five-minute friday: 12 hours in nyc
Go.
Five minutes is definitely not enough time to tell you about my whirlwind trip to New York City last Friday with Tracee. But here are some highlights… I’mma type fast…
The moment my favorite skyline came into view, we both bust out singing “Only in New Yoooork…” And it became our theme song for the day.
I’d heard about this initiative going on that placed pianos all over the city “to bring music to the streets”. We made it our mission to find one, and sure enough… We played on a random piano in the middle of Times Square!
We hit up FAO Schwartz because we just had to play on the BIG piano. (Our “Where’s Waldo?” game on Twitter made it even more fun!) We ooooh’d and ahhhh’d at the Apple Store, and played Skee-Ball on an iPhone 4. (So random. And so funny.) The live camera feed on one of the ginormous screens in Times Square was a blast too. Trying to find ourselves up there felt like payback for the Where’s Waldo game… But we eventually found us.
We took our time eating dinner at my favorite restaurant — 2 1/2 hours! — and savored every bite (and sip). Mmm! I love me some good Italian…
I got a long-overdue hug from my friend Natalie to end off an amazing day, and then Tracee and I cashed out on the bus ride back to DC. We were joyfully content from a day of laughing, talking, walking (lots of walking), and doing everything and nothing together.
It went by so fast. And was far too short. But it was the very best day I’ve had in a looooong time. What a gift!
Done.
four-minute friday: nyc
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I’ve been sitting here trying to think of what I can four-minute about. And all I can think of is NYC. So I finally decided to go with that.
Because I’m going there today!
As a surprise gift, my sweet friend Tracee bought us bus tickets from DC to NYC for the day. I am soooooo excited!
Depending on how long you’ve been around The Grit, you may or may not know that I’m from New York. Long Island, to be exact. (Go Yankees!) And after 18 months back in the States from Africa, this will be my first visit back to NY. Thus, my outta-my-mind excitement.
Is it bad that in thinking through what I want to do with my less-than-twelve-hours in NYC, all I can think about is food?! Bagels… Pizza… My favorite Italian restaurant… A pretzel-cart pretzel… (Can you tell I like carbs!?) Mmmm…. My tummy will be full, that’s for sure.
And so will my heart. All day I’ll feel so loved by my friend Tracee who’s arranged this whole wonderful gift.
I know I will. Because my heart already feels full.
Done.
I’mma tweet through this whole whirlwind adventure,
so be sure to follow me on Twitter if you don’t already.
five-minute friday: breathe
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My mind is swirling with the ever-present barrage of decisions to be made, things to be done, and thoughts to be thunk. The music playing in the background adds yet another layer to the cacophony, and I feel compelled to check my phone every time it dings. And it dings often.
It’s all right there — constantly flowing at / to / in me. I get overwhelmed by the enormity of everything. Not knowing where to start causes me to not start at all.
I haven’t journaled out the things I’ve wanted to. I haven’t written the heart-wrestling blog posts that are currently sitting in my drafts folder as only a sentence or two. I haven’t finished the book I began reading four months ago. I haven’t given myself time, space, and emotional reserve to process the weighty things in my heart. I haven’t replied to all my emails, cleared my Google Reader, or gotten in touch with all the friends I’d love to connect with.
And all those haven’ts weigh on me as need to’s any time I get a spare minute to myself.
But in that rare moment, all I want to do is drown that list out of my mind.
And just breathe.
Maybe, just maybe, that isn’t bad. Maybe that isn’t avoidance or procrastination.
Maybe it’s my heart’s way of reminding me that life is more about being than it is about doing.
Done.
four-minute friday: apples & oranges
I think most of you know my friend Mandy. If you don’t, you should. She’s incredible.
Back on the Q’s & A’s post, she suggested I have some friends write for Four-Minute Friday. I decided to take her up on her idea…
I asked her to write one.
So here’s Mandy Thompson… on apples and oranges:
Go.
I think sometimes we can focus so strongly on the differences between us that we begin to see people as being completely “other than” us. We stare at the differences until the only conclusion is that we’re different creatures – different beings – different at a core level.
Like comparing Apples and Oranges.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Our outsides may look different in size, color, and even shape, but we all have the same kind of skin, and the same type of insides. And we can all bruise. And if you throw a bunch of apples in a bag and shake them up, they will bruise one another.
We forget this. We just jump in the bag and hurt and harm others.
We also forget that, buried safely beneath the surface, at the core of who we are, seeds are waiting on the moment when they can grow – bring life from that apple. We all have dreams and plans and desires inside of us. We all have gifts and potential to give MORE to the world – more than who we are in and of ourselves.
Each apple has within it the ability to be a life-giving tree… if given the chance.
But do we give others the chance? And do we give ourselves the chance? Or are we stuck nursing our own bruisings? Or too distracted by the outside differences that separate us from others?
