Miss Communication

I have a degree in Communications from Clemson University folks.

But, based on a few past communication experiences, you probably wouldn't know it.

Exhibit A: Last weekend, I did some tutoring for my dad's boss' daughter.  His boss called me on Friday evening to see if I could work with her again this weekend, and I saved his number in my cell phone.  After doing so, I also went back through my "Recent Calls" and saved a friend of ours' number to remind him about his blood donation time for the Junior League in the morning.  To make a long story short, I mixed up their numbers.  And, at approximately 7:45AM on a Saturday morning, I called my dad's boss and blurted out "Rise and Shine!!"  Haha!  To make matter's worse, he knew it was me - I know this because he answered the phone by  saying "Hi Liz" - but I panicked when I realized my mistake and just said, "Uh, I think I have the wrong number."  Then I hung up.  I am SO mature.  (Sorry Dad!)

And this unfortunate incident reminded me of an even more hilarious one back this summer...

For the first time in twenty-five years, a minor earthquake hit Roanoke at about 4:30AM.  Jeff and I were, oddly, awake at the time because he was leaving to do an early morning project for our church.  Since earthquakes are not exactly commonplace here, Jeff and I reasoned that either a.) it was a freak of nature quake or b.) there was a major explosion somewhere nearby.  Both were very comforting options.  After Jeff left, I was scared and wide-awake, so I decided to do some research.  The first step... calling the National Weather Service.  I got the number off the internet and the following conversation ensued:

Operator: (very groggy sounding) Hello

Me: (That isn't very professional that they are sleeping on the job.) I know this is strange, but I'd like to report an earthquake at my house.  Have you received any other calls like this?

Operator: (very surprised and excited sounding) WHAT?!?! An earthquake?!?!  HERE?!?  Where?!?!

Me: (Again, this person is totally unprofessional!  Aren't they trained to handle things like this?  Shouldn't she ALREADY know about it?!?) Yes, my whole house shook about thirty minutes ago.  I live at [address deleted because of potential creepers].

Operator:  OH MY GOSH!?!  WHO is this???

Me: This is Elizabeth.  Who is this?

Operator: This is Ruby.

Me: Is this the National Weather Service?

Operator: No.  This is Ruby.

Me: Oh my goodness, I am so sorry... I have the wrong number.

People... I called a poor old lady IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT and freaked her out about an earthquake.  What is wrong with me?

Why do they not teach things like this in college?!?!

My Husband is the Best

I have been sick this weekend.  

Sick like, "I know we just went to the grocery store and bought food/decorations for our party tonight, but I can't muster up the energy to unload the car, and the party MUST be canceled." 

Sick like, "Even though my house is disgusting and we have NO clean ANYTHING, I have to get in bed rightthisminute with just the mattress pad and duvet and sleep." 

Sick like, I haven't seen the downstairs since 5:30PM yesterday and even Addy won't get too close to me.

Don't worry, I'm not dying (Truth be told, I'm a bit of an exaggerator).  But, I did get hit pretty hard with some kind of cold or flu bug.  And, for fear of being very sick next weekend when I'm supposed to see Taylor Swift in Charlottesville for a girls' weekend, I've used this as an opportunity to sleep like crazy and let my body do its thing.

My computer is broken too... And, it's been a slow blog weekend.  That God can be quite tricky in his ways of telling us to just.be.still.  So... I've cancelled ALL plans, and here I am.

Which brings me to my point about my husband.  

Basically, he is the best ever.

See, we have very different "sick" styles.  When Jeff is sick, he wants me right beside him the whole time just napping and lazing too.  I, on the other hand, want to be totally left alone.  If I'm really being honest, I even have kind-of a hard time relaxing when he IS home.  I just feel like I need to be doing things and being attentive to him.  So, last night as we both sat in bed at 8PM and Jeff played solitaire, I began to get grumpy thinking about the way we naturally love each other the way WE want to be loved, instead of really thinking selflessly.  (And, believe me, I'm guilty of this too.  A few months ago when Jeff was sick, I took the opportunity to have the cleanest house in town and only lamely snuck in a few five minute back rubs to "do my duty."  I'm no perfect wife.)  Our intentions, genuinely, are good.  But, our own desires still creep in.  We feel like we are doing good, but in reality, it isn't at all what the other needs - and honestly, we know each other well enough to know that.  Marriage really makes you realize how selfish you are.  Really.

But today... Today, my husband has been the picture of sacrifice.  First, he brought me coffee and medicine in bed.  Then, we spent a little time just relaxing together - which IS important, and I'm thankful that he has taught my perfectionist self that lesson.  Then, just now, when I woke up from yet another nap, I found the house spotless clean, the laundry folded in the guest room, and the house quiet, with a note that he'd gone off to do the project I'd signed him up for, without me. 

I know things like a clean house and STUFF, aren't what make a marriage work.  BUT, this kind of selfless love IS.  My husband is the best... I feel better already!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Although I, of course, hope to become rich and famous off of my blog one day, the main reason I write is to capture some of the "ordinary" moments I'm afraid I'll forget in a few years when I'm busy driving kids around, picking up toys, and changing diapers.

Here are some of those moments from the last week...

Rice'capades 2010 (oops)

Our "Small" Group - Praise & Worship Night (in our family room)

My girl