FORE!!!!

Today was the
Moody Golf Classic
It was for sure classic....Here are just a few classic moments:

#1. Waking up at 4:30am. Even for me, the Chicago ringtone doesn't sound as good that early in the morning. I figured since this is a schmoozing event I should look nice, so I even curled my hair.

#2. Driving an ASTRO VAN at 5:30am. When I first got to the parking garage I tried my keys on another blue mini-van. I really actually love mini-vans and was excited to drive one (albeit early). When the key would not turn the lock I looked around to see what other blue van the keys could possibly work on... and then I saw it! The blimp of all mini-vans.... the ASTRO VAN! There was a Moody logo pasted on the side just in case I wasn't getting enough attention too. I picked up a couple of volunteers at their hotel and trying to load their luggage I got completely soaked. Remember how I curled my hair- yeah- not so curly anymore. Now it was more of a matted tangle that was sticky with hairspray. AWESOME! That'll bring in the big bucks....! Ironically, having "done" my hair ended up making it look like I was a lazy louse who came to this event with morning hair. (Apparently my hair was a big deal today... notice the blog space it's getting. hahahha) The directions were out great, we got there on time, go team go!

#2 1/2. Registration. I don't have much to say about this - it was pretty basic. Someone yelled out a shirt size and I brought it over to the table. Gold Star! However, people kept trying to figure out their teams- referring to them as threesomes and foursomes. Couldn't they think of a bird name for the teams?? Maybe I am just immature, but I'm just saying... maybe someone should consider that!

#3. Witnessing the Hole in One. This title is deceptive. It might make you think that someone actually sunk one- a birdie, an eagle, a silver hawk, I have no idea what their called.... but some kind of fowl. Oh no... there were no "fowls" to be had. BUT if someone did make it- I had to confirm that it was for real before they got the prize (a Harley Davidson Motorcycle). So, they gave me my own golf cart (see #4- Driving a Golf Cart) to sit in at the tee. I sat there all day and read my book or watched the beautiful nature I was a part of or yucked it up with the fellas or text Joe who was having a super miserable train ride. It was great! Except for the fact that it was raining torrentially. Oh yeah- you should have seen these guys out there trying to have fun while the rain came down in sheets. These men must really love Moody or golf or both to stick it out all day like they did. I could not have been prouder to be associated with Moody. I'd like to say thanks to a cart, an umbrella and a blanket that kept me pretty dry. "Thanks cart, umbrella and blanket. " (For you Latawnya)

#4. Driving a Golf Cart. IS SO MUCH FUN! If I had a list of things I want to do sometime in my life; driving a golf cart would for sure be on it. And now I can cross it off!!!!!! Hip-Hip-Hooray! This summer I want my Dad to take me golfing. I will drive and he can "teach me" how to golf. I don't really want to know how to play so much. It takes skill and all, but it's so.... nice. No one gets hurt or dirty.... maybe I am just a barbarian.

#5. Cuddling in the Cart. If right now you think you know what I am about to write, I promise you--- you don't! I had no idea what was coming. After the rain had taken a brief intermission a "threesome" stopped by Red #8. One of the men saw my blanket and asked if he could cuddle with me. I laughed- surely he was joking. Surely I was WRONG! He came around the other side of the cart and got in, under the blanket and we sat shoulder to shoulder, while his teammates waited for the previous group to clear the green and while they took their shots. There is no small talk manual for making small talk while cuddling in a golf cart with a soggy stranger... "uhhhh... staying dry? hahahahha" "I wish! hahahaha." (please re-read in slow motion) I have no doubt this man's intentions were above board, but REALLY????? REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????

#6. Clapping for Award Winners. Everyone gathered at the clubhouse for the prizes to be handed out. (drawings and silent auctions, etc.) Several people had left and right off the bat their names were being called for prizes. Well, since you have to 'be present to win' they kept calling names till they found a faithful golfer. Great for them, but it didn't really give people much confidence to start clapping when a name was called. It evolved into the most inconsistent group of clappers I have ever heard. There would be someone's name called who everyone knew and could see and there would be an epidemic of clapping all the sudden. Then some other man who no one knew, who was sitting in the back and had a very difficult name to pronounce was called and everyone kinda did the "raising hand, but then--- just kidding! brushing my hair down in back" kinda move. So I was trying to inspire a little more consistency- shouting OPA! at random and clapping through the announcment of the name- I figured that we should just keep a perpetual clap going ... to be fair.

