we love you too...and that's the truth

Last week I heard my dad tell me that my Grandpa (his father) had passed away. I'd never heard words like that before so the feelings were all brand new. I've been blessed to have both sets of grandparents alive and relatively healthy for my entire life. This past September we all gathered together to celebrate my Grandpa's 90th birthday, not knowing it would be our last time all together.

My Grandpa was a great man who loved the Lord very much. He had a love for helping people that was humbling to those who crossed his path. He never met a stranger and welcomed everyone with a hug. He loved to fish, send letters, and mow yards. He ended every conversation with, "We love you too...and that's the truth." He'd normally say it before the other person had a chance to say, "I love you." I always thought it was funny...looking back I appreciate it. He knew I loved him...but it was more important to him that I knew he loved me.

For as long as I can remember my grandpa made a hobby of sorts of going to funerals and weddings. He would average about 3 a week...and that's on the low end as he got older. He knew it was important to be there for his friends, co-workers, church members, distant relatives, etc. He would find the announcement or obituary in the paper, cut it out, and paste it to one side of the paper while typing a message to the family on the other. Someone told my aunt this past weekend that he probably spent our inheritance on stamps. He was a good man and genuinely cared for other people without needing any sort of attention. That's the kicker to me. He never needed attention. He was happy to just give.

When he saw you...wherever it was - the grocery store, the church parking lot, or even just entering from one room in the house to the next he would say, "where you at there pardner?" It was his own version of "what's up?!" He was a great cook, a dedicated husband, and a strong provider for his family. He scuffed his feet when he walked and his hands were rough. His heart was big and his love for others overflowed to all. I'm kind of jealous he is in Heaven but I'm excited to see him when I get there and hear him say, "Where you at there, Emily? Gosh dog it's good to see you."

top 5

I think this will be a weekly installment of my blog. It's fun...and can be interactive - if you make it!

So my friend Molly and I used to work together at this Insurance company right after I graduated college. It was an awful job, but paid well AND they hired my friend to work with me so that was a nice plus. In efforts to make our daily lunches fun, we began playing games of "Top 5"...like in High Fidelity. I was reminded of this fun game this weekend and decided to start it up again. OH OH!!!

we'll start with an easy topic.

MY TOP 5 MOVIES (in order...I think):
1. Mary Poppins
2. The Sound of Music
3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
4. Apollo 13
5. You've Got Mail

my two honorable mentions (mainly b/c my list does not adequately portray my appreciation of good acting and quality film work but does however show my love for musicals and Tom Hanks): Amistad and Gladiator.

what are yours?

new recipe

(first of all, can I just admit that every time I type "RECIPE" I misspell it...even that time...I used spell check)

So my friend Lele, had a birthday party! Lele has this rare disease that makes her not be the biggest fan of cake. I know, crazy! When it comes to birthday parties this can be quite challenging. She had requested this flower cookies which I was happy to make but wanted some sort of "cake" made out of cookies. We talked about various ideas and finally, Martha came through for me. Why didn't we go there first?

I highly suggest making this cookie cake. It really wasn't that hard, but here are a few things I would suggest:
It would probably look nicer if you shaped the big cookies in pretty circles, though i didn't like the natural-ness of mine. The recipe includes making your own cream cheese icing. You can just buy your favorite can icing at the store and be just fine...and save some time. The icing was VERY cream cheesy and I would think it would be fun to have different flavor icings on the different layers. You could also only do 3 or 4 layers instead of 5 (but the height was nice).

Over all...good party! Way to have a birthday Lele!

puggles...unite!

Once upon a time I watched a lot of MTV...and by a lot, I kind of mean every night, I was there watching the 10 spot. I have the first season of Laguna Beach on DVD to prove it. However...it's been a good 3 years since I've watched anything on MTV for longer than 10 minutes.

I heard people talking abou the Hills finale and just for the sake of keeping up with the recent news, when I flipped by it yesterday, I stopped to watch. I saw that Lauren and Lo got a dog...it looked a bit familiar...I did some research this morning and low and behold...A PUGGLE!!!

Chloe and Bauer would totally be friends...I'm sure!

best of both worlds!

