Monthly Archives: November 2013

Humbled and Tired

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Since Michael has this horrible habit of watching THE worst show on television (The Walking Dead) on Sunday nights (because what starts off your week better than growling, snarling zombies right before bed), I have decided that the best way to annoy him, and thus block out what’s occurring on the television, is to listen to good music from my computer and type annoyingly as I sit next to him on the sofa. It’s win-win.

So for those of you not following along on Facebook or otherwise, my dad has been moved to the top of the liver transplant list for his blood type. This is HUGE, obviously. We are so thankful that every day we’re getting closer and closer to healing for him and we continue to believe and hope for the best. However, in the meantime, the whole family has been turned into call-crazed, anxious phone-watchers as we wait for the call that a liver is on it’s way to Louisville so we can jump in the car and try to safely escape speed traps to get to Louisville ourselves. We have bags packed, miscellaneous arrangements made, and manically keep up the laundry and dishes as we wait. It’s kinda like waiting for a pregnant woman to go into labor, although this may actually be more accurately rushed than most people tend to make a laboring woman. Whatever the case, it’s becoming exhausting as we wait – and you know how I feel about waiting.

Alas, we are trying to make the best of it and my mom is championing this attempt as she continues to be the rock for all of us, calling us to the table to sit down together every Sunday we’re still waiting. Christy’s making flying trips to Atlanta with Payne and Graycen in tow just to spend a little time with her family for Thanksgiving festivities. (She literally made it back and forth in a day. Literally.) And I’m mainly just trying to stay afloat and totally held my breath while Michael was out of town last week, just knowing the call would come then leaving me with a baby and a dog to contend with (which would have completely messed up my plan.) We all have our strengths. Ha. But truthfully, this whole experience has been very humbling already. People are coming out of the woodwork to offer to help take care of our homes, our children, even our dogs. Mom and dad get random visits, cards, and messages that remind them that people are praying and keeping us in their thoughts. And as a family, we were prayed over at church today. I far too often fail to realize that waiting is an essential part of the journey. We need this time to gather our thoughts and summon the strengths of others. This time is a blessing – a time to let sink in just how loved and cared for we are and to never doubt that all of this is in the hands of a much greater power than our own. Without this time, we may not have the courage to face what’s coming or be the pillars we will need to be for dad. It’s beautiful and as we laughed as a family today, my heart swelled with joy. Joy in waiting. I never thought I would see the day. Humbling.

 

A List about Me

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About a month ago, numbered lists started cropping up on Facebook statuses where people would state they had been “given a number” and then proceed with a list of “unknowns” about themselves. It originated from some type of game of sorts where if you ‘liked’ a status with such a list, you would be given a number of how many unknowns you were to list in your own status, and thus you would continue the trend when people ‘liked’ your status. At least I think that’s how it works – I’m still not entirely sure. Regardless, not only did it seem like some kind of new age chain letter, but also became a kind of online confessional as people began to reveal some pretty personal things about themselves. I, by happenstance alone, never ‘liked’ one of these statuses and haven’t yet, so I haven’t been given a number and truthfully don’t wish to participate. However, my love of lists and possibly my own yearning for confession has led me to do such a list here. That, and I linked up with Kelly’s Korner for her “Local Bloggers” feature this past weekend and figured if anyone did traipse over to my blog, they would find my previous post about the lack of unpacking that has taken place since we moved rather boring.

1. I love game shows. Particularly old game shows like $25,000 Pyramid (with Dick Clark, of course) and Password. I was thrilled when we moved to Glasgow because the cable service here offers the Game Show Network which we previously didn’t have in Bowling Green.

2. I have a fixation of having things in even numbers. Clothes, shoes, purses and bags are the biggest culprit here – they each have to have a ‘mate’ (i.e., if I have a pair of brown boots, I also must have a pair of black boots of similar style. But that’s just good fashion in my opinion.) It gets very confusing and sometimes affordability makes it impossible to achieve. This has also trickled down to Ellyson’s stuff which is equally frustrating.

3. I’m not trendy. I like what I like and I like to be comfortable. I try to incorporate new trends into my home or wardrobe within reason, but when it’s all said and done, the fact still remains that I live in southern Kentucky, not New York City or LA, and my house is likely never to be featured in Home and Garden, so as long as I’m happy, that’s what matters, right? It also annoys me when people try to be trendy when they really shouldn’t. Some bodies are just not made for leggings, people.

4. I suffered from post-partum depression, but thanks to being an excellent actor and out-right denial, it wasn’t diagnosed until after Ellyson’s first birthday. I thought what I was experiencing was “normal” or could be blamed on a number of other things. I was wrong and am finally feeling better after getting help and a lot of trial and error.

5.  I’ve been meaning to paint my toenails (or splurge on a pedicure) since before we moved. I’m lucky it’s no longer sandal season because my good friend Laura told me in high school that you never wear sandals or any open-toe shoe without polish on your toes. And I’ve never forgotten that rule.

6. I have a running “Top 5” women and men I would like to spend a day with and/or be bff’s with. Currently the women are: Michelle Kwan, Beth Moore, Jennifer Anniston, Laura Bush, and Kelly Ripa. The men are: Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, Tim Tebow, Derek Hough, and John Krasinski. I always keep Michael up to date on these lists in case he’s ever in a position to surprise me with meeting these people. I’m sure he really pays attention to those conversations.

7. I’m addicted to Zulily. There should be a support group.

8. I wish I was more disciplined in all areas of my life. I feel like all of the structured activities from high school and college may have maxed me out of my lifetime discipline quotas.

9. I’m a neat/clean-freak and a germaphobe. This doesn’t coexist very well with children. I’m learning.

10. I am a Friends fanatic. Actually, fanatic may not be strong enough. We keep all 10 seasons rotating in a DVD player in our bedroom and is what we watch before going to bed. I’ve done this for almost 10 years now. It’s an illness. And don’t even think about competing with me in a game of Friends trivia. I will crush you.

11. I struggle to find balance. In everything. Right now particularly, I’m conflicted about Christmas. I waffle between wanting a streamlined, dedicated, anti-excess Christmas (as Jen Hatmaker defines here) or an all-out, full fledged, over-extended Christmas. (However, with Dad’s situation this year, it’s all going to be different and essentially touch-and-go based on his condition. This is very hard to prepare for.)

12. 12 is one of my favorite numbers, as is 42, 72, and 172. Don’t ask. So that’s where I’ll end this little list.

Hope you enjoyed your little journey into a few of my quirks. 🙂