OK, I just have a sec but I’m so amused by something that I have to tell you about it. I am at a coffee shop close to Melissa’s apartment. The movers packed her stuff yesterday and are putting it in the truck as we speak. I’d been perched on her back porch but they needed to move that furniture, too. Besides, it’s cold here today and my hands were freezing. All that to say, I had to find a place close by and, as God would have it, it has wireless internet. The place was packed when I came in. Really cute decor with a half a dozen small round tables surrounded by four wing back chairs. By the time I ordered my coffee, several people departed and I threw my stuff in a chair as fast as I could. In a few minutes, two men – I think in late thirties – couldn’t find a place to sit so they asked if they could sit at my table. I told them to be my guest. They’d not distract me at all.
I totally lied.
Watching those two men try to do coffee was the most awkward thing I’ve ever seen. They couldn’t have been business associates or, goodness knows, they’d have talked business. And I would’ve been relieved. Instead, for the life of them, they could not think of one single thing to say. And, no, they weren’t trying to be quiet for my sake. The whole establishment is abuzz with conversation. One of them tapped on the top of his cup. The other made a few attempts at sentences starting with, “SO…” It was pitiful. Worse than pitiful. It was painful. I cannot tell you how tempted I was to help them. They needed rescuing in the worst way and I had at least five topics for conversation on the tip of my tongue: weddings, up-dos, grandboys who have learned to talk in full sentences, women’s Bible study, and baby girls moving to Atlanta with new husbands. But somehow I got the feeling they didn’t want my help. I tried not to look at them. It would have been too humiliating for them. So there I sat, pecking away on my computer, acting like I had no idea that they were having the world’s most awkward cup of coffee. Anyway, I don’t even think they were real coffee drinkers. Out of the corner of my discerning eye, I saw no pause for reflection after a single sip. Dead giveaway that they were posers. That was their first problem.
And here I am, communicating with a whole herd of women I’ve never even met with names that, five years ago, would’ve sounded like cartoon characters and about all manner of personal thing happening in my family’s life.
Yep. I love being a woman.
PS. I like to have died (that’s how my people always talked. I really do have some education. I just don’t sound like I do) over Mommy Dot Com sharing that she’d been nominated as “customer of the week” at her neighborhood Starbucks and nearly started crying when they announced someone else as the winner. Laughing my danged head off. You are customer of the week to all your siestas.
AMEN, SIESTA.
And that’s all I have to say about that… (ironically enough)
Oh the restraint you exhibited in not helping that poor, pitiful male duo!
Funny thing is…I’m sure after mumbling “see ya” in the parking lot, those two men have memories of one great, chatty time together. (And may even mention to one another later “that absorbed, quiet woman at our table…must be shy.”)
So true about men and conversation!! For the last 5 years,seven of my closest friends meet every Monday night at a local Starbucks, rain or shine, and we share the previous weeks blessings/disasters!!! Many times we find ourselves all talking, loudly I might add, at once in excitement and have to stop all conversation and go around the circle one by one so we all can hear!!! I have witnessed many a man looking at us in amazement or maybe in dispair, shaking their head as they depart to their car!!!
Gotta love it!
Many prayers to you and your family. Thanks for sharing.
So true about men and conversation!! For the last 5 years,seven of my closest friends meet every Monday night at a local Starbucks, rain or shine, and we share the previous weeks blessings/disasters!!! Many times we find ourselves all talking, loudly I might add, at once in excitement and have to stop all conversation and go around the circle one by one so we all can hear!!! I have witnessed many a man looking at us in amazement or maybe in dispair, shaking their head as they depart to their car!!!
Gotta love it!
Many prayers to you and your family. Thanks for sharing.
