Hair and Humility

Oh heavens. I just remembered this story and I am laughing and haven’t even started writing. A few weeks ago a woman came with her husband into the shop where I work to buy an apple. (I work at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory where we sell like 35 kinds of CARAMEL apples…so when I say apple, I don’t just mean something Granny Smith pulled off a tree…these are some serious fruit snacks.)The woman was very put-together and had just finished what appeared to have been a pretty major shopping trip with her not-so-thrilled husband. I offered her a sample (as we do with every customer) and she, in what I’m sure was her sweetest voice ever, said, “Who does your eyebrows?”

Ok. You have to know a few things. I could not be more ignorant when it comes to anything “beauty” related. I happen to be sort of good at putting on eye-shadow, but as far as the upkeep of the latest hairstyles, shoes, major fashion trends, or in this case-eyebrows—FORGET IT. Any success I may have in those areas is honestly a mistake. I’m that pitiful girl that tries to keep up and gets so excited when I get something that’s “in style” usually to find out that I’m a year or two late on the trend wagon. (Side note: On top of that I have enormous feet so the once cute size 5’s end up looking like vacation yachts on my size 12 feet. Anyhow…that’s another basket of family jokes.)

That same week, the Lord had been teaching me SO much about humility… (Philippians 2 rocks my face off)…and just not being so concerned with material things and the way I look, etc, etc. So you can imagine that when I walked through the doors at the chocolate factory that night thinking I should have been winning an award for the amazing hair night I was having (I mean seriously…not a trace of frizz) the good Lord just couldn't pass up an opportunity to teach me another lesson.

LADY: “Who does your eyebrows?”
*ME Confused…Did she just ask about my eyebrows?: “I’m sorry?”
LADY: “Who does your eyebrows? (A little closer to my face) Did you do them?”
*ME Shocked and Hesitant: “Um, no one, yeah I did.” (Thought to self—a good hair day, and complement on my brows…maybe I should go to beauty school?)
LADY (Moment of truth): “Honey you did them wrong. They do not look good. They are not even.”

***Suddenly I hated that rule about the customer always being right.***

*ME Covering up my poor beauty skills: (Quick who else can you blame for this beauty tragedy?!?!?) “Oh well, a friend of my did them at camp, and I’ve just kept them the same…so I guess I’ll have her fix them.”

***Oh please, that was a one-time deal over 6 years ago, I’m pretty sure I’ve plucked a few hairs (apparently too many on one side) since then.***

LADY: “I’m a beautician…I could fix those for you. Or you should just go next door [we are next to a salon] and have Brenda do it. She really is the best—I know she could fix that for you. But you really should have that fixed.” (Was the emphasis on really necessary?)

..So not only did I fail my daily humility test by boasting about my frizz-free locks…now I gotta read up on blatantly lying, hateful thoughts, (and after my co-worker venting session)…gossip. Oh, and she didn't even buy an apple.

New Sister!!!

Back to the writing later...but for now, I have a new sister!!! I could not have asked for someone more wonderful for my brother. She is the most beautiful woman ever, and just completed our family perfectly! Downey Washburn Hinton, I love you!! :)

Don't worry, I'll bore you with more pictures later ;)

Procrastination Grace

I am so tired I could faint. But I had to document my most idiotic event in my college career. (I would say "in my life", but I assure you there will be others after this one).

So I thought I would be smart and beat the system by borrowing my brother's cap and gown from 2 years ago since after tomorrow we will have graduated from the same university. :)
I had already waited until this past Tuesday to check out that situation while I was home...not sure if his old blue dress was even in Lenoir, or if it was on Oak Island where he now resides. But praise the Lord there it was in his unpainted closet--balled up in it's original Student Stores bag (with receipt and everything)--in a old box underneath his hanging clothes. Much joy and celebration for my bank account!!!

I was a little concerned about how wrinkled it was considering I can't really iron it and steaming things was not on my to-do list in the hectic days leading up to my diploma. However mom assured me that I could just leave it hanging in the bathroom when the shower was on and the steam from that would probably do the trick. (Note to self: Mom is intelligent. Keep her around.) So tonight I tried this wonderful trick, and low and behold it worked!

My sub leaser for the summer has already moved in so I'm chilling in my new "room" which consist of the living room couch and a corner of the dining room where my furniture is shoved aside until moving day. So I was going to borrow my roommate Katie's door just to hang my gown on (lol that sounds like my grandma's nightie--sp?--). I happen to glance over at her closet when a big blue hanging thing caught my eye.

