Chapter Next

It's incredible just how quickly time goes by. An entire semester has passed, a new year is staring us in the face, and I feel like high school was somehow miles and miles ago, but it seems like just yesterday.

"Who are you? Where are you going?" 

Two questions posed in a sermon I heard this past summer, and very thought provoking questions indeed. Who am I? Where am I going? What am I even doing? And does it matter.

Yes, indeed it does.

What about you? Do you know who you are and where you are going? It's good to remind ourselves daily.

I am Lydia, Beloved of the Most High God. I am a sinner, saved by grace. I am called to not settle for ordinary, but to live with eternity as reality in order to keep this fading world in perspective.

I am loved, therefore called to love in return with all that I am in every way I know how.

I am a sister, a daughter, a best friend and a girlfriend.

I am a wedding planner. I am a life-long student. I am a reader. I am a little bit crazy, and love to laugh. I am much, much more. I am mischievous, and can't spell that word correctly without auto correct. 

I am bought with a price, paid for with blood, and now all my dreams and plans are laid at the feet of the Creator of everything. He is always good. 

"Safe? Of course he isn't safe...but he's good."-Narnia, LWW

Perhaps in my next post I'll elaborate. To sum up: I've completed my time in Birmingham, am half-way through my online classes, have nannied for two extraordinary families, directed my first wedding without my friend's help, made some wonderful memories and learned SO much. And now I'm sitting in my bedroom in my parents' house excited about the next stage of this adventure of life. I am going many places and doing many things. We'll see where they take me and who I meet along the way.

Thanks for reading. Indeed, I do appreciate it.

This part is called "Chapter Next" because in this book of my life, things have flipped around quite a bit. But...it is still turning out to be a great read.

Merry Christmas!

Lessons from Colonel Pickering

It's incredible the lessons you can learn from movies...especially old ones.

"My Fair Lady" starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn is a fabulous film to me.

But there's one supporting role I'm taking into serious study and consideration.

The role of Colonel Pickering; gentleman, officer, language expert, friend.

Near the end of the film, Audrey Hepburn's character has undergone many life-changing lessons, and is now upset with the Professor (Harrison) for the way he has treated her after the success of their joint endeavour.

They engage in an argument, but before that Eliza (Hepburn) points out a fact to Mrs. Higgins, while the Professor stands in the background and grudgingly listens while grinding his teeth.

"He [Pickering] always showed that he thought and felt about me as if I were something better than a common flower girl. You see, apart from the things one can pick up, the difference between a lady and a flower girl isn't how she behaves but how she is treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl and always will. But I know I shall always be a lady to Colonel Pickering because he always treats me as a lady and always will."

Professor Higgins: My manners are exactly the same as Colonel Pickering's!

Eliza: That's not true. He treats a flower girl as if she were a Duchess.

Professor Higgins: And I treat a Duchess as if she were a flower girl.

Eliza: Oh I see, the same to everybody.

Professor Higgins: Just so. See, the great secret is not a question of good manners or bad manners or any particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls. The question is not whether I've ever treated you rudely, but whether you've ever heard me treat anyone else better!

Oh my. 

Higgins has hurt Eliza's feelings, and can't understand why. She tells him later, "What I want from you is a little kindness. I know I'm an ignorant commoner and you're a book-learned gentleman. But I am not dirt under your feet." And though he has a point about treating all people the same, how many Duchesses and flower girls do you think are friends with him with his "the same to everybody" attitude?

This conversation shows new sides and depths of these two characters and teaches us an important lesson about dealing with all people. Eliza didn't have to have this exchange with Colonel Pickering. He already grasped and put into practice treating all people as better than what they appear. This foundation is what makes him a gentleman. 

Higgins on the other hand is like a "motorbus, all bounce and go and no consideration for anybody or their feelings."

It's a case study of two successful men. I believe however, Colonel Pickering has more friends due to the fact that he has mastered the art of handling people and making them like him simply because he likes people regardless of their station, background, etc.

Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People shares all these secrets of success. It's one everyone should read. The things we see and like in Pickering's character can be found and copied through the book. 

It's interesting to note as well how Pickering's treatment of others wasn't out of a need to be liked, but simply because that's who he was, how he behaved, and what he believed was right. The height of his character is shown in treating everyone equally but as better than they appeared. He did it because it was right, not because he would gain anything from people.

Anyway, if you haven't seen "My Fair Lady," do. It's delightful.

And as for me, I aim to be a little more like Colonel Pickering. Indeed, his is a necessary character. We need more people to be consistent and noble supporting roles instead of always trying to play the main part. 

Thank you, Colonel Pickering.

