Cat's Outta the Bag...

This Southern Belle is blabbing at www.jeblackwellfam.blogspot.com every Sunday night. Well almost every Sunday night! See you there!

Oreos, a House, and More Money...Please.

I'm so sporadic with this thing - I feel certain you have all abandoned your efforts to read it. If so, that's okay. It's still therapeutic for me.

I had a good conversation with an old friend today. About life and learning how to lean on Jesus and how terribly painful growth is. She made this statement, "I think we've moved beyond pruning now. It's more like chopping down the tree and starting over." She's being challenged and pushed to grow a lot and is realizing that it never stops, really. The further into a relationship with Jesus you get, the fewer and farther between your periods of not being challenged are. Here's the tricky part: figuring out how to rejoice in the pain of the pruning and not wish that it wasn't real life. That's the part we, being my pal and I, haven't quite learned how to embrace yet - rejoicing in the chopping.

Later in the conversation she asked me about my writing and how that was going and this is what I said to her, "You know how there are times in your life when you feel like you have a lot to offer people? Like you have things to say that may help them or encourage them in some way. Then there are other times when you're pretty positive that you have nothing to offer - nothing encouraging or even challenging to say. Times when your pretty much just needy. I'm there - drowning in the neediness." She said that I should write about that because people can probably relate to that a lot more than a fountain of wisdom. So, there it is. Most days I'm struggling to keep my head above water because everything about my life is uncertain right now - and I do mean everything, and for the most part I'm just trying to make it from one day to the next without tearing my husband's head off or diving into a depression. Preacher Man's job situation is very awkward and iffy right now. He has made some decisions that are proving to be very difficult for me to live with and God has very blatantly asked me to trust Him by trusting my husband. Just what I wanted to hear.

Yesterday I shared with another friend of mine our current job situation and how much I'm struggling with it all. She was very understanding and listened so intently. I told her how badly I want a home - not necessarily one that I own, but a place where I can really "nest". Nesting is not really an option for me at the moment. And I want Preacher Man to make enough money for us to survive and save a little and maybe even go on a date now and then. And I want to be able to keep Oreos in the cookie jar. They are Preacher Man's favorite treat and it wasn't until recently that keeping them in the house became a reality. Because of the probable job situation, we will have to forgo the Oreos. That just makes me sad. I know it's such a little thing, but that's what I was feeling. So, my friend called me this morning to say, "I wanted to check on you and make sure you're doing okay today. God kept waking me up last night and telling me to pray for you. Oreos, a house, and more money. That's what He was telling me to pray for." I was deeply touched by her thoughtfulness, thanked her over and again for praying, and we got off the phone after a few minutes of small talk.

But that little conversation got me to thinking: I've prayed for all sorts of things. Peace. Strength. Submission. A gracious spirit. For Preacher Man and me to be on the same page. But not once have I prayed for the things that I really want. See, that's where I get snagged so often. I get so caught up in praying for the things I know I SHOULD pray for that I forget to pray for the things that I really want - the things that I'm complaining so profusely about not having. What about you? Do you pray for the things you want or for the things you know you should want? Do you think there is a certain way we should be praying? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know the answer. I mean people in the Bible prayed for the things that they wanted, for sure, but they also prayed for the things that God wanted. How do we get those things to align?

Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart's desire; the other is to get it. -George Bernard Shaw

Ode on a Grecian Urn
John Keats

Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thou express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fring'd legend haunt about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?


Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter: therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd,
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone:
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal - yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!


Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd,
For ever panting, and for ever young;
All breathing human passion far above,
That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd,
A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.


Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?
What little town by river or sea shore,
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.


O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede
Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty," - that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

I read this poem for the first time as a senior in high school, and it has enchanted me ever since. Partly because my senior English teacher was awesome - props to Mrs. Newton. We had to create our own Grecian urns decorating it with the things that would tell the story of our lives up to that point - the things that, if someone found it in some far away future, would give them a glimpse into who we were. Very fun project. Mostly, though, I love it so much because of it's message. The thing is, I tend to be reminiscent to a fault. I always remember everything that was wonderful about a thing or a time or a relationship and none of what was miserable. I know we all do that from time to time, but I think that I have a severe case of the reminiscent dreamies [do you like that new term I just made up?]

