Hold on, It's a Bumpy Ride

Black & Gold Superbowl!!!

2010-01-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am very, very, very, very behind on blogging. But that is not as important today as the historical, monumental moment that happened this week -- THE SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!! woohoo!!!!

Way to go boys! We couldn't be more proud. The city erupted in fireworks and yelling, and as all phone service shut down because of the overwhelming amount of people calling and texting, there was no greater feeling than a well-deserving team finally making it to the big show.

Congrats to the NFC Champions! WHO DAT!!!

Win-Win

2009-11-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, my favorite place to be during a category 1 or tropical storm...is the lake. If the flood gates are closed, the adventure comes from climbing over the levee. If they're not closed, then you get to drive to the middle and get splashed by the enormous waves, which are nonexistent any other time of the year. My two favorite waves of the night include the one that moved the car and the one that made the kid disappear. (I have it on video if you need proof) :)

It's a Win-Win!

Plus, we got of school Monday in case it flooded, and it never even rained. Yay for days off!

More to Life

2009-11-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

Thought for the day:

Don't settle for just achieving "the good life," because the good life is not good enough. You can have a lot to live on and still have nothing to live for.

Aim instead for "the better life." Figure out what you love to do--what God gave you a heart to do--and then do it for his glory.

(-Rick Warren)

I Love NOLA...

2009-09-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have those days when you just really love where you are? You love the city, the people, the culture? I feel that way about New Orleans a lot. I've had more and more of these days lately, and today was one of them. It's funny because I actually feel sorry for people who aren't here. Don't get me wrong--life is not always easy here. It's hard sometimes to find good friends or to find good parking :) But overall, I love it. Yes, I've talked about leaving from time to time, but the problem is that as soon as I come back, I'm immediately addicted again. Other cities also have cool things to do and gorgeous architecture and things that are unique to their city, but there's something different about NOLA. It has a culture that you can't find anywhere else, and I love it. Plus, there are always new and interesting things to do.

I love that I get to drive by the Superdome every morning on the way to work.

I love Uptown and the Garden District. I love the huge oaks that make all streets into little tunnels and how their branches dip down to a few feet off the ground at times as if they're providing extra seating :) And I love the streetcars and the new "lil easy" bus line-haha.

I love the random entertainment, like Bag of Donuts (the best coverband ever) and the random musicians that can be found on almost any street corner. I love the little theaters that show the classics at 12 everyday, complete with Looney Tunes special features, a host who was around when the movie originally released, and intermission halfway through the movie. (Hello Dolly was the show for the day, by the way, and it was such a fun experience.)

I love that the city feels like a team with frequent pep rallies, despite the fact that there are so many people with so many differences. For example, every year the city picks artistic project and there's a city-wide effort make it happen. This year, the theme was streetcars, so there are over a hundred streetcars placed around the city painted by local artists, each representing the area where it's place. Or what about the fleur de lis? It's always been a symbol for New Orleans, but since Katrina, it's turned into a symbol of rebuilding and rebirth. Every house, car, and article of clothing in the city has it at some point, making us all feel as though we're connected somehow. We're all joined by the fact that 'we are new orleans.'

Yes, this all seems pretty cheesy. But if you've ever had a sports team or been a part of something that you were truly passionate about, then you know how I feel. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you should definitely come spend some time in New Orleans. I promise you won't regret it :)

Looking Up

2009-09-19T10:50:00.001-07:00

Things are going much better than last week. As I said the kids are slowing catching on to how things are going to work this year, so hopefully they'll keep getting better and better. (I can hope-haha) As promised last time, here are the pics from the past few weekends:

Rock climbing=good times :)

Taking a risk - climbing without the harness :)

For Labor Day, we grilled out in the park, which was an experience in itself. It all started with us buying a cheap grill on the way, so you can only imagine where the day went from there. But it turned out surprisingly well. Despite the off and on rain, we hung out, ate, and played ultimate frisbee - so the day was pretty good overall. We even got to hang out with some new friends.

Us "monitoring" the grill - haha

We also got to go see our favorite cover band of all time - Bag of Donuts.

Also, I went home for my sister's birthday and got to hang out with my nephews for a while. Notice Grady is ALWAYS wearing his football pads, gloves, helmet, or some type of sports equipment. He's so funny :)

As if this weren't enough, I got to hang out this week with my best friend Court while she was in town for a seminar. Hopefully, we'll all be grilling out again in a little bit. And even more importantly - I finished doing progress reports! yay! Now on to finishing lesson plans and prepping for the next week. I have to get everything done before Friday, when I fly out to see more friends! I'm always up for something to look forward to - haha.

So, as Kidd Kraddick says, keep looking up, 'cause that's where it's at :)

Not Doing So Well

2009-09-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not doing a good job at all of keeping up with the blog now that I have a job where I never sit down and then come home exhausted - not that I'm giving excuses :) Don't get me wrong. School has been good. Slowly...very slowly...the kids are getting into a routine. Plus, it's been a challenge because every class I teach was previously taught by people that let the kids just have free time. And since I'm not giving free time, you can see how this would be a challenge :) But the kids will either catch on soon or they'll be in EXCELLENT shape due to running laps and doing jumping jacks when they don't follow instructions the first time they are given :)

I will say that weekends have been fun when I have enough energy to function :) Between rock climing, movies in the park, fun cover bands, grilling out, and ultimate frisbee in the park, the weekends have tried to make up for the weekdays when I have no life :) I'll post pics soon of some of the fun weekend activities. Plus, I got to go home last week and see the family, which is always fun.

So until the pics are posted and until the next blog...PERSEVERE. (That's mostly for me-haha) This too shall pass...and/or get better.

Conventiently, the memory verse for my class last week was John 16:33 - "In this world you will have many trials. But take heart, for I have overcome the world." :)

The Summer Remix

2009-08-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

So, now that I've officially had a two-month hiatus, I guess it's time to get back into a regular routine and give an update on the summer. The best and biggest part of the summer was, of course, SuperWow. Here's a small taste:

Admin Booth Dress Code :)

The Pier Photo Shoot :)

Next up was the family vaca in Chicago - which I absolutely fell in love with. We hit the zoo, children's museum, Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field, Navy Pier, ferris wheel, boat tour, Sear's tower, Buckingham Fountain, tons of great restaurants, rode the El, and lots of other random stuff...all in 4 days. It was basically non-stop but absolutely amazing. It was a great time with family and friends...exception of the longest ride ever there and back.

I got to check something off my life list...riding an ostrich. It didn't have a little bridle in its mouth the way I always pictured, but close enough :)

Us on the glass balcony of the Sears (Willis) Tower - 103 floors up

Last up, the best missions camp ever - Merge. It was a great week, and God moved in amazing ways. One student who has been resisting a relationship with God for several years finally overcame his hatred for Christians and started his walk with the Lord. The week was long and extremely hard, since it was a week of manual labor and high energy kids when we had already had a long summer of camps and trips. But in the end, it may have been one of the most exciting times of the summer. It's the most laid back camp ever, and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Way to go Eagle's Brook Baptist

The group with Ms. Gracie at the end of the week

After recovering for a few days in Atlanta and then making my way back to New Orleans, it's now time to start the year off. We had teacher orientation last week and this week, and then kids start next Monday. It's going to be a great year, and I'm really excited about the diversity of things I get to teach this year. Good times...here we come! :)

So basically, I'll miss you summer. It's been good, but I guess it's time to come to an end.

Good Friends, Good Times

2009-06-08T16:04:00.001-07:00

It's been an emotional but fun week. Between birthday parties and friends coming into town, it's been a little bit stressful but also a lot of fun. Friday was my last day at work, but they gave me had a really fun going away party and we even got most of the faculty to wear hollywood sunglasses - not an easy feat--but sooo funny if you knew them.

Then to continue the celebration, we hit up the Melting Pot, which is always ah-mazing. Great food, great fun, a few good sword fights with our fondu forks, and lots of laughing.

And that was just Friday. The rest of the weekend flew by. To sum it up, there were break dancers, the second line of a New Orleans wedding, street car rides, crepes, Rivertown, reunions, Camellia Grill, sore feet, dancing, movies, and travel planning. Good times, good times :)

Now it's time to finish up SuperWow planning before heading to training Thursday. But yea for SuperWow!

Yet Another Crazy Weekend

2009-06-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

2 weekends in a row of craziness and endless hours in the car, but again it was very worth it. My nephews had their 3rd and 1st bday parties - so much fun, as usual. They had their own little cakes, lots of friends, and mucho fun.

Grady on their new big kids playground :)

The football monkey was a big hit...

...but he felt the same way we did when it was over - exhausted!

We also got to hit the beach at Gulfshores with our friends. We go far too long without getting to see each other, so it's always lots of fun to catch up, play, and learn new fitness tips (thanks Rudy-haha).

Us trying to get Sadie to dance at the Hang Out

The good news and the bad news, however, is that next weekend will again be the same. I LOVE having fun and getting to see everyone, but it also reminds me that I'm getting old - haha. Or, maybe it's keeping me from getting old :) Either way, bring it on!