Ok, so you know that feeling of complete joy when somehow and in someway the world finds a way to combine two things you love??? You know like chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream...or strawberry cheesecake, or Reese's peanut butter cups...pineapple salsa, most any casserole...or even things like amusement parks: you get roller coasters, funnel cakes, and the best people watching, or movies where your favorite actors come together...you get what I'm saying, right???

So yesterday, I heard my mom tell me about a new candy she saw at Walgreen's. MnM (or the Mars candy company) has come out with limited edition Indiana Jones Mint Crisp MnMs!!!! They taste just like the Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies!!!! I love MnMs (who doesn't? I'm pretty sure they are the all American candy), I LOVE most anything Mint, and the crispy MnM's they had a few years ago - shout out to Rachel - have always been my favorite. PLUS Indiana Jones...HELLO! This is a no brainer people, please go out to the store and buy them!

(they also have Indiana Jones normal MnMs ... but that's not as much fun)

I will leave you with a quote from friends that sums up the greatness of having things you love combined together:

Ross: Meat on a dessert? That is not possible.

Joey Tribbiani: I know, and only one layer of jam? What is up with that?

Ross: It tastes like feet!

Joey Tribbiani: Well, I like it.

Ross: Are you kidding?

Joey Tribbiani: I mean, what's not to like? Custard, good. Jam, good. Meat, good!

I see skies of blue...clouds of white...

This weekend was a beautiful one for those of you here in Nashville. Despite some showers Friday night and early Saturday AM it cleared out for two BEAUTIFUL days that only increased the wonderfulness of my weekend. Did anyone see the clouds on Saturday afternoon? There were low ones and high ones...it looked really cool. Sad I don't have a picture.

Here is the run down:

Friday night - Darren's Dance Grooves ... need I say more? Who needs Ty-BO when you can learn to groove along with groove-a-loos...seriously people?!

Saturday - Saturday was fabulous. My most favorite day at my church has been the 3on3 basketball tournament probably since before I went to the church. I LOVE IT! It represents what The Church is all about to me. I love the fact that it takes the entire church body to pull it off. I love the fact that no matter what you do that day and how you choose to participate you WILL meet new people and be able to be Christ to people who may not have had that opportunity before. No other day do we reach out to our community more than on the 3on3...this is church...meeting the community where they are and cool springs is definitely all about some sports, free stuff, and inflatables!!!



Saturday night I heard wonderful music from the Nashville Symphony in the new Schermerhorn. It was beautiful...as was the music! Before hand, to be honest, I was more excited about just going inside the building then actually hearing the music, I couldn't have been more excited to go. It turns that the music is just as great as the architecture (minus some coffee beans). I LOVED IT!...all of it, the whole night was great! We actually sat behind the orchestra so we were able to watch the Mistro's face (which might have been my favorite part of the night!). The symphony was doing a tribute to Louis Armstrong and they did a great job!!! They brought in a guest trumpet player who was really good, and funny...most of the time. If you haven't been to the Schermerhorn I would strongly suggest going!

Sunday was sooo pretty, and soooo nice to be outside for parts of the afternoon. It was also Lele's birthday! And it case you didn't know, this is going to be the best year of her life!

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!

run'n run'n...

So I've been running a lot (for the 1/2 marathon) and was doing fine, but as I began to train more I was becoming more and more convinced that I did, in fact, need something else to listen to besides the voices in my head telling me how tired I was. It's not that I've refrained from getting an ipod for any moral or personal reasons I just knew that ultimately I didn't need one. I really like the radio and the only time I listen to music is in my car so I was fine to spend my money elsewhere. However, the closer I got to trying to reaching my 13.1 miles goal I realized that in fact, one might come in handy. So, I went on ebay and got one of these suckers for a pretty good deal...except mine is silver and its beautiful! I just love my little baby shuffle.

I put some songs from CDs I already had on my ipod to begin with and some friends have been gracious enough to pitch in give me some songs to help me get started BUT I have now completely become reliant on my music when I run. Which is why I didn't really want to get an ipod to run with the first place, but I guess its for a greater good. I instantly became aware that my pace directly correlated with the beat of the song. If you know me and my music selection I'm not the world's biggest fan of music that doesn't use some sort of synthesizer, so this has become quite a challenge to find "The Perfect Running Music."

