First we celebrated my father's graduation into Heaven. It was 2 years ago today in about 30 mins to be exact, that my dad left his earthly home for his Heavenly one. We are so thankful that he was saved one month before his passing. To celebrate we ate at one of his fave places- Sam's Deli Diner on Kirkwood- aka "Sam's Dilly Dally Diner". We also bought some new flowers to plant just like last year. We are rejoicing that he is healed and soaring on wings like eagles now! We miss you dad!
We also celebrated my sweet cousin Paige's graduation from my alma matter Stratford High School! Way to go Paige! As Leelah said, "Paige did a good job as a graduator today." I heartfeltedly agree. It was great seeing my cousins and Aunts today on such a joyous occasion. Best wishes Paige!
DiSCLAIMER: I'm not playin' at having a craft anything. This was just so fun and easy that I had to share it!
The idea came from needing cute placemats for my church's big Tabletop Tapestry event and not wanting to go scour the earth for them. Repurpose it! (saying that with some finger snaps and jazz hands for sure! Pretty sure I went ribbon-crazy all over that table. What you need: Hideous placemats you want to cover (I used 4 that weren't so hideous, but again repurpose it!) About 5 or so spools of coordinating ribbons- used some satin but mostly grosgrain Sewing machine
What you do: It's an eyeballing deal meaning no measurements.Funny I have dreadful eyesight! Pin: You're basically making a ribbon collage. I didn't want to have a pattern- more work! So I laid out all the strips- with most of the ends coming out over the placemat for a fringe-ish look. And pinned each ribbon to it's spot. Forgive the lack of pics and read the disclaimer again! Sew: Just sew a straight stitch down the middle of the ribbon- make sure you reverse stitch at the top and bottom to hold it in place. You might have to adjust the stitch length/width? -the thing that's NOT the tension- we never touch the tension for it will give you tension! I'm almost certain that's said in a home-ec class somewhere! Finishing: You could, in theory, fray-edge, clear nail polish, burn the ribbons what have you. Again more work, but a nice finished look. THat's it!
Netflix's Instant Queue: John and I just discovered this, remember we're not early adopters (marketing term: usin' that B'school knowledge), and it's pretty cool. We "stream" (we're so hip!) with our borrowed Wii. I thought it would have every movie ever created on it. I told John it was going to be "life changing" and he calmed me down. But after about 30 mins of playing around with it, he figured out what I had been saying and said "Gillian, it doesn't have every movie on here. You thought it did?" Heck yeah I thought so. Whoa. Would you really want that anyway? How would you pick? *Sigh*. Good thing I don't work at Netflix makin' people's minds explode from too many choices. We have yet to watch a full movie, except Leelah- CURSE YOU BARNEY!- because John and I just lovingly bicker about what we should watch on the queue for 30 mins while searching and then go to sleep.
LOST: Still lost. But even more so now, with no more episodes. Remember the good ol days with the hatch and no time travel? The Others- that was my favorite. I was a fan for the first half of the finale. Then it just got weird. Like a middle school dating relationshp. Kind of bummed about this.
Moonpies: John and I have decided, they're overrated. Like Bruce Springsteen (no offense). I'm just sayin'.
Scrapbooking: TOtally went to one of those scrap mania things at Archivers for the first time. It was pretty much a dream come true for me: ample amounts of scrapbooking products, popcorn, candy, pasta, pepsi, friends (see I finally mentioned them), and time to create fabulous pages! I got 3 pages done. 3. The worst part was I had a circle cutter and spent almost the entire time cutting the circles with a template with the spacer on it. IT WAS ALMOST THE DEATH OF ME. Until when leaving and paying I told the lady I didn't like the circle template- and she said "Oh it's my fave!" at which I almost emotionally punched her face. Then she pointed out the whole spacer bit. Boy did I feel sheepish! IT works like a champ now! Oh and I got to use a cricut, which was about the coolest thing ever. Thanks Katie!
Thanks so much for your prayers for my eye YAG surgery today. I'm just now regaining the mobility of my eye, which is good. It was as usual very sore afterwards, but there's nothing like 4 motrin to help stop that and start a nap! The vision is still incredibly blurred. Perhaps it will get better tomorrow or not. Whatever the case, God has me at peace and I'm thankful for any attempt at all to regain vision.
What an inspiration! I know I'm late on the bandwagon as I am just now learning about her, but I can't wait to learn more. Especially from a Christian who struggles with seeing, but doesn't struggle with SEEING. If you know what I mean.
The other night John and I watched the Blind Side. Again, late on the bandwagon! But it was so great. I love me an underdog, rags to riches story. They're my favorite really. I don't know how it came up but I was so upset afterwards. I felt so limited and yet so unlimited all at once. I was experiencing spiritual warfare right there in my bedroom. I just got all out of sorts. Poor John. I'm one of those "crumpler" people that are a teensy bit sensitive (sarcastic too...). We started talking about adoption. "But John, we can do it!" I can! Does the Lord want us to adopt? Or is my answer no because of my vision. It is extremely difficult to go to playgrounds without John or close friends to see what and where Leelah goes. That is just one particular example. How could I keep up with two? Is the enemy putting this in my head or common sense from the Lord? Sounds like I need to pray more and listen to the Lord. Isn't that the answer for everything? Well, it should be. If the Lord wants us to have more children then our only option is adoption and then it would have to be private or seriously a basket/someone standing (age range doesn't matter) on a door.