End of the Road

2009-06-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

It's always bittersweet to come to the end of a stage in your life. That's where I find myself now. I'm sad to leave behind the friends and coworkers I have now, but I'm also excited to see what the next year will bring. Friday will officially end my era of coming to the seminary campus everyday. Since moving to New Orleans (and then re-moving here after Katrina), the seminary has been a major part of my life. I've been here everyday, whether it's for class or work. Even this past semester when I only had one class, I still spent 45 hours a week on this campus, if not more. I remember when I started. I didn't know anyone or where to find things or the minute details of seminary workings. Now, I know those things. I know the in's and out's of the campus and everything going on behind the scenes. It's really hard to leave a comfort zone and start over again in an unfamiliar setting with new faces, new rules, and new challenges, but it can also be an adventure.

And as usual, God is faithful. He has changed my heart and prepared me for this time in every way possible. I've learned so much about who I am and what I can do, as well as about life and people in general. I've met people who will forever influence my life and who have helped shape me to be the person I am today.

And as with every major change in my life, I am ready when (and only when) it is time to move on. And that's where I am now. While it is definitely sad and strange to be leaving, I'm ready and very excited to be moving on to a new challenge and a new adventure. I'm sure the ride will be bumpy, but the best ones always are. Plus, I'll officially be a true New Orleanian, seeing as I'm no longer attached to the city by school or work but rather by choice. A favorite quote at the seminary comes from one of our past presidents, who talked about New Orleans by saying, "First it gets in your hair, and then it gets on your nerves, and then it gets in your heart." And that's exactly how it is. No matter what happens, you're drawn to it and end up loving it more and more everyday, despite all of its problems.

I'm definitely going to miss the life and challenges I have now. But as I said before, I'm excited for the new challenges and for the future in general. For everything there is a season, and this one has been pretty good. I've definitely had my ups and downs, but overall the ride has been pretty good.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away" Ecclesiastes 3:1-6

A Day in the Park

2009-05-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is backtracking a little, but last week was Mari's last week in town before moving to Virginia. But before she left we did get to hang out in one of my favorite places in the city...Audubon Park. The evidence is below:

Hangin Out and Chasing the Ducks

Then, we finished the day with a little run in the rain (interrupted by a job interview) and then some amazing pizza at Slice. 'Twas a fun day, indeed. If only more Saturdays could be like this. :)

Weekend Craziness

2009-05-25T17:18:00.001-07:00

Once again, I said I was going to do better about blogging more often, but I haven't. Instead of catching up all at once, I'm just going to start with this past weekend, and then I'll work backwards-ha.

Last week was definitely busy. I left Wednesday and made the 10-hour drive to Jekyll Island, chilled there Thursday, drove to Atlanta on Friday and back to NOLA on Sunday. Needless to say, after over 30 hours in the car I am pretty much worthless today. To hit the high points, Jekyll was fun, even though it was strange being there without the SuperWow team. But at least since it was stormy, there were major waves, which I have honestly never seen at Jekyll.

And congrats to Lauren and Brian!! The wedding was sooo much fun and absolutely beautiful. Plus, it was great to hang out with some friends I didn't expect to see and those that I did.

The newlyweds

Fun Friends

Fun Surprises

Our Groomsmen Pic - ha

Our Engagement Pics-haha

Then, as if I weren't tired enough, I spent Saturday helping Court & Ike make a patio - literally. Five hours of moving 1700 pounds of rock around to fit like a puzzle and then grouting with mortar sand. Good times :) haha But it was a good workout and turned out surprisingly well. I'm not going to lie, though--I was glad it started raining, because otherwise we also would've installed a pondless waterfall in the side of the mountain. I'm not sure I would've made it.

It was a long weekend, but it was fun. However, I'm not sure if I'm ready to do it again next weekend. But it looks like that's how it's going to go. Maybe I'll try to sleep a lot this week getting ready for it. Now that sounds like fun! haha

Stand By Me

2009-05-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

Four years ago while walking down the street in Santa Monica, CA the voice of Roger Ridley singing “Stand By me” was heard from a block away. His voice, soul and passion set a few guys on a course around the world to add other musicians to his performance. This song transformed Playing For Change from a small group of individuals to a global movement for peace and understanding.

This track features over 35 musicians collaborating from all over the world and was recorded over the course of several years before being edited together. The musicians may have never met in person, but they share the common thread of music. We can accomplish a lot more in this world if we work together. Definitely a beautiful picture of the beauty of togetherness as we blend together in deep relationship and "stand by" one another through this life.

Check out the video and website here.

Blogging Rut

2009-05-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

It seems I've been in a blogging rut lately, which would seem like I have nothing to blog about. But really, the opposite is true. So much has been going on that I almost don't know where to start. So, I'm planning on getting back to "normal" soon - oh, how I've missed normal. :) But that's ok, because I guess busy is better than boring...well, sometimes. There are times when I would LOVE to be bored! :) Anyway, all of this to say that I'll be updating on life soon--not that your life will change if I don't, but it's definitely good for me to process and remember what's been going on lately...so happy blogging to me! :)

On a totally different subject, our church's book of the month this time is Worldliness, edited by C.J. Mahaney. It's been a really good reminder of how subtle the lure of the world is. We're so often ignorant of the signs and symptoms. We start drifting slowly and suddenly realize one day that we're way off course. It's time to refocus on God and fall out of love with the world.

We're going through the book with our covenant group this month, and so far it's definitely a must-read. So if at all possible, you should read it. Trust me--it's worth it. Plus, it's a small book, so it's very UNintimidating :)

Pain & Posture

2009-04-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

I love general revelation. I love it when God reveals Himself through ordinary situations. I love finding God in everyday events or in random objects. (I actually did a project in seminary where I wrote curriculum for a retreat that dealt with this topic alone :D) I love it when an ongoing circumstance or repeated phrase or lesson finally sinks in. The light bulb comes on, and I suddenly have no choice but to stop where I am and thank God for revealing Himself in ways that are available to everyone yet so meaningful on a personal level.

Last night, God once again used an ordinary event to teach me something about Himself. But I also learned something about myself this time. I was reading about suffering and came across a quote that said something along the lines of 'suffering corrects your posture and adjusts your gaze.' Over the past year I've had quite a few back problems - I know, I'm getting old. :) But I've learned many things due to this pain, one of which is the fact that I can eliminate the pain if I make myself have perfect posture. If I can sit straight, pull my shoulders back, and basically make my spine rest in the way it was created to, I find comfort and relief from the pain. Likewise, returning our gaze to God by adjusting our perspective on a situation and correcting our posture towards Him can help lessen the pain of the situation. When we correct ourselves and return to what we were created to be, we see from a new perspective, allowing us to see the situation in a way that makes it somehow easier to bear. It's also important to remember that God may send trials for that exact reason--to make us fix our posture and adjust our gaze.

I've known this fact in my head for years. But for some reason, relating the truth to a physical feeling I had recently experienced somehow made it more real than in the past. My favorite part of the whole lesson is how it came out of nowhere. I love that about God--that He's always there but at certain times when you're least expecting it, He reveals Himself in a way that can't be ignored. We're forced to turn our gaze to Him. It's almost as if He's offering comfort even when we don't ask and when we don't even realize we need it. And now every time I have back pain, it will be a reminder that we are to continually adjust our gaze toward God and try to get back to what we were created to be. Correct your posture, and you will find relief.

So True

2009-04-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Jeff Foxworthy on School Employees:

~ YOU might be a school employee if you believe the playground should be equipped with a Ritalin salt lick. (this one is my fav!)

~ YOU might be a school employee if you want to slap the next person who says, 'Must be nice to work 8 to 3:30 and have summers off.'

~ YOU might be a school employee if it is difficult to name your own child because there's no name you can come up with that doesn't bring high blood pressure as it is uttered.

~ YOU might be a school employee if you believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, 'Boy, the kids sure are mellow today.'

~ YOU might be a school employee if when out in public, you feel the urge to snap your fingers at children you do not know and correct their behavior.

~ YOU might be a school employee if you think people should have a government permit before being allowed to reproduce.

~ YOU might be a school employee if you wonder how some parents MANAGED to reproduce.

~ YOU might be a school employee if you think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

~ YOU might be a school employee if meeting a child's parent instantly answers this question, 'Why is this kid like this?'

~ YOU might be a school employee if you would choose a mammogram over a parent conference.

~ YOU might be a school employee if you think someone should invent antibacterial pencils and crayons...and desks and chairs for that matter!

~ YOU might be a school employee if the words 'I have college debt for this?' has ever come out of your mouth.

~ YOU might be a school employee if you know how many days, minutes, and seconds are left in the school year!

Ode to David

2009-04-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, I realize I have posted this link everywhere, but I truly love David Holmes and his mad rapping skills :) This was the announcement on a southwest airlines flight - (Southwest really is fun to fly with).

David, I want to be you when I grow up...(not a black man...you'll see what I mean & totally understand) :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjybzdXVmI

Finally!

2009-04-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

After 3 weeks of having every second of my day scheduled with nonstop activity (literally), I FINALLY get to have a night where I can do what I want...or do nothing if I want. Yay! I actually had overlapping plans, but I decided for the sake of my sanity, I'm taking the night off. I'm also making a very unexpected trip home this weekend, which will be fun--even though it's pretty packed full, also. But that's ok, because after next Thursday, life may be back to semi-normal. :)

I'm definitely not complaining, though. Life could be a lot worse. I could have this job...

Gross! So I will NOT complain about all of the things I have going on. I will be satisfied with all I have, including the opportunity to have a busy life :)

Also, Happy Bday to my grandmother, who is 84 today!!! Love you!

