The Best Weekend

Best.  Weekend.  Ever.

This past weekend held a beautiful union of a best friend to a great guy, epic talks, long and sometimes dangerous drives, blissful catch-ups, and so much love!

It actually began on Thursday when I drove home then on to where my family lives with a friend (and fellow bridesmaid).  Thankfully, she drove that leg despite both of us being exhausted, especially since 1) I don’t like to drive and 2) I had just been driving for 3 hours.  We had a really good conversation and arrived on time and ready to go for the rehearsal.  We enjoyed the evening before running some errands, which were questionable and should be erased from my memory.  We called it a night at my grandparents. 

My grandparents are the cutest!  (My friend and others will vouch for that) I love them so much!!  We talked before going to bed and then talked some more in the morning, when my grandma made us breakfast – she makes the best omelets -- and when we ventured over to the house they’re building.

After seeing my grandparents house, me and my friend met up with the bride and other bridesmaids to chill out and get ready for the ceremony.  It was a beautiful wedding, and I was so very honored be a part.  The bride and I met in graduate school even though we had the same major in undergrad.  Day one of grad school and we decided to become carpool buddies.  She said, “by the end of this, we’re going to be best friends” and she was right :)  She is stellar in so many ways, and I’m so happy for her and her now husband! 

After all the wedding festivities, my friend and I booked it back home.  My friend was leaving the country the next day, so I drove while she slept.  I slept in and met one of my best friends.  Before she had to go to work, she told me about life and made me laugh, as usual.  I then had time to kill, so I made use of it and went to get my car looked inspected.  The brakes have been squeaking and the last guy who worked on it said some sort of fluid should be replaced.  Well, something was caught and making the squeaking, so the mechanic got rid of it and checked everything else out.  No problems and brake checks are free, so I paid nothing!  Refund!

While waiting for my car, I tried to make use of my time by studying Spanish.  When the car was ready to go, I went to see another best friend and her family.  They’re little girl just turned 1 and is too precious!  They’re family, and I always love spending time with them.  Now maybe even more because the husband gave me the best compliment in a long time!  He said that there weren’t many people who were not family that he could stand to live with but that I made the list.  He went on to say that he was glad I was visiting and that I was one of his wife's friends whom he really liked.  Glad it’s mutual.  I really hope whomever I marry will get along with them and love them as much as I do. 

My friends had company coming over, so I went to dinner with another best friend, whom I haven’t been able to have a good, deep conversation with in awhile.  I got to see her new, super cute place, catch up on her life, and tell her about mine.  We capped off our evening of delicious restaurant food with a funny movie.

I then went back to my friends place because earlier, while talking about life, she decided to twist my arm until I agreed to stay the night and run together in the morning.  It literally took 2 seconds.  “Want to stay the night and run in the morning?!   You brought your running stuff, right?  Oh, who am I kidding.  Of course you did!”  “Yeah, I’ll stay!”  It was like old times… familiar route and great company.

A weekend with almost all my best friends and several good friends, while doing things I really like… I think I’ll be on a high for quite some time!

The Things People Say

Oh, the things people say…!  All in one day!

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“I’m about to go get froyo with a guy I just met.  Be back later!” 

--- me to my roomie

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“Jessie, do you have spray for your room?”  

--- co-worker

“What? No, I don’t.”  

--- me

“Well, come up here and get some and spray your room before you see your next patient.  Trust me.”  

--- co-worker

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“Your eyes!  You are beautiful!!  Oh my, don’t look at me!  You’ll put a spell on me!  

--- soccer ref to me

Then after the game, he came up to me and said with a sheepish smile, “You be careful.”

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“So, that was you I saw last night at Bird Café, right?  If it wasn’t, then you’ve got a

serious doppelganger running around town!”  

--- guy trying to get a date

“And you didn’t say hi??”  

--- me

“I waved a couple of times but got no response.  That’s why I was confused!  So it was you?”  

--- guy still trying to get a date

“Oh, Haha!  Sorry, no it really wasn’t me!  I can’t believe I have a double already.  I’ve only been here a couple of months!”  

--- me

“Well, that explains the funny looks I got!”  

--- guy who then asked me out on a date

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Whether it’s to announce a date, to warn you about an awkward situation, to compliment you, or to start a conversation in order to get to the real reason you started talking, the things people say can be cute, unexpected, kind, or funny. 

Make someone smile today with the words you say!

Change

It’s funny to think of all the roles I’ve played or the many, different ways people know me.  You know, what you associate with the people you meet in your life.  It’s funny because people only know what I tell them or see what I want them to see.  I don’t think you’ll ever really know someone.  I mean, I strive to not be fake but I’m the only one who knows the true me, and I know that…

Some things will never change.

I will always be a granddaughter, a daughter, and a sister.  I will always enjoy working out, being active (think swim, bike, run), dancing, and eating healthily.   I will always love to laugh and catch up with or (better yet) see my friends.  I will always love to travel and have a trip in mind.

Some things I hope will never change.

I will hopefully always be considered a good friend and be confirmed as being “sweet and fun.”  I hope to always follow the Lord.  I hope to always have a few close, dear friends.

Some things will change.

I no longer care to play hostess, plan events, or go out without someone I know.   I no longer have a super flexible schedule (so basically covet PTO).  I no longer have familiar people, places, or things in my life.

