thankful thursday #71

Last weekend, Mom came to visit.  In actuality, she was in town because I needed her help, and God love her, without hesitation, she came, she worked, she loved me well.

I'm thankful for all those things!

As a bonus, Saturday was her birthday, and we were able to celebrate together.  When moms and daughters don't live in the same city, this is a special treat.

And speaking of special treats ...



Yowzaa.  Yep, this birthday cake was as good as it looks.  You should be jealous.

I'd be remiss if I didn't stop and appreciate the talents of Diane Olexa, and for her delicious cakes.  They really do make the world -- or at least Birmingham --  a better place.

What tasty something makes your celebrations more fun?  Go on, be grateful!

nice girls win

I love my sister-in-law Katie for many reasons, one being our shared appreciation for books (and well, reading them).

Last weekend on my visit to see Little Man, she and I skipped over to Delray Beach to a book signing by Jodi Picoult.

Upon our arrival to the library, we were disappointed to learn that even the stand-by tickets had all be given out, and that we would only get to meet Jodi "by some miracle."

(It was Mr. Organizer's code for, "Don't count on it." He didn't fool me.)

Now we like Jodi, and we know a lot of other readers do, too.  She tackles some pretty hot topics, and we figure her audience includes other young(ish) adults like ourselves, and maybe women up to say, around sixty years old.

We just didn't think so many of them would be at this particular library, on this particular day.

We also didn't consider the overwhelming number of 75-and-uppers that would storm the Delray Beach Public Library for a free Sunday afternoon activity.  Three hundred and eighty of them, in fact.

"I really don't think the majority of these people have read one of her books," Katie lamented.  The fairness quotient seemed out of balance already.

We decided to wait to see if the "some miracle" would happen; I admit I hoped it would.

We watched the stand-by ticket holders be escorted to the overflow room, where they would only hear the audio feed of Jodi's presentation and reading.  I was grateful we didn't have the stand-by tickets.

Then we watched five others with no tickets push their way up to the auditorium door, demanding to be granted entry.

"They got here after us.  This isn't fair."  Bless her, Katie is a lover of justice, and these circumstances were too much.  I felt her pain.

In that moment, I didn't want the riff-raff room with only an audio feed to offer.  I wanted in.  In the room where Jodi was presenting.  In the room that was supposedly full, with no more tickets available.

We wanted justice!  We needed a strategy.

Mr. Organizer announced that two seats were available in the stand-by room, and a couple eagerly (albeit unfairly) whined their way into those slots.

The strategy mantra was coming into focus: No whining.  Smile big.  Win over Mr. Organizer.

Next, Mr. Organizer invited three people in to take single seats in the auditorium.  Three (rude) folks slipped inside, and I wondered if the last of the "some miracles" had just been exhausted.

No whining.  Smile big.  Win over Mr. Organizer.

Katie and I continued to stand in the lobby of the library, chatting with one last kind, decent soul.  One more seat inside opened up, and we insisted that she take it.  It was her birthday after all.

We're the only ones left.  We've been nice to Mr. Organizer, and there is no way he's going to look us in the eye and tell us there's no room left in the inn.  It's gonna happen, I coached myself.

The resolve was peaking, and I convinced myself that we'd played our cards so well, that they would give us VIP access.

The doors opened a last time, and another library official -- Mr. Organizer's assistant, maybe? -- flashed a smile and said, "There are two reserved seats left.  Come on in."

They weren't VIP, per se, and they were on the very back row, but they did have "Reserved" signs hanging on them.

We felt vindicated.  We were in.  We enjoyed ourselves.  We left with signed books.

I know life doesn't always work out this way, but three cheers for justice.

And that is how the nice girls won that day.

thankful thursday #70

As mentioned a week ago, this week could really go nowhere but up.

And it did.

Despite my busted March Madness bracket, the pollen count that is well off the weatherman's charts, and the sad fact that my weekend with Little Man is behind me, it's been good to have a little more pep in my step; to find myself giggling again; to be more naturally grateful.

In fact, I've had a hard time deciding what nugget of gratitude to feature today!

Yesterday a friend and I went to play tennis after work.  I haven't hit a tennis ball in over a year, and I haven't played regularly in well over four years.

Although it takes me a bit to get back into a groove after these long breaks, it's always so great to get back on the court!

My mom is an outstanding player, and for as long as I can remember, she's played every week, and often more than once.  She still does.

When I was little, I liked to be a ball girl for her matches, or sit in the umpire chair and pretend I had some authority.  I also have a memory of one of her tennis friends promising me a quarter (or was it a nickle?) for every tennis ball I found around the courts.  I seriously thought I could get rich!

Anyway, even though I don't play often these days, when I do, I'm so thankful that Mom and Dad gave me opportunities to learn the game of tennis growing up.  People say it's a "life sport."  One you can play 'til you're old.

It really is true, and I look forward to the next time I get to dig out the racket and run some drills (cause goodness knows, I need them).

Our trees are turning green and filling out, and the sun is finding its way out around here.  I hope wherever you are, you're finding reasons to be outside for the fun of it.

Go on, be grateful!

book it

I don't prefer to read multiple books at one time; it makes me feel like there are incomplete to-do list items, and well, that's just not my M.O.

Of late, however, I've been bouncing between for-real books (love the smell of those pages!) and e-books (love the convenience when I'm flying all over God's creation!).

