DAY TWO: 10 Days of Gratitude

I'm thankful for the word "yes".

It's amazing what those little three letters put together can bring into your life.

Oh the adventure of it all.

Of course, sometimes I end up sleeping less than I should. But at the end of my life I don't want to be known as someone who rested well.  I want to be known as someone who lived. Period.

There are so many things I wouldn't have experienced had I not said, "yes." Some of the most obvious are listed below... but what's really important among it all, are the relationships, friendships and stories that go along with "yes". There are so many who would be missing in my life today if I had said, "no."

No regrets on the Yes

Bonnie Bishop, Lisa Gray & Me 

Moving to NASHVILLE.  Freakin' LOVE this place. It's where I really get to be me. 100% of the time.  I love who I've become... and who I'm evolving to be living in Nashville. If you'd have told me 15 years ago, I'd be living here and experiencing all of it... I'd have said you were crazy. Writing songs, doing rounds at the Bluebird, performing on the Grand Ole Opry with Lee Roy Parnell, singing BGVs on stage with some of my favorite artists and people. Recording demos and background vocals on sessions.  Getting to hear my voice on the radio. Getting to tag along on the Paisly / Dierks tour, the LRP tour, Blue Mother Tupelo gigs. Learning to play guitar. Finding my tamborine groove. Singing with the Woodland Street Revival peeps.  And you know what the best part of this adventure is?  ALL of the like-minded, gracious, creative souls I've gotten to know.  Getting to know a some of my heros as friends. Sharing music with other people who love to share music. OMG.  All because we made the decision at the 11th hour to move here instead of Minneapolis.  *praise the Lord* We said yes.

View from the Top

Standing on Mt. Rushmore. That's what I said. You read correctly. ON IT with my friend Ann (Panerio) Deckert. I took the pic on the left myself with a real, film loaded, camera.  Mary (Ann's friend who got us behind the scenes on the mountain) took the one on the right... Ann and Me, sitting on George Washington's head. It was very windy. We climbed up the scaffold left behind by the artists. Scaled the rocks of the canyon behind the monument along side mountain goats. We stood in the "hall of records". These pics have been prominently displayed in every office I've had since 1993. Heck yeah... I'm glad I said yes.

Sunny Side-Up

Hot Air Ballooning. Crewing for Kay West (Prarie Sky) and learning to fly in Sunny Side Up (that balloon winking at you to the right) in the process. Amazing seven years. Every flight is a story... every chase an adventure... and I swear I remember every single one.  Taking skydivers up. Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in Custer State park. Touching the tops of trees. Splash and dashes. Helping people get engaged. Married. Glows. Balloon races. Ahhhh. It was awesome. All because, in 1993, I said "sure. I'll come crew for you. sounds fun." Met some amazing friends among it all, too. Kay is the most gifted pilot. I still dream about flying... 12 years later.  Yes was the only option.

Cassy Petersen & Jime Lynn

Spelunking.  OMG. *she car high five's Cassy & Jime* It all happened over a bucket list discussion and a Groupon to spelunk at Cumberland Caves. We had no idea. None. Nada of what we were about to do. And there is only one way out folks.. through. It was the most amazingly fantastically frightening thing I've ever experienced. We were swung over a crevis by our guide. We crawled through a space that was less than 12 inches square for almost 20 feet. I was freaked out inside and out most of the way through. *she blacks out*  Oh holy mother of God, never again. But I'm still glad I said yes.

Josh, Me & Jake - Paramore Zippers

Zip-lining in WV.  On a Paramore work trip to Rivermen. AND... I was scared shitless pretty much every time I let go.  Am certain I made a complete fool of myself to my coworkers and the client. Especially when attempting to repel down at the end.  But, I don't care. It was so worth it. I highly recommend it. (If you try it, it's work the trip to Adventures on the Gorge in WV... they are the BEST place to white water raft.  Another thing I must try.) Glad I didn't chicken out.

Getting Hitched.  Seriously. I know it sounds crazy.  I never ever never ever never wanted to get married. Avoided it. Turned three people down in my 20s. Until the persistent one... Bandmates. Friends. Roommates. Spouses. We had an amazing run. We got to live the adventure together for a little more than 18 years.  Partners in crime.  It was totally worth it. Doesn't matter that it didn't turn out as we all hoped it would... it's still one of the best things I've ever done. I will never regret that I said yes.

Heck, yeah. I'm thankful for yes. Without it, I wouldn't feel alive.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT
"So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun."

DAY ONE: 10 Days of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is just 10 days away.  How in the heck did that happen?

To celebrate, I've decided to post something Thankful every day until the turkey hits the table.  

DAY ONE: I'm thankful for the sucky stuff.

Don't rub your eyes. You read that correctly.

Over the past year or so, I've spent a ton of time thinking about the past, the rest of my life and working towards acceptance of where my life is at this very moment. 

My goal is to get better and better at right now. Right here.  Not trying to control the future so much. Not trying to fix the past. Just being where I'm at and being okay with whatever that means.

One of the conclusions I've reached is that the sucky stuff requires the most gratitude. 

Not for the pain (that would be the sucky part). 

Instead, for the opportunity to become better. The opportunity to transform myself and re-record the whispers in my head to something more wonderful. The opportunity to use my experience to help others get through, too. The opportunity to lean into my faith, trust God and remember who's really in charge.  (PS: It's not me.)

There is no denying it. Sucky stuff, you really do suck. But you're lighting the way to a better life and helping me recognize challenges that I wouldn't be tackling had you not sucked. 

So, today... I'm thankful for the sucky stuff. 