People change.  Roles, schedules, goals, desires, interests all change.  Some are forced, while some are naturally brought on.  You basically know no one, so you’d rather stay home.  You reach a long-time goal and move on to the next.  You pick up a new hobby because you met someone or want to meet someone.   You have to workout at the crack of dawn because all other time slots are full.  You’re expecting, so you read every “how to be a good parent” book you can get your hands on in the hopes that something sticks.  You want to work on a character flaw, to change for the better.

All of the above can be manipulated by us.  What about the ways people see us that we can’t exactly change because it is how the other person will always see us?  Some of my residents or adopted residents will always see me as an RA, which is sweet in a way, but I haven’t been an RA for years!  There’s the feeling of always being seen as a child in your parent’s eyes when you’re a full-on adult.  The fact that you will always be the “good friend” and never the “best boyfriend/girlfriend.”  The quiet one.  The loud one.  The know-it-all.  The bookworm.  The funny one.

Well, you may never get the chance to change another’s opinion about you.  That could be good, in that they see you with a halo, a glow, and the thought of “they could do no wrong,” or it could be bad, in that they will never see the all-star that you are and can be.

I’m trying to embrace this stage in my life with so much change.  I’m trying to see the good when I feel so out of sorts a lot of the time.  I’m trying to dig deep and make positive changes.  While driving today, I realized that…

I can be whomever I want.

No labels here.  No one knows that I was an RA or that I’ve run marathons or that I’m sickeningly loyal (like, that’s a bad thing) or that I like making cards or that I think I can cook.  No one knows my short-comings, my accomplishments, my past, my likes, my dislikes, my quirks, my fears.  I could be sweet, sarcastic, opinionated, coy, deep, shallow, forgiving, hard to please, needy, or strong.

I can do whatever I want. 

No rules here.  I can blow my PTO on whatever, whether it’s a wedding, a doctor’s appointment, or an awesome trip.  I could flirt and date.  I could play soccer, decorate how I like, bake all weekend, or read what I fancy.  I could blare my music and drive with the windows down.  I could have masks or have no cover at all.

People change.  Circumstances change.  Life brings change.

Change is scary.  It’s going into the unknown and sometimes you feel like you’re alone.

Change could be good, unwanted yet necessary, swift, or long overdo.

I’d like to think I gracefully came into this current wave of change but that would be believing a lie.  And I know a lot more change is coming.  I only pray that it is change for the better with others who love me for me and with the One who is Unchangeable.

I love lists!

I love lists! 

They help…

me feel good when I cross something off from the “to do’s” ;)

keep me organized

set priorities

visualize what I need to do

determine what I want

                  and so much more!

I have made a list for near everything:

personal goals                                     

professional goals

what I want and look for in a guy               

life bucket list (what I want to do or achieve before I die)

30 before 30 (30 things to do or achieve before I turn 30)

what to buy                          

things to do                          

places to go                         

people to see

                  and the list goes on!  :)

Yep, even people. 

Since I just moved to a new city and don’t know anyone, I have a clean slate.  I can be or do whatever I want, really.  No one knows me, so they can’t put a label on me.  I like that idea.  I also like the idea of keeping in touch with family and friends that I won’t be able to see on a regular basis anymore.  This is where the list comes into play.  I made a list of people whom I love and invested in and whom I want to keep the relationship going. 

New friends will come, and everyone’s lives are busy.  I mean, you make time for what and for whom you love, so there’s no real excuse in my book.  Yet, face-to-face time, one of the best kinds of quality time, is limited.  But no matter how it happens or when it happens, some relationships continue. 

With some friends, I talk to them regularly on the phone or know that I can drive a few hours and spend the day with them and even have a place to crash.  With others, it’s more like a monthly get together or a catch-up text conversation.  Each one is different and several have that awesome “it’s like no time has passed by” vibe. 

Just last night I was able to meet up with a friend, who I haven’t seen or talked to in a while it seems.  I just love her!  She is so passionate about God and what she’s doing to help share the good news in Asia.  Talking with her is always encouraging and challenging because we share about what we’re learning, what we’re currently going through, and what we need such as prayer requests.  It’s refreshing.

She made the list. :)

Neighborhood Walks

Neighborhood watch alert:  Two females in workout clothes spotted on the south side of Fort Worth …critiquing houses.

Yep, that’d be me and my roommate.  We like to walk the neighborhood and say exactly what we think about someone’s house and yard.  Nothing's off limits.  It’s good bonding time. 

If someone were to eavesdrop, they would hear one, two, or a ton of phrases like the following:

“That’s terrible!”

“I like their front door.”

“It needs a double-decker patio” (i.e. outside patio/porch on ground floor and on second floor)

“Ugh.” *shudder*

“I’m so confused.” 

“What is that?!”

“Enough with the ugly awnings!”
“I like that one.  I give it an A.”

“Whatever is happening here needs to go.”
“Too flat.”

“Hate the color.”

“It has potential…”

“If they put more into the landscape, it would be a nice-looking house.”

“This one is cute!  I like it.”

“Nice wrap-around porch.”

“Needs a bigger porch.”

“Eh, they made do with what they had to work with.”

“The roof is too pointy”

“Well, we know why that house isn’t selling.”

“They need to get rid of that!”

“I really like this one!  Great porch, good color, nice yard…” 

“I would live there.”

So, if you want an honest critique, call us.  We’d love tell you what we think.  We’ll tell you how to make your house or yard look better, more inviting, or cuter.  We’re obviously pros… but wouldn’t charge too much :)