Busy

Everything about the weekend has been different from the norm.

My plan last night was to attend a banquet for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. There was a pro-life speaker that is supposedly really engaging and who gives some "tips" on how to talk to women considering abortion. Also, there were women who shared their stories and how the CPC has helped them.

My plan was just that. It never happened.

I mapquested directions, left in time to get to the church where it was being held. The church was in McLean, VA and quite a ways from DC. I made it to the church (i know tht some of you are surprised I overcame my directionally challenged tendencies). It was the biggest church I have ever seen in my life. It's called McLean Bible Church and it really is ENORMOUS. I'd heard people talk about it, but didn't think it could be that much bigger than Calvary, but it was SO much bigger. I arrived there ten minutes late. I walked in the church and had no idea where the dinner was being held... information that would have been nice to have. I walked around the church for 25 minutes. A few people pointed out some rooms where the banquet could have been, but I never found it. Televisions were mounted on the walls and displayed room numbers and events occuring that day. The banquet was not listed.

Grr... how could no one know about it and there be no information listed??

I was frustrated and upset. Being a little bit late is one thing, but I was thirty five minutes tardy and was still looking for the room.

Angry and too frustrated to keep looking, I left and walked to the car.

"Did you find it?" asked a woman, whom I'd approached earlier about the banquet. I was to the point of crying. I hate when I get that way.

I explained that I had looked everywhere. The TVs were unhelpful. I was just going to leave... I was already too late. I showed her my invitation.

"You are McLean church, right?" Might as well ask. I pointed to the invitation.

"Yeah, but we're McLean Bible," she paused and gave me an 'I'm sorry look'... "not McLean Presbyterian."

Awesome. Wrong church.

She had no idea where the other church was. Defeated and a little embarrassed, I left.

THEN I got lost on my way back into DC. ::sigh:: By the time I made it home, I was just a bitter, upset woman.

My night got better though. I walked into the house and was met by a small party. Drew had some people over, half of whom I know and hang with and a couple of new folks. We hung at the house a bit and then went to sing karaoke at a Japanese-style karaoke bar. Basically, you rent your own private room and sing karaoke in it. The walls and doors are really thick so you can't hear any of the other rooms next to your own. It was really fun and I'd never done anything like it before.

We stayed for a couple hours and came home.

Today we met someone who is interested in living in our (now available) room. Christian has decided he wants to move somewhere closer to his work and social circle, so he is moving as soon as we find someone else. Arrg. So, this week we've been searching for a new housemate again.

This evening I went to a ceremony for the National Center for Leadership. Rich's wife is one of the directors there and he asked me if I'd be interested in their mentoring program. Basically, the have a class of about 12 people (fellows) who meet once a week and study leadership skills. It's a Christian organization and teaches scriptural applications alongside other materials on being an effective leader. There are five retreats and the class is pretty intense. Along with the training, a fellow is paired with a mentor who is in his field of interest and in the DC area. I got the impression that most people met with their mentor once a week or every other week. It's a nine month program that begins in September. Tonight was their graduation and banquet. Rich invited me to it so I could get a better idea of the program and see if I'm interested in being a fellow.

I am. I'll probably apply.

Congratulations! You made it to the end... thanks for hanging in there. It's been a busy weekend and it's not even over yet! Thankfully, tomorrow is looking a little slower.