Pensive Processing

I am one of those people who is often told that I'm not what people expect.  I don't fit well into any box that people try to find for me.  And to be honest, that brings me great joy, but that is entirely different post.  :)

I had Sunday off.  That's right.  I said it.  Off.  As in, not working in any capacity, including not spending any time with students.  With the exception of a few stray texts that arrived at my phone, it was a no-work day.  I went to church .... like a normal person.  I arrived a 5 minutes before it started and left without talking to people expect for the few I passed as I returned to my car.  I drove home and committed to not leaving.  Spending the whole day at my place.  Not to say that after a few hours I didn't think about leaving, but I didn't and that brought me here.  Pensively processing life. 

Social networking sites are always good for a substantial distraction, so I logged into Facebook and saw a link on my Newsfeed that peaked my interest.  Someone had posted on one of my Facebook friend's wall about a Myers Briggs test he took and encouraging this friend to take it also.

I took one in high school but have not since.  I've talked to many people who say that it changes over the years as you change.  I tend to think that maybe we are just better figuring out who we are and are more accurately able to articulate it.  Anyways, approximately 100 questions later I was given my 4 letters.  Now when I took it as a sophomore in high school, I was deemed "ENTJ" (extroverted, intuitive, thinking, judging).  My memories of it are minimal, but I do remember agreeing with aspects of what the profile said and strongly disagreeing with others.  As one who doesn't like the idea of "the essence of me" being placed in a box, it didn't bother me at all.

But here I am.  MANY years later and the results were different.  "INFJ" (introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging).  And as I read through the discription given of the "Counselor" as it is deemed, it was me.  Completely.  Strange personality nuances and quirks that others find off the wall were explained and praised!  Crazy!  Now, one of the many things I appreciated about this particular site was that all of the personality types were looked at in a positive light.  Forcing me to walk away confident and proud of who I was.  (If you have a few minutes, I would encourage you to click on the INFJ link above and read through.  That is me (more or less :)) in 4 paragraphs!)

All of that to say that it has and is challenging me to ponder life, both good and bad, both individually and communally.  Strengths and weakness.  And I have loved it.  Hope you enjoy.

Much joy and blessings as we are all challenged to live out who it is God has called us to be, and as we strive to live, serve, and be the way were were created to.

Love

Thanksgiving Thankfulness Trip Part 1

And .... I'm in Nashville!  I got here last night and went to "Thanksgiving Dinner" with Court and a ton of her friends at "the guys house".  Definitely flashbacks to college.  Court & I were the only ones who had graduated.  Everyone was super nice and it was fun to be a part of that community for a while.   Then we went to Rumours which is a charming winebar with some different friends and had a fun girls night.  At one point everyone took our their phones and tweeted about our conversation, involving @hypotheticaldog ... I was the only one who has negated the Twitter world.  As of right now ... I still am holding out but the pressure has been intense.  More to come on that later I'm sure.

Church this morning with awesome!  Stellar worship and a kick a** message.  Totally refreshed and looking forward to bringing some of it back to the Highway kids.  If any of you are spending a Sunday in the Nashville area, worship at Long Hollow in Hendersonville.  Quite possibly could be life changing.

Now we're off to catch a movie and then just chill tonight.  Many more adventures to come!

Beauty

I remember driving somewhere through west Texas on our way to Colorado this summer and seeing a billboard that read "See that sunset? I painted it for you. - God"

This is what I saw on my birthday. Not great pics from the phone but beautiful none the less. Praise!!

The perfect ending to a wonderful birthday!!

Seatbelts. Anyone? Anyone?

I sounded like Mom today and I was so mad, I didn't even think twice.

Here's the deal. C, J, A & I went to lunch together today. Typical Thursday. I drove and when we left lunch, J says to A, "Dude, put your seat belt on."

I glanced in my rearview mirror and look at A as if to say "And..." And he just sits there!! So I stopped the car before we pulled out, put it in park, took my foot off the brake, and crossed my arms. That's right. I'm stubborn and there's nothing you can do about it. He finally put his seatbelt on and I drove us back to work as we continued with a lively discussion of who has the "right" to make someone wear their seatbelt.

Totally something Mom would do, but Geez em!!! I dug in my heels and only our group of peeps would continue with an "animated" conversation about legislating the wearing of seat belts.

So funny!!

Memory Lane ... 2001

I'm mulling through quite a few different thoughts lately that I will share on here eventually, but something a little different for now.

I was going through an old Bible of mine, and it was a hardcore trip down memory lane. Notes from people that I haven't talked to in years, some I haven't thought of in years, and some I don't even remember. It seems like a lifetime ago and maybe it was. High school was forever ago, right?

I am asked by my students all the time who I still talk to from college, but that tends to be my only thoughts on the matter. But today, as I was going through some study notes I will be using tonight I grabbed this Bible to use some of the maps in back, and all of the sudden I was immersed in someone's life.

I did find a poem of sorts that I had written called "I Know". I don't remember it at all, but it was dated February 16, 2001. Nearly 9 years ago and the statements of "I wonder ..." are barely recognizable. And then I realized, I'm thankful. I read through the questions and statements thinking of how thankful I am that God has brought me to such a different place in life.

A trip down memory lane reminds me that I'm not who I once was. And I praise God for this journey.

Mid Day Music Distraction

I'm listening to my iTunes from A-Z and loving it! But I had to laugh at these 5 songs that come in a row. Still makes me smile.

Follow You Home - Nickelback
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
For All We Know - Steve Tyrell
For All Who Are To Come - Hillsong United
For Clyde Tombaugh - Sufjan Stevens

More updates to come as I get further along. Doesn't get much better than that!!!!

Tears of all variaties

Lots of the tears the last few days. Twice this past weekend I laughed so hard I cried. Once sharing stories of shenanigans from college with some of my students while trying to not think of how much I miss those people and those days together and the other over the phone with an old friend. Sunday, I witnessed the most beautiful baptism EVER. Tears from all of us in the first two rows as we celebrated with J & S in the baptism of little E. Thinking through the journey this adoption process has been the last 15 months. 12 of which little E has been part of the family and then this morning. At the court house as 14 of us witnessed the official adoption. She belong to J & S now. As the took their oaths and vowed to cherish her forever, tears were welling in my eyes, overjoyed that this day has finally come. Then looking at S, holding little E, and praising out wonderful Creator for the plan He has for this little family. So many tears. And each one I will cherish.