Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Somebody that I used to know


Lisa was my best friend from the time I was 11 until I was 16. She moved in the house across the street the summer before I started 6th grade and she started 3rd. From the day she moved in, we were instant best friends. We went to the movies that very afternoon. Because we were three years apart we were never in the same school. We hung out pretty much every day that first summer. When school started we still hung out as much as we could, I mean we lived across the street from each so it wasn’t that hard. Sometimes we got busy with school and even though we lived across the street from each other we didn’t see each other that much. But when we did it was always like no time had passed. We used to love to go to target and then convince my mom to let us have a sleepover, and then lisa’s mom usually went along. But her mom was strict and for some reason it seemed the main thing she was strict about was Lisa doing things with me. We had to beg her to let Lisa come with me to my my dad’s parent’s house that was only forty-five minutes away. And she wouldn’t let us spend the night down there. So Lisa going with us for the weekend to my mom’s parent’s house in NC was definitely out of the question, as was lisa ever going with us on a summer vacation. I never understood that and still don’t, but Lisa’s mom was a single mom and tended to be sort of paranoid. She was a big worrier. But I find it interesting and somewhat hurtful that Lisa has now gone on vacations with other friends. As we got older, even though we lived across the street from each other it was hard to hang out a lot. That’s the only time I felt that our 3 year age difference actually affected our friendship. Then it was only because we didn’t have classes or extra-curricular activities in common. When we would get to hang out we always picked up right where we left off. The older we got the longer we would sometimes go without seeing each other. It was spring break of my junior year of high school and I had tried to make plans with lisa for her 14th birthday. Her little sister had answered the door when I had gone over to their house and said lisa wasn’t at home. I wanted to make plans to celebrate her birthday but I couldn’t get in touch with her. I was checking my cell phone messages later that week, and I had one from Lisa: 
“ Hey, it’s me. I don’t think we should be friends anymore ... we’ve just grown apart. So... just don’t call or come over cause that’d just make it harder. Bye.” 
I was at a loss. I didn’t understand. Yeah we hadn’t hung out in a while. But I thought we’d pick back up like we always did, right where we’d left off. Lisa had started hanging out with a girl that had moved in down the street from us. She was a year younger than lisa. It seems that their friendship started much like ours did except that I never ended a friendship to start a new one. The end of my friendship with Lisa was hard to accept. I tried pretty soon after she left that voicemail, to talk to her and try and save our friendship, but she didn’t want to. At the beginning of that summer I tried again, and I thought for a split second that we might be friends again. I went over to her house and  we ended up watching tv and hanging out for the afternoon. But at the end of the afternoon, she said she didn’t think we could be friends again. I was going on a summer trip with a student ambassador program people 2 people. It was a 3 week trip and something I was really looking forward to. Lisa said that since I was going on that trip that it didn’t make sense to try to be friends again. That was a weird excuse since I was only going to be gone for three weeks. She didn’t want to be friends. To this day I don’t understand what happened. 
Lisa and I still live across the street from each other. I’ll be outside with my dog, buddy, and sometimes I’ll see her getting home and it's as if we never even knew each other. It is so weird. It is hard not to discount a 5 year friendship after it ended like that. This past spring Lisa’s dog, daisy was loose and I got her and brought her to their house. Lisa answered the door. I told her daisy had gotten out. She said thanks and shut the door. The person that shut that door so quickly used to be my best friend. That is incredibly hard. When we were friends, I remember being worried about not being able to make absolute certain that our friendship would last forever. And it didn’t. Now Lisa and I have not been friends just as long as we were. I don’t think about her much, but when I walk out of my house and see hers, sometimes it is impossible not to. 
This has been on my heart lately and I just really needed to write this out. 

Monday, July 23, 2012

Time and Purpose


Timing is important. The phrase everything happens for a reason is thrown around a lot as a favorite quote. I agree but I relate it also to timing. 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 
There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.
There is a time for everything. Sometimes we go through hard times but they teach us things and we grow from them. Sometimes we make decisions that we want to regret but even those times teach us. especially the times we look back and think “why did I do that!”. 
With timing, deciphering what the purpose of each specific time or season can be difficult. I think this passage speaks to the grayness of life. We like things black and white but it is a very gray world. Knowing when to tear down and when to build, when to tear and when to mend, when to be silent and when to speak can be difficult. 
Right now this is definitely an important time in my life. I am in this no-man’s land between college and the real world. I am praying for confidence and courage to take steps in figuring out what’s next. 




Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday's Letters Vol. 5



Friday's Letters. 

Dear God, I needed Campmeeting this week, so thank you for a wonderful church and being able to come together in fellowship with others and praise you. Dear Daddy, I am so glad you went to the doctor about your eye and hope that now you will feel better real soon.  Dear Aurora, CO my thoughts and prayers go out to your community and all those affected by the shooting. my thoughts and prayers go out to the shooter and his family as well. Dear Roaches, I hate you why are you around. no one likes you. Dear Marcie, I am so proud of you and excited to follow along during your World Race! I love seeing what God is doing in your life and through you and your World Race team for the people you encounter! Dear Summer, oh how I love you.  please may the next month or so go by really slowly! Dear Mom, I hope that you have an amazing time at your 40th high school reunion. I just personally didn’t care for high school really, I much preferred college. LOVED it, well for the most part, and right now I’d love to be going back to LaGrange in a month! 

(Source: pinterest)

Linking Up With Ashley of Adventures of Newlyweds

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Laughing, Eating, Family


When we were up in the mountains last weekend, Momma, Papa Bill and I went to lunch at Big Mountain Barbecue. We hadn't been over there in awhile and it was delicious. You'll  have to take my word for it because I didn't take a picture before I started eating! 

       













Their sandwiches are huge, so Momma and I split a pulled pork sandwich. 
                                                        



I don't remember what we were laughing at, but it seemed that when our mouths weren't full we were laughing. We had a great lunch together and it was a great way to end the weekend. 





 







 I was able to get one pretty decent picture of Papa Bill and Momma. 
                                                                 
                                                                     









  And I caught Papa Bill making a funny face
                                     




Tuesday, July 17, 2012

if you really knew me and Sometimes & Always Vol. 8





I saw this post on stephanie's blog and thought it was neat letting people know things they would know about you if they knew you in real life! So I decided to do one of my own

if you really knew me...
  • you'd know that I am a Methodist and love being methodist. I don't know where life will take me but I know that God will be with me every step of the way. 
  • you'd know that I hate spending money. HATE it. love cute things and love food and other things that cost money but don't love shopping or going out to eat as much as most people because I really loathe spending money. for instance even a $10 dollar top, I usually would not buy it even if it was cute and if I did I would feel sad about spending money. 
  • you'd know that I am a huge Duke fan. and if you asked anyone that really knows me they'd say that is an understatement. my dad went to Duke. I had my first easter in the Duke Chapel. I've known my way around campus since I was about 12. And I can get pretty feisty when  people diss on Duke.  GO DUKE! AND TO HELL WITH  CAROLINA! 

  • you'd know I love honeysuckle. 
  • you'd know I love love stories and hope to have my own one day. 
  • you'd know I didn't get my driver's license till i was 19. I really regret it now because I feel like I should have 6 years driving experience and I have about 3. But I remember being told about crazy car accidents at an intersection near my house when I was in first grade and that stuck with me and made me nervous. Can't go back now though! 
  • you'd know that I have a tendency to talk fast, especially when I'm excited
  • you'd know that my dog is pretty much my best friend. he was my birthday present when I was 12 years old and I seriously doubt anything will ever top that. unless maybe I have a baby on my birthday one day. you’d know that my mom and i apparently look exactly alike. well at least we do according to  most people. we see the similarity but not to the extent others do. 
Now linking up with Megan for some S and A. 
Sometimes I see a rainbow in the sky. 



Always little things like that make me think of God and how good he is. how sunshine and rainbows come after rain. 

Sometimes I think about the future and can't wait for it to be the present. 
Always I know I shouldn't wish life away and should enjoy each period of life. I just don’t always think that in the moment, every second. 
Sometimes my family goes to my grandfather's house in NC and sometimes it seems like we live there on the weekends. 
Always it is so good to be back home. not that it isn't good to be there, it is just good to be home. 



