Happy Little Trees

This post is basically just a letter to myself. But, if you would like, feel free to address it to yourself as well.

Dear Beth,

I love you. I really do. I know you workout and try not to ingest the illegal amounts of cookie dough you would like. I've seen how you've turned your head when passing by Sprinkles. I heard you use the word, "skinny" before ordering many of your favorite Starbucks drinks when I know you hate artificial sweetners. I've also noticed how you've attempted to eat more fruits and veggies this year.

Let's not ruin this.

The average American can gain between 7-100 lbs during the holidays (figures may or may not be accurate). Do not be a statistic.

What are the "harmless" things that can cause this to happen to you?

• Sugar cookies decorated to be cute little snowman and Christmas trees.

• Gravy. And more gravy.

• Pies. Flaky amazing pies.
  

• Chocolate in so many forms I can't fathom them all at this time.

• Stuffing. Pay attention to the name of the game for this one. Stuffing is for Teddy Bears only!

• Peanut butter fudge. Fudge makes pudge.

And the list goes on...

How could anyone possibly pass this test?! It seems impossible, but, Beth, you will be okay. I suppose the key is moderation. Sample a little here. A litte there. Do not leave yourself in a room alone with any of the above items!

And if you blow it--which you might--I still love you. The treadmill will always be there.

Beth, Happy Holidays! Happy Thanksgiving! And Merry Christmas!

Love,
Yourself

I love Central Market. I really do. I have friends dispersed in every department. It's like a living example of the Sesame Street song "These Are the People in Your Neighborhood."

But something new has made it's way to Houston: Trader Joe's.

I first discovered Trader Joe's in California. It was small, but bustling with food activity. That was about 15 years ago, and then, I didn't really have a grasp on organic or specialty foods. I had just left college where my diet consisted of children's breakfast cereals and Kraft macaroni and cheese.

My friends in other states have shared stories of Trader Joe's that have wet my appetite for the store over the years. But, Trader Joe's couldn't find it's way to Houston. I had heard rumors for years it was coming. And now, it's finally here!

I decided to fight the crowd, and visit the store opening weekend. I went late on a Saturday thinking that everyone else would be out doing something besides going to a grocery store. I was wrong. Everyone and their grandmother was there. I carried a small basket and basically had to carry it on my head in order to maneuver through the crowd. I hadn't seen crowds like that since Cabbage Patch Dolls went for sale at K-Mart.

Items disappeared off the shelves. I found myself wanting to get my hands on anything I could. I grabbed some random items and waited patiently in the velvet roped line for about 20 minutes or so. It was so worth it.

My visits back have been kind of the same shopping method: random. I don't really have a flow to my shopping routine for the store as of yet. I usually know the products I like best from certain stores and can easily make a plan of attack and exit. Trader Joe's is still new to me--and every thing seems like a new product--a dangerous situation for a foodie!

I will admit, I miss my peeps at Central Market. I know that Marvin in the produce section will ask me where I've been. He'll be upset that he hasn't gotten to hear about my new boyfriend. And he'll probably be able to tell me the last time he saw me in the store.

I'm just checking this Trader Joe's thing out. I'll still be loyal to Central Market. But I do feel a bit like a traitor. Sorry, CM!

I don't think I'm getting the new iPhone 5. I don't really need it. I am eligible for an upgrade, but my iPhone 4 is still very handy dandy. So far, it's in one piece. Somehow, I've managed to care for it better than my iPhone 3GS. It had all kind of bumps and scars. My iPhone 4 still functions fine and looks rather new.

I got to see a real, live iPhone 5 yesterday. The screen is bit longer, as well as the phone. It does have nice brushed metal on the back. But I don't see anything that will improve my quality of life or those around me.

My coworker has said the biggest difference is the speed. I said, "So the only major improvement is the speed?"

He replied, "Yes. It's fast."

I said, "And that's it?"

He replied again, "It's really fast."

I can live at a slower pace. I'm still not convinced.

On the elevator leaving work on Friday, I found myself encapsulated with one other stranger. She was an African American woman possibly in her early 40s wearing a patterned work dress and staring blankly at the buttons on the right side of the elevator as I stood on the left with a mirrored appearance. We briefly made eye contact, and then she spoke.

"It's gonna be hard to say goodbye to my friend, the iPhone 4," she was gazing into the screen as she spoke loud enough to include me in the moment. Then she became more antimated and busted out saying, "But it's okay, because I'm getting an iPhone 5!" She did a bit of a quick stationary dance to emphasize her excitement.

As we walked off the elevator, our conversation continued, "Yes, it's strange the attachment we have to those phones."

She quickly replied, "Oh, they have adapters! I'm going to have to buy several--one for my car, for work, for home. They're not too expensive."

I just nodded. She was too in the moment of the iPhone 5 high to understand what I meant.

I got to be a rep for YoungLife this week for the Reagan High School open house. I was kind of glad I had prepped myself with some answers about what YoungLife was before I went. (I actually read up on it on Wikipedia)

I throw around the phrase "YoungLife" on a daily basis. Sometimes things that are really familiar can be hard to break down in words, so the Wikipedia entry was helpful to be able to communicate to parents and students the joy, laughter, craziness, and friends that YoungLife represents in my mind.