Here's what's been capturing my attention in 2012:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

This is old news, but what a great read!  I put this one off for about a year because I typically don't love historical non-fiction, but I'm so glad I bit the bullet.  I physically cringed more times than I can count during this book.  It's hard to read about POWs, and the unspeakable treatment they endured, but it was worth it in the end.  Louie Zamperini's story gave me a renewed appreciation for our soldiers today, and for the ones who've fought so hard for us over the years.

Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson

The American church could use a kick in the pants, and this book issues an urgent plea to believers, to be aroused from our lukewarm slumber, and into a place where the Gospel is everything.  In particular, I appreciated the balance of a deep love of Christ's church with the unwillingness to accept the passionless culture it has fostered.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

I love a good love story.  So sue me.  Ever since a friend introduced me to The Notebook over ten years ago, I've been hooked on Nicholas.  They are feel-good reads, not difficult, and hopeless romances.  Of all his books, and believe me, I've read them all, this would land close to the bottom.  Maybe I'm bored; maybe his originality is waning; I don't know.  I'm not giving up on him, though.

If My Body Is a Temple, Then I Was a Megachurch by Scott Davis

Praise God, I'm not looking to lose 132 pounds!  Last week, a friend from here tipped me off that it was free for the Kindle, so I snagged it up.  It was a great weekend read for my flights to see Little Man.  He's a comedian, so I giggled a lot, but he's also a serious evangelist, and I was pleased to see sound scriptural references for this man's impressive journey to a healthier life.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

I'm mid-way through this one.  I love learning about how brains work and how people are motivated, so this one is right up my alley.  The author is a staff writer for The New York Times, and the subject matter is the science of habit formation as it relates to individuals, organizations, and societies.  One thing I'm enjoying about this book so far is this guy's ability to present scientific information in a way that even I can understand.  That's saying a lot.

Next in my reading queue is Quiet by Susan Cain.

I can't wait to learn why introverts like myself are so awesome.

What are you reading these days?  Gimme, gimme those recommendations!

thankful thursday #69

Not gonna lie, this week has just about sent me into hiding.  In spite of you, Week-I-Could've-Done-Without, I am pleased to give thanks for these things:

flip flop weather:  My toes are pedicured and officially ready to usher in spring.

and thus the opportunity to be outside:  I went for my first outside run in a very long time today.  It wasn't pretty, but the sunshine was.

a trip this weekend to visit little man:  He told me today he was stoked to spend his first St. Patrick's Day with me.

the really expensive flat screen in our conference room:  March Madness is highly competitive in the offices of our little sports management company.

that the spring concert for colla voce is over:  It's a miracle we did not stop and restart any of our pieces.  We were that unprepared.  We were so unprepared, in fact, I did not invite one person to attend.  And I'm happy about that.

ceiling fans:  My air conditioning is persnickety these days.  It's just not the time for it.  Not. The. Time.

In one of my lowest points this week, Lori reminded me that spring is a time of new beginnings, and sunshine, and happy things.  So even if you're coming out of a week you could've done without, I hope you find much to be thankful for.

Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #68, the late edition

A year ago, I realized that during the week I'm working at a conference basketball tournament, Thankful Thursday happens the Sunday after.  It just does.

It is postponed.  Takes a back seat.  Doesn't happen as scheduled.

I confess that I struggle with legalism in more than one area of my life, so this interruption, this letting go of my ritual once in a while, is healthy.

It was so nice to hear from a couple folks, though, who missed it!  I sure am thankful for those dear ones.

This trip was challenging in a lot of ways, but during those times when all circumstances aren't perfect, and all news isn't good, intentional gratitude can be a game changer.

Every year at this particular event, we host some Olympians for some hoops games on our very own Center Court.  I mentioned them briefly in this very same post last year, but they are worthy of their own post!

For the hours that I'm watching these guys and gals compete, the trappings of this world -- the "stresses" that consume my thoughts -- fall away, and I find myself wondering why any of those things even matter.

So, hey, Olympians from this week in Kansas City, from our team ...



... to your team ...



... thanks for giving us a reason to love what we do.

Who's a special person that had you appreciating something this past week?  Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #67

I've heard some parents say that having children gives them a fresh, unique perspective on God's love.

Like God the Father, they want the highest and best for their children.  They ache when their children hurt.  They desire to share wisdom with their children.  They teach them and prepare them and train them up to make right choices, but they never stop wanting to be involved in their world.

On the other hand, I've never heard children say that having loving parents gives them a fresh, unique perspective on God's love.

Like God's children, we think we know best.  We make poor decisions.  We learn lessons and receive favor, but we count them as great things we have done, not as products of our parents' guidance and direction.  While our parents long to be a part of our world, we are satisfied by living independently, exerting our own authority.

Obviously, no one has perfect parents.  Some spend a lifetime wrestling with the mistakes of their parents, and never see even a glimpse of God's character through their earthly example.

There have been a slew of unrelated events happening in and around my life over the past couple of weeks that together have provided a piercing reminder to me that although not perfect, my mom and dad did a whole bunch of things right, for and by their kids.

And I'm thankful for it.

So while I don't have the parents' perspective of God's love, I hope I can be a child who never forgets her parents' example of a holy God's sacrificial love for His children.

What perspective are you thankful for this week?  Go on, be grateful!