"ABC. Easy as 1 - 2 - 3." Catchy right? So upbeat. Well it also happens to be perfect inspiration for today's educational-style Five for Friday.
To be perfectly honest I just about forgot to post something five-related today. It's been a longgggg week yet again and my brain's been a bit scattered. (Hence the bad blogging.) But since it is finally the weekend and the smoke seems to be clearing. And since I do in fact have things I'm thankful for, it seems appropriate to share them with you now. So here goes five very good facts for this fine Friday evening.
1. Packaging tape can melt onto windows. So unless you (unlike me) enjoy scraping goo off glass for a living, I'd stick with alternative methods of decorating.
I'm super weird I know. But I am NOT super boring. So I couldn't show you pictures of tape on windows.
Instead I decided to show you the clown I "accidentally" decapitated during decoration removal. You're welcome world.
2. Minions really like chocolate. And/or diving. And/or buckets. Of course it could just be they have a hard time balancing the weight of their heads. (Which is understandable considering those things are massive.)
Little Minion Kevin had a major craving for some chocolate.
3. Midriff baring is not appropriate for work. It doesn't take Stacy and Clinton to figure this one out. But apparently it does take a stern warning to your sixth button to abide by this rule.
Pictures: Old grey pointy flats and the bad bad button. Also pictured, but fuzzy, a really pretty scarf.
4. Thanksgiving is crazily close. Something we discussed yesterday, but something I hadn't really given a lot of thought to until Thursday, when I had to write a very important letter. It was a letter that required I know things like what day Turkey day falls on, so that I could successfully tell important people that...
I've spent two years writing for a living and this was the hardest thing yet. Go figure.
5. The day before Thanksgiving will be my last day of work.
I would have shared that news yesterday, during the countdown, but I needed to make sure it had plenty of time to reach the powers-at-be first. Now that I know it's filtered through the chain of command, though, I'm happy ecstatic to announce that Nov. 24 will be my last day at the Herald.
For those of you who aren't from around "these here parts," I have spent the last two years as a Staff Writer for my hometown newspaper. And it has been awesome, truly.
I got to see my city in a whole new light, meet wonderful people... take a million random pictures and make just as many wonderful memories. I have learned more than I ever cared to know about AP style and high school football, and more than I dreamed I would learn about service and the importance of storytelling.
I have been absolutely blessed to work where I have, with who I have, and yet I also know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is time for me to move on.
It hasn't been the easiest decision to make. "A million things are never easy to discard," as Sara Groves put it. I've waffled back and forth. But when I seriously began praying about it a little over a month ago, I knew it was time to go. When that answer alone wasn't enough to nudge me out the door, though, God sent a light kick to the butt* that finally did the trick. It came in the form of a call from a friend, one who was concerned I seemed "lost, scattered lately." She wanted to know if I was okay. We talked, and her words of encouragement proved to be just the confirmation I needed to make it official. To acknowledge what God had in fact been telling my heart that it was time to move. And now it was up to me to be obedient, to listen and act on that call. (*I realize getting nudged or kicked doesn't always feel good at the time. But aren't you glad we worship a God who doesn't give up on us. That even when we are at our most stubborn, He finds ways to get us where we need to be. He is sooo good like that! And if you are deeply offended that I have used the word "butt" I trust He'll help you get over that too. :) )
To be perfectly honest I'm not sure what exactly I'm moving on to. It may be some fantastic job in the big city writing website descriptions for a gourmet cupcake bakery*. Or it may be somewhere down the street serving drinks in a green apron. (*A girl can dream, can't she?)
Whatever happens though, even during this unknowing, I am confident that God will not send me anywhere His love won't abound.
While thinking how to break this big news to everyone (at least it's big news to me) I kept repeating a line from "Seussical" over and over in my head.
"I meant what I said and I said what I meant; an elephant's faithful 100 percent."
- Dr. Seuss
I'm not sure what made that line come to mind but I'm glad it did. 'Cause even though life is rarely as colorful as Seuss' portrayals. And though love is never as easy as the Jackson Five made it sound. I do believe that God desires for us to live more joyful, love-filled lives than we often choose for ourselves. Not that His biggest concern is making us happy, but that He provides joy when we are growing in Him, walking with Him.
I don't mean to make life sound overly simple. I know it's not. We all face things that perplex us.
But I, for one, tend to forget what seems impossible to me is more than possible to God. What seems hopelessly complicated to me, is nothing He can't handle. I forgot that He fashioned the world and keeps it moving at just the right speed that we don't all fall off and splat. So He's probably capable of keeping little old me moving in the right direction, and at the right pace too.
In other words, if God was able to create the mountains, and move them like He says... then He can probably push me up and over the hills of East Texas. And maybe even beyond.
Though it is yet another completely random anaolgy, the best way I can describe my life right now is an epic game of Twister. God has already said in his booming, Charlton Heston voice, "Right foot..." And so I've lifted my foot from the comfortable dot it's been resting on. And now I'm waiting patiently uncomfortably for him to say "Green," or "Red," or "Blue" or "Yellow."
Right now my foot is up in the air, my life is up in the air. And I'll be honest, it's not the best feeling in the world. But there is joy here. Peace here. Knowing I'm in the game so to speak. Knowing I'm being obedient to what He has called me. And knowing that I am called to place my trust not in my own abilities, my mad Twister skills, but in Him.
Even if I fall flat on my face trying to make this next move, I know it will be worth it. Because He is a good God who said what He meant. He is absolutely faithful, 100 percent.
I'm thankful today to serve a gracious God, a loving God. Gracious to have taken a half step towards Him.
I'm thankful for His timing and provision. And even for his kicks in the butt (or bobo if you are my mother or a kindergarten teacher). I am thankful that when life seems crazy, hard and even impossible to me. He is standing there saying "I've got this." I am so thankful that He's got me.
Him and me, kind of like 1, 2, 3... a simple equation that makes all the difference. "That's how easy love can be."
*All this in mind, if you know someone needing my freelance writing services please give them my card. Particularly if they work with cupcakes. You can promise them that I will find shirts with stronger buttons. :)
Thanks everyone (commenters and non-commenters) for the encouragement and prayers as I take this next big step. It is such a blessing to have you guys coming along on this journey with me, at least in spirit.
I could not ask for better friends.
Better pack your bags though. We're hitting the road soon. :) I can't wait!!!
Posted by: Jen | 11/15/2010 at 01:00 AM
Wow. That's big my friend! I will pray for you when you come to mind. God has great plans for you! I just know it. I am so thankful for your honesty and your willingness to follow. Can't wait to get to read and see what God does. :)
Posted by: Leanna | 11/08/2010 at 01:10 PM
I'm so proud of you Jen. You inspire me to know that change is not a bad thing. Sometimes we may not know where we are headed, but it's a feeling inside us that we know we will be okay. Love you Jen!
Posted by: jennifer | 11/05/2010 at 06:04 PM