copy cat...or dog

So today I was home for lunch and heard something most hilarious!

I had opened my sliding door to the "deck/patio/porch" thing that I have, to let Bauer go out there to keep watch over the neighborhood while I ate my peanut butter sandwich. He likes to go out there and lay in the sun, chew on sticks, bark at other dogs, etc. A few bites in I heard a siren noise from an ambulance and then heard this weird dog howl/almost siren sounding noise. I looked outside...it was Bauer, imitating the siren. I thought it was soo funny.

Being half beagle, I've always thought one day Bauer might start to howl but he has continued to make the worst high pitched whines and other awful noises I've ever heard...and that's when he is happy. It was so funny.

In honor of Bauer, and his pals Rosie and Jarvis...here are some pictures I took the other day. I feel like they are quite expressive. Feel free to add your own captions as to what you think the dogs are saying.

to me this one totally looks like Bauer and Jarvis are sharing secrets about Rosie...and she TOTALLY knows it.
this one is where Rosie is encouraging Jarvis and telling him that he can indeed go down the stairs.this is when Rosie screams, "OH NO YOU DI'N!"

13.1 in 2:27!!!

things I heard while running the half marathon:

1. because I was in corral #22 I got to hear the man count down to others starting lots of times. I kind of liked it, gave me to time to get prepared mentally and get really excited for when it was my time!

2. LOTS of cheering! I think the best part was that there was hardly a place where there wasn't anyone cheering. When you train, you don't have people cheering for you every step of the way...this was really nice.

3. personal encouragement - I couldn't believe how many people I saw on the side lines cheering that I knew. I was expecting my mom to be at a certain point but I didn't expect how much it would mean for me to have her there when I saw her. though she didn't have the camera ready...it was still nice to see her. AND I had tons of friends passing out water, that was soooo very nice and great to see a friendly face with my source of hydration!

4. bad country music - I had a love/hate relationship with the live bands along the course. Some of them were ok, but a lot of times I didn't like it. I took a friend's advice and didn't use my ipod until after I got to mile 7. I think I liked the bands before I had my ipod in but once I had it in, I would get frustrated I couldn't hear my music...though I actually have no idea what songs I listened to on my ipod when I ran...I don't remember a single one.

5. congratulations - thank you to all my friends who called, texted, showed up at the finish line and prayed for me during and after the race. It was so nice to have your support and encouragement along the way and when I finished.

things I learned from this race that I need to remember for the next one:

1. when you spend money on good socks, it is totally worth it, and come race day when you can only find 1 good sock and thus run with 1 good and 1 bad...it's probably better to just run with 2 bad.

2. Pack toilet paper in your gear check...you just ran 13.1 miles and you're going to need to use that bathroom ... in one of the port-a-potties...bring toilet paper.

3. That last ".1" is the longest tenth of a mile ever


4. make sure your friends know what you are wearing so they can find you at the finish line.
5. BREATHE! so many times I would start praying, singing, or thinking about dumb things and would totally forget to breathe...it's quite necessary.



I LOVED running on Saturday. It was so much fun to run with 30,000 other runners. Somewhere along the way...among the months of training, running in the cold, spending hours on the treadmill, and finding the perfect race day outfit I have become a runner. I think I like it. Maybe I have a new hobby...we'll see.

Thanks again to all of those who came out! You really did make a difference!

the plastics

A few weeks ago I heard a friend tell me that I really need to stop re-using plastic water bottles b/c it would kill me. They followed with also not using nalgene bottles over and over.

This idea of plastic ware not being safe anymore came up again last week in a conversation with some girl friends. I was then told to get rid of all my plastic Tupperware and only use glass.

I began to ask around and get other peoples thoughts and knowledge on the subject. Some told me not to microwave things in plastic and to definitely only use a plastic water bottle once. Then I heard I shouldn't even have plastic dishes. I friend sent me to this website where it kind of brakes down what is "good" and "bad" as far as the different plastics.

Apparently the scare is that the "bad" plastics leach cancer causing chemicals into food, water, onto toys, etc. Really people? More cancer? So I started thinking (as someone who is VERY familiar to the effects of cancer) if I talk on a cell phone, use the microwave, and sometimes sit too close to the TV...aren't I already going to get cancer? What's some water from my plastic cups going to hurt?

A few websites list things like baby bottles and toys as highly dangerous. SERIOUSLY? Have we not been using these for years? Is the key to stopping cancer? not using plastics? I guess I'm just having a hard time buying it. While I have refrained from re-using water bottles...I'm just not sure about the other stuff.

If you have any insight or more knowledge about this please let me know, I'm quite interested.

baby shower

This past saturday some friends and I threw a shower for our sweet Ryan. Ryan was my first close friend to get married and is now my first close friend to have a baby. I couldn't be more excited for her and Jordan. Little baby Eli is going to be so lucky to have such wonderful parents. I don't remember not knowing Jordan and I've known Ryan for 14 years. I consider them both a blessing to my life and am so very thankful that they continue to play such a huge role in it.

I kind of liked throwing a baby shower...I hadn't really thrown one before and to be honest, I was bit nervous, but I think it was a great day! She got lots of gifts and it was so fun to be with such good friends who I don't get to see very often!