First thought (mindless): "Oh, that's her gown."
Second thought (puzzled): "Hmm why does it look brighter than mine."
Third thought (surely not): "Double hmm...it's thicker too."
Fourth thought as I cut on the light (mom's gonna kill me): "THAT'S A DIFFERENT GOWN."

That's right. Apparently, in an attempt to stay "up with the latest fashion" my lovely university now has different graduation gowns. Different than the ones they had 2 years ago. Are you kidding me? As if we haven't paid enough money already, you're gonna suck out the last 50 dollars by making me purchase a see-through choir robe that not only I can never wear again, but no one else can ever use either?!

Oh please. I don't really care that my gown is 2 shades of Carolina blue lighter and slightly more iridescent than the one I'm supposed to have. OR, that the cap I have is accompanied by a 2005 tassel instead of 2007 because I also forgot (slash didn't make time this week) to buy a new one for the actual year of my commencement. No, I honestly am not concerned about those things. However, my mother may have a cow if I am not wearing the proper uniform tomorrow. Not because she's uptight or stuck up or anything like that. But let's face it. I am her BABY...literally...I'm the last one. So she is going to be soaking up every bit of this glorious day, and I'm not going to ruin it by graduating in the a) wrong gown b)wrong tassel or c) frizzy hair (it is supposed to rain so I've already made arrangements with my alarm clock to nip that issue in the bud by getting up in time to "deal" with that. On top of that it is MOTHER'S DAY...AND her oldest child is getting married next weekend. I refuse to be another source of stress and tears!!

So I will be waking up in 5 hours to sit at the door of Student Stores and bang on it until they are open to purchase the correct cap and gown needed for my 9:30 ceremony in Kenan Stadium. Dear Jesus, PLEASE let them be open. I need "procrastination grace" at 8:00am!!!
(Prayers appreciated!)
So much for trying to beat the system. So long Carolina...thanks for eating my bank account once again.

"I'm a tarheel born, I'm a tarheel bread, and when I die I'll be a broke tarheel dead."
That's all. :) Good night.

Tacky Walls and Junk Drawers

So last night I realized that my sub-leaser for the summer was moving in on Tuesday. That would now be tomorrow. Then I realized that she was in fact NOT moving in off the street and she would actually have STUFF to put in here. In MY room. My LAST college room. EVER.

And suddenly I liked the fact...
*that nothing in my room matches
*that I have my name tackily written out with polka-dot ribbons and pictures on the wall above my bed (ok, FUTON)
*that I have as much plastic furniture as I do wood furniture
*that I have a lamp on my dresser that hasn't worked since August because I got the bottom of a lightbulb stuck in it and I'm too scared to get it out
*that The Preacher's Wife and The Parent Trap (Lindsay Lohan version) have been played on this tv AT LEAST 30 times a piece this year....and BOTH of them last night
*that I STILL have dishes sitting beside my bed from my late-night cereal cravings
*that my suitcase was still sitting stuffed in the bottom of my closet where it has been since August because I was too lazy to put the empty thing back in my car to save space
*that I successfully started and grew my "junk draw" in the top left drawer of my desk as with every other room or space I've ever occupied (and that I have now waited until everything else was packed to go through it)
*and that I have left my mark on this apt. with a multitude of tiny holes in the walls where my push-pins once held up my memories

And then, 2 hours later, it was all gone. Packed in boxes. Stuffed in my car. And ready to go to the next space I will call home. It's funny...you're faced with the impossible--packing up the last 4 years of your life and convincing your heart to move on--and it takes just 2 hours.

So it's official. Exactly 6 days from now I will leave Carolina--the place that changed my blood to blue--and no longer call this town my home. I'll venture off to a new life, in a new state, with new friends (and a new Starbucks) and put up my tacky decorations on a new set of walls.
My gas tank is full and Christy is waiting in the CD player. Watch out world, here I come.
Well, after I get my brake-light fixed.

It's party time

The Angel Stadium Declaration April 17, 2005

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling and I'm finished with wavering; I've made my choice, the verdict is in and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!
I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate His presence, cultivate His character, participate in His family, demonstrate His love, and communitcate His word.
Since my past has been forgiven and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead, I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of His family.
Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" over "me", character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.
I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tire, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.
I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you inn such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well down, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin."