Sunday Letters

Dear big bed in my yellow room, I missed you while I was away. You are extremely comfortable even if we did get into a bit of a fight in the middle of the night. Dear tap water, I appreciate that you are free and not bottled. Dear Vieques, you are an interesting island but very worth the trip. Dear weather, why did you rain everyday while we were in Puerto Rico? Dear grad school, I am loving the break from you right now. Dear best friend, you have been married for a year and I absolutely loved this day a year ago, even with the broken air conditioner. Also, I love you. Dear books, sorry I have been so neglectful for the last few weeks but know I have loved rediscovering you this past week. Dear beach and pool, I miss you separately and together. Dear rooms, come to the OH and ride roller coasters, okay? Dear collide, you were super good tonight and have me pondering many thoughts. Dear self, enjoy this week and the good things that are coming in the next few days.

Peace.

Making a Mess

Several weeks ago (I know, I am slow) we were cleaning our artsy apartment getting ready to pack up everything we had there and move away, both starting a new chapter. In the midst of trying to clean our apartment we made a mess yet there was no other way to clean.

It is interesting when I think that in order to make things right we to weed through and find what wasn't right, what didn't fit. This is so often the case in life.

When thinking about growth, especially spiritual growth it becomes necessary to recognize the lies, the thoughts, and the actions that go against God and his word. I have not found it possible to simple know truth but to also know the lies that truth must replace. I could be wrong but I do believe that to recognize how good something is you must also have a grasp on what the complete opposite looks like. Maybe it is not necessary but I think it helps.

I love sunsets; I love the beauty and uniqueness that sunsets offer. If I were to see the sunset every night I would still find it beautiful. Sometimes though, when clouds have obscured or I have not had the opportunity to watch the sun dip below the western sky for awhile, I appreciate that sunset more when it wasn't been around, when I have only seen the opposite.

At times, I have to make a mess to put things in order.

At times, I have to recognize the lies to appreciate the truth.

At times, I have to see the opposite to appreciate the beauty.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear P.R., I cannot wait to visit you come Saturday. Dear Grad School, I cannot wait to have a break from you come Friday. Dear truck, you are still very high and make me feel five when I climb up in you. Dear Sequoia, you make doing homework on long drives so much more pleasurable. Dear Kids, you and your friends were silly tonight. Dear The Killers, you were a very funny movie. Dear pretty pretty wakeboard, yesterday we were very good friends. Dear A&C, I am very excited to spend the week with you come Saturday. Dear weather, thanks for being reasonable this weekend. Dear people in the MO, I miss you.

Peace.

Sunday Letters

Dear Sunday Letters, sorry I was too busy to think about yesterday. Dear Sunday, you were a busy day but a very good day. Dear Collide, I think I am going to like you. Dear Best Friend, your birthday present was mailed to you last week but I don't think you got it before you left so your birthday will continue until you get back from Texas. Dear Tennessee, you are crazy, especially last night. But, I guess I am glad you can live vicariously through me. Dear Kids, you are almost on summer break. Dear Grad School, please help me get through this week successfully. Dear Rooms, I like talking to you while walking through the dark streets of my neighborhood late at night. Oh, and I miss you. Dear Truck, you are wicked high. I feel like a small child trying to climb up into you. Dear Roscoe, you make me want a puppy.

Peace.

In Which I Vent About Inconsistencies

Dear Weather/ Mother Nature/ God,

We need to have a chat. You have been quite peculiar lately, to say the least. Lets review the last few days so I can show you just how ridiculous you have been. On Monday morning we set out for the lake to enjoy Memorial Day like many others. We all awoke to blue skies, minimal breeze, and pretty high humidity. Basically, it was great boat weather but even better wakeboard weather. We were excited, relaxing in our seats, heading for a near empty lake on a gorgeous day. We were unsuspecting fools, having no idea what the next few hours would hold.

With the boat successfully launched and the skies still a brilliant blue, the Kid and I decided we would take a few turns on the tube before continuing to break our bodies into wakeboard shape. Once our arms were dead from clinging on for dear life we decided to pack away the tube and let the dad have a few ski runs. Now I will be honest weather, we didn't let him go first because we are nice but rather because our arms were dead. However, during his ride you took a nasty turn and your blue skies quickly changed to overcast. When the dad was done we thought we would let the Kid show off her wakeboarding skills but you had other plans for us.

Before the Kid could even place her board in the water you decided to throw lightning our way, quickly followed by thunder. We flew across the lake, heading for the now crowded boat launch, with the hopes of pulling out and heading for home as fast as possible. While the dad tried to quickly find the truck and back the trailer into the water, we got to feel the harsh effects of your onslaught of spring storms. You pounded us with torrents of rain, shot us with bullets of hail, and tossed us like rag dolls with your unrelenting wind.

Weather, I just want to know, what did we do to you? We were just trying to have a nice relaxing Monday holiday on the lake and you turned our joy to heartache rather rapidly. Please consider changing your ways before we try to enjoy our time out on the lake once again.

Today you once again acted like a petulant child and could not decided whether you wanted to storm or be sunny but that is a story for another day.

Love or something more akin to betrayal,

Jess

Peace.