But I just had this nagging in my heart. People with physical limitations, in some ways we almost see more clearly than anyone else does. Excuse me, there is this nit-wit who buzzes his over-loud motorcycle every morning at 7:21 am on our street- today it's at 7:27- he's late!!! ARRRGHHHH that cannot be streetlegal. Where was I? I mean think about it. When you have cancer or have a family member that does, you really see a lot. You see compassion. You see the Lord in all sorts of ways and people. You see what people think and do when the earthly end is near for them or someone they love. What have I seen? So many things. What is pressing most now at my heart to say is that I've seen the Jesus in people. Being a person with low-vision and having a dad graduate to Heaven has helped me do that. Maybe I wouldn't have seen Jesus in people and things as clearly as I did with better vision. It's helped me learned to rest, because honestly I have to. It's helped me learn to take help from others. Did you know not taking help from people is actually not letting the helpers be blessed? You wouldn't want that would you? And boy, are we blessed by it too~! Thank you blessing friends- you are precious to me! I've learned that when you need rides for a lot of situations, you can learn all about someone simply from being chaffeured. My friends probably think I'm writing a book when they drive me around! I've learned to be kind, or try to, to every single person. The techs, the nurses, the docs, the receptionists, the waiting room friends, the parking attendant lady, the cleaning crew, etc. Why not? If they can't see someone going through a hardship with God on their side, then what am I doing with this? I've also learned to not be easily offended. So many people just don't know what to say or do. We, people with the vision, should go easy on them! Thank you Lord, for your (pro)vision!
A verse that is my friend, "Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light."- Micah 7-8. p.s. eye procedure number 7 is happening MOnday- please pray for restored vision in the left eye if that is the Lord's will and my acceptance of whatever happens! Thank you!
DUDES. SO the other day, Monday to be exact, I had gotten a little perturbed at my left eyeball- aka "drama queen". It had been hurting. Now you know it just had the killer-painful op about a month ago, so I was beginning to get a little nervous thinking that it might be infected. I've been down that road before and let me tell you- yikes, stripes, Fruit Stripes gum- it's not fun.
So I called the doc at 2ish. Can you be in at 4:15? Yep. So I called the husb, "Hey John gotta run me down to the BEC- Baylor Eye Clinic- again.
Mind you, I had places to be- it was Moms @ Second's last meeting which I really didn't want to miss. So we hightailed it only to wait. Not 3 -7 hrs as in past with Dr. Hamill, but for about an hr. Thank goodness for John's blackberry - Leelah totally disney channeled up that thing.
Dr. Yeu comes in after they checked my vision. She then checks it out and says she'll have to remove the suture. What the what what? When is that going to happen I nervous-laugh-ask- "now". Then I asked, "how?" and she said "with a needle and tweezers." Oh okay, no problem. WHAT!>!>!>!?!?!?
Wait. Here's what I saying to my self, "Self, she's gotta be tired. It's 5:40. And now she's going to poke my eye with a needle and then tweeze out a stitch?"
So I keep stalling her and making stupid jokes about the board game Operation. It wasn't my best set, I was tired and in pain. But she gets out the needle and I to refer to an old cheerleading term, "squeezed the penny" and held still like a well person getting their eyeball sewn! I looked left like you wouldn't believe. It was gross y'all. But Dr. Y is a champ. Pulled the sucker out like seam-ripping. It didn't feel great, but it was numbed.
No joke, my m@S mtg was across town at 6:40. John dropped me off at the church at 6:39. I had totally had an eye suture removed in less than an hr all freaky-deaky like and managed to go to my meeting.
Tales from the opthamologist office. Gotta love it right? Oh and let me tell you, last time we were there John saw a bottle of "Eye lid cleanser". No one should have to see that.
YAG laser got moved up to the 24th. Still seeing blood vision- gross and now the membrane is making it foggy. Will continue to keep on keeping on!
Disclaimer: These appear to be only for girls. However, boys can still read and laugh. Backstory: These were uttered LOUDLY without any prompting or prior discussing -in the swiffer/home care aisle at the Super Targie- i.e. where all my cares get taken away and popcorn falls freely on the floor- sorry about that! Rule Number One: "We must NOT pee like men. We must only pee like girls not standing up always." (yeah I was totally hilariously freaked out)
Rule Number Two: "Do not touch someone's dog until they say you can or your can't." (I get it!)
Rule Number Three: "Don't talk to strangers." (Totally but we call them "don't knows")
Rule Number Four: "You do not touch someone's baby or belly until you ask." (we've got a lot of fertile friends)
Rule Number Ten: "Do not let anyone get your coupon." Take that Leviticus!!!