I've always known this about myself, but it hit me square in the face during a Bible study I'm teaching on Wednesday nights. It's called No Other Gods by Kelly Minter. Although I haven't been completely wild about it from the beginning - mainly because it doesn't really fit my teaching style - last week was a good week in the study. Well, I didn't find that out until the night of the class because I, the faithful, committed leader that I am, didn't even touch the study all week long. Seriously. So, I had to confess to my class, all of whom did do their study, that I needed them to be extra participatory because I was a slacker loser who didn't fulfill my commitment for the week.

Anyway...we're studying false gods, obviously, and this week was on obsessions and insecurities. It was more on the relational aspect of false gods...from what I gathered from our conversation [such a slacker loser!] So, we studied the story of Leah and Rachel for 2 of the days. If you haven't read their story - do it. Genesis 29 & 30. It was basically Leah vs. Rachel. Battle of the sisters. Who can give Jacob the most son's? We started talking about whose story was most tragic to us. All but one of us wholeheartedly agreed it was Leah's story. All she wanted was Jacob's love, and she never got her heart's desire. She kept giving him baby after baby trying to get Jacob's love. She gave Rachel a special gift from her son just for a night with Jacob. But to no avail. Jacob never loved her like he loved Rachel. And it wasn't even Leah's...or Jacob's, for that matter...fault. Such tragedy!

But then there was the one girl in our group who always brings a different perspective, which is so refreshing! She said she felt terrible for Rachel. See, for the longest time Rachel was barren. So, although she had the absolute love and devotion of Jacob as well as the good looks in the family, she couldn't have children. And Leah, Jacob's other woman AND her sister, was popping 'em out like there was nothing to it! So she was seriously feeling like a loser slacker [well maybe not but you get the idea] and then God gave her a son. She got what she wanted! She had the great husband. She was totally the queen of the house. She had given him a son. Everything! But check out what she says after the birth of her first son: God has taken away my humiliation...May God add yet another son to me. Gen 30:22-24. One was not enough. She wanted more. So this different perspective member of our group says, "I think it's really tragic that she got what she wanted. Sometimes it's harder to have your dream come true because after a while you run out of things to dream about."

Ouch! I AM Rachel. That's why she ticks me off so much in this story. Because everything that she does wrong is everything that I do wrong! NOTHING is ever enough. When I get what I want, there's always something else that I want. I am never satisfied. I feel sorry for Leah because I've been there, too, not getting what you want most of all. I get that, but I have been a Rachel for much more of my life. That's why I love thinking about those two lovers in the poem...frozen in time just before their first kiss. Oh the anticipation! And although it seems like a great tragedy that they never actually get to experience the exhilaration of their lips meeting for the first time, they never have to experience the after thoughts that for most people go something like, "That was it?!" That's why I love high school students who are on the brink of leaving the nest and whose hearts are absolutely full of dreams and anticipation! Oh to be frozen there, where the future is untainted by reality. I think that's what has been so hard about this baby thing. After I have this baby, I really don't know what else I'm going to have to anticipate. Is that bad? Or weird? I don't know. I think we have to find a balance. In the words of Point of Grace, we need to learn to "Have what you want, but want what you have. Don't spend your life looking back!"

So, if you made it through this post - go you! I hope that you take some time to reminisce today. Just go back and remember what it was like to dream freely and unabashedly. And see if maybe, just maybe, you can find a way to dream like that again! And while your dreaming, appreciate what you do have and learn to believe...really, really believe...that if you never have another dream come true, your life would still be full because so many have come true already!

So, some stuff has happened...

I recognize that I have been MIA for the past several months. I do, however, have a somewhat reasonable explanation...I'm PREGNANT! We're due July 15, 2009. At first I couldn't write about it because we hadn't told anyone yet. Then I couldn't write about it because, well I haven't really figured that out yet. It's like I've managed to walk through my life with very little tragedy, and I just knew that this was going to be my "thing". I was afraid to get too attached for fear that the joy would be ripped away from me. That may sound a bit irrational, and maybe it is, but that's the way I felt. I'm working hard to move past that now because I know that's not the way my Jesus works.

