7 Quick Takes: Hydration, Publishing, and Glamping

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes:

1. Hydration is important. You may know this from your own life experiences, or you may know from my passion for my Wat Bot. I know this because yesterday I almost passed out from dehydration. I was job shadowing in an automotive shop, and the place had no air conditioning and no sink for me to fill up my Wat Bot. I. Was. Dying.

via

I went straight from the shop to my parents' house, and I drank 4 huge glasses of water and then 2 pitchers. Literally, I drank out of the pitcher. Water is a serious business.

2. My roomie is now a published author! Catherine wrote a book of poems, and Amazon just listed her book yesterday! Her poems are all about the relationship between mothers and daughters, and I am so excited to read it. Click here to view and purchase the book, and check out her story here.

3. Samara and I are dividing the kitchen Sunday. Not literally, of course, but in terms of pots and pans. It's going to be awful. I'm so excited for my bestie as she begins her new adventure in Oregon, but I am so so sad that she's leaving me. Granted, I left her for 2.5 years, but then we lived together for a year and I thought she forgave me. Sigh. Guess not.

4. Because I am so proud of it, and because you, fair reader, may have missed it, I finished my Doctor Who scarf!!! Check out the post with all the pictures, and feel free to compliment, critique, and make a request!

5. This time next week, I will have half an inch of dirt layered on my skin, my hair will smell suspiciously like evergreens, and my home will be a tent. That's right, folks, I'm going camping!

Unfortunately, there is no spa at this camp. Fortunately, there is power, and by power, I mean electricity for the microwave, air mattress pump, skillet, and hair straightener. There are bathrooms and showers in an actual building, and most people bring a refrigerator at least. Basically what we do is glamping, not camping. Loud and proud, playas.

6.  For our glamping adventure, my sister Ellen and I are sharing a campsite with 4 other girls. Cue "All the Single Ladies" please. We've decided on a menu, but I'm open to suggestions for a couple more days. Shopping is happening on Monday afternoon, though, and then we're sticking with whatever was purchased. I'm looking for make or prep ahead of time recipes, preferably something that is not too advanced. Any experienced campers/glampers out there with suggestions?

7. Jen Hatmaker just re-released her book Interrupted and I am so excited. As I mentioned earlier, I have the privilege of reviewing her book. Jen is hosting a link-up for the book discussion on August 18th, so be sure to come check it out! Now I just have to finish the book.... 

Thanks for joining! Happy Friday!

Finish This

Jen is such a gift! Right when I'm thinking "I should blog but I forget how," she posts this lovely little link-up that has the prompts. All I have to do is finish the story. Pressure = gone.

I first felt like a grown up when I got my first job that was not babysitting. The summer before my senior year of high school, I applied to work in a Christian bookstore, and while on a youth retreat, I got a phone call from them. I was hired! Such a cool feeling.

I am one-of-a-kind because I have a passionate love for my Wat Bot. Seriously, my water bottle is with me more than my bff is with me, and that's a lot because we live together. If you want to know the full story of my Wat Bot, here ya go.

Spanx is a life saver... and the one item of clothing that my mom steals from me. Samara and I were just discussing how some outfits give you confidence while others require confidence to pull off. Spanx is basically instant confidence!

My favorite family tradition is opening pajamas on Christmas Eve, after listening to days and weeks of my parents telling us "you're not getting pajamas this year. You're too old." Yeah, right, Mom and Pops, yeah, right :)

The last thing I do before bed is put on chapstick. I've weaned myself to not really use it during the day {these winter-y months are challenging my resolve, though!}, but I put it on at night after brushing my teeth. So soothing!

Happiness is laughter with all 4 sisters home. Staying up waaaaay too late talking with the bestie. Stories in the round. A good hair day. Painted toenails. Visiting my favorite Southern state. Painted nails. Phone dates. A new book.

And that does it! How would you finish these prompts?

Link up here!

In Loving Memory...

Yesterday was my grandpa's "celebration of life" service. I wish the pictures were on my work computer so I could share some with you, but that will have to wait for another time. Tonight I'd just like to process it all out.

