Well, it's been a little bit rough lately. How timely it is that we've begun singing One Thing Remains at church, because at times when I'm completely forlorn, it helps to have that song rolling around in my head. I'm continually telling myself "No matter what, God's love never fails. Even though this day feels absolutely awful, God's love will never run out on me. In death, in life, I'm confident and covered by the power of His great love."
The song points me to the truth of Romans 8:38 - I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.
This morning, I've decided to look on the bright side and remember the hilarious things that have happened to me recently.
1st up - Sunday Morning:
On my way to church, quite early in the morning, I turn onto the long, curved freeway on-ramp near my house. On my way up I can already see it - cars stopped, police on both sides of the stopped cars, wrecked cars next to them. All of a sudden it becomes apparent that everyone stuck on the on-ramp wanted to back up. Sooo, back up we did. Now, I consider myself a good driver, and usually I can back up into tough spots and get myself out of tight spaces (it helps to have a little car), but backing up down a long curve? Let's just say I wasn't the only one who was, uh, challenged. Then we get to the bottom, but of course people are now turning on to the on-ramp and are quite frustrated to find 9 cars backing up. Honking ensues. That's when the bigger cars decided to make a U-turn and go over the median to get out. Good for them, I mean, I had that idea, but didn't want to scrape up the undercarriage of my car. So I just sat there while all these cars simply popped over the median, giving me strange looks that said to me "why are you just sitting there???" eventually the way was clear for me (minus a honk or two) to just back out and head towards Cahuenga. Thankfully, I was only 10 mins late.
2nd - Nail Salon:
While picking out a nail colour a woman walks in and we have a familiar conversation. She says to me "Are you an actress?" "No...I'm a singer." "Ah...maybe I've seen you sing before. I'm sure I've seen you before." "Hmm, do you go to Oasis?" "I've been there a few times, I must have seen you sing there."
Great, it was a perfectly normal and strangely, a common conversation. But later, she's getting her nails done and I walk up to the front to pay. As I pass by she looks at me, turns to the nail technician and says loudly with an amused look on her face, "She's so dramatic!!" Huh? I WAS JUST WALKING!! Mind you this woman had a very boisterous blouse on and a seemingly identical personality, but I'm the dramatic one?! I just had to laugh! Especially since, well, I can be dramatic. Ha!
3rd - Tron Screening:
Recently I went to the screening of Tron and won a poster by explaining what made me a geek. "I've spoken at 3 Doctor Who conferences and I know tomorrow is free comic book day." That was a good answer that got an "ooooh" from the rest of the audience. Then he grilled me about Doctor Who. I shot through the first couple questions, but then was asked what my parents would call a "Big Mac" question - meaning, it's very easy. "What is the name of the actor that's playing Doctor Who now?" I GO BLANK I stare at him in shock. "Uh, um, wow...I can't believe I've just gone blank." "Okay, let me ask you in a more official Doctor Who voice. The question of...the day is....What is the naaaame of the actor currently playinnngah! ....uh The Doctor?"
While he's saying it dramatically I am pleading with my brain to get it together. He points the mic at me and out pops "Matt Smith!" Yay! He gives me the poster, people clap and I sit down. Then I proceed to recite in my mind the previous Doctors just to prove to myself I actually know this information. I ended up getting the giant poster of Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) face. If anyone wants this, please let me know. My brother already declined.
4th - Free Comic Book Day:
While driving home from a bridal shower, I called my mom and asked her to find the comic book stores near me. And YES, I did go to several to get some free comics. And NO, that wasn't cheating, it was encouraged by the store workers. The whole point of the day is to get people back into comic book stores. Now, what really tickled me pink was not only getting free comics (and of course I bought a Doctor Who comic!) but also the reaction I got at these places. As I mentioned, I had just come from a bridal shower, so I was looking cute (If I do say so myself), makeup done, high heels on, hair blowing in the wind...needless to say I got very strange "are you in the wrong store?" looks. Or the confused look followed by "Uh, can I.... help you??" What really was fun was asking if they had any Doctor Who comics. That always resulted in a look of shock and then them trying to compose their faces. HAHAHAHA, oh yes, that was a funny day!