It's hard not to get attached when you see and feel the little cutie moving around inside of you! We had our first ultrasound last week, and I'm officially at a loss as to how people can experience such an amazing miracle and not, at the very least, believe in a higher being. I don't mean that condescendingly, just honestly. The fact that this thing that started as some cells as grown into a mini human being, with bones and hair and organs that function, points directly to someone bigger than myself!

Can I tell you what I'm seriously starving for? Women who honestly and lovingly hold me accountable, challenge me to be the woman God created me to be, and make me laugh so hard that the tears flow freely. Why is it so hard to make those kinds of friends? And keep them in my life? I mean, don't get me wrong...I have quite a few of those scattered throughout the country, all of whom I EXCEEDINGLY thankful for. But here's what I'm looking for: a fool proof way to find at least one of those friends in every town I live in. Can any one tell me how to do that? I'm open to suggestions...seriously.

Let's get this thing started again!

Out of the Funk

The last several posts have been very serious. A little too serious, I think. So, I was looking back through some writing that I did in the past, and I thought I'd let you in on a little of it.

This is my first attempt at an actual piece of fiction - with chapters and everything. So, if you like it, I'll continue to post bits and pieces. Keep in mind that it's very raw and unedited AND completely fictional - even though you may recognize similarities in some of the characters and people in my personal life. It's fictional - roll with it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Addie peered out across the open field and there it was- the big oak that marked the spot. With the sudden burst of energy she received from the mere thought of the comfort she knew would be hers once she arrived, she hiked up her white dress and took off across the field, her bird legs flying out like propellers, slapping the tall grass out of her face as she flew. As she reached the old birch, she collapsed as the shade washed over her in a cool wave. For a while she laid there catching her breath and thinking about what a dumb decision her getaway would probably prove to be.

“What am I runnin’ from anyway?!” The sound of her voice sounded funny out there in the middle of all that nature. Things always seemed different out there.

“Not now. Not yet.” She had already made her decision. She had run away and now she needed to get to her destination. Once there, she could sit down and think on things. She stood and found the pink spot on the back of the tree that marked her starting point. She put her back to it and walked straight ahead toward the line of trees in front of her. As she reached the line, she glanced around for the first pink polka dot, and on a towering pine to her right she saw it. Addie ran to it and looked for the next dot. She found it, and as she moved from tree to tree, her heart beat quickened in excitement. She knew that if she could just get there, she could find some answers. After about the 10th polka dot, she came to a clearing and there it was. Her heart sunk a little. Time had taken its toll on the little cottage. The hot pink on the front door had chipped away to reveal the rotting gray wood behind it, and its decaying state was a good representation of the condition of the rest of the house. Even so, there was an air of magic in that clearing. Addie moved toward the door and found that it was locked. She stood there thinking for a moment, “Where did she keep that key? It’s been so long…”

Just then a rusted wind chime at the far end of the porch caught her eye. A smile crept across her lips and hope filled her heart. She remembered how proud she had been of that wind chime. She found it at a garage sale when she was 8 years old and thought it would make a perfect addition to the cottage. It was a fat, sassy old lady holding an umbrella. The wind had blown both her dress and umbrella up and she had the funniest look on her face. The rain and time had washed most of the paint away now, but Addie had a perfect picture of it tucked away in her memory. She reached up and felt inside of the upturned umbrella. Her heart leapt as she felt the jagged edge of the key against her fingers. She pulled it out, wiped off the cobwebs, walked to the door, inserted the key, and with a little force, turned the knob.

The door creaked open to reveal the happiest memories of Addie’s childhood neatly stored away and somewhat preserved. She collapsed into the lime green couch by the window on the far side of the living room, soaking up every happy color splashed across the room, remembering every glass of sweet tea that had been enjoyed on the porch, every flower that had been planted in the garden, every memory it all represented, and the two relationships that had molded her the most. It had all taken place here. Suddenly, she could hold the tears back no longer. She let them fall, there in her place of safety and comfort she had nothing more to hide. She wept over the past 5 years, over her poor decisions, over her incessant stubborn pride, over the relationship she had just closed the door on. Between sobs, she managed to whisper, “I can’t. I’m so tired” to whoever might be listening. As she drifted off to sleep, she heard, “Sleep, my child.” Her eyes flung open and she looked around. Was that audible or just in her head, or was it in her heart? “Just in my head…” she told herself as she drifted off again, and this time she fell into a deep sleep.