The day started with a yummy breakfast feast from Mums. Our cousins from over the mountains had come over Friday night and spent the night on our air mattress so they could attend the service. My aunt came to the house and drove Grandma to the church. We picked up Sister E from MCs. Sister J got a haircut. We were all running around the house getting dressed and borrowing jewelry and curling each other's hair, and you know how it is with sisters- we love getting dressed up together! It's fun to "get beautiful" together, although sometimes you just want to have the bathroom to yourself for just ten seconds! But really, it's fun. But there was this dimension of solemnity also, that we weren't getting dressed up to go out on the town; we were getting dressed up because we were going to be speaking at a funeral, basically. We were getting dressed up because my grandpa is in Heaven.

I'm so, so grateful that I get to see Grandpa again. There's no way to describe the peace that is within me, and that's good, because Jesus promised us peace that surpasses understanding, and He has been so faithful to provide that. What I'm describing here is just the atmosphere as we were getting ready. There was excitement, some laughter and teasing, and some grief because we miss Grandpa, but also peace, because he is in a much better place and we don't wish him back to earth. It was just different, and it was good.

We got all ready and then we drove to the church. It's only 10 minutes away, if you hit all 3 red lights. Seriously. So we get there, and our dear family friend Laurie has organized lunch for the family, a lot of whom were already there. It was weird to see these people, mainly because we hadn't seen them for at least 5 years. Thankfully, I knew most of their faces from the slideshow I had put together, and since Grandma had identified them to me for the slideshow, my sisters made me go first and say hello. What a good older sister I am. :)

After lunch, my sisters and I snuck into an empty part of the church to practice our speech. We were doing it all at once, popcorn-style, and we wanted to work on our transitions. I think we were all nervous, because we laughed more than we spoke. Somehow we got through it and were able to join the rest of the family and start welcoming guests.

Up to this point, it seemed very surreal. People would come in, hug us, ask how we were doing, and give their regards or say something sweet, and we would respond with "thank you" and "glad you came" and things like that, and then I would think, this is what people say when they've lost someone...I am the person who has lost someone... and it felt very strange.

It was not until we were sitting in the front row of the sanctuary and the pastor started speaking about Grandpa that it really, truly hit me, and I think it hit my sisters too, because all of a sudden there was a pile of used tissues between E and me, and there was more sniffing down the row.

My grandma wrote a letter of sorts, and my mom read it for her. Thankfully I had heard it before, so I was prepared and could make eye contact with Mom as she read. It was so well done, and I'm glad that people could have that understanding of Grandpa's life before the rest of the people spoke.

My dad was next, and this part was surreal again, because my brain couldn't reconcile the fact that my grandpa had died, which meant my dad had lost his dad. I cannot imagine losing my dad, so I think there was still shock or denial going on inside me while Dad spoke. But he spoke so well, and he made people laugh and cry, which is good at Life Celebrations.

My cousin spoke about Grandpa's generosity, which is funny because that was one of the themes my sisters and I found when we were preparing our speech. When it was our turn, we were all composed and doing good, and it all went smoothly except when J started to speak about how Grandpa made everyone feel special and was so giving to everyone...she cried, and she did it gracefully, and I think it brought reality to everyone, because my sisters and I are used to public speaking, so we were all prepared and composed and it was almost easy to forget that we were doing this because Grandpa was gone from us, but her tears reminded everyone that we are all grieving and that even while we shared funny stories or great memories, it hurts! It hurts like hell, and it was a miracle that we all got through it so composedly.

After we shared, most of my tears dried up. There were a few shed when Grandpa's best friend Roy shared and he had to wipe his eyes, and then when we ended with Matt Redmon's song "10,000 Reasons" because this song now has three teary times associated with it. But anyway, the service was completely beautiful and wonderful, and people were so nice, and we came home with literally bags of food that we will have to freeze because there is so much!

I shared my funny Grandpa story on Friday, and now I want to share the story that Sister P shared.
We were at Sunrise for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, and we asked Grandpa "Do you want water or juice to drink?"
He replied, "Water is for bathing and putting out fires. I want juice!"
The best part of this story is that Grandpa never drank water even before Alzheimer's. He always preferred milk or cocoa or juice, but never water. Too funny, especially considering my love for water...obviously not from that side of the family!

Anyway, the service was great, and my family talked about it and prayed together afterwards, and we recognized that this was some good closure and our hearts are healing and we've had time to grieve and we're doing good. I'm so grateful that everything went smoothly and that there were laughs as wells as tears, and that Jesus was honored through my grandpa's life. That's the point, after all.

Funny Story, a day early

I may or may not have time to post tomorrow for Funny Friday, so here it is a day early, and if I’m able to post tomorrow, you’ll get two funny stories in a row. How awesome possum is that!!!

