Happy Little Trees

Yesterday, I checked the Target website before going to shop at the store. I was looking for an alarm/iPod dock. The site was down. Then, when I checked Twitter, I noticed that there were many posts about Missoni previewing at Target. Apparently, the site was crashed over abundant Missoni lovers logging in. Who knew the world was so Missoni loving?

My biggest fear is that the masses are going to be wearing all this Missoni in unrestricted ways. I found a complete list of the offerings on the blog Fashionista.

I admit I would like to have a scarf. But I have the good fashion sense to know that a body-hugging sweater dress in brown, orange, and puce horizontal zigzags would not flatter me--no matter what designer label is represented.

American Missoni consumers: be careful out there.

Clinton and Stacy could have a field day with this.

My life has been what I would call "crazy-busy." Busy-ness annoys me. The activities don't annoy me, but my inability to put more activities into the mix frustrates me because sometimes I wish I could do it all!

A big problem I have with my busy-ness is feeling that I can't be all things to all people. I love people. I am blessed with lots of friends. My family lives away from me, so that allows me to put more time into the lives of friends, but the older I get, the more my friends multiply--either by me gaining friends or by my friends physically multiplying with children.

My friends' lives have become more complicated, so then everyone's time is squeezed into little slots balanced around a careful network of schedules. That's what I really hate. Because when we compare schedules and times of events, we are having to see what we place most importance on. "Let's see--a 50th birthday is weighted more heavily than a 1st, because the kid might not remember if you were there or not--and the 50th will have better food..." Sad, but sometimes those are my thought processes (better food always is the trump card).

I truly believe that we all make time for what we want to do. At any time, God can come in and shake our life where we realize that He is in control. Life circumstances can change instantly--and suddenly, those "so-important" events no longer are so important. God never tells anybody, "Wait a minute. Ugh! I am so busy! My schedule is crazy! Have you been watching the news? I've been trying to answer all these prayers, and it's just too much!"

I have to model my life after Jesus--especially where he pulls away. I know it's a major characteristic of my overly sanguine personality to be energized by people, but to also need to recharge fully when alone--so I'm not sure if everyone has to do this.

I am a single woman--and sometimes feel guilty if I am not giving my time serving other people, but then some time has to be alloted to taking care of my family of one--I am the bread-winner, garbage taker-outer, dishwasher, laundry-doer, finance fixer, grocery-buyer, and then I squeeze in phone-time with long-distance family and friends, exercising, etc.--and I have to check myself to make sure I am truly laying my burdens down. I will get overloaded with others issues and a desire to be all things to all people, and pretty much save the world. I can't be that. It's exhausting. I have to be me--the me God created me to be. And you have to be you--the God created you to be!

Anyway. Last weekend, I spent some time with friends, but was blessed with time alone at the same time. We drove up to Lake Belton and only spent time looking at the lake on our drive out. I had time to be alone with God in the newly added room to my friend's parents' garage. It had a comfy bed, an a/c, and a nice bathroom--all I needed. I rested. I slept longer than necessary. I took some time and pet a cat. I floated in a pool. It was a very blessed time.

So, I'm going through my season of activity with the peace and calmness that ultimately, God is in control. I am just given the blessing to attend. But it's not necessary for me to attend everything I am honored to be invited to. But it is necessary for me to have time alone with God.

Note: My only other mental solution was to clone myself and then have meetings to debrief with all my selves. I'm so glad God prompted me for a different solution.

2nd Note: I need to reread this post often because this is a repeated life struggle of being me.

I went to Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday and fell in love. When something gets the coveted National Park title, it's usually pretty spectacular. This land was amazing. Thank you, Theodore Roosevelt, for your vision of protecting our beautiful land! (Aud- Please correct my history here, if needed)

click on the link above to view a webcam on the park

I finally got myself to a legal status of driving again. I am not a speeder, nor a light-racer, but I was not quite sure if I was following all the laws of the state of Texas or not. I had lost my license with the correct address on it, and was using an older (unexpired) license--that happened to have a former address. In Texas, there is a great online service for address changes, renewals, and such, but if you happen to have lost your entire wallet and you don't have the secret numbers needed to order a new one, you're up the creek and have to go visit the actual Department of Transportation. No one likes this option.

At first I started to think, "What could be so bad about the Department of Transportation?"

I also have wondered many times why my past license picture is so atrocious. Why was my hair the size of Texas, and why was my face all shiny? I had forgotten. Sometimes with unpleasant events, specific details are omitted. Our brains are kind to us like that. But sometimes when placed into a similar situation again, the memories flood over with the force of a broken dam.

