Last night, a small handful of my girls asked me if I’d like to go watch the sunset with them. I said yes and we piled into a couple of cars and headed up the side of a mountain.

Cousin Cate came along, but of course.

Anna was there, too. She’s going home for the summer today unless I figure out a way to keep her here, though I’m not sure how her mom would feel about that.

Honour (whose real name is Anna but we get the two confused and, anyway, when I say her name with my fake British accent, it comes out as Honour and we all like that better) was a part of the group, too.

Pookie came too, but she didn’t bring that stuffed lion.

Joy was there, too. She actually said I had to come on the sunset trip as payment for having posted a video of her sleeping on the blog yesterday. Blackmail.

Our friend Harrison came, too, and took some photos of his own. Harrison uses a flash when he shoots; I don’t. I can’t wait to see how his pictures turned out.

But sometimes not using a flash pays off, especially when you capture Cate from a distance.

In all of last week’s yuckiness, I didn’t take the time to tell you about my final event with my college girls. To be honest, I was dreading the little get-together because it, of course, marked the end of what may very well be one of my favorite aspects of Starlite — my relationship with the college-aged girls who have led our programs (these girls are, of course, joined by a TON of fantastic college-aged volunteers to help “(wo)man” the programs we do for the kids).

A couple of people helped make sure our trip would be one to remember and, because of their generosity, our girls got to have a fantastic day in downtown Chattanooga! We were guests at several different places including a local creative museum, the IMAX theatre and my personal favorite… THE AQUARIUM!

We split up to make sure we all got to enjoy our favorite places and it should come to no surprise to you that the other two “chaperones” of the girl, Katie and Cousin Cate, opted to join my group going to the aquarium. Katie got a little tired of me taking a bunch of pictures of her and decided to turn the tables a bit:

We got to enjoy a fun dinner downtown before heading over to IMAX to watch a movie about various creatures under the sea which, as you can imagine, made me want to basically squeal like a little girl (for the record, I didn’t, but I’m hoping that none of my college girls leave a comment telling you how excited I got as the movie began — it’s a wee bit embarrassing, honestly). We then headed to our downtown hotel, another generous gift from a donor who wanted to bless our girls. Here’s Lizy, one of our high school program directors, with her “suitcase.”

That’s right: she packed everything she needed for our overnight stay in a child-sized Buzz Lightyear backpack. Oh, but that wasn’t even the weirdest thing that came with us to the hotel; check out the “stuffed animal” that Pookie, one of our middle school program directors, brought with her:

I guess there are just some things you really can’t leave home without.

I think I may have mentioned this a few billion times a time or two, but I love — as in L-O-V-E — staying in hotels. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to do in life and? Staying with a bunch of my college girls with Katie and Cate around, too? PERFECTION.

Our rooms were joined together so we all piled onto a couple of the beds (and the floor AND every available chair in the room) and spent our final time together. We gave Katie a little private “wedding shower” which I unfortunately have no photos of which I can share publicly mainly because of the nature of the gifts Cate chose to give her (okay, I might have given a little wild one as well).

Afterwards we spent some time talking about what God has done in Starlite over the last few years as well as how the “ending” process has gone for us. I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see the paradox between our sadness that a season is coming to an end and yet see how everyone in the room all had a peace that we’re doing what God wants us to do. After we chatted for a bit, I took the opportunity to address each of my college girls individually in front of the rest of the group but that’s all I can say about that or I’ll start crying all over again.

Everyone in my room woke up at a reasonable time the next morning, including Cousin Cate who hopped into the bed I was sharing with Katie to finish her make-up. She’s going to kill me for posting this photo, but I just had to because CAN ANYONE ELSE EXPLAIN HOW SHE CAN BE SO PRETTY SO EARLY IN THE MORNING?

After awhile it became apparent that one of us would need to wake up the girls in the connecting room since they weren’t getting out of bed on their own. I was obviously the one left with this task because no one else dared do it I like living on the edge. As you’ll see in the following video clip (OH YES, I RISKED MY LIFE TO VIDEO THIS FOR YOU), no one has a problem getting out of bed except for our little friend Joy, one of our middle school program directors.

Let’s just say that, early in the morning, Joy doesn’t exactly live up to her name. I would highly suggest that you turn up the volume when it gets to the part where I begin singing the “good morning song” to Joy because I wouldn’t want you to miss her telling me that she’s going to hit me while I claim that she doesn’t really mean that.

Also, the lion makes an appearance as well. In other words, enjoy.

A few weeks ago a friend asked me what my all-time favorite book was — like favorite, favorite. Here’s what I emailed back to him:

“I actually don’t know the name of my favorite book — how sad is that?  I read it in 8th grade and fell in love with it, but had to return it to the library.  When I went back to check it out again, I was never able to find it.  It was about a woman being pursued by this guy; it followed their meeting, dating, engagement, wedding, etc.  It was the first time I had ever seen an example of how a man should treat a woman; I’ve never forgotten the book and hate that I don’t even know where to begin to find it.”