"Cross-training"

~I wish you could see me right now~

I am sitting on my floor in my bedroom. My lamp is on, and I'm burning a Bath and Body Works candle, so my room smells like "Frosted Cupcake." To my right is my Bible study, open to today's lesson. On top of it is The Greatest Salesman in the World open to today's chapter. To the left of that, in front of me, is my FranklinCovey planner open to today's list of things to do covered by letters I have to mail. Next to it is my cup of coffee. To my left is my Bible, notebook, and The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management. 

This is what I call "cross-training." In the mental, spiritual, and personal sense, not really physical.

What a scrambled mess. At first I thought it was foolish to have all these things started or open at the same time. But then, as I studied my morning and how I let each of these tools speak to me [yes, coffee has a voice. Mine has a British accent, and usually says something along the lines of "you don't need much more of me today." :)] I discovered how beneficial this cross-training is. 

In the front of my planner, it has a section called "Renewal: Sharpen the Saw." It points out that along with time management, it's also important to keep one's self refreshed and renewed in the physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual areas.

Interesting.

Because my Bible study this morning [I'm studying the Proverbs 31 woman. Vicki Courtney's The Virtuous Woman: Shattering the Superwoman Myth does an excellent job of showing me scripture and helping me form habits that teach the attributes we all are envious of in the Proverbs 31 woman. This week is about becoming "A Woman Who Surpasses Them All." Today was entitled "Tomorrow's Another Day" and was about trust, laughter, and contentment (Prov. 31:25).

~Her contentment in life was not dependent on outside circumstances, but was a result of her trust in God. Can we really be content in life, regardless of difficulties? We can't "laugh at the days to come" unless we at least chuckle at today...

...One ailment that prevents women from looking to the future with joy and confidence is the "if-only" syndrome.

The problem with "if-onlys" is that it makes the abundant life contingent on circumstances that are many times out of our control. There is certainly nothing wrong with aspirations, but it becomes unhealthy when our happiness is tied to fulfilling them.

When playing the trust/fall game with God [the Proverbs 31 woman] didn't preoccupy herself with whether or not He would be there---she knew He would because He had always been there. With confidence, she never glanced back.

Interesting how this ties in with my reading from Greatest Salesman.

Never will I allow any day to end with failure. Thus I will plant the seed of tomorrow's success and gain an insurmountable advantage over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time...I will persist until I succeed...Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.

And in The 10 Natural Laws, the first law is "You control your life by controlling your time."

And in my Penn Foster book, the chapter I just finished was on "The Role of the Consultant," all about how to organize your time and other priorities to make sure you accomplish everything in order of importance...but also how to "de-stress" so that you can be the best you can be.

Theme for the day? Greeting each opportunity with confidence, knowing that "I can do all things through Christ" and resting in the fact that "He restores my soul."

Thank you for reading. I hope you are encouraged to examine your own life, how you spend your time, and what you place your confidence in! It is time well spent.

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"Welcome to Bag End"

Hey Friends!

Life is, as always, an adventure. I recently moved in to my own little basement apartment and have enjoyed cleaning it, decorating it, and already entertaining in it some. It's beginning to feel like my own little place. I have even painted a sign for it; "Welcome to Bag End." It's a Lord of the Rings reference...look it up. :)

I've learned so much on this leg of my adventure already. Like how expensive healthy food really is, the value of couponing, the best places to get gas in AL, how to make the most of all the "stuff" I've been collecting over the years, etc.

The family I'm renting from are family friends, and they've taught me a lot already too. Like how to feed chickens and collect my own eggs! Next week in my free time, I've decided to take my drawing supplies and try to capture the personality of these animals. 13 hens and 1 rooster (whose name is NASCAR...yes, really) make very interesting and characterful subjects.

Things with Penn Foster are going well. I made a 93 on my first exam and an 80 on my second one. That will be the lowest score I make in the program. I have figured out I can take a study break from the chapter I'm covering, but in order to make the best grade on the exam, I have to read all in one sitting or review better before trying to take the exam. I've also been in touch with a place in my area called Engaged! Wedding Library. It's a consultation boutique, and they've agreed to meet with me and let me help with some of their projects, almost like an internship. More details on that post-meeting.

Did you know there's a glossary for terms regarding major events and coordinating? Check this link out when you have time! I learned all sorts of helpful new words.

http://www.conventionindustry.org/StandardsPractices/APEX/glossary.aspx

Next week, I begin my regular nanny job to help fund this whole new adventure. I'm very excited about that, and already have great plans and objectives for intentional play-time with the kids. Not quite as strict as a lesson-plan, but definitely themed days. For example, on the days themed "Knights of the Round Table," my carpet bag will be filled with fairy-tale books and tiaras and card-board swords, whereas on "Pirate Days" we'll make maps and look through telescopes with a patch on one eye. "Secret Garden" day, we'll go to my house and plant something in one of my pots outside, learn about bugs, and then maybe read from Genesis where we learn about the creation of the world. Perhaps we'll draw a picture for each day of creation.

