The Nosiest People of All

Just yesterday, I was talking with Anjajog about how I felt very nosy. You see, I know a person who's not technically my actual friend (see? this is why facebook is bad for me), and he just broke up with his girlfriend and I want to know why. So can I ask? I'm just being nosy. And I don't necessarily want to open up lines of communication. I just want the hot gossip. So... really I'd like someone else to ask. Any takers? No? Anjajog said I could ask, which is definitely the opposite advice I will receive from everyone else, I'm pretty sure.
Anyway, I thought I was nosy, and then... THEN, Nosy Personified came crashing into my place last night in the form of 2 rugrats, ages 6 and 4. My gosh, little ones are sooo nosy!

"Aunt Christy, who are those people in that picture? Is that me? Is that you? Who's that girl?"

"Aunt Christy, I just used your toilet in your bathroom!"
"Aunt Christy, do you have something longer than this?" (holding up some fabric that I have no idea where they got it.)
Pointing to a picture of the Indian girl I sponsor through Compassion - "Aunt Christy, is that your kid?" That one is hilarious to me on so many levels. Why, yes, child, I have an Indian daughter whom you've never met, and she's hidden away right now.
"Aunt Christy, look at those puppies! Puppies!! AWWWW, PUPPIES!" Me - Please let that man walk his dogs in peace.
"Aunt Christy, a KITTY CAT!" Me - That's not my house, please step away from that house!
"Aunt Christy, why don't you have a downstairs?" Me - someone else lives downstairs. Them - "And he's a police officer!" Me- yes.
"Aunt Christy, where is your downstairs?" Me - someone else lives there. Them - "A police officer!" Me - yes.

"Aunt Christy, do you wish you had a downstairs?"

You get the picture.
Meanwhile - how cute are they?! So cute!

What Would I Do?

I am obsessed with Dateline, Primetime, 48 Hours, 20/20... you name it. If there's a real-life murder mystery being covered, I'm on it (just ask me about Florida vs. Wade, which ate up my entire tv time on vacation. ASK ME).
Sometimes, though, those shows are not focused on a murder mystery, but they're uncovering some human weakness and they are totally speaking to me. Totally. So, last night's episode of What Would You Do? by John Quinones, coupled with this article, really made me think.
The Good Samaritan, a story in the Bible, appeals to all of humankind. Will you lend a hand when someone needs it?
On What Would You Do? they showed a variety of different situations, like ... Would You Endorse a Product That You Know Didn't Work, Just to Get Money and Appear on TV? Would You Help a 15-Year-Old Child Bride Get Away From the People Forcing Her to Marry? (that one was crazy. Crazy! I am in awe of the people that stepped in). But the one that was really difficult for me was: Would You Help Stop, or Even Say Anything to Punks That Are Beating Up A Stranger on the Side of the Street (in Newark, NJ, of all places, not that it matters).
Here's the thing: I don't know that I would have. It's so clear when you're watching it, that someone has to help. It's devastating. So many people just walked by. Some called 911, which might have been my course of action, had I been there. But there were a few who stopped the 3 punks, including a 5 foot, 4 inch fiery woman who looked like she weighed maybe 90 lbs. dripping wet. She was awesome. I want to be that woman. I want to throw aside fears of weapons and embarrassment to help someone in need.
And you know what? In the article referenced above, there was clearly no danger involved in reaching out to the hurting girl ... but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done that either.
Anyway, I'm pretty disappointed with myself after this realization. I think I'm even just too self-involved to notice when people need help. But I'm going to keep my eyes open, because we are all humans, brothers and sisters on this earth. What is this life worth if I'm not helping others? That's truth.
One last thing - how awesome is that painting? I love it!

Stinky!

