chicken soup for the soul
A missionary, a worship leader, and a church planter walk into a bar together.
Sounds like the start of a great joke, doesn’t it? Actually, it was the end of a great weekend.
I feel like my heart is brimming with things to say, and yet I can’t seem to find any suitable words. I wanted to take notes during the past four days, just jot things down as they happened so that I wouldn’t forget a thing. But I intentionally made myself not do that.
I didn’t want to experience things through the filter of how I’d write about them on my blog.
I know I’ve missed out on the full wonders of sunsets and elephant sightings and carefree African children playing in the street because I’ve watched them through my camera’s viewfinder. So this weekend I chose to set down my “camera”—my cognitive attempt to hold onto memories, put adequate words to them, and help someone else see what I see. I chose instead to just be there. To soak the weekend in, for me rather than for someone else.
My heart is full, my eyes are heavy, and my mind is stewing a myriad of thoughts. My life won’t ever be the same.
Um, but will you ever give us a good punch line? I mean you started out with a joke and left us hanging ;-) Maybe if you mashed it up with an old priest and rabbi joke. On second though, throw in a pirate. Every joke that includes pirates is funny. Well there is one that isn’t, but that is the exception. But of course I only know two pirate jokes..but hey, include a pirate anyway.
Seriously though, I am glad the meeting had so much meaning and significance to you. I am kind of jealous. I’ve never been able to bond with others so well. My wife and my only two friends in the world are the only exceptions that that rule. Well my dogs too, but dogs don’t count.
again…I know im not a girl but im less than 2 hours from boston…and I havent seen you in about…14 years…what the heck…nobody invited me..
arg
Ill move on though:)
It is so encouraging to see young Christian women just be there for themselves, each other, and God.
Not necessarily in that order…
im so happy for you Alece. its good to soak things in sometimes, without a camera or journal.
I love you.
@cassgirl says:
Wow…. so poignant and true.
“cognitive attempt to hold onto memories, put adequate words to them, and help someone else see what I see. I chose instead to just be there. To soak the weekend in, for me rather than for someone else.”
This totally blew me away and brought me to tears….
I pray that you are rejuvenated, refreshed, and Full of memories. Love ya!
@danielleH says:
glad your heart is full.
Mmmm, yes, camera lady. I know how that works. Good for you – that must’ve been tough.
I love you.
@mandythompson says:
well… cathi and i CLEARLY had the memory-making-machines under control so you could simply sit back & enjoy yourself.
i did, however, LOVE what you did with her camera when you had it at the beach… it made me wish you managed it more often. :)
i know i said it to your face yesterday, but i’m so thankful that you came. i’m so glad that we are now for real friends. it’s an honor that you carved out a chunk of your INCREDIBLY BUSY summer schedule to see me.
quality time. heavenly quality time.
i do love you
Alece, I am SO glad. I think you chose well. This line: I chose instead to just be there. To soak the weekend in, for me rather than for someone else. made me so glad you took the time to do this. The verse that comes to mind? “He restores my soul.” So glad, friend.
@ventigrace says:
Good for you friend… you soaked it all up just for you… and it was probably just what you needed.
I loved the opener by the way…
Very, very nice opening- I’d agree with Amy.
I’m glad your life will never be the same. (amen!)
TT — i’m not creative or funny enough to figure out where to go with it. i tried. really, i did. the opener was the best i could come up with!
klampert — you would NOT have enjoyed spending the weekend with us. we were rather crazy, and significantly girly. i do wish i’d have thought clearly enough to try to hook up with you on my way up or down, though. would have been great to see you again after so long. next time!??!?!?!
ric — indeed!
hannah — i’m glad you could understand what i meant.
heidi – more memories than i can remember, if that makes sense at all! ha. we had an amazing time. it’s one of the best weekends i’ve ever had.
yeller – me, too…
roo — yeah, i never even used my camera. not once. when we went to the beach, i held cathi’s camera for a bit and i got a little snap-happy, but that was it.
pandymants — thank YOU. and don’t worry, i’ve got tons of memories and tons of thoughts on it all, which will slowly but surely make their way out. i wasn’t meaning to say that i didn’t store stuff away inside my heart (cause i did) or that i won’t be sharing about it (cause i will). and yes, i speak your language, so it meant the world to me too. thanks, friend.
annie — mmm… thanks.
kitty — i did. i felt i needed to consciously choose that throughout the whole weekend, though, cause my mind would automatically go to its normal place of figuring out how i’d describe it to someone or start writing a post about it. i had to switch that off frequently. but i’m so glad i did.
becca – thanks! i wish i was creative enough to have finished that humorous thought, but alas… i got no further than that!
this makes me so happy! :D
I’m smilin big right now. Really big!
