Effects of Candy & Cokes
Poker Face
Eating Candy
Cheese Ball Puffs
The Girls :)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Winter Chill
Okay so don't let the title confuse you, Winter Chill is anything but chill. In fact Winter Chill would be better described as mass chaos on lots of sugar and caffeine. Winter Chill in fact is a overnight sleep over for the junior high girls and their leaders up on the 4th floor of the tower. Even though as a leader you usually don't get hardly any sleep on the hard floor or air mattress if your lucky it is still one of the most talked about event of the whole year by the girls and that is why we do it. I must admit I owe my co-leader Stacy in a big way because I actually didn't spend the night (sad times for me since I missed out on a fun time with my girls) this year since my mom was in town. I did however get a chance to hang out with some of my girls for several hours, and that was lots of fun. I must admit I am amazed at the amount of candy, cheese puff balls, and cokes my girls can consume in such a short period of time - I think they might hold a new record for it. Even in spite of all the caffeine and sugar my girls were some how able to all calm down long enough to plot how to surprise me and sing Happy Birthday several times - it was really sweet that they even remembered my birthday. Even though I was only with my girls for a few hours of Winter Chill it was really fun and memorable night.
Effects of Candy & Cokes
Poker Face
Eating Candy
Cheese Ball Puffs
The Girls :)
Effects of Candy & Cokes Poker Face Eating CandyCheese Ball Puffs The Girls :)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Happy 26th Birthday
Yes today is my 26th birthday! Kind of crazy that it is here because life is has been so crazy the past week or so that I think I knew the actual date was approaching but kind of just didn't have time to think about it. I am still so thankful for all my friends who surprised me and helped me celebrate last Friday night - I am still in shock honestly. Because if they hadn't planned a celebration for me I probably wouldn't have taken time to celebrate it myself - sad but true. Needless to say my hopes/expectations of the day weren't to high since I knew the day was jam packed with meetings. Work held a day full of big really important and long meetings, and my evening was full of meetings for Brazil and church stuff. So as today comes to a close and I officially turn another year older - I have to admit that I am surprised and it was a great birthday even if it was a different birthday.
In spite of all the meetings my team at work managed to make me feel incredibly special by decorating my desk. Decorating my desk doesn't do it justice - I couldn't even get to my computer because of all the balloons and streamers. Once I made it to my desk I had beautiful flowers and yummy brownies. That was about all I had time to notice because it was off to the first meeting of the day before 8am. In between my meetings I ran back to my desk to exchange binders and I noticed a little jar next to Berkley's (my old fish) old bowl and then I noticed something moving the in jar. My team had gotten my a new Beta to replace Berkley since I hadn't replaced him myself. Needless to say I was speechless - it was such a simple little gift, but to me the fact that they thought to get me a new Beta speaks volumes about my team. I love my new Beta - his name is Bailey. Part of me thinks my team missed having a pod pet as much as I did, either way we have a new pod pet. In between a couple of the other meetings they managed to put candles in the brownies and sing happy birthday - candles in the building not allowed. Even though work was full of meetings it was a good special day. I am so thankful to be apart of my team - even if they make me crazy at times.
My birthday was great not just because of my work team, but my friends and family too - all the Facebook wall post, emails, phone calls, text messages, and songs. I loved every minute of it, and was made to feel so special. Thank you doesn't cover it, but I am very grateful for all the birthday wishes and love you have all shown me today.
I am not sure what 26 holds for me, but if it is anything like my birthday I know it will be great.
In spite of all the meetings my team at work managed to make me feel incredibly special by decorating my desk. Decorating my desk doesn't do it justice - I couldn't even get to my computer because of all the balloons and streamers. Once I made it to my desk I had beautiful flowers and yummy brownies. That was about all I had time to notice because it was off to the first meeting of the day before 8am. In between my meetings I ran back to my desk to exchange binders and I noticed a little jar next to Berkley's (my old fish) old bowl and then I noticed something moving the in jar. My team had gotten my a new Beta to replace Berkley since I hadn't replaced him myself. Needless to say I was speechless - it was such a simple little gift, but to me the fact that they thought to get me a new Beta speaks volumes about my team. I love my new Beta - his name is Bailey. Part of me thinks my team missed having a pod pet as much as I did, either way we have a new pod pet. In between a couple of the other meetings they managed to put candles in the brownies and sing happy birthday - candles in the building not allowed. Even though work was full of meetings it was a good special day. I am so thankful to be apart of my team - even if they make me crazy at times.
My birthday was great not just because of my work team, but my friends and family too - all the Facebook wall post, emails, phone calls, text messages, and songs. I loved every minute of it, and was made to feel so special. Thank you doesn't cover it, but I am very grateful for all the birthday wishes and love you have all shown me today.
I am not sure what 26 holds for me, but if it is anything like my birthday I know it will be great.