Just Do It

2009-03-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

A little wisdom from my man William Carey...

"Attempt great things for God;
Expect great things from God."
-William Carey

Being Intentional

2009-03-23T06:40:00.000-07:00

"You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction". -George Horace Lorimer

I try to be really intentional about living and life in general. But to be honest, I'm horrible at it. I'll be really motivated for a while and then I lose sight of the goal or forget to motivate myself for the day. Things don't just happened if you don't set out to do them. So, once again, I'm going to start today being intentional about life, ministry, work, exercise, attitude...basically everything I do. It is what you make it, so make sure you're intentional in taking advantage of the opportunities you've been given today.

Wet Streets?

2009-03-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

So, how many people have noticed that there are always a few wet streets in NOLA, regardless of whether or not it has rained. The same parts of the same streets are ALWAYS wet, no matter what. What in the world?! Any explanations? It's our mission for the week to find out... :)

Sinking Ship

2009-03-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

Our Pivot message this week was on worldliness, a topic that seems to be a constant struggle to many of us. We have lots of excuses and 'reasons' for being close to things of the world. But if we are brutally honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that part of the reason we are worldly is because we want to be.

Matt used an excellent illustration when confronting the excuse of becoming more like the world in order to minister to those in the world. He said we could imagine ourselves as a rescue boat sailing on the sea of worldliness and waiting to help those who have fallen into the "water" (or the world). And it might seem to make sense to want to add a few buckets of water to the boat just to lower ourselves a little so that we are closer to those we are trying to help. But eventually we stop realizing how much water we're adding and end up sinking the boat. We're no longer there to help others-we're just an immersed ship aquarium. What makes others curious about us and interested in what we do if we are exactly like them? Why would they want what believers have if our lives are exactly the same as theirs? What would be the point?

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matt. 5:13

Remarkable Things

2009-03-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

So, it has been an extremely crazy few months, but God has proven faithful as always. Just to give the HUGE praises (because there are way too many to list all of them lately), I'll give a few. In the past few months:

~ My grandmother (the center of our family) found out she had lung cancer but was not a candidate for surgery; after begging and giving a movie-quality speech, they agreed; she's now at home; her emphysema somehow contained the cancer, so she went from less than a year to live to possibly being in the clear;

~ My mom found out she had a pre-cancerous polyp & had half of her colon removed, as well as her gall bladder and a ton of lymph nodes; once removed, they realized the polyp was already cancerous but were able to get it all; so she's most likely in the clear;

~ My dad found out he had throat cancer (are you catching the theme?) and had his uvula removed; we found out this morning that it's clear and he doesn't need further treatment;

~ Our non-profit organization is almost fully up and running, including incorporation

~ I also finally feel some direction about jobs for next year, which is a huge relief

These are just a few among many. It is obvious that this semester has been very trying, to say the least. But as usual, God is proving faithful and continues to amaze me every day.

"Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'we have seen remarkable things today.'" Luke 5:26

i LOVE saturdays

2009-03-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday is absolutely my favorite day of the week. It's the day of possibilities. And today was very productive yet relaxing, which also is my favorite :)

To sum it up:
brunch at Two Sisters + going to the Lake to study/lay out + successful trip to the store + laughing + marking things off the to-do list + friends + working out = a GREAT Saturday!

Hopefully, tomorrow will be equally great ... :D

Building Airplanes

2009-03-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl commercial linked below is muy funny. It's also a good reminder that sometimes you just have to figure it out as you go, even if it seems ridiculous at the time. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2zqTYgcpfg

Buenos Dias

2009-03-03T06:23:00.000-08:00

Just a few fun quotes to start the day off right: :D

~ Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.

~ Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.

~ Swimming is a confusing sport, because sometimes you do it for fun, and other times you do it to not die.

~ I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.

~ He was hit by a Dodge ... which I found funny and ironic.

~ I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.

Burned Out

2009-02-26T16:09:00.001-08:00

So, I'm at a point in life when I'm really, really, really burned out. Unfortunately, life is not stopping. (How can I fix that?) :) I'm tired of living the same day over and over - work, school, church, school, a little fun, work, school...you get it. While I do enjoy these things from time to time, I'm just ready for a break. But at the same time, I don't want to not do anything - I just want to do more of what I want to do. Yes, I know that sounds totally selfish and immature, but that doesn't mean I can't want it :) There are so many things I need (and want) to work on right now, but they are not at the top of the list, so I just keep waiting. How can I get everything done at once? How can I make time stand still? Will I ever be at a place where I'm doing what I really want to do?

Contrary to what it seems, I really am content. (I know all of my whinning in the last paragraph doesn't seem like it, but it's true.) I know that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be doing exactly what I'm doing. And on the upside, usually when I start getting restless it means that something is about to change--which is both exciting and scary.

So, all of this pointless rambling to say--I'm going to try especially hard this week and next week to get everything done that I need to do and even work ahead a little so that I can spend some time doing things that I really want to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to try to work in the things I want to do now, but my main goal is to go crazy on my to-do list and get everything done...or at least the things that have to be done soon. In the meantime, I'm not going to focus on being burned out. Instead, I'm going to get fired up to be productive!

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Puzzled

2009-02-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

So, I've been at home for the past week helping my mom recoop from a major surgery. A couple of days my grandmother came over to help out, and she just so happens to love puzzles. Long story short, I started helping a little here and there and realized that puzzles can become addicting really quickly (as crazy as it seems). So, this huge puzzle has been sitting on our kitchen table for the past week, and every time I walk by I'll find a piece here and there and put them where they go.

Tonight, however, the puzzle taught me something. I was sitting at the table eating dinner (on top of the millions of puzzle pieces) and I started looking at them trying to see if I saw one that would fit. It was then that I was reminded once again how nothing makes sense when all you see are the pieces. It's nice when God sends reminders (when I'm not even looking for them) to reassure me that the big picture works out even when I can't make sense of the pieces. And the One who's putting it all together one piece at a time has the 'plan', so He can see that the end will bring about something absolutely amazing.

I've heard a thousand illustrations of this same point, but I think God constantly sends me new ones because this is how I'm forced to live my life. I know we all live day to day without really knowing what the future holds, but at least some people have a long-term plan to work towards. It can be discouraging sometimes when I can't see the big picture. So it's cool to know that even when I don't voice these concerns, God knows them and is willing to encourage me when I need it.

So, I guess all of this to say, don't lose hope. Life may seem like total chaos at times, and we may have no idea what the big picture is supposed to look like. But that's ok. Some people get to see the box lid ahead of time and some people have it revealed as they go. So I'll just have to be ok with learning as I go. Hey, it could be worse.
(And I do love surprises, so I guess I can't complain that God chose to let my life be one big surprise :D)

Sistas

2009-02-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

Shout out to some of my sistas! :) Thanks for all you do! Love ya!!!

(By the way, this is no where near all of you, but I found these pics and they made me smile - so thanks.)

Amanda (my real sister) & I - obviously an old pic :)

Juls & Allison

Jenn

MB, Ree, Tiff

See For Yourself

2009-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

So, for everyone asking what Zumba is and why I'm addicted now, there's a link to a video below. (Warning: If you watch this video, there is a chance you also may be immediately addicted--justs a heads up) :D

This video is actually about 10 minute long, but you'll be able to see what Zumba is in the first minute. So you don't actually have to watch the whole thing. However, you'll probably want to, and I'm sure if you follow along and try it, you'll have a good workout with just the 10 minute video. (Imagine doing this for an hour straight--that's Zumba.)

Enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf0q6qtThF4

You're Not Forgotten

2009-02-09T12:15:00.001-08:00

You're not forgotten...this is what I need to say to so many things--including old friends, travel tests, weekend road trips, sleeping late, playing tennis, choreography, exercising every day, getting out of my comfort zone, ...

I used to be able to fit so many things into the day and never get tired. What happened? Is this what it's like to get old? :) Every once in a while I remember something that I haven't done in a while that I miss so much. It's on those days that I make a pact that I'm going to make time for the things that matter--not just the things I have to do but the things I want to do. Life's too short, and if I can only fit a few things in, they might as well be things I love. That doesn't mean I won't do the things I have to do--responsibility doesn't just go away (although that would be nice every once in a while). :) But I could definitely have better time management, take better care of myself, etc.

I have improved lately. I've been going swing dancing more, doing Zumba, going to Audobon park, etc., but what I really want is to return to some of the things that I used to do--things I fell in love with but have somehow left behind along the way.

So today's the day! You can be my accountability - today's the day I start getting it together and start living again; it's the day I start having life more abundantly :)

Addicted

2009-02-06T06:23:00.000-08:00

So it's official. I'm finally addicted to something besides New Orleans... Zumba! It's sooo much fun, and it does NOT feel like exercise. (It's a mix of Latin dancing and aerobics, so you can only imagine how much fun it is.) I'm pretty sure everyone should try it. And in a few short weeks, I'll be a certified instructor, which also is sooo fun :) haha

Maybe we should have a Zumba party...hmmm... :D

Yea, She's Good

2009-02-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

Just a few Elisabeth Elliot quotes. Oh, she's good... :D

“When ours are interrupted, his are not. His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or wasted or unendurable) toward the goal of true maturity.”

“God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His Holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.”

“The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it’s going to be a lot better and a lot bigger.”

“There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for. ”

Thankful?

