Day 11: Something I Hate

Day 11: Something I Hate

I went back and forth between two things I hate, but since there's not a day about my biggest pet peeve, I went with that. Had I not, I would have told you how much I hate the way I bruise. Like a peach. A peach.

Here we go...

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What I hate the Most!

A wedding is the most special day for the bride and groom. Your baby, though he or she is the greatest thing to you, he is not cute or adorable or endearing while crying so loud that I can't hear the vows. Get a sitter.

:)

Day 10: Messed Up Things

Day 10: The Person You Do The Most ****** Up Things With

I've struggled to start writing this blog. My life has been anything but perfect. I had someone in mind whom I was going to write about, but I couldn't bring myself to give glory to that time in my life.

I lived a very good life until I was 23. I may be shattering some of y'all's mental images of me right now, but for about 3 years, I made bad decision after bad decision. It started small, as most sin does. It didn't seem like a big deal at first, but small things grow (like the rumor weed on Veggie Tales). It got to the place where I wasn't even being honest with myself.

About a year ago, I realized how much I hated the person I'd become. A lot of it had to do with guilt that I couldn't let go. I would ask the Lord to forgive me over and over, yet I couldn't forgive myself. I felt like I should have "known better" or been stronger.

One day in early spring, I went to the student center at my church and "had it out" with God. I realized that the unforgiveness for myself that I was carrying around was 100x's worse than the sin I had already asked forgiveness for. I committed from that day forward to let it go.

And I have.

The Lord has required big things from me. Major friendships in my life have changed. I will always treasure certain people, but I can't invest any more time. Weekend activities have changed. Family time has become huge in my life. And my prayer time has changed. I am no longer begging for forgiveness. It is a gift.

I am forgiven. I have forgiven myself. I am thankful for the life God has given me.

Much love.

Day 9: The Bestie

The picture for Day 8 is supposed to be one that makes me laugh. I have the exact picture in mind, but it's at my parents' house. So, no worries, but I'll get back to this. :)

Day 9: The Person Who Has Gotten You Through The Most

Meet Shelby. Lovingly referred to as Shelbs. Shelby is my best friend.

I have known Shelby in some capacity since 2nd or 3rd grade. Our dads were pastors in the same section, so we met at church events, and we actually went on the same mission trip in high school. One of my favorite memories of Shelby is at PK Retreat (pastors' kids retreat) one year when she was making items from duct tape. She made flip flops, wallets, etc. from all the different colors of duct tape available. Random. That's Shelby for you. :)

During my freshman year in college, Shelby went to Master's Commission in Florida. I really don't remember how we got connected and started emailing, but we emailed a lot that year. The following year, I went to Master's in Illinois. The year after that, Shelby and I both attended Southwestern Assemblies of God University. That year, we ran in the same circles, had a few classes together, and finally had a chance to really be friends. Shelby is the easiest person on earth to be friends with.

During my junior year in college, we got to be roommates! That was one of the best years of my life! We shared clothes. I borrowed Shelby's clothes. We danced; we laughed; we sat on the outside couch and did homework. We became great friends.

After college, we both did our own things for a while, but I ended up in McKinney, and Shelbs in Red Oak. During those 18 months, we became best friends. We had sleep overs, cried over boys, met for coffee (even if it was almost 45 minutes each way), and drove to LA and back. Without stopping to sleep either way. M.I.A. will always remind me of that trip.

This is Shelbs and I in L.A.:

During my time in McKinney, Shelby met the love of her life. I am so thankful to have been able to be around during that time. Here we are at her wedding to JOSH!

This is at the rehearsal dinner. Hate the bangs, love the picture:

So, where was I going with all of this? Oh yes, the person who has gotten me through the most. I cannot imagine surviving the last 3 years without her. She lets me be an open book. She takes me at face value and doesn't run when I make stupid mistakes. The song "That's What Friends Are For" is now playing in my head. :) So glad to have her in my life.

Shelbs- love you. Thankful every single day for you. Forever besties.

Day 7: Most Treasured Item

Day 7: My Most Treasured Item

When my birthday comes around each year, I rarely have a defined idea of what I really want. Sometimes it might be clothes, maybe a new pair of shoes, or a People Magazine subscription.

But when I turned 16 years old, I don't think my parents even asked. Instead, I was surprised with a beautiful white gold ring with my birth stone: sapphires!

I have always loved this ring. Sadly, I don't get the opportunity to wear it much since I don't wear jewelry to work, but I try to always remember to wear it on days off.

I have always gotten a lot of compliments on it, too, and anytime I forgot to wear it in college, people would question me about it. It made an impression.

For the rest of my life, this ring will always remind me of my parents. It is very special to me.

Day 5: Favorite Memory

Day 5: My Favorite Memory

The summer before 2nd grade, my parents took Mark and I to Wichita Falls to eat at Olive Garden, as well as to change our lives forever.

