Shopping with Baybug

Went shopping today for B's easter dress. First experience where what I like is NOT what she likes. Her taste is somewhat opposite of mine: flashy and princess-like. A pink fru-fru frock covered in iridescent sequins caught her eye and looked perfect while she twirled in the dressing room mirror. Yes, we had to twirl in each dress. I, of course, had selected a linen dress in pink and green that was very tailored and sweet. While standing in the dressing room, donning my choice of dress, she looks up and says "I like this one too, but I the pink one is the BEST!" In that moment, I was fully aware of her need to protect my feelings but still get the dress she wanted.

We left Macy's in search of other options. Why I trotted her to at least 4 more stores to find other options I'll never know. She's a girl and when you find what you want, you've found what you want and nothing else will do. (I can hear you all agreeing with me.) Needless to say, we wend back to Macy's and left with a very cute, pink-sequined, fluffy dress. I can only hope that we'll agree on the shoes ;)

Looking Through the Lens of Love

Last night's youth staff meeting we discussed our individual lenses. In other words, what lens do we view ourselves in as well as what lens do we use to view others? Tonight during my devotional I read about God's command to love one another and realized that both lessons were connected. Allow me to give you the long and short of it:

Showing love must start with a change in my perception: I don't deem someone as worthy of MY love but as worthy of Christ's love through me. Note to self--that applies to EVERYONE.

Therefore,
if someone's behavior makes me view them as unlovable -- WRONG.
if someone's personality causes me to view them as unlovable -- INCORRECT.
if another's personal betrayal demands my view change to unlovable --ERRONEOUS
if another's unkind words incite a heart to punish by not loving -- FALLICIOUS AGAIN!!

I'm sure you get the picture. All I have to do is re-read 1 Corinthians 13 to realize I've got a long way to go. However, even today a small victory was won, when I chose to return some angry words with a kind calm one. Like the old song says, "He's still working on me...."

Have a great week and polish up that lens of love.

I wanted too...but

I really wanted to blog, but I couldn't think of anything happy or edifying to say, so I decided to heed the Bible and my mother: "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut." That's the Alicia Translation of Eph 4:29. Hope you all had a better Monday than I did.

If I was a Cat, I'd Have Lost Two Lives Today

So this morning in the usual calm of getting ready for school, my son suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be at school by 6:45 AM in order to attend an out of town fieldtrip. (One he had been anxiously awaiting) He reminded me of this at 6:39 AM! Needless to say, I panicked; he panicked. I was currently only wearing the top half of my outfit when he made his announcement. I crazily put on the first thing I could find -- a pair of dirty jeans -- and begin yelling, "Let's go, let's go! Get to the car now!!!!" We managed to leave the house by 6:45. I said a quick prayer before leaving that the traffic would be light and moving fast. So NOT what we found when we hit North Monroe, AND it began to rain. Anyhoo, while trying to beat a yellow light, I realized that I couldn't and decided to stop. (Remember, it was raining.) Needless to say, my tires didn't agree, and we slid 10 feet into the intersection. Luckily, the light had just changed and no traffic was moving. After my heart resumed its normal rhythm, I backed the car up and reminded myself that no field trip was worth three lives. (Cat life #1 gone.)

Now, in a somewhat calmer mode, I begin the last 10 minutes of our trip. The car in front of me was feeling the need for a Sunday afternoon drive, so when the road went to four lanes, I pulled over into the other lane to proceed with a safe passing. However, the other car decided to not check their blind spot and slowly eased over into that lane as well. I found myself between a car and rock median. With quick thinking, I managed to avoid certain wreckage; however, cat life #2 disappeared.

I am happy to report that we arrived just as the last class was loading the bus. Cademan hurtled from the vehicle onto the sidewalk and sprinted to the bus. He made it! I took a breath --I think it was for the first time since 6:39 that morning. However, my adrenaline didn't come down til sometime after 9:30.

Cademan had a wonderful day came home bearing gifts for the mom that did whatever she could to get him to that field trip. I will proudly cook those bag of grits, and be thankful that the Lord protects us even when our stupid humanity prevents us from thinking straight.

37 Things

Well today is the big day! I turned 37-years-old this morning at 6:02 AM. In honor of my special day, I though I'd list 37 things that you may or may not know about me.

