Yeah you know you want to read this post.
No, I am not engaged. I am not even dating. Silly! BUT I have been commissioned to design a dress for a dear friend from China. She approached me this morning to design her wedding dress for her July wedding. Have I done this before? Nope! But she swears she has full confidence in my abilities and I am a 'professional' in her mind.
My sketches and measurements will be sent to a seamstress in China, where her dress will be handmade to our specifications.
I am so excited. So honored. This could be the beginning of something beautiful... well it is! Her dress shall be beautiful... but Because By Brittany... now designs wedding dresses!?
Because... every woman deserves a dress she loves on her wedding day.
;)
B.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Last day in Lakeland until further notice...
Wow. So life has been quite the journey the past 3.5 years I have attended Southeastern University. I graduated in December with my B.S. in Marketing and have been working with SEU in Central since August. Through a series of possibly unfortunate events that are actually more fortunate (in the end) I have decided to take the leap and opportunity before me to pursue the call I feel to live and serve in New York City!
Today is the last day at Southeastern University. I turned in my student status December 6th. I turn in my staff status February 27. It's sad. When I think about what and who I will leave it is sad and makes me go aw... When I think about the hope for the future it's exhilarating. When I think about the fact I am leaving a stable job in this economy I go AHH! But when I take comfort in listening to the peace in my soul when my brain is quiet I recognize God will provide. I do not have anxiety. I do not even have too much fear beyond the normal - ahh! - I'm doing something I have never done.
Once the journey settles down... once I find a place to live. A place to work. And I have a minute I will share the ups and downs of the rollercoaster. As a friend of mine put it this is like a rollercoaster ride. I know there will be ups and downs and twists and turns, but in the end I will enjoy it and the ride will end and I will be on safe ground again. *sigh*
So yeah... short and sweet. This is it. I am going to miss parts of lakeland. I am going to miss my beetle convertible. I am going to miss walking the lake. I am going to miss some of the people. *sigh* But I am excited. Although I went to bed at 4-4:30 a.m. I have more energy than I have had in weeks. I can sense the adventure that is coming. Oh my! oh my!
I guess packing everything I own for my travels the past few years have prepared me for this.
So if you are reading, say a prayer for your friend. I am leaving Tuesday, March 3rd. With 2 suitcases to my name. No official place to call home. No official place to work. Talk about launching into the deep and unknown territories of the world... here we go!
;)
B.
Today is the last day at Southeastern University. I turned in my student status December 6th. I turn in my staff status February 27. It's sad. When I think about what and who I will leave it is sad and makes me go aw... When I think about the hope for the future it's exhilarating. When I think about the fact I am leaving a stable job in this economy I go AHH! But when I take comfort in listening to the peace in my soul when my brain is quiet I recognize God will provide. I do not have anxiety. I do not even have too much fear beyond the normal - ahh! - I'm doing something I have never done.
Once the journey settles down... once I find a place to live. A place to work. And I have a minute I will share the ups and downs of the rollercoaster. As a friend of mine put it this is like a rollercoaster ride. I know there will be ups and downs and twists and turns, but in the end I will enjoy it and the ride will end and I will be on safe ground again. *sigh*
So yeah... short and sweet. This is it. I am going to miss parts of lakeland. I am going to miss my beetle convertible. I am going to miss walking the lake. I am going to miss some of the people. *sigh* But I am excited. Although I went to bed at 4-4:30 a.m. I have more energy than I have had in weeks. I can sense the adventure that is coming. Oh my! oh my!
I guess packing everything I own for my travels the past few years have prepared me for this.
So if you are reading, say a prayer for your friend. I am leaving Tuesday, March 3rd. With 2 suitcases to my name. No official place to call home. No official place to work. Talk about launching into the deep and unknown territories of the world... here we go!
;)
B.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I brought my soapbox to work day....
So I think I'm in the mood to post all of the random thoughts floating through my head since 5 a.m. today. There have been so many and I want to journal, but I am nowhere near my pen and journal... so here we go.
[P.S. - I'm a little spunky today -- firey perhaps? I brought my soapbox to work today ;)]
Jobs/Careers/Life stuff
: If I could have any job in the world and it were possible, I would travel through time. I would visit everywhere and everything from the very beginning to the current and report back to the current society my findings. =)
:I don't know what I want to 'do' in terms of a particular position or job title. I have life goals and life dreams I want to accomplish and because they vary so greatly I suppose I want to find a job that will push me in those directions, teach me things I should know and that, ideally, I enjoy. If I could find a career doing things I enjoy doing... ;) that would be what I want to do.