Done.
four-minute friday: randoms
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You guys asked me some great questions in the Qs and As post.
Most of them require more heart and thought than I have to give tonight, but there are some random questions I’m gonna force myself to answer quickly. If you know much about me, you know I’m not good with off-the-cuff answers. I think it’s because of the whole favorites thing… And the fuzzy brain thing… And probably a few other things as well…
Anyway…
Here goes. Just for you.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
The ability to backspace when I’m speaking like I can when I’m writing…
What do you like to do to relax?
Watch a movie/TV. Read (fiction). Cozy up with some blogs. Do nothing with a friend—my favorite!
Hugger or a handshaker?
Hugger!
What’s your middle name?
::cringe:: …Nancy
What do you love most about being a girl?
Not having to use a urinal with strangers right next to me doing the same thing …
I’d love to hear your answers to any or all of these. And feel free to leave me some more questions…HERE.
Done.
four-minute friday: giveaway
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Did you know we have our own blend of Thrive Africa coffee? We do. It’s organic, fair-trade, and air-roasted. And it’s made entirely of African-grown beans.
From Africa.
For Africa.
You can win a pound of Thrive coffee and an awesome travel mug to drink it out of.
My friend Ashleigh is doing a giveaway over on her blog. (She’s amazing like that.) You need to go read her post to discover all the ways you can enter — and you have between now and Monday at midnight to do it.
So go on over and enter your name into the giveaway.
You know you wanna.
Done.
four-minute friday: iowa
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It still feels a little unreal to me that I’ve spent this week with my friend Sara.
For lots of reasons.
Like the fact that I normally live on another continent. And Sara lives in Iowa of all places. Iowa.
And like how I had to be perfectly healthy so I don’t pass something on to her. And that is no small miracle for me.
But all the stars aligned—by the grace of God!—and here I am.
Every now and again I still squeal out an, “I can’t believe I’m in your house!” Because it really does seem too good to be true.
And it’s coming to an end all too quickly.
I’m not ready to leave, to say goodbye, to give Sara a final hug. I’m not ready.
But I am so unbelievably grateful.
My heart is going to hold on to this week for a very long time.
Done.
four-minute friday: in two minutes or less
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I don’t even think I can get four full minutes in. It’s been that long of a week. No, I take that back. It’s been a quick week, but overflowingly full in every way imaginable.
My brain is fried. It’s been checked out for days. (Which definitely did not help with the hard week…)
So… Yeah. I’ve got nothing today.
After my raw, vulnerable posts earlier this week, I’m left with nothing to say. For now.
(Hopefully my brain will be back by Monday.)
So… You tell me something. Anything.
You could tell me what God’s speaking to you these days. Or you could keep it light and fluffy and just tell me about your favorite pair of shoes.
Or what your weekend plans are. Or what your best friend is like. Or why you love Target so much.
You know, whatever.
Just please tell me something so I don’t have to feel guilty for not saying anything on here today.
Happy weekend, friends!
Done.
four-minute friday: tight
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It’s been one helluva week.
I’ve been crazy-emotional. I don’t feel well. I’m exhausted. I received some rough interesting emails. I have more to do than I have time to do it in or energy to do it with. I miss my friends. I’m desperate for a real hug.
And that’s the short list.
On top of which I went and did something crazy.
Posting about my new normal was by far the biggest risk I’ve taken this year.
I was scared of being that vulnerable; I was anxious about the responses that would come.
But then there was the hug in the form of a blog post about me that caught me completely off guard in the best way possible.
There were the phone calls, texts, emails, and comments I received from people who care deeply for me.
There was the “I love you” from God that came in the form of “I love you”s from people.
As this crazy-hard week comes to an end, I’m assured that I’m not alone.
He’s holding me tight.
And so are you.
Done.
four-minute friday: risk
Go.
The first two months of 2010—can you believe it’s the end of February already?!—have held lots of risks for me. Y’all remember that’s my one word focus for the year, right? (What? I’m living in Georgia. I can say y’all.)
My year of risk is well underway.
I went on vacation with a bunch of near-strangers.
I rappelled 100 feet into a Mexican canyon.
I’ve intentionally endured quite a few awkward situations.
But those have paled in comparison to the risks I’ve taken with my heart.
I’ve prayed risky prayers. I’ve been more authentic in the moment. I’ve wrestled with truly forgiving my wayward husband.
And as I look toward the horizon, there is a lot that makes me very nervous.
Like the six week ministry fundraising trip I’m embarking on this spring. By myself. It feels incredibly daunting after always having a wingman (who was also the extrovert and public speaker of the two of us).
I signed up for a half-marathon. Which I fear will be a health risk more than anything else. But I am determined to cross the finish line no matter what.
And I’m going to continue risking big with my heart. Although it hasn’t started getting any easier yet.
Your turn to check in.
How have you done with your one word?
I’d love to see us rally around each other to cheer one another on!
Done.
