Dream a little dream of?

What do you think about before falling asleep? Do you make lists or think of the future? Do you envision a vacation spot, your happy place, or count sheep?

I'm a weird sleeper. I sleep hard and soundly. It usually takes me forever to actually fall asleep and if you wake me up during my 'doze off' period... I'm usually wide awake for hours. Sometimes, it might be a phone call that wakes me or a ding from a text, Chris may be tossing and turning or sleep-talking, the cat might try and lay on my head...

Then there are those weird occurrences...

... when I am in that about-to-fall-asleep time, when your mind settles down and you find that perfect spot, when the pillow is perfectly cool, and the world seems to have quieted...

Images flash through my head. Quick, brief images as if I were clicking swiftly through a viewmaster.

Oh, you're too young to know what that is? Example:

Pretty much the best thing ever. EVER.

See, it began happening about five years ago. (That I remember anyways...) As I am dozing off, a quick glimpse of a "picture" will flash in front of me. Like I was changing channels in my head and happened upon this photo of weird. But they aren't beach-scapes, or cuddly kittens.

They don't bring me comfort or serenity or calmness... but rather evoke feelings that create this face:

I'm sure there is a perfectly sensible explanation for these momentary glimpses... but quite frankly I don't care enough to Google it and have come to embrace this 'nother notch on the odd belt.

PROOF:

The very first one I remember was more of a .GIF in my head. Motion = fancy.

 Imagine the happiest hedgehog in the world. Kind of like this guy.

....and he's rolling around in this stuff. Like, if you could frolic while laying down... this would be the place to do it.

Yes. Marijuana. So you understand now why he is so happy. 

WHY WOULD THAT EVER ENTER MY MIND? Seriously. I get that I'm weird. But what the heck?

And just like that... it's gone. Just a fleeting flash of WTF.

The next one I remember was another .GIF file, in the file backup of Erika's brain. Quick and fleeting, but more of a storyline of sorts, on fast forward. This one must have been the start of a dream, but my subconscious cut it off.

Did you ever see The Birds? It's a movie, for you youngsters, that's about a bunch of birds, taking over... pecking and taking names. It may sound lame, but birds are terrifying and don't you forget it.

So in this snip-it... I've assumed the role of Tippi Hedren and I run up this bird infested porch, like a bad-A... and go check on the old man (whoever he was) - but uh oh, he's gotten his eyes pecked out while in his pajamas. Good morning to you too. Just Googling for an image and seeing him gave me the willies so enjoy this tamer photo of the playground birds.

Ominous.

I've had TONS more through the years, but can't remember them. I'd give anything if I had kept a journal of them. Like a dream journal, but for crazies.

I hadn't had any in quite some time until this week.

Sunday night, in pictures...

 

 

Pretty much the most racist insects ever. (Yes, I know a spider is an arachnid... get over yourself.)

But there was a spider and mosquito hanging out together--- obvious friends (which is so not real life) and they had napsacks on sticks and wore outfits like Bojangles up there with Shirley Temple and I think were whistlin' Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah... and it was an explosion of awesome, offended, confusion.

Monday night? No motion files... just a .JPEG flash of terror.

Picture it. Two juggalos, like:

Definition: Juggalo (feminine Juggalette) is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang and characteristics.

 Yeah, creepy enough as is, but let's add some laser demon eyes for the heck of it:

 Welcome to the MS Paint version of my mind. Sleep well.

 It's got me again...

Image courtesy of Hyperbole and a Half

Look! I'm posting! Pat me on the back.

I'm currently sitting in a hotel room in Katy, Texas... the husband is out doing pastor-y stuff for tonight's wedding and I've enjoyed sitting lazily in my pajamas after eating an amazing breakfast in my room.

As you may have seen on Facebook, we celebrated SEVEN years of marriage on Monday and while the intention was to come down a day early this weekend and go to Galveston for a night- things came up and got in the way (such is life) and we decided that perhaps we should wait and come down another weekend.

That didn't stop us however from heading out at 3 am yesterday morning. We've done that a few times, headed out at an obscene hour- and have had the best time! Hardly anyone is on the roads and it's nice to be able to chat and sing along to music, together. Is it smart? Eh, probably not.

It makes you closer as a couple, in those hours of lack of sleep delirium... when one can admit that back in elementary school, the discovery that closing one eye - then closing the other, was mind blowing. (Yeah, it was me.) But come on... don't you remember that too? That magical moment when you discover you can "move" things, with just the closing of your eyes? No? Just me? Those crickets you hear are the same response I got from my husband, but I'll claim it's because he was tired. I've always been easily entertained.