:Dear Careerbuilder/Monster/HotJobs/Other Job sites, I do not know what my desired job title is.... Can I search by desired responsibilities or qualifications?
: Finding a job is a job in and of itself. I have sent out a number of resumes and cover letters. It is exhausting. Seriously, unless you have gone through the process it is exhausting. Hand me those monotonous applications you fill out for PT/FT retail/restaurant work any day -- those are so much simpler.
Denny's Free Breakfast
: Flashbacks to high school -- there is this smell of cigarettes... this nasty smell that takes me back to the crisp cold mornings at Sickles HS... walking past the bathrooms and that one guy on the bus. It's not every cigarette. It's this distinct smell. It makes me sick to my stomach. I was very close to hurling when we were standing in front of the lobby doors.
: I stood in line for 30 min surrounded by high schoolers skipping school to get free breakfast... boys talking about crazy stuff -- flashbacks.
: As my dad said, you got there at 6:30am for breakfast?! Really Brittany? You wanted it that bad? No... not the breakfast... the experience ;)
: People had the audacity to NOT tip their servers!! I watched it happen! My friend and I stared in disbelief as the group of kids next to us crammed at least 6 of themselves into the booth, then got up and walked out of the restaurant. Someone had left 5 dollars and the others were mad and kept telling the last girl to take it and put it in her back pocket.
: Those servers are going to work the most intense 8 hour shift in probably weeks --- grrrrr! people better not stiff them!
: I hope if the homeless make their way to Denny's that Denny's honors them as patrons. They are humans and I think that is the only qualification on the special. In fact, I doubt it says that (it's just understood you cannot bring pets into dining facilities).
: How does that even work? Can McDonald's and other venues who 'reserve the right to refuse service' really refuse service to someone because they are not dressed like everyone else, have the same life position as others or perhaps smell as clean? I mean, really? And if you are the manager or employee that enforces that rule -- spoken or unspoken -- how do you even do that? What could you possibly say that would not rob someone of their dignity? Because if it comes down to making other people feel uncomfortable then some construction working gentlemen need to be evaluated, cause when I go inside some places I feel like a piece of meat. Ugh.
Random Fun/Activities
: I'm kind of excited about the bonfire Thursday night @ SEU on Dalbow... I'll be parking MY car over where Bethany's Mobile Park was ;)
: I should go to the fair before I leave -- it's this weekend
: What should I pack for NYC? One of my love hate relationships with the city: the pressure to always look great. *sigh* I know I used to be dressed to the nines all of the time -- but then I discovered a life where clothes and everyone's opinions didn't matter.... it was so freeeeeing. Dressing up is so much more fun when it's for yourself and not cause you feel obligated. That being said what shall I take with me?
: I can't remember what to wear in the cold?
: Do I take [--] much stuff in a free carryon or pay $15 to take [------] stuff? hmmm...
: If I hear 'uh huh' one more time... agh!
: I'm not as angry as this blog may sound. Although I am very very tired.
: Coffee.... okay so I love Dunkin Donut's Iced Coffees. *Heavenly music plays at just the thought* It tastes so good. I've never had a bad cup. It's so inexpensive. And it's so good. And it's fast. I never realized how important that last fact was, it is fast. Today I waited in line at Starbucks drive thru for 10+ min for a latte. An expensive, hit-or-miss latte. What was I thinking? I wasn't. By the time I returned from my zoning out while in line I realized how much time had passed and it was too late to leave. I needed coffee and I had [-] time to get to work. =) I left with a bitter taste in my mouth -- literally. The White Mocha was a miss today. So I have come up with a plan on my coffee needs as of 2/3/2009:
: If I am looking to be social and around people and/or it is past 10 p.m. and/or I want a neutral place to hangout I shall choose Starbucks for its ability to entertain amounts of people.
: If I am looking for a caffeine pick me up and/or don't want to spend money and/or I want something delicious and quick I shall choose Dunkin Donuts coffee.
: If I am looking for a caffeine pick me up and/or I do not want to spend money and/or I want something pretty good and quick and/or I want something semi-good for me I shall choose McDonald's Sugar Free Vanilla Iced Coffee.
: I painted my nails purple yesterday and everytime I look at them they make me happy! They're electrifying!
