Lindsee Lou

Many of my blog readers also frequent the blog of Lindsee Lou. (If you haven't been there, I have linked her there on the left. You should go there, it is fun). However, what some of you many not know is that she is my best friend!

Lindsee and I grew up together. And I could not mean that more literally. I do not remember not knowing her. We were toddlers together and went on up from there. We were always involved in the same activities and church functions. She is like family to me and I love her and her precious heart!

One thing that blogland does not get to experience, however, is her "Lindseeisms". You see, sometimes Linds' mouth gets a little ahead of her brain, and sometimes things come out a little wrong. (In her blogs, she is typing so everything comes out crystal clear). Allow me to give a few examples of the times when things don't come out so clear.

Lindsee and I were out running errands together when I stepped out of the car to get something in a store. I got back in the car just as Lindsee was hanging up the phone with Sally, who we were meeting in a few minutes. This is the conversation that followed:
Lindsee: "Okay, so Sally called, and that's why she called".
Jen: "Okay... I'm gonna need the middle part of that story"

She also has her own words, like when her allergies are acting up, she says she is feeling "Allergetic". For reals. It's part of me and Joanna's vocabulary now.

She went through a phase in highschool when she would say "Lindsee es muy consada" about 45 times a day.

She likes to say "parched" and "famished" instead of thirsty and hungry.

My most favorite though, (which I just remembered recently) happened our senior year of highschool. We were at camp for the weekend. A very sad event occured there, however, as we had just discovered that a VERY close family friend of both me and Lindsee had very unexpectedly passed away. We cried all night. Later that night we went back to our cabin to go to sleep. I was in the top bunk and Lindsee was sleeping in the bunk bed directly below me. I remember thinking all night and crying off and on and just being so sad for our friend. I heard Lindsee sniffling and moving around below me so I decided to see if she was awake... this is the conversation that followed:

Jen (whispering): "Linds, are you awake?"
Linds (whispering): "Yeah, are you?"
Jen: silence.....
Linds (whispering): "Oh wait, that was a dumb question!"

Girls, on that very sad evening we giggled into our pillows for 15 minutes. The cabin was full of other sleeping girls and we were trying to contain ourselves. I remember thinking in my head how thankful I was to laugh with my best friend during such a sad moment. We almost peed our pants!

She was the maid of honor in my wedding.... and now we live a whole state apart!! And to make matters worse, our precious Joanna (the 3rd musketeer) lives in MONTANA now! And our 4th bestie, Sally Ann is moving to NORTH AFRICA at the end of this month. We are all so spread out, but I am so so thankful for my friends.

I am so glad that everyone in blogland gets to see her precious heart and joyful spirit. She truly is a treasure to me and everyone that knows her!! (P.S. We spent 10 minutes cracking up on the phone today trying to decide how you pronounce "meme"- so if anyone could shed some light, we'd greatly appreciate it!)

XOXO

Even Then

More and more everyday, I realize that I am always learning. God is always teaching me something to help make me a better friend, wife, daughter, sister, employee... and He's revealed something to me recently that shows me more about God's unconditional love and faithfulness than ever before. Here's what I have recently discovered about me:

I don't fully come to God if I don't feel like I have it altogether. If it's a bad day, or I'm too tired, or the house is a mess, or the laundry isn't done, or I sat on my bootie and did nothing for 5 hours, or I haven't put any effort into much of anything for awhile, I don't come to God. I don't come to Him with requests, thanksgiving, praise or anything.

I DO come to Him when things are going well. My house is clean. There is dinner on the table. All of my clothes are put away. My car is washed. I made the bed this morning. I got alot conquered at work today. That is when I come to Him fully, and pray with my whole heart. Something in my head goes, "Okay Jen, now is the time you can talk to Jesus. Everything is in it's place". I have a hard time coming to Him if everything isn't just right.

