Duck Dynasty

For some reason I just discovered the gem that is “Duck Dynasty” on TV. If you have not seen the show, you have no idea what you are missing!

It has been called the “Beverly Hillbillies” of this generation. A family that has been in the duck calling business for over 40 years and have become self-made millionaires are, the stars of this reality TV show. Last night I watched four episodes and only stopped watching it because Dancing with the Stars came on. (Which by the way, I am pulling for Donald Driver to win!)

I am officially hooked on this show. They are unashamed rednecks and have lots of money to do all the redneck stuff they want to do. Like put up an old RV onto a 10 foot platform just to make a new duck call platform.

The sibling rivalry is hilarious and something I get. The mom sending out her husband to go shoot a squirrel because she is craving squirrel brain is disgusting and funny all at once.

OH my…seriously go watch an episode or two. This blog post will not do it justice!

Have you seen this show? If so, what do you like, not like about it?

A freak out moment

On Tuesday morning of this week my dad took my car into the shop to see what was wrong and what needed to be fixed. I had a slight idea that my brakes were needing to be replaced and the check engine light had just come on last week.

I got a phone call around 8:45am from my dad and this is where my freak out moment came:

Me: Hey dad, what did they say?

Dad: Beck, you need new brakes and your oxygen sensor needs to be replaced.

Me: Okay, so how much will that cost? (At this moment, I am thinking 400.00 max. That should tell you something about how much I think things cost nowadays. )

Dad: 800.00 dollars total

Me: Ummm, okay, ummm (the panic has set in), I can’t breathe I gotta go.

I hung up on my dad. I’m sure he thought something was really wrong with me. It is probably the most dramatic I’ve ever been with my dad via the phone. That and I am sure he was laughing at how I was acting.

(I’ve only had one panic attack that I know of as an adult and it was a few months ago having to walk up some stairs that freak me out. Yes, they are some stairs I have fallen down and hurt myself.)

I thought I was going to throw up and have a heart attack at the same time. You see, I just spent almost 800.00 on new tires last week and to be told I would need to cough up another 800.00 was not what I had in mind.

I called my dad back and told him the brakes were the most important thing to fix and to go ahead with that one. Next month I will get money together for the sensor.

Right after I hung up with my dad a verse came to me that I recite over and over again: Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight

After that I knew it would be okay. That scripture put things back into perspective for me. I am debt free by the grace of God and I have a savings established for such events. Yes, everything will be okay and I have new tires and brakes to help keep me safe on the road. Next month I will have my other problem fixed and I will be okay.

I probably shouldn’t have to many freak out moments because I know that in the end, it will all work out.

Redemption

Years ago, I had the opportunity to write for the paper at my junior high school. I failed. Miserably. I was to interview some coach about their team. Instead fear and shyness took over. I may have asked two or three not well thought out questions and never turned in the article. I chose to write for myself from that day on. I rarely let people see the stuff pouring out of my heart onto paper. The failure and fear stayed with me for years. Hanging on like a wet piece of clothing, I desperately wanted to rip off.

It wasn’t until this week, that I fully understood how God redeemed that moment from junior high for me. A few weeks ago I agreed to interview Rebekah Snyder about her new book “Beyond Waiting”. We had emailed back and forth about the interview and agreed that I would come up with questions she would answer. UH OH! I felt the familiar fear and failure creep back up. I knew I needed to do this. It was that important to me.

The little shy, fearful girl needed to overcome and redeem something that was stolen all those years ago. I pushed the fear aside because of prayer. I prayed for a while about what questions I could ask Rebekah that would reflect her heart on why she wrote “Beyond Waiting“. What came out surprised me. I knew it was the Lord that gave me the questions to ask. I asked my mom if she read the post and her first question was “Did you come up with those questions?” and I replied “Yes, and I am proud to say that I came up with them but it was all God!”. God knew that I needed this moment in my life. To take back a time when fear and failure tried so desperately to destroy…my love of writing and asking thoughtful, get to the heart of the matter questions. I’ve always had a love of writing and it is probably why I read so much. I want to continually learn to be a better writer, expressing my thoughts and sometimes opinions in a way that others can relate to what I am communicating.

Slowly I started letting others read what was pouring onto paper but I was definitely selective and still very insecure about what I was writing. I was looking for a lot of affirmation and encouragement. I received all of that but not until this year did I realize how God has been redeeming that time in my life. I’m thankful for the ones that have encouraged me along the way.

Blogging is such a tricky thing. There are rules to go by and I am sure I have broken every single one of those rules. I started writing this blog for the sole purpose to get my thoughts on to “paper”. I shared my blog with a small group of people at first. I really had no idea where this blog would go, I still don’t know where it is going. But I do know the readership has grown and the level of responsibility I feel has grown as well. I do know that the Lord is giving me the words to write on days when I feel there is nothing to say.

So here is to redemption of something that I love and cherish deeply!

Is there a dream you have had crushed only to see the Lord redeem it in a way you never thought would happen?

My adventurous weekend!

Today is my sister’s 30th birthday! Happy birthday Julia!