Yesterday I started to listen to more hip hop and pop music radio stations. The first song I heard was Mariah Carey's Touch My Body. Once I heard her reference youtube in her song (along with a slew of other things I refuse to mention in my blog) I knew that there had to be a better way. So...will you help me?!?! I need your help in finding "The Perfect Running Music." I'd love any suggestions that you have. I need all the help I can get!

the man I love

About six years ago I was introduced to a man I already knew very well. I knew he was kind. I knew he loved Jesus very much and was smart and cared about others. I knew he truly understood what it meant to be a minister and I knew he had experienced heartache. What I have now come to know, throughout the past six years, is that Jimmy Dunn is truly a man of God. He walks so closely to Him that you can't help but feel the presence of Lord when you talk with Jimmy. I've also learned that he loves NASCAR, supports the Tennessee Vols first and fore most followed strongly by the SEC in general. He loves to read and always stays very informed on current events. He has strong convictions and is an amazing writer. Jimmy is a smart business man and always puts others before himself.

Most importantly I've learned what an amazing father Jimmy is. Not just to his own two boys but to me as well. Having my fair share of dads and father figures throughout the years I am so very grateful to have this man in my life, not only as a friend and mentor, but as a dad. The way he has welcomed me into his life has been like nothing else I've ever experienced. He carries an amazing strength within him that I believe only comes from the Lord. His faith and wisdom continue to inspire me to be a better person and his encouragement helps get me through whatever battles I may be encountering. It is such a blessing and honor to know him, love him, and learn from him.

Four years ago Jimmy was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. MM is a form of cancer of the blood plasma. It is regarded as an incurable cancer but can be put into remission with a variation of drug and treatment options. For the past year and half Jimmy has been in partial remission and was able to stop chemo treatments and cut back on doctor visits. It was a nice break while it lasted. Jimmy had to start back on chemo, steroids, and another anti-cancer drug today. He will continue with weekly treatments until the numbers go back down.

I hate cancer. What was once a common prayer concern for many others I knew all of a sudden became a daily battle for my family. You would think after 4 years of it I would be used to it...like violence on television or scandals in politics...but it doesn't seem to work that way. There seems to a be a nervousness in me that is quite constant and a call to prayer that seems quite daunting. I ask you to join with me in prayer for Jimmy and so many others who face this daily battle.

He is mighty to save!

Last summer I began to constantly be reminded of Zephaniah 3:17...particularly the first sentence. "The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save." There were many things in that sentence for me to process over the next season of my life. That fact I am His and He is mine, the promise of my LORD always being with me, trying to understand God's mighty-ness, and praising Him each time He was there to save me.

Today I heard my mom tell me the oncologist had called Jimmy in for an unscheduled appointment. There were test done, there will be more test done, and we'll have the results Monday.

Still pondering what those test results could mean I began to listen to three sermons. They weren't really a series but touched on areas that are quite impossible without God. The first was about prayer and how ultimately we don't know how to pray or what to pray for without the Holy Spirit. We can't get past the selfishness of the human heart without some help from God. The third sermon was on forgiveness. He spoke about how reconciliation is impossible without the Lord. (side note...these sentences do the sermons any sort of justice, but for the sake of keeping your attention I kept my summary very minimal) In the midst of listening to this man preach about forgiveness I was reading another man's sermon on friendship (the Lord's funny like that). The sermon I was editing used the follow ancient proverb...I found it very good for me to hear today:

"A friend is one to whom we may pour out the contents of our heart, chaff and gain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

I pray that I can be that kind of friend. I'm not always good at being kind and gentle but I'm working towards it. These last few weeks I have turned more inward than I ever have. I've stayed home more, kept thoughts to myself more, spent time with just me...though I'm thankful for this time, reading this quote made me remember that we aren't meant to go through life alone. I'm so thankful for my friends. I'm also thankful for Jesus. Through all the uncertainties of tomorrow...in my life and in the world, I'm still being reminded the the LORD my God is with me, He is mighty to save! I'm so very thankful for that today.

