she's golden

About six months ago I reached the quarter century mark, and I've been waiting for my bff to join me ever since. Today is her golden day, 25 on the 25th. Along that vein here's 25 golden things that i just love about her...

1. she belts out country with the best of them (she always knows the words where as i have to hum along alot.)

2. she read just as speedy as i - often staying up late just to finish that latest book

3. she hearts basketball - has her entire life which speaks to her steadfast nature which i adore.

4. she could watch HGTV all day and more power to her i say - and while I adore it as well, she and i think so differently so we make an awesome team, she's so practical and straight forward - she's walked through my crap with me and given me such awesome insight - thanks E!

5. shallow but her hair is just plain awesome.

6. she backs you up. i know that she has my back without asking - and often she defends me and the other person doesn't even know they've been served. :o)

7. she loves jesus and continues to be authentic in her relationship with him.

8. she enjoys her family - she seems to grow closer with all of them as she gets older.

9. she makes me laugh - she makes lots of people laugh.

10. she adores shoes - and has a whole lot of them! and man, does she have good taste.

11. speaking of taste - she's willing to take risks and try new things with her style. and she does it well.

12. she taught me about memory foam and may have saved my back...

13. even when we don't live in the same city she stays on the up and up - teaching me the meaning of friendship

14. she loves her dogs

15. she's not afraid of color and pattern

16. she consistently stays positive and encouraging.

17. she remembers the details and gives good gifts.

18. she continually introduces me to knew music - she has an adventurous spirit.

19. she's loyal

20. she's extremely hard working - she kicks my butt daily.

21. she's generous and caring

22. she's willing to put other's needs before her own.

23. she challenges the people she cares about but in a mature and loving way.

24. she's helpful

25. she's beautiful. Outside and In.

thanks E for being an amazing bff for all these years - here's to the next 25

today was a 7

have you been asked to rate your pain on a scale of one to ten? Ten being the most pain you've ever had? Well, today I was asked to rate my happiness, one being just plain bad and ten being I'd died and gone to heaven i was so happy, those were my therapists definitions. I told her 7.

I had a wonderful 4th, I got to hang out with some very lovely ladies. Women who love God, who love their husbands, who are somewhat close to my age and who are excited to have me move to Seattle and hang out with them. Being with them, chatting with them, it gave me hope. I'm encouraged and hopeful about my next step. God has been faithful in this unemployment journey of sprinkling encouragement and infusing me with hope.

First, the day after losing my job I had a pretty formal party slash event to attend at which I saw friends who are either moving to seattle or already live there, they were all excited and encouraging about my moving. It lifted me up, made me feel just a little bit more like myself. And it gave me the courage to face this summer of not really having a job.

Then, Lisa had her last talk at the INN and a little something sweet of a going away party, there at both of those events I was struck by what an influence both Lisa and the INN have had on my life. The real desire of mine to be in community with those people and new people - to continue to grow in my relationship with God. I was challenged and again encouraged to face my unknown future with a smile.

Around that time I started therapy, which being honest was pretty lame those first couple weeks. Lame, because well, I've haven't been making the best choices, and I needed to face that. My brain is tired, I've been working it hard these last four weeks. And today I'm hopeful because the re-thinking, the new muscles I'm building in my noggin are working, I'm taking myself to a place where I want to be. Where I need to be.

So today was a 7. Yes, there are still some serious doubts. For one, why the H isn't my condo selling? Everyday I wake up and think "this is an awesome place to live, why aren't people seeing that?" Well, duh, no one has money right now, but still!! I've worked hard to make this place my home, and I really think someone else is going to like it even more than I do. So instead of being an 8, I'm a 7 because I just don't seem to have much patience.

Things worked out today, I saw God's fingerprints in some very practical simple ways, and I'm thankful for them. I'm thankful he's put people in my life like E who can listen and help me process and give me brilliant advice. Like my sis who I can look to for an example for where I need to grow in my life right now. For Bethany who love to asks me the hard questions. For Dana who is so forgiving when i do silly things like take my measurements wrong.

Now as I go into this week, ( i know it's the middle of the week) I'm praying for patience, and for secure hope in God's plan. The future is scary, but I'm beginning to dream again.