Love you!
So it can be done, and it can be good.
This is reassuring to me.
Someday…maybe.
@mandythompson says:
could i possibly cry for TWO days about this?
how bittersweet….
how bittersweet indeed.
@atangie says:
Ah ha! I wondered why I didn’t post more when I was in the States last year – and regretting it a bit. You have put words to my heart that I didn’t even know were there.
I chose instead to just be there.
Yeah, I get me a bit more. :-) Thank you.
We already know from your blogs how “crazy” the three of you can be. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of love, that is enough to know.
When viewing the video on Mandy’s blog of poor Cathi trying to “wash” her claim I couldn’t help but notice you encouraging her to keep “going deeper” into the freezing ocean. Kindly, Christian Missionary, right! :)
@cassgirl says:
I have to say after watching both videos and reading 3 separate accounts from 3 different stunning woman..
Wow it must have been a weekend.
Heart..play.. pushing (ha!), and there must have been some really deep talks too.
( you have a little rebel in ya too. Go deeper…)
I’m so happy for you friend!!!
I cannot get over it!!
@tamhodge says:
i’m living vicariously thru yours, stegalls and mandys posts about this weekend! i love how each of you have written about your take. the one common theme is just ‘being’. soaking in the moment and being ‘real’ about it.
i hope i get to meet you someday alece. i just HAVE to!
Hey, why don’t we all come over to my house. I have a whole pack of bean burritos in the fridge and running water. It will be a fun old time. ;-) After all, I would love to meet my blogging friends too.
oh, can i say how fortunate we are that we didn’t rely on my goldfish brain to retain the memories?!?! Remember how good i am w/ fish. k.
..and decided to go hiking and unexpectedly came upon a large raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do so.
The first girl prayed to God, saying, “Please God, give me the strength to cross this river.” *Poof!* God gave her big arms and strong legs, and she was able to swim across the river in about two hours, after almost drowning a couple of times.
Seeing this, the second girl prayed to God, saying, “Please God, give me the strength ..and the tools to cross this river.” *Poof!*
God gave her a rowboat and she was able to row across the river in about an hour, after almost capsizing the boat a couple of times.
The third girl had seen how this worked out for the other two, so she also prayed to God saying, “Please God, give me the strength and the tools…And the intelligence… To cross this river.” And *Poof!* God turned her into a man. She looked at the map, hiked upstream a couple of hundred yards, then walked across the bridge.
for mandy..
Redneck Computer Lingo
Log On: Makin’ the wood stove hotter.
Log Off: Don’t add no wood.
Monitor: Keepin’ an eye on the wood stove.
Download: Gettin’ the firewood off the pickup.
Mega Hertz: When yer not careful downloadin’.
Floppy Disk: Whatcha git from pilin’ too much firewood.
Ram: The hydrolic thingy that splits the firewood.
Hard Drive: Gettin’ home in the winter season.
Prompt: What you wish the mail was in the winter.
Windows: What to shut when it’s below 15 below.
Screen: What ‘cha need for the black fly season.
Byte: That’s what the flies do.
Chip: What to munch on.
Micro Chip: What’s left in the bottom of the bag.
Infrared: Where the left-overs go when Fred’s around.
Modem: What ‘cha did to the hay fields.
Dot Matrix: Farmer Matrix’s wife.
Lap Top: Where little kids feel comfy.
Keyboard: Where ya hang your keys.
Software: Them plastic eatin’ utensils.
Mouse: Whats eats the horses grain.
Main Frame: Hold up the barn roof.
Port: Fancy wine.
Enter: C’mon in.
Random Access Memory: You can’t remember whatcha’ paid for that new rifle when your wife asks.
anti — since when do men look at maps (isn’t that kin to asking for directions!?!?!)
Loved the opening to this…
And God Created A Sleeping Man
A couple went to church every week, but every week without fail the husband would fall asleep during the sermon. The wife, being embarrassed by her husband’s loud snoring, decided to bring a needle to the next service and poke him when he nodded off. The next week when they were in church the husband, as always, fell asleep.
“Who created the Earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th?” The wife stuck her husband with the needle and he jumped up and exclaimed, “Oh my God!” The preacher said, “That’s correct.” And the husband sat down mumbling to himself. He soon fell asleep again.
