Just That Kind of Friend

Tonight Chris and I had some of our good friends (Becca and Jarod) over for dinner and a movie. Before the evening festivities, Becca and I had a good heart to heart conversation (via text) about our friendship...

Becca: "FYI, I am not dressing up, I hope you are not ashamed to be my friend."

Ginny: "FYI, my house is dirty, hope you are not ashamed to be my friend. Oh, and I have paint in my hair that I'm not going to wash out."

Becca: "Thank you, I hate trying to have pretenses of perfection in friendship."

Construction Cones & Hotdogs

I almost didn't write tonight. Sometimes I want to blog about something, but I can't type as fast as I think, and I get frustrated at this predicament, so I would just assume not... but I decided to overcome this issue tonight, even though by the time you're done reading this, you may either 1) start to reconsider our friendship, or, 2) have me committed.

Friday morning approximately 4:40 in the Ante Meridiem, Chris comes in the room and says he has to take my car to work*, because his isn't starting. [*Hawker Beech has Chris' line on overtime; 10 hours days M-F + 8hr Saturdays, which means he leaves the house at about 4:20a]. As I'm trying to wake from my blissful sleep into the real world, I suggest that I take him to work so I'm not stuck at home all day. In my groggy state, I attempt to get presentable, trying to figure out which pieces of clothing are non-negotiables when leaving the house, and deciding to leave the bird and her nest in my hair... and off we go. The ride there was pretty uneventful, but on the way back I concluded that there are 3 reasons why I should not be awake and/or functioning before the sun is up.

Reason #1 - for some strange reason my stomach gets cranky when I wake it up too early. Not raging mad, but it just says "hey, you woke me up too early, and I'm not real happy 'bout that, so I'm just going to make you feel weird and icky". This is something that has always happened... and I don't know what to do to fix this issue.

Reason #2 - construction zones do not mix well with a "got woke up too early" Ginny and dark streets. Around Central and Hillside there is road construction and you merge from 4 lane traffic to 2-lane (if you're going west, you merge left into the center lane of the east-bounders... this is making perfect sense right? good). I didn't really notice this merge so I continue on into the (what I now know to be) "construction" part of the road... the whole time there were mental "red flags" that I didn't really pick up on. Case in point. There were two random construction cones kind of off to the right, and I though "oh, I need to go in between those, because that's what you do in construction zones, you go in between the cones", so I did. Then I saw another two kind of in the middle, so I go between those. I do this about four times, and drive over two heaping piles of black top before I realize that I'm probably not where I should be. At about this time, I see where I'm suppose to be on the road and get safely over. No construction cones were harmed in the making of this fool.

Reason #3 - the one and only thing I could think of on the way home (besides hoping that no one noticed my off-roading adventure) was how delicious a hot dog sounded. I wanted one. Bad. Real bad. I could feel the fluffy bun in my mouth and could taste the warm cow (or is it pig?), and I was salivating. I'm not one who usually goes for hot dogs, but this morning if you were to have put a prime rib, a big bowl of ice cream, and a hot dog in front of me... well... I think you can assume the outcome.

In the end I remedied all of these problems by coming home and sleeping for another three hours, woke up with a happy stomach, and no desire whatsoever for a hot dog.

"Are You Kidding Me?!"

Last Thursday and Friday I got to watch the two cutest nieces in the world :) Megan had to work a seminar-thingy, so her parents dropped Ava and Ellie at our house around 7:30, the girls went to bed about 8:30, so we didn't have time to start any adventures besides making a fort. Fort-making is my all-time favorite thing to do, and I'm pretty sure Ava didn't really care about the building process, but she liked getting in after construction was complete :) I slept with one eye open, waking every once in a while thinking "was that Ellie making noise?" I guess a small glimpse of motherhood? :) Friday, when the girls woke up, we all got in my bed and watched some cartoons and played for a bit before I went in to start some pancakes (Mickey Mouse style).

