Family. Sex. Love. Death. Betrayal. Seclusion. Restoration. All of these words come to mind when I think about the book. If you've got some time, give it a whirl.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Peachtree Road
I'm a fairly quick reader and usually breeze through books. Not so with this one. Last night I finished Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons. With small print and over 560 pages, it took me a while. For me, it started out a bit slow, but once I got into it, I really loved it. I guess you could say its historical fiction about Buckhead and centers around one man: Shep. I absolutely fell in love with Shep's character.
Family. Sex. Love. Death. Betrayal. Seclusion. Restoration. All of these words come to mind when I think about the book. If you've got some time, give it a whirl.
Family. Sex. Love. Death. Betrayal. Seclusion. Restoration. All of these words come to mind when I think about the book. If you've got some time, give it a whirl.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Brussel Sprouts
So I've been wanting to try these little guys for a while. Last night was the night, and I have to say, they were delicious. I basically used this Barefoot recipe:
- 1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- I added balsamic vinegar
Monday, April 26, 2010
Good things in life
I recently got some news that made me sad and disappointed. Every thing's fine, but sometimes life throws you a curve ball that takes more than a few minutes to digest. I'm still digesting. In the mean time, I wanted to remember the things I've been blessed with over the past few days:
- Two sweet phone calls Friday afternoon.
- Beautiful beach house that I got to stay in Saturday night.
- Cold beer.
- People that make me laugh.
- Playing Jenga.
- Delicious medium rare burger with guacamole on it.
- Awesome small group Sunday morning.
- Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ -- even when I don't want to hear it...because He died for me, I am precious in His sight, He calls me beloved, He conquered death on my behalf...there is nothing to fear and I have hope. It can't get any better than that.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Texts
Last night...
Me: 5th wheel at a Christian concert. My life is awesome.
Courtney: I'm out with my parents. Equally cool.
Me: At least you have booze and your parents don't hold hands in public.
Later on...
Courtney: A random guy bought mom a beer. The bartender just sent it over. Top that.
Me: Wow. Did you tell them about when we got sausage sent over at the Huddle House?
Me: 5th wheel at a Christian concert. My life is awesome.
Courtney: I'm out with my parents. Equally cool.
Me: At least you have booze and your parents don't hold hands in public.
Later on...
Courtney: A random guy bought mom a beer. The bartender just sent it over. Top that.
Me: Wow. Did you tell them about when we got sausage sent over at the Huddle House?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
LJ
I'm not sure what I'd like to say today. I wish things had turned out differently. But they didn't. Four years today ago a friend of mine was taken off life support. Writing is theraputic so I'm going to share the story. More for me than anything else.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Some good friends, Katie and Jake were having an engagement party in Greenville, SC. John and Lauren changed at our office and followed one another to Greenville. I left after work and drove to Presbyterian College to stopped off at my friend Leigh's townhouse to change clothes; we were both in awful moods. I left Leigh's and headed to the party. On my way, I saw the worst wreck I have ever seen (still, to this day). There was a helicopter on the highway - a first for my eyes. I remember praying for the family and friends of those involved because I knew the person in the smushed up car would not survive. I made it to the party (after getting lost and calling John for help several times). Katie told me her family saw the same wreck I did and her sister burst into tears when she saw it.
Good food and wine and the bad mood subsided. I remember John wondering where Lauren was and why she hadn't yet arrived. They left at the same time, but she wasn't there yet. I told him that she probably got side-tracked and stopped off at Wal-Mart or the mall or something. Her phone went to voicemail. Katie asked me if she thought the wreck could be LJ, but I said no, the car was on the other side of the highway from how Lauren would be traveling. Eventually, the party wound down and I drove to Spartanburg to stay with Courtney for the night. It was pouring down rain: the kind where you can barely see two feet in front of you...but eventually I made it.
Later that night I got a text message from Ryan saying that Lauren had been in a horrible wreck. I called John and he told me the wreck I'd see was in fact Lauren. I don't think I can describe that feeling. Courtney offered to drive me to the hospital, but while deciding I fell asleep.
