One of the best texts I've ever gotten...."I have dinner to drop off".
Yep, that's right, my amazing friend Jan made delicious fajitas and corn casserole and some scrumptious chocolate brownie type dessert for me (and Darby).
Nobody died. I didn't have a baby. I don't have an illness.
After a week of 50 hours of work and 30 hours of theatre...followed with today consisting of about 170 miles of travel in between 2 meetings and the filming of a KFVS12 Business Break, I was looking forward to a home cooked meal and some quiet time at home. With her great surprise she made this SO much easier and better (it's ALWAYS better when you don't have to cook it yourself!).
I've said it before, but I'm glad to say it again...I've got the BEST friends in the whole world. If you have the pleasure to know my dear lifelong friends, you are a lucky person!! What's even better...since we've been friends forever, they're as dear to me as family. What an awesome family I have. :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mr. Dependable
Reliable Transportation. Reliable Assistant. Reliable Information. Reliable Answers. We all want those. Things we can count on. Things we expect to be accurate or available when we need them. We would never say we wanted an Irresponsible Assistant or Deceptive Information. Why should we expect anything less than Reliable from our friends and family? Why should they expect less from us?
As I sat stuck in the mud this evening the first thing that came to my mind was “Who do I call?” I felt that I didn’t have anyone in my life that was reliable or dependable or would be willing to help me. So, I called Satterfield’s (towing company). They showed up quickly, got the job done and got me out of the mud. (I did have several friends on facebook offer to help…but asking for help and allowing others to help me is not one of my talents!)
Unfortunately, by the time I got out of the mud, the water in the streets was so high I didn’t know if I should drive or not. Having two teenagers in the car, I took the time to pray and felt that I shouldn’t attempt to drive through the river-like streets.
SO…back to my original question…Who do I call? Well…there was someone I wanted to call, but chose not to. Ultimately the only person I could think of that I KNEW would say “I’ll be right there” was Mark Anderson. If you have the pleasure of knowing this man you are truly blessed.
At the time of my call he was mopping up rainwater out of his basement, but dropped his mop and headed right out to get us. He left his home and the things he needed to tend to and came to serve me and Darby (and Spencer). When I showed him where the car was stuck and told him Satterfield’s came and pulled us out he was offended. He was upset that I hadn’t called him instead. He was upset that I hadn’t asked him to serve me more than he already was. Talk about selfless love. He also made me commit to letting him come get me in the morning to take me to get my car.
He was my Go-To guy tonight. My hero. My Reliable Friend. That is Mark Anderson. I want that to be me. I want to be the first person my friends/family think of when they need service…I need to find what it takes to make that be me…so someday I can make someone as happy as Mark made me tonight…a simple act for him equals a heroic act to me.
As I sat stuck in the mud this evening the first thing that came to my mind was “Who do I call?” I felt that I didn’t have anyone in my life that was reliable or dependable or would be willing to help me. So, I called Satterfield’s (towing company). They showed up quickly, got the job done and got me out of the mud. (I did have several friends on facebook offer to help…but asking for help and allowing others to help me is not one of my talents!)
Unfortunately, by the time I got out of the mud, the water in the streets was so high I didn’t know if I should drive or not. Having two teenagers in the car, I took the time to pray and felt that I shouldn’t attempt to drive through the river-like streets.
SO…back to my original question…Who do I call? Well…there was someone I wanted to call, but chose not to. Ultimately the only person I could think of that I KNEW would say “I’ll be right there” was Mark Anderson. If you have the pleasure of knowing this man you are truly blessed.
At the time of my call he was mopping up rainwater out of his basement, but dropped his mop and headed right out to get us. He left his home and the things he needed to tend to and came to serve me and Darby (and Spencer). When I showed him where the car was stuck and told him Satterfield’s came and pulled us out he was offended. He was upset that I hadn’t called him instead. He was upset that I hadn’t asked him to serve me more than he already was. Talk about selfless love. He also made me commit to letting him come get me in the morning to take me to get my car.