: I did not watch Gossip Girl last night =\ but I did have a lot of fun at Macaroni Grill. They have my favorite Tomato Basil Soup and Garden Salad. *sigh*
: I will not live the rest of my life on a stinkin' diet. This lie that it is normal to live on a diet is a lie. We should not kid ourselves... it is not anymore healthy to live a life obsessed by food. If all I think about all day the 'diet' I am sticking to I am slave to a diet. I am a slave to food. If I'm a slave to anything it should not be food. Don't misread what I am saying, I want to be healthy. But I think healthy means more than following a fad, I want to be healthy in my spirit, body and my mind. *sigh* I want to be a slim fit chick. But I refuse to live the next 60 years of my life on a permanent 'diet' lifestyle where I am terrified to eat chocolate or look at a food the wrong way because it might implant itself onto me. I'd rather just stay active and run everyday.
: Maybe that sounds crazy... I don't know. Being fit is important, but I don't want to live my life for the soul purpose of being 'fit' by 'American' standards established by media.
Okay Okay Okay... OKAY! I am done for now. I need to stretch and go back to my apartment searching on Google Earth. Thanks for letting me rant.
XOXO
B.
[P.S. - I'm a little spunky today -- firey perhaps? I brought my soapbox to work today ;)]
Jobs/Careers/Life stuff
: If I could have any job in the world and it were possible, I would travel through time. I would visit everywhere and everything from the very beginning to the current and report back to the current society my findings. =)
:I don't know what I want to 'do' in terms of a particular position or job title. I have life goals and life dreams I want to accomplish and because they vary so greatly I suppose I want to find a job that will push me in those directions, teach me things I should know and that, ideally, I enjoy. If I could find a career doing things I enjoy doing... ;) that would be what I want to do.
:Dear Careerbuilder/Monster/HotJobs/Other Job sites, I do not know what my desired job title is.... Can I search by desired responsibilities or qualifications?
: Finding a job is a job in and of itself. I have sent out a number of resumes and cover letters. It is exhausting. Seriously, unless you have gone through the process it is exhausting. Hand me those monotonous applications you fill out for PT/FT retail/restaurant work any day -- those are so much simpler.
Denny's Free Breakfast
: Flashbacks to high school -- there is this smell of cigarettes... this nasty smell that takes me back to the crisp cold mornings at Sickles HS... walking past the bathrooms and that one guy on the bus. It's not every cigarette. It's this distinct smell. It makes me sick to my stomach. I was very close to hurling when we were standing in front of the lobby doors.
: I stood in line for 30 min surrounded by high schoolers skipping school to get free breakfast... boys talking about crazy stuff -- flashbacks.
: As my dad said, you got there at 6:30am for breakfast?! Really Brittany? You wanted it that bad? No... not the breakfast... the experience ;)
: People had the audacity to NOT tip their servers!! I watched it happen! My friend and I stared in disbelief as the group of kids next to us crammed at least 6 of themselves into the booth, then got up and walked out of the restaurant. Someone had left 5 dollars and the others were mad and kept telling the last girl to take it and put it in her back pocket.
: Those servers are going to work the most intense 8 hour shift in probably weeks --- grrrrr! people better not stiff them!
: I hope if the homeless make their way to Denny's that Denny's honors them as patrons. They are humans and I think that is the only qualification on the special. In fact, I doubt it says that (it's just understood you cannot bring pets into dining facilities).
: How does that even work? Can McDonald's and other venues who 'reserve the right to refuse service' really refuse service to someone because they are not dressed like everyone else, have the same life position as others or perhaps smell as clean? I mean, really? And if you are the manager or employee that enforces that rule -- spoken or unspoken -- how do you even do that? What could you possibly say that would not rob someone of their dignity? Because if it comes down to making other people feel uncomfortable then some construction working gentlemen need to be evaluated, cause when I go inside some places I feel like a piece of meat. Ugh.
Random Fun/Activities
: I'm kind of excited about the bonfire Thursday night @ SEU on Dalbow... I'll be parking MY car over where Bethany's Mobile Park was ;)
: I should go to the fair before I leave -- it's this weekend
: What should I pack for NYC? One of my love hate relationships with the city: the pressure to always look great. *sigh* I know I used to be dressed to the nines all of the time -- but then I discovered a life where clothes and everyone's opinions didn't matter.... it was so freeeeeing. Dressing up is so much more fun when it's for yourself and not cause you feel obligated. That being said what shall I take with me?
: I can't remember what to wear in the cold?
: Do I take [--] much stuff in a free carryon or pay $15 to take [------] stuff? hmmm...
: If I hear 'uh huh' one more time... agh!
: I'm not as angry as this blog may sound. Although I am very very tired.
