It’s Random Wednesday!

Sue does Friday Fluff (a bunch of randomness), and I liked the idea. I just haven’t thought of anything really cutsie yet for the title of my weekly (sometimes daily) randomness.

But I am in a wicked place, y’all.

WIC-KED. (Maybe Wicked Wednesday’s?….hm. I’ll chew on it.)

Remember when I gave up Starbucks for Lent? Yeah. That’s out the window. As evidenced by my VENTI HALF-CAFF BOLD COFFEE NO ROOM FOR CREAM this morning. No room for cream, you ask? Cuz really…it’s not the coffee I love…it’s the sugar and cream. But if I tell the Barista’s…not the same thing as a Libero, Jill…that I want room for cream…they leave out half of my coffee. And that really irks me. Big time.

Monday night was Bible Study Girls Night Out at my new fave restaurant. I think everyone enjoyed it. Here is a picture of us…

The sweet, sweet lady on the front left, MQC (Mary Quite Contrary) is the LEAST contrary person I know. She loves each of us as a mother loves her children. And she doesn’t hesitate to tell us what she thinks (knows???) we need to hear. I love her. All of these ladies, in fact.

I had a wake-up call last night. At one of my favorite restaurants. On the way out, my beautiful girl and I ran into a guy that The Man went to high school with. I saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes and he stopped and looked at me and smiled and I said, “Hey Reg,” and he said, “Hey. How’s Harry doing?” Harry? Harry is not my husband’s name. I peered closely at his eyes…they WERE a bit blood shot…and he WAS heading into the bar…for all I know, he could have already been in there for awhile. So I said, “you mean, The Man (insert real name here)?” He immediately, said, “Susan…I’m sorry…of course, ” and continued to apologize for the oh, half a nano second I blessed him with our presence after that. As we left, I of course had to call The Man and remind him of everything he is missing…you know…divorcing your wife, leaving your family, partying every night. And not recognizing someone you’ve known for 20 years.

As I was washing my face last night before bed, I peered closely at my own reflection in the mirror and gasped…THAT’S why Reg didn’t recognize me! I’m 47 years old now. And fat. And I looked horrible. HUGE WAKE-UP CALL! I’d like to be able to say I jumped out of bed this morning and ran 5 miles and hit the weights in the basement. But I can’t. But I can tell you that I slowly eased my tired, achy body out of bed, late again, and made my way to the dining room (cup of coffee firmly grasped in my hand) and had a nice, long, intimate chat with my Lord. And He reminded me that, “yes, Susan…you are now 47 years old…and I have a lot of work for you to do. Yes, you DO need to take better care of yourself. When are you going to get over the whole, ‘worrying about how you look thing’? Look around you…look at EVERYTHING I HAVE GIVEN YOU…and start thanking me for it. Every. Single. Day. And I will bless you in ways you could NEVER imagine.”

And I realized right there…THAT was my real wake-up call. And I praised Him like I have never been able to praise Him before. I did what Bethie had told me to do throughout Stepping Up…take His Word and work it and write my own version. I used Psalm 107:1-9, where He had conveniently led me.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.

6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

And when I read my worked and own version, and had read it aloud, I felt so renewed. Redeemed. Refreshed.

And I am soooo going to hit the pavement and weights tomorrow!