AuburnChick's Adventures

Hello friends! It’s Wednesday, so you know what that means.

I appreciate the thoughtful questions that Joyce prepared for this week given tomorrow’s somber date.

Thank you for visiting. I’m looking forward to reading your answers as well.

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

Things that give me energy:

• Fridays during Fall because football season, y’all 
• Saturday home football games cheering on my beloved Tigers – War Eagle! 🧡 💙
• Driving to the airport – headed towards a vacation spot or to see my  girl’s crew and my beautiful grand babies
• Leaving early on a Friday to drive north to visit my son’s crew and my sweet E girl
• An office full of visitors when we haven’t been told, ahead of time, that a university function included a visit to our office (this happened last year and kicked my behind into gear to figure out how three advisors were going to have an individual session with each person)
• A good night’s sleep – a rare thing since I turned 50 and especially since injuring my shoulders last September

What takes away my energy:

• Math problems
• Family drama
• Constant physical pain
• Too much sensory stimulation (I cannot stand going shopping for this reason)
• Conversations that don’t have a point
• Small talk (I’d rather have a long conversation that goes deeper into a topic)

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

I follow several influencers on Instagram, so if I see something I like, I will order it. I don’t make it a point to go out shopping. I despise it. I’d rather try something on in the comfort of my own home. 

I always wear jewelry – my wedding rings, a ring on my right hand, earrings, a necklace, and bracelets. I even wear an anklet if it’s going to be seen. 

3. What’s something free that you feel grateful for? 

I will never stop being grateful for salvation from my sins – free for me but which came at the ultimate cost to Jesus. 

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner…which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What’s your go-to comfort food? 

I prefer dinner the most. I’m not a big breakfast eater and would quite honestly skip it if I was retired and not getting up so early.

There’s something about ending the day with a little dinner and either a good book or something on a streaming service. 

Mexican food is my comfort food. Give me a bowl of chips and salsa, along with a bean burrito, and I’m a happy lady. 

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges? 

Oh my heart. This anniversary breaks me every year. I’ll never forget where I was when I learned about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center – the all encompassing sadness that flooded my body – the shock that continued to increase throughout the morning as the events unfolded. 

I was a stay at home mama at the time and was on my way to a hair appointment. I cried in my car in the parking lot as I imagined what every single loved one was experiencing at the sudden and unimaginable loss. I’d lost my dad very unexpectedly that April and was still grieving very heavily. 

I mark this tragic day by remembering, through tears, that horrible day and the ones that followed. 

A few years ago, when I was still teaching, I presented a lesson about September 11th to my students, and I couldn’t get through it without breaking down. It’s a sadness that will never go away completely. 

I think it’s natural to ask, “Why?” What’s the purpose in the hard when it touches my life? 

Looking back at historical events helps me see that in the moment, something can look quite bleak, but when all is said and done, good always comes from the event. God uses every single thing to bring us closer to Him and, ultimately, to bring glory to Him. 

6. My Random Thought 

Speaking of hard stuff, our little corner of the world was rocked Saturday when a retired professor was killed while walking her dog at a local park. This happened in broad daylight. Here’s the link for an article about what happened.

I am so sad for her family, friends, colleagues, and students. I didn’t know her personally, but the tributes others have written speak volumes about the impact she had. 

I’m not gonna lie. I’m also mad. Why should I be afraid to go on a walk or even to a store? I remember years ago, when I taught school in Florida, and I’d go for runs in the wee hours of the morning before the sun was even thinking of making an appearance. I usually felt safe except for one morning when I noticed a car slowly following me. I made like I lived at one of the houses before booking it home when the car disappeared. 

I often pray for Jesus to return to take His children home where every tear is dried, every heartbreak is mended, and where evil no longer exists. 

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