Sunday, March 29, 2009

From the mouth of a 5 year old.

Hanging out with my niece Kyla is always hilarious. She has quite the personality and is so much like me, I just have to share the funny things she does (and sometimes embarrassing)!
This weekend we were leaving church, I saw a friend of mine, said hello and proceeded to walk the kids to the car with Maria. I was saying goodbye and the friend of mine was standing like 4 cars away from us. Kyla kept yelling at him about his pink shirt (she's feisty... just like me), then turns to me and says, "LeLe, do you want to marry him?" and before I can even respond, a light goes off in her ever-working head and she says, "I found a guy for you!" Like this was her accomplishment. (Granted, I do tell her to find LeLe a husband...) She then tells me to just go over and ask him. Okay Ky. I'll get right on that.

This evening, Kyla and I were playing memory. Somehow we got on the topic of her wanting a sister. She kept saying it wasn't fair that Ellie, her friend, had 2 sisters and she didn't have any. It wasn't fair that she has to have only brothers that are mean to her (as if sisters are not mean. ha, if she only knew). So then I decided to bring up that maybe one day she could have a sister and she quickly responded that Mommy is not going to have anymore babies. I told her maybe she would change her mind and that we could pray about it. She said okay, go ahead (okay... now works, I guess).
Me: Dear God, thank you for this day, thank you for my beautiful family and the time we are able to spend together. Lord, you know I love Sean, Kevin, Kyla, Carter and Jonah
Kyla (interjecting): BUT!
Me (getting to the point): but... Kyla and I would really love for you to give her a sister. God, I pray that, if its your will, you would place it in Maria and Kirts heart to have another baby and to give Kyla a sister so that she can enjoy a relationship like Maria and I have. It's in your name we pray, Amen.
Kyla (sure of herself): So...what did God say?
Me (laughing): Well, we will just have to wait and see... but it may take a long time to answer our prayers... but he will.
Kyla (sighs): Okay.

There are a lot of these interviews with children rolling around and since I do not have kids, I interviewed Kyla. Here are the questions and answers. Hilarious.

1. What is something lele always says to you? i love you.
2. What makes lele happy? when i run to her when she comes to pick me up
3. What makes lele sad? boppa doesnt give her hugs
4. How does lele do to make you laugh? tickles me
5. What did lele like to do as a child? play with my mom
6. How old is lele? I dont know. "Guess", (me). 16.
7. How tall is lele? 8 feet.
8. What is leles favorite thing to watch on TV? Football.
9. What does lele do when you're not around? she plays with herself.
10. If lele becomes famous, what will it be for? making someone happy
11. What is lele really good at? Playing soccer.
12. What is lele not very good at? football and baseball.
13. What does lele do for her job? types paper
14. What is your leles favorite food? chinese
15. What makes you proud of lele? when i jump to you
16. If lele was a cartoon character, who would she be? Cinderella
17. What do you and lele do together? Play the wii
18. How are you and lele the same? Were twins
19. How are you and lele different? God just makes us different.
20. How do you know lele loves you? Because you have a loving heart.
21. What does lele like most about mommy? because theyre sisters and are twins with the same outfit on.
22. Where is lele's favorite place to go? Busch Gardens and Disney
23. When is lele going to get married? When shes a big, big, big person and she finds somebody.
24. Who is going to be lele's husband? Anakin.
25. If you could do anything with Lele what would it be? Play football with her in my grass.

Friday, March 27, 2009

In other news

Since its been awhile, I figured I would give a brief update on my ever-crazy lifestyle. I decided to move out of Ashby's house as we all were preparing to move the end of April. Since I hate transition periods (anything grey is terrible, I am a black and white girl), I decided to get a move on. I found an adorable 2 bedroom condo to rent, in a great location that is close to everything and has a secluded feel. On my lanai, all I can see is woods. Literally, I cannot see any buildings... its amazing. I am pretty much living in a retirement community. I went downstairs the other day to find oxygen tanks sitting outside the condo below me, being traded out for new ones, I am sure. Joe, the man below me, has emphysema and tells me to "park the heels at the door". Apparently he can hear my stilettos through his ceiling. Sorry Joe. Kevin is always walking around our building. Anytime I go to leave, he pops out of somewhere... or yells at me for not closing the lid on the dumpster (it was open when I put trash in it- I just left it the way I found it- sorry!). (And not really yelling, I am just sensitive.) Peggy calls me Alicia Keys so she can remember my name. She has some blood flow/circulation problems in her legs. She is a sweet lady and wears awesome big sunglasses that I would totally buy. She also walks about 3 steps a minute, so I see her about once a day walking from her car to her condo.
I had a painting party to paint the interior, I got to pick out all the colors and had a great turn out. The place is adorable! I moved all my stuff in the second week of March- but I am still getting settled. I love living alone. I thought I might get lonely, but it is sooo nice.

