Exposition Part 5 (the players part 2)

My Mama L's...

Lee Ann & Linda

Enter Lee Ann.

Enter Linda. (well, technically she already entered in Part 1)

Apparently, if you are fabulous and associated with CHM, your name might start with an 'L.' When I arrived, I became the 5th of 5 L's who work at CHM. It's me, Linda, Leslie, Lauren and Lee Ann. We are all fabulous, beautiful women of God - you should all be so lucky to know us ;)

Like I said, I met Linda two and a half years ago at the St. Andrew's womens retreat. And like I said, I instantly fell in love with her. Seriously, like...as soon as I met her, I wanted to snuggle with her. Little did I know that snuggling would be mine and Linda's destiny...

Linda has a little sign in her office that says, 'it's a rare person who can take care of hearts while also taking care of business.' This is so true and so very true to Linda's character. Linda is crazy gifted in this area. I know that I can count on Linda to sit down and cry with me if that's what I need and I also know that I can count on Linda to whip my you-know-what into shape if that's what I need. Linda has perfected how to be a friend when she needs to be a friend and the boss when she needs to be the boss - and she also knows how to be a friend and a boss at the same time. She's a genius. She knows how to speak truth and love right into a situation at the exact moment it needs to be spoken. Since I've come on staff, Linda and I have become fast friends...and the closer we get in our friendship, the more I respect her as my boss. Often times, this is not the case...people get too close and their working relationship suffers...but I believe so much in CHM and I believe so much in what God has called Linda to that our friendship and work relationship do not hinder but rather spur the other on towards greater things. If you can't tell, I just love Linda to death. I can't imagine life in Jacksonville without her. Actually, I can't imagine life anywhere without her.



'TJ's great...better than a chocolate cake'



I cannot talk about Linda without talking about TJ.
TJ is her little yorkie and might be the funniest little guy I've ever known. First of all, he eats a lot of carrots. Second, he has the demeanor of a cat more than a dog...as in, he really could care less about you unless you are feeding him or rubbing his belly. But in the midst of his aloofness and not caring about your presence, you can't help but fall in love with the guy. And then the worst happens...you find yourself talking like an idiot and doing everything in your power to get him to like you/pay attention to you.

Lee Ann is scary. Not in a 'oooh she looks mean' kind of way...but in a when she walks into a room, she commands attention kind of way. She just looks like the type of person who might have something important to lay on the table. Now, I realize that this could be a dangerous thing to say because anybody could take one look at her and say 'well, duh' (cuz she's smokin' hot) but that's not it. It's He that is in her that makes her so dang intimidating. Lee Ann is one of those people that looks at you and you wince because you know that she is looking into your soul and reading everything that is going on. And after you tinkle in your pants a little bit you realize that she is still looking into your soul and figuring out the best way to tell you exactly what is in God's heart for you. It's an overwhelming mixture of love and intense discernment that will flat out knock you over if you're not prepared for it. Coming into contact with the annointing that is in and around Lee Ann is not for the faint of heart. I mean, don't show up at Lee Ann's house if you don't want to be healed. =)

What's so cool about Lee Ann, though, is that right up there with all that crazy gifting is just a great girl who loves to have fun. When I want some good 'ole fashioned girl time, Lee Ann is at the top of my list. And when she's not flying all over the country watching her daughter ride pretty horses, or cheering on her son's soccer team, or making sure CHM continues to go in the direction God wants it to go (she's a slightly busy woman) she manages to make time for me - just to hang out and talk about...well, whatever...anything and everything. She's just all around a great person to have in my life. She's been a mom, a sister, a friend, a mentor...all in a short period of time. I think we have a beautiful future ahead of us...



River



Lee Ann also has a dog who acts like a cat. I can't remember what kind of dog he is but he's really cute. He's more like a cat in that he walks along the back of the couch and nestles down on a cushion...and it is HIS spot. As in, the first time I went over, I sat in his spot and Lee Ann told me to move over because that was River's spot and he would get mad at me if I sat there. River and I became fast friends and now my spot on the couch is right next to his...

So...those are my Mama L's...I'm afraid my character analysis was only a sneak peak and didn't actually do them much justice. There aren't words in the English language elegant enough to describe perfectly how wonderful these ladies are or what they mean to me. But hopefully you get the idea...