Expiration Dates.

When I was in Africa, my sister and I decided one day we were going to organize the food pantry at the house we were staying in. The house, also known as "the Triplex", is where most visiting teams stay. With teams coming in and out, it was in need of some organization to say the least. When my sister and I told the missionary what we were going to be doing, she said, "okay, but I have just one request. Don't throw anything out because of expiration dates. You know, us missionaries don't really go by those, and the majority of the time they have put enough preservatives in there to last a lifetime."

And she was right. Most of the canned food we came across had expired. I think some of the expiration dates were almost 2 years old!

Yesterday I put some jelly on my english muffin. As I was closing the lid, I noticed the expiration date was 6.14.08. I still ate it.

Expiration dates used to be a rule in my life. Even if I wanted to eat something one or two days before the expiration date, I was always a little nervous about it. I would look at it, smell it, taste a little bit of it, and still eat it with caution. (Now, don't get me wrong, some expiration dates need to be followed closely...dairy products in particular.)

I am currently reading The Shack. While I'm not sure it's quite what I thought it was going to be and is necessarily worth all the hype and popularity it has received, it is a story of a man whose ideas about life are drastically changed. The truth of his situation is brought to light, and he has the choice to change or remain the same.

And isn't that our choice for almost every aspect of our life? To change or to remain the same. Change is hard. It requires much. It asks much. But whether it is a small thing like how you view expiration dates or something big like your view of God, everyone reaches a point where they have to believe it's worth it because the cost is too great to remain the same.


"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud became greater than the risk it took to blossom." -anonymous

The Shock Factor.

Raise your hand if you have ever made a decision based on how much people would be shocked by what you did. Go ahead, you can admit it because I am about to give a few examples from my own life. I even have a friend who I'm pretty sure The Shock Factor is the only factor she considers when making 85% of the decisions she does in her life.

Last Sunday, The Shock Factor was 76% of the reason why I jumped off a 30 foot cliff. The other 20% because I wanted to do it, while the other 4% was 2% insanity and 2% because I thought it was kind of bad-a. And you want to know what that 100% total got me? A 100% bruised tailbone.

I normally stop once or twice a week at Tim Hortons on my way to work. Every time I get up to the window, and I don't know how they do it, they always have my exact change ready! Like how do they know what I'm going to give them? If I hand them my credit card, they are ready for that. If I hand them 2 dollars, they already have the quarter in their hand. So recently I've been trying something different...I've been trying my best to shock them. You know, catch them off guard. Like if my total is $2.67, I give them 5 dollars...and then 2 pennies. Ha! Take that. You weren't ready for it, were ya?

I like to give people a run for their money. Maybe it's because I'm the youngest of 5 children that when I'm told to do something, everything in me wants to do the opposite. I really don't know what it is, but I would be lying if I said The Shock Factor didn't play a small role in my decision-making process.


I know most normal people probably don't like to mess with their friendly Tim Hortons employees, but what is something you have done in your life simply for The Shock Factor?

The First of the Month.

Only 7 posts in the month of July? Really? I thought I was doing better than that. I apologize for my lack of posts, but as I see it, I'm still many posts ahead of my friends who actually read this blog. Ahem...all of you who never blog. Yeah, you heard me.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid it is not going to get any better. I leave tomorrow for vacation (I know, right?!) to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri with my best friend Bee. I will be gone until the 10th, then attending a staff retreat the 11th and 12th. My vacation will consist of: laying out, taking boat rides, reading, sleeping, watching the entire 1st season of Kath and Kim, and eating. Possibly riding the jet skis, depending on how my back feels. (I'm such an old woman.) You might not recognize me when I return because I plan to change nationalities while I am gone.

I will leave you with the following:
1. Happy August! Make it the best month of your summer.
2. I am totally digging the new(ish) Mat Kearney "City of Black and White" - LOVE it!
3. Possibly one of my favorite "missed connections" post on craigslist today:
"I do love you M, and I always will. You can take that to the bank, they wont have enough money to cover my feelings fo you. I know this is what you want in your life, but I just had to let you know how I always felt and still do, you had me at hello the first day, and every day after that. Good luck in your life, I will miss you so much, and I really do love you with all my heart and sole........"
4. I was approached today by another mom, wanting to set me up with her son. I'm not even kidding about this. Positive: he lives in the States. Negative: he's 31. and still single.

5. I'm goin' on vaca. jealous?

Must Love Dogs.

"Welcome to the stage in your life when other people care more about your love life than you do." - my older sister Bethany, married at age 26

Recently, I have uncovered plots of several, well-meaning friends. It's true. I have discovered at least 5 plots- in which 3 of the men do not currently live in the States interestingly enough. I will spare the details because really, these are well-meaning friends and I don't want to embarrass them all, but I am hoping it is because they love me and not because I scream desperate. However, this one is my favorite, so I will share:

My friend Donald, who has been dating my best friend Libbie for the past 5 years, is from the Ivory Coast. His parents just recently moved to Toledo back in January. His mom doesn't speak much English, and so they came to visit me at the school. I tested her speaking and writing skills, helped her sign up for classes, etc. but then it turned out transportation would be an issue so she wasn't able to attend. However, she never forgot that day and every time she sees me she just smiles and hugs me and kisses me and tells Donald all the time how much she loves me. So Thursday night, Libbie tells me that Donald's mom wants to hook me up with her cousin. I laugh and think she's joking, but she's not. Then on Friday night, I see Donald's mom at his birthday party. Her English has improved a little since January, and this is what she tells me: "Ahh, Abby! My brother marry you. Yes, it's true! I love you, and my brother marry you. It is good thing, yes! He is a good drawer. I give Libbie picture for you." I just laughed my way through the awkwardness of this conversation and just focused on the fact that she is doing this because she loves me and not because she is trying to ruin my life.

So this cousin/brother? Well, I guess in Africa everyone is everyone's "cousin" so I don't really know how directly related he is yet. However, he does still live in Africa, is an art teacher, and is sending Donald's mom a picture of himself to give to me. And he's 27.


Ay yi yi. I'm not ready to start filling out personal ads yet, so I don't think I'm ready to start courting art teachers from Africa either!

A Word of Advice.

Dear Creepy Guy at Subway,

Oh hello! I just wanted to let you know that, rest assured, your desire for eye contact did not go unnoticed. In fact, I saw your eyes zero in on me through the glass even before I opened the door. As much as I enjoy awkwardly long gazes, yours reached a new length for me. You kept your eyes on me from the moment I walked up to the door, alllll the way through my ordering process, and then followed me out. It was impressive, really. And I only can imagine it was equally as awkward for the woman you were sitting with. For her sake, I really hope she was a co-worker and not your girlfriend, fiance, or wife. So really, thanks for the awkwardly long gaze and attention to my every move, but next time if you really want to make an impression...I think saying hi will suffice.

Muchas Gracias,
Abby Jane