The Taylor Swift Connection

[jeff2k6]

Dec 28, 2015 15:31:34 GMT -5 youneverknow said:

Hiya Jeff,

The weather has missed us. Dallas and up north weren't so lucky but here we just got drizzly rain.

You would have been okay with these candles. They had a clear plastic cup around them so wax wouldn't drip everywhere so if you had accidentally dropped one, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

What would have been a big deal, IMHO, are all smiles, handshakes and hugs you would have gotten after communion where people greet each other with "peace be with you" until everybody has said it to everyone else in church. There are a few kisses on the cheek in there too from some of the older people. It's all very sweet and relaxing.

There are all kinds of churches. Ours is a Presbyterian but more than the name of the church, we are a servant church. Where we believe in serving others as well as serving God. You'd fit right in Jeff.

I saw a Taylor wall calendar in Sam's Club a while back. I picked it up and looked at the pictures on the back. Our girl was looking mighty fine...as usual. That's an awesome thing to get....now you have her right there on your wall all year long. What could be better? Well, maybe that and more Tay...but it's awesome.

I worry about you when your gone too Jeff.   I know we all get busy and you have special physical challenges on top of that.   Just don't you ever think that I'm not thinking about you when you don't post...your one of us and that's always gonna be true from now on.   You are a true blessing.

I don't know what's going on with Michael.  He's posted how hard it's been at the VA for a while now and I read that in the military publications I get also.   I sure hope it's getting better for him.  

 I'm glad it missed you! Some of the highlights of the destruction that happened in those parts.. looked pretty serious, glad it didn't hurt you or your family =]

 That church sounds very cool, I wish you saw more of that behavior within our world as a whole and not just confined to the church walls.. I mean the church and fellowship is amazing, but the real life changing occurrences happen when we learn to take that spirit and apply to those that don't ever get it, it's one thing to bring that heart to the church, but  it's another to bring the heart of the church to others.. to me anyway. I'd love to be involved in it! =]

 I totally agree, Tay always looks great! She's just a true shining light in any format. Her greatest gift is just sharing her presence and beautiful heart in a somewhat dark world at times.
 
Thank you so much, I definitely appreciate that and YOU! They're aren't enough people who take time to truly care about one another in the world anymore and to know that we have that with one another is awesome. Your friendship is totally valued! =]

[jeff2k6]

Dec 28, 2015 15:34:17 GMT -5 youneverknow said:

Both are beautiful, but I prefer 'Elf' Tay over 'Glamour' Tay because as 'Elf' Tay she's able to 100% able to be herself with no care or fear of judgement by outsiders.. just gets to be herself and she deserves that! =]

[youneverknow]

Jeff,

Yes she does.   Taylor is lovely in both but the elf is my favorite too.  She looks so relaxed.

I understand what your saying about faith and I agree.   Our Sunday school assignment for this week is to think of a word we want to embrace this year and bring it on a card, in a sealed envelope addressed to ourselves and our teacher will mail it to us for Easter so we can see how we've done. 

Sunday I was sure I had my word but now I'm torn between options.  

This comes at the end of our Advent study with the word being "Go"....go into the world.   Exactly what you are talking about.   Living your faith. 

Jolene

[jeff2k6]

Your church truly sounds amazing, Jo! The kind of family that I'd LOVE to be a part of.. a church as it should be, one that is truly dedicated to making a difference.
A hero can't save everyone, but a true hero never stops trying regardless
You'll have to let me know how your results turn out, I'm sure it'll be great.

Hope you have an awesome day!

[youneverknow]

I hope you have an awesome day too Jeff...and an awesome New Year. : )

[jeff2k6]

Thanks, Jo!
It was kind of non- eventful, this year. I think I'm getting too old haha by the time midnight came, I was dragging and ready to sleep! Haha

I actually spent most the night actually watching College Football, which led to some not so favorable results for my team. (I'm a Michigan State fan) but, I guess they gave it the ole College try. Quite literally haha


Beyond that, I did see the OOTW's video! I thought the video looked AMAZING visually, but to be honest the concept of the video.. kind of left me scratching my head. it just didn't match up to the story that my mind interpreted when I listen to the song itself. (Not that, that's a bad thing.. it's just different) Kind of like when they turn one of your favorite books into a movie.. the story is just different. It was still good, though! =]

[youneverknow]

Hiya Jeff,

We always stay home on New Year's eve. My hubby's been sober for over 5 years and we just don't go anywhere where people drink.

