Time Flies

When you are super busy, it's funny how fast time goes by. Some fun was definitely involved in the last week. After all the metroplex is home to me in many ways. However after 6 days away from my bed, I am ready to be home. Highlights from the week of traveling include:

• Meeting my new nephew Ben and spending time with my sweet niece Jackie. And getting some good quality time with my longest friend, Tiffany. (Any time a friendship lasts over 10 years there should be an award. We are on year 16.)
• Spending time with my sister. How can two people be so different and yet so similar. Time together is always a blast. I also got to meet the special someone in her life. He passed test 1. We'll see how he does in the long haul. :)
• Seeing the harbor in Rockwall for the first time. At dusk. It was BEAUTIFUL. And eating ice cream while walking and talking with my sister. Fun.
• Discovering via the Wii Fit that I am 34 years old and have managed to lose 5 pounds without doing anything. (Unless you count never eating out and therefore practically eliminating soda from my diet something...) It's no wonder some of my clothes are feeling too big.
  

Now it's back to East Texas and the adventure of summer being in full swing. I have some hours to make up after my adventure of this last week, but the Summer Staff should make that a fairly easy task. They are fun to spend time with! And so here we go. Summer here I come!

Bittersweet Day

Yesterday was a bittersweet day. I received a phone call last Friday from a dear friend in Boston saying that her Grandmother had passed away. The funeral was yesterday and I thank the Lord that with my current state of part time employment I could drop everything and come be by Tiffany's side.

You see, I spent many hours in Grandmolly's pool each summer growing up and her husband Poppy had left us for heaven less than a year ago. Of course the pool has been filled in and turned into a garden. I haven't been to their house in years, but there is an intense sadness when someone so associated with your childhood is gone. Not to mention my hurt for my friend.

I've been down this road before. If you know me, you know that I don't have any grandparents left. From the time I was 20 until right before I turned 24 I went from having three grandparents at every major event in my life to none. It was a tough 3 years. My grandmother and grandfather died just under a year apart. Two years before that, my meema was taken by cancer. All these memories and more come back as I watch my friend struggle through the same pain.

But the joy - We know where Grandmolly is! We know that she is up in heaven rejoicing with Poppy and praising our Savior. Someone mentioned to me how joyful Baptist funerals seem to be. Because the funeral focuses on the fact that Grandmolly knew Jesus. In a personal way. And so now she is in heaven worshiping Him and in awe of all that He is. What peace there is in this. And hope.

And a joy that's closer to home! I have finally gotten to meet my sweet nephew! Ben was born two months ago in Massachusetts and I didn't have the money to go visit. I have been longing to hold him in my arms and to whisper in his ear how much I love him. Even from afar he is loved. So much. By an Aunt Joanna that he will only see a few times a year. And goodness. His sister Jackie is so cute and fun. Running everywhere and starting to learn words. I love these kiddos.

So there is my heart. Hurting but joyful. Holding on to the joy of the little ones while mourning what has been lost. And being here for whatever Tiffany needs. We sang a song at the funeral. One of my favorite hymns. Great is thy faithfulness. And it is so true. Morning by Morning new Mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me.

What would you do?

On Tuesday night I was driving home from working in child care at a local church. Getting to and from the aforementioned church takes me down several less traveled country roads. I was at an intersection by the Blue Store Gas Station attempting to turn left from a highway onto a country road. When I pulled up to the light, I noticed a state trooper had someone pulled over in the parking lot of the Blue Store. "Noted," I thought to myself. "There is a police officer right there. I must make sure I obey all traffic laws to the letter."

I was sitting at a red light. No green circles, or even flashing yellow arrows, letting you turn left while the oncoming traffic has a green. I pull up to the light at approximately 9:10pm. At 9:15 I realize that I have somehow managed to not trip the light sensor. The light has gone through several rotations and no green arrow for Joanna. I try pulling forward a little bit (mind you the cop is still sitting at the gas station). Another cycle of lights; no green for Joanna.

So I decided I would wait for the police officer to finish with his current ticket giving and go on his merry way and then I would figure out what I would do. Around 9:20, he finishes. Pulls out of the parking lot drives down the highway behind me. About the time I am losing his tail lights (I didn't want to do anything before that) he flips a U-Turn, parks, and turns his lights off. Well crud, what am I supposed to do now?!?

So I call my dad. I figure whatever I do, at least if I do what my dad says to, he can't give me a guilt trip if I get a ticket, right? Dad's response, "I have no idea what I would do." Not. Helpful. I spend about 5 minutes talking to my dad, trying to come up with the best solution. and nothing is coming to mind.

While I was on the phone with my dad, a car finally pulled in behind me in the turn lane and tripped the sensor. I gleefully turned at my green arrow and looked in my rear view mirror sending well wishes to the person behind me. And they definitely needed them. They got in the turn lane because the police officer was pulling them over.

But the real question is, what if that person had not pulled into the turn lane? What are you supposed to do in such a situation? No one has given me an answer yet. Any of you have any ideas?