April 22, 2006
The next morning I awoke to phone calls with updates on Lauren. Again, Courtney offered to drive me, but for some reason I kept falling back asleep. Then my boss called and asked if I'd let other people in our department know. I awoke. I called co-workers and close friends and asked them to pray. Katie told me her oxygen levels were up and doing really well and things were looking great. How could they not be? I asked myself. Lauren Jones was the most resilient person I knew; of course she'd bounce right back from this. A while later I got another call from Katie. This time was quite different. She told me things had taken a turn, she wasn't going to make it, and I needed to come say goodbye. Courtney wrote directions (pre GPS era). While she was doing so, I called John just to confirm Katie was right - it wasn't until then that I believed she wouldn't make it. I realized I left my bra in Clinton at Leigh's. I wore my favorite, super old Abercrombie jeans, red Crocs, yellow t-shirt that Krissie and Aimee got me at Goodwill, and a sports bra of Courtney's. Again, it was raining as I drove to Greenville Memorial. Telling my boss, Phyllis, was the hardest person: in so many ways, their personalities mirrored each other.
I saw the wreck with my own eyes, and knew it would be damn-near impossible to live though, but it wasn't until I saw Lauren in the ICU that it was real to me. She, being a slender runner, size 0, was the same person, but all puffed up. Eery. And of course she had just dyed her hair: no longer was it light brown. She donned a reddish/orange-y tent that looked a smidge purple under the hospital's florescent lights. John, Jenn, Marshall, and I saw her together and Marshall prayed over her, over us. Lots of people came to the hospital and there was a deep rooted joy in and amongst the sorrow. They waited for her sister and brother-in-law to fly in from Texas to pull her off life support.
The days that followed are still vivid. I remember seeing so much love (especially from Leigh at Kaye's wedding), so much hope, so much sadness, so much growing up. This was the first person I'd lost that was in my everyday world. We worked together, were in Bible study together, and had so many mutual friends. Lauren was full of love and life. She was easily excitable and loved people. She was a giver and generous. She had lots of sass. I miss her. Sometimes death hurts a lot -- there have been times when it felt like the world was caving in on my chest from the longing to have one more opportunity with her. I think the words to "In Christ Alone" are beautiful but loathe singing that song because it reminds me of her funeral. I know that Lauren Marie Jones is rejoicing and dancing around in heaven with our Lord, for "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," (Psalm 116:15), and I can't wait to see her when I, too, meet our maker face to face.
Time does a lot of healing and restoring. But (so far) on this day, I am always a bit sad as I remember Lauren. And that's ok with me.
It seems like yesterday; it seems like a million miles away.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Some good friends, Katie and Jake were having an engagement party in Greenville, SC. John and Lauren changed at our office and followed one another to Greenville. I left after work and drove to Presbyterian College to stopped off at my friend Leigh's townhouse to change clothes; we were both in awful moods. I left Leigh's and headed to the party. On my way, I saw the worst wreck I have ever seen (still, to this day). There was a helicopter on the highway - a first for my eyes. I remember praying for the family and friends of those involved because I knew the person in the smushed up car would not survive. I made it to the party (after getting lost and calling John for help several times). Katie told me her family saw the same wreck I did and her sister burst into tears when she saw it.
Good food and wine and the bad mood subsided. I remember John wondering where Lauren was and why she hadn't yet arrived. They left at the same time, but she wasn't there yet. I told him that she probably got side-tracked and stopped off at Wal-Mart or the mall or something. Her phone went to voicemail. Katie asked me if she thought the wreck could be LJ, but I said no, the car was on the other side of the highway from how Lauren would be traveling. Eventually, the party wound down and I drove to Spartanburg to stay with Courtney for the night. It was pouring down rain: the kind where you can barely see two feet in front of you...but eventually I made it.
Later that night I got a text message from Ryan saying that Lauren had been in a horrible wreck. I called John and he told me the wreck I'd see was in fact Lauren. I don't think I can describe that feeling. Courtney offered to drive me to the hospital, but while deciding I fell asleep.
April 22, 2006
The next morning I awoke to phone calls with updates on Lauren. Again, Courtney offered to drive me, but for some reason I kept falling back asleep. Then my boss called and asked if I'd let other people in our department know. I awoke. I called co-workers and close friends and asked them to pray. Katie told me her oxygen levels were up and doing really well and things were looking great. How could they not be? I asked myself. Lauren Jones was the most resilient person I knew; of course she'd bounce right back from this. A while later I got another call from Katie. This time was quite different. She told me things had taken a turn, she wasn't going to make it, and I needed to come say goodbye. Courtney wrote directions (pre GPS era). While she was doing so, I called John just to confirm Katie was right - it wasn't until then that I believed she wouldn't make it. I realized I left my bra in Clinton at Leigh's. I wore my favorite, super old Abercrombie jeans, red Crocs, yellow t-shirt that Krissie and Aimee got me at Goodwill, and a sports bra of Courtney's. Again, it was raining as I drove to Greenville Memorial. Telling my boss, Phyllis, was the hardest person: in so many ways, their personalities mirrored each other.
