Purposeful

I am SO not a fan of those emails that middle-aged moms send that usually go like this
---------
To: Person
From: Mom
Subject: Fw: Fw: Fw: Fw: national best friends forever day

Message:

You're my angel with no wings!
If I had to pick 3 things in this life to never give up, it would be love, chocolate and you!
Sometimes life gets you down, but you bring me up
Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend!

Send this message to 10 people in 10 seconds and you will get a big blessing from God! Send it back to me and you will have good luck and ice cream and lots of money.
And if you don't...the devil will eat your soul!!!!!!!
---------
Just kidding...but seriously its ridiculous. Recently I received a truly inspiring email. So much so, that i didn't foward it to anyone, I just took a minute to soak it in and made a committment to try to live it out. There is a girl I work with who is so sincere in her love for Jesus. She's been a Christian forever, but she has such a zeal...the way newly saved people do. I envy it at times. Anyway she sent me a thought she had about being a purposeful witness. She (and a lot of us) have become passivists in thinking that our Christian T-shirts, P & W music in the car or cross around our neck is enough. But personally I think I owe the true friend who laid his life down :) more than that. Its a good thing He didn't casually stroll by Jerusalem hoping someone would go, "yeah he looks like the messiah-type". He made a point to talk to people one on one. He looked them in the eye. He took every opportunity to share an undeniable truth with every person. He is Christ and He loves them. That is what I want to do. I want to look for people that I can pray with or share a story of my faith with. Not bash them with a bible, but overwhelm them with the presence of the Holy Spirit in me. Not by accident, but on purpose.

Unattached...currently...surprising

So, I have incurred a feeling for the first time in awhile...I feel single. And I'm ok with it. For those of you who have always had a boyfriend or its been awhile since you've had to date, there are different ways to feel single. let me explain.

Happily Single- Content with who you are and where you're at in life. Not looking, but always open to whatever life brings

Restlessly Single- You seem happy, but secretly every time you walk into a store or restaurant you picture having a random conversation with the check out guy very much like the 1-word How to Lose a Guy convo.

"Hi"

"Hi"

"Andie Anderson"

"Benjamin Berry"

"Cute"

"Thank You"

"I meant your name"

" (laughs) Thank you two times"

Uncomfortably Single-you avoid social situations where couples will be gatehring because it makes you feellike a leper on the outskirts of the conversations about "his favorite tv show" "their last trip to the grocery store" And God forbid if they've had their first kid "Wanna see a picture of Tommy's poop?" NOOOOOO.

Desperately Single-you take EVERY chance to talk to a guy. Especially the weird ones who in most cases you would completely ignore or deem as "mediocre" or "not your type"

Miserably Single-you don't date...don't try...don't want to be set up or even think about it. You sit at home watching chick flicks and eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking something that will help you daydream about the celebrity of your choice knocking on your door in Chipley...like he would ever find it.

(My personal choice at the moment) Derek Hough. One of the professional Ballroom dancers from Season 5 Dancing W/the Stars. Its random, and I'm not huge on blondes, but he just gets me!

lol as I'm sure you've gathered, I've been in all of these positions and I must say it feels nice to be happy. :) I've always had best guy friends and so I've never felt like I was missing anything when I wasn't dating, but right now its Lauren, Steph and Kristen...and I'm ok! Sometimes you're surprised by your own strength, but you never see it until you're pushed there. I'm glad I got pushed. Oh! I gotta go...Derek just knocked on the door! :)

And All that jazz...

I would like to discuss 2 people who have made my life! Not just my day or a month or my year but they have given me the opportunity to make some unforgettable memories.

First, Ian Devaney....

after fighting over seas for over a year, when he could be thinking about anything and anyone else, he sends me an email with a confirmation for 2 tickets to see Wicked...as in one of the most awesome musicals ever. We are going in March!!! I can't wait

Second, Stephanie Anne Nicole Farrell Stokes The 9th :)...

Just kidding...that could've been us as babies :) You may click on the link of her page to see what she looks like now (sorry Steph I didn't have a pic of you by yourself lol). Anyway, she bought me tickets to see Chicago in April!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just can't tell you how much it means to me to have friends who like and appreciate musical theatre the way I do. Not everyone does and to each his own, but I am SO thankful that each of you thought of me! :)

UPDATE!!

Ok so I am sorry that this has taken me so long. Life has been extremely busy lately. Since only have a computer at work, I can only update my blog here. Unfortunately, I have been working a lot lately, just not at my office.

To fill you all in. I am officially the coordinator of Teens Above the Influence. We are the Department of Health's Abstinence Education Project that covers Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun and Liberty Counties. Whew! So I am not only teaching 5-day curriculum in 6th and 8th grade, but making 1 time presentations in 7th and 10th grade, purchasing supplies and incentives for our program, going to disease updates so that we stay medically accurate, and program trainings so I know how to do all of the things I've just described. It is hectic and busy and stressful at times, but I LOVE IT!

This past Friday, several of our students were invited to participate in the World AIDS day event at the Capitol in Tallahassee. They performed a skit that I wrote called "I am the Voice". It represents all of those who have tested positive for HIV or know someone who has. I was not able to attend because I was in Tampa w/my fam, but I do have pictures of my students.

I am so blessed to work with the youth that I do. They are powerful and passionate about helping people choose to live life...to not get caught up in things that leave you feeling empty. They inspire me and keep me in check. Can I just say that it is hard to be 22 and abstinent :) But if they can do it, so can I.

Your thoughts?

Dear Blog Reader...
What makes this haircut acceptable? For people who live in 2007? Who have jobs? And some of them have all their teeth? Thats all I really care to say. Please comment. :)

Better than Gonorrhea

Friday night went MUCH better than I expected. The kids were well behaved and we had SO much fun. The parents were pleased and nothing was spilled on the floor :) My favorite part of the night is recorded below. The conversation is between 3 year old Sydney and myself. She is like a Welch's grape juice commercial kid but with a little more twang...SO CUTE!


"Ms. Tiffane, my stomach hurts."

"Well come here Sydney, tell me whats wrong."

"I have to go to the bathroom."

"OK. Do you remember where it is, or do you want me to go with you?"

"Come with me."

The two of us migrate to the bathroom where she proceeds to sit down. I stand by the sink to give her some partial privacy, until her two brothers (ages 7 & 11) come in and sit on the edge of the tub while reciting the movie we just watched. The 3 year old speaks...

"Ms. Tiffane I have diarrhea"

"Oh, ok. Well do you need me to help you wipe?"

"Yeah. I don't wanna get the diarrhea on my hand."

As I help her, she is constantly turning around on the seat to look in the toilet. She finally gets a good look and says

"Yep! Its Diarrhea!"

Between Pizza, Monopoly, (of course) High School Musical, and a little Diarrhea. It was a GREAT night!

P.S. I "teach" kids for the record....turds :) I'll fix my spelling.

Lets Play "How many bills does Tiffane have"

So tonight I have to babysit 3 children...this should not strike fear into a girl who is the oldest of four children, who's mother took care of at least one extra child most of her adolescent life, and who teaches kids on a daily basis. But honestly, its been awhile since I have been soley responsible for someone else's kids.

Did I mention they are my pastor's children? :)

And its not disciplinary issues that I'm worried about. I just think my house is very boring for the average 3, 7 and 11-year old. I don't have any toys or video games. I have uno...but sometimes I don't even want to play that. So I'll just have to pray for the best!

I am leaving work early to disinfect my house with lysol, bake some cookies and cue up High School Musical. If they leave healthy and happy and their faces look 2% better than the ones on the picture, my job is done.

Look foward to an update on Monday!!!!!