Big Day

Today was a big day. The day of the test results! I started off the day with some Sweatin' to the Oldies, which left me feeling good about myself, and ready for just about anything. I managed to be in the office by 10am (a minor miracle for me) and there it was. The email saying my scores were posted. My heart pounded. It got hard to breathe. I logged on. Only to discover I had to download a PDF. Seriously, T1 download FASTER. Then I clicked on the PDF and saw the magnificent word. PASSED. That's right, I passed! I literally got out of my chair and jumped up and down. Called my mom and responded to her hello with "I passed. I passed. I passed." Excited might be an understatement. :)

So now on to the next step. Finishing filling out my teaching applications for the other local districts. And waiting to see where God leads. These next few months are going to be an adventure for sure!

Easter in a Nutshell

One of these days I will write a blog that doesn't involve a bulleted list of what has been going on in my world. Today is not that day. So I give you the Easter Outline:

• Sick - I spent all of Good Friday in my Dad's recliner feeling like junk. Saturday wasn't much better. I currently only sleep well when drugged with Advil PM. Awesome.
• Cemetery - My mom puts out flowers on the graves of family members several times a year. So my mom, dad, sister and I spent part of Saturday afternoon throwing away the Christmas poinsettas and putting out tulips, daisies and other spring blooms. It was a neat time to reflect and remember these people that were important in our lives.
• Shooting - I can finally reclaim my part in the Jordan family. We did some target practice this weekend and I didn't do as badly as I had expected. Well, I was still pretty pitiful, but shooting a revolver accurately when your vision is 20/1600ish without glasses is a challenge.
• Easter - Easter with family is always a blast. We sang some good Methodist Hymns. Read the traditional new member Methodist statement (our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service anyone?) Heard a message that talked about Jesus. Then went to my aunt and uncle's house and ate tons of food.
• Questions - Oh how many I answered. Are you surviving? Do you have enough money? How did you feel about your test? And many more. The family grilling. It wouldn't be a holiday without it.

I really am blessed. I did practically nothing this weekend do to the sickness. My incredible sister did dishes all weekend since I would contaminate them. My mom sent me home with enough food to give me main dishes for a month. And my family loves me. They care about how I am doing. They encourage me in my current journey, even though it is a tough, and random one.

But all the thanks goes to the Giver of all good things. Including His precious Son.

Vacation - Portland is Fun.

I've been spending this week just outside of Portland with my roommate from college Rebekah. A baby made their family a family of three just 6 short weeks ago and I am here meeting my new niece. Here is what this weekend has consisted of in no particular order:

• Gilmore Girls - We've watched a lot. Feeding the Baby. Rocking the Baby. Watching the show.
  
• Food - Rebekah has cooked - Lasagne, Pizza and many delicious delicacies. Yum.
• Powell's Books - I have heard about Powell's for years and have never gotten to go. We spent an hour wandering around and barely scratched the surface. I bought Make Way for Ducklings and an old copy of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems. It was great amounts of fun.
• Pancakes - We went to the original Original Pancake House for breakfast today. I got the chocolate chip pancakes. It was heaven.
• Baby - I have spent lots of time holding my new niece. She is cute and fun and wonderful.
• Talking - Rebekah and I have spent the weekend reminiscing about college and discussing our recent lives.
• Smocking - During the many runs of Gilmore Girls I have been working on a dress for the baby when she is 6 months old.
• Sleep - I seriously have not gotten up before 11am Texas Time. While that's 9am here, I feel like I have been sleeping really late. It has been wonderful.
• Clothes - They have an Eddie Bauer Outlet less than 20 minutes from their house. I found some amazing clothes. However, since I have no room in my suitcase, I'm going to have to mail them home.

So yes. It has been a wonderful trip. I'm going to be sad to leave, but I'm ready to get home. From the looks of it the cold weather is going to be following me home. It's been warm in Texas all week, but tomorrow it is going to be cold. Just my luck. Hopefully it will be an uneventful trip. Pictures (there aren't many) will be coming soon.

Be careful what you wish for...

Life has settled into a fairly uneventful routine. I work 15-20 hours a week at PC and get random babysitting hours when I can. Not the best economic schedule in the world, but it works. However, since my life is so relaxed I start to believe I can do ridiculous things. Like babysit from 7:30am -5:30pm and then drive to another house to babysit from 6-9pm. Then get up (on a saturday) and babysit from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Sunday is full to the brim with church, teaching choir, and working. What was I thinking? Especially since I'm leaving to go out of town on MONDAY.

So earlier this month I was lamenting about money. Therefore, I accepted every babysitting opportunity that appeared. Now I'm lamenting about having time to wash clothes and pack. I guess I just can't win. :) So I'm going to be thankful for these opportunities. Especially since I'm not going to be working much next week. Rainy Portland, here I come.

Good thing God likes to throw open windows. I'll be interested to see which one flies open next.