This makes me just chuckle on and on. What were they thinking? Maybe they should have met for a burger or fries where there was a TV to help them through the awkward silences. I know I tend to babble on and on about not much (my dearest Brian says it is one of my superpowers. I would rather have the ability to fly…)but men sometimes amaze me at their silence. If we visit friends and the men and women pair off and separate, I will always come back knowing SO MUCH more than Brian. The thing is, he wants to know and is genuinely interested in the topics we discuss on the way home, but they just don’t ask. I wonder why…
KEEP BELIEVING
Hi Siestas, I too feel like I know all of you though I dont post that often. I am really burdened today and I know this is a safe place to share my heart so thank you for giving me the chance today . I just need to let some of this loose because I feel like I am just going to bust if I keep it all in. I work for a missions organization, Aim adventures.org. One of the things i do everyday is read the blogs from everyone out on the field, well some of these stories will just grab your heart and totally squeeze it until it bleeds. Before I came to Aim I didnt know anything about mission trips, I had never even been on one. I thought all of that “stuff” you see about those starving children in AFrica was purely a marketing ploy to line the pockets of the “evangelist” hawking them like a product. Well the Lord decided that he wanted me to understand that even though there are wolves that use the least of these that there is unspeakable things happening to his children and loved ones across the globe. He has made sure that I have seen and has left me wrecked. What do we do with this, we are mommas,its our job to solve problems and it drives me crazy trying to figure out how to make all of this better. I have seen and now I must do something about it !! Will you please pray for me that I will make myself totally available for whatever the Lord is calling me to do. I need a clear vision Siestas!! Thank all of you for loving me .
I laughed when I read this knowing you were dying to help them out of their misery! Now if the situation were reversed, women would’ve just started talking with the man at the table whether we know him or not. When you said they’d not distract you at all I was thinking what??… then I read your next line and I thought ok, that’s the people watchin’ Beth I “know”!
While I absolutely ADORE then main men in my life…husband, two boys and my dad, there is nothing like sittin’ down with my girl and talking. Even if she is mad at me, she’ll eventually start talking…she just can’t help herself. Praise You Jesus for that!
Love you Beth Moore!
In the first place, my husband would not be caught dead in a coffee shop. Too unmanly.
But in the second place, he would have know you right off because we keep your picture above our mantel in the living room 🙂
Beth,
I am impressed that you managed not to say anything. I had just finished “Stepping Up” session 2 where you spoke of the body of Christ not being posers. (Your demonstration of fashion magazine’s instructions for standing was priceless). We should be who ‘we really are’. You are loved!
Stephanie
LOL. I know what you mean; I so love being a woman, too! Those poor men. I wonder what drew them together. (DH gets frustrated when men are like that, too!)
That’s funny! Sure am glad we are women-Praise Jesus!
You remind me of my mom because she is a big people watcher, and you remind me of my sister because she never met a stranger in her life-she talks to everybody!Usually, if we go anywhere in the continental US together, she sees at least two people she knows. Even when she moved to TX last year from Nashville, she saw someone she knew there! Funny!:)
katiegfromtennessee
I just would’ve had to say something. I appreciate your level of self control – maybe I should go back and do “Living Beyond Yourself” again. You really do live what you do teach, don’t ya. 🙂 I love you!
I love being a woman – hormones and all! Sometimes I still feel like I have “let down” (a breastfeeding term)when I hear a baby crying. I love love love being female!
P.S. Thanks for sharing all of the wedding stories and pictures. I feel like I’m part of your family.
So Funny….my husband always ask how I know the lady at the laundry mat’s granddaughter just broke her arm or how they know our kids have had the flu at Blockbuster.
As my granddad used to say “You could talk to a wall”. I think that’s how all us ladies are….I have only had a few times in my life where I was at lost for conversation and of course it was the other person’s problem…hehehe!
Love reading all about Melissa’s wedding. May God bless her and her marriage.
ME TOO! I am so glad to be a woman because life in so many ways seems so much more complicated for men. Though I am sure they see us that way no doubt. I don’t drink coffee, an old friend told me once I would grow up someday – but I am just find missing out on being a Java Jane! Cocoa does it for me – and I am going to – going to try hot tea sometime, I have a new friend from Poland and she will get me to try it at some point I am sure. SO SURE! I was going to tell you a story about four women and the movie “27 Dresses” however, I think I will save that for my own blog. My starbucks journey has been so wrapped up in my church – a group of women from my church and I meet at the starbucks in a local Barnes and Noble every Tuesday for a “Readers and Writers” interest group. There we sit in this huge group either reading or writing all about life as we know it… two of us write Bible studies (one is ME!) and the other is writing a children’s Bible study for parents or Sunday School. Two are the wives of Worship Pastor’s in our church and our leader is a precious young mother. Some just write their family stories for Scrapbooking and all seem to have very small children while I am about to start releasing teenagers into adulthood, but I love it. We go to lunch talk meaningfully about our lives and share Christ in the most relaxed and casual manner. It is a blessing and a joy to be a part of this type of fellowship! Thanks for sharing Beth. I love you, Friend. Can’t wait… cannot wait for the next 6 months to pass so we can have our Siesta Fiesta in the grand old town of San Antone! Be blessed.