I hadn't seen Taylor's new video so I just now went to youtube and watched it. I'll post it in my next post.

I'll do that with books and movies all the time. Especially when it's a book series that I've read for years before the first movie comes out. It's never the same.

How did you have it pictured in your mind? : )

[youneverknow]

[jeff2k6]

That's sounds like a good night to me! It's way cheaper of a night too haha all the food is already paid for, no obnoxious guests.. Just a win-win, all the way around. Glad you were able to enjoy it
And I know! Some things just need to be left to the imagination, especially books in my opinion.. They tell they're own story to the reader.
As for OOTWs, I pictured like a whole relationship playing out, an accident leading to him in the hospital.. Just that whole up and down soap-opera type scenario. Ending with either, the two together or at least making peace with where they are.. Becoming Out of the woods, eventually..

[youneverknow]

I can picture it exactly as you describe it Jeff. Where true love finally came together in the end, as a sequel to "Back to December" (which I think this song is a sequel to).

For me, personally, my life played out more like the video Taylor made. The romance where you could finish his sentence from the day you met him. Where your stomach hurt in the middle of the day when something went wrong for him at work (which you found out about much later). So bright and shiny. So in tune. But always, every time you blinked, crosswinds that left you perpetually in the wrong.

It's a choice not to live perpetually in the woods. I get why Taylor made that choice. Finding yourself is truly somehow everything. You can't really love another person the way you need to for the long term until you find yourself. People always told me that when I was in my 20's. It took me a long time to understand it.

I think it may be Taylor's best yet...and I don't know how that's possible when she's done so many great songs but I think it might be.

[youneverknow]

Thatababy

[jeff2k6]

I totally agree with everything you said, Jo!
I think as great as it is to be able to experience and give love to another person, the most important person (and hardest to learn how to love) is ourselves. However, I think if you can somehow master that skill, you'll be next to impossible to stop. I know, I still struggle with it myself, but I'm slowly really trying to learn how to care for myself with the same intensity that I love others. Definitely a long process, but totally worth it.

[youneverknow]

I just absolutely adore you Jeff.

[jeff2k6]

How's your week going so far, Jo?

[youneverknow]

Hiya Jeff,

It's been a good week.

Every other Friday it's our churches day to staff the food bank for our half of the county. Last Friday was our day and it was really busy.  We had a 59 full orders and whole lot of supplemental orders.   You can get a supplemental order once a week and a full order 5 times a year.   The full orders end up being a Walmart sized grocery cart full of food and household needs.   People are always so nice.   We were out of dog food this week though and I have a real soft spot for dogs.  I keep thinking about the one who got left out.  Maybe I can find some dog food coupons in this Sunday's paper and restock. Cross your fingers for me.

Saturday we always eat lunch out with our son.   This week we went to Willie's Icehouse.  I usually get the shrimp po' boy but I decided to try the taco salad.  It was yummy too.

Sunday we had church and then the annual meeting after.  It was an annual budget and the vote for the call to service for our Pastor.  In our church (Presbyterian), we are ruled from the bottom up rather than the top down.   Each year the church votes if they want to keep the Pastor for another year.  Everybody loves ours and he's been there for years and he'll be staying.  I keep thinking that it must be really stressful each time that rolls around to have a public vote on whether you get to keep your job for another year. 

Monday morning I had Bible study with the ladies. It's just once a month and it's mostly the older retired ladies since it's on a week day.  I can't begin to tell you how sweet these ladies are Jeff.  Some of them are in their 90's and they may move slow but they've been moms and grandmoms and great grandmoms and there's just a sweet calmness around them.  They can sure bake cookies.  We had a cookie sale last month and raised $1,300 from it.  

There's also a preschool at our church and they try and use the money to help there when needed, with the teen youth group or places in the budget where things are in need.  It was a whole lot of cookies. 

Next month the ladies are hosting a Valentine's day breakfast for the teachers at the preschool, plus the aides and us.   It's about 25 people total.   I'm wimping out by making the bacon. 

Then allergy shots, errands, shopping. 

Tuesday was working at home and talking on the phone with my sister.   Today is her birthday.  

Today I did paperwork and talked to my mom on the phone.   She was in a happy mood.  

What have you been up too?  Listening to Taylor I'm guessing.  

Jolene