Wednesday, September 19, 2007

HOGWASH

"The 10 Best Things About Being Single"
By Wendy Bolton-Floyd and Judy Bolton

Singles often feel left out in our couple-driven society. Whenever you're tempted to feel down because of your singularity, remember these reasons why flying solo can be the best way to go:

1) You can make last-minute plans with your friends and stay out all night if you want.
2) You can lie on both sides of your bed and have all the covers to yourself.
3) You can flirt with the opposite sex without someone say, "Who are you looking at?"
4) You can make your own decisions.
5) You don't have to remember your significant other's birthday or anniversary.
6) You have no one to clean up after.
7) You can leave the toilet seat permanently up if you're a man, or permanently down if you're a woman.
8) You can make a list of things you always wanted to do...and actually do them.
9) You can listen to your favorite radio station in the car.
10) You can actually hold on to the remote control.

https://dating.personals.yahoo.com | September 19, 2007

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

So true...

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia."
--E.L. Doctorow

Monday, September 10, 2007

Two Sightings in One Day

As Chuck, Whitney, and I headed to get some ice cream tonight, we got to experience another local celebrity sighting (two in one day for me)--the Belmont midget in the flesh (God bless his soul). :)

Celebrity Sighting

So...today I had to go to the Cingular store in Franklin (just 5 minutes from my job) to get my number changed. Apparently, my apartment peeps won't issue me a code to give out to family and friends so they can enter the gated complex without a number that has a 615 area code.

I went over my lunch break, so I was trying to make it quick before a 1:00 PM meeting. I got there around 12:15, and was immediately greeted by a nice young gentleman with an Australian accent at the counter. He pointed me to a representative down the way who quickly started the process to change my number.

During this time, I did happen to notice a guy walk in right behind me and come to rest at the counter just two feet to the left of me. He didn't waste time telling the sales associate that he wanted two iPhones with all the accessories. She quickly rang him up and blurted out a grand total of more than $900. He didn't blink an eye at the heavy price.

Immediately I thought to myself..."This guy must be a rich music producer or something of that nature."

Sure enough, in order to find out his identity, the sales associate said, "May I have your first name?"

The trendy fella with a chic faux-hawk and camo pants said, "Jeremy."

"May I have your last name?" she asked.

Without hesitation, he replied, "Camp."

A lightbulb went off in my head. Jeremy "Stinkin'" Camp? My eyes got as big as silver dollars and the 2-3 sales associates standing behind the counter noticed my reaction. They started snickering. It must've been a little too obvious.

He swiped his card and took off quickly with his purchase. But not before cordially thanking the sales associates and giving me a quick nod and a quiet "hello."

Upon his exit, the girl helping me out behind the counter said, "That's nothing. You just missed Carrie Underwood in here 45 minutes ago."

I love the Nashville area already. I think my shock and awe at wandering celebrities will wane in the near future. Hopefully.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Waiting

My mom sent me this devotional a couple of months ago when I was going through some tough stuff in my job and really looking to move on. I love it. I'm such an impatient person--I always have been--so this is perfect advice for me put to good use on a consistent basis.
———————————————

Waiting is hard for me. I want answers now. Postponements perplex me; deferrals daunt me. I’m baffled by God’s delays, wondering why and when. “How long, O Lord?”

The prophet Habakkuk wanted answers as well, but God chose to take His time. “I will stand my watch . . . to see what [God] will say to me,” Habakkuk wrote (2:1).

“The vision is yet for an appointed time,” God replied. “Wait for it; because it will surely come” (v.3).

Faith never gives up. It knows that despite appearances, all is well. It can wait without signs or significant indications that God is at work, because it is sure of Him. “Each delay is perfectly fine, for we are within the safe hands of God,” said Madame Guyon (1648–1717).

We too must learn to view each delay as if it were “perfectly fine.” Postponements are reasons to pray rather than grow anxious, impatient, and annoyed. They’re opportunities for God to build those imperishable but hard-to-acquire qualities of humility, patience, serenity, and strength.

God never says, “Wait awhile,” unless He is planning to do something in our situation—or in us. He waits to be gracious. So take heart! If God’s answer tarries, “Wait for it; because it will surely come.”