2009-01-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

Our pastor's sermon a few weeks ago had to do with the recession, mainly how it could be a good thing. Could this be possible?

Actually, it can. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly warned the people before they entered a time or place of prosperity to resist the temptation to let it rule them. And time after time the people turned from God, causing Him to be forced to take their idols from them.

So for a little perspective, consider this--according to a survey of expenditures in the late 1980s and early1990s, Americans spent:
~ twice as much on cut flowers as overseas Protestant ministries
~ twice as much on women's sheer hosiery
~ 5 times as much on pets
~ 17 times as much on diets & diet-related products
~ 20 times as much on sports actvities
~ 26 times as much on soft drings
~ 140 times as much on legalized gambling
~ yet American Christians only gave slightly more to charitable organizations than other Christians, considering family income
~ Also, only 5% of the world's population has ever logged on to the internet, and 500 million workers are unable to keep their families above the $1 povery line.
(And that was in the early 90s--consider how much more we spend on these things now.)

Basically, America has learned to determine what is "normal" based on circumstances that are highly "unnormal." We're obsessed with getting more and are never satisfied. Our pastor said that all of the businesses in the world would fail if an epidemic of contentment broke out, and it's true.

But the hard question that we as a church are asked is, "Have you been praying for a revival in this nation?" Hopefully so. But if that is the case, maybe we are getting exactly what we asked for. In order for God to turn the hearts of His people back to Himself, he must remove their idols. What are America's idols? You guessed it--money, possessions, wealth. What better way to get our attention that to take away what we've been putting our trust and hope in as opposed to the One who deserves it?

Going through Hurricane Katrina was a unique experience, to say the least. But in the end, the city of New Orleans prospered because of it--spiritually speaking. Even today, the city has never been more open to receiving help and to talking about spiritual matters. Enduring a devastating loss of material possessions brings you to a place where openness and humility can occur. Our nation is now approaching that same "place" and a time when people are willing to try anything and will reassess what they've been putting their trust in, realizing that money may not always be there...but God will. Maybe this time of economic turmoil is exactly what we need as a nation. But Christians must take this opportunity rather than just letting it pass us by.

So am I really thankful for the recession? Not always, but I definitely realize that we have been given a great opportunity for growth and revival in our own personal lives and also as a nation. So now, the only question left to ask is, what are we going to do with this opportunity? Better yet, what are you going to do? . . .

It's My Party...

2009-01-20T06:09:00.001-08:00

My first official day back in NOLA just happened to be my bday--always fun :) I was grateful to get the many, many, many texts, facebook messages, emails, parties, etc. It's also nice to be in NOLA for your bday, seeing as everyone pins money to you, which lets everyone else know it's your birthday, which leads to more money being pinned on.

The evening ended with presents, cupcakes, cards, and amazing food from Ye Olde College Inn (best pulled duck, barbeque shrimp, and fried bread pudding in the city!)

This is me getting a gift card to Perrino's, which is a landscaping place-haha.

Julie double-fisting it & MB w/ the fried bread pudding

The infamous fried bread pudding-looks gross, but I promise it's not :)

And Jeremy's bday was the next day - so he got his own cake, complete w/ chocolate reindeer being ridden by Flat Stanley (it's a teacher thing-ha)

Road Trip

2009-01-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

So over the break I got some major quality time with the road, a beloved frenemy :D. Between going around NOLA, then to MS for Xmas with the fam, then to Georgia for YEC, then back to MS for a while, then back to NOLA...(you get the idea), we had lots of time to bond. But it was VERY worth it.

While I was home for Xmas I got to see these guys...soooo cute.

YEC was amazing this year. 164 kids got saved, and SWOW staffers got to reunite, even if only for a few days :) (Amazingly, we semi-get paid to do what you're about to see) :D

(Matching-as always, black nails & all) :)

And after it was all over, I returned to New Orleans, a city I feel I'll always be addicted to. I mean, when you think about the people, sites, activities, endless parades, palm trees - how could I not be? After all, this is what I see when I'm driving home from work... :D

It was good to go home, and now it's good to be home.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

So, I just realized that it's 2 1/2 weeks into the new year and I haven't posted ANYTHING since last year! What is my problem?! :) So since a lot has happened, I'll break it down in a few posts. You're welcome :)

So here's a little bit from New Year's:

The night started w/ us eatting cake from the movie Matillda -seriously it was HUGE. We used the icing as lipstick, but chocolate just doesn't have the coverage of the real stuff:)

Then on for a little racing and arcade action at Andretti's. I'm practicing for when I learn to surf, and apparantly Court is focusing VERY hard while flying a helicopter

These were basically my last few hours of 2008. And it wasn't very long into 2009 that my head found a pillow seeing as I had driven 9-10 hours in the past few days and had another 10-11 to come.

So in conclusion:

1. New Year's was fun

2. I am getting old

3. I drive a lot

4. I'm pretty sure I have a future in surfing, especially if surfing success depends on hitting random coins floating the in the air to win points

This is Jeremy's Fault

2008-12-31T07:48:00.000-08:00

Rules:
Once you've read this, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. And finding 16 random facts is surprisingly harder than I thought it would be.

Here goes:
1. I love ingredients--meaning I love most kinds of dough/batter - cookie, biscuit, brownie, pancake...you name it, I'll probably eat it--and also tons of things in their "natural state."

2. I've had stitches 6 times, and all but 1 of those times was in my face.

3. In MS, I have 2 cats: a boy named Chelsey, and a girl named Gus. We were 'misinformed' about their genders and by the time we realized they'd been switched, we were already used to their names, so we left them.

4. I LOVE to travel - and I don't really care where as long as I get to do something I've never done before. In fact, by the end of the year I'll officially be a certified travel agent - not because I want to be a travel agent, just because I love travel, and also b/c I LOVE missions and assume knowing all the in's and out's of travel couldn't hurt.

5. A friend and I are currently in the process of starting a non-profit organization, which will essentially involve missions education, mobilization, and consultation. So if anyone wants to donate... :)

6. My favorite color is green-not lime, but bright green.

7. I'm not a fan of little animals, except for baby animals that are going to eventually be really big.

8. One of my "OCD's" is that I used to look at things in 5's - hard to explain...you'll just have to ask.

9. My 2-pg. life list includes ridiculous things, like spending the night in a tree, riding and ostrich, and giving away a car--not sure why. These are just things I want to do.

10. I tend to look at the clock at exactly 1:11 or 11:11 A LOT of the time - not quite sure how that works out, it just does.

11. I'm currently relearning Spanish. I knew Spanish in high school but didn't use it, so I lost it. Yet I can understand a good deal of what is being said and sometimes say things in Spanish without knowing where it's coming from, so hopefully it's still 'in there' somewhere.

12. Right now I'm listening to mostly easygoing, Jason Mraz-type music or all-out rock, which are nothing alike but somehow are filling my playlists right now. Go figure.

13. I turned 26 today! And as Matt says, "it's good to be equally divisible by 2 again."

14. I love trying new things and try to do at least 1 new thing a week, although I'm not always successful. However, other weeks I get to do lots of new things, so I like to think it balances out.

15. Speaking of balance, I'm obsessed with things being even, which is why I like odd numbers - it always leaves 1 in the middle :) Yet, if you asked me which I liked better (odd or even), I'd initially say even, because I like balance. Hmmm, never thought of that until just now. :)

16. I have the cutest, funniest, smartest nephews in the world. And yet somehow I have learned to remain completed unbiased, which is apparent by my previous remark. haha

P.S. Sorry I've been M.I.A. for the past few weeks, but it was worth it. Hope you all had a great break. :)

Santa Suspended?

2008-12-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

What do you think? Guilty or Innocent?

Don't Interrupt...Rude!

2008-12-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

So, I can honestly say that I've had this experience in several New Orleans fast food restaurants. Ok, may not this EXACT situation, but some are pretty close. Actually, a few are even funnier...if you can imagine :)

Come join the fun! :)

Bon Qui Qui at King Burger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZkdcYlOn5M

SNO-LA

2008-12-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

So, it's finally snowing in NOLA (aka New Orleans)! yay! Despite the fact that it was in the 70s last week and we were wearing shorts and it's supposed to be in the upper 60s in a few days, the snow decided to make an appearance anyway. It's sad but it really is an historic day for NOLA. It NEVER snows here, much less this early in the year. And it's the BIGGEST flakes we've ever seen. It really is pretty w/ the campus and all the landscaping. It didn't start until I got to work, but I told my roommates they should take our Christmas tree outside and take pics w/ the snow on it, which is funnier when you realize it's a decorated, prelit palm tree. haha

Also, NOLA is now buzzing w/ the sound that maybe the Saints have a chance after all! haha

UPDATE: Here are a few pics of the campus and city...

Can't We All Just Get Along?

2008-12-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

Why do some people feel the need to be competitive ALL the time, especially when they are competing for absolutely nothing?! I tend to be competitive in certain situations, but I'm also the type of person that genuinely doesn't care if I don't win. Very few things in life are really worth getting all "bent out of shape" for, as my grandmother would say.

Yet there are those people who cannot handle not being the best, the funniest, the most popular, the winner. What's the point? Yes, it is nice to win sometimes or to be the best at something. But when it comes to friends, is there ANY reason to be competitive? Does it really matter who has more friends? Can't we all just get along? :)

So in response to those people who cannot accept that some people like to have more than one friend and that they do not always have to be the center of attention...GET OVER IT!