Nonetheless, we decided to have lunch in Galveston and hang out around there for a few hours. Galveston is not the prettiest beach by far. There is nothing special about it at all, but still, it's one of my favorite local destinations. I've gone many, many times growing up and Chris and I have been several times together. We know the area pretty well and enjoyed seeing the new things that have popped up (the Pleasure Pier) since we last were there, pre-Hurricane Ike.

We tried The Spot, as we had never been there and enjoyed some cold beers, a hamburger for me, and a shrimp po-boy for Chris...among lots and lots of feathered friends! Pigeons and crows just circled us and waited on chairs and tables for a small scrap to be thrown. One bird quite brazenly took a waffle fry from Chris's plate! It was a bit windy, but relaxing.

After we finished, full and happy, we decided to go to the drive-on beach down the road. Several other Spring Breakers had the same idea, but we found a spot down the beach, pulled up close to the water, rolled the windows down, leaned the seats back, and took a short nap. (We were exhausted!) What a relaxing cat nap it was! I could listen to the sound of the waves all the time and feel the crisp ocean breeze!

I didn't want to leave!

Some other photos from the past week:

We bought husband a new white shirt, an awesome tie, new pants, and this handsome black suit jacket!  Here he is 'modeling' the complete outfit for me. Dapper!

When you see a hot pink octopus  ring... you buy it. Excuse the I'll forever be a 5 year old painting of my right hand's fingernails.

He seriously wanted to wear this out in public. PUBLIC. 

Aaaaaand, to round off this post, enjoy my Easter Decorations around my casa and the food and set up of March's BUNCO at my house.

That I hosted on Monday, March 4th.

Our Anniversary.

Where I made husband do a lot of the work for me.

And then kicked him out for the night.

...because I'm a horrible wife.

I just called, to say...

Normally, when I go awhile without posting, which is always... I'm all "oh, I have nothing to say" or "life has been busy" but seriously ya'll...

Check and check.

Things have been crazy hectic lately and don't appear to be slowing for another week or so. But I do want to do a post... about... something.

Maybe.

Until then, enjoy this inspirational photo:

...because everything is inspirational in Helvetica.

So. Deep. Ya'll.

Reflection

2013. Wow. How does time fly so fast? We measure so much of our lives in time... we have deadlines and milestones and often put so much emphasis on the time factor. For me, 2013 brings many things:

• May marks 10 years of being out of high school. 
• September will (hopefully) bring 1 year of not smoking!
• March marks 7 years of marriage with my amazing husband.
• This month marks 4 years since joining our church and February will be 3 years for me as Secretary.
• I'll celebrate my 29th birthday in December... the last time I'll be in my twenties.

...and much more.

Wouldn't it be nice though, to instead of counting the days and months, to count the blessings each of those marks in time signify? I've been having some ups and downs lately in my mood and in life. Nothing major, just happiness and heartbreak.... shock, awe, joy, and worry. Guess those come with the territory of growing up, right? I've felt very reflective, just as I am sure most people do at the start of a new year. I am so unbelievably blessed. So much happens as time passes by. Big and small! Sometimes the smallest things in our everyday lives make us pause... and those are the ones worth holding close.

I loaded up Moondoggie in the car tonight. We had to run a few errands and needed to take Chris to get his truck. Once we dropped him off and started driving back home... I glanced over at him several times. Sometimes that little face was looking at me and sometimes he was looking around at the world passing us by. Don't get me wrong... I know he's "just a dog" and nothing can compare the love I have for him to a child (that love I hope to experience one day soon, too!) But I caught myself, beaming. I adore that little, furry, face. I see it everyday, greeting me when I wake and when I get home. It's a simple pleasure and I thanked God for it in that moment. A lot of times, I forget to do that.

"Life moves pretty fast. If yo don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

(Ferris Bueller)

With that in mind... let's rethink the timeline, above.

• May marks 10 years of learning and making mistakes. Of being humbled and reminded that things don't in fact... go the way you plan and intend. Sometimes life veers on it's own and sometimes you do it to yourself. Friends come and go and we all age, even when we don't notice.
• September will (hopefully) bring 1 year of making a step to better myself. Something I've not done in a very long time. (Maybe ever?) Something I finally proved to myself I could do.
  
• March marks 7 years of love and lessons. Uncertainty and teamwork. Learning about another person and about yourself. Laughing, crying, forgiving, and just...being.
  
• This month marks 4 years since finding a home and extended family. Making new friends and honoring the lives of others. Of praising and questioning, seeking and finding.Growing even when I'm not attending and being missed and encouraged. And February will be 3 years of doing a job I actually love. Serving in my own way, the people... I love. Learning more than I ever thought I would from clerical work- about people, about church and the business of church. About forgiveness and grace.
• In December, I'll celebrate the final year of my second decade in life. I'll celebrate my family and the life they have given me. I'll celebrate every moment that has brought me this far and cherish it. I'll think back on the people I have hurt and the people who have hurt me. I'll remember friends new and old and family both present and estranged. I'll remember teachers- in school and in life... smiles and kindness of strangers. Moments that have taken my breath away and those that made me stop in my tracks.