Bailey the Beta - new pod pet
Flowers from my team
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Surprise
Over the past week or so I have often thought and talked about when I was going to move my birthday to because this year having my birthday on January 22nd just wasn't going to work for me or any of my friends. But I couldn't find a time that would work so I half jokingly started telling people we were just going to celebrate my birthday on my half birthday this year. Even though the thought of having to wait that long actually made me sad not because of the gifts or anything it just didn't seem right - so somewhere along the way I realized I was people pleasing everyone even for my birthday celebration. Little did I know that my friends already had it all taken care of and they had out smarted me - I didn't even consider moving my birthday up by a weekend, but they did. So last night when Sarah Jordan asked me to go to dinner with her - I didn't think anything of it other then we were just going to dinner, which we actually had been trying to do for two weeks. Sarah came and picked me up and off to Manny's we went - the whole way there we just had normal conversation nothing out of the ordinary. It was only when we got to Manny's did she act a little strange, but even that she played off cool by just saying her roommate Jessica was here and we needed to find her. So when I walked into the back room and everyone yelled surprise I was really surprised - at first I thought they were yelling surprise for someone else and then I realized it was all of my friends and they were surprising me. It definitely took me a minute to process the whole thing. I will say I am very impressed with all of them for pulling it off and actually being able to surprise me because not that I try and ruin surprises I just figure stuff out and this I had no clue. Not to mention so many of my friends had lied to me for the past few days but they didn't seem like lies at the time so that didn't even throw me off. Needless to say my friends are amazing and I am so blessed to have them and I appreciate them for taking time out of their busy lives to celebrate my birthday. They made me feel so special and realize how loved I really am by all of them. Thank you all!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
God in a Box
Lesson # 2 of 2009 - Don't put God in a box.
I know this is something I am guilty of time and time again. I learn the lesson and actually don't put God in a box for a period of time and then something creeps up that is either huge or a lot of little things happen and I tend to get overwhelmed by them so I go back to thinking in my simple human mind that if I can't handle, fix or solve it then God can't either - wrong! I knew I was once again putting God in a box and a small box at that, but I just couldn't seem to allow my mind to take God out of the box because honestly my plate is pretty full right now (as are most people's plates I know). From needing a new roommate by the end of the month or deciding to live alone - probably not a good idea right now. Three huge meetings at work that all just happen to fall on the same day and that day is my birthday. Support raising for my upcoming Brazil trip in May but yet I need a good portion of the money by the end of the month. Trying to get back into the swing of life after the holidays. I could keep going on but you get the picture life is crazy busy with lots of upcoming big changes.
The past couple of days I have found my mind going a million miles an hour all the time and I can't shut it off. Because I am trying to take care of the things that are God's to take care of, but He can't take care of them because I wont let him out of His little box. As I got home today I went to check the mail because I am one of those people that hopes to actually get real snail mail and it makes my day when I do. In my mailbox today there was the usual junk/clutter and then there were two envelops - one to SarahBeth and one to me. I immediately recognized the letter that was addressed to me because it was in my own hand writing which told me that it was someone responding to my Brazil support letter. When I opened the envelop I was shocked as to the amount on the check (I am always shocked every time I open a letter and find a support check no matter what the amount) but I was also super shocked by the note in the envelop as it was from someone who I almost did not send a letter to this year just because this friend has recently gotten married and now has a new baby so I am not as close to them as I once was. However, I did know that this friend would be a huge prayer warrior for me and that is honestly more important to me than the financial support. As I read the note from this friend I was completely convicted that I had not only put God in a box when it comes to my support raising for Brazil, but I had put Him in a box for most area's of my life recently.
So once again I learned the hard way - maybe not the hard way but I was humbled about how quickly I can put God in a box. Even though I don't currently have God in a box anymore, I know that it is very easy for my simple mind to put Him right back in the box where He doesn't belong.
Do you have God in a box?
I know this is something I am guilty of time and time again. I learn the lesson and actually don't put God in a box for a period of time and then something creeps up that is either huge or a lot of little things happen and I tend to get overwhelmed by them so I go back to thinking in my simple human mind that if I can't handle, fix or solve it then God can't either - wrong! I knew I was once again putting God in a box and a small box at that, but I just couldn't seem to allow my mind to take God out of the box because honestly my plate is pretty full right now (as are most people's plates I know). From needing a new roommate by the end of the month or deciding to live alone - probably not a good idea right now. Three huge meetings at work that all just happen to fall on the same day and that day is my birthday. Support raising for my upcoming Brazil trip in May but yet I need a good portion of the money by the end of the month. Trying to get back into the swing of life after the holidays. I could keep going on but you get the picture life is crazy busy with lots of upcoming big changes.