Ready for the Resurrection

Back in February when I heard how early Easter was this year, I was not excited. In fact I was kind of sad...it would still be cold, it wouldn't be as pretty outside, we don't have that long to decorate, etc. The closer Easter gets the more and more I am begging for it to be today. Though as a Christian, each day is Easter...each day He is risen, each day He is alive, there is something in me that longs for the corporate worship celebration.

I feel as though I've been living in a Good Friday state of mind for awhile now. I'm ready for the Resurrection, I'm ready to start fresh. I was reading My Utmost for His Highest this morning, good ole' Oswald. Easter has been on mind as we are in the season of Lent and I haven't been able to move past Good Friday for days. This was good for me to hear. Maybe it will be for you as well.

When you have no vision from God, no enthusiam left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.

Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to dicourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant fo ryou to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ in John 13:1-17.

thank you for the music...

OH MY GOSH!!!!

This is what I said out loud in a louder-than-normal voice at the movie theater this weekend when I saw the preview for the new Mamma Mia movie coming out this summer!!!! I couldn't believe it! Regardless of who was casted I would totally go see this, on opening night. It's such a fun musical! BUT it's great people. Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and I'm really excited to see Amanda Seyfried, from Mean Girls, play the part of Sophie.

Apparently I'm a little slow on my up-and-coming movie knowledge b/c everyone else seemed to know about it. regardless, I will now be counting down the days...as well as counting my pennies to save up for a blockbuster summer filled with fabulous movies.

If you aren't familiar with Mamma Mia! then you have obviously not been on a road trip with me, or care about musicals at all. Mamma Mia! is the musical based on the songs from ABBA (who doesn't love Dancin' Queen? seriously!). I was given tickets to Mamma Mia! for my birthday when it came to Nashville. It was such a fabulous show. I've owned the soundtrack ever since and listen to it more often than I probably should.

ps. I also saw a preview for the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants 2!!!

these are a few of my favorite things...

I had various ideas on what to blog about today:

Vandy beat UT and it was a fabulous game. I love basketball and more so I love a good upset! march madness here we come.

I'm on week 2 of a commitment detox. I've gotten so much support through this time. I've also heard many things from the Lord. Still haven't really processed it all.

I've been re-reading some Shel Silverstein favorites. Such great stuff there.

I just read my brother's remarks on this article about how often people present false selves. Very interesting...both the article and his thoughts. Because I read this just before writing a blog I couldn't help but think about why I was writing what I was. Did I want people to think I was smart? Did I want them to think I was funny? or loved Jesus a lot? or was sad? or was loving life? so ....I decided to go with the following, just me...hopefully...

My missionary world-traveler extraordinaire friend Mary Frances recently "tagged" me on her blog to fill out this list of favorites. It's beautifully snowing outside and let's be honest, I'm not doing much work today. So here ya go:

My favorites:
Book: 1984 - I read this my sophomore year in high school. I felt like it was the first book that really made me think about the government (past and present) and how I felt about life. And as mentioned earlier anything by Shel Silverstein. He presents great lessons in ways a child can understand but deep enough for adults to ponder over.

Movie: I always say Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Good music, good acting, good story...though the Sound of Music was probably my first love and Julie Andrews continues to keep a special place in my heart (my movie heart, that is) because of that and Mary Poppins.

Color: it used to be purple...now I don't have one. kind of makes sad, but I really don't have a default color that I always choose...

TV Shows: in order of becoming "favorite" worthy: The Wonder Years, Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls

Guilty Pleasures: sleeping and having my picture taken

Outfit: I thought this was hilarious...I've always had favorite outfits and thought I was weird. It used to be denim jacket with black pants...and it might still be...

Kitchen tips: Clean up as you go. I rarely do this and always wish I would. I never want to clean up once I'm done, so its better to clean as you go.

Life Lesson: Life isn't about me.

Activity: I love to play basketball and go out to eat with friends.

Food: I love any form of potatoes.

Child Raising Tips: Keep socks and underwear in a place where they can't find them and eat them (I've only raised my dog...so this is all I know). I'm sure there is something you moms can take from that as well. maybe?

Pet Peeve: when you have to backtrack to get somewhere

Game: catch phrase, and most forms of dominoes.