The preacher got to the question “Who died on the cross to save us from eternal damnation?” The wife stuck her husband again and he jumped up and exclaimed, “Jesus Christ!” And the preacher said, “Right again.” With this, the husband fell suspicious of his wife and decided to catch her in the act. The husband pretended to fall asleep while keeping an eye on his wife.
“What did Mary say to Joseph after Jesus was born?” the preacher asked. The wife started to poke her husband again, but before she could the husband jumped up and exclaimed, “If you stick that damn thing in me again, I’m going to break it in half!”
@cassgirl says:
Wow Anti
You are on a roll today…..
Thank God I’m no redneck!!!
I’m with Alece’s , Men’s directions are not a map.
Verbage sounds like this:
Its pass the 711 at the whatchmallcallit, down the gravel…. and what don’t you understand?!!!
I’m speaking English”
Us wives::(of course we listen)
We hear,
blah blah blah..( while plugging in the GPS!!)
michelle — yes! it CAN be done, and it CAN be amazing. more than you can ask or think!
pandymants — bittersweet indeed. i miss you more now.
@ngie — that’s awesome that somehow my processing helped your processing.
ed — yep. i’ve got a bit of rebel in me!
heidi — thanks for being so happy for me! that means a lot! it still feels a bit too good to be true…
tam — especially after our crazy skype-date! i love how that one hour made me feel decades closer to you… getting to laugh with you was one of my weekend highlights!
total — me no like beans.
cathi — do you speak whale?
anti — i just need you to know i love you doubly more for making me laugh so hard with your comments.
heidi — ha ha ha ha! you are SO right!
@cassgirl says:
WEll that’s my man anyways!!!
a real man only ask for directions once even if it is to himself…..
aaah… is that how it works?!?!
have i ever been lost or not get to a place or even be late because of directions???? everrrrrrr
@cassgirl says:
wow anti that was so profound.
then I want know something… Are there still any “real” men out there?
Because time after time I hear all my girlfriends say that all they heard was blah blah blah in the car!!!!
i must say… anti is very much a real man. he never asks for directions, BUT he pretty much never gets lost.
i bow to your navigational highness…
@cassgirl says:
Wow anti….
It’s hard to live up to your standards!!
Okay are you on time?
latenees is a sign of weekness and not being able to drive fast enough….i am not weak and i dont drive like a girl
THIS girl drives pretty fast… wouldn’t you agree, anti?!?!
grit .. if you go buy a nav system you will hear my sweet voice as an option
@cassgirl says:
sweet… well when you get caught, you’ll be a one of a kind catch… lucky her!!
@cassgirl says:
I drive too fast!!! But living in Cali you have too.
anti — i definitely want a GPS with your voice on it. would you yell at the drivers around me, too?!?!
grit .. mmm no but your car does i drove the crap out of it one time to and back from joburg…
tv lady…. yes lucky is the name of my friends dog that got eaten by cayotees
@cassgirl says:
You know alece that is so a Blog post in the making!!
grit .. those people i call presious as the bible say i cannot call them idiots
what is, heidi?!
that’s right… “precious”!
@cassgirl says:
GPS with the anti as the narrator.. think about it!!
@cassgirl says:
I can just imagine mine with Paul’s voice on it..
ha ha ha ha! i’m sure you’re already imagining all thee crazy things it would say!
Heidi drives too fast!? No. Niel drives too fast.
Remember that one time we were running late to the airport, and we realized my passport was still in the safe? Yeah.
grit dud e read the freajin coments on your blogs
the name is a tv show of a littl girl…so she is the tv lady
tv lady .. so you live in california
gosh i type like a 5th grader tonight
“dude, you shoulda turned 4 kilometers back!”
that’s what it would say, leece.
@cassgirl says:
yup
about 10 minutes from the mexico border, in Chula Vista (close to san diego)
Just tonight, anti!?
roo bob..alece car is way faster than that pickup… from joburg to harrismith in 13/4 hours….nice
anti – i know that heidi is the tv lady. don’t worry. i’m quicker on the uptake than you give me credit for.
roo — “just tonight?” ha ha ha ha!! and yes — i vividly remember that maniacal airport run with you. holy crow, i’m sweatin bullets just thinking about it. i was so worried you’d miss your flight.
1 3/4 hours?!?! anti, don’t drive like that with my man niel in the car. i need him to stay alive!!!
“arrive alive!”
I wasn’t so worried I’d miss my flight… Niel was driving like a madman. :) That was maniacal. Purely.