The past couple of days I have found my mind going a million miles an hour all the time and I can't shut it off. Because I am trying to take care of the things that are God's to take care of, but He can't take care of them because I wont let him out of His little box. As I got home today I went to check the mail because I am one of those people that hopes to actually get real snail mail and it makes my day when I do. In my mailbox today there was the usual junk/clutter and then there were two envelops - one to SarahBeth and one to me. I immediately recognized the letter that was addressed to me because it was in my own hand writing which told me that it was someone responding to my Brazil support letter. When I opened the envelop I was shocked as to the amount on the check (I am always shocked every time I open a letter and find a support check no matter what the amount) but I was also super shocked by the note in the envelop as it was from someone who I almost did not send a letter to this year just because this friend has recently gotten married and now has a new baby so I am not as close to them as I once was. However, I did know that this friend would be a huge prayer warrior for me and that is honestly more important to me than the financial support. As I read the note from this friend I was completely convicted that I had not only put God in a box when it comes to my support raising for Brazil, but I had put Him in a box for most area's of my life recently.
So once again I learned the hard way - maybe not the hard way but I was humbled about how quickly I can put God in a box. Even though I don't currently have God in a box anymore, I know that it is very easy for my simple mind to put Him right back in the box where He doesn't belong.
Do you have God in a box?
Home
Happy 2009!
So I realize we are now a week into 2009, and I am just finding time to write but the first week of ’09 has been busy I have been in three cities (St. Louis, Wichita Falls, and finally back home to Dallas). It is really good to be back in Dallas, don’t get me wrong I had a great time on my trips, but it is always nice to come back home – yes that means Dallas is my home! That kind of brings me to the point of this post and the first lesson of ’09. I realized somewhere in the first couple of days while in St. Louis that Dallas has officially become my home, and while I might not like it at times or desire to be somewhere else it is home and when I am honest with myself it is where I am suppose to be right now. I think it is the first time in my life that I only have one home, and I really like it. I am not saying I haven’t had a home, in fact I am saying the quite opposite I have had multiple homes – my mom’s, my dad’s, my grandparents, and where ever I was actually living at the time.
When I looked up the actual meaning of the word home, Webster’s told me: one’s place of residence, the social unit formed by people living together, a familiar or usual setting, and a place or origin. And for me Dallas is all those things and more. I came to this realization while I was in St. Louis and not that I didn’t enjoy my trip and enjoy spending time with Kate & Shawn because I did. It was very clear to me that I have a good group of friends here; I actually really like the city, I have a job here, and as much as I say I don’t like being known by people and I like to do it on my own – I actually do like being known by people, even though I fight it. But I only came to this realization after a conversation with Kate & Shawn and just listening to them talk about their life and friends in St. Louis that I realized how good I have it in Dallas. Not that Kate & Shawn don’t have friends and they honestly love their life in St. Louis, but it is not a life I could live. It was only after this conversation that I realized not only how good I have it, but that I don’t want to leave a good thing. All that to say for those of you who have heard me talk about wanting to move out of Dallas, that bug is gone for now. I might travel out of Dallas for a while may-be even a few weeks, but I will always come home.
So I realize we are now a week into 2009, and I am just finding time to write but the first week of ’09 has been busy I have been in three cities (St. Louis, Wichita Falls, and finally back home to Dallas). It is really good to be back in Dallas, don’t get me wrong I had a great time on my trips, but it is always nice to come back home – yes that means Dallas is my home! That kind of brings me to the point of this post and the first lesson of ’09. I realized somewhere in the first couple of days while in St. Louis that Dallas has officially become my home, and while I might not like it at times or desire to be somewhere else it is home and when I am honest with myself it is where I am suppose to be right now. I think it is the first time in my life that I only have one home, and I really like it. I am not saying I haven’t had a home, in fact I am saying the quite opposite I have had multiple homes – my mom’s, my dad’s, my grandparents, and where ever I was actually living at the time.
When I looked up the actual meaning of the word home, Webster’s told me: one’s place of residence, the social unit formed by people living together, a familiar or usual setting, and a place or origin. And for me Dallas is all those things and more. I came to this realization while I was in St. Louis and not that I didn’t enjoy my trip and enjoy spending time with Kate & Shawn because I did. It was very clear to me that I have a good group of friends here; I actually really like the city, I have a job here, and as much as I say I don’t like being known by people and I like to do it on my own – I actually do like being known by people, even though I fight it. But I only came to this realization after a conversation with Kate & Shawn and just listening to them talk about their life and friends in St. Louis that I realized how good I have it in Dallas. Not that Kate & Shawn don’t have friends and they honestly love their life in St. Louis, but it is not a life I could live. It was only after this conversation that I realized not only how good I have it, but that I don’t want to leave a good thing. All that to say for those of you who have heard me talk about wanting to move out of Dallas, that bug is gone for now. I might travel out of Dallas for a while may-be even a few weeks, but I will always come home.
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