Sweet, Sweet Beth,
I could just imagine me wanting to help them out too! I wonder what on earth possessed those two to get together for coffee(!) in the first place?! Men are goobers. LOL!
I haven’t blogged for a couple of days so I also have to say – THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts and pictures with us. They are priceless to us who have come to love your family! What a beautiful bride!! And let me tell you – that MOB and Sis definitely come in a close second. All those pictures are so wonderful. Can’t wait for the professional ones. And as far as I’m concerned, you can blog about the wedding for a month if you want to. Ha! Again, congrats to all you dear ones.
Blessings & love,
Jax in AK
P.S. The pictures of Jackson were absolutely adorable. He was definitely making that suit look fine! Happy Birthday, Jackson!
Love some more,
Jax in AK
I just love being a woman! Isn’t it amazing how God created us?
Oh how I love my dear husband but sometimes he just doesn’t get it! I want all the details and he just gets the facts and that’s enough for him. Oh, but God couldn’t have picked a better one for me than him!
Love you Siesta,
Pam
it’s nearly 2 so it’s time to say:Happy Anniversary, Melissa!!!!
This is too funny, especially if they are married to Sietas who will read the blog.
So funny. I would love to know just what they were thinking!
I have to say…..I love being a woman, but find it very difficult in my house. I have six boys, and having multiple “todds” at a time, I really thought it would get easier when they got older…..WRONG!!!!
Now that I have three teenage sons, a strange situation has occured….they are becoming men, and so…they all think alike….they relate to their Father, and when they make a decision about a movie, or a video game, or WHATEVER, it makes sense to all of THEM. When I might possibly object to content, or maybe want different content (i.e. chick flick) they all look at me like I am an ALIEN!!!! In my own house!!! I have no estrogen to back me up siesta’s!!!
And don’t even get me started about what happens when I cry! 🙂
BTW, what you describe about the men, and the coffee? Well, that basically is MY LIFE!!! I CAN’T WAIT till they start getting married and I have some company! 🙂 🙂
I can’t help but boast in the Lord about my husband after reading this post. God continues to work miracles in his life, and because of that he is not at all like the men you described having coffee. On the contrary, if that would’ve been him having coffee, he would’ve actually recognized you, Miss Beth, and proceeded to go on and on about what a blessing you have been in our lives! And then, if he was with a buddy, he would’ve sat there and made conversation that would challenge any of us siestas…well as long as it revolved around sports and not shoes! He does have such a incredible group of godly guy friends who I praise God for everyday. I also give him a hard time about how he is capable of talking on the phone with a couple of ’em, like high school girls! Anyway, I do give God the glory that I do have a husband who is the real thing. Thanks for letting me share!
Okay…. I’m now jumping into this pool of precious siestas!! Have been “lurking” on this blog since the first entry… loving every minute of it! Y’all are such a sweet, God loving, bunch of gals….. I could stand it no longer.
I ditto the many thanks to Beth and Amanda for letting us in on so much of your “real lives” and join this multitude in wishing Melissa and Colin the very best God has to offer in their new life “as one”.
So excited to be a part of such an awesome “sisterhood”!
Blessings to all!!!
This reminds me of a couple of Sundays ago,when my Husband and I took our youngest daughter back to her apartment. He dropped us off at the Starbucks close by. Being the 100% farmer that he is,he thought he couldn’t be seen in a Starbucks,even at the drive- through,so we went inside,he stayed in the car. We ordered our Green Tea Latte & Frappicino,and waited. We saw him come in to use the restroom. Call us mean,but we hid from him,LOL,but we could tell he was getting mad so we came out of hiding,and we directed him to the restroom. We heard about it when we got back in the car,that he had to into a “girlie” place and we saw him,and we hid from,but we still laughed about it.
I’m with you! Just got back from a women’s retreat. I always gravitated toward boys, until I got married since which I gravitate to one-specific “boy”, and only years later after finding MOPS and wonderful Christian women, did I understand the blessing of being a woman and knowing other women. We need each other-Praise God!
Beth,
This just exemplifies what research took years to figure out – a man uses an average of 5000 words per day-and a typcal woman uses approximately 20,000 words per day. No wonder men make great warriors – they’ve run out of words and all they have left is battle! You know God has a sense of humor looking down on that scene!