Me and Julia in Annapolis

A couple weeks ago Julia found out she was going to be in Annapolis, MD for three weeks. This meant she was going to miss having her birthday here in Charlotte. So my mom and I decided to take a trip to surprise her for her birthday! She was surprised and definitely shocked! But before I get to more pictures and stories of that part of my weekend, let me back up a little bit and tell you about a few other things that happened before my mom and I hopped on a plane to DC.

Friday night I went shopping with my mom and then went home to pack a few things for our day trip. On Saturday morning I went on a run with my running group. It felt so great to be back out there and have a decent four mile run! Oh and no pain with my foot after the run. I guess tapping it up really does help!

In order for my mom and I to take one vehicle to the airport, my dad had to pick me up from my apartment and take me to a special event for the old timers Prime Timers at my church. My parents go to all the dinners and have a wonderful time. This event was on a Saturday instead of their usual Tuesday night dinners. The entertainment was a family that plays blue grass music together. My dad was in heaven! I didn’t know it until a few years ago that he has a soft spot for blue grass music. Okay, not just a soft spot, he loves it! When the family got up to sing/play, I noticed that the banjo player looked like someone I know.  The banjo player looked like my friend Will Montgomery! lol (Confession: I know him through his blog, Twitter and Facebook.)

My mom and I had to leave in the middle of the family playing and get to the airport to make our flight. We made it with enough time to breathe for a moment and then get on the flight. I should let you know that I have an apprehension when it comes to flying lately. I freak out when there is turbulence and well, I seem to want to have panic attacks with the least little bit of turbulence. We had a few moments of turbulence but overall the flight went well! My mom’s arm was spared the death grip I generally have when turbulence hits and I want to panic.

We made it to DC and I realized I could spend days in that city and not get to everything I want to see. But we got to our rental car and drove straight to Annapolis. Julia was working on Saturday and two of her managers were in on the surprise! We walked into her restaurant with a balloon, flowers and a homemade cake, and when she saw me and had a look of  ”Ummm what on earth are you doing here?” on her face! She was not only surprised but shocked and even a little confused that we were there! I think she was generally all around happy with our little surprise.

We walked around Annapolis on Saturday night after dinner and again on Sunday. It is unbelievably beautiful there! We found three running stores, the restaurant Middleton Tavern that had great food, and of course we found Starbucks!  Just in case you were wondering, yes there are lots of Navy guys walking around the town!

Here are a few pictures of our adventure!

My view on the flight up to DC

 

My mom and me on the flight to DC

 

Julia with her flowers, balloon that says “Another year of Fabulous”, and cake.

 

Mom and Julia in front of the Annapolis Running Shop!

 

The docks in Annapolis

 

I will post more pictures soon!

How was your weekend???

Beyond Waiting

A few weeks ago, I connected with Rebekah Snyder via Facebook. She has written a book called Beyond Waiting. Rebekah is a young adult that has learned to go beyond waiting for the “perfect” (read “right”) guy to come along and sweep her off her feet. A self described “family girl, and homebody”, Rebekah now lives away from home, doing what she loves, writing full time.

I wanted to give her an opportunity to share with my readers about why she wrote Beyond Waiting. I look forward to reading her book! (I do hope you will want to read it as well! )

When did you decide it was time to stop merely just waiting and move to beyond waiting? Was there a specific moment that you can point to that helped you in this decision? 

Honestly, I can’t say that there was an exact moment. I mean, there was the moment that I looked up the definition of the word “wait” and realized that this is largely part of the reason why single women tend to struggle with their relationship status, but that’s just the time I decided to write the book. I think those seven (depressing) definitions I found for the word “wait” were what gave me the material to write the book, but I think I had been Beyond Waiting for a long time. See, I wasn’t allowed to date until I was sixteen, and by the time I reached that age, I’d observed enough relationship flops to make me realize I wanted so much more than the cultural norm had to offer. While I have the occasional, “Gee, it would be great to have a guy in my life” day, I’ve pretty much always been determined to live Beyond Waiting – even before I had a name for it.

What do you desire for your readers to come away with when reading your “Beyond Waiting”?

I want them to realize that life is about so much more than “happily ever after.” I put a lot of emphasis on fairytales in the book because fairytales are generally the first exposure a girl has to romance. You’ve probably heard the quote, “Walt Disney gave me unrealistic expectations of men,” but I think that goes against everything Walt Disney stood for. Disney believed in dreams and he created (or recreated) heroines that lived their dreams. Prince Charming was always the end of the story – after the dream had been realized. I want readers to put my book down and walk away with a “once upon a time” wonder. I want her to know that a ring on her finger is not what gives her significance; only God can do that. Yes, Beyond Waiting is a relationship book, but the heart of the message has nothing to do with a guy. It’s about a girl, her God, and her dream.

I have noticed lately that there is a trend of blog posts specifically geared towards young women and men to rise up and be who God has called them to be during their time of singleness. Do you believe this is a time where more people are becoming aware and realizing we need to be actively pursuing what the Lord has for us as singles and not wait around until the “right one” comes along?

