Bridesmaid Blather...

My teeth feel crazy.

I'm doing the whitestrips thing for the first time and it's kind of freaking me out. 30 minutes is a long time to have that stuff on your grill. I hope it works. I'm kind of worried that it might only whiten pieces of my teeth? That would be awkward. I can't believe I'm even putting things on my teeth. They better not fall out. OoOoOo.... no.

I'm surrounded by clothes. And shoes. I am packing. Everyone else wrote an O.C. flavored post, and I didn't want to be left out so... here I am!

*da dat da dat* Rock you like a hurricane! *da dat da dat dat da da*

Sorry.

I still wish we had Guitar Hero.

Or a puppy.

But I'm glad we don't have one right now because we'd have to try and figure out where to put it while we're gone to Cali. We do need someone to feed littleBocafish while we're gone though. And water my plants. (Did I really just say that?) I mean, they might be okay, but... probably not.

I'm pretty dang excited about my reunion with my roommates. And the Pacific Ocean. And In-N-Out Burger. And flip-flops. I'm pretty excited that its going to be 29 degrees in Nashville on Thursday and 73 degrees in Orange County.

But it hasn't entirely hit me yet. That my roommate is about to be married. Rings and cake and brand new appliances and sharing covers and a new last name. For real. I can't wrap my head around it yet. I think it'll hit me when they kiss. I'll be standing there with eye makeup all over my face and my hair blowing every which way, realizing that this day that she's wondered about her entire life will be-- all happening. Right then.

Whew!

I better get all this stuff in my bag. :)

It's The Little Things...

"Fuh. Whatcha doin that fuh?"

"Crut? Kret? Crit? Crit! Crit-- right? Did I say it right?"

"No, little crazy! You're crrrrrazy... Crrrazy... I'm crazy for FEELIN!! so loneLEEEE oVERRRR yoooo.... Crrrrazy..."

"If I was a... well, you know."

...I miss my roommate.

Without her, we are just a duo. Just a Guinness & Bass. Which might make our saucer boys happy-- but we'd much rather be the NCM song.

***

"Crikey! Have a look at this girl, she's bEAU'iful!"

"What's wrong, Possum? Bless 'er Lord. Just give 'er a pat..."

"Thirdeen, fourdeen..."

"I can't be bothered, I can't be bothered..."

"Get stuffed! Don't be GAY! You girls are soft!"

And last but not least--

"May I please have a back tickle?"

(sigh)

I also miss my Swan.

Post Bon Voyage

Okay first this: waitless.org hilarious, occasionally practical ways to save time in everyday life.

Now for an update-- for those who don't know, my roommate Holly recently acquired a spot on the entertainment crew of the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship, the Gem. Along with a crew of 12 dancers and 4 other singers, she will be spending the next 7 months singing in shows while cruising through the Mediterranean and up and down the US Eastern seaboard. The opportunity is a Godsend and we are SO proud of/excited for her-- even though we're missing her terribly already!

So this past Thursday, I made my way to the airport 3 times in one day. First I took Kisha (she went to Texas for the weekend), then Holly (to Germany to board the Gem), and finally Swannymate (back to Australia for a year and a half!) It was an emotionally exhausting day, and with Heather making wedding plans in Florida, I spent most of my weekend chillin at home alone.

And in that free time, I did some thinking. About my whole issue with trusting God.

I started thinking about it on the way home from the airport when I dropped Swanny off. I started thinking about how grateful I am that the majority of my friendships are going to last for eternity. I started crying over the ones that won't (at least not of this moment). I prayed for those. I thanked God for my incredible friends who continually draw me into his presence and encourage me to venture there on my own.