So, this funny story happened yesterday. It’s called “the day my sister almost called 911 on me.”

I went for a run, and as I left the house, I called to the two sisters still at home “leave the door unlocked for me, please!” And off I ran. For 40 minutes. Oh yeah.

When I got back, all sweaty and ready for my Wat Bot {in the fridge getting cold-woot!}, guess what. The door was locked. So I went around the house. Both back doors were locked. Blast. Silly sisters I thought…. ok, maybe I thought not-so-nice words…. but this is a  G-rated blog, peeps!

I called my sister. She ignored my call. I know this because it rang twice and then went to voice mail, like she intentionally hit ignore and laughed maliciously at my call. Actually, she was interviewing someone for her newspaper job, so she probably didn't do the malicious laugh part. So then I called my mom. She told me where the spare key was located, and so I was able to get in through the garage.

Now, you should know, readers, that we use our garage as storage, so the garage door is rarely open. Just context, because it will make sense later.

In my "*frustration* at my sister, I left the garage door open. It was my “you locked the door- look at how I had to get in!” signal. Now, I wasn't fuming mad- I’m usually not. I just wanted a conversation starter, ya know?

I was in the laundry room folding towels when my sis came home. I could hear her get out of her car, and then a longer-than-usual silence in between the car door shutting and the front door opening. I heard her open the screen door….pause…unlock the front door….pause…. open the front door…. timidly step in….”Hello?”

“Hello!” I hollered back.

“Why is the garage door open?! I was about to call 911!!!!”

And that, my friends, is how my sister almost called 911 on me, because the garage door was open.

The Story of a Girl and her Wat Bot

Isn't there some song that starts out “this is the story of a girl…” yeah well that came to mind, but it sounded too 80s or 90s or whatever {don’t ask me about it- that’s the only part of the song I know- shout out to AJ who sent me a pin about this…haha!}.

anyway.

So I’m sitting here at work with ten minutes left till I can go home. What do I do? Blog. Duh. Here’s the post to prove it. But I thought, what do I blog about? Or should I not blog? What do I need to make sure I bring home?

next thought: Wat Bot’s in the fridge! Remember Wat Bot. Must. Remember.

Although I’m sure I've mentioned my Wat Bot before {and everyone who remembers this thinks this girl is craaaazy- you’re right, btw}, I don’t think I've officially told the story of me and my Wat Bot. So here it is.
Background:
I’m a water kind of gal. As in, my liquid of choice is water. Probably once every 5 visits to a place of food-for-sale {otherwise known as restaurants} will I order something in addition to water; the rest of the time, aqua only, please.

So I would get a plastic water bottle and try and adopt it for the summer, and it would get thrown away. Or recycled, cuz that’s what we do in this lovely green state. {for those of you who know which state I’m talking about, you’ll understand that I was being punny just then} Or the poor water bottle would get mixed up with my mom’s or my sisters’, or simply abandoned in the fridge. Or, worst of all, it would go through the dishwasher and come out crinkled and yucky. Sad, sad day.

I searched high and low for a water bottle that would remain faithful. But alas. No such luck. I made myself content with rotating plastic water bottles as the need arose.

Then, the angels sang. I worked a Microsoft conference, and at the end of the show, they gave their staff the leftover water bottles! Glory be! This water bottle was solid but lightweight, had a straw, a flippy lid (as in, practically spill-proof), and said “Windows Phone” on the side! What more could a girl ask for in a water bottle?! Well, maybe not the MS ads, but hey, we’ll take what we can get!

So I welcomed this water bottle into my life. It worked another show with me. It flew across the country with me. It went to every class and every work shift with me. It went to my Other Home(s) with me each weekend.

My life was complete. I have a Wat Bot. Twas glorious.

The best thing is, AJ’s kids call it “Wat Bot” too, and they even help me by bringing it to me whenever I set it down. Perfection, I tell you.

Anyway. This is the entirely random and completely true story of Bek and her Wat Bot. Be jealous.

Oh, PS. I told AJ’s chicka that if I worked for MS again, I’d try and bring her back her own Wat Bot. Later, she reminded me of this promise, saying “If you work for Microwave again, you’ll bring me a Wat Bot?”
Yes, dear. If I work for Microwave again, I’ll be sure and bring you a Wat Bot. Cuz I love working for Microwave. Too. Cute.