And just further evidence that my kid's funny (apologize for shoving it in your face!) we went to the beach - Galveston "where the sand and the water are the same color"- the other day just for kicks. Whilst picking up quasi-seashells and avoiding trash on the seawall we heard Leelah imitating a seagull: See untitled post- yeah I'm not skilled enough. We had a fun eating and shopping! We LOVE eating at this killer-good pizza joint on the seawall called "Papa's Pizza"- not to be confused with Papa John's as it's not a chain. If you get a chance- go you'll love it!
UPDATE: A love letter from the Lord:"Even when you ar eold, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you." Isaiah 46:4, NCV Just came across this verse in the awesome book, So Long Insecurity, You've Been a Friend to Us by Beth Moore (our new Cookbook Book Club read!). Thank you Lord!
Some of you know, I'm a lifetime member in the "Mama Drama Club" as I call it. Does the title explain it enough, because I really cannot divulge further. Let's just say, I'm not afraid of Christian counseling. Yeah, I said it. I go to counseling. How do you like them apples? They're tart and green. Speaking of Good Will Hunting, I have had the whole tough exterior why am I here moment to the bawling hug the God-send counselor moment a la Matt Damon. Does it make me less of a person to own up that I need help? I would say no. Thank the Lord our church offers counseling! I mean come on.
What brings all this counseling talk on? Mother's day.
This is the first year that I've actually delved in to processing the holiday. The first year that I've really processed what it means to me. When I was expecting Leelah, I didn't know if I should even celebrate it for myself or what in the world to do. The next year I was still taking it for granted. Year after that we were in crises mode. And this year, well, it's really slapped me in the face.
My God-given friends know my earthly parents situation or absence of. Not many 29 yr olds face sudden orphaning. But then there are some that have always been orphaned. People that lose both their parents suddenly and so on and so forth. My heart breaks for them.
What has the Lord shown me through this pain of losing 2 parents? That He is my mother and father. A while back I found all of my pictures, baby keepsakes, certificates, etc all from my childhood in a big black garbage bag. Some stuff even in the trash. I was in the garage clinging on to them and crying. Why? Why Lord? Why is this happening? I think of how I save every little bit of Leelah's pics, drawings, flowers (dead/living), I journal all her words almost and funny-isms. Almost to the point of me being on A&E or TLC or something for hoarding. I have drawn a line, but you get it. So for me to see all my precious moments trashed, I was crushed. THat's when I heard the Lord clearly speak to my heart, "Little one, I have all your memories. I have all your pictures. I got you. I am your parent. You are mine and I love you." I immediately felt warmth.
I took this complaint or concern or query to my counselor. I asked her if it was okay if I claimed John's mom, my mom-in-love, as a mother figure in my life. She said it was. It was so great to hear this advice. So thankful for her, as she has been so sweet and so caring. Loving me like Jesus does.
In the book, Captivating, the Eldreges write how you can even have good girlfriends be mothers to your soul. Isn't that refreshing? I know a couple of friends who with kind words or stern advice dust off my heart wings and set it soaring. What a blessing.
So God has shown me that I can celebrate my mom-in-love. That He is both my parents- and seriously, does it get any better? And Leelah. THat sweet baby girl is what makes my Mother's Day. I'm her mother. I thank God for showing me His truth to free me so I can rely on Him to make me the parent I need to be for her. She is my heart. I may have not known love when I was girl. I know it now- praise Jesus! And now I get to show Jesus love to my little angel.
Happy Mother's Day Friends. Here's to celebrating all the women in our lives who mother us! May God bless them all. :)
Last night was the famous Tabletop Tapestry at our church. The sanctuary is filled with 130-150 tables of 8 women/table and the tables are knock-you-socks-off gorgeous! I have attended 4 times. This time and last year I decorated my own table. Thankfully, I had help from Randi- THANKS RANDI!!!!- I could NOT have done it without you sweet friend! There were also a lot of donators of heels, purses, pink, green, etc- thanks for your help too! And I had a lunch delivery from Tina- phew as I was getting "Hangry- hungry+angry". As well as Lesly and Stephanie for helping me cast a vision! Our theme was Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." THe pink, black and white table was sort of an all things glitz, glam and gussied up! I had to throw Mr. Saturday Night in there (i.e. the 7ft tall Pink Flamingo I got from an antiques store many years ago). Of course he stole the show! And a life lesson I learned "Ribbons make everything better". Note the ribbon placemats- take an ugly placemat and sew a whole mess of cute ribbon on it! All your problems are solved! The green, black and white table was heels and purses! Does it get any better? Oh and I did end up having the 2 white plates that are missing in the pic. Apparently, I never learned to count. Will I ever do 2 tables again. It's not likely. As it took us 2 whole days to set up. But the speaker was fabulous! The food was divine and the fellowship was the best part! So glad my sis and mom in love got to join me for the evening. I didn't get any human pics. I was too beyond to bring my camera to the actual event. Just the set up.
Here are some of my faves- which actually won the prizes! These are real 50's inspired cakes!!!
And my sweet and talented friend Lesly's table: IT's as beautiful as she! And my other favorite Bible Study Class the Higher Definition's tables: Missing the luau one for some strange reason- it was super cute!!!
And other faves that stole my heart!!: Just looking at these tables makes my body tired. What a bunch of talented ladies!!
