The Summer Remix

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.