kelly: In the last mayoral election......when Rudy Giuliani was running against Ruth Messinger...I went to get a manicure. And forgot to vote.
Frank: It's okay. I forgive you.

So...it's the GOP Convention. I've actually been looking forward to it for several months. Many of the people that I love have been slated to speak. I mean, I found Chris Christie before any of you did. I really did. And Mia Love...I adore her (I would say "I love her" but that's just obnoxious) and...Condi Rice? REALLY? I so want to be her when I grow up.

BUT...

Want to know a secret?
Really...can you keep it just between us?

I haven't watched.
Not a single minute.
Not heard a word.
And even last night when "someone" offered to watch part of it with me, I opted to spend quality time with said someone instead of watching the convention.
Who am I?
And what have I done with myself?
(it makes me giggle, if you want to know that truth.)

I always thought "I could never be with anybody who doesn't take politics seriously."
But, I've met one such "anybody".
And turns out...I was wrong.

A good friend pointed out today that things are really different with me.

Now, the truth is, a whole lot of things aren't different at all.
BUT...it's true...some things are.
Because something is.

TOP TEN SIGNS SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT IN MY LIFE

1. Um, I haven't watched the Convention (shouldn't that be sign enough?).
2. I have been eating a lot of ice cream lately but not alone (and not alone is way more fun and way more yummy).
3. I don't remember the last time I went to bed at 10:15pm. (which is really saying something because I sure like bedtime at 10:15pm.)
4. But, I'm back to getting up at 5:30am to go running (come on. admit it. that's impressive).
5. The "whistle" alert on my phone is heard more than any other sound (and it makes me swoon every time I hear it).
6. I have way less time for my friends and they couldn't be happier about that (and couldn't be more understanding).
7. I'm grinning a ridiculous amount of the time (and that, in turn, makes other people grin and wonder what I'm grinning about).
8. I have a new playlist that includes songs someone else suggested (and he is very good at song suggestions).
9. I'm the part-owner of a motorcycle helmet (and I kind of love it).
10. I've only written like a dozen posts this summer. Me. The girls who loves this little blog of mine and yet every time I think about writing, I just don't know what to say (Or I DO know what to say and I'm just trying to figure out how to say it).

This is different.
The good kind of different.
And I pretty much love it.

And I'll be back...

 

potential chick flick?

I know we have other important things to discuss and I have unfinished posts of things I've been learning that I actually want to share.
And I know we're all busy.
And maybe you have better things to do than read this.
And perhaps I'll chicken out and not even let this stay live for long.
 
But...I feel the need to share a bit of hope.
And shout from the rooftops about how good God is.
How involved He is in our lives.
How aware He is of our hearts.
And share a little ray of sunshine in this little world of mine.

So...
hypothetically speaking...

If you had the chance to hear some of the fun parts of a potentially really awesome story, would you rather...

hear the aforementioned fun parts as they unfold before your very eyes with the anticipation of all the ingredients that make up a really awesome chick flick, knowing all the while you could be emotionally investing in something that might not turn out like a really awesome chick flick, thus potentially committing yourself to a needed week or two of Ben & Jerry's while you get over the disappointment of it all...OR

would you rather wait and hear about all the fun parts at the end of the story once the end is known thus providing great security in making the investment but then risking that you may never actually hear any of the aforementioned fun parts of the story if the story doesn't end the way all really awesome chick flicks end because, well then, the fun parts aren't quite as fun as they were when they were happening and therefore shouldn't be shared...OR

would you rather not know about any of it because you have better things to do with your time and who wants to experience a real-life chick flick anyway. I mean, who has time to read of things that would make even Ms. Austen herself say "oh, that's good. that's real real good."

These are all things to consider before you reply...
But, you should know...

I think this has the potential to be a really awesome chick flick.

You know...hypothetically speaking.

(though there is nothing hypothetical about a boy sending flowers. nope. nothing hypothetical at all.)

a. beautiful. day.

How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!
~George Elliston

U2's "Beautiful Day" came on my little nano this morning during my run and I just couldn't help but smile. I've always loved that song but lately when I hear it, I smile a little more and I run a little faster.

I'm finding that each new day is a really good thing just on it's own.

But a beautiful day? So. much. better.

And lately, life has had plenty of them.

I am still terribly behind on this little blog of mine and behind on sharing really great learnings from a really great summer, but...in the meantime, here are some things that make a day beautiful...in my little corner of the world (you know...until I can write a legit post.)

• Flowers. Lots and lots of them.
• Girls camps where you know God intervened and you just happen to be there.
• A new playlist with songs that make you smile. (like this one and this one and this one)
• Tillamook Chocolate & Peanut Butter ice cream with Peanut Butter sauce.
• Knowing there is someone in the world who thinks you're the easiest person ever
• Speaking at a Singles Conference you didn't want to go to and finding out that was exactly where you were supposed to be
• Scripture discussions about topics that matter to you but have never seemed to matter to anyone else and then finding out they do matter to someone else. You had just never met the someone.
• Caprese sandwiches with fresh tomato AND fresh basil. (I'm a sucker for balsamic vinegar...what can I say?)
• A movie in the middle of the day. With popcorn. Buttered. 
• Finding a little bit of time to read this book.
• A text alert that whistles (really. try it. it's like your phone is constantly flirting with you.)
• Having someone who you hear speak at General Conference say "I gotta tell you. You're a hoot to work with." and then finding out it's like the highest compliment he can pay.
• Motorcycles (who knew?)
• Adding the saying "ello, poppet" to your vocabulary and thinking it's such a happy thing to say that you are pretty sure you will say it for the rest of your life.
• Kindness. Just kindness. And realizing there is so much of it to go around and to share and there seems to sometimes be a shortage of it so in addition to spreading joy and sunshine wherever you go, you should also just be kind.

So...tell me. What makes a beautiful day for YOU?

Anyone still out there?

I have posts I've started but haven't finished...

With experiences I want to share...

And thoughts of things I'm learning...

And happy reasons to be happy...

I don't know where to begin.

But, life is so good right now. 

("So good. So good. So good." -Neil Diamond)

I ran into someone this weekend that [used to] read my blog,

you know, before I stopped blogging.

And she missed me and then I realized I kind of miss this little place too. 

And kind of want to come back.

But...is anyone even still out there?

No...really...are you?

Because if you are, I will so be back. 

Real. Real. Soon.

xoxo