@cassgirl says:
anti – are u a redneck in sa, in a pickupem truck that drives slow. with a gun rack in the window, flannel shirt and all
roo bob.. does the dots around your head bother you ….. it bothers me
tv lady… so you can kook mexicano?
grit… you would not like my voice in nav as you dont like me telling you now what to do never mind when you are lost
1 3/4 hours!?!?!? is right! Holy… something!
I like my dots. But I’ll consider changing them. Just for you. (really, i need to update the picture because it’s old…)
anti — you’re right. i’d rather have the pool boy on my nav system…
@cassgirl says:
can i cook mexicano? yeah american style. my husband is mexican, he cooks way better.
i told alece to come for tacos and mango salsa but she went to MA!!
tv chick .. better a redneck with pickup and flanel and guns than boy with slick car and silk and barbies
roo .. never maniacal..if other could just drive fastr and stay with we would feel slow again
grit thanks for catching up
@cassgirl says:
Grit- I’m almost choked on my food, hahaha!!
a pool boy option… oy yeah!!
I TOTALLY want that mango salsa!
Have a recipe!?
Oh, wait. No good mangoes in Indiana. Crap.
heidi — sign me up! next time we’re in cali we so need to get together for tacos.
@cassgirl says:
anti red- I went from girl to chick.. now when you ask me my age I’ll be t.v. old woman huh??
how funny
nah, heidi, you’re a youngin’!
grit … well i would like to see that pool boy seeing that you dont have a pool but only a muddy dam.. or maybe solly at the gate going okaai turn right now…
roobs yes for crying out loud get with the times nd change
tv chick… bad choise of the grit .. seems to me she is too busy dreaming about a pool boy
@cassgirl says:
Alece- And a comfy couch with lattes!!!
Too funny.
I’ve a feeling I’m the baby of the group again tonight. :)
@cassgirl says:
I’m older than all ya!!
@cassgirl says:
Roo.. don’t worry… hey you are on time tonight!!
@atangie says:
Oh my goodness – this is hilarious
I feel like the clumsy girl starting at the double dutch jump ropes desperately wanting to jump in and not knowing how…
Anti – you are hilarious!
tv golden girl… i will take you up on mex food and maybe my man can show me how he cooks .. he still is my hero
anti — “okaaaay…. allllriiiiiiight”. ha ha ha. that made me laugh just thinking about it. a little sollie mixed with a little streetboy-joseph “straaaaight, straaaaaaight.” ha ha ha!
@ngie, I feel the same way!
heidi, I AM on time! yay!
@cassgirl says:
Okay Anti I’m NOT that old!!!
That’s a date, (well check with grit) I hope you like it hot. We cook hot!!
golden girl, ha ha ha ha ha! that is fantastic.
and yes – mr. golden should teach my man niel how to cook some mexican.
roo/angie — nah. just jump on in! the water’s fine…
@atangie says:
the water in the pool?
roobs get rid of dots an dyou will feel much older
tv gram… i dont know about the oldest.. you have no idea how good i am actualy looking for my age…
email name girl….dude wake up and smell the keyboards burning up around here
@cassgirl says:
Yeah the pool man was here in Alece’s GPS!!
Pool? No. Neit. Nein. Negatory. However, I’m all for awkward jumping into conversations! Bring it!
angie – yeah, the pool boy got it all ready. perfect temp!
anti – oh yeah?! how old are you, gramps?!?!
I’m TRYING, Nielbob! I can’t get my avatar-changer to work on wordpress! Jerk of a website!
@cassgirl says:
antired- do you remember the 70′s?
@atangie says:
anti – I can smell ‘em from waaaaaay down south here
they sent out a smoke signal and I went hunting for them… I had a feeling you all would be here.
tv like yesterday
grit what did the pool boy get hot and steemy and so on
@atangie says:
I want to hear another joke…
the pool boy got the POOL all hot and steamy.
@cassgirl says:
me too
@cassgirl says:
I hope he didn’t get the red pumps wet?
@atangie says:
you got hot and steamy too Heidi? :-)
email… where there is smoke there is usualy something going on … or your kids ae smoking something..or alece is in the shower
@cassgirl says:
@ngie. I wish.. I’m old I don’t do that anymore….
… no more scarfs….
what freking pool amnd with my typing skills there should be like a ” rule 2 you can only comment every 2 minutes”
I love scarves! Ooh!
That makes me seem ADD. Scarves do that.