I don't know, but I'm bubbling with ideas.

 And even though my little Bag End isn't quite as charming as Tolkien's (yet), I am very content now with where I am. I pray that I won't get too comfortable though. I've learned constant comfort hinders growth.

Thanks for reading! I'll leave you with the verse for the day:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Psalm 143:10 NIV

This Chapter is Closing

Well, it's true. This chapter of my life is about to end, and a new one about to begin! It's exciting and thrilling, but at the same time, I suppose I'm slightly nervous.

Interning has been an awesome awesome experience this summer. I worked with the middle and high schoolers at my church, helped plan events, run services, and mentor and connect kids to Jesus and His lifestyle. It's been SOoO worth all the hours and hard work.

Shadowing my friend and starting my Penn Foster adventure have both been great experiences too! I am still waiting on a package in the mail with my course materials before I can begin lessons in Wedding Coordinating. But the last wedding I helped out with on July 16th taught me several real-life lessons without any books or course materials, and I am always glad for J to be giving me helpful hints.

However, my entire adventure and wonderful life have been gently placed back in perspective for me. I just returned home from a week of living in the Dominican Republic and loving on the people there. My Spanish improved a bit, I think, and it was nice to be able to communicate to some extent....languages really are one of my passions, so I am excited to learn more and more. But all my aspirations and dreams are now again grounded in perspective. We are truly blessed, and I will now greet my fall with love and with some realistic actions...such as remembering I don't need another pair of shoes or five more new tops, because there are people living in parts of the world without either. In one village we visited, I was playing ball with a group of children. The soccer ball rolled into the mud, and after having a broken conversation about how to say "the ball is dirty" and "mud", I proceeded to wipe the little bit from the ball with my tshirt. Well, one of the little boys I was playing with got really upset and told me "No, no no no, no!" and a stream of Spanish. He basically told me I shouldn't wipe the dirty ball with my clean shirt. I followed his instructions, because I didn't have the heart to tell him, "It's ok, I packed 14 more shirts." Watching and learning from people who are happy with what I consider nothing was again very humbling.

Speaking of laundry, I need to go wash some. That is on my checklist of things to do today, and blogging was not. However...eh...I thought maybe it'd be good to leave you a note.

"If I speak the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, my words are no more than a clanging bell."

One Step At a Time

"If you want to win, you've got to start."-John Maxwell.

So I'm getting started. This blog is meant to begin a record of my "great big world" experiences on a personal level, not completely professional.  For that, I do not apologize. If the point is to provide future employers with a glimpse of me and into my life and how I will perform, this is me.

Sunday night was my first wedding planning/coordinating experience. . . .and I absolutely LOVED it. Every second, I felt so useful and loved being a part of each detail in making sure the ceremony, pictures, behind the scenes, and the reception went off the best it could.

I learned...SO much, and am really very excited about the next appointment I have coming up with my friend who is the planner. She is gracious enough to let me shadow her for the summer and fall weddings she is in charge of.

For privacy reasons, I won't give out too many details about the wedding and my friend (we'll just call her J), however I do want to share a few things I learned. She and I will be having our debriefing shortly, and I'm certain I'll learn even more than what we discussed while between moments on Sunday night. My major responsibilities included drying off bouquets, following the bride and bride's maids making sure they were hydrated during pictures, opening doors, carrying things, keeping flower girls and ring-bearers entertained, and then clean up after the event. So...

1. Timeline=your best friend. J had a play-by-play and order of everything. Her system made everything lightyears smoother. It was great. I'm sure most coordinators make a timeline, I'd just never seen one so detailed before.

2. Photographers walk a fine line between keeping things light and getting the job done. Good ones can do both efficiently...the one at this wedding was...too chatty. Borderline inappropriate. Mmm. But he did get the shots. It just took a looong time in the hot sun and bugs of a May Sunday at 3:00 pm.

3. Keeping guests waiting an hour after the ceremony outside without food while the newlyweds take pictures is really not the best option. Guests that are comfortable and fed remember someone's wedding more pleasantly.

4. J says she always likes to have the bride and groom escape before the reception so that they can privately grab a bite to eat while their guests are also eating, then come down later to greet, dance, etc. Works well.

5. Coffee beans and candles in vases and jars make lovely center-pieces...but are awful to have to clean out.

6. Since we're talking about candles, ones that are non-drip work great. We had a few leak on the table at the front of the chapel. I spent the time during speeches gently knocking wax off the wood.

7. Candy favors for guests to take were a BIG hit. Everyone loved the bags that they could fill with the candy we put in big bowls, jars, etc. It was great.