Thinking about my wealth of wonderful friends took my brooding in yet another direction. The divine wisdom of God. God knew the desires of my heart long before I got to ACU. He knew how I longed for true friendship. But it wasn't the kind of thing I brought up with Him on a daily basis. Still, because He knew exactly what I needed, He put Kisha in my life. He put Val & Dani in my life. He put the Oxford Crew in my life. He put Benjamin and Tim Sayles in my life. He put Holly and Jared and Robert and Swanny and Jamie and Barlowe and Tobin and David in my life. He filled my whole life up with amazing, fascinating people—people I couldn't imagine life without—who I didn't even ask for. I never dreamed up a best friend or a posse for myself. I never agonized over who I would walk through life in my twenties with on a daily basis. But He in His great wisdom, simply and exquisitely ordained all these people to be placed in my path. Without any prompting from me, He has met every one of my needs—and many of my wants as well.

This made me think— how many more amazing things does He have planned for my life that have to do with the people and things I have been comunicating with Him about on a daily basis? Namely my future husband, but also in terms of career ops and possibilities, who knows what miraculous stuff He's up to on the DL? If He can perfect something I haven't had consistent dialogue with him about, how much more is He tailoring my future to calm every anxiety of my heart? Clearly, I have every reason to trust Him. He's given me every reason to trust Him. In fact, I'd be crazy to do anything but that. He's the only one who's ever truly been completely faithful to me, the only one who's made good on every promise He's made to me. He's the only one it makes any sense to trust—and yet so often, I place my trust in his busted up kids, and then wonder how my heart and my plans get so broken.

So now that what I need to remember and how I need to act are here in black and white in front of me, I have no excuse. Hopefully I'll come back and read this next time I get stupid and try to rely on anyone other than Him for my happiness and fullfillment.


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21

Mind-Blowing Adultness

I'd just like to say that

I now have a friend who assists in performing surgeries.

And I have a friend that can deliver babies.

How grown up is that?!

Watching/hearing about all my friends turning into super cool and noble grown up people is one of my very favorite things.

:)

36 Hours of Awesome

I can't believe I haven't told you about this!!!

Okay, so Monday was Saffire Cleaning Day. Which meant I had to be at work at 10am. That, combined with the fact that last weekend there was a Grace Chapel Baptism Bash, and that I'd been thinking about getting some writing done, persuaded me to relinquish the idea of a day trip and stay in Franklin rather than drive all the way up to Mt. Juliet to spend Sunday at the lakehouse.

(Backstory: Swanny's friends with a lady who lets him stay at her beautiful Real World-esque lake house, and use her beautiful speedboats and water toys, so long as he cleans it all up for her. Last weekend, we found out about 4pm on Saturday afternoon that we were invited to come up and play.)

But then, I realized that there's one more Baptism Bash to go before summer ends. And then Jared and Handsome Rob hand delivered our "new" washer and dryer, which crossed one more thing off my list, and then Jared also decided to go to the lakehouse. That made the lakehouse roster Swanny, Matty, Jake, Jared, Holla & Kish. So, seeing as how 2/3rds of T3 does not a Trizzo make, and feeling as though I would probably miss out by staying home, I packed two days worth of summer clothes in about fifteen minutes, left my stuff with my roommates, and headed to work. Then, following a less than profitable Saturday night at the 'Fire, I jumped in my car and traveled a little less than an hour North to the lake house.

It turned into the best 36 hours of-- probably the whole summer.

I got there and everyone was hanging out on the upper deck, above the boats. Kish & Matt were talking in the grass, so I climbed the scary spiral staircase (which I later learned was covered in massive spiders. It's amazing what you'll do when you don't know what you're doing.) And listened to Jake play guitar and watched Holly jump off the deck into the dark lake.

After an hour, we went back to the house so Jake & I could change into swimsuits. From there, we jumped into the Jacuzzi, where epic shenanigans ensued for about the next three hours. It was amazing and absolutely hilarious. Truth or Dare just never gets old.