I guess I waited a little long because the bottomless pit we like to call Ellie was literally shaking she was so excited about the food. And I'm pretty sure she ate more than Ava and me put together... talk about the perfect metabolism to bottle and sell! My wonderful mom came over so I could shower. I kind of felt like a failure since I didn't get up before the girls and get ready for the day, but mom reminded me that I didn't grow into having two kids over 3 years, and that's why they arrive immobile and (usually) one at a time. Moving right along... the number one phrase I heard all day from Miss A was "are you KIDDING me!?", I die everytime she says that :) We went to Sedgwick County Park, and when we arrived, Ava in her most ecstatic voice says "oh my goodness! you made it to the park!! You're going to get a sticker when you get back to my house."
Here are a few thing I was reminded of throughout the day:
1. one-year olds will put ANYthing in their mouth
2. one-year olds are quick... and will eat dogfood if you take your eyes off them for 1.7 seconds
3. chocolate animal cookies might be the greatest snack ever
4. you can get a three year old excited about anything if you use the word "special"

Brasses, Strings, Woodwinds, & Percussion

This morning at Staff Prayer (I am blessed to work in a place that meets every Wednesday morning to pray together), I started thinking about the magnificent way that God orchestrates every single detail in my life. Nothing happens that is not part of His perfect composition. And He never messes up. Never accidentally cues the trombones when it's time for cellos.

Eight months ago when I was asked to cut my hours at work and solely work on the WISH side (where we do STD testing), and not on the PCC side anymore (pregnancy tests, sonos, etc), a few thoughts came to mind. Anxious about the smaller paycheck, but grateful for more hours to keep dog hair off the floor and milk in the fridge. Six months ago I found out I was pregnant with our first child. We were ecstatic. Five months ago I miscarried.

Thinking about myself working on the PCC side through everything that has happened, I'm not sure if I would still be in one piece (or have a job for that matter). Explanation. Every. single. day. a woman walks through the doors at the PCC suspecting pregnancy, positive that if she is, the only option is to "fix the problem" by ending the life of her child. This is unfathomable to me. I know that life is hard, and I know I'm blessed with a support system of family and friends that are there for me no matter how fast or hard I fall. But when someone is blessed with the gift of life but chooses to end their child's life on purpose... well... I'm not confident that I would have had the compassion that Christ asks of me.

So as I sit and think about my Sonata-for-a-life, I am incredibly thankful that I'm not the conductor. Peace washes over me as I rest in His sovereignty, knowing that there is no possible way in the whole world that I could mess up His masterpiece.

Recap of Summer 2009

Has it really been three months since I've posted? Is summer really over?? Usually I'm excited for fall and all that comes with it (leaves changing, fall decorations around the house, spice candles burning), but for some reason I wish summer could hang around a few more weeks.

We had such a great summer filled with trips to the lake, working on house projects, concerts, and family time :) I could go in great detail, but I think pictures are more fun :)

my "little" brother graduated from the police academy in June! :)  I'll never have to pay for a ticket if I get one! Kind of makes me want to speed just to get one... oh wait, never mind, I'm chicken.

Chris and Ginny at the Keith Urban / Jason Aldean concert in July :)

hello you talented guitar player also known as Keith Urban!

girls weekend at the lake! :) love these women!!

a few pics from my California trip...

sing with me "re-u-ni-ted and it fEEls so GOOD!"

beautiful wedding in CA!

Chris' mom's side of the family does a vacation at Grand Lake every other year; this year he and I went up a day early and stayed in this adorable little cabin :)

kind of forgot to take lots of pictures with the fam :/ this is the view from our lodge on Grand

On to house projects...

this is nothing special, but it used to be a "junk" shelf where tools and misc stuff would get tossed.  I finally cleared it off, painted it, and made it look presentable (it IS in our dining room for heaven's sake!)

half-bath when we bought the house...

 aaand complete!

another project checked off the list! :)  ...although I still need a black curtain of some sort; details, details :)

A quick update on Chris' status with the Police Dept... They aren't scheduling interviews with the Police Chief until October. At that interview they either give you a conditional offer, pending passing the academy, or they don't offer you the job. So Chris is pretty anxious for that step! They originally said September, but have pushed it back a month, and have also said they are not sure when they will start another academy. BUT! We are so thankful that he still has a job at Hawker, so it's not a "financially pressing" matter, just a "personally pressing" one for him ;)

Over the summer, I (Ginny) took a Music Appreciation class. As I said in a previous post, it was the only class that was standing between me and an Associates Degree. I went ahead and took it, passed, and got the piece of paper :) Now it sits so nicely on the storage shelves in the basement ;)

Whew! :)

Clearing of the Mind

I have so many random thoughts running through my head right now I just need to let them out, so this post is really for my own sanity as opposed to keeping you updated on our life :)

I feel as though I had a really productive day: had surprise birthday breakfast for the most awesome boss ever, took the dogs to Sg Co Park for a walk, cleaned up the yard, painted the (outside of the) back french doors, fresh coat of black spray paint on the iron railing, watched the Redwings dominate in game 1...