: Coffee.... okay so I love Dunkin Donut's Iced Coffees. *Heavenly music plays at just the thought* It tastes so good. I've never had a bad cup. It's so inexpensive. And it's so good. And it's fast. I never realized how important that last fact was, it is fast. Today I waited in line at Starbucks drive thru for 10+ min for a latte. An expensive, hit-or-miss latte. What was I thinking? I wasn't. By the time I returned from my zoning out while in line I realized how much time had passed and it was too late to leave. I needed coffee and I had [-] time to get to work. =) I left with a bitter taste in my mouth -- literally. The White Mocha was a miss today. So I have come up with a plan on my coffee needs as of 2/3/2009:
: If I am looking to be social and around people and/or it is past 10 p.m. and/or I want a neutral place to hangout I shall choose Starbucks for its ability to entertain amounts of people.
: If I am looking for a caffeine pick me up and/or don't want to spend money and/or I want something delicious and quick I shall choose Dunkin Donuts coffee.
: If I am looking for a caffeine pick me up and/or I do not want to spend money and/or I want something pretty good and quick and/or I want something semi-good for me I shall choose McDonald's Sugar Free Vanilla Iced Coffee.
: I painted my nails purple yesterday and everytime I look at them they make me happy! They're electrifying!
: I did not watch Gossip Girl last night =\ but I did have a lot of fun at Macaroni Grill. They have my favorite Tomato Basil Soup and Garden Salad. *sigh*
: I will not live the rest of my life on a stinkin' diet. This lie that it is normal to live on a diet is a lie. We should not kid ourselves... it is not anymore healthy to live a life obsessed by food. If all I think about all day the 'diet' I am sticking to I am slave to a diet. I am a slave to food. If I'm a slave to anything it should not be food. Don't misread what I am saying, I want to be healthy. But I think healthy means more than following a fad, I want to be healthy in my spirit, body and my mind. *sigh* I want to be a slim fit chick. But I refuse to live the next 60 years of my life on a permanent 'diet' lifestyle where I am terrified to eat chocolate or look at a food the wrong way because it might implant itself onto me. I'd rather just stay active and run everyday.
: Maybe that sounds crazy... I don't know. Being fit is important, but I don't want to live my life for the soul purpose of being 'fit' by 'American' standards established by media.
Okay Okay Okay... OKAY! I am done for now. I need to stretch and go back to my apartment searching on Google Earth. Thanks for letting me rant.
XOXO
B.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Laundromat Adventures
So if you follow me on twitter you probably got my tweet about my laundromat adventure.... with the promise of much to share later... so here's to the sharing
Take into account it has been colder the past few weeks than it has been in awhile and colder means more layers... more layers means more laundry! Then there is also the fact I went to the beach twice since I last did laundry before the cold front swept through -- so I had extra towels and sandy sheets. And last but certainly not least I was determined to wash my bedding and the bedding from my most recent out of town guest today.
I've been dreading doing laundry because I knew it would be a lot. And I have been working so much the past few weeks the last thing I want to do when I get home at 8:30pm is do laundry. =) But today I bit the bullet, woke up early, sorted my laundry to realize how many loads I was going to need, stripped the sheets, loaded my tiny little bug and ventured out.
Now, as Zachary Mitchell pointed out, our apartment complex has laundry facilities. But I had been prewarned when I first moved in by other tenants that the machines are often broken which you don't know till it eats you money and that the room has an uncanny ability to make good clothes disappear. So my non-apartment options are:
- Friend's apartment (she's working/been out of town) and it's one load at a time (I've got a lot of laundry)
- Southeastern (let's fight parking! Carry laundry baskets from Dalbow (the grass; I've got a lot of laundry))
- Lakeland laundromat
I opted for the last option. *sigh* I left with $10 cash and a thing of change thinking I was safe... yeah preview to drama, it wasn't enough. I drove farther than the 2 nearest laundromats (there are a LOT in lakeland!) because one was extra sketch and I was told the other cost $5 a load.
So I arrived. Unloaded my car. I noticed there were no prices posted. Loaded the first washer. Stuck the quarters in the washer... 5 quarters in the designated slots. It wouldn't push all the way in. Arghhh... so I asked another lady that was there. She had no idea. She only used the dryers. So I loaded the more expensive washer. But mentally I could not give up on the normal ones that actually looked bigger than the $$$ I had just used.