In saying all that...   I'm thinking about all the things I always imagined I would have accomplished by now, all the things I've given up and given up on. The resolutions that have come and gone and the ones I hope to check off this year. Above everything though- my goal is to make every moment a priority and cherish it. To not dwell on the sadness or the anger or the wrong doing.... but rejoice for the expierence.

I serve an amazing God who is patient with me when I reject His timing and tell Him that I know better than what He has planned. He is understanding when I am angry with Him and question His motives and will. He does not remind me that His heart breaks when I reject Him and go astray but instead, that He is sympathetic and loves me for my faults and welcomes me with open arms, time and time again.

...He reminds me I am blessed and presents opportunities everyday for me to see His glory and magnificent splendor. Most of all, those venues are open for me to praise Him, in all things...

And here we are. A new year. Another year of starting over and remembrance. Another year of making plans- following through or breaking goals. Another year of lessons and life and love. Another year to make things right and better yourself, to live the way God intends and shine His light for others.

I am so blessed. 
I am so glad I have reasons to recognize all the blessings.
I am in awe of my simple little life that is a huge deal to my God.
I am looking to the future with optimism and hope.

....it's going to be a great year.

Playing catch up....

I got so behind! Every day, I kept thinking I needed to catch up and between our internet at home being screwed up and working late for awhile… the days just flew by!

Nonetheless… I’m here now… time to catch up on Day 16 through Day 30.

Day 16: I am thankful for the Fightin’ Texas Aggies. I may not have finished school, but I will forever bleed maroon. I love everything about A&M and of course, our football season this year!

Day 17: I love that I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. I loved my childhood. The toys, the shows, the nostalgia of it all. I got my cousins’ hand-me-downs, some of which were very 70’s/80’s-esque. 

Day 18: Thankful for mascara. It’s amazing what a little tube and a brush can do. When I don’t feel like going through the entire process of full makeup… I feel a bit better with just a few strokes of mascara.

Day 19: My church home. We’ve had ups and downs this past year or so and granted, I haven’t been coming in many months…. But I am so grateful for the family I have gained at FCC Rowlett.  

Day 20: Grateful for comfort food. Whether it’s a bowl of (my new ‘like’) chicken and dumplings or a scoop of ice cream…. I love that a taste can bring back a memory or make you feel at home.

Day 21: Llamas. Today, I am thankful for llamas. Because, duh… why do I need to explain?

Day 22: Thankful for my car. It may not be everyone’s dream car… but I have transportation to and from work… somewhere to take me where I need to go or want to see. 

Day 23: Today I’m thankful for my home. I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity of this house. I love that I can fix things up and redo and make it my own. I love that it’s OURS and most of all, I am thankful for the simple fact there is a roof over my head…. Unlike so many other people all over.

Day 24: I am thankful for movies and TV. I grew up watching all sorts of classic movies and TV shows. I knew all the old actors and admired the greats. I adored Lucille Ball and idolized Gidget. It’s amazing how you can know every episode of FRIENDS and say the words along with the Breakfast Club. From the 40’s to now, so many of them hold good memories, good feelings, tears of joy and warmth and more!

Day 25: Also thankful for music. Music speaks to my soul. In worship, it’s how I feel closest to God. In everyday life, I can crank up music and escape from the world. I sing the songs in the car and in the shower. Whether it’s Bach or Britney, Johnny Cash or Ja-Rule…. I listen to it all. Music too, holds great memories and warm feelings. I recall rockin’ to the oldies growing up and love it all today.

Day 26: Last week I was working a bit late and glanced out the window. I saw the most gorgeous sunset… a sky full or blues and yellows and pinks. How can that not take your breath away?

Day 27: Silly as it sounds, I am thankful for Pinterest. I’m so glad there is a place to share tips, crafts, recipes and more. I’ve made several things I have seen and enjoy it so much. People are so creative. 

Day 28: Today, I’m thankful for God’s timing. Not only in my own life, but lately… God has been showing Himself to others in just the right time. I am in awe of the miracles He creates… big or small. I hope He always reminds me that I need to let go and trust in Him.

Day 29: Today I’m thankful for pink. And glitter. Or better yet, pink glitter. Seriously, don’t ask me to explain that one.

Day 30: Since tomorrow is the first day of December… today, I am thankful for Christmas. I am thankful for lights and Christmas carols. For nativity scenes and tinsel and trees. Stockings from the mantle, White Christmas on the TV, fire in the fireplace…. The birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas all!