**End of pointless rant for the day** :)

Shout Out to Lottie Moon

2008-12-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

Shout Out to Lottie Moon (and especially in honor of Leah, who is living proof of the Lottie Moon offering money in action) :)

Hit our home girl up through her annual Christmas offering to help fund international missions. I've seen the money in action, and believe me...you wanna get a piece of this.

I know finances are tighter this year with everything that's going on, but when it comes to someone whose eternity is at stake, it really seems like a small price to pay. So in the words of Nike, "Just do it!"

p.s. WWLMD? (What Would Lottie Moon Do?) :)
---
Ok, that was as ghetto as we could get and still emphasize the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. haha.

Dancing Ninja

2008-12-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

So, I took a quiz to see what my dance style is, and it turns out I'm...Jive. This is what said quiz told me:

"Whoa, wild child! It takes a lot to slow you down. A lively and fun person, you're happiest when you're out, about, and on the go. We bet you're usually the first person on the dance floor...and probably one of the last ones off. You know how to boogie and have a good time — and that's what makes you just like the jive.You've got a bold streak in you and don't mind taking some risks to veer off the beaten path every once in a while. Admit it — you're a bit of a daredevil, and you love to push boundaries and make your own mark on the world. There's nothing jive about that. Keep it up!"

Also, I'm a ninja. So watch out, because apparantly I like to kick butt and take names. haha

Lost at Sea

2008-12-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

I've never been allowed to see the long-term plans for my life. I just get to know what the next step is, and only when I take that step is the next phase revealed. Obviously, this is very aggrevating at times--especially in a world when every conversation starter has to do with wanting to know what my long-term plan is. But I know that God has a reason for all of it, and I probably would be overwhelmed by the seeing the whole plan anyway.

I've always used different analogies to explain my life - such as driving at night in a fog (meaning, I can only see what's right in front of me, and the only way to see beyond that is to move forward with what I can see). There's also the idea of God being a light unto my path, revealing in the dark where I should walk next. Recently, it's been the idea of being lost at sea, which is a little scarier than just walking in the dark (although that is also very scary sometimes). The main difference is that at sea, I have absolutely NO control, whereas when I'm walking I can still feel a little secure on my own. But that insecurity also is a good thing, because there's a peace in knowing that when I feel completely helpless is when I am able to trust God the most...in a way that I should trust at all times. That being the case, I guess I'm ok being lost at sea. And after all, I'm not really lost. God knows where I am and where I'm going, so I guess I should just sit back and enjoy the ride.

(sidenote: It's funny that my blog is "Hold on, It's a bumpy ride," because it becomes more of a reality everyday. haha)
-------

How could you see what you see and not totally
Want to discontinue me for all eternity and then some
It bothers me so that I could be so
Completely unaffected when connected to the holy one
And so I sit here and stare at this page and wonder
At what age it will become clear to me
So for now I am clueless to how you do this
And how you move this spirit in me

I'm going Your way
Even though I cannot see in front of me
I'm going Your way
Even though I feel lost at sea

How could your favor be the flavor I savor
When the fruits of my labor are so unfavorable
And old pages are setting the stages for something outrageous
A man who can save all our souls
And you know and you know

I'm going Your way
Even though I cannot see in front of me
I'm going Your way
Even though I feel lost at sea

Ride the wave, wave goodbye, by the way did I mention
Today that I don't know the way home
So could you take me by the hand
And lead me to the dryer land
So I can finally breathe again instead of sinking like a stone
And now I will diligently and not religiously but affectionately
Come before the throne of your grace in this place
And seek your face for all eternity and then some
-Jimmy Needham

Happy Slapsgiving!

2008-11-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

"I didn't slap you - I just high-fived your face..."

PS "Just be yourself. People like you." (for all you Mitch Hedberg fans--you know who you are...) :)

I Need a VACATION!

2008-11-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

Ever have those days (or weeks) when you just need to get away - from work, from school, from people, from everything?...

Well, I'm there. But at least there's hope - 1 week til semi-vacation! yay! :)

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:12

Biggest Loser

2008-11-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

"I'm the biggest sinner I know." - CJ Mahaney

We like to judge others and jump to conclusions based on their words and actions. But in reality, we are the biggest sinners we know, because we know our own actions, words, thoughts, and motives. So, it's no use comparing ourselves with others to try to feel better about ourselves, because in the end, we're still the 'biggest loser.' We all deny it, but if we were completely honest with ourselves, we'd have to admit that it's true.

It's also pretty easy to look at everyone else's faults and decide what they need to change about their actions, their decisions, their personality, and even their clothes. This truth is actually pretty ironic. We spend so much time looking in the mirror and focusing on ourselves, but all we see is what is wrong with everyone else. How does that even happen? I'm pretty sure there an 1,859 reasons (or excuses) why, but in the end, it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that we realize when we are criticizing God's creation (including ourselves). Everyone has faults, but we can't be so consumed with what's wrong with the world that we fail to do anything about the one person we can change--ourselves.

Just food for thought...

Turkey Tips

2008-11-12T06:54:00.001-08:00

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing -- imagine that.When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when poultry is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out.Give this a try.

15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good.)
1 cup uncooked popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT)
Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the back of the oven. Listen for the popping sounds.

When the turkey's rear-end blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.

And, you thought I didn't cook...

Solution to Slavery

2008-11-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

"According to the Bible, the primary way to define sin is not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship to God..." (Timothy Keller, “The Reason for God”)

The Problem with Man Seldom Lies in his “Things” but rather in what has become his “Ultimate Things.”
When the Wrong Things become Ultimate Things, man Loses His Freedom and takes on a Yoke of Slavery.
(Keith Collins)
----
We've been enslaved to sin, which includes not just bad things but also the good things that become our focus and distract us from God. But luckily, God has the solution for slavery...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

Don't Judge

2008-11-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

So the Ameriquest Mortgage commercials are hilarious! Here are a few of my fav.s:

Brownie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QbboOzpy7g

Concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEfg3mVqPtE

Hospital:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15pycI5A2kc

Happy Voting Day

2008-11-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

May the madness soon be over!!!...(or just beginning, based on who's elected) :)

Pumpkins + Hip Hop = Family Fun

2008-11-03T06:53:00.000-08:00

We finally carved our pumpkins last week at family dinner night...here's a little taste of what really went down. :)

Congrats to Mari & Julie on their 1st pumpkin carving experiences! You survived! And while you can't hear our hip hop playlist, it was definitely there :)

For Out of the Heart...

2008-10-30T07:10:00.001-07:00

What comes out of our mouths reflects what's in our hearts. And who we are (which can be seen in what we say and how we say it) is more important that what we do, so we must take the time to look--really look--at ourselves and see who we are. Consider what you are saying today. Is it angry? bitter? hurtful? joyful? encouraging? apathetic? And more importantly, does it reflect who you want to be? Because you are the only one who can keep you from becoming who you want to be.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."

Firsts

2008-10-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Finally, I'm posting some pics from the cruise :)

I had a lot of firsts on this trip, such as:

1st time jumping on a trampoline in the middle of the ocean

1st time eating sushi & liking it

1st time riding water slides on a ship in the middle of the ocean

1st gala dinner pic in front of a lego cruise ship

1st time I faced off with a towel duck

1st time I learned to latin dance on the main stage

1st trip to Chichen Itza, 1 of the 7 wonders of the world

We also went Snuba Diving, which was a first (but I'll have to scan those pics) and had lobster and escargo for the first time :/

Stay tuned. More pics to come...

Creeds Breed Deeds

2008-10-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:8-9

We so often hear verses or songs that we've heard all of our lives and easily overlook what they are saying. This verse is very much that way in my life. It is full of commands and promises while revealing the character of God, but it is so easy not to notice.

Our Pivot message this past week was on biblical thinking, and several points about this verse stood out, so here goes:

~ We are to think godly thoughts so that we might cultivate godly desires - we won't live what we are not thinking. (creeds breed deeds - our beliefs will affect our actions)

~ We let the world be the trend-setter, rather than God. God may reveal something and we just think it's ok. Then, the world reveals the same thing, and we think it's amazing. Our minds are very impressionable, and we let the world have more access to it than God.

~ The reality is that for better or worse, your thought patterns are tied into everything that's going on in your life.

~ Don't overlook the promise in the verse: "the God of peace will be with you"; as we change our thoughts, we experience grace, peace, joy, etc. And as a result, we experience God and learn more about his character, because God is grace, peace, joy, etc. As we think on truth, excellence, and beauty, we encounter Christ, who is truth, excellence, beauty. The God of peace will be with you and the peace of God will be with you.

8 Days from Paradise

2008-10-10T08:06:00.001-07:00

Today starts the 8-day countdown to our cruise! Yay! Needless to say, it is MUCH needed right about now.

Come on Oct. 18!!! You can do it! Come ON!! :) :)

Palin vs. Clinton

2008-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

This SNL skit is pretty funny. Fox would be proud of this 'fair and balanced' speech. :) But don't take my word for it, watch for yourself:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

Down with Anxiety!

2008-10-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

Just some thoughts from this past week:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:4-7

-Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. This is not a conditional statement. It's a command. It is not dependent on whether or not life is going as I'd like or whether everything seems to be going wrong. Rejoice always.