Some other things may have occurred on the way home. Driving in the Dairy Queen exit (you know the ones that are narrow, curved and lined with cement borders) and then pulling up to the pay window to order. Seeing a mother goose walk her baby geese across the road in real life. You know... things like this. We made it home safe and sound though. CLASSIC!

Ode to Dr. Hockey

Today I had my last appointment with Dr. Hockey. Blondie was back. She was laughing at EVERYTHING he said. I know because I could hear her through the wall. Believe me ladies, he's not that funny! He must really have a thing for blondes because I was getting absolutely no responses... questions about the weekend... nothing. Well, I guess it had to end sometime.
So Dr. Hockey- I dedicate this song to you tonight. Maybe Delilah will play it for us...

IF EVER YOU'RE IN MY ARMS AGAIN (Peabo Bryson)
It all came so easy, all the loving you gave me

The feelings we shared, and I still can remember

How your touch was so tender, it told me you cared

We had a once in a lifetime

But I just couldn't see, until it was gone

A second once in a lifetime, may be too much to ask

But I swear from now on

Chorus:

If ever you're in my arms again

This time I'll love you much better

If ever you're in my arms again

This time I'll hold you forever

This time will never end

Now I'm seeing clearly

How I still need you near me I still love you so

There's something between us

That won't ever leave us

There's no letting go

We had a once in a lifetime

But I just didn't know it

Till my life fell apart

A second once in a lifetime

Isn't too much to ask

'Cause I swear from the heart

Chorus
The best of romances, deserve second chances
I'll get to you somehow
'Cause I promise now

Bread of Life

Saturday night after the adventures out in nature I made Puppy Chow to take as a treat to church. Happy Mother's Day- your children will have so much sugar in them they'll be bouncing off the walls. Yeah, obviously I don't have children and didn't really think that one through. Oops! Saturday night I ate so much of it I made myself literally SICK!

Sunday's topic was about Jesus and how significant it was the He is the Bread of Life. (I really love this eternal God truth..... It's not that He was the Bread of Life, but truly- HE IS!) We talked about how we need a bread that satisfies; one that doesn't leave us hungry; one that permanently nourishes our soul. The lesson was so appropriate given the lingering pain in the pit of my stomach. No matter how much puppy chow I ate- I got hungry again. No matter how delicious it was (and let me tell you it was delicious!)- it didn't totally satisfy.

Dave brought up the example of the people of Israel and their complete dependence on God for him to provide Manna when they were wandering in the wilderness. I had never really thought about it that way before... as a normal person listening to Moses telling us to follow him out into the wilderness and God would take care of us. For someone as detail oriented and plan-ahead as I am, the sheer logistics of this whole operation would have kept me from following. Sad really. Sad not only because I would have missed out on such miraculous provision then; but also sad because I know that I do that now too. In order to experience that kind of provision the Israelites were in a position of need. I don't find myself like this very often. Well, I guess I tend to think about being in need as needing money. But I don't think that's really the only way God can provide for us. It just seems to be the most easy concrete example to use all the time.

I do find myself in need all the time really. In need of a hug, or in need of comfort, in need of a rebuke, in need of a laugh, and on and on. I was convicted that I always go to others for those things. And I just wonder if that is "sugar" is eating away at my spiritual stomach instead of nourishing me like "bread" in the deepest part.

It also made me wonder about the line between trust and wisdom. Right now we are in a tough economic time, right? And everyone's advice is to save up, store up-- be wise! I feel conflicted about this- why should my money (I know- we're back to this!) sit in the bank when it could be helping someone. But then when I find myself "in need," I would probably say "Why wasn't I saving?" I know everyone else would be. :) I think about this alot... especially at the end of the month, right before pay day when I want to justify a pedicure or something. It's terrible logic I know. I KNOW! But seriously, it would be an 'easy' way to drive myself to need the Lord in a tangible way if I could just be rid of it. And yet, even in that reasoning (noble as it may sound or not) there is every kind of selfish motivation. It's so much more acceptable to need the Lord when I'm a few bucks short than when I'm wishing I had someone to go to bed with. So much easier to need the Lord when I want to buy a gift for a friend than when I want to eat the largest pizza Dominos will deliver. So much easier to ask the Lord to feed me some bread to fill my stomach than to eat from the bread of Life.

I'm real tired of the Low-Carb living I seem to be content with. (C'mon- you gotta grant me some cheesiness!) I don't want to feel so sick to my stomach anymore.... I want to be satisfied.

I LOVE NATURE!

Pictures to compliment this post can be seen on my facebook page. :)

Now that Alli has a car (Edna), we thought that it was overdue to go visit our beloved nature in Naperville. :) It was grand! Time outside the city is such a treasure.... even if we weren't in the great outdoors the whole time.