I saw the wreck with my own eyes, and knew it would be damn-near impossible to live though, but it wasn't until I saw Lauren in the ICU that it was real to me. She, being a slender runner, size 0, was the same person, but all puffed up. Eery. And of course she had just dyed her hair: no longer was it light brown. She donned a reddish/orange-y tent that looked a smidge purple under the hospital's florescent lights. John, Jenn, Marshall, and I saw her together and Marshall prayed over her, over us. Lots of people came to the hospital and there was a deep rooted joy in and amongst the sorrow. They waited for her sister and brother-in-law to fly in from Texas to pull her off life support.
The days that followed are still vivid. I remember seeing so much love (especially from Leigh at Kaye's wedding), so much hope, so much sadness, so much growing up. This was the first person I'd lost that was in my everyday world. We worked together, were in Bible study together, and had so many mutual friends. Lauren was full of love and life. She was easily excitable and loved people. She was a giver and generous. She had lots of sass. I miss her. Sometimes death hurts a lot -- there have been times when it felt like the world was caving in on my chest from the longing to have one more opportunity with her. I think the words to "In Christ Alone" are beautiful but loathe singing that song because it reminds me of her funeral. I know that Lauren Marie Jones is rejoicing and dancing around in heaven with our Lord, for "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," (Psalm 116:15), and I can't wait to see her when I, too, meet our maker face to face.
Time does a lot of healing and restoring. But (so far) on this day, I am always a bit sad as I remember Lauren. And that's ok with me.
It seems like yesterday; it seems like a million miles away.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Now You See It...Now You Don't!
A few weeks ago my friend Weston and his friend Connor were in town. We enjoyed a nice meal of home-cooked frogmore stew Friday night. So good! Saturday we headed to the beach. To say it was windy, would be an understatement. We hid behind a wall and were quasi protected. Eventually, I had the bright idea to move behind the dunes. I knew the spot because Nicole and I spent ample time there when Jenn got engaged. It was perfect: hidden behind dunes so no wind...just soaking up the warmth and rays.
I noticed that Connor had a rather large amount of back hair. Me not being one to keep things to myself, we had the following conversation:
Me: Connor, you have a good bit of back hair.
When we got home, we went to work on his back. It took us 2 rounds to get all of the hair and I made sure to go "easy" around his neck and shoulders to keep the look natural. Connor was such a good sport!
I noticed that Connor had a rather large amount of back hair. Me not being one to keep things to myself, we had the following conversation:
Me: Connor, you have a good bit of back hair.
Connor: Yeah, I guess.
Me: I have a friend, Tyler, and his mom used to shave his back hair when we were in college. He's married now...so I guess his wife does it?
Connor: Hmmm...
Me: If you want, we could Veet it. It doesn't hurt and it takes it off.
Connor: Ok.
Me (thinking): That was too easy!
When we got home, we went to work on his back. It took us 2 rounds to get all of the hair and I made sure to go "easy" around his neck and shoulders to keep the look natural. Connor was such a good sport!
When were done I said, "Connor, its not that people will notice. Its what they won't notice!"
BEFORE
AFTER
Apparently his dad Nair'd the next day!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Blind Date
No, I'm not going on one any time soon (that I know of), but I just a fabulous book about them. A Year of Blind Dates by Megan Carson. I went to college with Megan's sister-in-law and have been excited to read this book since I first heard about it. I'm also impressed that she's been on enough blind dates (or dates at all) in a year to write a book about them!
Last week I received this book in the mail. A signed copy no less! It was such a fun surprise; thanks, Frances! I started the book last Thursday, finished it Friday, and mailed it to a friend to read yesterday. Single or not, Megan's tales of dating are quite humorous and worth reading.
On a serious note, Megan reminded me that (1) dating is hard and (2) if you're looking for a mate, it is in God's hands.
Oh, and her blog is fabulous, too! http://megancarson.com/
On a serious note, Megan reminded me that (1) dating is hard and (2) if you're looking for a mate, it is in God's hands.
Oh, and her blog is fabulous, too! http://megancarson.com/
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