1. I love to read, but I'm a snob about it (if it isn't amazing by the end of the first paragraph, I don't bother with it)
2. I hate the newspaper.
3. I've never had a real nickname.
4. I'm a writer.
5. I'm a nerd and proud of it.
6. I've cut off a chicken's head before. (Sorry to all my PETA friends, but it's helpful to realize that something gives its life for you so that you can sustain yours.)
7. I won an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland when I was in second grade.
8. I've jumped off the top of a telephone pole in order to catch a trapezee that was 3 feet up and 3 feet out.
9. Standing in the book aisle at Lifeway makes me cry. (If you truly want to know, I'll give you the full story.)
10. I love to watch musicals. (life would be great in a world where every situation could turn into an amazing song and dance. Even better when everyone around you knows the words and the dance moves too!)
11. I married my high school sweetheart.
12. I went to an all girls college. (for only one semester)
13. I cry when I watch the Showcase Showdown on The Price is Right.
14. I traveled the US in high school and college performing with a drama group.
15. I can tie a knot in a cherry stem with my teeth.
16. My real name is pronounced "a LEE c uh." My father is really the only one who ever called me this.
17. I used to be a cheerleader.
18. I played volleyball in high school even though I was only 5'2"
19. I passed out in class in 10th grade while listening to a lady describe how the doctors cut her face off to remove a tumor.
20. When I get nervous or upset, my neck turns bright red.
21. My IPOD contains all three HSM soundtracks and two Miley Cyrus CD's. (AND it's not because I have an 8-year-old daughter)
22. I've been to Ecuador.
23. I drank Chicha! (If you don't know what that is, do a Google search on Shuar Indians to find out)
24. I've never had a beer or smoked a cigarette in my life.
25. My favorite color is Pink.
26. Both of my children are named after the mothers in my life (my mom and my mother-in-law).
27. I love going camping with my friends and family.
28. I play a mean Guitar Hero.
29. I played the piano for 11 years - I was somewhat of a Concert Pianist. (Yes, I still wish I could play today)
30. I very rarely spend over $9.99 for an item of clothing.
31. I broke my femur in a very bad car accident in 8th grade which caused me to miss a month of school. (By the way, if there was one year I'd never relive it would be 8th grade.)
32. I love dogs but HATE cats.
33. I love to sing.
34. I used to be a medical transcriptionist.
35. Candy (not chocolate) is high on my list of favorite things.
36. My favorite place to be is on the beach when the sun goes down.
37. I love Jesus and want my life to be all that He has planned.

There it is! I hope you feel like you know me a little better. I know that tonight when I lay down to sleep, I'll think of 50 other things that were much more interesting. Maybe, I'll share those on my 38th!

Rock Star

Free time is plentiful and I'm bloggin again. Well, at least I changed my Fall background. This background is from the set called "Rock Star." I felt a little like a needed a rock star image, so I went with it. AND it was PINK! Who could resist? Plan to blog something more important soon, but we'll see :)

Comments Anyone?

Okay, so I know I have a fair amount of blog readers out there who actually read and enjoy my blog simply because you make verbal comments to me after you've read one that speaks to you. However, since many of you don't blog yourselves and recieve my blogs by email, you may not realize that you can actually go on my blog and make a comment. The blog is so much more fun to look at than just a simple black and white email :)

Follow these instructions to visit the blog and make a comment:
1. go to http://alichall.blogspot.com
2. click on the word comments located at the bottom of the blog you would like to comment on
3. type in your comment in the box
4. if you have a google or yahoo email account, you can simply enter it in the appropriate box OR simply choose the Open ID box to leave a comment
5. Hit "Publish your Comment" and VOILA! you send smiles to me :)

One of the main reasons I post is so that I may encourage others to ponder their relationship with Christ, family, and friends. It is my desire to challenge others to wholeheartedly pursue their relationship with HIM, so that every relationship they have here on earth is strengthened.

If I do that in any way, let me know. If I don't hear from you, I'll take that as a sign that God wants me to use my time more effectively.

A special thanks to all my "buddies" who consistently encourage me in my writing. One day you'll all be immortalized as a character in a book or a topic of an article;)

Can't wait to hear from you!