We kicked our trip off by visiting the GAP. They were having a great sale.... and it made for some GREAT people watching. There was this little boy (maybe 7 or 8) who was informing his mother very aggressively that "this isn't Barnes and Noble!" What an observant child. :) While Alli shopped for bargains (with Bonafide Lovin' playing in the background), I perused the baby section. I have a good reason for going there now because my best friend from home (Noelle) just had a baby. Brooklyn Marie was born Friday afternoon and I am sure is the most incredibly lovely baby girl! It was one of the most exciting afternoons of my life- everyone that entered my office was informed of the event. I could not believe how excited I was.... you'd think I was having the baby or something! Seriously though, what a thrilling blessing- total celebration!!!!!!!!!!

There was a murder of geese out. Geese always remind me of my friend Dina and the way we met. When she was a student at NTBI in Jackson, MI she visited my church with the choir. Dina gave this incredible testimony about how the Lord was asking her to trust Him- just like the geese flying above the choir bus were that morning...even though their brains were SIGNIFICANTLY smaller. :) I love that story and so geese have always had an affectionate place in my heart. HOWEVER, I had no idea how much they poop! The sidewalk along the Riverwalk was splattered with green business. :(

There was a big hill of greeness that was so great to walk barefoot through..... It led to an ominous tower (kinda similar to Mordor from LOTR). It was trying to play the oldie "Yesterday." Ironically, on the bells it didn't have the same "ring" to it.

Being in nature for so long, Alli and I worked up quite an appetite. Ted's Montana Grill was our place of choice. We had to go back after such delicious food. This time we got to know the wait staff much better though. hahahhaha. There was Marsha dBrett and one that has become and forever will be known as Sweet Bottoms. There was another who thought we wanted to take him home because just as we were giggling he would pass by--- poor guy! We don't even know what his name is.

On the way home we thought we would stop by a Target. In November we had done the same thing and we thought we remebered the directions pretty well. On our 3rd try, down a road with a name of a president.... we finally found the way. The street before we had been pretty hopeful about and then we saw "DEAD END" ahead.

We headed back to the city with our fountain sodas.... oh NATURE... How we love thee! :)

Baby, Come to Me....

Baby, come to me, let me put my arms around you
This was meant to be and I'm oh so glad I found you
Need you ev'ry day, gotta have your love around me
Baby, always stay 'cause I can't go back to livin' without you

This song played while I was at Ho-Joe's this morning and now I cannot get it out of my head. For those of you without a Moody affiliation, Ho-Joe's is the restaurant part of the Howard Johnson hotel across the street where you can get a deliciously cheap breakfast. Kaits and I met Thom and Joe there. Thom is graduating next weekend and then moving back to PA. Sad- no more Fischy dance moves. (And seriously, whose ballroom dancing videos will I borrow?!?) :)

Maybe "Cheer Bear" is rubbing off on me, but I was much more alert than usual this morning. And totally amused with people watching, which is nothing new. Imagine a man in his mid-twenties, baseball cap, satchel, jeans and a blazer. (PS-who decided this was a good combo for men.....? It stresses me out. Are you dressed up or casual? Make up your mind!) He leaves our building and walks to Ho-Joe's... past Ho-Joe's and then back again. We decided he wanted to eat there, but turned away when he saw the "Cash Only" sign to find an ATM. We were all (with the exception of Joe who could care less about men in blazers looking for an ATM) sad that we would never know if we were right about the situation or not. A few minutes later I interrupt Thom to point across the street and triumphantly proclaim "He's coming back!" This made me break out into a fit of giggles. Why? I have no idea. The man came in and sat in the booth beside us. He had coke and scrambled eggs for breakfast and uses a Mac. I think he designs commercials- Joe thinks he is a murderer. Hopefully we never find out if we are right about that situation.

Yesterday my new boss called. He asked how I was, to which I responded, "Great! I'm wearing a new dress!" Pretty much all day that was my response to people- "Do you like my new dress?" "Isn't it sparkly?" "Watch me twirl!" I felt like I was 8 years old again... except that I wasn't like this at 8 years old. I was much too mature for these kinds of things. So pleased that I am recovering this delight I formerly forwent!

NOTE: You can never know the kind of effort that went in to selecting the word "forwent" and using it properly. Thanks to Alli who forgoed alot to help me forgoo!

Things that keep me awake at night........

I have trouble falling asleep at night. Always have. (Probably) Always will.

