This is what happens when you lock yourself out of your APT with no spare key in sight...

Last night my BFF Lauren and I were headed out of my apt to get some dinner and do some shopping for our BFF Erin's bridal shower, when after walking about 5 steps I realized that I had only grabbed my car keys and no apt keys.... Shock at my absent mindedness and immediate, Oh Crap moment lasted only seconds as I frantically searched my purse... before... I started to try and break into my apt.

Breaking in is not as easy as they make it look on TV. I tried and successfully took the screen off my window just to stare at the glass and go hmm what to do now? Then I tried a bobby pin. People I was desperate, but to no avail the bobby pin also did not work. So I had to muster up some courage and walk 10 steps across the hall to call on Josie for help.
The First question Josie and her lovely daughter asked was, did you call the land lord? To which I replied, no, their number is in my phone, which I had also left in the apt. So praise Jesus Lauren was here, she let me use her phone!
So after we found the landlords number I called, but no answer... Are you serious Landlords, how do you expect to have an apt complex and only be on call 9-5, wait scratch that you aren't even available then either! Uhhhh. By this time I am suppppppper annoyed at myself and frustrated for doing something so dumb.
You may also be wondering why I don't have a spare key. Well funny story, I was only given one. And I never made a copy because I was worried about getting in trouble or something from the landlords. Well poo poo on that, I made a copy last night and I plan on making more. Thank you for your complete non-helpful ways LL (landlords)!

So then begins my frantic phone calls to find some locksmith that was on call, also let it be known... not that many in the metro east area... In the midst of this I call on my uncle David, who can fix and do just about anything! I told him that I locked myself out of my apt the locksmith is on his way but if he can do it before he gets here, he would save me $80. Yes, that's right folks you read that correctly, 80 DOLLARS! What in the WORLD!
Here are some helpful hints:
1. Never lock yourself out of your apt/house/car/boat/anything.
2. ALWAYS get copies made of your keys and give at 3 of them to people you trust
3. Never lock yourself out of said places on 1. A weekend. 2. A holiday weekend. 3. During they're "off" hours.
Because you will have to pay an arm and a leg!

All this to be said, uncle David did not get the door open either, so I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to be paying 80 flippin dollars for this dumb door and situation.
When the locksmith arrives he tries 3 of the things that we had already tried. It's probably best that they didn't work for him either because I would have been.... soo mad.
But he tried is little tool kit and what we had been working for about an hour he did in less than 3 min. How embarrassing!

But here are some good things that surely came out of the situation:
1. I got back into my apt and retrieved me keys and phone.
2. Paid locksmith guy and in return he let me know that if I have renters insurance (which I do, because it makes my car car insurance cheaper) they will fully reimburse me my $80. Yesss
3. If you have a locksmith make copies of keys for you they only cost $2, yep the cheapest key maker around!
4. If your locksmith can't make the 2 copies that you requested but only 1 for whatever the reason being, he will give you the key for FREE! Score.

So, even though Lauren and I had a very late start to our night, the whole rest of the night went really well! And this will be a time that we wont forget for a long time! hahah. And all the old ladies were so sweet to rally up and try and help!

Have you ever fasted?

I need a little outlet, and since pretty much no one reads this, next to my prayer journal, I am out letting some things.

Fasting as a spiritual discipline. I have fasted in the past when I was making a big decision, I wanted to be clear of mind, clear of distractions and fully content in my actions and decision to be made. Or to show God, and prove maybe to myself that I am serious about what is before me.

Fasting is hard, and hard enough when in all of our general (mid-west, especially) society are known for gathering together around food/meals. It's made even worse, when you are fasting and people are aware of it and they treat you like a leper. I understand wanting to not make the experience harder than it already it is, but not treating and acting normal around that person does not help things either. It makes the fact that you are not eating something to not be mentioned or talked about or feel that people are sorry for you. That is not the reason behind fasting.
That is the exact reason I believe that God tells us to not tell anyone. In scripture he says in Matthew 6:16-18 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your  Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." So very true. And I have found out that, hey I should maybe have heeded said words.

So for now, do not shun, and not invite someone somewhere, or act out of the norm with anyone who is fasting. In the long run that is more hurtful for them then your thoughts of protecting them by not including them.
It is better yet to engage them, include them, and keep them to some extent, occupied. Fasting is a lonely process, especially when doing it alone. Be normal and the fast and the fasting person will be normal. Like the scripture says it should be done in secret. However if the secret is out, I think/wonder if then it does not also become the responsibility of those who now know to be an accountability to the faster(s)?

Content(ment)

What. is. this.? Webster (yes, yes, I am starting with this) says, it is to be in a state of peaceful happiness. And or one is satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc. not wishing for more.
Ok, good.  Webster this is a good place to start, thank you.


I am unsure if we as humans are ever able to attain a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction for an extended period(s) of time. It's kinda like in the song, "I can't get no, satisfaction." I think at just the right moments we have contentment within our reach or have hold of it, it seems to last seconds in the lifetime we try to really hold/find it. Why? What does it mean? Or is it true that we can't find satisfaction or better yet to be content?


These past weeks, being content has been something that really hit my heart.  True contentment; peace, happiness, satisfaction- not constantly wishing for more, passion, love and trust in God. 


Having this realization has opened me up, or as one friend put it, I have blossomed (once again). Friends and family have even noticed, saying things like, I have a glow about me and I look less anxious! Which for me has added to the wow factor of giving up control and finally allowing God that control, so that I can relax. It's pretty much amazing. 


I would say that I have been anxious about life for quite some time. I know this might sound silly. But I am what my fam likes to call me a 'futureistick' thinker. I will take one thought and think it completely through before anything ever happens. Now, I understand that there is strength in this, but there is also weakness. Over thinking everything= not a good. It leaves you anxious- practically all the time. 
And where it might sound impossible to give all that over thinking up, it's not. Ok, well I will be realistic, most all of it up. The nature of life and safety and what have you, causes us to think about outcomes for obvious reasons. 


But to fully let it go, is such a freeing feeling. And I think, how can anyone not want this? How can having things, possessions and such be such a driving force in our lives? Because this feeling is something that I am willing and wanting and working to hold on to. I am tried of being anxious- it's getting me little to no where, with lots of frustrations and annoyances. 


And I like the newer me, I like the change. It is definitely God, it is definitely good, it is definitely something I am serious about committing to. 




I have more to share on this topic, but for now, think about your life. Are you content?