Here's big ol' *THANK YOU HUG* from me.

Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

It's time for finger cookies...

2011 Zombie Fingers

Every year, since 2006, I make "finger cookies" for Halloween.

Evidence here:
2006 - the lady fingers
2007 - bloody fingers
2008 - stubby bloody fingers
2009 - Diversity Fingers
2010 - Green fingers... but can't find the pics!!! *meh*
2011 - Zombie fingers

2009 Diversity Fingers

What should I do this year?  

I'm thinking Zombie for sure... considering my new affliction with the "Walking Dead" (Thanks to Jeff, Maddie, Chelsey, Suzie & Travis... LOL. Hooked.)

What other creepy finger or other halloweeny grossness would be cool?  Ideas?

Potential v Reality

I'm praying for a dear friend, who is going through something similar as me. Accepting the reality of her situation instead of the potential of her reality.

Another friend recently chose to end almost 30 years marriage due to the similar reasons. Another friend, is still dealing with the fallout of making the right decision for herself even after 17 years.

Our past is not the past if we are still living in it, right?!

Over the last few weeks and the past year, God has shown me that I’m not alone. He’s shown me strong women who, for whatever reason, are drawn to the potential of someone, instead of the reality of someone.

It doesn’t make us weak. In fact, what we’ve been through makes us stronger.

It’s now our opportunity to unselfishly look inward & decipher our own needs for the first time in our lives.

We can take care of ourselves first & other’s second… We realize that until we learn to do this, we really can’t help others anymore. We’re tapped out. In fact, by taking care of ourselves, we are able to do more for others if we can figure it out.

Yet, it is uncomfortable.
It’s foreign.
We were taught to put ourselves last.
It feels selfish & wrong to do anything else.

But, guess what?

It’s not.

It’s our turn to focus on what we really want & need in our lives. No compromises.

It’s our turn to give ourselves permission to be ourselves.

And, in the process, find ourselves again.

Fixing everyone else… Taking care of everyone else has only been a diversion from us actually seeing ourselves for who & what we are as strong women.

I, for one, am ready to do the work to turn that around.

And, it’s my hope that the amazingly strong women in my life have the courage to do the same.

God’s got a plan for us… That may involve us caring for others… But in a way that doesn’t hurt us and unintentionally keep others from facing the consequences of their own choices.

We can do this.

And, when we do, no matter how hard, we’ll be a better version of ourselves than we can even imagine.

God’s got our back.
We just need to take those steps of faith and trust His plan.

No more creating our own reality in our relationships. Authenticity is the rule… For ourselves and the people we choose moving forward.

Potential v Reality…
I’m finally choosing reality.

Be good to yourself.
Protect your heart at all costs…
It’s your treasure.

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." http://bible.us/Prov4.23.NLT

You deserve better than potential.

You deserve reality.

This is Jeanne on "Energy" Vitamins

This is Jeanne on Energy Vitamins.

I took my multivitamin at lunch today instead of breakfast.

Aaaand, I may want to rethink that in the future.

It is a multivitamin with extra  "energy" and it works.  

Apparently, in the AM it is not as noticeable. In fact, it may be the thing that makes me a better human in the morning.

All I know is that right now... well, I'm not sure whats in these things, but I feel like I could run a marathon. 

So, consider yourself warned. 

Extra enthusiasm on the verge of obnoxiousness abounds this afternoon.

The Gum Parker

It's true.
I chew a ton of gum.
And, have for a long time.

Evidence: The Gum Parker

My Grandma gave me this when I was probably 8 or 9 after one too many pieces of gum ended up in the dishwater.

Hilarious.
And cute, right?!

Under the Jefferson Street Bridge

Volunteers unload a truck & set up a make-shift food pantry.

Every Tuesday at 5:30, a group of volunteers assembles beneath the Jefferson Street Bridge.

As volunteers arrive, they check in and receive colored arm bands telling them where they'll be serving for the next two hours.

Trucks wait, jammed with chairs, food, clothes... And within 30 minutes what once was the space beneath an overpass is transformed into a place of worship, The Bridge Ministry.

At 6 pm, live gospel music echoes against the concrete as somewhere between 500 & 600 homeless men, women and children line up to receive a hot meal & something to drink. People serving on the hospitality team carry plates of food and help the guests get settled in their seats. Most carry everything they own with them and it is the only hot meal they'll eat all week.

500+ homeless & volunteers worshiping together

Once everyone is served and seated, the music subsides & worship begins. The pastor delivers a message of hope, acceptance & love... prayers for safety, jobs & a warm place to sleep. A team of volunteers line up along the makeshift worship area to help people pray. Many of the homeless make their way to them and pray with them. There are no words to really describe this experience. It's moving to say the least.

As the service ends, attendees file to the back of the worship area and form lines to receive food for the week from the makeshift "food pantry". From there, they pick up blankets, socks, underwear & toiletries.

In a little more than two hours, they've worshiped, eaten and gotten sustenance / necessities many of us take for granted.

And, what they may not realize, is getting to serve them is just as much of a blessing to those serving them as it is to those being served.

Consider Volunteering:
The cold of winter is not far away from these crisp fall nights.

And, winter is usually when these friends need us most. It's also a more challenging time to find volunteers.

Please consider giving your time, once a month, twice a month, weekly... To those who desperately need it. It's their opportunity, if even for a couple hours, to feel somewhat normal. And, in serving, you'll receive more than you can comprehend.

Find out more: The Bridge Ministry
If you're not sure you want to go it alone, join a group of Cross Point Nashville Campus volunteers who assemble every Tuesday at 5 at the church gym to caravan over and serve together.