-315 Thai food & Long lazy chats ( Thursday 13th January 2011 )

Photo by Markuso

Tonight I got the chance to have dinner with an amazing woman that I get to not only get to 'do Church with' but also sing with most Sunday's on the worship team. And those weeks where one ( sometimes later I find out both ) of us are away for whatever reason I miss her. I've known her since the first week I started to sing on the team at this Church, about the third week I arrived. Long story. And just in case you are wondering - singing on a worship team after starting in a new Church generally does not happen that fast nor should it - extenuating God circumstances ;)

Tonight we ended up at a local Thai restaurant ( hence the title of the post ) and I got the opportunity to get to know this fabulous friend a little better. I say a little because in true Miss365 current fashion I did most of the talking. And I promise I didn't mean to. And I didn't mean to talk about the work stuff because I didn't want to put her in an awkward situation or compromise her loyalties. Or more importantly change or alter her view on any of our common acquaintances where my work/Church life still crosses over. But I did and I tried to mostly
explain the situations and events rather than just whinge or cry "poor little me". 


So by the time I had finished "blabbing" the restaurant was closing and my friend suggested I come over her place and we continue our chat. I warned her that she would need to kick me out when she had enough or wanted to go to bed because as you know I will choose talking over sleep, eating or almost anything given the opportunity. And I don't "see" hints. I need "Miss365 I'm going to have to kick you out now because it's almost 4 in the morning and I need to go to sleep".


You laugh but I've heard that more than once. ;)


We chatted until about 3am about a huge range of things and I just fell in love with her sparkle, humour and heart even more. And yeah, I fall in love with friends ( in a different way to guys of course ) because once I "fall"  I have this insane sense of loyalty towards those that I do. Actually call me "Anne of Green Gables" - I  understand her search for  "kindred spirits". Some you have for a season, some you ride the waves of life with for years ( twelve and counting for some ).


What I mostly love about my friend is that she's been through something pretty huge in her life for the past couple of years, actually almost as long as I've known her, but that's just part of her puzzle. While she may see herself as different and she's used what she's been though in an awesome way I've always seen her as someone who just radiates the love and joy of God the whole time I've known her. Even when I didn't know what she was going through. I've never seen her as someone who ( and this is not specific to her just a general comment on reactions to people who have been through huge changes in their lives ) is more liked, or less liked, or more popular, or to be avoided, or to be looked after more, or to be left alone more, or to be rescued, or to be felt sorry for, or to be judged as to why they are going through such a hardship or why they aren't coming to Church every week, must be happy every week, or be prayed for all the time, or not at all or.....etc etc etc. She was just her. And I always thought it was horrid that she was going through what she was going through but I was intent on getting to know her "around" what she was going through. And she continued to radiate joy even when she didn't look like she felt it. She did.


And that's what I've wanted to be myself for such a long time - to be a person that has that 'thing' that extra something that people are drawn to that I KNOW is God and that I get to radiate Him. I was worried I lost that for most of last year, it felt buried, out of my control but thankfully God has given me some feedback in the form of a couple of people that I wouldn't have expected who didn't know what I was going through but still saw the love of God through me and in part because of that were drawn back to Him. *sigh* Thank you God. 


So back to my friend. Her alias was going to be about her hair now being curly instead of straight but I've been thinking that is not a reflection of her at all and does not do her justice. 


Tonight my Thai food patient friend shall be called....and it has nothing to do with baked goods....lol....

She Who Sparkles 

..because she does. She is covered in glitter ( blessings ) and she is constantly giving away glitter without realising it I'm sure. :)


xMiss365

-359 We don't have Thanksgiving (officially) in Australia but....

It's Saturday night and yes I am on my new lounge again but today was a busy one so it's a welcome blobbing night :)

Today God gently held my hand and led me on a treasure hunt of unexpected blessings that were sprinkled throughout my day like glitter. I love days like this but I love it more when I recognise them and I am smart enough to be thankful for them. ;)

My friend The Princess is married to American Boy and roasted her first Turkey for their first Aussie based Thanksgiving yesterday as a newly married couple ( yes a day late ). It apparently took a fair bit of work to roast a turkey in coming - into- summer 27degree Sydney weather for 5 or so hours but by all reports it looked amazing and tasted great. And everyone was thankful. :)

Now I didn't eat turkey tonight ( however I now know what a Turturkeykey is - thanks HIMYM! ) but today after the day God gave me I am blessed/thankful for :

• The sunlight that woke me up this morning and the promise of a migraine free day.
• The clothes I wore for my fabulous day today. New size. Feeling less of a disconnection bit by bit. 
• Walking into my Church for an unexpected worship team practice and loving the beautiful harmonies and vocals that were happening but most of all being so grateful to be part of a team that loves to worship God even when practicing.
• Chatting with L after practice and getting some good tips about dental plans. Seriously good tips :)
• Lunch with another L friend who just filled my soul with kind words, wisdom, laughter, support, a listening ear and blessed me by sneakily paying for lunch. I tried to outsmart her on that but she outsmarted me! I've been going through a hard time with something we have been connected with and to be told by her that she is proud of me for the way I have handled things and not let it destroy friendships, reputations or me in the process just felt like God was also letting me know that He was proud of me too. I've doubted at times if I've been a bit tough on people or not compassionate enough or too selfish. And then as we were leaving He ( through something L said ) gave me the prayer point I have been searching in order to pray for this person whom I have been hurt by. Blessed. Thankful. 
• That my 92 year old Grandmother came through her operation to have her broken wrist set and has stopped freaking out and is resting in hospital. And thankful that Marvelous Mum is finding her inner strength after all these years of thinking that she had none and couldn't deal with life outside of the house.

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

Part of my definition of prayer is my personal communication with God. He speaks. I listen. He speaks more than I listen. He patiently repeats Himself until I listen. ;)

Photo by luigi diamanti

 I want to live a life where I am not oblivious to the blessings, both big and small and be thankful for them. The thing is - they are always there. Just like glitter. Use a glitter for any purpose at all and I guarantee you'll be finding bits of glitter in your hair, on your face, under your feet, in your bed for months later. 

As I write this I just looked down at my hands. I have not used glitter at all today, this week, this month ( that I recall ). Guess what I can see ? ;)

Glitter to the naked eye. But do you know what I see ? 

Blessings :)

xMiss365