5th - Too many stories I can't tell because it involves people who can be easily recognized or the story would be inappropriate. So I shall refrain from telling about Trader Joe's, or the movie theatre, the opera, rewriting the words to A New Creation with one of my roommates, the ridiculous songs my roommates and I write every night and countless stories from work.
Ah...just reminding myself of the happy, lighter things in life have helped me want to face this day with a smile and spend time with co-workers and friends who I so dearly love.
If something's bothering you today, take a moment to remember God's love never fails. Even in our suffering, or in grief or pain - His love remains. He is holding you and won't let you slip. When we are weak, He is strong, so just get weak! Let go and let Him gird you with strength. And remember the good, funny things to reclaim your smile!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Turn it Around!!
Wow, what a year it's been! Today, I am truly thankful at God's amazing ability to turn things around.
This year started off rocky, very rocky. A friend was shot and killed in the shootings in Tucson and I was a wreck - mentally, spiritually, and definitely emotionally! And then a few other things happened (life) which compounded to make it all so horrible! And, while March and the beginning of April held 2 weddings for 4 very dear friends of mine, the month was tough and culminated in me being home for 5 days in a row, 3 of those days in pain, severely dehydrated and completely exhausted, puffing on an inhaler.
It's now a couple weeks later and so much has changed. I still get teary eyed thinking about Gabe, but the mere thought doesn't debilitate me for hours or derail my day. Instead I remember what he was all about and decide to enjoy the life I have now and do my best to love others and keep a positive attitude. Instead of jam-packing my schedule every day, I'm allowing more margin before and after events to take my time and relax a little. I'm not doing something every night of the week and I'm reading more.
Instead of putting off eating or exercising, I've remembered a healthy Katherine can be a blessing to others, so I've been diligent to work out and actually eat regularly. I still need to excel in the sleep category though...something just happens to me at 9pm and I get a surge of energy...what to do?? Hmm any suggestions??
My incredible, generous roommate Ashley got married April 1st, and for a while there I wasn't sure where I would live, but God had a plan! I'm now living with two dear, fun friends. There is so much laughter and joy in the house and various conversations that could last all night...sometimes they do! (Another reason why I'm not sleeping! Ha!)
Most of all, I'm thankful for the change in my time with God. When the heartbreaking events of January happened, my heart was overwhelmed. I prayed, cried and worshipped God, but there was so much pain, my time with Him was just to get me through. Now there is life again, and joy and laughter - a lightness of spirit.
So, I'm writing this to encourage you and to encourage myself. In those dark, hard times, in pain, in sickness, in despair - lean on God. There is no magical formula to make it all go away, but He will bring comfort and peace....and one day, He will turn it all around!
This year started off rocky, very rocky. A friend was shot and killed in the shootings in Tucson and I was a wreck - mentally, spiritually, and definitely emotionally! And then a few other things happened (life) which compounded to make it all so horrible! And, while March and the beginning of April held 2 weddings for 4 very dear friends of mine, the month was tough and culminated in me being home for 5 days in a row, 3 of those days in pain, severely dehydrated and completely exhausted, puffing on an inhaler.
It's now a couple weeks later and so much has changed. I still get teary eyed thinking about Gabe, but the mere thought doesn't debilitate me for hours or derail my day. Instead I remember what he was all about and decide to enjoy the life I have now and do my best to love others and keep a positive attitude. Instead of jam-packing my schedule every day, I'm allowing more margin before and after events to take my time and relax a little. I'm not doing something every night of the week and I'm reading more.
Instead of putting off eating or exercising, I've remembered a healthy Katherine can be a blessing to others, so I've been diligent to work out and actually eat regularly. I still need to excel in the sleep category though...something just happens to me at 9pm and I get a surge of energy...what to do?? Hmm any suggestions??