8. From now on, I will not wear a long dress while working at a wedding. It was a maxi, very cute, with a cardigan over it, but it was a) hot, b)in the way, and c)I didn't figure out I could tie it up instead of leaving it strapless until during the reception.

To end, I'd like to share lessons from John Maxwell that I learned today, thanks to J who passed on some of her subscriptions to SUCCESS magazine.

"To get started, know yourself. Settle your family life. Determine your priorities. Develop your life philosophy. Get physically fit. Learn your trade. Pay the price. Develop solid relationships. Prepare for the future, and Find purpose in your life." Sounds like a good list to begin with...and I am so very much a lists person. One step at a time...shadowing is a start, and I'm reading more and more. It's great to be alive in 2011! Last lesson for this entry:

"Never despise meager beginnings."-Janette Oak

Lessons Learned

Dear Upcoming College Students,

Beware:Freshmen have this nasty habit of being arrogant.

 I think it's because we think since we made it through high school and one year of college, we are sOoO grown up. This however is far from true. It would take all my fingers and toes plus a few to count  how many times I have been humbled over the year because of my own faux pas! How silly for us to think we are above those around us simply because we feel a small sense of accomplishment. Granted, it was a great and tough year, and we should be proud of the good things we did; but oh my heavens, how far we have to go!

I decided, for the benefit of future freshmen, the agreement of parents and adults, and to provide some laughter to all, to list some of the lessons I can remember from this past year. 

1. It is possible to not gain 15 pounds and still have healthy eating habits at college.
2. The gym is your friend.
3. Campus safety will give you tickets for what they say they will...don't try to beat the system.
4. There are so many beautiful people on Samford's campus.
5. Walmart is an excellent source of fun as well as supplies for all-things-college life.
6. If you make good guy friends at school, watch out for the micheivous ones...
7. Sometimes those same good guy friends introduce you to your future best girl friends.
8. Shushing in any cafeteria is very uncool...for me...and most everyone else around me, except those doing the shushing.
9. Cable TV and picking favorite shows to watch with your roommate is an excellent conversation starter.
10. Attending 7 different churches before finally deciding where to go is an ok thing.
11. Sonic is the best place for all dates.
12. The view of Birmingham at night from the top of a mountain is pretty awe-inspiring.
13. Dollar movies are the way to go.
14. Not having to do dishes or very many chores is quite nice, however, I personally was glad to do them each time I went home.
15. Having a roomy who is as equally neat-freak-ish as you is a major blessing.
16. Having a boyfriend who was your friend before you got to the same college is another major blessing.
17. Toilet paper disappears rapidly in a suite bath when 4 girls are sharing.
18. Quiet hours are really nice, but not held to...and it's ok.
19. Calling home at least every other day is greatly appreciated.
20. Being home for spring break freshman year is not a bad thing at all...just know that for the next years, it might be good to go somewhere else.
21. For Christians, daily seeking the Lord's face becomes ultra, ultra important at college. It makes a difference in your entire day.
22. Having friends whom you can discuss what Jesus is teaching you with is mucho importante.
23. Grades are means to an end, so do your best, even if the system frustrates the livin' daylights out of you.
24. JellO and whip-cream are a cheap, fun treat, and easy to make in the dorm room.
25. Having a job while balancing school and friends is a good taste of what "the real world" will be like.
26. Time management skills learned in high school DO pay off.
27. MOST skills learned in high school DO pay off.
28. If your campus has a quad (i.e., grassy area in the middle of the buildings) frizbee and guitars, or friends chillin' on blankets are common occurences.
29. Finding a secret place where you can go and think and be still on campus is a treasure.
30. You can learn something from each and every person you come into contact with...even the ones you think you have nothing in common with...or don't like.
31. Watching drunk people is very commical. Therefore, I have decided to never be drunk in order to save my own face. Nothing can be more humiliating than being in a situation where  you had no idea what you were doing, and then afterwards couldn't remember anything that happened.
32. Learning lessons from someone else's mistakes is much better than making the same mistake yourself and having to learn the lesson the hard way.

Oh my goodness, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the things I learned and experienced. You'll notice too that actual classroom lessons weren't really mentioned all that much. Oh, sure I learned all about French, the stars, world geography, cultural perspectives and history of the world, more French, argument and falisies, how to stay healthy in college, how to run a 5k, how to study hard in college and still fail, etc etc etc...the list goes on. And I enjoyed each of those lessons. But learning about life and the people I live it with took up much more time than class. And I loved every minute of all lessons learned...even the ones that were unpleasant.
Jesus said in John 16:33 of the Bible, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
What a good reminder. Be encouraged. No school experience, no job, no circumstance is too hard for my Jesus. To this I cling.