It should be noted that I don't particularly like New Year's Resolutions.

I've simply never understood why we should wait until the new year when we could do something today.

If you want to make a change, just do it.

{It should also be noted that I'm not particularly good at practicing what I preach. I'm great at making resolutions throughout the year. They just don't always have staying power.}

In any case, I was thinking this morning about the pending arrival of 2010.

It's getting close, kids. 15 more days.

And, while I generally prefer not to divide and define my life changes by years, there's no denying that it provides a useful segmentation to the onward-marching vectors of our lifetimes.

2009 was a banner year for me.

It was the year I stepped out in faith. The year I quit my job, moved to Texas, moved again within Texas, began a work for which I am passionate, and got a puppy.

The thought that I've been turning over in my mind the past week or so is simple:

Why can't 2010 be even better??

I'm looking forward to the next year. And yes, there may be some resolutions that happen to correspond with January 1st. :)

Christmas is a Time for Happy Ridiculousness.

I'll admit it: Until 11:59pm on November 30th, I'm a scrooge.

I don't want to hear Christmas carols before December first, and don't you dare play them all year long. Even then, I'd rather not have Christmas songs be ALL I hear.

BUT.

About two weeks before Christmas my mood starts to shift.

Last night I watched "White Christmas."

I sat in the living room, curled up on the couch with Bennet, singing along with Bing and Danny and Rosemary and Vera Ellen. Kind of loudly.

One of my roommates came down at one point, and in response to my excited "I'm watching White Christmas!" she called me a tool.

Psh.

I won't watch that movie in May. Or in October. Or any of those other non-December months. But when I do, I will watch it with glee. And sing along. Because, really, how can you not?


"Snow, snow, snow, snow, SNOW!! It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow...."




{8 days until I leave for the north.}

Just another manic Monday.

As if our three dogs weren't enough, we have a neighbor-pup.




His name is Milo. He's not actually the nicest furball in the world. But he's really cute and loves to play with Bennet and Murphy.


Unrelated:



:)

Happy Monday!

Leaving the Nest

This morning was my last day as a BrazosPointe Fellowship All-Stars volunteer.

I introduced my kids to their new team-time leader, Kim. And then, at the end of the morning, Kathy pulled me up front to have the kids say good-bye.

I hadn't told the teen leaders, or Jeff. So as Kathy is saying, "Miss Carolyn, come up here," Kyle, one of the high school-aged helpers, yells, "No! No!" And afterwards, Jeff catches me and says, "I had to find out from Kathy?"

I wasn't sure how to tell them. So I didn't.

This new chapter is exciting -- I'm ready to find a community here in Galveston. But it's sad. These people are the reason I settled into Texas so quickly and easily, and I will miss them dearly.

I will miss playing catchphrase at small group. Going out to lunch after church. Dancing around with the kids in All-Stars. Being teased by the high schoolers for being tiny and young-looking. Adorable child-faces looking at me in wonder.

A deep and rich faith community is hard to come by. God put amazing people in my life just when I needed it, as a yankee girl alone in Texas. And then He brought me here. I don't know why; this is certainly not how I imagined my year going. But there it is, and all I can do is embrace it.

Tonight.

Tonight I don't want to be single. Tonight I don't want to be alone.

Rather than sitting in my PJs pretending to clean my room while I actually browse the web, I want to get dolled up. I want to get some use out of my froufy dresses and my fancy heels. I want to take two hours to get ready because I'm getting my makeup just right. Then I want someone to come to my door and hesitate for a moment before he says hello because he's caught off-guard and has to catch his breath, telling me without a word that I am beautiful. I want to be guided through the doorway with his hand on the small of my back, a gesture of both protection and affection. And I want to end the night with a long embrace that lingers with our fingers touching until the very last moment our arms can span the widening gulf between us as I turn to walk through my door.




Instead, tonight I'll go to bed without thoughts or newly-created memories of any special someone. And I'll wake tomorrow not to a good morning text because he just couldn't wait to say hi, but to a six-month-old terrier licking my nose because she really has to pee and needs me to get up right away.

It might not be what I want, but it's what I have right now.

At least the terrier is pretty adorable.

Nu Joisy.

Have you seen the new MTV Real World-esque show "The Jersey Shore"?

Don't. It's terrible.

It features eight self-proclaimed guidos and guidettes living in a house on the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore, several miles up the coastline from the family-friendly town where I spent a few months three summers ago.

It's a horrible show. Lots of bleeped-out cuss words, blurred body parts, alcohol, and immoral behavior.

We watched it for two hours last night.

Two hours.

And have plans to watch next week.

It's that hilariously horrible.

Don't watch. You'll get sucked in too.

Why not?

Today I'm wearing a long-sleeved red lumberjack plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows under a short-sleeved red v-neck sweater. Which caused Maggie to incredulously exclaim, "Are you wearing plaid and a sweater?" upon my entrance to the office this morning.

Yes, yes I am.

I'm not in love with this outfit, but there's something funky/retro/nerdy about it that just works for me.

Upon now realizing that most of my 6 (is that being optimistic?) faithful readers don't give a toad's toe about my wardrobe choices, I have decided that I will now continue on in the same vein.

Well, 'cause I can. It's my blog.

This week, I've been super giggly and happy and ridiculous. I feel creative, and adventurous.

My funky/nerdy/retro clothing reflects that.

I'm taking a chance.

Sure, it just involves pulling a few things out of my over-stuffed closet and putting them on.

Sure, it's just clothing.

But it's a reflection of me, and of how I feel.

And today it reflects that I'm bold and a little ridiculous.

I like that.

Even if I did switch out my sassy shoes (a pair of red stilettos), for a pair that's far more sensible (read: comfortable), even if they're black.