My incredible, generous roommate Ashley got married April 1st, and for a while there I wasn't sure where I would live, but God had a plan! I'm now living with two dear, fun friends. There is so much laughter and joy in the house and various conversations that could last all night...sometimes they do! (Another reason why I'm not sleeping! Ha!)
Most of all, I'm thankful for the change in my time with God. When the heartbreaking events of January happened, my heart was overwhelmed. I prayed, cried and worshipped God, but there was so much pain, my time with Him was just to get me through. Now there is life again, and joy and laughter - a lightness of spirit.
So, I'm writing this to encourage you and to encourage myself. In those dark, hard times, in pain, in sickness, in despair - lean on God. There is no magical formula to make it all go away, but He will bring comfort and peace....and one day, He will turn it all around!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Sicky Poo
Ah, being sick...so many thoughts.
As I lie here on the couch about to force myself to do a nasal rinse, gargle and a few other things the doctor prescribed (including drinking water...so much water) and then eat some soup, I am deciding to be thankful for this time.
March was a busy month, an insane month. I knew going into it. I would open my planner and cringe, 2 beautiful weddings, searching for and then moving to a new apartment, heavy work schedule, showers, birthdays, church and extra church events, previous obligations, errands...life. I kept telling myself "just make it through this month. You can rest in April." Well, apparently my body decided we'd make good on that. The end of the month culminated in a rather wonderful wedding of two of my dear friends. Also included at the end of the month was food poisoning, dehydration, too much sun, dehydration, exhaustion, voice disappearing and I hurt my back moving the last of my stuff to the new apartment and did I mention dehydration?
My doctor was so kind to me yesterday and gave me a list of to dos and a prescription. My favorite part was him telling me I have to rest, because if my body doesn't get some rest I'm not going to get better. I think my words to him were "easier said than done." But shortly after that I was at Target picking up my 'get well' items. I was extremely tired and pushing the hand cart on the floor with my feet because I couldn't carry it. I realized I had to get some rest and I cannot allow myself to ever get here again. Ever.
So over the next few days I'm going to develop clear boundaries for myself for what I can and cannot do. Saying no more often may become the norm, as well as getting to bed earlier. And the past few days I've been spending so much time with God -- reading the Bible, praying, being still and listening -- it's replenishing and necessary for each day. I will continue to do this. It's time I won't budge on, time I look forward to and time I'm thankful for.
As I lie here on the couch about to force myself to do a nasal rinse, gargle and a few other things the doctor prescribed (including drinking water...so much water) and then eat some soup, I am deciding to be thankful for this time.
March was a busy month, an insane month. I knew going into it. I would open my planner and cringe, 2 beautiful weddings, searching for and then moving to a new apartment, heavy work schedule, showers, birthdays, church and extra church events, previous obligations, errands...life. I kept telling myself "just make it through this month. You can rest in April." Well, apparently my body decided we'd make good on that. The end of the month culminated in a rather wonderful wedding of two of my dear friends. Also included at the end of the month was food poisoning, dehydration, too much sun, dehydration, exhaustion, voice disappearing and I hurt my back moving the last of my stuff to the new apartment and did I mention dehydration?
My doctor was so kind to me yesterday and gave me a list of to dos and a prescription. My favorite part was him telling me I have to rest, because if my body doesn't get some rest I'm not going to get better. I think my words to him were "easier said than done." But shortly after that I was at Target picking up my 'get well' items. I was extremely tired and pushing the hand cart on the floor with my feet because I couldn't carry it. I realized I had to get some rest and I cannot allow myself to ever get here again. Ever.
So over the next few days I'm going to develop clear boundaries for myself for what I can and cannot do. Saying no more often may become the norm, as well as getting to bed earlier. And the past few days I've been spending so much time with God -- reading the Bible, praying, being still and listening -- it's replenishing and necessary for each day. I will continue to do this. It's time I won't budge on, time I look forward to and time I'm thankful for.
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