Later that night, the boys suffered through Jammin In Jamaica, Matty & Jake left to head back to Franklintown, and Holly and I launched into another full fledged wrestling match with the Crocodile Hunter that left us-- marked, to say the least. I still have some bruises. He's feisty, that one is. Holla & I have learned our lesson 2 or 3 times over now, but we're just too stubborn to admit defeat. Me, Kish & Holla went to bed around 5:30 am, and woke up the next morning to Swanny jumping on our bed singing about flying carpets and whole new worlds. And bless his heart, he's one of my favorite people in the world, but don't look for him on The Singing Bee anytime soon. ;)

We all got up, got dressed, ate Lucky Charms and headed out to the boat where we spent the next two hours flying across the lake. It was one of the best moments of my life. It was magical. I could not pry myself off the nose of the boat. Later, under pressure of being thrown in if we dared refuse, we jumped in and swam in the delightful murky fish water. And on the way home, I let the wind blow dry my hair and it was all halfro and fabulous.

Came back to dock, since we were nearly out of gas, and made burgers for lunch. Jared's grill skills are impeccable. We tore those things up! Jared and Kish took powernaps while Holly and I went on an *adventure to round up more gasoline. After a few hours passed, we loaded up the boats again and headed back out to a spot called Two Foot Cove. Upon finding it, we cranked up Luna Halo, dropped anchor, jumped out and wandered through the crowd of Weekend Warriors, hoping to start a volleyball game on the court set up in the center of the cove. We did start a game, and we won! :) Jared,-- excuse me, Liam Westerbridge-- pretended to be his British alter-ego and we acquired Jello shots from a neighboring boater who was happy that Kish & I were representin the black population at the lake. :) Then we got back in the boat, sped across the lake and got ready for dinner.

While waiting on Jared to grill the steaks, we watched Big Brother and I played with the beautiful lab puppy from next door. Then I drank my very first Red Stripe (Hooray Beer!) and ate the best steak I've had in a long time. Holy cow, it was amazing. Mmmm!

We cleaned up from dinner, grabbed ice cream and fireworks and headed out to the dock to shoot them off. After almost blowing ourselves up/setting things on fire, we walked back to the boat dock where we all jumped in and cruised out to the center of the lake. We sat there until the water turned to glass and the stars glowed bright. Lightning 100 provided the background soundtrack as we told stories, answered questions and began to think for the first time about how much we're going to miss Swanny in about a month.

Pulling back into port, we bid the boat farewell, showered and said goodbye to Jared. Then we all fell asleep in Swanny's giant bed watching tv until someone woke up and made everyone go brush their teeth and go to bed for real.

Next morning, Kish & I headed back to Franktown and the real world, talking the whole way home about how happy we were that we'd gone. It was truly the best 36 hours I've had in a long time, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.


* By adventure, I mean Holly spilled gas all over her swimsuit coverup and it was so hot outside that I'm surprised she didn't just explode right there.

Like Accidentally Winning The Lottery. Only Better.

I just want everyone, the whole online world, in fact to have access to this fact:

That I have the best, best friend in the universe.

I didn't do anything to deserve it. In fact, I don't even know quite how it happened, except that God is brilliant and hilarious and made it so. What I do know is that Kish and I are family by choice and that life is amazing with her in it. What a great feeling to be confident that nowhere on Earth is off limits if we go together! I can't think of a better road lizard to have for the rest of my single adult life.

We've often said that our friendship is like a great marriage; total security, blatant honesty, a practically filter-free existence. I mean, have you ever wished there was someone in your life you could bare your soul to? Even about stupid, ridiculous things? Ever wish someone would see through you and call you out on the shit in your life? Ever wish someone could see the real you and still love you enough to walk through life with you on a daily basis?

My best friend does/is all of the above.

My best friend is actually a ton of things—no one who meets her could ever forget her. She was the first person in my world outside my immediate family to love me enough to speak the truth in love to me when I needed it most. She's my brakes when I'm about to do something stupid, like settle for something/one less than God's best for me, or send a toxic email. (Some of you reading this could literally be thanking her right now for being my brakes. ;) )

So yeah, my bff? She's a character, that one. She'd make a great addition to a sitcom or even a reality tv show. She's hilarious. I really don't even think she tries; she just speaks her mind, and the delivery is comedic serendipity. Not to mention, she tells the parrot joke better than anyone else in the world. :) She also knows how to deal with me so well that it's crazy. My future husband would be smart to pull her aside for a debriefing before he pops the question. It'd be enlightening to say the least.