Girls, that is SO not how our God works! It's so sad because those times when I don't have it altogether is when I need Him the MOST. When I think about the subconsious behind it, I see that the reason I am not coming to Him when my life is a mess is because I am ashamed, and I know that my life isn't glorifying Him. However, God loves us more than that.

He loves you even when you can only be classified as a hot mess. He loves you when you spent the better part of your Sunday afternoon watching horribly predictable Lifetime movies. He loves you when you have no motivation, no enthusiasm, and no will-power. He loves you when your house is a mess and your laundry is piling up.

I am (once again) quoting a Nichole Nordeman song that helped reveal this entire situation to me.

Even Then by Nichole Nordeman

It's a fear that keeps me wide awake
In the middle of the night
When the expectations are too great
And the bar is raised to high

So I do the best with what I've got
And hope that no one knows
That I strain to see how high I can
Try to stand on these toes
Until I'm measured, but You know better

So thank You, Jesus
Even when You see us just as we are
Fragile, frail and so far from who we want to be
Thank You, Jesus
Even when the pieces are broken and small
Dreams shatter and scatter like the wind
Thank You even then...

So I put aside the masquerade
And admit that I am not okay
Which may not be the thing to say
But I'm not ashamed to need You more each day

So thank You, Jesus
Even when You see us just as we are
Fragile, frail, and so far from who we want to be
Thank You, Jesus
Even when the pieces are broken and small
Dreams shatter and scatter like the wind
Thank You even then...

We raise the standard and try to reach You
But we'll never get there, and we don't need to

So thank You, Jesus
Even when you see us just as we are
Fragile, and frail and so far from who we want to be
Thank You, Jesus
Even when the pieces are broken and small
Dreams shatter, and scatter like the wind
Thank You even then....

She states so clearly what I'm trying to say. WE DON'T NEED TO BE PERFECT. God asks that we strive to do everything with excellence, but He never says "But I shalt not love you on your off-days". I am so thankful that we serve a God of mercy and compassion.

What bothers me most is that when I am in those pits are the times that I need Jesus the most to pull me out. It's one of those simple solutions that I just refuse to see for some reason. God is not a God of shame.

I don't know if I am the only one who does this, but if I'm not, please know, sweet sister, that He loves you the just the same, even when you don't have it altogether. Take a deep breath.

Picture Time!

Good morning ladies! It's a beautiful Saturday here in Baton Rouge. Grant thinks it's a PERFECT day to play golf, while I think it is a PERFECT day to get a pedicure! :) Opposites attract ya'll!

Last night we had a little date. We decided to try a new restaurant (well, new to us) called Mezza Luna. Not so good. But it wasn't our typical choice and we were proud that we tried something new!

I took a few pictures last night before we left the house.

Here is Moxie and Me, how precious is he??

Here is Moxie and his dad, who shortly after this picture was taken shaved all that scruff off of hsi face :)

And finally, here is the happy couple. I do love date nights with my husband!

Okay dear friends, I hope everyone has a great Saturday! Love to all!

Tall Black Boots

It's been a pretty non-eventful few days here. This week has been filled with working, sleeping, and watching my husband play a silly little game called Halo 3. I thought my husband was the only husband doing this, but no. Last night he was playing with FOUR other married men, all of which have a job to wake up to, yet they are all playing Halo 3. I am friends with a few of those ladies and we've discussed before that our husbands are using the tv too much :) I'm sure all of the wives are thinking the same thing I am though. Atleast I know I'm not alone.

I am ready for it to be cooler outside. I'm not quite ready for winter weather (not that Louisiana gets much of a winter) but I would like to retire my summer clothes. I have some sweaters I would like to wear. And my boots. And my denim jacket. The south does not get much of a fall, sometimes it seems that summer just turns directly into winter. Joanna (who lives in Montana) is beginning a full fledged winter up there! Sending you big warm hugs my precious friend!

So ladies, what are you looking forward to wearing again as the weather changes? :)