It's become a bit of a joke in my family that whenever we have a super special dinner, there's probably going to be a big announcement, too. We've moved enough to know that it's perfectly acceptable to question all out-of-the-usual meals.

Anyway, this particular meal was nice. We were living in Graham, and Olive Garden wasn't exactly down the road, or in the budget. But as we sat at the table in the corner with windows right behind Mom and Dad, I think Mark and I were both somewhat suspicious. And then it came...

"We're having a baby!"

I don't remember what my reaction was- excited, shrieking- who knows. But I remember that table and those windows and where I was sitting. That's how a lot of my childhood memories work- just pictures.

The coming months were very exciting. I loved feeling the baby move in Mom's tummy. We talked to him all the time, decorated his room, and made lots of plans. Well, as many plans as you can make without knowing the sex. We didn't find out until birth, but my parents went ahead and picked out names for both sexes: Scott Wesley Carter or Mary Elizabeth Carter.

By December of 1991, I was beside myself excited! I couldn't decide if I wanted a brother or a sister. A sister seemed fun because she would be on my side against Mark, but a brother...

My parents had decided if the baby was a girl, Mark would get to hold her first, but if it was a boy, I would get to hold him first. So, clearly, I wanted a brother. To be able to hold the baby before Mark, I would take a brother for the rest of my life. This was a simple choice.

As Christmas approached, my parents and Mom's doctor both wanted the baby out in time for the big jolly holiday. Mom was induced on December 19. Not only was I about to get a new sibling, but I also got to skip school! Score! However, labor did not progress very quickly. We spent all day, and all night, at the hospital. There are so many pictures of us playing cards and taking naps. It was a long 24 hours.

Finally around 4 a.m. on December 20, little Scott Wesley came screaming out! I was sitting in the hallway in my Nannie's lap when we heard Dad shout, "It's a boy!" I remember Nannie immediately burst into tears. At the time, I wasn't sure if she was happy about Scott being a boy. Now, looking back, I think she was relieved he was a boy. Scott is named after Nannie's 2nd son, Scott, who passed away over 35 years ago.

After Mom and Dad took turns holding him, Mom carefully passed him off to me. As a little 2nd grader, this was the coolest moment of my life. This baby, this tiny little thing, was my baby brother. I intended to hold him, feed him, change him, and care for him forever. Sometimes, I feel like I still do. ;)

Mark got his turn eventually, but I made sure to stretch out my turn as long as possible.

After the excitement of the moment wound down, Nannie and Granddaddy took us home to get some sleep. We got to skip a SECOND day of school! However, the day Scott was born was my school Christmas party, so Nannie took me for about an hour to see my friends, open my present, and eat all the goodies. I also got to tell my class about my new baby brother. I was on cloud nine.

Scott's not so tiny anymore. Actually, he's the tallest person in my immediate family. But he'll always be my baby brother. I still boss him around, question his actions, and give him unsolicited advice, but I love him unconditionally.

I'm thankful every day for December 20, 1991.

Day 6: Switching places

I'm taking the liberty to skip Day 5 (Favorite Memory) until I have the opportunity to go to my parents' house. I have all my personal pictures since junior high, but I don't have any pictures from childhood at my apartment. I promise to eventually get back to Day 5. :)

Day 6: The Person You'd Want to Trade Places with for One Day

I went back and forth with this entry. There are several people in my life whom I think have interesting jobs or live in exciting places, but I would hate for anyone to think I'm secretly pining for their husbands (which I'm not), so I couldn't bring myself to pick a friend. (I'm neurotic.)

I decided to go with a celebrity whom I think is beautiful, talented, and works hard for what she has: Natalie Portman.



I first remember Natalie in the movie "Where The Heart Is." I was mesmerized by her and her talent. Instead of chick-flicks, she makes "V for Vendetta" and "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "Black Swan."

She's a ballerina and continues to take lessons.

She has a degree from Harvard.

And she's engaged to Benjamin Millepied. It would be worth your time to look up his picture. ;)

If we switched places for one day, I would want it to be on a day that she's at ballet lessons. You could say I have some unquenched childhood dreams. And then maybe after ballet practice, dinner with Benjamin. hehe

Day 4: My nights

Day 4: My Nights

I sat down before work to write Day 4's blog when I realized it was focusing on my nightly routine/habits. It just didn't seem right to write a blog about the night time in the middle of the day time.

My days start around 9 a.m. I get up and work out, then eat, shower, and head to work. Most days I work from 2 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. It's long evenings, but I'm glad that the last couple of hours is counting money and inventory. I get a chance to get my thoughts together from the work day. When I finally get home, against what you'd think, I'm wide awake! If I were to go to bed, I'd lay awake for hours. So instead, this is what my nights look like:



I come home and get in my pj's, then read or watch tv, and write my daily blog.

My nights aren't that exciting to other people, but for me, they're the best part of the day. I'm a night owl (thus the 2 a.m. blog). I would so much rather be awake now than 6 a.m. I like the quiet. I like that I have no where else to be. It's my "me" time.