Britney

I watched the "Britney Spears: For the Record" special the other night. I am not a regular watcher of MTV because I usually feel disgusting after viewing any of the shows they air, but I saw the Britney Spears deal advertised and I was intrigued. I wanted to know what she had to say about the past several years of her life. We've seen tabloid pictures and her face plastered all over the news and heard countless people making fun of her in ways that I would never recover from, but we haven't heard her side of the story. So, I wanted to know. I decided that I would watch a little and if it was more of the same, I would change it. I'm trying hard not to be ultra concerned with the lives of celebrities. It tends to make me wish I had a different life, which is another post entirely.

So, I start watching this interview with Britney [we're not best friends or anything, I just don't feel like typing Britney Spears throughout this post], and I totally began to connect with her. I recognize that's probably what her people were going for, but I really, really did. I began to see her as this really normal Louisiana girl who just got swept up in the insanity of her life. Can I really say that I wouldn't have turned out the same way had I been through what she's been through? There was this one clip, though, that captured me. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. Here's the clip:

MTV Shows

I just couldn't get her face and her desperation out of my head - Too much order. No passion. Feeling like a prisoner. Better not to feel.

I have been there. Not on the Britney size scale but I've been there. Actually, depending on the day I'm having, I could be there right now.

And then it occurred to me - for her, for me, for you. The answer is the same. Jesus. He insipires passion. Frees us. Allows to feel with our whole hearts. Jesus is the answer for us all. The trick is looking to Him for the answers every single day.

Another 5 Things Challenge

So, I noticed that I've been a bit whiny and butt-faced in my past few posts. I apologize for that. I wish I could say that you've just caught me on bad days, but truth be known, the past several weeks seem to have been string of bad days - mostly of my own doing. I wish that I wasn't a pessimist by nature, but I am. I, in fact, have to work extra hard not to be a pessimist. But I have this good friend who is actually quite the optimist - has been since I met her in the second grade. And I love that about her. I just visited her blog a little while ago and discovered a rather lengthy list of her things to be thankful for. Some of the things are rather small and trivial [which she acknowledges] but I love the fact that she sees them as things to be grateful for, things she has not earned but that have been given to her to enjoy! In honor of my "glass-half- full" friend, I am presenting you with another challenge. The 5 Things to Be Thankful For challenge. Even if you have to dig deep, I know you can think of 5 things - big or small. Here I go:

1. The Birth of Jesus...really and truly. The miracle of Jesus Christ - God in the flesh - being born to a virgin. Growing within her, waiting to be born and grow up and show us what God looks like walking among men. Then, He died on the cross so that we could have life...complete, full, abundant life...now and forever. If you really stop and think of the magnitude of the whole deal, it's a little overwhelming! And the tragedy for me is that I don't stop and think about it very often. This Christmas Season it's going to be different. I am going to reflect on Jesus - who He is, what He's done, and how His very presence brings inexplicable joy and peace to my life.

2. My husband. He just recently had the opportunity to show me some serious unconditional love. I mean he always loves me unconditionally, but on this particular day I'm sure he had to dig deep. I was ultra inconsiderate of his feelings and I pretty much just screwed up big time. It was the most real picture of Jesus' love I think he's ever shown me. I am grateful for him and for his sweet, tender heart as well as his glass-half-fullness. Plus he's my best friend and we have fun together - I like that, too :)

3. My family. I really love them a lot. It's a blessing and curse, but I'm thankful that I still have most of my grandparents, that I have parents who still love and guide and encourage me, that I have siblings who make me laugh and are more dependable than siblings are required to be. They make me laugh and cry and they are all still a part of my life. That's unusual and I'm thankful for it.

4. Sweets - I love, love them! The mere sight of them makes me excited - like they represent something more than just yumminess. I'm not really sure what it is - maybe feelings of being carefree and childlike again??

5. My dog, Bella Boosk. She is the most loving little creature God ever put on the planet. She is always excited to see me and never gets mad at me. She doesn't expect anything from me. Anything I give her is like a big, fat present that she never thought she would be so lucky to receive. I think there's something to be learned from that sweet little ole dog.

So those are the first 5 things to be thankful for that came to my mind. Your turn! Try it...it really does make you feel better.