@atangie says:
c’mon girl! :-) Never too old for that…
anti – you can call me @; it is easier to type…
@cassgirl says:
Roo according to alece :)
@atangie says:
rules? on chatting? that is a new one…
@ take the use of 2 fingers .. way more work a
i am stilll confused what alece is doing with a pool boy and what is the pool?
anti – explanation about the pool: roo and angie said they were a bit hesitant to join the converation. i told them to jump on in, the water was fine… which led into the pool boy getting it ready for us.
“or alece is in the shower” – ow ow ow!!!
anti can make rules and where the heck is grit
grit is RIGHT HERE!
tell my man niel i love him more than apple pie.
@cassgirl says:
grit is paying the pool boy
:D
WOAH, heidi!!!
ha ha ha ha!
Too funny!
@atangie says:
so what are the rules that we must abide by sir Anti?
if you’re anti-blogging, i’m anti-rules.
@cassgirl says:
totally humor (bad i guess)
Niel has totally stolen Alece’s heart.
@atangie says:
Good one Alece!!!
DUDE. Thanks for saying that, ‘lece. Rules = not okay. ;)
And sorry, anti. My picture-changer won’t work!
why won’t it work, roo?!
heidi – no worries. i laughed out loud!
@atangie says:
grit – I bought apples this weekend to make an apple pie… now I just need a good recipe
mmm… i love me some apple pie. but not as much as i love me my husband.
I’ve no idea! It keeps spitting out crop box with no picture to crop!
@atangie says:
awwww – ditto here
roo — weird!!! maybe try closing your browser and trying again. or signing out of wordpress and signing back in.
anti — where the heck are YOU!?
@atangie says:
roo – I like your dots! though, my children did ask, when they saw your avatar, “Who is that black lady?”
@atangie says:
Anti went to get himself an avatar… maybe
HA!
@ngie, that’s too funny!
I like my dots, too… but it is getting to be an old’ish picture. I want to change it! Change! Dangit.
@atangie says:
I thought you might like that roo
anti’s trying to figure out what an avatar is!
for the south people
Texan Baby
A Texan bought a round of drinks for all in the bar and
announced that his wife had just produced a typical Texas
baby, weighing a whopping twenty pounds.
“WOW!” was the response from everyone at the bar.
Two weeks later the Texan returned to the bar. The bartender
recognized him and asked, “Aren’t you the father of the baby
that weighed twenty pounds at birth? How much does he weighnow?”
The proud father answered, “10 pounds.”
The bartender said, “Why? I know that babies lose some
weight after birth, but ten pounds? He did weigh twenty
pounds, didn’t he? What happened?
The proud Texas father said, “Just had him circumcised!”
Oh, NO.
@cassgirl says:
That was funny!!!
I’m cringing, anti. Absolutely cringing.
holy crow, anti. if i could insert the bug-eyed guy, he’d be right…. HERE.
@atangie says:
Ha! Grit you are funny… this anti guy brings out the best in you
oh and anti, here is what wiki has to say about avatars (if you want to be real confused):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar
grit i will avatar you next weekend
see my face in my avatar? that’s my reaction to your joke! ha ha!
“grit i will avatar you next weekend” — sounds more like glory to me!
mmmmmm grit remember anti rules
@atangie says:
oh no!
@cassgirl says:
I hope you guys booked a room and not someones hide a bed!!
you look like one whos fart went wrong
you and that “fart went wrong” phrase!
cant wait to visit you miss tv
well you know how that goes
ha !!!!!
@atangie says:
maybe I missed it earlier in the convo… where are you all at?
@cassgirl says:
Welcome mat is always there!!!
ARGH.
See? Now I’m a black box. *kick*
grit and glory dot com
@cassgirl says:
Only if Alece promises me a good conversation with a latte. I can’t wait to catch up!!
i told grit it is either host homes or we get an rv… she still prefers the silince of the hams
@atangie says:
har har har – I know that we are all here on sweet alece’s site… I am talking what city is your body sat at?
oh we’ll have a good conversation and latte, complements of St. Arbucks.
dude roo it will e easier to email us the new pick and we can sicky tack it onto the screen everytme you talk
@ngie – my butt is sat at home, on long island.
anti – “silence of the hams”?! you are on a roll tonight. man oh man! loren spiked your corn on the cob!
@atangie says:
an rv – that sounds interesting…
(roo – i still see your polka picture)
well email i am actually lying on the carpet of my friends house in … can you guess and i wont send you a virus for your computer
@atangie says:
I am still seeing spots too
Hm. Odd. Well, I’m out. So I’ll see if I can change it latah. :shrug:
LOVES!