Most of the time it is just random thoughts that don't matter much- things that swirl around all day but I never take the time to think about-things that now have a captive audience in the quiet- things like how you make strussel topping or how you put together a kite from Oriental Trade the correct way. Sure, I could look these things up on the internet, but that would take all the fun out of going to bed wondering.

This week however has been worse than usual. Two nights this week I spent freaking out that one of my dearest friends was mad at me. I had no evidence to back up this claim- I just started to panic when I hadn't heard from her in more than 12 hours. :) hahaha. Way too long story, short- it was all for naught. She wasn't mad I was just being paranoid.

Last night I laid awake in bed and worried about technology. No, really- I did. It got to the point where I had to get up out of my bed and journal about it to get it out of my head. "How far do we let technology go?" I wrote. I am thankful for modern conveniences like running water and electricity, but when do you draw the line? It all started with those self check out lines at the grocery store. Most likely feeling guilty from my trip earlier that day. Soon though it escalated into something more like this- Why are they making a big machine for the Post Office that will someday eliminate 1000's of jobs? Especially in Michigan with the economy like it is- why would that be a good use of our resources?At the time, I really thought I was thinking grandiose thoughts- ones that would change the world.... but now, looking at this all typed out- I got no answers!

I'd really love to blame it on PMS, but that would be a wrongful conviction on Mother Nature. If I'm being any kind of honest, I would have to admit that change is a beast for me. It turns me into this irrational, emotional, every other kind of -tional there is! Graduation is approaching and some of my friends are moving away, others are moving on and still others just consumed with making it to that point. While I am so happy and excited for them, I am also scared... of losing those connections and the stability that comes with those familiar relationships.

On Sunday I was in the midst of being frazzled- too frazzled in fact to let the powerful truth we talked about sink down deep. Reflecting on it now I am awed at the tenderness of our God - speaking so clearly to me. We talked about the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. I have heard this story alot- apparently not enough though. Dave talked about the response of the two disciples to Jesus and as an application; our response to the Lord. Sunday, I observed that Jesus wasn't asking them to live a fairy tale and pretend that 5 loaves and three fish could actually feed 5,000 people. Instead he was asking them to respond in faith that Jesus could and would do all things. This was comforting because I am such a 'realist.' However, reflecting on this I am now struck by the freedom that there is in that. Even though they were able to accurately assess the need, Jesus wasn't asking them to feed the people. Only He could do that. And by extension, the same is true of all these changes in my life. I had a frighteningly accurate picture of what was going on and was freaking out about it like Jesus was asking me to feed 5,000 people. No, He is asking me to respond in faith that He is gonna do all He promised, be Who He says He is, "do His thing!" in the situation. Ironically, there is such freedom in not being expected to do the miracle, to not have control, to not have the answers. Isn't that what we are always trying to get ahold of? That's what I have been grasping for all week- but it seems that it only blinded me to Jesus having His turn to do the feeding.

Kites: A Beautiful Disaster

Doesn't this picture look inspiring? Like just the thing you want to be doing on a brilliant Saturday afternoon with a bunch of well-behaved, care-free children? Well, I can vouch for the fact that achieving this is not as easy as it looks!

Saturday, I went with Kaitlyn and Joe to Cabrini Green to pick up some of the kids they tutor on Wednesdays and help take them to Mayor Daley's Kids and Kites Festival. Bless Kaits heart she put so much work into making this event awesome for the children. She packed them a lunch and got kite decorating supplies together and recruited volunteers. What a great gal that Kaits!

After waiting awhile for some kids to show up, we boarded a bright yellow school bus and headed to the park near Montrose Bay. The children informed me on the way that they saw a movie where there were sharks in the lake (not the Ocean, the Lake). One girl said, "There was this woman who cut her arm and then got into the water and was like 'Come to Momma'!!" So needless to say we avoided the water. :)

Our group of 17 (3 of which were 2 year olds, plus adults) were single handedly responsible for the littering crisis in this city. Every plastic bag the kites came in and other misc. parts that came with the kite were scattered across the lawn, steadily being blown closer and closer to the Shark's Lair (ie- Lake Michigan). The kids did pretty great decorating them, it was getting them up in the air that was a problem... mostly they just ended up dragging them around the littered lawn. hahahaaha! Well, we tried. There were some other activities for them- face painting and story bus, etc. so they were overall pretty happy with the trip.

I love how quick to love kids are. It was so fun to get lots of hugs and make crafts together and make silly faces and laugh and run to the porta-potties. :) I hope whatever happens in my future it invoves ALOT of kids. Somehow, by a miracle of God we got back safely with all 17 children and no shark attacks. Hooray!