Quotables

Me: "Did you know that Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world? Seriously, it's because they marry them off at 13 and 14 and the terrain is mountainous and hilly. The villages are in the middle of the mountains and there are no doctors, so they die."

Kathren: "And Katie, that’s no surprise to God. He’s sovereign and He knows that, and He didn’t put YOU in charge of fixing it."

____________

Me: Walking in to Carlene singing Veggie Tale songs to her three-month old.

Me: "You're indoctrinating him at a young age."

Carlene: "Yes, isn't that why you have kids?"

Goodwill Hunting

It has been a few months since I have made it to the Goodwill 50% off sale, but last night was worth the wait. I've noticed that most shopping trips tend to revolve around one type of item. For example, some days I'll find tons of great dresses, other days lots of sweaters. Today was a pants day. Here is the break down:

21 pairs of pants for seven different recipients

2 pairs of capris

1 pair of shorts

1 vintage dress

1 pair of Nine West shoes

1 top from Theory

1 glass bowl tinted beige

1 glass vase with a painted gold rim

$59.25 total

Friends, I do not jest. Lest you think I am foisting rags on my friends and family, I will share that the brands included: 7 for All Mankind, Ann Taylor, Apostrophe, Banana Republic, Billy Blues, Club Monoco, Coldwater Creek, Express, Gap, J Crew, Levis, the Limited, Lucky, Lux, Mossimo, Old Navy, and ZD.

Today at work

Me: Focusing on transferring the McElroy's application to Peru-Arequipa from 2010 to 2011. Slowly becoming aware that there is a conversation taking place about a marvelous, life-changing, essential office product that I probably should acquire.

Tony: Oh, I was just looking for them. Are there any left?

Bill: I'm not sure if there are any in there, but I keep some in my drawer so that I have a supply. Here, do you want some?

Tony: Oh, yeah, these are great. So, you keep your own stash?

Bill: Well, yeah. 

Tony: That's a good idea.

Me: Wait, what are you guys talking about?

Tony: Smarties.

--Pause--

Me: Ohhhh....

Bill: We're having a manly conversation, Katie. So bug off!

____________

Me: Reading a 2010 application to the Guatemala outreach.

Question: Describe a stressful situation and how you responded.

Applicant: I was a pastor's wife for 26 years and survived.

Can't?

Brief thought for the night before going to sleep: lately I've told God, "I can't do this, so You're going to have to do something" when actually I know that I am capable. He reminds me of this, and I have to admit that what I really mean is that "this" -- whatever emotional feat or task -- is more draining or painful than I want to sacrifice. I basically think I will be a wreck at the end. Thus, failing, "can't." So there is a difference between genuinely "can't" and "can't without collapsing." I do think He can help us with both, but I need to be more honest about the really, really don't want to's because it seems indecently hard. Silly M.O. with God.

Sorry this is so incoherent, but sleep has been elusive. I know I'm putting it badly, but I guess I'm trying to capture the difference between asking God for help and wimping out. Sometimes I ask God for  help, and He tells me, "You know you can do it, but it's going to be hard." However, by and large, He helps out. I do not want to be one of those people who waits until they come to the end of their own strength before asking God for help, but neither do I want to be someone who does not stand and fight and believe God's promises.


The end for now.

Brighter Days

I really love this Leeland song and have had it much on my mind. However, when I went to YouTube to look it up, I found out that it was on the "Fireproof" soundtrack. Okay, that was a setback, but I can get over that. I mean, yes, "Fireproof" was super cheesy, but it had a good message. Then I find a YouTube video that is NOT from "Fireproof" and the submitter put this: 

"this song is about like if our mom tells us that we need to clean our room how we always say 'O, I'll do that when I aint tired or when I'm feelen beter' but then we dont do it... and then it aint perty our mom comes in there like the next day and says 'uhh!?!... i told ya to clean the room up last week and you still havnt done it'...that we need to just do what were told insted of complainen or geten upset and kusing a buch of exuses and just obey our mom like GOD wants us to and it make you happy and it'll make your mom SUPER happy."

Hello? Vastly different interpretation. Way to ruin my emo moment! So I had to laugh.

Time keeps moving on
Through the sunshine and the storm
And my dreams are set in stone
And someday I'll be who I want to be
For now I'll wait
For the sun to shine again
And for now I'll wait
For the rain to pass away

And I'm looking for the brighter days
When all my hurts seem to fade away
I'm looking for the brighter days to come my way

Faces come and faces go
But none seem to look my way
And walls have stood and walls have fallen
But my heart seems to wait
For now I'll sit at the end of the road
And for now I'll wait
At the end of the pathway

I'll see the sun one day shine upon me
I'll see the sun one day
And watch the nighttime turn to morning
But for now it all comes back around