-Do not be anxious about anything. Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it gets you nowhere. And in the end, you're just tired and frustrated and have nothing to show for it.

-Bring everything to God with thanksgiving. We often read God our want list without expressing our gratitude for the things we have. Or we express to God what we are feeling and ask for His help, but again we do not thank him for the situation.

Lord,

Thank you for my bills, for they mean my needs are being met.

Thank you for tests and assignments, because they mean I am being challenged and prepared to serve.

Thank you for interaction with stressful people, because it means I have the opportunity to learn patience and understanding.

Thank you for my job and all of the good and bad aspects that come with it, because it means I am able to work.

Thank you for not letting me know the future, because it causes me to depend and trust in you alone.

Thank you for the daily reminder that I will never overcome sin, because it reminds me of your grace and mercy.

Thank you for health problems, because it makes me more appreciative of the times when I am healthy and nothing hurts.

Most of all, thank you for being faithful, even when I am not. You know my every need, and I trust you to provide. Help me to be anxious about nothing and thankful for everything.

The Neverending Story

2008-09-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

While looking through our pics from the AT hiking trip, we realized there was an ongoing story throughout the trip that we had never even noticed. (Disclaimer: The story I'm about to tell is not really true, but it WAS absolutely hilarious to us as we started making up our own story while looking at the pics.) Enjoy!
--------------

There's a legend of a girl who once ventured off into the mountains with her dear friends. However, something occurred in the hills that the group of friends has never recovered from...something terrible and unexplainable. This is the story of the fateful weekend...

Once upon a time, a hiking trip occurred. There was lots of time for thinking and reflecting on God's creation. That is, until "the neverending story" began. The story is said to go something like this...

Marsha: Hey, let's take a pic on this bridge...and then I'll tell you a story that I was just reminded of..."

Marsha: So, one time when I was in the Philippines...

(15 minutes later...)

Bill: (thinking: wow, this story is amazing, but it sure has been going on for a while. I think I'll start walking and she can finish telling it on the way to the waterfalls.)

Marsha: blah, blah, blah.....

Bill: (thinking: ok, so it's been 45 minutes and the story is still going. It HAS to be almost over.)

Marsha: Wait, Bill. Come back! I'm not finished yet.

Marsha: blah, blah, blah, Philippines, blah, blah...

Mari: (thinking: Wow, Bill was not joking. This story is STILL going on!)

Marsha: Bill, Mari. Are you up there? I have to finish my story...

Bill: You don't understand, Mari, I CANNOT listen to any more stories.

Mari: I know, but just try to be nice. We only have 46 hours left. Or, maybe we can lose her on the trail...

Marsha: Hey, listen to this...

Bill: Jump, Mari! Let's get out of here!

Mari: Wait for me, Bill!!!

Later that night, Bill wrote in is journal...

"Dear God, I know I've been praying for patience and perseverance lately, but seriously? Having to listen to Marsha is a little extreme don't you think?..."

The group did have a one night break between hiking, and they were seen out in the square resting and having a good meal. Legend says that one person remembered seeing the group that night and overheard the following conversation:

Marsha: That was so much fun, but I'm glad to be out for the night and rest a little. Hey, that reminds me of a story...

*cricket, cricket*...

And that was the last time Marsha was ever seen again. People sometimes say they can hear her at night...laughing and telling a story. Mari and Bill, on the other hand, also hear her at night, but only because their therapists haven't helped them work through all of the memories and the nightmares continue. Perhaps one day we will find out what really happened in the mountains that weekend. But until then, the legend lives on.

~THE END~

A Lake Runs Thru It

2008-09-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

I realize that usually lakes don't run through anything, unless you are in New Orleans when there's a tropical storm warning. Needless to say, we received nothing from Hurricane Ike compared to Texas. However, the lake did decide to leave its comfort zone (& ours) to come play with us, and the crazy winds were actually a little fun. (Except for the time the wind almost blew us off of the levee, which would have led to certain death...or two wet and muddy girls.)

The morning started w/ our fence blowing into the neighbor's car.

Don't worry-MB & I fixed it :) :)

The city did close the gates to keep the lake out...

but yes, that is water coming thru & under the gate. Oh well.

But don't worry. The drain is catching the water leaking thru the gates...

Reason #57 that the city floods when it rains, and when it doesn't...

The mailman actually came while we were there. Someone offered him their kayak if he wanted to keep going, but he refused--not exactly what I call commitment to the job. Apparantly, the saying "neither rain nor sleet nor snow..." does not apply during a tropical storm.

Yes, this is the lake. But it's supposed to be the parking lot!

Ridiculous-crazy wind does not equal cool hair. But it does equal mucho fun!

P.S. Meanwhile, back in the car, a lonely carton of Edie's ice cream melts away. (Can I write that off as a disaster-related loss?). . . Ah, the price you pay for being a fox news correspondent. Dang you Fox News UReport!

What's Your Purpose?

2008-09-14T06:57:00.001-07:00

What is it that you want to do, and what is it that you were meant to do? One of the mega trends of the past few years has been finding purpose. Obviously, there is an innate desire to have and fulfill a purpose, to find the meaning of life and what your role is in it. We are all here for a reason, and every person, whether they are a believer or not, can sense it.

But the real question is, when you find out what that purpose is, are you going to be willing to do your part, even if it means doing something that is hard or dangerous. Many people will ask you why you would be willing to go overseas or confront someone or do anything that seems unpleasant when you could choose not to do so. But what everyone forgets is that if we are doing what we were called to do, then we are much safer in that place or experience than we would be anywhere else. My mom used to worry about me going places and doing new things, but then she would always say, "But I know that God can take care of you there just as well as He can take care of you here."

My desire to be adventurous, to truly live, and to fulfill God's purpose is there for a reason, just as your desires and goals and purposes have been given to you for a reason. Don't back down from doing what you know you are supposed to do just because it doesn't seem safe or because other people don't understand. People will never fully understand. That's just part of the test of obedience.

Being the quote freak that I am:), I have a quote that often challenges me in these areas--to do things that will enable me to live and not just be alive but also to do what I am called to do, even when I don't want to, when it seems dangerous, or when other people just don't understand. And I hope you accept the challenge to do what you are called to do.

"The ship is safest when it is in port. But that's not what ships were made for."
- Paulo Coelho

More than Alive

2008-09-12T20:24:00.001-07:00

So I've said it before and I'll say it again--

there is a difference between living and being alive.

We all need to be reminded of this on a regular basis, and since this idea was one of the reasons for starting this blog, I thought I'd remind us all. So...this is your friendly reminder :)

"May you live all the days of your life."

Pack It Out

2008-09-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I may not do the whole hiking series I had planned on, but I will add some more pics. Also, we took some video clips as part of our documentary and are planning on making a "movie" of sorts. Should we ever finish it, I might be persuaded to add it, also. But don't think you're getting off the hook that easy. There will be one more day of pics after today that tell a story--granted, it is a misleading story, but still, who's going to know if you weren't on the trip :)

The 3 Amigos (Aaron wasn't w/ us yet)

Oh, hey Aaron. There you are!

Mari & Bill pumping water

The sun is setting between our heads...

...nevermind. Bill caught it :)

"Simba, one day all of this will be yours..."

Everything was really not this blue :)

But the water was FREEZING!!!

Our reward when we finished:

going to Amsterdam, aka Helen, GA :)

And I saved the best for last. While at the falls, we came across Gollum, from Lord of the Rings. It turns out he is quite the acrobat...

Tune in tomorrow for another episode of "What Not To Do When Hiking" with your host, Marsha :)

It Is Finished

2008-09-09T09:33:00.001-07:00

We finally made it out of the mountains, and we're all still alive...barely :) It was an extremely challenging week but the kind that you look back on and remember as mostly good.

I'll add more stories, pics, and details later, but I have to read a 500 page book and do a book review in two days, so I'll just give highlights for now. Here goes:

~ finally seeing Bigfoot in the GA mountains - we have video to prove it
~ climbing waterfalls
~ mice running around our heads
~ sore muscles and blisters
~ watching Gollum from Lord of the Rings play in the stream
~ networking on the trail
~ 26 miles! (which feels like 72 for those of you who don't hike) :)
~ new friends

It's hard to see, but Mari & I are sitting on the rock

half way up the falls

T minus 1

2008-09-02T20:03:00.001-07:00

So, I haven't done a very good job of keeping you updated about our training experiences for the AT Experience (from an earlier post in case you missed it). But tomorrow is the big day. FINALLY, we're going hiking. It came close to not happening several times, but we have overcome! :) Despite Hurricane Gustav and lots of other obstacles, we are still planning on going. I guess it just makes it part of the experience. AND, the best part is that we actually achieved all of the training goals we set for ourselves, even though we thought there was absolutely no way we could reach them by the time we were supposed to leave. Unfortunately, we never got to practice climbing steep hills with our packs on, because our plan was to go climb the levees this past weekend. Obviously, that didn't happen. Although if it had, I think we would've been much more prepared than we ever needed to be. :) :)

All this to say, all of our hard work will be tested over the next few days as we go on our hiking extravaganza. Just like the levees, we'll see if our hard work and preparation pays off. Hopefully, it will. Otherwise, this might be the last post I ever write...just kidding. I'll be sure to post pics when we get back, but until then be praying for us. Pray for new friendships (since I only know one person going), endurance and stamina, lots of learning experiences, and tons of fun!

