event analysis

i was working on an ethics in leadership paper this afternoon and i stumbled across this excerpt in one of the books.  it was discussing the "search for meaning in life."  unfortunately, i feel as though this reflects some of my life.  even more unfortunate, i get the impression that it shouldn't.

"people are event driven in that they take stock of who they are at key anniversaries.  birth dates, death dates, employment or termination dates, graduation reunions, religious and national holidays, and wedding anniversaries all evoke memories and feelings.  obviously, some of these memories and feelings are pleasant and others are painful.  one aspect of this rather complicated phenomenon is the meaningfulness factor.  people engage in event analysis, hoping to find that their lives have purpose and meaning." {robert w. rebore}

am i alone in this? do you analyze your meaningfulness at these events?

asking no more

happy friday.  i woke up today determined to make today a great day.  why?  i am not really sure.  i just felt joyful.  it's friday.  it's a nice day out, which is a change from the less than pleasant weather earlier this week.  i get to sit with one of my best friends at the hair dresser this evening getting our hair done. {that only happens in the movies, right?} i have an enjoyable weekend ahead of me.  i get to enjoy a brunch tomorrow with some wonderful girlfriends of mine.  i get to possibly spend the afternoon tomorrow spoiling miss emmie.  i get to maybe go to a baseball game if the weather stays nice.  thank you, friday!

"i want to learn to live each moment and be grateful for what it brings, asking no more." {gloria gaither}

what would make this weekend even better?  getting to see jenn and clif's wedding pictures posted online.  can't wait, can't wait.

you love me anyway

i shared this song with a friend this week, and thought i would share it on here also.  i heard this song on the radio this week as i drove into work and i was first convicted, and then encouraged through the lyrics.  it made me feel so loved and forgiven.  i'll just include a few lines of the song.

{still you call me to walk on the edge of this world, to spread my dreams and fly, but the future's so far, my heart is so frail...but you love me anyway, it's like nothing in life that i've ever known...yes, you love me anyway, oh lord, how you love me...[and now for the convicting part]...i am the thorn in your crown, but you love me anyway.  i am the sweat from your brow, but you love me anyway.  i am the nail in your wrist, but you love me anyway.  i am judas' kiss, but you love me anyway.  see now, i am the man who yelled out from the crowd for your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground.  but you love me anyway.  it's like nothing in life i've ever known.}

olympic countdown

yesterday marked the 100-day countdown for the 2012 summer olympics in london.

the excitement at chezmk is rising.  team usa continues to shower us with "free" gifts:  jacket, address labels, wrapping paper, and a personalized note pad.  jealous?  you should be.  who knows what is to come yet in the next few months leading up to the big event.  in true chezmk spirit, we dressed for the occasion yesterday.

also, in true chezmk spirit, we are getting excited to host another olympic party for the opening ceremonies.  our party for the last winter games was top notch and included olympic tattoos, torch cupcakes, olympic rings, and the list continues.  we are brainstorming ways to continue those festivities this year with some new ideas for decorations, snackies, games, etc.  feel free to share any ideas with me if you have any that are chezmk worthy!

i do not really know why, but the olympics have always been rather intriguing to me.  i think it may be part of the competitive nature surrounding the games and my usa pride.  if i had a bucket list, attending the olympics (as a spectator) would be at the top of that list. i want to experience it all, winter, summer, opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies, individual events, etc.  i think if i had to choose between the two, the winter olympics would be my choice.  though i am sure that conclusion could change in 99 days.

do you have any fun connections or memories about the olympics from over the years?

mr. & mrs. clifton griffin

mrs. peacock in the ballroom with the candlestick.  any clue fans out there?  jenn and clif received clue as one of their shower gifts, so we've been playing detectives.  who would have known there is more strategy to that game now than when we were eight?  i thought that this assumption was fitting for jenn and clif's wedding reception since the wedding theme was vintage and peacock colors, held in a ballroom, with candlesticks as part of the decor.  the good news though is that there was no real mystery or murder to solve.

instead, it was a perfect day.  perfect.  the weather was gorgeous and the bride glowed beautifully.  i was truly blessed to be  part of this day and this journey with jennifer and clifton, the new mr. and mrs. thank you, jenn and clif, for allowing me to share in this day with you.  i think i can speak for many of your friends and family in saying thank you for making us feel treasured and special on what was intended to be your day.  i love you!

it is remarkable to reflect back on their relationship and see how they have grown both individually and as a couple (and selfishly, how my life has been woven with theirs).  as pastor mark shared at the ceremony, "they tried their best not to pick one another."  but they did.  and i am so thankful to have witnessed that transition.  though there may have been moments when us girls were thinking, "caaaaliiiiif," i can say i am proud of their determination to keep god as the focus of their relationship and their continued dedication to each other.  one of the things i appreciate the most about this couple is their transparency and willingness to communicate.  i truly hope that one day i can mirror that same willingness to be open and communicate with my boyfriend/fiance/husband (after we cool down, of course!). 

