Sarah-isms

When you say (or write) as many words as I do, you're bound to have a few favorite phrases. Some phrases that are credited to me I'm not very proud of them being mine.

For instance, Mark Phillips says he thinks of me when he feels called to reply to a situation with:

"That is SO not my problem."
Yep, that was me -- not one of my finer empathetic moments, obviously. You have to understand, though, that Mark and I were on a committee that was likened to the Bataan Death March (that was NOT me) and Mark saw more than a few of my not-so-finer moments. I don't remember what I was referring to at that moment, but my underlying sentiment was, "Just please let this project END!!"

"Bless 'em!"
This one I will claim because it can mean any one of a number of things, depending on my tone and body language. With an eye roll and exasperated sigh, it's generally, "If the person we are discussing actually has thought processes, I am not following them." With tears in my eyes and a hand clenched to my chest, it means, literally, "BLESS THEM, LORD!! How much heartache and agony is one person supposed to take!" With a laugh and headshake, it means, "I love those people so much and am glad God put them in my life!"

Last night I had the opportunity to chat with the wife of one of Troy's cousins. She and I get to visit about every 3-5 years, but we enjoy each other's company SO much. I was relaying a story to her that included a daddy not watching a kid very carefully, so I said, "You know, sometimes the dads don't pay very close attention." Very knowingly she agreed by only saying, "Bless 'em." We are truly kindred spirits.

I may yet poll the kids to ask them what they think I say most frequently, but tonight, Riley used something that is 100% mine (oh, I'm ducking in shame to admit this world-wide):

ASHLEY!! Use your common sense filter!!!
Now, Ashley's name isn't always the one SHOUTED at the beginning of that phrase (I generally try not to shout at all) but it's frequently a safe bet. She can be blonder than God made her. Bless 'er! :-) But anyone who said there are no stupid questions has never spent more than 4 hours in a car with an 8 year old and a 10 year old. I beg to differ.

A couple I have thought of or that have been pointed out to me today -- both exclamations of frustration, usually:

Good googly-moogly!
Jee-hosaphat!

I'm sure there are a few more phrases out there floating around that people attribute to me. Hopefully, using much grace. Obviously, 1 Peter 4:11 is a moment-by-moment challenge for me:

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.