fake jake

BACKGROUND: This is my friend Jake. I met Jake last year in my hometown of Pineville, LA. Our grandparents are friends and our parents grew up together. He moved up to Nashville at the beginning of year and lived with my parents for a bit. Jake has a way important job managing bands and is SO important that he has two cell phones. One for work, and for his personal life.

THE STORY: Last Friday I was chillin at my A.P.T. watching some Gilmore Girls (I'm about to start season 6...I haven't watched anything else but GG since Thanksgiving!). I get this text message from a phone number not saved in my phone.

Text: Hey, it's Jake. What are you up to?

I instantly assume its my Jake and he's texting me from my work phone.

Response: just chillin at my apt

His response: You didn't have to work today?

My response: duh, half day Fridays. what are you up to?

Half day Fridays are the greatest thing about working for the Lord, by the way

His response: just waiting for some doors to be installed

My response: Doors? well just call me later.

His response: Ok

Well later came by and I didn't hear from Jake so I texted him (I used the number for Jake in my phone) and asked...
My text: Did you get the doors?

Jake: Doors?

My text: yeah, the ones you were talking about earlier

Well a bit later, my phone rings and its the number from the first set of text.
Emily: Hey!
fake Jake: Hey, this is Jake.

IT'S NOT MY JAKE! It's Jake, the new guy that came to my community group the Wednesday before. I try not to laugh. I try to make small talk but in my head I'm thinking, "Why is he texting me in the middle of the day?" and then I think, "Crap! I told him to call me later...that's all he was doing!" Needless to say I end up telling him I thought he was another Jake and apologized. Its a very uneasy feeling to hear a different voice than the one you are expecting.

***if you happened to grow up at FBC I can fill you in on part 2 of the story!

that's it?

a few days ago I was feeling a bit under the weather. I had a big weekend last weekend so I wanted to make sure I would be OK to get everything done I needed to get done. So I went to the walk-in clinic in cool springs I've been going to for the past 4 years.

The nice male nurse took me back to my room and asked me what was wrong. I began to run through your basic "common cold" symptoms....running nose, drainage, soar throat, etc. He asked me if I smoked and I and said, "No."

He left and the nice doctor came in. He asked me what was wrong (which by the way...I always feel like its a test. I just told the nurse and he wrote it down for you to read. And he asks you all this follow up questions...like if you don't answer those right then you aren't really sick...I get so nervous!). I told him the same symptoms and like the nurse he asks, "Are you a smoker?" "No." I replied. He went on to check my throat and nose and breathing and such. Tells me he is going to prescribe me something for the drainage and his final words were, "You're a 25 non-smoker...you should be fine."

That was it. That was my diagnosis. Apparently not smoking is the cure all non-habit!

the sounds of christmas

Last night I heard some amazing music (one of the many reasons why I so enjoy the Christmas season!). Forest Hills Baptist Church had a piano concert. They had 5 grand pianos on stage that were all played at the same time. They had 10 pianist that would rotate out on various songs. There was darn good piano playing going on in that sanctuary. I've always loved the piano and when I hear pieces played as well as they were last night, I'm continually entertained, inspired, and amazed. I knew a few of the pianist and some of the people who arranged the songs so it was extra neat. ...thanks to my friends who came along...I think it was a great night for all!

I also heard LOTS of conversation this weekend. Saturday night I had a Christmas party at my parent's house. It was fantastic! When I began planning and putting the invitation list together I started to stress a little bit as the numbers kept getting bigger and bigger, but it dawned on me...this is what Christmas is about..."families and friends together..." (if I may steal a line from a very beloved FBC Christmas tradition). Though I baked for two days straight and was still getting last minute things out on the table as the first few guests arrived I felt nothing but joy...holiday cheer...friends and family were all there together. It was nice...and fun.

If you've read my blog before you've probably picked up on my love for holidays. Besides the fact that most give me a reason to decorate and host parties I think I love them because they bring people together. Christmas is a time of togetherness, that's why I like it. There is a song in The Muppet's Christmas Carol where the ghost of Christmas present is equating the feeling of love to the spirit of Christmas. One line says, "It is the season of the Spirit. The message if we hear it, is make it last all year." We get so many phone calls about people wanting help during Christmas at the children's home. Our kids our truly blessed this time of year. We always tend to say, "If we only got this many people wanting to help the rest of the year." My prayer for myself this Christmas is to enjoy this season of togetherness, the season of family and friends, this season of joy and hope, this season of celebrating Jesus, and to make it last all year. Maybe each of you will do the same.

Merry Christmas!