So I asked another lady and she informed me that it's not just a 5 quarter machine, you need 8 quarters. Sure enough... bam! It worked. As I started to relax I turned around just in time to see the expensive washer's front loading door cracked spewing soapy water all over. It's a good thing I was washing my towels -- I grabbed my supersize amazing beach towel and tried to clean up some of the spillage after I shut the door and relatched it.
At this point I realized I needed more money. It's not Southeastern, so leaving your clothing unattended did not feel like a wise option. [Although, SEU has become very sketch in the laundry world -- I have had many a clothes disappear the past year] But I had no choice. I kept trying to think where the nearest ATM was -- I even asked my handy dandy iPhone. I had no luck until I remembered the sketch station on the corner of Main St and Longfellow Blvd. Hehe I jumped in my car and drove there as fast as I could.
I stepped foot into the tiny forbidden store and looked for an ATM. There wasn't one so I started to leave, but the young guy behind the counter who had been on the phone asked me what I needed. I said, "Cash back" and he said, "Buy something." So I bought some water and a Fuze [Mmm] and proceeded to check out. That man tried to charge me $2.00 for getting cashback, but then said, "Okay $1.50 for a beautiful girl" and I gave him the one raised eyebrow attitude look... debated if he was pulling my leg or if there was really a charge to use debit [we are in the ghetto after all] Thought back to my knowledge of fees for VISA vendors and offered a dollar. Finally we agreed and I left after we discussed how I look hispanic and should speak spanish, but I don't speak spanish and I'm not hispanic. I don't know if he even believed me.
I got back just as my washers were done, there was only one lady left in the laundromat at that point. By the time I loaded the dryers, which by the way cost $.25 for FIVE minutes, I was the only one in the building. With my experience and laundry intelligence I outsmarted those darned machines and put a little bit of clothes in a whole chunk of dryers and didn't spend that much money at all... Not more than $2.00! WAhooooo!
As I was waiting a corrections officer, out of uniform, joined the laundry journey. A long story short, she was very social and we ended up chatting it up while our laundry dried. I helped her with Financial Aid questions, scholarship information, textbook purchasing, etc. She was an older lady who was going back to school because she has tuition reimbursement. I gave advice on college classes and reading, etc. And the lady was genuinely thankful.
By the time we both departed I had given her websites and hope for paying for the costs for school that the tuition reimbursement did not cover. We had given each other a glimpse into one another's lives for those 30 minutes. It was the first time in awhile that I had felt like I connected with another human that I did not know anything about. As aggravated as I was that I drove so far out of my way to spend so much money on laundry, it felt like a God conversation, a God connection.
As I was driving home and passed other laundromats I could hear my reason cringe because I did drive so far away... but I would tell it to shush. I had an appointment at the laundromat I went to that I did not even suspect. It was not when I looked the best [in my jeans, hoodie, no makeup and crazy ponytail - hot mess], it was not when my mood was particularly chipper.... it was not when everything was going right that day. It was a little spastic of an adventure and less organized than I would have liked... but when the opportunity to share about Southeastern, to help and to encourage someone else... somehow I was prepared to walk through that window.
This was a longwinded blog to get to a simple conclusion I suppose... but to me it was worth it. To my flesh and my $ the whole thing was a little ridonculous... but my spirit man was full. If only I could learn to be so obedient.
What was it that I did right that day?
Likely nothing. I don't think it had anything to do with me except that a) I was prepared with information because it is what I do on a daily basis and b) instead of blowing off this stranger lady in the laundromat who so openly asked me questions, I gave her open answers that allowed our conversation to flourish.
My prayers go out to the laundromat lady who shared much of her heart and situation and remained realistic, but hopeful. You left an imprint on my heart.
B.
Take into account it has been colder the past few weeks than it has been in awhile and colder means more layers... more layers means more laundry! Then there is also the fact I went to the beach twice since I last did laundry before the cold front swept through -- so I had extra towels and sandy sheets. And last but certainly not least I was determined to wash my bedding and the bedding from my most recent out of town guest today.
I've been dreading doing laundry because I knew it would be a lot. And I have been working so much the past few weeks the last thing I want to do when I get home at 8:30pm is do laundry. =) But today I bit the bullet, woke up early, sorted my laundry to realize how many loads I was going to need, stripped the sheets, loaded my tiny little bug and ventured out.