When I sent that email, I thought of how many times I’ve tried to find the book over the last 10 years, each time searching for it in vain.  Almost as an afterthought, I actually prayed “God, I wish You’d show me where that book is.”  I honestly haven’t thought about it since then; I mean, after all I haven’t been able to find it in 10 years.

Right before I left the office tonight, I happened to see a name on someone’s Facebook profile and thought it sounded familiar.  I did a Google search and learned that the woman, Grace Livingston Hill, was an author.  I figured that I must have read something of hers if the name seemed familiar so I casually glanced through the Google results, stopping at a title that, for some reason, seemed awfully familiar.

It was, of course, my book.  A quick call to the library near my house confirmed that they did have a copy of the book, written in 1924.  I literally raced over there, ran to the fiction section and found the book.  I couldn’t believe that after 10 years of wondering what that favorite book of mine was and finally giving up on ever finding it, I was finally holding it in my hands.

This story probably won’t mean anything to anyone else, but that’s okay — it’s not really meant for anyone else.  It’s just a little reminder to me for later on, a gentle hint that the things that are important to me are still important to Him.

That I’m still important to Him.

Y’all.

So, I’ve never actually met Jenn but I know her sweet mama because she was in charge of my Esther Bible study. She told me about Jenn’s blog, Jenn knew my blog and we’ve been blog friends ever since. Jenn is working in youth ministry and posted a video her youth group is using as advertisement for their upcoming girls’ overnighter. Being somebody who knows all about “girl events” I almost fell out of my chair when I watched this. Please, please go watch it and MAKE SURE YOU STAY UNTIL THE PART WHERE THEY START WATCHING THE NOTEBOOK.

I’m sorry but I had to make sure you understood the importance of watching until that part.

Because? That part? By far, the best part of the entire video (starts at 2:25).

Go. Go now. Trust me, you’ll thank me after you see it.

Well good Monday morning, my darlings.

My weekend was absolutely, incredibly and, quite frankly, perfectly boring.  I had plans to go see a movie with some friends on Friday night but ended up having a little work-related incident to deal with that kept me at ye olde laptop until a little after midnight, effectively ending any movie theater plans.

I slept in a bit on Saturday before attempting to tackle the laundry mountain that is currently residing on my living room floor as well as the Great Kitchen Disaster of ’09.  Here is a very serious question: if I can’t manage to keep my house clean whilst it’s only myself and two wee little puppies living in it, how in the world will I do such a thing when I have an actual family?  No, really. I want your answers to this perplexing question, preferably in the comment section below.

Sometime in the afternoon I realized that I hadn’t eaten dinner the night before, nor breakfast or lunch that day and yet was still not hungry.  I ended up taking a nap and woke up three hours later to a little fever and lethargy and it was at that moment I diagnosed myself with HELLO, I AM JUST EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY WORN OUT SYNDROME and decided to basically lay in bed the rest of the night.  I fell asleep early and — are you ready for this? — slept 13 hours without waking up once.

I’m not sure, but I almost think it was like my body was saying HEY, SLEEP! or something crazy like that.

Church had already been in session for 45 minutes when I woke up on Sunday so I decided to attend the late service at Bedside Baptist.  Pastor Pillow gave an inspiring sermon whilst Sister Sheets sang a lovely solo during the offertory.  There was no altar call at the end, but don’t think I didn’t pray a prayer of repentance for missing real church right there from my bed pew.

Sunday afternoon involved me attempting to wrangle my ridiculous vacuum cleaner, do enough laundry to have something to wear to work this week and write a handwritten (front AND back!) four page letter to a friend while laying on my bedroom floor beside my window so I could listen to the rain.  I also, at various points in the day, managed to talk to a friend from Phoenix, another from Memphis and, lastly, Cousin Cate.  One of these conversations was about a boy but I’ll let you guess which convo that was.

All in all?  Lazy weekend which was exactly what I needed seeing as I have a very… challenging week ‘o work ahead of me (think 60-70 hours in six days) as well as trying to squeeze in extra last-minute time with Katie before she graduates.

Speaking of our little soon-to-be-college-graduate Katie, I just so happen to be friends on Facebook with her future mother-in-law who is seriously one of the sweetest women ever.  Eric and Katie went home for a quick visit this weekend and, mere hours after they left, the future mother-in-law posted the following picture on Facebook:

Well, if you only had five days ’til graduation and 41 ’til you were married, I guess you’d be tired, too.

My little Katie is graduating from college (and therefore leaving town) in six days, something I’ve avoided writing about because it makes me so sad.  It’s hard to lose your friends, even if you’re losing them to something as happy as marriage.