i also greatly value their sense of adventure.  we have traveled so much with jenn and clif that i am somewhat jealous they are getting to experience cancun, while we are left in lynchburg attempting to recover from our exhaustion of a fun-filled wedding weekend.  i love that weddings are a time where old friends have an excuse to travel and visit with one another.

now, i know this day was to be centered around the bride and groom, but let's be honest, there are some other people and moments to highlight:

• the fabulous shoe clips we made
• beautiful group of bridesmaids
• "my" groomsman for the evening
• my wonderful brother/sister dorm friends from freshman year
• my friend, jonathan (bride's brother), and his time working to protect our military overseas
• jenn's wonderful parents (and my spectacular roommate/friend/planner extraordinaire!)

lastly, i would like to thank jenn and clif for their friendship.  and for jenn's desire to make everyone feel special and loved, even in small ways, such as the bouquet toss...

adult truths

i do not normally pay attention to forwards to all of the funnies posted on facebook, but when i started to read through this list and began to shake my head in agreement, i thought it was worthwhile to share:

1. sometime's i'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is. {yes, i do this.  maybe that is why i try not to wear a watch too often.}
2. nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong. {oh, i do hate that moment.  it is so much worse with my competitive nature.  admitting you're wrong is so tough.}
3. i totally take back all those times i didn't want to nap when i was younger.
4. there is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. how in the world are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? {truth be told, i think i have had kristi demonstrate this for me on numerous occasions and i still have not mastered this talent.}
6. was learning cursive really necessary? {now this is one i would disagree because cursive is my everyday handwriting style.  love it!}
7. mapquest really needs to start their directions on #5.  i'm pretty sure i know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they  told you how the person died. {maybe it makes me morbid, but i agree with this statement.}
9. i can't remember the last time i wasn't at least kind-of tired.
10. bad decisions make good stories.
11. you never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. {like right about now in my day...}
12. can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after blu ray?  i don't want to have to restart my collection...again. {if i'm being honest, i haven't even started on blu rays.  i'm still on dvds.  yikes!}
13. i'm always slightly terrified when i exit out of Word and it asks me if i want to save any changes to my document that i swear i did not make any changes to. {this happens way too often.}
14. i disagree with kay jewelers.  i would bet on any given friday or saturday night more kisses begin with miller light than kay.
15. i wish google maps had an "avoid ghetto" routing option. {truth!}
16. i have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
17. how many times is it appropriate to say "what?" before you just not and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
18. i love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front.  stay strong, brothers and sisters! {a little road rage never hurt anyone, right?}
19. shirt gets dirty.  underwear gets dirty.  pants?  pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.  {yes, why do we think this is okay?!?!}
20. even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and pinning the tail on the donkey - but i'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time. {first time, every time, and about 10 times after that...every morning}

do you have any truths you could add to the list?!?!?

g-ma and back pockets

just got off the phone with g-ma (aka grandmom ford).  she always has the funniest comments.  she makes me smile.  i know she wants me to have a guy who loves me and takes care of me, but she always wants me to have my freedom and single-life, too. 

one time she told me that i needed to stay single so i could play the field.

one time (when she worked at the bank) she told me that a cute guy came through and thought, "he would be great for miranda."  then she looked at his bank account and though, "he would not be great for miranda."

one time (right before the royal wedding last year), this was our conversation:  grandma:  "miranda, have you seen kate middleton."  me:  "yes."  grandma:  "don't you think you look like her?  here's the plan:  poppop is going to fly over with you, kidnap kate, and you'll walk down the aisle.  no one will ever know the difference."

today, in talking to her about my friends' wedding tomorrow, she said, "make sure you check out the left hands of all the guys, but more importantly, check out their back pockets."

she wants me married.  one of my fears is that she will not be here on my wedding day.  praying for health and longevity.

love her.

love came down

easter.  what a glorious holiday.  tonight, in reflecting back over the weekend, i find that i have not dedicated or focused enough celebration on the incredible story behind easter.  in church today, the pastor discussed how god has no grandchildren.  the relationship that i have with god holds no connection to the relationship my parents have with god.  i am not guaranteed a relationship with our savior because of the relationship my parents have with god, or the relationship my friends have with god.  i am responsible for my relationship with him.  i am god's child.  he calls me HIS.

{i'll remind myself of all that you've done.  and the life i have because of your son.  love came down and rescued me.  love came down and set me free.  i am yours.  i am forever yours.  mountains high or valley low, i sing out and remind my soul, i am yours.  i am forever yours.}