So, until next time...

Not So En Fuego-Pt. 2

2008-08-28T15:10:00.001-07:00

So, you’ve heard all about En Fuego and the lack thereof. Now for the rest of the weekend…

The weekend just got better from there. (And I'm being totally sarcastic.) I won't take the time to tell you everything that happened, because you probably wouldn't believe me anyway. I'll just say this...by the time we were finally crossing the twin-span back into New Orleans, the wind was blowing so hard we thought we would blow off the road into the river. And had we blown into river, we were not even going to fight it. "Hold your breath ‘til you pass out and just go quietly into the cold, dirty water." That was the philosophy me and MB had agreed upon. But with the way the weekend was going, we probably would've miraculously floated...back to Slidell, where we would've been forced to drive over AGAIN. Obviously, we made it across, and the weekend was definitely an experience, to say the least. And at the end of the day, that's all that matters, so I guess it was a success.

I will, however, tell you a few of the other crazy things that happened in our two-day trip:
-just as the power went out, a roach ran across my foot;
-my roommates had a slight accident in my car while I was gone, resulting in my side mirror hanging by the wire and a few other things;
-the power was out at most every gas station or Wal-mart we tried to go to for about an hour
-we found speed bumps that are so big, they hit underneath the car while we were going over...I guess it's a good thing we didn't get stuck :)
-while eating at El Jalapeno's during TS Fay, water starting coming in under the walls and the wind was so strong it kept sucking the doors open
-MB missed seeing Family Force 5 for the second time this year :(

These are a FEW of our adventures, but you get the idea. But to end on a positive note, a few of the other things that were fun were: learning that the state of Alabama is apparently obsessed with turkey and the girl at Sonic giving a drum roll before giving us our totals, which made me want to tip here a lot.

Now, we are waiting to see where Gustav is going to go. Hopefully, this weekend will not be as "exciting" as last weekend. Pray that it's really boring. :) :)

And now for the finale... :)

Us looking for Family Force 5...or pirates

Then, we resorted to begging Fay to STOP...

Oh well, back to senior portraits...

And when all else fails, dance!

(or jump around and act a fool) :)

En Fuego My Ego - Pt. 1

2008-08-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we set off for En Fuego, an all-day concert with tons of great bands. However, our non-friend (TS Fay, as we like to call her) also decided to come to the concert. After driving for a little over 5 hours in crazy wind and rain, we arrived at our friend Jen's house. We drove out to En Fuego just in time for the entire thing to shut down due to 60 mph wind advisories and tornado watches/warnings. Good times. But after driving 5 hours, we felt like we still needed to do something fun to justify the drive (not that hanging out w/ Jen wasn't fun) :) We also needed to test out the 87 cent ponchos from Wal-mart.

So we headed out to some random places around town and eventually end up at Jen's church for our 'senior portraits' with our ponchos. All the while TS Fay is moving in, which did help with the wind effect we needed for some of the shots. :) However, it was kind of scary a few times, what with the transformers surging every time the power went out and the massive tree limbs falling all around us. No, it was probably not the smartest thing we've ever done, but it was one of the funest.

Ok, so originally this post got VERY long, so I’ll divide it into 2 parts. You can thank me later :) But for now, I'll just post some of the pics so that maybe you'll bear with me and tune in for episode 2, coming to a city near you...

Us on the way to En Fuego...

(Jen & Daniel's pic didn't turn out, seeing as they were driving)

Everyone leaving En Fuego as we arrive

Some of the playground pics

Progressive Dinner

2008-08-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Mary Beth!!!

So, for Mary Beth's birthday, we decided she should not be limited to choosing one place to eat. So we picked several and attempted to make it to all of them. We also decided to change things up by going to restaurants that we have at "home." (Usually, we eat at restaurants that are unique to New Orleans rather than chain restaurants.) Aaaaaand, we started a day early just so the "day" would last extra long.

We started last night at Olive Garden with appetizers before heading across the street to Applebee's. Other festivities included the word find contest, the chimecheesecake scavenger hunt, and the Earl extravaganza. Those things won't mean much to you if you weren't there, but they were definitely memorable moments. We were planning on hitting up the Kupcake Factory after Applebee's, but they were closed by the time we finished. But did we give up? No! The progressive dinner stretched out over two days, finishing with the Kupcake Factory tonight before heading to the movies to see 'The House Bunny.'

I guess it's not technically a dinner if it lasts for multiple days, but hey, if you're gonna do it, you might as well go big. Don't settle for being confined to one place, day, or dessert! That's my theory.

And in case you don't feel like reading, the picture version is below: :) :)

Day 1 of the party begins...

The word-find race goes down

And the winner is... (Of course, it's me. I have mad word search skills like you would not believe) :)

Sorry, we forgot to get pics of everything tonight, but hopefully you can read, so you don't need them anyway. And if you can't read, then you don't know what I just said, so you are not offended... :)

Hope you had a great b'day, MB. And the fun doesn't stop here. En Fuego, here we come!

Knowing God

2008-08-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Just a few thoughts from J.I. Packer:

"Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord."

"There's a big difference between knowing God and knowing about God."

"What matters supremely, therefore, is not the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it--the fact that he knows me. I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind. All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is no moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters."

"There is certainly, great cause for humility in the thought that he sees all the twisted things about me that my fellow humans do not see (and am I glad!), and that he sees more corruption in me than that which I see in myself (which, in all conscience, is enough). There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, he wants me as his friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given his Son to die for me in order to realize this purpose."

Knowing God - J.I. Packer

Big Foot is Blurry

2008-08-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about Big Foot and possible new sightings. The late Mitch Hedberg also had a theory on Bigfoot, which I think makes perfect sense. :)

"I think Bigfoot is blurry, that's the problem. It's not the photographer's fault. Bigfoot is blurry, and that's extra scary to me. There's a large out of focus monster roaming the countryside. Look out, he's fuzzy! Let's get out of here!"

All this time, Mitch had the answer...who knew? :)

Olympic Fever

2008-08-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

So, I officially have Olympic fever! From the opening ceremony, which was absolutely amazing, to swimming, volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics. You name it, I've seen it (or part of it)--even fencing and water polo. Ok, so I haven't watched everything, but I've at least listened to a lot of it while doing other things. But you have to admit that there's something about the sense of patriotic pride you feel when the US takes another gold or breaks another world medal.

See, Phelps is excited. You should be, too.

The best moments of the Olympics so far (although everything has been amazing) were definitely the drums during the opening ceremony (one day that will be me...well probably not, but it would be fun) and the men's 4x100m swimming. Phelps is always fun to watch, but the relay was by far the greatest. I love team sports anyway, but the comeback at the end of the race mixed with Phelps in slow motion jumping up and down and acting a fool was the BEST! I screamed, I held my breath, I laughed hysterically. Sooo much fun.

So to sum things up, represent and watch! (It's good for your health) :)

International Hostess Cupcake Day

2008-08-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, so there's really no such thing as Hostess Cupcake Day...yet. But I think there should be. If, however, there were such a day, it should definitely be today.

As you know, it's officially the one and only time the date will be 08/08/08. What does this have to do with cupcakes, you may ask. Good question. Well, yesterday we had an office discussion on what we should do to commemorate 08/08/08, which led to such ideas as eating 8 of everything or only eating foods that looked like (or could look like) an 8. We also all came to work today at 8:08 (oh, we're rebels-I know) :) While discussing foods and other things that might look like an 8, someone mentioned the hostess cupcake. This would be the perfect snack for today, seeing as there are actually 5 circle loops on the cupcake, which also looks like the 5 olympic rings. And since today is also the first day of the olympics, what better food would fit the occasion so perfectly?!

Therefore, we voted that today should furthermore be declared 'International Hostess Cupcake Day.' So today, feel free to eat as many as you want (or 8). Dress like one. Pretend you are one. The sky's the limit. :)

Below you'll find pics of people (young and old, human and not) who have been honoring the day long before they even knew it existed. Way to support the holiday! :)

Here's to Hostess Cupcakes, 08/08/08, and the Olympics! May your day be filled with calories, chocolate, over-indulgence, and competitive workouts--(what a combination) :) ......Now, that's living!

The AT Experience

2008-08-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

So, Mari and I have officially begun training to go hiking on the Appalachain Trail in Georgia. We've been working VERY hard for the past week and a half and can already run 4 times as far as when we started, which is very encouraging. We're also going to run up and down the levees, since that's basically like climbing a steep mountain. (haha)

The actual mountain we'll be climbing is called Blood Mountain, to which I reply, "There better not be a good reason it's named that!" It's also near a place called Slaughter Gut, which doesn't really scream 'fun' to me, either. But now I have learned that it's name comes from the fact that a major battle occurred there, which makes me feel a little better. :)

So as a means of motivating ourselves to train, Mari and I are going to keep up with our progress here - we're bringing out the big guns when it comes to accountability. So enjoy (even though we're probably not) :) We'll make sure to try to post some pics that show our progress without making us look too much like we're dying, which is probably how we'll feel. Just kidding. No, really I'm not. :)

So, until the next update, here's to the AT Experience!

Fighting Strongholds

2008-08-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday our pastor preached on learning to fight strongholds. It was both convicting and motivating. As I've been challenged and reminded lately to live life to it's fullest, I realize that fighting the strongholds in your life is part of the process. I'll hit some of the high points of the message, although you should really listen to the entire thing if possible.