@cassgirl says:
I’m in the auto business you know… RV ggod choice. good shocks, good noise reduction and all the ammentities. :)
bye, roo!!!
heidi — thanks for that endorsement. (sigh.)
@cassgirl says:
roo- i see black!!
@atangie says:
whatEVER anti! :-)
ummmmm…. ok… zalamazoo
@atangie says:
oops – Kalamazoo :-]
grit we should go visit that friendly tv lady some or other time as she seem to be a very nice persoon in california…not many of them you know
@atangie says:
bye roo!
@cassgirl says:
i didnt endorse nuttin. I just was making a general.. a very general comment.
You need the Ritz hun!!! No Winnebago!!!
later dottie
anti — i know! we totally should go! you wanna?!?!?! while we’re over that way, we’ll have to get up to oregon to see some other nice people too…
heidi — that’s right! ritz, no winnebago! ha ha!
@cassgirl says:
Although there’s a winnebago park 3 miles from my house, in between it yep. ST. Arbucks.
@atangie says:
And then when you are done touring the wild wild west you can come down south – porfavor? :-]
this is gonna be SOME road trip!
@cassgirl says:
Take me to oregon. that’s where i am from and I have some serious huggin to do..
maybe in a winnebago?
huggin? or huggaboochin?
@cassgirl says:
a bloggers road trip.. What a reality show that would be? Producers of NBC excuse me?
@atangie says:
grit – I wasn’t gonna ask it… but you did! Ha!
we should pitch it to them. i want jeff probst to be the MC dude.
it could be the answer to all our fundraising prayers.
truth be told i am in the rochester aria of michgan . now sitting in my lonely bed drinking an ibc root beer out of the bottle
@cassgirl says:
Well… hmmmmmm.. I’m speechless.
@cassgirl says:
Thanks Alece… I’m speechless. I know some places for boochin..
@atangie says:
so I had the State right…
root beer – yummy!
angie – ha! we were thinkin the same thing!!!
anti – i wish i were sipping ibc next to you! (but don’t tell my man niel that i said that!)
@cassgirl says:
Anti.. with a shot of Vanilla Ice Cream?
wow tv hocaboochabooning in a wannabago
wild stuff people
so is jeff the pool boy?
@atangie says:
oh yes root beer floats – yummmmmy
ha ha ha! yes. jeff the pool boy. that is awesome.
no just rootbeer as my host home is sleping and i cant walk around making noises looking for the ice cream
they’re sleeping already?! prolly just huggaboochin…
@cassgirl says:
oh my stars, my face is turning all flush.
it’s from your hot tamales, heidi.
grit i ordered you something but i think it will only arive on friday so your swet mama should please take all packages to your room … this one should not be left outside and someone will have to sighn for it as they wont just leave it i think…. maybe industrious mike can be awake and sign
i just gasped!
what did you send me, anti!? and… if it arrives friday MORNING i could still get it in time. fingers crossed, fingers crossed!!!
ok and can you believe i have been here now for 5 days and only had 1 freakin starbucks
that’s a sin, anti. a sin.
tv take of the scarf
@atangie says:
how many Dunkin’ donuts have you had anti?
and how many napkins have you collected?
ok and no joke i just got this freakin message when i hit send on my last comment
You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.
@atangie says:
wordpress said that to you anti?
what is that all about email ????? napkins and just one at the airport running to catch a flight..just one
@cassgirl says:
what is dunkin donuts?
what i type with 2 fingers and get a freakin comment like that but you people type stories and i strugle to keep up and you dont get it…..that is why i am anti this thing
anti — you are a commenting KING, that’s what that means.
heidi — i just gasped again. dunkin donuts is like krispy kreme only ten times better.
@atangie says:
grit posted a while back about our affinity for napkin – well I guess it was your man’s affinity – and anyway… yeah that and Dunkin over Krispy was a convo grit and I had a while back…
sweet Lordie tv granma.. you dont know what that is .. and alece called me a sinner.. dude remeber the 70 .. they invented the donut to dunk in your coffee…..or was that before your time
@atangie says:
‘your’ not ‘our’ up there
anti – i’ve gotten that message before, too. must run in the family.
and the napkin thing — remember that picture we took of the STACK of napkins at dunkin donuts in florida? just because we were excited that they aren’t napkin nazis like in SA?!
