Confession. And growth.

Those of you who know me well know that I do not like being truly bad at anything, no matter how insignificant. It's not exactly an endearing character trait because, for one thing, it doesn't make me the most popular player in a game of Scrabble or bowling or most definitely in basketball or whatever game I happen to be losing soundly at the time. Although I put up a fight, the "sore loser" in me almost always wins out in varying degrees of disgruntled behavior, anger, pouting, or all of the above. And for another thing, it's next to impossible to learn anything worthwhile if you can't wait out the learning curve or even just the occasional bad day.

Before I was married, I could more or less avoid the things I couldn't do well, with a few exceptions. But I had a pretty rude awakening when I got married. Suddenly I was thrust into a world, well two worlds really when you count the military, that I knew pretty much next to nothing about.

At long last, we are settled in one place for a while, and I feel like I am finally starting to learn a thing or two and, dare I say, maybe even starting to become acceptable if not good at a few new things. I thought I would share some of the things I am learning/have learned, because they are all in some way connected to "conquering indecision," and I haven't really written anything about that yet. So without further ado:

1. All things related to food and its preparation.

This one has been particularly challenging for me because it is pretty well unavoidable. Justin's great about helping, but I still feel like it's more or less my responsiblity. Especially when I'm the one who's home all day. But when I was single, I never cooked (and sometimes didn't eat very well as a result). Which also means I never planned out meals for the week or did that much grocery shopping. Am I the only one out there who has had a strong dislike for grocery shopping because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing? Is that as odd as it sounds?

2. All things related to the military.

By no means am I saying that I have learned everything about the military. Yeah right! But everything I now know about the military is totally new to me, everything from ranks, to bases, to types of planes, to the virtually endless number of acronyms I now hold in my head. Oh the acronyms! I still may not be able to translate every piece of a military-related conversation, but I now speak enough military that at least I no longer dread attending military functions.

3. Taking care of a house/decorating.

I may have had the basics like sweeping and vacuuming covered before, but now I know how to operate a Rug Doctor, clean an oven, get rid of Palmetto bugs (oh, how disgusting), and I have to admit, I'm still working on the decorating thing. Although I have played my role in buying our share of furniture--always an adventure in itself.

4. Buying a house and a car.

Overwhelming even for the seasoned buyer.

5. Taking care of a lawn and landscaping.

I started from square one here too. I had no idea there were so many things to buy in Wal-Mart that I knew nothing about! Tools, grass seed, fertilizers, types of flowers and herbs. This has been one area I've been enjoying learning about, though, without feeling too overwhelmed.

6. Communication.

Communication with Justin and communication with friends and family. Moving around the country has made all of it a challenge. Most recently, though, I have learned that while I am still forming an opinion on a subject, I should just keep my mouth shut and my ears open. Otherwise I will just end up saying something I will feel like a jerk about because it was well meaning but not well founded. I hope I don't do that on this blog, but you never know. Just a warning.

7. Oh yes, and I almost forgot--the thing that inspired this post today in the first place! Don't put syrup in the refrigerator. Ever. "That's just crazy!" But hey, at least I learned before getting married (in high school, but still before getting married) not to put metal in the microwave. What can I say, I led a sheltered childhood.

What seemingly basic things have you been learning about lately?

Cheers

I've been feeling nostalgic today, which is part of the reason for my recent absence, but I've also been just plain busy. Maybe you'll hear more about that later. For now, though, I'm feeling the need for a little inspiration, which sent me looking for a forward a friend of mine sent me a number of months ago. If you cringed at the word "forward," I sympathize 100%. But don't let that scare you away this time. It's still a little cheesy, but this one meant something to me, otherwise I would not have gone back looking for it months later. Enjoy. Then call a friend you've been missing.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Born to be wild

A few months ago my dad scored a real coup. He asked my mom what she would think if he bought a motorcycle. She replied, "Well, what would the gas mileage be?" Quite a change from their early days of marriage when my mom got hysterical at my dad's mere mention of the word motorcycle. Now Dad has passed the required training, has bought his bike, and is revving around the countryside like a pro. I was home for a visit last week, and Dad took me for a 15-mile spin. It was fun, and marked by all kinds of those unusual moments that make up a memorable experience. I was initiated into the "brotherhood" of low fives from fellow bikers. I learned why bikers should always ride with their mouths closed (in addition to the risk of causing an unsuspecting bug to meet an untimely death--yuck--the side mirror provided all the evidence I needed to convince me that flapping lips are the farthest thing from attractive). And when we returned and dismounted, I experienced the loss of all feeling in the lower half of my body for about 15 minutes.

Are we a pair of daredevils, or what?

(This picture was taken a few days later when Mom was on hand to snap a shot. Thus the rainy background. There was no rain when we went for a ride. We're not that wild. Geez.)

Waiting bites

Why is it that when our emotions are highest, no matter what they are, waiting is the last thing we want to do and yet it's almost always the only reasonable choice? I really need to be more trusting of the one I believe is in control. Yikes.

Do you have any "techniques" you use to just calm down and wait?

I have amazing neighbors

I spent two hours mowing our lawn today, and just as I finished up with the front, my next door neighbor came over to tell me that he'd be happy to just keep on mowing our lawn when he finished up with his own. I assured him that Justin was usually here to take care of it, but what a sweetheart, right? And just yesterday my neighbors across the street told me that they frequently pray for our troops, and they added Justin to their list of people they pray for every morning. They even told me that before I told them that he's deployed! So that meant a lot to me too.

Prayer is powerful. For starters, how miraculous that Gustav did as little damage as it did! There are still a lot of people inconvenienced and without power, but praise God that there were so few casualties, and from what I've heard so far, everyone has a home to go back to--including the McBrides! And on a personal note, as I was mowing this morning, it just hit me that you all must be praying for me while Justin's away. I really haven't been sulking in the fact that he's gone, and that in itself is miraculous.

Seriously. That is not an understatement.

The last time he was gone for three weeks, I was a little pitiful, I'm not gonna lie, and I told God that if He ever got me through one of Justin's deployments gracefully, I knew that He would be the reason why. So thank you all very much for your prayers and support!

In the spirit of this post, I'm not going to leave a question this time. But if you have something, anything, you would like me or others to pray for, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an e-mail.