Tuesday.

I've had a long day! I went to Sarasota on business this morning and afternoon. It was a fun morning because this older couple came into the courthouse and they were getting married! Right there! Marilyn and Arthur Miller style! They were so adorable. The girl behind the counter got so excited that they were going to purchase the ceremony in their "wedding parlor" she forgot to charge them for the marriage license. And then the gentleman put the purchase on a credit card! I don't know... I was standing there and thinking that this was like something out of SNL. But they looked so, so happy.

A few minutes ago, called to check in on mom and dad in Jacksonville and they are getting checked in themselves to their hotel for the evening, preparing for dad's appointment in the morning. I have this great neck massager around my neck that works really well... Just don't call me right now because I might sound funny.

I'm watching the Style network while I'm letting this heat massager do its magic, and an eHarmony commercial came on, and there was this couple highlighted... and, I kid you not, I saw the SAME man, but with a different woman, on LAST week's eHarmony commercial! Is this possible? Who's going to get fired over it?

Coffee Mug.

I have this mug that says:

Dance like nobody's watching you

Love like you've never been hurt before

Sing as though no one can hear you.

Live as though heaven is on earth.

Beautiful, yes.

But it started me thinking. I think maybe we could learn something from this poem. I call it,

Living Without Regrets

Dance like your pictures will be on Facebook

Love your stilettos, even when they hurt

Sing... and if you can't, there's always your car

Live in the moment...they'll call back.

Any submissions?

Restoration :)

My congratulations and best wishes to my dear friends Aaron and Melissa on the announcement of their courtship!!!

Dad's News

I have news about Dad! The x-rays came back negative for cancer in other areas. He has had an additional test done that does not indicate that the cancer has spread... definitely an answer to prayer because had there been cancerous spots in other areas he would not be a candidate for the proton therapy. Praise God! Also, he is walking without a cast and without crutches. He's still limping a little bit but way better than before. Jeremy and Mom surprised him for Christmas by having his car repainted and boy, will he be happy to be driving soon.

Dad and mom are going to Jacksonville tomorrow for their initial appointment for the Proton Therapy. They plan to stay overnight and go to the appointment on Wednesday morning, because it is at 8:00 AM, after which we should have more information on when he will begin treatment.

I apologize for not giving an update sooner on his healing but greatly appreciate your continued prayers. He's not out of the woods yet, but definitely feeling at peace about this other option for treatment in Jacksonville.

Directions.

So, again, I started to think to myself that I should think about [starting to think about] where life is going in the relationship area. I'd venture to say that I'm happily single, but that is because I am a firm believer in becoming happy wherever I'm planted.

I do believe, however, that if there is a certain longing in your heart, and as long as such longings are not leading you down the wrong path, there is no harm in pursuing those paths that might lead you to those dreams.

Wow- that was vague, wasn't it?

I guess as a woman I won't ever lose the dream of having a family, as much as I have tried to make that dream go away. I'm certainly not in any hurry, mind you. There is so much out there to do, and places to visit, and people to meet. I guess I just never thought it was going to be such an "either/or" type of thing, where one would have to choose one over the other. Where are those days when two people decided to go out and live life together, to greet each morning with the possibilities that it brings, and pack up and move wherever God sends you... together? At what point did it become such an anxiety-ridden quest to find the right person? I had no idea that my little girl dreams would be so very, very difficult to realize. For whatever reason, I've been viewed as some sort of a hold-back kind of girl. And not just once or twice, mind you. Which is odd, because I cannot wait to see what life has to offer, what sort of places God is going to send me, and what sort of adventures I'll get to tag along on. I am frustrated at how many times I've heard that I don't fit into whatever sort of box is out there that a girl's supposed to fit into: The Plan Box.

____________

I read this article that was supposed to explain the reason why some men are single for so long and some are not. Basically, their wives were not "The One," but merely "The One When I Was Ready." Some interviewees were brave enough to admit that they dated someone for years, only to break up with her because of a college pursuit, job offer, or some other life-changing decision. Oddly, these same men found themselves engaged to someone else just months after their breakup. They admitted that they loved their exes, but she just didn't fit into their life at that moment.

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I love conversations with sweet old people.

"Are you seeing anyone right now?"

"Oh, oh no... I'm taking a break for awhile."

"Well, dear, that's alright... Mr. Right is out there somewhere!"

(Pats hand sweetly)

Now, I have a pretty vivid imagination. At this point Chelsea's brain conjures up images of a tall, attractive man wandering around out there somewhere, afraid and yet refusing to ask for directions to his future bride. So around and around he wanders aimlessly, perhaps in a very fast and shiny car, while I am pretty much working hard and happily in my little corner of life but figuring it would be good to start building a life with someone, too. So if I am understanding this right, I'd have to be at the right gas station, at the right time, wearing the right dress and Chanel perfume and lipstick, just when Mr. Right decides he is ready to settle down and park his convertible for awhile...?

_____________

Show me something different. Show me something deeper, beautiful, and more timeless than what I'm feeling and watching and reading about and seeing my friends go through. Show me... because right now I can't see past all the shiny, fast cars.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Review

Some friends of mine got together to go see the movie Benjamin Button tonight. The movie surprised me; it had just enough empathy, fantasy, sadness, and happiness to be captivating. Oddly, it was shot mostly in dark scenes, either night shots or dawn/dusk shots that made the movie itself seem dark. It certainly had its dark moments, but I'd say, it succeeded in casting light on those things we fear to think about. I'd recommend it.

Pounding.

It's Winter's apple-crisp air
And Summer's sleepy affair
From spin the bottle and
Her double-dog-dare

Winter's armchair
Summer's shoulder's bare
How could I have been so wrong?
In waking dreams wishing I still didn't care

My quietest fears now laid bare
Road trips wind to nowhere
The radio station's fading, sad song
Sings through the static that tagged along

I saw it in your eyes
Tomorrow's clear, blue skies
Yesterday and all her charming fears,
Her clouds mourning their fallen tears

Hair down and it's windy
Windows rolled down and it's chilly
Music turned up 'til I feel its beating
I felt free for a moment fleeting

Yesterday's a pie, in this lonely hour
Crust burned and fruit still sour
It was mine to give or take
A lesson was learned and yes, my heart still breaks

But life goes on, and tears will become weak
"It's yours to play with, hide and seek.
Forgive 'fore your warmth turns to snow;
Some answers you'll never get to know."

They say it's time to part, now, you and I
This embrace must end, but yes, I still cry
You know I'm not good at saying goodbye
So I'm not going to; It's whispered in my sigh

There's a corner of my heart
And now it's bare
A fireplace blazing useless heat
On a lonely, winter armchair