@cassgirl says:
I’m sorry we don’t have dunkin or Krispy. We have yum yum
are you still comin?
mm email… i should read more often what she is writng about my man niel
you have a donut chain called “yum yum”??? seriously???
i’m having second thoughts now…
@atangie says:
yum yum? that is a great name for a donut shop!
@atangie says:
my man doesn’t read my blog either – unless I ask him too
@cassgirl says:
seriously!!
I like chang’s donuts/chinese food better though?
I would do anything for a maple bar!!!
chang’s donuts and chinese food!??! THAT is hilarious!
dude i think you guys have it but maybe it is bacaus eyou get stuck at rv paradise only 3 miles away from your house for boochin and therefore no idea what else is in your homie….you shgould go look
“for boochin”! ha ha ha ha!
email tell your man to stand strong
@atangie says:
ha! heidi : chang’s donuts/chinese food
what is a maple bar?
@cassgirl says:
This is cali..
Trust me boochin is for youngens. My husband gave it up for lent 10 years ago!!!
@cassgirl says:
ahemm… 7 years ago.. Iceman is 7
tv you should maybe just bring the fam to visit me in south africa and then me and my hero and your hero can go walk around the mountains while you and grit makes mexicano and chineso and donuto
@atangie says:
anti – I will pass the message along
i don’t buy it, seeing as you have a 7-year old! unless he looks like jeff the pool boy.
yes yes yes heidi! come to africa!!!
tv that was funny … ohem ice is seven
@cassgirl says:
@ngie.. okay you have my chain going
a maple bar? It’s a longjohn back east I think.
A long donut smothered in maple frosting. Ohmy!!
I need one so.
longjohn?!?! as in…thermal underwear?!?!
@cassgirl says:
iceman is my son
dude never understood why men will trade THAT for rent … bogles my mind… maybe it is jsut to big for myu old mind to understand
scroll up, heidi – did you see my comment about him being 7? HA!
@cassgirl says:
WE seriously need to talk about Africa off the chat. I would love to leave Cali for something like that!!
@atangie says:
Ha! thermals! grit… you’ve never had a longjohn?
maple frosting? yuck. They make them with dulce de leche frosting here.
trade WHAT for rent, anti? kids??? :-)
yes i know i prayed for him all day long for healing remember
never had a longjohn. but i need to get some for the frigid SA winters… :-)
heidi – yes! email me your thoughts!
mmm… anti, that comment made my heart smile. i love you!
sex
@cassgirl says:
I totally missed that comment.. Ha ha ha!!
GASP! you said the S-Word on my blog!!!!!!!!!!!
email dulce what .. sounds way to french for me
want me to email that to your mama
@atangie says:
Spanish… ‘dulce de leche’ = sweet milk. It tastes like caramel.
your mom emailed it to my mama!
@cassgirl says:
Anti- You were my prayer warrior the other night for my son and husband…
I’ll NEVER FORGET THAT!!!
she said we were to loud or not loud enough
yes.
dude and my mom coame with noah on the boat has no idea what email is
@cassgirl says:
DULCE DE LECHE is not sweet enough for me!!!
email so why do you like sweet milk on bread ?
with noah on the boat! ha ha.
@atangie says:
that is funny – it is usually way too sweet for me
and yes what alece
i am too sweet my self
i was answering your question up there by not really answering…
@atangie says:
it’s how they do it here in Bolivia
on bread
on donuts
on cake
on crackers
on fruit
on cheese (big delicacy)
or jsut straight out of the jar
so answer it by not answering it
@cassgirl says:
im so lost @ngie..
They have as ice cream here too and a drink
Crap! Looks like I missed a great post. Our power is out and I was at my brothers all day. I will have to catch up on all this later.
@atangie says:
yep – ice-cream here too
not a drink though…
@cassgirl says:
hi faith!!
tv glad i could pray for them .. always availible to comunicate with my man Jesus
nasty milk on all that …
@atangie says:
It is a thick substance a bit creamier than peanut butter. It is made by cooking milk and sugar at a low heat for a very long time. It turns the color of caramel. It is called dulce de leche.
@cassgirl says:
real men talk to jesus in their flannels in their pickupme trucks with gun racks.
isn’t that sweetened condensed milk?
well ok i am going to retire from here and let you girl s have ago at it .. i had way not enough sleep and so i am jet lagging and not sleeping and so good night to all and have a wonderfull thanksgiving
tv you are right even the hell billys talk to my jesus…
yes it is condensed milk
dude thundering around here i wish it will rain tonight that will be awasome
mmm… i love a good thunderstorm. when i don’t need to be outside in it!