– — –

Earlier today –

Text from me to Katie: “I watched that blog video of us and it made me want to cry.”

Katie to me: “I actually read your blog today and cried.”

Me to Katie: “Oh no!  Why?”

Katie to me: “Because I realized that after {next} Sunday I would actually have to start reading that thing.”

I’m reading a book called { Herself } by Madeleine L’Engle and it is fantastic (it looks to be sold out on almost every website I can find… only finding new copies starting at $129.00 — what?!? I got mine for $4.00!). I’m sending it to a friend who I’m certain will enjoy it and haven’t been able to keep myself from scribbling little notes in the margins and underlining certain passages that I want my friend to particuarily see.  And, since you’re my friend, too, I wanted you to read a bit of what Miss Madeleine has to say so far (all emphasis’ mine):

“It is interesting to note how many artists have had physical problems to overcome, deformities, lameness, terrible loneliness… The unending paradox is that we do learn from pain.”

“Wounds.  By his wounds we are healed.  But they are our wounds, too; and until we have been healed we do not know what wholeness is.”

“… the brain, when it is disengaged from the heart, turns vicious… the heart, when it is disengaged from the brain, can become sentimental and untruthful.”

You can expect to see many, many more quotes from this book seeing as I’ve got a little over 300 pages of it left to read (!!!).

(P.S. – I just have to tell you this: I’m writing this from bed and, as usual, Cuddles has his itty bitty head lying on the side of the laptop keyboard, fast asleep while I type away to you.  Isn’t that just darling?  I have decided to give up on my fear of mentioning the puppies often and bothering the non-pet people — and yes, I used to be you! — and just write about what I love, which is certainly those two puppies.  I’m so sorry, non-pet people.  Please stay.  Please?)

There’s a security officer at “the other job I never blog about” that has been a friend of mine for awhile now. We’re separated in age by a good 50 years, but that’s never hindered our friendship. He watches out for me, stopping by my office every so often to make sure I’m doing alright in life and to see if I’ve found myself a man yet (his words, not mine). He even escorts me to my car occasionally, radioing in to dispatch that he’s “with the pretty, young girl” while I blush.

We were talking earlier today about how he’s getting ready to celebrate being married to the same woman for 45 years. I said something about that being wonderful and he told me that he’d do it all over again if it meant he’d get to spend those years with her again. He told me about meeting her when he was young and how he’s never looked back while I quietly smiled. He ended his story by saying “Your boy won’t believe he’s found a girl as sweet as you.”

I was still thinking about what he said as I walked home from work tonight, just a girl wearing her wellies and carrying a matching umbrella. And I stopped at the secret garden near my house, sat on the bench underneath the ivy and just spent some time thinking about how I never want to lose that sweetness that comes with being a single girl with love in her heart for someone she hasn’t even met yet.

P.S. – I wore my matching black and white polka dot ribbon as a wee little headband, too!

Let’s try to give it a go today.

1. Is the last person you kissed more than a year older than you?

Yes, three years older. Cradle robber. Kidding.

2. Last December, what was your love life like?

The way it was supposed to be at that time: dormant.

3. Are you afraid to grow up?

Not afraid, necessarily. I think I’m doing okay so far. Question: can you still wear wellies even when you’re grown up? I need to know the answer to that before I can really answer this question.

4. Does seeing couples in love make you mad?

No, silly!

5. Do you want to have children?

Yes, but I’m very, very nervous about actually being a parent.

6. Think of the last person who said I love you. Do you think they meant it?

It was my little Katie, so yes. She always means it.

7. Plans for Saturday?

Errands, chores, etc. A walk to get some lemonade downtown.

8. What’s the most important part of a relationship in your opinion?

Realizing that love is a feeling but more often it’s a choice.

9. If you could pack up and move away right now, would you?

Yes. In a heartbeat. The idea of a brand new life really appeals to me right now.

10. Last serious phone conversation was with…

Katie.

11. Does someone have a crush on you?

Maybe? I have a difficult time reading boys’ signals; I prefer directness.

12. Was your New Years enjoyable?

Yes! I was alone, but it was a good one.

13. Favorite place to get kissed?

I’ll take “place” as meaning location. Therefore: aquarium. What can I say? A girl has to have dreams.

14. Do you sleep with your door open or closed?

Not only closed — locked, too.

15. Think you will be in a relationship three months from now?

I would say there’s a definite chance of it, but a lot could change in three months.

16. Is it more common for you to follow your heart or your mind?

Usually my heart. Sometimes it’s the wrong choice.

17. Do you take compliments well?

No, but I’m working on it. Learning to say “Why, thank you!”

18. Who’d you last tell a secret to?

Cate, but of course.

19. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

This past Sunday night. Each and every Sunday night. One of my favorite parts of my week.

20. Do you want to get married?

Does Shamu need water to survive?