Monthly Archive for February, 2008Page 3 of 10

Sipping from a Fire Hydrant…

So we’ll be flying home in the morning…just a few hours between me and another plane ride. If I weren’t so exhausted and looking forward to getting home, I would spend all night worrying about that, but…

The past few days have been good - there’s been so much to absorb. I know I’ll spend weeks just trying to process it all.

One thing that Bishop Jakes said really resonated with me…well, many things he said did that, but when he talked about leadership and loneliness, he described the people that surround us as falling into one of three categories:

  • Confidants - those who are for you…no matter what happens, they are there for you. These people are rare and few.
  • Constituents - those who are for what you are for. They are with you as long as you are “for” the same thing - until someone comes along who is better at it than you…or makes them feel better about themselves.
  • Comrades - those who are against what you are against. Nothing makes for the illusion of friendship like a common enemy.

The problem comes when we mistake constituents and comrades for confidants, we think they are “for us” - when they aren’t at all - they are simply fighting for a common cause or against a common enemy. The last two will always go eventually…

I’ve learned a lot about this - I’ve also realized that I’ve been blessed to have some real confidants…probably more than most…so I can accept and even rejoice in the comings and goings of the constituents and the comrades. It’s alright, they were never meant to do more in my world. At least for a little while, there was a common cause…a greater good. And with each transition, my true confidants become clearer and clearer. This is such a blessing to me.

And rather than worry about airplane turbulence and other things I can’t begin to control, I think I’ll go to sleep tonight counting the blessings of my confidants…and constituents and comrades too - whatever it takes to get the job done.

So, there are three more C’s for me to ponder…

Here’s to my confidants…you know who you are. As for the rest, I’ll just hold on loosely…

Peace.

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angiebledsoe
on February 23, 2008
in friends and life lessons
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Turning Out the Lights…

It’s been strange to be so unconnected today…I haven’t had time to even open my computer, much less blog.

Now it’s after midnight, and tomorrow will probably be much like today, so I thought I’d just write a few lines before going to sleep…

…we were in conference meetings all day, then spent a few hours tonight just being together - as a staff - and talking about the past year, how we’ve changed, and what we’ve learned…

of course, there are so many things: too many to mention, especially at midnight. It was good though, to know that we’ve come through it all together…and we’re still standing.

I’m exhausted now, so I think I’ll try to get some sleep - it will be morning before I know it…

It’s freezing here…freezing - and I forgot my coat…oh well, it’s almost spring in Florida, so I’ll survive.

I miss my kids terribly…but, it’s been good to spend time with my girls (the other pastor’s wives) and just “get away” a little bit.

Good night…peace.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on February 22, 2008
in blogging, friends, life, random and travel
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Post Traumatic Ferris Wheel Disorder

So, I’ve been thinking…

and, no, it wasn’t too painful!

…anyway, I’ve been thinking about my fear of flying. Where did it come from? I mean, I flew a ton when I was younger - small planes, private planes…I shudder to think of it now. One time I was in the back of a tiny commuter with the luggage packed around my head! No fear!

So, what happened?

Well, I’ve never liked certain feelings…like the dropping feeling on a roller-coaster. I rode them - I just didn’t particularly like them. Then, in high school, Byron and I went to the Texas State Fair - it’s where we took the saloon pic on my “Album” page (I’m holding a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and I didn’t even know what that was at the time…) - anyway, Byron wanted to ride the double-Ferris-wheel. I told him I would probably get scared and might embarrass him…

…so, that turned out to be the understatement of the year!

Anyway, we got on and the first level was okay - he kept saying “See, it’s not so bad…you’re fine.” Then we went to the second level and began to drop both stories…that’s where things began to go a little awry…I’m not sure what happened, it’s a little…fuzzy. But, apparently I decided at the very top of the 5 story ride that I was going to get off…immediately. So, I proceeded to do just that. Byron had to try to restrain me - which I didn’t care for either…so, I began to scream hysterically. This only made the Ferris wheel operator speed the whole thing up as it was drawing a significant crowd and great for business…

After that, we didn’t ride any more Ferris wheels…Byron didn’t even get on an elevator with me without thinking twice. But, my “issues” didn’t really translate to airplanes until I had Kayleigh. I was flying with her by myself - she was 3 months - listening to the safety instructions, and it hit me…how would I crawl out of a smoke-filled plane and use my seat as a floatation device with a baby in my arms!!!! The panicky feeling was back. After that, I felt every bump - every tilt and clutched my infant tighter as I counted the emergency lights on the floor in case the lights went out and I had to make an escape in the dark…

A couple of years later, we were flying over the Gulf - hit a wind sheer - fell out of the sky twice…

…and here I am today, just waiting for it to happen again.

I just know I have to figure out a way to get past it. There are too many things I want to do that involve flying…

Go see Hillsong in Australia, visit the orphans in Africa…Mother Teresa’s home for the dying in Calcutta…London…see the Eiffel Tower…bring back a child from Moldova….see the Swiss Alps…

Anyway, I will get over this.

I think I’ll just take the bull by the horns and take flying lessons. I’ll either die of fright, or get over it!

So, that’s what I’m thinking. There you are.

Peace.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on February 20, 2008
in life, random and travel
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Comfort Food

So, being in Dallas is like being “home” for Byron. You can take the boy out of Texas….

Everything’s big here. My hair even seemed bigger when I fixed it this morning…oh well, when in Rome….

There are all kinds of great restaurants here…of course, tons of fabulous steak houses. But, when we decided to eat an early supper (would that be “slunch”?), I felt like having something…comforting. Maybe because I miss my kids who are home sick, maybe because I’m not feeling so great myself - but, for whatever reason I chose…

Cracker Barrel - that’s right, of all the places in the world…well, in Grapevine/Fort Worth/Dallas, I chose chicken ‘n dumplin’s, corn, carrots, cinnamon apples, biscuits, and hot chocolate at Cracker Barrel! Then, after a few bites, I had them pack it all up to go…lost my appetite.

Not sure why…and not sure why I’m blogging about it either, but there you are.

There’s a whole field of Longhorns at the entrance to our hotel…they’re gorgeous. But, the sky’s not as pretty here…no pink and purple sunsets.

So, it was sweet of Byron to indulge my strange need to eat comfort food tonight…I think he definitely deserves a steak tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll eat mine in the restaurant - our little mini fridge is starting to fill up (I did the same thing at dinner last night!).

At least I won’t gain weight with all this eating out - now if I could just make myself go to the work-out center…

Baby steps, baby steps…

(I better start taking some of those “baby steps” down to the work-out place, or Amanda’s gonna “tough love” me when she gets here! I think I’m just trying to rest up, so that I can keep up with her - who am I kidding? There’s not enough rest in the world…)

Gotta run go take another bubble bath before she gets here and puts me in “boot camp” and tells me things like “No pain, no gain!” and “Get moving, sissy-girl!” and various and sundry motivational phrases like that…

Ugh! I think I’m coming down with the flu…Peace out.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on February 19, 2008
in exercise, friends, life, random and travel
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