Before the pictures begin, let me say that I think I found my new favorite thing to make and I kind of want everyone to start having babies b/c of it. Yes friends, I'm talking about THE DIAPER CAKE! After seeing it on Sex and the City a few years ago and doing some research online about them I decided to try and take on the daunting task. Anna came over to help and I think it turned out pretty cute! By the way...new born diapers are just about the cutest thing I've ever seen...they are so tiny and just adorable! So come on...who's next?!?! If you haven't had a chance to see pregnant Ryan, you really should try. She is so cute! Her little basketball just jiggles everytime she laughs! ADORABLE!Mary made the most adorable invitations and they had the cutest little bird on them. We decided to incorporate the bird and have folks write prayers for Baby Eli on a bird and then place it in the bird cage!
Jessica not only made delicious and super cute cupcakes but also gave Ryan some of the cutest stuff for Eli. She got him little baby rock star shoes and she also MADE him one of the sock creatures (pictured below) that were featured on Martha Stewart not too long ago. SO sweet! (jess also makes super cute aprons...you should check them out and buy one!!! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5564559 )

ps. did you count how many times I said "cute" and "adorable" ? It's quite absurd really, but I guess that's what baby showers will do to you...

grace

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount out poured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain
Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.

What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace...a common word among The Church, among fellow believers though still one that I have a hard time grasping onto fully. However I know it is something I need from God and want to give out to others. I have a hard time with that sometimes.

I was having a conversation the other day discussing trust and relationships. A friend said to me, "Everyone needs a little grace." It hit me so hard and was exactly what I needed to hear. I've been telling it to myself daily ever sense. None of us are perfect...the bible even says that...not even one. If your Christian family can't show you grace then who can? I pray I can be graceful to friends and family (especially since it is my middle name!) and I hope those around me can see my need for it as well. PRAISE GOD for Jesus and for the grace He pours out continuously on you and me.

a few firsts

this weekend was a fun one and full of firsts! Here are a few of the highlighted firsts:

Nashville West - I hadn't had the chance to check out the new Nashville West development off of Charlotte Pike. Some friends and I went Friday night and I LOVED it! I kind of felt like I was out of town and not in Nashville, which was kind of nice.

Red Robin - I had never eaten at one and since its the only place to eat at the new Nashville West currently, that's where we ate. It was a good choice. Good burgers and a surprisingly very extensive menu!

World Market - after dinner we checked out some shops including World Market. I had heard great things about this store from friends who had been to other locations and I was super excited. It did not disappoint. Though I did not make any purchases I did finally find curtains that I liked, which I had kind of given up on!

Saturday I ran my first race ever, it was the Purity Dairy Dash 10k. I had a blast! It was fun to run with lots of other people. I was most excited about water stations though I'm still learning how to drink water and run at the same time. I'm not sure lots of ice cream is the best thing to eat when you finish running however, the pasta and rolls they had from Outback afterwards was AMAZING!

it was a fun weekend full of firsts! if you have not seen, visited, or participated in any of the items mentioned above, I highly recommend all of them!!!

remember when

Last night I had dinner with some old friends. At one point in time they weren't really my friends but simply the 7th grade girls I was assigned to stay with for a youth Labor Day retreat. To be honest, I was dreading that retreat. Lots of things had changed that summer and being with Jr. High girls sounded awful. Little did I know how much of an impact the Lord would use these amazing girls to make in my life.

These sweet girls are all grown up now and are graduating from high school. Last night we talked about proms, graduations, what college will be like next year, last church camps, etc. Though we've managed to stay somewhat in touch it had been 5 years since I had really sat down to talk to them. They continue to amaze me. 5 years suddenly felt like yesterday and I was right back where I was...laughing with them, learning with them, sharing stories of memory and advise. I'm so honored to call them friends.

Hearing them talk about prom and senior year and leaving school early because it just didn't matter anymore made me try and remember when I was senior. I think I learn a lot from looking back. I've been quite reflective lately. And after spending time with these girls, looking back over old pictures, reading old journal entries I'm thankful for so much of life. I wouldn't be the person I am today without all those things.

So...in the spirit of senior year...here is my tribute to the year 2000:
celebrating the fact we were all still alive after Y2K, boyfriends, skipping school to eat honey mustard and watch Days of our Lives, all arriving in the band parking lot for 1st period but not going and going to Mrs. Winners instead, Australia - the upgrade on the plane, the top of the Sydney bridge, Christina Aguilera - hickory hollow mall and the dance at camp, everyone's prom on the same night, crispy mnms, Friday night sleep overs, the best lunch table ever, Titans winning the AFC championship, spirit days at IHOP, warm sprite and granny white park...

I think the thing I love most about all these memories is that I'm still very good friends with the people I experienced each of these with. What a blessing!

what about you...what do you remember about your senior year?

cheer up, charlie

My mom has been regularly substitute teaching for Oak Hill School for about two years now. She LOVES it and they LOVE her. Its quite perfect actually...for everyone involved I think. Oak Hill does a musical every year with some of their 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. This year was Willy Wonka! Knowing the adults in charge I knew this wouldn't be your average elementary school play...and it wasn't.

Since mom had some students in it she wanted to go and support and since I'm always up for a musical (especially my favorite movie) I went with her. Absolutely adorable. The kids did such a great job. It was too cute. Apparently this is a new musical and its an odd mixture of the original movie and the newer one. All in all, I was entertained.

I saw the play after hearing a sermon preached on Psalm 23:4. The pastor was taking a week for each verse in the chapter. I heard this sermon after hearing a friend preach Friday night on Luke 9:57-62, the cost of following Jesus. I'm not sure I would have ever been able to tie all these three things together but the Spirit used each of them to weave a wonderful pattern lessons that seemed to be just what I needed.

The cost of following Jesus is a great one but He is more than Worthy of all of it. Following Jesus will no doubt leave you in times of valley of the shadow but PRAISE GOD for his comforting shepherd-ness. Cheer up, look up, you'll see tomorrow will be better...just think positive.

and ps. I ran 10 miles on Friday...didn't really ever think that was possible. 13.1 here we come!