I don’t want to post here anymore because I know it will make me miss Mandy too much.

Football

Height football game— beautiful sunsets help ease the sadness of a guaranteed loss.

This made my night complete.

Done!

It only took 14 months to do about 6 hours of work…

Gossip

A few years ago I put a lot of thought into gossip – what was it? what kind of talk did it encompass? was venting just a disguised form of gossip?

There are some pretty basic things that I knew gossip was – “gab sessions” about others, talking badly about someone behind their back, “did you hear?” type stuff. Obvious gossip. Less clear was things like, “I’m having a really hard time with [this person]. They do [blah blah blah].” In other words, does gossip include anytime you ever talk badly about someone even if the purpose is to solve the interpersonal problem?

I made it a point to never talk about anybody ever because I didn’t want to gossip. Recently I’ve noticed I have really relaxed on that rule which has made me rethink the questions I asked a couple of years ago.

I have been in training classes for a few weeks for a new job I am trying for. In my classes yesterday I learned two leadership principles that clarified the gossip issue for me:

1. When you’re up, go down. When you’re down, go up. If you’re having a great day, let the people below you know it! When you’re having a bad day, talk to a supervisor. Talking to those below you would be gossip.

2. Because… Gossip is taking your problems to anyone except the person who can help you fix them. I’m not wording it as well as my teacher, but basically she meant that venting down or laterally is gossiping. If I have a problem, I need to be “going up” to my supervisor.

Again, obvious gossip is talking badly about others behind their backs. Less obvious gossip is venting about a problem with a person to someone other than the person that can help you solve your problems. While this wording is easily applicable in a business setting, I think it can be applied in other areas, too.

Thanks, leadership training!

Missing grace fundraiser!

SO MUCH FUN!

I was assigned to help park people and while I thought it would be boring it was actually probably the best job I could have gotten. I was on a team of six people, got to help organize the process to efficiency, and most of all was able to personally greet everyone who participated in the fundraiser. At the end I waved goodbye to everyone as they drove out.

In the middle there I got to participate a truly beautiful celebration and commemoration of babies who passed on either in the womb or in infancy. The Missing Grace Foundation is an amazing resource for families going through this heart break and it is fueled more by passion and love than money. Of all the things that impressed me about the day, one stood out the most: the 5k was a fundraiser but really, you wouldn’t have known. The event was wholly focused on the commemoration of the babies who had passed on and the families who love them.

One of my favorite pictures of the day. Ironically has nothing to do with the event. It is my friend tearing down a balloon arch.

Lynx!

Lynx win!

It was stressful — the Lynx missed four free throws in the last minute. Thankfully the Spurs’ final shots were equally off.

I went with a great group of people, exactly what I needed after a crazy day!

So so close.

I am totally stuck on what to paint in the blank space on the green one. I originally wanted a curlew in honor of my grandparents but I don’t know if I want two bird paintings. I think a waterfall would look great but I’m not sure how I would paint that. I would put in some Japanese characters but then paired with the pink one I think the set would look a little more Asian themed than I’d like.

I have been working on these on and off for almost a year. I REALLY want to finish them this week! Kind of like good books, I have art projects stacking up just begging to be started. I want to move on!

Speaking of books — I also just finished my first James Patterson novel. I think my life just might be stressful enough without adding crazy murder suspense drama stories! I don’t think I’ll be reading suspense until I retire in forty years lol.

The hiding place

I can’t even put this one into words. You have to read it.

Old journals suck.

I read through an old journal last night and found it to be extremely depressing. How much I have changed! Some better, but in many ways, worse. Lessons I was so excited to learn that I have completely forgotten. Times with God, with family, with friends, that defined me… I literally have no memory of. I can only hope that these experiences have somehow been assimilated into who I am though the memories have faded.

I have spent a great deal more time with young children this last year than ever before. I have worked to make great memories with these kids and tried so hard to make them happy. There is one little boy in particular who I doubt could name a single thing we’ve done, but whenever I see him he runs to give me a big hug and kiss. He doesn’t remember any of our memories but he knows we have a bond.

I have very few memories of when I was a kid, yet it’s not as though I could have simply skipped the first few years of my life and still be the person I am today. I don’t remember those years, but they formed me.

I don’t want that to be my relationship with God. I want to remember the amazing moments — not just read about them. I want to remember the lessons He has taught me and when He taught them. In some ways I wish I were still this doe eyed teenager reveling in the new revelation that God loves me. It’s not a bad thing that now this fact is simply part of who I am and what I know.

I guess I’m that little kid that runs to God, so excited to be with Him that I give Him a big hug and kiss, even though I can’t remember everything that brought me to that point. I guess I’m not Spencer Reid. I’m going to have to be okay with that tonight.