I’m afraid I would have HAD to have said something to those men , out of dire curiosity ! I really think I would have. I still want to know why they were there. Oh we’ll never know.
I love being a woman most of the time. Except during PMS , childbirth , menopause and hot flashes. Other than that… yes , I’m a ” girly girl ” and always have been. Cept I don’t drink coffee. Sorry. I may be the Lone Siesta. ( it STAINS your TEETH ! )
LOve you all dearly !
Elizabeth
That story is the best ever!!! I am SOO glad I am a woman too. 🙂 I just started Stepping Up and I am enjoying it so much. I really think it will teach me how to study the scripture more in depth. I have been doing every bit of the homework and more. I have all my commentaries and Bible translations laid out on my dining table, and the other day my man asked if we were making the kitchen table into my Bible study office??? I told him that was a great idea! 🙂 I’m so excited. I love that Melissa is moving to GA! Will she be living in the city or the burbs? I always wish I could live in TX b/c of the Houston Bible Study. I love that a “Moore” will be in GA now. 🙂
Love women! Love being one! Just spent the weekend with 80 of them leading worship at a Loving Well retreat. Too much fun, Miss Beth! So glad you did that!
It is fun being a woman, isn’t it? I just spent the afternoon with a favorite girlfriend of mine. We had lunch, then went to IKEA and then we went to starbucks on the way home. On the way to IKEA she thanked me for being willing to do this with her. I told her that I’d go to the grocery store if that meant I could be with my friends. I love being with my girlfriends. On the way home we just talked and talked and talked. I didn’t even mind the traffic because I loved the chatting so much. We both had so much fun just walking around and chatting for hours.
love you too,
Kristi
ps…a little boy at my kids school has a tumor in his mouth. They removed it two weeks ago and it has returned and is bigger than before. This is a Christian family, but I know they will appreciate your prayers. The Drs. are baffled and don’t know what to make of it.
I enjoy people watching. My favorite place to watch is the MN State Fair in August. It is a cross-section of the state if not America. Beth, when you come to Mpls. in July, try Caribou Coffee. It is a local chain and I think their coffee is SO much better than Starbucks.
Thank you to Amanda and you for sharing so much about Melissa’s wedding and photos. I hope my man and I are as in love as Keith and you in 14 years.
Your MN siesta,
Mary Ann
My husband tells me women talk too much, they should just cut to the chase. But, what fun would that be?
I say most of fun is not getting to the finish line, but the journey on the way. And I am certainly enjoying traveling with you ladies. Yes, I have been studying “Stepping Up”.
Love you all,
Wanda in Georgia
I can hardly manage to keep my mouth closed when I am with my husband at events for his business. It almost KILLS me to stand there …it is like pulling teeth. I’ll just bet that your two table buddies were probably perfectly happy with their conversation…or lack thereof! Give me my girls any day of the week! Beth Moore, you are such a treasure! May the rest of your weekend be “filled to the brim” with His Joy! Love, Melissa
women drinking that coffee….we can just do it!!!
beth our bible group in atlanta cant wait to get melissa….we love her like we love you. we will see you in jacksonville in march and atlanta in june, meanwhile we watch every dvd, listen to every cd, read everything we can, you have turned me into a bible junkie. my husband says”when do you get off work?” well i just cant study enough, i love it!!!!!and the moores, being a born and bred texan i give you a big yeehaw.
rhonda in atlanta.
Beth,
Thank you for sharing your life with us, Siestas. Thank you for your dedication to studying God’s Word and helping us grow in God’s Word in the process. Everyday I stand in amazement, but also humbled on my knees knowing where I would be without God, Jesus, and God’s Living Word in my life. To God be the Glory, and may we all always live the rest of our days here on Earth to bring glory to HIM!
I met the nicest Christian man on an airplane last year, and we just talked and talked all the way from NY to Atlanta. He was about my dad’s age. But I bet if it had been me and two men, neither one of them would have said a thing. Strange how that works.
My heart is so full with emotion for you and your family. Thank you for doing it right. I know you have said it wasn’t easy, but in the end it was worth it.
Thanks you from all of us out here whose wedding days weren’t the fairtale because of the divorce of our parents. Thank you for being examples for us to follow.
God is truly blessing you for getting it right!
AJ and Melissa, I hope you know how truly blessed you are!
Love to you all,
Amanda in SC
Bless their hearts – that’s what we say here in the South and it fits many occasions. Sometimes it can mean, “oh yay,” or sometimes it can be “oh my.” This time it is “oh my, poor old thangs,” they just can’t help it.