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Sometimes and Always Vol. 7


Ok so before I get into Sometimes and Always. Let me discuss what happened last night on the bachelorette! Seriously I have to say best final 3 in bachelor/bachelorette history. ALL 3 were such great great great guys. I loved Sean, but somewhere along the line he slid to the backburner cause compared to arie and jef he lacked the edge kept saying she wanted. Great guy but that  it connection was missing. I feel that sean was this season’s Brad. He was “Perfect” but not perfect for emily! 
Now onto Sometimes and Always! 
Sometimes I am a bit too interested in pop culture/ the media/celebrities. whatever you want to call it. 
Always I think it’s just because I’m interested in people. Even if it’s not truly reality. It’s the closest thing there is to seeing inside stranger’s lives. I love seeing what other people’s lives are like. even if I really don’t  know. I mean I think that’s why I like blogging. 
 Call Me Curious George

Sometimes I have something looming ahead of me that the  implications of freak me out
Always I just want to show that I’m good enough. And I worry that can’t be seen on paper. 


Sometimes there seems to be a communication barrier between me and my parents. Oh it’s just so hard being back home after being at college for 4 years. 
Always I know that I am blessed to be able to come back home and that my parents love me so much. 

Monday, July 9, 2012

Play Hard, Live Well, Smile More


We went to my grandfather's in the mountains for the fourth and got back friday night. We decided that Saturday we would go out as a family. The plan was to get up early and go to yard sales but that didn't happen. We did get up pretty early and went on a walk in the park with the buddy dog, but then when we got back momma and I ended up watching 'Definitely, Maybe' on TV. We did get up and going eventually but by the time we did most yard sales had packed up and gotten out of the heat. So we were hungry and went out to eat at Mellow Mushroom at Suwanee Town Center. Momma had mexican on her mind and so she got food at a Mexican restaurant and brought it over to mellow! We split a 10 inch pizza, absolutely delish, but for some reason they didn't have ricotta! oh well I guess they made up for it by putting lots of parmesan on it! After Mellow we walked down to RITA's. I have been very sad lately that they closed the Rita's in both Lawrenceville and Tucker! It has been so hot lately and I just had to have some Rita's! Umm I mean their motto is the World Needs More Rita's and so it's just not right that locations are closing! ok enough on that! I finally got some Rita's and let me just say it is oh so refreshing in this crazy summer heat!  Hope that y'all had a good weekend. Saturday was definitely a good pick-me-up for me! 





-Elissa






Friday, July 6, 2012

Friday's Letters Vol. 4


Friday’s Letter’s
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Our Lovely Hostess of Friday's Letter's, Ashley has asked everyone to visit 5 blogs that participate in the link-up! 
Dear Blog, I am very sorry I don’t have awesome pictures for you! I don’t have the best camera and it has been acting up recently. I think I got it working for now and hopefully I can get a new one sometime soon! Also, sorry I have been lacking in posts lately I have been on the go but relaxing enjoying the 4th!  Dear Fruit, I love all of your juicy goodness! Watermelon, Peaches, Strawberries, Kiwi, Plums, and some Blackberries are what I have been enjoying lately!   Dear Cold, please go away. you are never enjoyed but especially not in the summer. summer colds are the worst.  Dear Daddy, I had fun with you on the 4th! I enjoyed helping you at the book sale and loved walking the shops of Black Mountain afterwards! 
Dear Duke, I love you very much sweet dog. You were restless this morning and this was the best picture I could get out of you! 
Dear Katie Holmes, I am so happy that you are getting out! I was worried about you for a while there. Divorce is sad, but in this case I can’t help but be so happy that you are getting out!  


Love, Elissa

Monday, July 2, 2012

Beating the Heat!


I think it is safe to say that for much of the country it has been HOT this summer. Well Atlanta is no different and so this weekend I went tubing with some people from the college and young adult ministry at my church. On Saturday it was 106 degrees and so it was really nice to float along the Chattahoochee River. We went tubing at a place pretty close by and I liked it better than Cool River Tubing in Helen, GA where I had been tubing a couple of times before. The place we went to was between Duluth and Johns Creek and the water was a good bit higher at this part of the river than up in Helen. To stay on the safe side and not get our camera’s messed up because of the water, none of us took any pictures! So you’ll just have to believe me that a good time was had by all! The water was super cold at 50 degrees and it took a bit of getting used to, and then it was kind of more that we were numb to it rather than actually used to it. But it didn’t matter how cold the water was it was so nice compared to the scorching heat. While floating down the river we could hardly tell how hot it was outside! And I didn’t burn at all, just got a nice little tan. Well, Tan for me anyway! What have y’all been doing to beat the heat? If you live outside of atlanta, I definitely recommend this place click here for their website! 



Got this from Pinterest and love this! Especially neat to think of with how hot it's been lately! It is true the sunshine can just put me in such a good mood!