He was my Go-To guy tonight. My hero. My Reliable Friend. That is Mark Anderson. I want that to be me. I want to be the first person my friends/family think of when they need service…I need to find what it takes to make that be me…so someday I can make someone as happy as Mark made me tonight…a simple act for him equals a heroic act to me.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
How To Lose A Guy in Two Years
In this last week, I was told by three different men that they just don’t understand why I haven’t been snatched up…that I’d be a really good wife and any man would be lucky to have me. While that’s really flattering (and a little depressing all at the same time), but these men are all married, which may very well be the best part of the compliment…
Anyway, it made me think…what am I doing wrong in my relationships?? SO…I dissected my most recent relationship and how it may have gone wrong, I derived this list of things I know I did during the past 2 years. Of course, I’m not perfect at all, but this covers probably about 95% of my behavior:
• Don’t be needy or clingy
• Be able to hold endless conversations about countless topics
• Be the most mentally stable girl he’s ever met
• Be genuinely interested in taking up a hobby he loves
• Spontaneously give him small gifts (ice cream on a bad day, book or movie he wants delivered to his house)
• Cook for him…including his childhood favorite recipes you’ve never tried before
• Be that one person who gets him…who truly understands how he thinks
• Spend two full days at Bass Pro Shops looking at boats and fishing lures and not complain because you are happy to just be with him and enjoying something he enjoys.
• Love his dog
• Name his dog
• Help him decorate his house…well, the parts that look good anyway.
• Encourage him to hunt and fish…deliver treats for him and his dog before he leaves…don’t be upset when he’s gone every weekend, just be glad for the time you get to see him when he returns
• Sit next to him while he plays Call of Duty online with his friends…again, just happy to be next to him.
• Love him
• Like him…all the time, even when he’s cranky.
• Plan amazing birthday celebrations
• Forgive him for forgetting your birthday (tease him about it occasionally, but don’t be angry with him)
• Don’t constantly want to talk about the relationship. (every once in a while is fine…but it must be done at some point)
I’m guessing that these are not the things that guys want from women.
Anyway, it made me think…what am I doing wrong in my relationships?? SO…I dissected my most recent relationship and how it may have gone wrong, I derived this list of things I know I did during the past 2 years. Of course, I’m not perfect at all, but this covers probably about 95% of my behavior:
• Don’t be needy or clingy
• Be able to hold endless conversations about countless topics
• Be the most mentally stable girl he’s ever met
• Be genuinely interested in taking up a hobby he loves
• Spontaneously give him small gifts (ice cream on a bad day, book or movie he wants delivered to his house)
• Cook for him…including his childhood favorite recipes you’ve never tried before
• Be that one person who gets him…who truly understands how he thinks
• Spend two full days at Bass Pro Shops looking at boats and fishing lures and not complain because you are happy to just be with him and enjoying something he enjoys.
• Love his dog
• Name his dog
• Help him decorate his house…well, the parts that look good anyway.
• Encourage him to hunt and fish…deliver treats for him and his dog before he leaves…don’t be upset when he’s gone every weekend, just be glad for the time you get to see him when he returns
• Sit next to him while he plays Call of Duty online with his friends…again, just happy to be next to him.
• Love him
• Like him…all the time, even when he’s cranky.
• Plan amazing birthday celebrations
• Forgive him for forgetting your birthday (tease him about it occasionally, but don’t be angry with him)
• Don’t constantly want to talk about the relationship. (every once in a while is fine…but it must be done at some point)
I’m guessing that these are not the things that guys want from women.
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Kindness of Strangers
Kind. Thoughtful. Compassionate. Generous. These are awesome words to use to describe someone...I pray that when my time comes to leave this world these are the words used to sum up my life.
