January 6, 2010
Wow. Not only have I not written in ages, but it is day 6 of the new year and I am just now writing. Whew. Time to get back on track.
2009 was a busy and interesting year.
- January-February were spent at the Springer.
- March-June were spent being a nanny.
- July was spent at Windy Gap.
- August was spent in Chick-fil-A. Non-stop.
- August also marked the beginning of my time with Josh McKoon and his journey to the State Senate. School and Young Life also started back.
- September was the end of CFA and the beginning of my full-time position with Josh.
- October brought me back to CFA in a new position while also continuing my job with Josh. Ahhhh!
- November was more of the same.
- December was possibly the busiest month of all. Parades, meetings, fundraising, Family Night @ CFA, finals, five days in Texas, four days home, six days at Windy Gap, and a partridge in a pear tree. Whew.
I spent New Year’s in Ashville with some of my favorite people, old and new. The week was just what I needed. Three to four trail rides a day in the freezing cold was awesome. Fifteen minute hot showers at the end of the day was even better. There was a lot of time to think on the trail and I was in constant amazement of Jesus’ love for me, the beauty of my Father’s world, and the grace that has been extended in allowing us to enjoy it as fully as fallen creatures are able.
I had lots of specific thoughts, but those will be future posts. For now, I want to focus on the new year. I am not into resolutions. I like to say goals because I like knowing that I am just working towards something, not changing everything all at once which almost surely leads to failure.
This year I want to focus on making myself more available to those I love. I want to work on cultivating relationships. I want to spend more time reading and less time watching movies/TV. I want to listen to more good music. I want to cook more and eat less CFA (blasphemy, I know.) I want to be still and know that He is God.
I want 2010 to be simpler, adventuresome, God-filled.
Cheers!
December 17, 2009
After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn
that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company doesn’t always mean security.
And you begin to learn
that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up
and your eyes ahead
with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn
that you really can endure
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn…
-Veronica A. Shoffstall
December 7, 2009
Dear Press Secretary Gibbs,
This letter is to refer to the rude manner in which you conducted this press conference.
In what universe is it appropriate to speak to members of the White House Press Corp in that way? Since when did it become ok to conduct the daily press conference in a non-professional, condescending, and uncalled for way? Whether or not you thought the question was silly, irrelevant, or just plain stupid does not mean that you don’t have to answer it with respect and sincerity. Plus, you can’t get mad just because someone on your staff forgot to hand this particular reporter a copy of the questions that were to be asked that day…
Maybe you need a reminder and quite frankly, I don’t mind being the one to give it, but you work for those reporters, not the other way around. The men and women that sit in that room everyday chose to serve the American people by reporting on the business of the current administration-who, by the way, also work for the American people. They aren’t perfect and they don’t always do a good job, but your job is to, honestly and openly, report to the press the daily happenings of the Obama administration and honestly, you are not that good at it.
I am constantly amazed by your seeming lack of knowledge on information that is supposed to given to the press, your lack of decorum, and your incessant use of “ummm…”, “uhhh…”, and “I don’t know…”. But, I really shouldn’t be. I mean, why would I expect you to improve after 11 months in office? Especially if your boss hasn’t.
Nevermind. Sorry I even brought it up. If President Obama can call female reporters “sweetie”, you can compare them to your child. My bad.
Apologetically,
Theresa Garcia
December 7, 2009
Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.
~A.W. Tozer
December 4, 2009
“There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows what He is doing.” – Donald Miller
December 2, 2009
- Meet Alton to look at a trailer.
- Write Philosophy paper that is due tomorrow night.
- Work on Journals for my Education Class.
- Get decorations for trailer.
- Work on Carver English Lit. lesson plans.
- Go see Peyton and Riley.
- Have lunch with Jarrod.
- Go to the printer for Chick-fil-A family night stuff.
- Not go run in the dreadful weather.
- Go to bed a decent hour.
December 1, 2009
I got so sick of reading all of these pro-Bishop letters to the editor in the local paper, so…I wrote my own.
I would like to add my voice to the others that have written in their thanks to Rep. Sanford Bishop who voted for the health care bill. Allow me to explain my thanks. I have always wanted to travel to a third world country and experience their culture. I believe that travel to other countries help us, as Americans, to better appreciate the greatness of our own country. However, thanks to Rep. Bishop, I may be able to experience those third world country lifestyles right here in America without the cost of travel! With a health care bill that will lower the health care standards here in the U.S. and raise our national debt, not to mention raising the cost of health care for every recipient, we will all soon have the third world experience that I believe is so important for every American to have. Thanks, Rep. Bishop. You’re a peach.
Sincerely,
Theresa Garcia
There’s my two cents. It’s been over a week. I am doubting that it will be published.
November 29, 2009
“It’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace” – Hebrews 13:9
November 28, 2009
Yes, I skipped a day. Yesterday was filled with work, new running shoes shopping, lunch and a movie with mom, a girly activity with Caroline, a test run in my new shoes, a second shower, and Starbucks and No Shame with Caroline. In all that, I had a whole day of full of people and activities to be thankful for. Good company and conversation, new shoes, a good movie. Blessed doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Today, I am thankful for new babies. I got to visit with Jack and Sara Pyles and their new little girl, Margaret Stokes (Maggie). So sweet. On top of that, I stopped by the Moores and visited with their new little boy, Bennett. I am thankful for friends who set incredible examples of Christ-centered homes, relationships, and parenting. I am thankful for a small group that loves one another, prays for one another, feeds one another, and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of each member.
I am thankful for lunch with my second Mommy, Lucile Flournoy. I have lots of Mothers, but the two that take care of me the most (excluding my real mommy, of course) are Lucile Flournoy and Beth Garvin. I am thankful for women who love me like their own and share their lives with me.
I am thankful for friends who know me well and check in often. I am thankful for a dad who yells out the car window at me as I run down the road. I am thankful for little brothers who love to watch football with me. I am thankful for weather that is cool enough for a comfortable mid-afternoon run. I am thankful for Chick-fil-A. I am thankful for the school semester being so close to over.
I am thankful that our nation has a holiday that has been set apart specifically so that we can purposefully give thanks.
November 26, 2009
As the fire roars, the turkey continues to cook, the smells of sage, rosemary, and clover float through the house, and the kids squeal as they play games and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I am reminded-once again- of how very blessed I am.
While my family is blessed to have a roof over our heads, a bountiful Thanksgiving Day feast, friends and family that are all together, and the ability to give thank openly for “God and sinners reconciled”, there are others all over this nation and the world that do not have the same as I.
Today I am thankful for the above, for the knowledge that I am blessed, and the resources to offer that for someone else. I pray that wherever you are today, that you are giving thanks for your niceties and luxuries, and that you have the opportunity to share!
From my family to yours; Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers!