I am working at Outback in Fort Myers which is going well. I like the people I work with and its great to work with people who I have never gone out and partied with before. So they don't expect me to always go out like I did with the people in Bonita. I am still pretty sensitive to how people talk and the content that talk about in the restaurant business... but I have to remember that God put me there for a reason and I just have to stand firm in Him!

Business is going well. Albeit taking an entire week off to move and celebrate, we are right on track for the month. I am ready to get back to it 100%... and get myself out of depending on anything from a second job. (But I may keep it anyway, for the ministering opportunity and the discount (:) I love what I do, education people, helping them, talking to them and having the freedom to work at 1am or not work till 11am. Its all good.

Everything is great in the fam front. My niece and nephews and just getting so big. Its crazy what they know... they are just a sponge for information. I am loving my sister and Kirt- as usual. Although I wish Kirt and I were closer. I know he is a great guy, but I rarely get to spend time with him because I am either with the kids and my sister, taking my sister away from the kids or with the entire family. I think that our respect for each other is growing... not that we were ever lacking, but it is growing.

My birthday was amazing- as usual! Birthdays are a BIG deal to me... I had a girls dinner on the Saturday before and had like all my best friends (minus Hallie and Ilana) at the same table (which was kind of weird honestly). We went to Bar Louie after and danced all night long. It was a blast. My actual birthday was kinda of frustrating, but turned out fun! We went to Icabods which was out of control, then ate dinner at Outback, went back to Icabods and hung out with some of the coolest moms I know. It ended up being great.

Life is good. God is good. I am so thankful for the people in my life- my family, my friends, my associates... each in their own facet, none like the other. I am thankful for the bird feeder outside my lanai and the beautiful view and the church bells I hear that play songs from The Sound of Music. I am thankful for wine and great conversations with my girlfriends. I am thankful for my apartment. I am thankful for my business. I am thankful for the bible, my salvation and His grace.

Pray expectantly.

As a child, I was taught to not expect anything from anyone else but myself. That I could rely on nothing but my own capabilities (overly independent single mother... and you-can-do-anything-you-put-your-mind-to father). I have always had leadership qualities and an 'I can do it better on my own' attitude- some might call me a control freak. This train of thought really gets in the way when I am trying to depend on the Lord. But as he always does, He teaches me and proves to me how dependent He truly is-and I know He is dependent... I just am so earthly.

So the last week of the month entered in very quickly this past Monday. We get commission from our car insurance companies on the 5th and the homeowner companies on the 15th. So I pay my rent with our car insurance commission and other bills with the homeowners commission (those are my cuts at least). My partner, Lawton (otherwise known as my work husband) cares about and is always thinking of me and my stuff... So he comes to me Monday and says we only have 2 auto policies on the books for this month, there is no way we (hence, he says, we) can pay your rent with that. We really have to target auto this week. I agree with him, however, there are very few people that just get quotes and switch car insurance within a couple days. People switch at renewal unless you save them loads of money, or switch when their next payment is due. Another catch, we have to have the policies bound by the 27th in order to receive the commission by the 5th. So I call and text and facebook market, etc. AND I pray. I pray that God will either help me make a lot of money at my second job or bring my policies in order to pay my bills! I prayed for our company (something I do not do enough of, because I think I got it...) and Lawton....
And now today is Friday, the 27th. By the end of the day, I will have written 5 new policies this week- that alone will beyond cover my rent and utilities. How cool is that!?
Lawton's mother, who happens to be a an amazingly wise Christian woman, someone I look up to and receive MUCH advice from, always tells me to pray expectantly. This is a hard concept for me... but I am learning. The Lord is teaching me.... always teaching me- and I will continue to learn and learn and re-learn and re-learn. I love when God answers my prayers so specifically and I get to share these amazing experiences with my non-believing friends... God is so good.

"I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes."

Psalm 17:6-7