Growing up my parents often reached out to others in many ways...some people and ways I had no idea about until after my father's passing. We often had people...sometimes near strangers...living in our home to help them. Cousins, uncles, grandparents, the boys who called me sister, the young wife who was trying to get away from her abusive husband, the guy who was trying to overcome alcoholism to get his family back...all of these people my parents selflessly welcomed into our home with open arms, no strings attached, and often during economically difficult times.
What happened to that kindness? It almost seems that people are afraid to show kindness and genuine love for someone else. We are so worried about how this will expose us and our feelings. I know there were times when my parents' relationship or their relationship with others was temporarily strained because they stepped out of their comfort zone and stretched out their hand in kindness. Would they do it again? Yes. Would their relationships become stronger in the end? Yes. So...why the big fear of being kind? Why are we afraid of "putting ourselves out there"? Especially when everything can be better after you do?
Today...after an especially difficult week...I needed some regrouping time. So, for me, this meant a trip to the gym (alone) and a drive around town (alone)...a little bit of crying (because I don't do that well in front of others...in fact I'm a little surprised I just typed it)...and a drive thru for a diet soda. I, of course, pulled myself together long enough to mask my sadness (or so I thought), but when I drove up to the window to collect my soda the sweet girl said "wait a minute ma'am". I tried to figure out what they could have forgotten (it was McDonalds and they are notorious for forgetting things) when she said "Are you okay? Would you like a free ice cream?"
Wow...the kindness of strangers. She went out on a limb to offer kindness (in the form of ice cream, which I had to decline since I had just left the gym) to someone she saw who was hurting. It wasn't a huge act or anything that would have cost her a lot of time or effort or money...but she did it! The thought was truly what counted.
Sometimes we feel unappreciated or taken advantage of...does this mean we should stop doing kind things for others?? NO. If you are driven to generosity, compassion, kindness or any other form of charity then be like Nike and Just Do It. It won't always be received with appreciation or acclamations of gratitude, but...you will be true to yourself and maybe, just maybe someday you'll help the one person whose life you'll change for the better.
Growing up my parents often reached out to others in many ways...some people and ways I had no idea about until after my father's passing. We often had people...sometimes near strangers...living in our home to help them. Cousins, uncles, grandparents, the boys who called me sister, the young wife who was trying to get away from her abusive husband, the guy who was trying to overcome alcoholism to get his family back...all of these people my parents selflessly welcomed into our home with open arms, no strings attached, and often during economically difficult times.
What happened to that kindness? It almost seems that people are afraid to show kindness and genuine love for someone else. We are so worried about how this will expose us and our feelings. I know there were times when my parents' relationship or their relationship with others was temporarily strained because they stepped out of their comfort zone and stretched out their hand in kindness. Would they do it again? Yes. Would their relationships become stronger in the end? Yes. So...why the big fear of being kind? Why are we afraid of "putting ourselves out there"? Especially when everything can be better after you do?
Today...after an especially difficult week...I needed some regrouping time. So, for me, this meant a trip to the gym (alone) and a drive around town (alone)...a little bit of crying (because I don't do that well in front of others...in fact I'm a little surprised I just typed it)...and a drive thru for a diet soda. I, of course, pulled myself together long enough to mask my sadness (or so I thought), but when I drove up to the window to collect my soda the sweet girl said "wait a minute ma'am". I tried to figure out what they could have forgotten (it was McDonalds and they are notorious for forgetting things) when she said "Are you okay? Would you like a free ice cream?"
Wow...the kindness of strangers. She went out on a limb to offer kindness (in the form of ice cream, which I had to decline since I had just left the gym) to someone she saw who was hurting. It wasn't a huge act or anything that would have cost her a lot of time or effort or money...but she did it! The thought was truly what counted.
Sometimes we feel unappreciated or taken advantage of...does this mean we should stop doing kind things for others?? NO. If you are driven to generosity, compassion, kindness or any other form of charity then be like Nike and Just Do It. It won't always be received with appreciation or acclamations of gratitude, but...you will be true to yourself and maybe, just maybe someday you'll help the one person whose life you'll change for the better.
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