Don't you just hate it when people bring stinky food to work? And then they don't close the cover enough, so the stink seeps out and gets all caught in the air? And then, the person keeps opening the drawer where they keep their lunch, so the stink keeps escaping? AND THEN, that person keeps saying, "What is that smell? Who brought stinky food?!"
And then that person realizes it is she.
So yeah, I brought stinky food (tuna fish -- I'm sorry! I love it!) and then I put it in an inadequate container with an ill-fitting lid, and then I opened the drawer about 50 times this morning and kept trying to accuse people around me of creating the stink.
Just... don't ask why I keep my food in a drawer. It's just better that way.

Oh, the fun we had

So I got back from the beach, and what a time it was! Those of you who know me, or ever met me, or have read this blog, know that I wasn't necessarily looking forward to this vacation.
But it was really amazing this year. We made sure we did a bunch of things other than just sit on the beach. Like... well, I met a really handsome guy and we went jet-skiing! That's a picture of us!
Just kidding.
My family did go jet-skiing, but here's what actually happened:
• My mom and I went over the 20-minute time limit and ended up giving my sister less time on the jet ski than we intended.
• Dylan wanted OFF the jet-ski; Cassidy did not want to get off.
• My dad, brother and Dylan fell off the jet-ski while trying to retrieve my father's hat from the bay.
• The hat, and my dad's glasses are gone. Forever.
We also went to the USS North Carolina battleship which was pretty amazing, and we explored Wilmington, which was a really cute town. My brother came at the last minute, so that made the trip even better.
My favorite memories are playing a bocce ball/golf beach game while the sunset and holding Cassidy, all wrapped up in her beach towel, and singing to her on the beach.
It was a great trip, and a great time with the family.

And I'm off!

In less than 24 hours, I will be crossing off one of my goals from my "Bucket List."
I will be embarking on a journey to a far away land.....
Well actually I will be going down to a little island in the Bahamas called Eleuthera.
A team of 9 (including me) will be conducting Vacation Bible School for the kids, as well as working on some construction projects.
I have a list of things I want to do before I die, "My Bucket List", and going on a missions trip was one of them. I guess I never felt ready, but an opportunity presented itself...so I dove in head first! No time like the present. I am starting to realize that if you keep waiting for "the right time" you will be waiting forever.
So tomorrow at 2 am, I will be heading out on my first missions trip. I am nervous and excited, but I know that BIG things are happening for the Kingdom. I am just excited to be a part of it. I can't wait to report back and let you know all the details of the trip.

Thanks for all your prayers!

Dreams...they are interesting.

I dream every night. I have very vivid, memorable dreams. In some cases, months later a dream will happen...in my real life. I claim deja-vu and when I search my mind for how a certain event occurred twice, I realize that I dreamed the event months earlier.

Dreams are interesting to me. I have had dreams that make me avoid someone for several months or feel differently towards a certain individual. I can't figure out why, I guess because they are so realistic...it messes with my mind.

Most of my dreams are ordinary, everyday happenings and not crazy, adventurous dreams. Sometimes I wish I had whimsical, unrealistic dreams. That is the point, right? to experience Dream land.

What is the craziest or most realistic dream you have every had?

I think I am a mean girl.

I think I'm a Mean Girl.
I am an avoider. When I see someone I know in public, I avoid them. I am not proud of this quality, but it is like a reflex. I don't even realize I am doing it until I've turned my face or walked the other way, hoping the person didn't see me. I also “act like” I didn't see the person. Usually, the person acts like they didn't see me either, so I don't feel so bad when that happens. Although, you can act like you didn't see the person, but sometimes they will NOT allow you to “not see” them. The non-avoider will usually make a big ruckus, call out your name or run over to you. I am actually kind of okay with this, because if the person really wants to talk to me...I will talk to them. I am not much of a small talker. I would rather do the half-wave in acknowledgement that I know the person, but you both recognize that you have nothing of any worth to talk about with each other. That is the IDEAL situation for me.
I need to add a disclaimer, the avoiding USUALLY happens with acquaintances. Although I caught myself doing it to a friend the other day. I know...I know...Mean girl.
This is the constant battle within myself: Am I mean girl or not?