—David H. Roper

Soon shall the morning gild
The dark horizon rim,
Thy heart’s desire shall be fulfilled—
“Wait patiently for Him.”
—Havergal

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

The Move to Nashvegas

NOTE: If the information below is too much for you to read in one sitting, then take it in slowly. Allow yourself breaks and come back to it later.

So, leaving Sugar Land was a little harder than I thought it would be. I can't believe I only lived there one year and one month. It feels like so much more time was spent in that part of Texas. But having looked back and reviewed how life has been over the past year, I realized that God orchestrated some amazing things in my life...

I met some incredible people that quickly became my family and whom I will miss with every fiber of my being:

Stephanie Click (and Piper, Avery, and Don)
My closest confidant, my kindred spirit, and beautiful mother of the two most precious kids I've ever encountered. Stephanie became like a sister to me—making it so much more pleasurable in Houston away from family and friends;

The Comm Team (Dustin, Fones, Hector, Jason, H.R., Steph, Rusty [even during the short three months he was with us])
My family away from my family. I can't imagine working with a better group of people. Even now, I miss the community we shared as Christians and co-workers. They are and forever will be some of the most creative, godly individuals I've ever met;


Adam Ellis & Will Colbert
Truly two amazing friends to me while I lived in Houston. I would have been a very lonely girl had it not been for these two;


Stephen and Amanda Miller
My spiritual mentors, hangout buddies, and great friends that counseled, encouraged, and lifted me up through some confusing times;


Pat Conner
Whether she knew it or not, she was a spiritual mentor/counselor to me and is one of the godliest ladies I know.


Nancy Curtis
Like a mother to me, she always made me feel like I was valued and loved. She prayed for me often, listened when things were rough, and showered me with love and attention when life was good;


Diann Hamilton
It didn't take long before I found out that I had a friend, encourager, mother, etc. all wrapped up in this wonderful lady. I love her with my whole heart and will miss her dearly!


Melissa Tirey
Women's Minister at Sugar Creek, she didn't just do her job as a staff member of the church because I'm a woman. We truly connected on a deeper level and I now feel as though I've made an amazing friend in her.


I got to be a part of the praise and worship team at church (thanks to Stephen Miller)--something I've always wanted to do, even if for just a short amount of time.

I gained valuable experience in communications--more specifically a crash-course in being a writer, editor, project manager, and director of communications all wrapped up in one and topped off with a not-so-confusing title--Communications Specialist. Makes sense, right?

I also learned what kind of leader I want to be in the future—very important to know.

And most importantly, I learned what it means to be completely broken and dependent upon the Lord. I think I could even probably be smashed and crumbled a little more, but before I moved to Houston, I was no where near the place where God has brought me today.

Before my move to Houston, my only satisfaction and joy came from my family and friends. I couldn't do anything apart from them. But I knew God was calling me to Houston.

For months, I fought and cried and begged and pleaded with Him to open up an amazing position in Dallas so that I could remain close to those I loved. But God said, "Kaylan, you've got to obey me. And I'm telling you to go to Sugar Land."


I remember wailing to my mom in the hotel room after my second interview. I begged her to talk to God for me and convince Him that I needed to stay back home in Dallas. But, my family and friends knew just as well as I did that I had to make this move.

After the move, I can remember reaching the most lonely state in my life. There were nights when I would lie on my living room floor and ball my eyes out asking God why He brought me to that awful place. But soon, I realized that those nights featuring the wailing and gnashing of teeth were becoming a blessing.

I found myself praising the Lord instead of screaming out my frustrations at Him. And it was in those times that I knew I'd never felt the presence of the Lord closer.I can now see why God did what He did.

If He hadn't called me to Houston, then I never would've experienced any of these people or things—even though some of the issues I faced were very tough to handle. God had to take me though that process of brokenness.


He is all-knowing and ever-present and worthy to be praised!

Last night, I went to Kairos--a mid-week worship service/Bible study for around 800+ young adults (mostly single), ages 23-35 (with a few others mixed in). It was amazing. The music was amazing. The teaching was amazing. The fellowship was amazing. Today is only day two, but I'm feeling good and I'm seeing God's abundant blessings being poured out all around me.

I'm very excited to be here. I love the people. I love the music. I love the area. I love it all. And I know that God is going to do great things in this new chapter of my life. I have a really good feeling about this place. I think I'm gonna like it here—ALOT.