I love YoungLife. I was officially introduced to it way back in 1998 when my roommate, Brenda, shared with me the purpose of her job. She was on staff with YoungLife. Many of her days consisted of meeting teens at the high school for breakfast, going to high school football games, and coming up with crazy costumes.

I was always jealous of her schedule of fun compared to my schedule of "blah" being a first year elementary school teacher. Eventually, I joined in the YoungLife fun as a volunteer. The people I served with in that ministry are forever dear to my heart. It seemed like a ministry made for me. Loving Jesus and loving to laugh--my loves.

While volunteering in North Carolina, I had heard legendary stories about "Urban YoungLife." These tales were about kids that were from huge cities and included rumors of city craziness that the suburban life could never imagine. In my wildest imagination (and I have a good one), I could not envision, that I would one day be an Urban YoungLife leader. For starters, I was missing the "urban" part.

After settling in for a few years with Houston as my new home, YoungLife found me again. It has been a beautiful and amazing journey of getting to know the dynamic life of Urban teens. I am so blessed by my friendships with them and how they help me to keep discovering a deeper love and continual need of Christ and of community.

What is YoungLife? YoungLife to my besties may mean that I can't hang with them because I'm being a teenager--which can be a very busy lifestyle! But if I rattled off the answers brainstorming in my mind -- it's dancing, laughing, singing, sometimes crying, messy-games, funny faces, funny phrases, teenagers, volunteers, discovery, friendship, camping, hiking, coffee-time, pizza --and it's lots and lots of love.

I have a new nephew. A GREAT nephew! Eeeck!! How old am I? Well, I will say, that my brother (the grandfather) had children young, and my niece (the mother) is also young, so maybe I'm not that old. They're young. I'm just medium. (That makes me feel better.)

When I was in high school, I deemed myself "Beth the Great." I don't know why, but I would frequently sign my name as such. I made have taken it from the Judy Blume book, Sheila the Great. But now, I really am a "great." 

I love being an aunt. I became an aunt for the first time at age 15, and it forever changed my life. I fell in love immediately with each niece and nephew that God brought into my life via my brother and sister. They are full of fun and any time I spend with them, I try to soak it up.

I love the people they are growing to be. It's funny to see bits of my smile or haircolor or silliness in them. And it's even sweeter to see bits of God overflowing in them as they love those around them and figure out their places in this world.

I haven't got to meet the new baby, my great nephew, in person, but via social media he is becoming known in the world. He must know that the competition on social media sites for baby pics is pretty competitive these days, so he's already taken up smiling! He was doing this before he is a week old. He is already advanced. (pic below courtesy of a family member via Facebook)

Dear Baby Finn,
I pray that you grow wise and strong. I pray you would have a blessed childhood and that the smile sneaking up on your face would be a precursor to the joy in your heart that will be with your all the days of your life. Remember that the joy of the Lord is your strength! Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind.
I welcome you, Baby Finn, to our family! We are a funny group that love God, life, friends, and each other with great fervor!
love,
Great Aunt Beth

The time is almost here. I have convinced my youngest cousin that I will be able to sing at her wedding. I'm so excited!

Besides maybe being a bride one day, the wedding roles I have most envied are the wedding singer and the flower girl. Being a bridesmaid is not cool. Been there. Done that. And the cake cutter and register signer are so boring.

The wedding singer is where it's at. I am trying to work out bringing in a spotlight to the church for added effect. We'll see how that goes.

To practice, I sing in the car while sitting in traffic on the way home from work. I really wish I had tinted windows. But, my car makes a perfect roving studio.

I'll be sure to give an update and let everyone know if a record label happens to be in attendance at the wedding.

I moved! Basically just a few miles down the road, but it's a pretty big life change for me.

I am very blessed to have had many helping hands throughout the process. I even basically had my own project manager directing traffic and keeping me on task! It was a hard and exhausting weekend, but good.

This was probably the most "grown-up" move I've ever had. I hired movers and had real furniture (okay, "real" from IKEA). I used to just move in the back of my Jeep.

All that I have left to unpack are some random items and some glasses. Nothing was broken in the process. Miracle!

The new place is one level and very open. The only door is on the bathroom. The old place had multi-levels and defined rooms. My body is so confused. I no longer go up and down stairs looking for things, but I do more of a wandering-type motion.

It feels quieter, too. In the old place, I basically spent every morning in the bathroom along with my neighbors. I often wondered if I should answer them back when I heard them talking. And I woke up throughout the night with their toddler. So far, it's pretty quiet in the new place. I'm finding myself on high alert for signs of noise.

I'll be missing my Whole Foods boyfriend and my gangsta barista on the other side of town, but I know that the new side of town will bring new friends and some familiar friends as neighbors. I do feel a bit like a new kid on the block.



[note: For address information, unless we are on a Christmas card basis, or I owe you money...that info will stay unpublished. HELLO! Stranger danger!!]