I got there early with my hair neat and my makeup a little darker than normal to look more flattering in the photo. When I drove up, my heart sank as I spotted a wrap-around line of people baking on the concrete and in the morning Houston sun. I stayed in my car a bit for signs that the line would move--trying to avoid the inevitable. Must this be the way to stay legal?

Luckily, I had an umbrella in my car to serve as a shield for the sun. I've seen many Asian women walk around town like this and it makes me always think they look bizarre. So, there I stood in line, looking bizarre holding my umbrella like a shield. I tried to think of another day I could do this. I pondered on the consequences of driving illegally. I would pay money not to stand in this line. To make it even a sweeter experience, the two men in front of me used the time to decide if the women ahead of them in line fit their weight preference and the guy behind me started smoking. I realized that I should have been specific with my prayers for the day.

My attempts at a better picture were going to be ruined. My straightened hair would not make it with the humidity levels. I knew that my makeup was guaranteed to be running off my face by the time I made it to the picture. No wonder my last picture looked like I had spent the afternoon hiking through the Amazon. Perhaps this is a secret way the government keeps us all looking our worst.

After what seemed like eternity, I finally snaked around the building and squeezed into the air conditioned portion of the wait. After going through a few more wrap arounds of the line, I realized that the next step was to get a number and wait for it to appear on screen. The room felt very claustrophobic as what looked like the United Nations was squeezed into a room. Children cried. Women waved documents like a fan. To some, it was purgatory; to others, hell.

As I've learned at the post office, always use your best manners and do NOT step up to the counter until the representative has given your permission. I'm surprised I didn't do a bow before preceding forward.

Then, perhaps the silent prayer I prayed was heard. As my number was handed to me, it appeared on the screen! I made it to the last step! I heard a series of "what??" from the peanut gallery around me. Just like in the Old Testament temple, you go to the back (kind of symbolic of the Holy of Holies). I rushed through my paperwork as I interacted with the woman behind the desk. I hadn't had lag time to fill out the questions.

All I could think of while we were exchanging documents was that I didn't know where my lip gloss and powder were. I didn't have time.

"Step in front of the blue curtain," she stated flatly.

I did a bewildered move that was a bit like chasing my tail.

She said a bit louder and flatter, "The blue curtain."

I stood and tried to pose with a smile. She said, "Not a bad picture."

"Grrrrrreat," I thought. "Not a bad picture, but not a good one either."

I look a bit crazy in it. Perhaps my bewilderment is showing. But whatever the case, horrible hair day picture is gone.

Before. And after.

Stop laughing. Thank you.

Summer is here! And so is the Houston heat. OUCH! It's hot!

At home, we love to quote an old Don Moore Chevrolet commercial. It goes like this:

Someone says,"IT"S HOT, DON!"
And then Don (either Jr. or Sr.) replies, "You can say that again!"
So the person says, "IT'S HOT,DON!"

Classic local commercial.

I still love to say, "It's hot, Don." I might sound crazy saying it away from the source, but it makes me laugh.

A friend of mine from North Carolina had to prove to me that the temperature there was just as hot. But after pondering for this for a few minutes (in the heat, the brain processes slower), I realized it's not just about the number on the thermometer. It's also about the consistency of the heat.

The heat doesn't give a reprieve in nighttime hours. Nor does it stop like clockwork with the change of what temperate climates call a "season." It keeps burning. But I wouldn't change it. I love Texas.

In my younger years, I would ponder moving some place like Atlanta, and almost have my stomach turn from thinking about the heat. I'm a redhead and my coloring is not conducive to summertime. But here I am. God has given me a big heart for the state of Texas.

God has also blessed with me this summer with some beautiful days in Seattle and soon I will be attending a conference in Colorado for some renewal time. Blessings! Cool, cool, blessings!

I have learned that when you are deprived of something like room-temperature outdoor weather, when you are in it, you relish it!

Enjoy your summer--whether the weather be hot or cold, soak it up!

I've got a visitor this week. His name is Moses and he likes slow walks in the evening. And his favorite meal is all of them.

I like to describe Moses as being Tommy Boy in a dog's body. He makes me laugh because he is a huge dog, and runs really funny. He's lost 25 pounds since my friend rescued him from the SPCA, but he's still got a bit to go. I sympathize with him. It can be hard to run with extra weight bouncing on your belly. He and I might try to do some fartlek training at the park. We probably are at about the same fitness level right now.

So far, he's been a great houseguest. He does like to bark at the air sometimes. Those barks do shake the house, but besides his dog-like outburst, he's a good guy.