Oh the joy of being a woman – I thank God.
Many times when I’m out and “observing others,” my husband will ask me to please join him at our table or booth or whatever,” because I have wandered over there with my nosey self.
Just a heart to help is what I always tell him! HA!
Love you lots,
Georgia Jan
Man That’s too funny. I would have been like you dying to say something antything to help them with that awkwardness. Maybe they were just hanging out to be cool and they hated coffee. I can just imagine you there typing away on your computer trying to mind your own business. How come I never get to meet you at a coffee shop, we’d find lots of things to talk about.
I’m praying for you as you watch all your daughters things being packed up. I know in many ways it will be hard for you.
Thanks for the story I needed it.
Blessings Sarah – Prayer warrior
In our family it is the opposite. My husband does coffee goood!Everyone loves to go to coffee with him. “Miss I cann’t have caffine it bothers my heart “(me) isn’t so popular.
Liz H in Oregon
MEN. 🙂
Girl, I can promise you one thing if I ever ran into you in a coffee shop, we would never run out of things to talk about… okay, so I might talk as much to any other breathing human, but your topics of interest just really spoke my language today!
What would we do without you? Ah, I don’t know, but that reminds me that I have a TON of Stepping Up homework to do. Somehow, cramming all through college worked, but not so much with you, sweet woman… 🙂
I thank my Lord for you. (And I speak your language, too.)
I used to be a waitress in a small town restaurant and let me tell you, men can gab over coffee! Their conversation is totally different from ours but the dialogue is there. I suppose it’s the one on one that gets them. Or maybe your guys had something going on of a magnitude we know nothing about. That moment could have been the proverbial “calm before the storm.”
That’s all I came to say, as Beth would say.
It never ceases to amaze me how 1.) Men have so little to say..and 2.) That I have so MUCH to say!
LOL!
-Traci
I love being a woman too. Especially when we all go to the bathroom together. Have you ever noticed that? Men never go with each other but we always have to go in pairs. If we don’t, we make it an opportunity to meet each other in the other stall! So many times I’ve commented on their shoes (that’s all I can see) especially if they look like “my kind” or they have “personality”. Or their hair (when we’re primping) in front of the mirror. Any ol’ way, girlfriends no another girlfriend when they see one, be it by the shoes or by the hair! Right siestas???
And girls, you have to take a picture of your shoes and show us what you wore at the wedding!!!
Hugs and kisses!
You know Kind of a random thought, won’t it be fun to call each other by our goofy names in heaven. I know we will know each other as we are and it will be awesome, but passing in the golden laid street to say “hey mocha with linda!” she reply’s “Good to see you for His glory” random I know but ahhh the delights of this precious fun group of women.
Hey Beth,
I was just reading an interview with Mandisa and had to crack up because they asked her what it was like to sing back-up for Beth Moore. I wondered if you’d seen that. I didn’t realize you had a singing career too! Here’s the link to the article if you want to read it: http://www.americanidolist.com/2008/02/22/interview-with-mandisa/
Starbucks this week. Interesting. A friend of mine and I decided to go after a very strenous workout for a skinny vanilla latte. Had to go in the bathroom to change shirts so they wouldn’t throw me out. Hair was wet and all. We order our coffee and my friend heads to the ladies room. Meanwhile these two guys pull up in a Range Rover in suits and with their laptops. They come inside and approach me asking if I am this certain person. I say no and they are called over by a group of men. My friend returns and I tell her what has happened, We crack-up laughing bcs. I would never go to a business meeting in sweats a sun visor w/sweaty hair and no make-up.
I then peceeded to feel sorry for the man sitting next to us. I hope he wasn’t listening to our conversation. If so, he got an ear full about women stuff.
ha ha! I LOVE Kara at Mommy Dot Com and boy if you could hear her in person talk about this with great excitement! Starbucks is her love language too! I am glad you appreciated that.
Much love,
Angela
BTW-I would have felt awkward too.
just last night my husband asked me if I thought it was too personal reading other men’s blogs. He said, “you know, like do you feel like your reading their mail or something”. I said Babe, their is nothing anyone of your gender could say on the world wide web that comes close to intimate in my book as a woman. It is a gift-it is a curse, but it is not a filter. For you and all the other male bloggers out their I am blessed by your words and hearts, but it doesn’t compare to the intimacy my sisters and I can launch right into:)