I, too, have noticed this trend and it makes me wonder, “Well, doggone it, what did I write this book for?!?!” But then I get excited and realize, “Yes, yes! People are finally getting it!” I think the timing is everything. I mean, I started working on this project two years ago because I couldn’t find much about singleness that wasn’t focused on preparation for a future spouse. (Which, granted, life tends to prepare you for the next stage in life, so of course singleness is a preparation for marriage, BUT I don’t believe marriage should be the FOCUS of singleness.) So, if God knew that, in two years time, someone else would grasp this concept, why did He argue me into writing this book? I guess it’s because He knew that Beyond Waiting would become a movement. Now is the time for singles to rise up and embrace the call of God on their lives. Now is the time for us to talk about the extraordinary life God has for us here and now – in THIS moment. I can’t wait to see the affect this movement will have made a few years into the future.

How has moving beyond waiting shaped your life?

Hmm… This is a really hard question. I wonder how much Beyond Waiting has shaped my life and then I wonder how much my life has shaped my view on Beyond Waiting. It’s hard to immerse yourself in a concept for two years and then try to envision life any other way. Sometimes I think about it – how I had my life all figured out by the time I was eight and how different my life looks now that I’m twenty-one. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I were living the life I thought I’d be living. It’s hard to grasp. Hard to envision. I can say that I’m glad my life isn’t the life I had planned. I love the excitement and adventure of watching God’s plan unfold day by day (even though I often get nervous and wish I could see a little deeper into my future).

What I love most about this Beyond Waiting journey is that I KNOW I’m living in the center of God’s will for my life right now. I feel His pleasure and I feel pleasure in doing what I was made to do. If I were caught up in trying to find a guy – if I were allowing marriage to be my focus – I’d be discouraged, because as of now, there’s no romantic relationship in my life. I want that one day more than anything, but right now it’s not happening and I have to be okay with that. It’s a trust issue. As I’m watching God throw open these doors into the writing world – as my first book is being published and I’m watching this dream come true – I’m trusting that He will take care of the details. And I trust that one day, He’s going to open a door and I’ll find my future husband standing there. But in the meantime, I’m living life to the fullest. I think the greatest thing Beyond Waiting has done for me is replaced my anxiety with an excitement. I’ve come to realize that there is joy in the journey and delight in knowing that the God who shaped the expanse of the universe is also shaping the details of my life.

You can follow Rebekah via Twitter here  and feel free to share this post with others! 

Antsy to travel

Yesterday I was reminded once again how much traveling is in my blood. My mom has always loved traveling and I am most certain she “birthed” that into me as well.

My mom put this status on Facebook yesterday:

Happy Birthday to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport! 30 years ago today the new terminal was opened. We have always loved airports so we were there for the opening day festivities. As we had 2 preschoolers and I was 9 1/2 months pregnant at the time it was an adventure. Little did I know that 6 years later I would be working there.

Growing up, we traveled to many places. Before my mom worked for US Airways (aka Piedmont), we drove to Michigan, Illinois, and Florida to visit family. Then my mom got the job at US Airways and we started flying everywhere! Although, my first flying experience happened when I was just about 5 months old. My parents were moving back to the US after being in England for several years with the Air Force.

I have traveled a lot in my life. But I still feel there are so many more places to go and friends to meet. In March of this year, I went with my family on a cruise. I had a blast! But that increased my wanting to travel so much more. The antsy feeling started growing more powerful with each week that passed by after the cruise. It is so bad that my closest friends can see it on my face. I need want to travel.

I get the antsy feeling every so often and I know I need to go some where, even if it is just a day trip.

Thankfully, on May 12th I have a much needed day trip planned!

Are you a traveler? Do you get antsy when you aren’t able to travel? Where are some of your favorite places to go?

Oh and yes, my mom was 9 1/2 months pregnant with my sister. She was three weeks late with each of us!

 

He Finished a 5k

Saturday morning, I ventured out with my parents to watch them complete another 5k. I absolutely love being out at the finish line cheering on my parents and also my friends who are racing. This is a huge accomplishment for all of them. They train hard and work towards the next PR (Personal Record). A PR is not only time but also how well you did the race compared to the one before that.

I truly do love being out there encouraging as many runners as possible across the finish line. I’ve been known to stay until the very last runner comes across that finish line because everyone needs a cheer leader!

I love it all. Especially when I see runners who didn’t think they would make it to the finish line. Saturday’s race proved no different. So many kids as young as 10 years old finishing the race, a young man in a racing wheel chair, adults that could barely walk at the end, they all made it across the finish line. Then I look up to see a young boy coming towards the finish line. I cheered him on like I had been for everyone else, but when I saw the joy on his face and his arms lifted high, I cried. I cried for so many reasons. One he came across the finish line with a victorious smile, two he could have given up along the way and walked but he was running. Three, it didn’t look natural for him to even consider running, he has Cerebral Palsy. How do I know that? He looked like my brother. I found out that my dad saw him along the course and took the time to encourage him and cheer him on! (My parents are huge reason for my always wanting to encourage anyone I can. They model it so well in their lives!)

This young man reminded me so much in that short minute of seeing him finish the 5k. Your disabilities should never define you. I wish I could hug that young man!

His victorious smile coming across the finish line made my weekend!