Kish is so many things that I love. She's an aroma junkie who doesn't waste her time hiding her emotions behind a fake smile. She is a passionate cake baker and a terrifying sneezer. She's a PTA Mom in training and a Krispy Kreme donuts' worst nightmare. She can also walk out of the house in a babydoll shirt and formal shorts and cowboy boots and somehow, it's okay. She is the best person to spill your guts to and the best person to laugh your guts out with. She is the best listener, the best relater, the best encourager and the best partner in crime EVER.

(By the way, if you happen to be reading this and you happen to be in love with her, know that you are gonna have to come right and come strong to captivate her heart. Because if you even think about messing with her head or disrespecting her or making her feel like she's too much or not enough or tryin to leave her?! I will box you. I will box you so hard you won't remember your own birthday. M'kay? :) But seriously.)

She is so strong, so respectful and so caring. She is a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. She is protective and loyal and full of grace. She is a delight when she's happy, but to see her brokenhearted for the downtrodden will bless your soul. She has the heart of a servant, a divine amount of patience, and she is so incredibly forgiving. She will be an incredible mom, and she also has a beautiful heart for the elderly. She sure will crack your face in love when you need it, but also be the first one rubbing your back when you're drowning in tears.

She also drives frighteningly close to the steering wheel.

But she's a badass parallel parker. :)

She listens to my crap, any time of day or night, over and over again. And she gets tired of hearing it, but she still listens and gives me the same great advice when I need it most.

She is worth knowing, worth loving, and worth remembering. Why? Because she is a radiant reflection of the perfect beauty of the King. She is a P31Woman, a beautiful Lady In Waiting, and a magnificent, astonishingly lovely bride of the living Christ. She becomes more like Him with every breath she takes.

I've seen a few women grow up alongside me, but I can honestly say there is no one I am more proud of, more blessed by or more delighted to be walking through the adventures and perils of my young adult life with than Kokisha Latrice Knight.

Not that it's a competition.

I'm sure your best friend is wonderful. Really.

But mine's the best. End of story. I just wanted to make sure you knew.



Love you, babe. :)

Kiss The Cook

So I may not have a large immediate family/circle or any blood-related brothers (or sisters),
And I may have never cooked for more than five people in my entire life.
In fact, cooking in and of itself is a brand new thing for me.

But I sure did just finish cooking Sunday lunch for a pack of 18 or so Narrow Gate boys. All by myself. It's all in my fridge, waiting to be taken to church en la manana. It's a hearty conglomeration of potatoes, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, beef and chicken that my House 9 roommates & I affectionately refer to as Man Food. And y'all-- it's good. I'm really pretty proud of myself, and I hope it reheats well in 9 hours or so.

Also, I can I just say that love having male friends who I can call with cooking questions? I now have two fellas in my rolodex who are professional chefs. And I'm not entirely sure what I'd do without them. :)

Mmmm. I haven't slept nearly enough the past few days. It's catching up with me.
So I'm gonna go chase it down. Buenas noches!

Tres Historias

A "Such A Time As This" Story

On Wednesday night, I pulled into my driveway after work. As I got out of the car, I noticed our next door neighbor out "walking" his dog in the front yard. I've yet to meet this kid, as we've only lived here about a month and I have sort of a wild schedule. Anyway, he's a good-looking guy, about 25 or so, a bit shorter than me, always working on his car or mowing the lawn, and always without a shirt. (He claims to be allergic. Mmhmm.) He said/sort-of-slurred hello to me across the lawn and as an afterthought, asked my name. I responded, commenting on the fact that it was strange we hadn't officially met yet. I dropped my shoes, my keys and my apron in the house and flipped on the porch light as he and the pup came across the lawn. We shook hands and I learned that his name was Clint, and that his adorable five-month old German Shepherd/Husky mix's name is Mojo. :) Wicked cute.