@atangie says:
rain is awesome
goodnight anti
g’night, anti. tell my man niel i love him, sweet dreams, and good night!
@atangie says:
I am going to talk shop a second here… and brag on my man..
look what he just put up:
http://www.christnationministries.org/English/bios.html
@cassgirl says:
nite anti
link isn’t working for me…
@atangie says:
try this and then click the F.A.Q. link:
http://www.christnationministries.org
@atangie says:
we are in the process of switching webservers – so if it doesn’t work, don’t worry about it…
@cassgirl says:
what are we looking at.. I’m interested too?
@cassgirl says:
@ngie- have you guys been missionaries long?
@atangie says:
He just added a fun flash element to our web site that is a scrolling time line with pictures and stuff… real cool
@atangie says:
seven years november 1st
@cassgirl says:
kis before, after or during?
@cassgirl says:
KIDS
@atangie says:
we had three kids when we came to the field (ages 3, 2, and 10 weeks), and we had one here who is now almost 2.
And yes we kis too. :-)
@atangie says:
(if I were alece I would be on the phone with my man… what is your guess heidi?)
@cassgirl says:
I’m sorry Anti rotted my brain..( I got to blame somebody)
That’s amazing. I think it would be tough. But then maybe not.
Yeah I kis too.
@atangie says:
tough is relative…
@cassgirl says:
(( yep she is so gone…. you know the scene.
no you hang up
No you
come you hang up
no you
Long silence… still there
no you hang up
no you
@atangie says:
somehow I don’t think anti is one to be at a loss for words… :-)
@cassgirl says:
What does tough relative mean?
@cassgirl says:
ha!!! you know it’s alece … giggling
no you hang up first!!
@atangie says:
I would say that taking care of a needy husband and child would be tough… but there is grace from God to be able to do it… so when someone says, “Your life must be tough.” (which they frequently do) my answer is, “Not so much.” I can imagine tougher things…
@cassgirl says:
you know I think it’s because churches make it sound so horrible.
When I was a teen almost 17, I had an opportunity to go to vietnam. Yes vietnam with a family on a missionary trip. Unfortunately something HUGE happened to me and I gave up.
I always wondered what it would really be like.
(angie, i get this error: If you are seeing this page instead of the site you expected, please contact the administrator of the site involved.)
@atangie says:
(computer froze – had to restart it)
it is a challenge to be a missionary… some days are better than others… but it is not dreadful…
that would have been amazing to go to Vietnam.
@atangie says:
alece – hmm… grrr… well – it is a good thing I had you check it…
@atangie says:
thank you… DaRonn’s working on it now…
@cassgirl says:
Yeah… I’ve always kicked myself for not going.
I’ve seen pictures after pictures of where I would have gone.. Oh my stars.. beautiful!!!
@cassgirl says:
I am sure it’s challenging with fund raising and living in a foriegn country.. No happy meals!!!
I think that’s why I pray so earnestly for your occupation and life in general.
@atangie says:
I truly appreciate that Heidi. Thank you for praying.
We do have a burger king in our city… :-)
@cassgirl says:
No way!!!
@atangie says:
there was McDonalds the first year we were here and then they took them out of the country. :-)
booger king is the only US chain we have
@cassgirl says:
bad bowlers too!!! DaRonn showed them!!
@atangie says:
true dat
@cassgirl says:
my husband says there’s a KFC in Iraq.. amazes me!!
@atangie says:
hey – it was a blast chatting with you all…
I gotta go to bed now. See you soon!
@cassgirl says:
I never been out of the us, except one trip to tijuana. I’m a real traveler huh?
@cassgirl says:
nite!!
@atangie says:
maybe you will make it to South Africa… that would be awesome Heidi.
g’nite
Oh! Oh! I’m back!
Aaaand, it’s the solo black box. Everyone else is gone.
@cassgirl says:
ROO… r u there?
I am!
AND, my black-box-ness should soon change.
Thanks for your sweet comment. I loved this post. I really did. Soaking it up… hmmm
sarah – too often i find myself not living fully in the moment. too easily i move into the future or even the past. choosing to embrace the present was… well, a gift.
lece…i had to come see what all the anti chat was about…HA…he said SEX…I was hooked after that!!! How sedulous! :)
he was crazy man tonight, that’s for sure. he said he’d “avatar me in DC”! ha ha ha!