First, it's important to realize that the life of being a Christian is war--it involves fighting. I know this is not what we're traditionally taught growing up, but it's true. We're called to be continually fighting our strongholds, or the areas in our lives with which we are always struggling. Everyone has them, and they're different for each person. (Just like belly buttons) :) The danger, however, comes when you are unable to identify these areas, because that means you are definitely not fighting them. And if you're not fighting the enemy, that means he is living among you. The official definition of a stronghold is 'a place that has been fortified against attack,' which means these are the places in your life that when YOU go to attack them, they offer strong and often successful resistance. That is not to say that they cannot be defeated--only that it will be a hard and continuous battle.

There are many possible reasons or causes for strongholds, but most often it has to do with us and our desire to fulfill and satisfy our cravings, whether it's for work, food, drugs, whatever. It is possible for us to unintentionally create an environment that is favorable to strongholds. 1 Peter 5:8-9 warns us to be watchful, because "your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." He has lots of options to pick from, seeing as everyone has a stronghold. But Satan is not looking for just anyone. He's looking for those who are ripe-those he can devour. When we don't fight for ourselves and resist strongholds, we are making ourselves ripe and ready to be devoured.

The best way to start fighting a stronghold is to identify it, which shouldn't be hard since it will be something that is a continual struggle. Also, realize that whatever you make yourself available to will be what rules you. For example, the mind. If you make yourself available to your thoughts, ideas, fantasies, etc., they will start to take over. Also, you must make sure you are thinking accurately about your life. Are you a workaholic? Is that your stronghold? If so, remind yourself that your email is not as important as your soul. We let things take over because they are what we want, but they are definitely not what we need. Lastly, make sure you're prepared to fight each day. Pray on the armor of God each morning, realizing that Satan started the day ready to fight. And if he's ready and you're not, the probability of you losing is much higher.

It's both powerful and discouraging to know that this is what is happening on a daily basis, but it's better to be aware and ready to fight than allow Satan to hinder you from experiencing God's glory or discourage you by using the strongholds in your life. It's pretty powerful stuff, and there is so much more that I'm not going to take the time to write about here. Actually, these are only notes from the last part of the 3-part series. Check out the entire sermon or series on the website when you have time. It's definitely one of the first steps in winning the battle. After all, the first step is admitting you have a problem. :) :)

(http://www.lakeviewchristiancenter.com/messages/) -Both the notes and sermon are provided, so you should be good to go. Enjoy!

Tea, Swans, & Goodbyes

2008-07-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

So in honor of Jana leaving the Crescent City, the President's team had tea today at Windsor Court, which is always a good time. There were lots of laughs, some crazy stories, and (as always) excellente' food and tea. Also, there may have been an incident that involved the accidental decapitation of a swan. But don't worry. We took pictures for the crime lab, and there WILL be a full investigation. :)

The Swan: Before & After

Vanee w/ absolutely no remorse

The President's Team

Me & Angelia

Jana opening gifts

--Other noteworthy things that were discussed over tea:

~ a traffic jam today on I-10 due to an escaped alligator that was hit by a car...how do you claim that on your insurance?

~ the lack of basements in homes in Oklahoma, resulting in tornado evacuations to New Orleans--go figure

~ tote. enough said.

~ "I mean, you don't have to chase me down to give me a tip. Really. I'll just take it."

~ Vanee: "Do you want white or dark chocolate?" Me: "I'm an equal opportunity chocolate eater. I don't discrimate based on color."

~ To: Jana From: Cinderella

We'll miss you Jana!!!

Hug a Cheesecake

2008-07-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

Happy National Cheesecake Day!!!

(aka Cheesecake Awareness Day)

In celebration of this most wonderful holiday, we did the obvious...devoured some cheesecake...

Exhibit A: the cheesecake

Exhibit B: cheesecake leaving the building

This goes out to all those lonely cheesecakes, who had no one to share this momentous occasion with, who remain on the cold, dark shelf yet long to one day be a part of one of the best holidays ever :)

So, If you have not done so today, HUG A CHEESECAKE! Because cheesecake needs love, too.

Walk It Out

2008-07-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

So, this weekend was semi-restful and muy fun. I had a three day weekend, was very productive, and got to take a nap for the first time in FOREVER! Ok, maybe not forever, but a reaaaallly long time. The rest of the weekend consisted of a little bit of the following:

This might as well have been our living room Friday night.

"I'm worried about your salvation...and stuuuff."

One of the best parts of the weekend was walking and talking in the rain. God revealed several awesome lessons through stories I have told a million times, but I had never grasped what he was doing through the situation. God truly has a plan to work everything for good, whether we realize it or not. And it's especially awesome to finally realize how and when He was working in the situation, whether it's 5 minutes after the fact or 5 years, as was the case this weekend.

Change-It's a Comin'

2008-07-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Do you ever just wake up and realize that everything has changed? This happens pretty often in my life. But what's worse is when I start noticing the changes as they happen. I'm not sure which is worse---to suddenly realize my life, job, friends, family, etc. is different or to see it start changing and know there is nothing I can do about it?

Of course, change is not always bad. Many times change results in excitement and a better situation. But most times it's bitter sweet. There's an excitement about what is in the future, but there is sadness that life as I know it is about to change. A lot of change is coming my way--change that I never expected and didn't really want. But as the time draws near and I slowly grasp that it's inevitable, I'm starting to get excited. Yes, I'm still sad, but at least I'm prepared. I'm a very sentimental person, so I'm not surprised that I would have these thoughts. However, I'm ALWAYS surprised that it never gets easier. But that can be a good thing. And after all, easy doesn't equal happy, so it's all good. :)

I'm still not sure which is better-being surprised or being part of the process. So for now I'll just assume that both are a part of life and both can be teaching moments. So good or bad, exciting or sad, ready or not, here it comes. And I'm alright with that.

Use It AND Lose It

2008-07-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

So, of course I have a hundred thousand million (aka billion) :) quotes on living life to its fullest. Recently, I was going through some I haven't read in a while and thought they were worth sharing. So here goes...

~ "Don't be afraid of the unknown in the journey; be afraid of missing the life God has appointd you to live." (Claude Hickman)

~ "It is easy for your heart to trick you into trying to save your life, but if you let it, it will certainly cost you the life you were meant to experience: the life on the journey." (Claude Hickman)

~ "I am convinced the great tragedy is not the sins that we commit, but the life that we fail to live...At worst a passive life is only pitied, yet God counts it as a tragedy when we choose to simply watch life rather than live it." (Erwin McManus)

~ "Don't make a living. Make a life." (Samuel Zwemer)

~ "If you want to save your life--lose it on the things that matter. Lose your life with all your might." (Claude Hickman)

Dry Hands + Breakfast = Happiness

2008-07-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hand dryers...just when you think it can't get any better, along comes breakfast.

Serve

2008-07-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

"Every day do something you don't want to do. Pick up someone else's trash. Surrender your parking place. Call the long-winded relative. Carry the cooler. Doesn't have to be a big thing. Helen Keller once told the Tennessee legislature that when she was young, she had longed to do great things and could not, so she decided to do small things in a great way. Don't be too big to do something small. 'Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.' (1 Cor. 15:58 MSG)."

- Max Lucado Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot

Live It Up

2008-07-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

~ “We wander about in times that do not belong to us, and do not think of the only one that does; so vain that we dream of times that are not and blindly flee the one that is… we think of how we are going to arrange things over which we have no control for a time that we can never be sure of reaching…Thus, we never actually live, but hope to live and since we are always planning how to be happy, it is inevitable that we should never be so.”

- Blaise Pascal

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

- Matthew 6:34 (MSG)

Take advantage of today, and truly live. Don't worry about things that may never happen, and don't wait for the perfect time to do what you really want to do...it may never come.

Let the Adventure Begin

2008-07-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

So if someone randomly asked you for advice on life based on what you've learned so far, what would you say? Where do you even start to sum up all of life's lessons?

I was asked this recently, so I decided to look through some letters and posts I'd written to see what the overall theme was for my life. While I found many, many, many lessons, two main ideas stood out that I've been reminded of repeatedly (but obviously haven't quite yet learned). The first is that God provides, and I just have to have faith in this fact. Obviously, God doesn't act in my timing or even in the way I might want, but He definitely provides. And usually His way is so much better than I could have ever imagined.

The second lesson is that we only have one life, so we need to take advantage of what we have while we can. I really love to be adventurous and to do random things and experience all life has to offer. But sometimes it's easy to get caught up in our day-to-day roles and jobs and forget that we haven't really lived. I believe we should try to never live the same day twice, but sometimes that's pretty hard to do. Then again, some days are worth living twice.

There's definitely a difference between living and being alive. Being alive involves eating, sleeping, and functioning in the world. Living, however, involves adventure, personal growth, and a true realization of how valuable we are simply because we are created and loved by God. Several quotes have helped challenge me in this area and have motivated me to live rather than merely being alive. Some of my favorites are listed below:

~ “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow…what a ride!”

~ “Life is ours to be spent, not to be saved.”

~ “May you live all the days of your life.”

~ “Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you want, but you can only spend it once.”

Ok, so that's my advice. It's obviously not everything I've learned, and I'm sure it's nothing you haven't heard before, but we all need to be reminded sometimes. So there you go... let the adventure begin.