Now, as Zachary Mitchell pointed out, our apartment complex has laundry facilities. But I had been prewarned when I first moved in by other tenants that the machines are often broken which you don't know till it eats you money and that the room has an uncanny ability to make good clothes disappear. So my non-apartment options are:
- Friend's apartment (she's working/been out of town) and it's one load at a time (I've got a lot of laundry)
- Southeastern (let's fight parking! Carry laundry baskets from Dalbow (the grass; I've got a lot of laundry))
- Lakeland laundromat
I opted for the last option. *sigh* I left with $10 cash and a thing of change thinking I was safe... yeah preview to drama, it wasn't enough. I drove farther than the 2 nearest laundromats (there are a LOT in lakeland!) because one was extra sketch and I was told the other cost $5 a load.
So I arrived. Unloaded my car. I noticed there were no prices posted. Loaded the first washer. Stuck the quarters in the washer... 5 quarters in the designated slots. It wouldn't push all the way in. Arghhh... so I asked another lady that was there. She had no idea. She only used the dryers. So I loaded the more expensive washer. But mentally I could not give up on the normal ones that actually looked bigger than the $$$ I had just used.
So I asked another lady and she informed me that it's not just a 5 quarter machine, you need 8 quarters. Sure enough... bam! It worked. As I started to relax I turned around just in time to see the expensive washer's front loading door cracked spewing soapy water all over. It's a good thing I was washing my towels -- I grabbed my supersize amazing beach towel and tried to clean up some of the spillage after I shut the door and relatched it.
At this point I realized I needed more money. It's not Southeastern, so leaving your clothing unattended did not feel like a wise option. [Although, SEU has become very sketch in the laundry world -- I have had many a clothes disappear the past year] But I had no choice. I kept trying to think where the nearest ATM was -- I even asked my handy dandy iPhone. I had no luck until I remembered the sketch station on the corner of Main St and Longfellow Blvd. Hehe I jumped in my car and drove there as fast as I could.
I stepped foot into the tiny forbidden store and looked for an ATM. There wasn't one so I started to leave, but the young guy behind the counter who had been on the phone asked me what I needed. I said, "Cash back" and he said, "Buy something." So I bought some water and a Fuze [Mmm] and proceeded to check out. That man tried to charge me $2.00 for getting cashback, but then said, "Okay $1.50 for a beautiful girl" and I gave him the one raised eyebrow attitude look... debated if he was pulling my leg or if there was really a charge to use debit [we are in the ghetto after all] Thought back to my knowledge of fees for VISA vendors and offered a dollar. Finally we agreed and I left after we discussed how I look hispanic and should speak spanish, but I don't speak spanish and I'm not hispanic. I don't know if he even believed me.
I got back just as my washers were done, there was only one lady left in the laundromat at that point. By the time I loaded the dryers, which by the way cost $.25 for FIVE minutes, I was the only one in the building. With my experience and laundry intelligence I outsmarted those darned machines and put a little bit of clothes in a whole chunk of dryers and didn't spend that much money at all... Not more than $2.00! WAhooooo!
As I was waiting a corrections officer, out of uniform, joined the laundry journey. A long story short, she was very social and we ended up chatting it up while our laundry dried. I helped her with Financial Aid questions, scholarship information, textbook purchasing, etc. She was an older lady who was going back to school because she has tuition reimbursement. I gave advice on college classes and reading, etc. And the lady was genuinely thankful.
By the time we both departed I had given her websites and hope for paying for the costs for school that the tuition reimbursement did not cover. We had given each other a glimpse into one another's lives for those 30 minutes. It was the first time in awhile that I had felt like I connected with another human that I did not know anything about. As aggravated as I was that I drove so far out of my way to spend so much money on laundry, it felt like a God conversation, a God connection.
As I was driving home and passed other laundromats I could hear my reason cringe because I did drive so far away... but I would tell it to shush. I had an appointment at the laundromat I went to that I did not even suspect. It was not when I looked the best [in my jeans, hoodie, no makeup and crazy ponytail - hot mess], it was not when my mood was particularly chipper.... it was not when everything was going right that day. It was a little spastic of an adventure and less organized than I would have liked... but when the opportunity to share about Southeastern, to help and to encourage someone else... somehow I was prepared to walk through that window.
This was a longwinded blog to get to a simple conclusion I suppose... but to me it was worth it. To my flesh and my $ the whole thing was a little ridonculous... but my spirit man was full. If only I could learn to be so obedient.
What was it that I did right that day?
Likely nothing. I don't think it had anything to do with me except that a) I was prepared with information because it is what I do on a daily basis and b) instead of blowing off this stranger lady in the laundromat who so openly asked me questions, I gave her open answers that allowed our conversation to flourish.
My prayers go out to the laundromat lady who shared much of her heart and situation and remained realistic, but hopeful. You left an imprint on my heart.
B.
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