I'm really enjoying my glass of crystal light raspberry lemonade

I'm in the mood to bake something... or am I in the mood to eat something baked?  I'm not sure, so I am on the couch until I figure it out.

I don't think it was a compliment that some guy guessed that I played softball in high school (i didn't)...

I am itching to get on the water and wakeskate...

I'm a lot sad that Chris has to work tomorrow.  I kind of want to go to church, but I don't like going without him.

I'm excited to hang out with my fam tomorrow

I've decided I want to bake just to bake... so, bye.

April Showers Bring May... Showers

I can't believe May is almost over! I have to get out my calendar to remember what we've done the last few weeks, 'cause I KNOW we've been busy, but we have nothing to show for it :) Okay, I take that back, we had a garage sale the first weekend in May, and now I have an organized, de-cluttered basement to show for it! My mom and I manned (womanned??) the sale and sold almost everything! Success!!

May 5th Chris took the Wichita Police Department test and passed!! What a huge boost :) His first contact interview is next Tuesday (the 26th). I think this is just to make sure all of the neccessary paperwork is filled out. But as I've said, it's small step, but a step forward! :)

The first River Fest weekend (7th-10th) Chris played in the hockey tournament. Even though they lost all three games, he had a great time playing, and it just confirmed how much he wants to play in the Fall League at the Wichita Ice Center.

Oh spring... We may not be able to rely on you for wonderful sunny, spring-like weather, but without a doubt you will bring church league softball :) Chris is playing for the 28th year in a row. But he's only 27? Oh. Well it seems like he's been playing forever :) We both enjoy it though, and even though I'm not "officially" playing this year, I'm always available if they need a fill in.  And if I'm not filling in, I love keeping score because it gives me something to do while I watch :)

One of the many reasons May is my favorite month is because my birthday (and 95% of my friends birthdays :) fall in May! This year I asked for giftcards to Bed Bath and Beyond so I could get a new set of dishes. The dishes Chris and I have used the last 3 years are Big Lots $1 per piece specials. They fufilled their purpose but I was ready for something new. I sold that set in the garage sale but forgot to tell Chris until he opened the cabinet to get a bowl... Oops :)  No worries though, I have a small set I got for HS graduation, so he was able to eat his cereal :) All of that to say, I was able to get an 8-piece setting: dinner plate, salad plate, and bowl (had to buy them individually) thanks to generous gift-card-givers, and wonderful family/friends who gave me their BB&B coupons (I used 10 and saved $50!!). Now I'm wondering if I should get a few more and make it 12 settings? We'll see :) I also bought some salad plates in the same line but solid brown and solid light blue (we use small plates a lot :)

My new dishes just make me really happy :) I love making pretty food to put on a pretty plate!

Last week I went and talked to an advisor at Buter CCC.  I've been thinking that surely my 65+ credits have got me CLOSE to some sort of piece of paper! :)  And I was correct!  I just need a Music (or Art or Theater) Appreciation class and I'll have an Associates in Science Fine Arts.   Now this is nothing to most people, but I feel good that all of my "I don't know what I want to major in" classes have amounted to something!  I'm looking in to taking a summer class (especially since it's about 5 weeks and the Fall class is 3ish months), but we'll see if that all works out.

As I look ahead on the calendar it looks like we'll have a busy, but not crazy summer :)  So as an ode to summer, here is a small compilation of why I love summer :)

Top Ten Reasons Ginny Love Summer:

1.  sunburns that turn into tans

2.  bodies of water (it can be the kiddie pool in the back for all I care)

3.  driving with the windows down and the AC on with country music blaring (no, not economical, but it feels great)

4.  going barefoot

5.  wakeskating

6.  sunflower seeds (I just can't get into sunflower seeds while I'm bundled up in layers, it just ain't natural)

7.  lightning bugs

8.  one word. tornados.

9. the sound of secadas (ONLY if they stay away from me.  the one and only bug that would confine me to my house if it were on my porch)

10.  going to "the lake" (which is what we call the cabin my grandparents have on a small private lake) with the family.  it's been in the family for 27 years :)