Anyway, I'm standing in my socks, in the flower beds on my front lawn, talking to this man who I can now tell is clearly wasted. He starts talking and all of a sudden, confessing that he "doesn't even know me and I prolly don't want to hear this", he starts telling me about what's going on in his life, how he's sad because he has to "go away" and by the time he gets back, he won't even recognize his dog. Turns out he's headed to jail for five months for "[getting] angry and doin' something stupid". I didn't inquire the nature of his offense, but instantly felt sympathy for him. I told him that my roommates and I are a praying household, and that we'd be lifting him up during this really craptastic time in his life. And I reassured him that I wasn't just saying that, but that it would actually be done, on a daily basis. He was kind of shocked and very appreciative. He told me he prays every night before bed, mostly about his problems, and I encouraged him to keep talking to God, about anything he wanted, because he would always be heard.

We chatted/he rambled a bit more, and I played with Mojo a bit. After about 10 minutes had passed, we were about to part ways when I told him again that I'd be praying for him. It struck me then that I should pray for him immediately. So I asked him if I could, and while taken aback, he instantly agreed to it. I prayed for his strength, his protection, his heart, his will and his faith.

When I finished, he was sort of quiet. Then he thanked me very sincerely and asked me what church I attended. I told him about Grace, as it is a haven for many young men (and women-- and older men and women!) much like him. I invited him and gave him my number and told him he was welcome to ride with or follow my roommate and I on Sunday morning. He seemed very interested in the possibility, and after that, we shook hands again and parted ways.

When I walked inside, I realized that those 15 minutes were the best part of my day. What a joy to be used by God! To point someone so disheartened in the direction of his Creator! Wow. I was so grateful for that moment. I don't even know if Clint remembered our exchange the next morning, but I've been praying for him, and you're welcome to join me. If all the drama we've been through with this house was simply to remind Clint that Jesus loves him and is with him always? It's been worth it.


An Imaginary Car Chase Story

I made a new friend this week. He's Irish (descended from-- no accent, but can fake it pretty convincingly). He's visiting from Wisconsin, and he has long coppery orange wavy hair and freckles. He's also hysterical-- and can spin a car around 180 degrees and then drive it in the opposite direction.

How do I know this?

He showed me a video on his phone of him doing just that in a snowy parking lot in WI.




...and then (after a tic of deliberation) I let him do it to my car.

We were in the parking lot behind Target in Franklin, started out going backwards at about 20? mph. Then he ripped the wheel around, heading us in the other direction (made a magnificent screech) and sent us flying forward and away from the scene of the (noise) crime.

I know, I know-- one day my "man, this'll make for a great story" excuse is going to get me in mad trouble... but isn't that cool?!?!

By the way, his name is Adam.

I mean, of course it is! ;)


A Delightfully Unfair Story

Okay, clearly my roommate (Kisha-- well, Holly too, but this story is about Kisha) is beautiful. But this is exactly how beautiful (and divinely favored) she is:

Last night, she and I were driving home from Chili's and we got pulled over because her left tail light was out. The popo had noticed this immediately. What he did not notice immediately was the fact that her inspection sticker was expired, the fact that her car is still bearing Texas plates, even though you're supposed to get them switched to Tennessee plates after 30 days of residency-- and yes, we've lived here a year now-- and the fact that she'd left her license at home on her bed.

He asked for her license and registration, one of which, she produced. When she confessed to not having the former, he goes, "Well, here... just write down your name, your social and your birthday so I can run you through the system."

So she does.

He comes back. He tells her to get her light fixed, tells her to always drive with a license, tells her to get her plates changed, gives her directions to the DMV--

And tells us to have a good night.

No tickets. Not even one.

Fie upon the day when all tickets just come in the mail and live popo's are replaced by unsympathetic A.I. robots.

Till then, God bless you, Williamson County traffic law enforcers. We know it's completely unfair and we've done nothing to deserve such favor--

--but we're grateful nonetheless.

:)


THE END