High Five

  1. The week started out swell because the weather has ROCKED! It's been gorgeous and warm. Friends invited us out to lunch after church and it was so refreshing. We've never had anyone ever invite us to lunch after church other than family. We've invited quite a few people out after church, but NO one in town has ever invited us. And, to top it off, I recognized 4 tables of people at the restaurant and knew two tables well enough to go over and speak to them. That sounds so lame, I know. But, I really just felt like I was starting to finally fit in. Also, I know it's probably silly to many people that I was so honored to be invited out to lunch. It sounds simple, right? Well, we've ever only been to three people's houses in Franklin before (I mean, our friends. Not family friends.) so it was a big deal to me that of all the people they know these friends invited us to spend time with them!

2. Like I said, the weather has been super awesome all week. So, attending a couple of Spring sporting events this week at the school was fun! Monday I went to middle school soccer and baseball. Then, Thursday went to JV baseball. I love going to games and seeing my students play. They automatically feel like their importance level went up about 10 points in your book. I want them to know I value them, and spending my time on them is really one of the only ways I can sometimes tangibly do that. Same with my friends and baseball. Sometimes it's hard to have a big-kid friendship. If you don't share kids or friends it's hard to sometimes have others know that they're important to you. So, making time to "share" in what is important to them hopefully communicates "You matter and are important to me." But, I will admit...I also just like going to watch the game. Shhhh- don't tell :)

3.  A new pair of CLEARANCE Nike hot-pink running shorts came in the mail and they're perfect! Let's count the ways in which they're perfect...1. They were on sale! Wooooo! And I got free shipping! And it's the only thing I bought! It's an accomplishment for me; we've been talking about budgets in Life Group and I'm feeling convicted because I do really enjoy shopping. We were talking tonight while I was with girls (more on that later) about something and I realized that I shop because it's something I can do on my own. I don't need a friend to go. And the sales people are nice. And no one is staring at me like I don't belong; they're forced to be nice to me. They have to accept me. haha How shallow and pathetic!? Wow. I was filling my friendship void with shopping. That's really, kinda painful to admit. I mean, wow, that's really pathetic to realize. 2. My shorts are perfect because they are glaringly pink. They'll look great with my tennis shoes. Ha! 3. They're super comfy and a great length. They won't ride up; I don't think. 4. There's no briefs built in. Glory hallelujah!

4. Girls' night / guys' night tonight. I took a step out of my comfort zone. I was worried because it could have turned out as a big let down, but it didn't. I forced myself to group e-mail all the girls in our Life Group and invite them over to hang out. I promised cookies if they'd bring their babies, even. hahaha I will admit, our Life Group has the cutest babies. They all just had babies (4 total) so Ellie, the oldest is 6 months and Abram, the youngest just turned 5 weeks old today. The girls are great about having people hold the babies. I mean, as a mom I'm sure you don't just readily pass off your baby, but the girls are always asking me to hold one while they do something and it's fab since I'm the only one not with kids! I will admit, all the nursing talk, I just got cleared to have sex again talk, I have weird stretch-mark talk, etc etc is sometimes TMI but I just go with it and actually usually think it's really interesting. I mean, I'm glad someone is telling me this stuff! haha I love kids. Love. I don't always love pre-teens...lol...but babies, toddlers, preschoolers, all pre-12 year olds haha are fantastic. I really am excited to be a mom (in the not so close future, but still) Tonight Nancy rocked and rocked Logan and finally said, "Renee, you're so good with him, please put him to sleep?" and I did. I think he's just a good baby, but still. Women, I think, secretly want to have baby super-powers. No one wants to be the person who has the baby cry when you're holding him. At least I don't. Anyway, that's not even the happy part. The happy part is that all four women came, and we cooked, and talked, and it was really fun! No one had to think of what to say or was talking about uninteresting things; I mean, it was just a great time. I don't think I've had a great time like that with a group of girls since maybe RAAWKS night at Allison's Thanksgiving of 2011. Not kidding. I was craaaaving female interaction in a group. I'm a people person, extrovert, whatever. People energize me. It is honestly refreshing to my soul to be around people whom I like and don't have to force conversation with. The group dynamic was just great. No small talk, no churchy talk, no school talk, just actual conversation. Refreshing. Some of the guys from Life Group came to the house too. I came home to find a whole porch full of smoking cigars, drinking beer, laughing, aaaand my kitchen was a disaster! But, I could care less. I love having people here. It's so nice to have a full friend-filled house and life.

5. Going to see Katie-girl run tomorrow! My little sister is running at Emory tomorrow and we get to go watch and cheer her on. I hope it's not raining, but if it is I have pleeeennnnttty of experience watching her run track in the rain. I DID go to Cedarville ;) I haven't seen Kat run track for just about two years and since she's been setting so many records I'm excited to see some great events! It's her senior year. Wow. Crazy. I'm so proud of my brother and sister. You really couldn't meet better people. I know I'm biased, but dang I am so happy they're mine and I'm theirs. Compared to them I am boring, unintelligent, and untalented. My family is the pride of my life. I am so proud of who they are and what they represent. I am so very blessed beyond measure. My parents did a wonderful job of creating a very genuine bond between the three of us. So, Go Lady Jackets :)