Running the Race

I've moved

2010-12-04T22:20:00.000-06:00

...my blog. I no longer use the email address connected with this blog so check out my new blog here or type in http://enduringtherace.blogspot.com/.

Curse you, traffic cameras!

2010-10-26T18:31:00.000-05:00

I made it longer than I anticipated with all of the traffic cameras in New Orleans. I thought I knew all of the cameras and could avoid a ticket but I guess not. The camera that got me is labeled as a red light camera but apparently is a speed camera also. I am going to talk to a lawyer friend of mine to see about getting out of it since it isn't labeled as a speed camera. One judge in town ruled on October 1st that the cameras are against the city's charter and that tickets issued after then would be null and void. If I don't get out of it, I have to pay $110. Yuck.

wAUnderful weekend

2010-10-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

Friday I traveled to Auburn with a few friends and met up with an old roomie, Min Kyung. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking and just hanging out then got up bright and early for tailgating Saturday. My dad met me in Auburn Saturday and the two of us got to go into the game together. It was nice getting to spend time just me and my daddy. PLUS...The game was amazing! War CAM Eagle!

Toomer's Corner the morning after the game. It is the closest thing we get to seeing snow in Auburn--everything is covered in a white blanket of toilet paper. What a beautiful sight!

Sunday Min Kyung and I met up with one of my closest friends and our former roomie, Casey. It happened to be her one year wedding anniversary and her husband so graciously shared their time with me. We went to lunch then found an old covered bridge that we climbed down under and were able to enjoy a peaceful afternoon while catching up. It was so refreshing to get to talk with Casey and get an update on her life. I was encouraged to hear how God is working in her marriage and life in general.

I have a tendency to idealize the next steps in life as if they are going to be the end to all of my struggles. Like "if I can just finish school and get a job, I won't be stressed anymore" or "if I could just get married, I won't be discontent with my life anymore". I don't always think like this but sometimes I need reminders that there are always going to be struggles in my life until the day that Christ returns. Talking with Casey reminded me of this. I love that I have wonderful friends who I can share my struggles with and who will share their struggles with me. I just wish we didn't live so far away!

Min Kyung

Casey

Bless you

2010-10-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

To those of you who still check my blog for updates despite my inconsistency of blogging, bless you. I am in my final semester of graduate school and it has been a typical busy semester. My classes are enjoyable but I am so tired of being in school. The typical day for me consists of either babysitting or being in the office and always reading something for class (thus the picture below).

Sarah and I went to a local, old fashioned movie theater to see the premier of Cairo Time and got to sit in the front row beforehand to listen to Patricia Clarkson do a Q&A about the movie.

My family and I drove to Parris Island, SC to pick up Jordan from boot camp. I can't believe he is a Marine! I am so proud of him for accomplishing his goal. The picture below is of the motivational run at the crack of dawn. It was an emotional day as we were trying to pick his face out of the group and finally got to see him.

After we picked up Jordan we went to the Auburn-South Carolina game. War Eagle!

Jordan then came to visit me in New Orleans. We mostly played it low key-eating good food and going to the zoo. Jordan did manage to get phase 1 of his back tattoo plan done while he was in town.

Jordan leaves for infantry training a week from today. He will be there (North Carolina) for about a month then go to 29 Palms, California for his specific job training for a year. Please keep him in your prayers!

Internet-less

2010-08-17T13:00:00.001-05:00

We have now been without internet for TWO WHOLE WEEKS and I am barely surviving. I don't think I could do it without my smartphone though. It makes a difference still being able to get email and do other small things on my phone. Saturday we are getting internet AND cable, just in time for football season. Hooray!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE football season and am excited that I can now enjoy NFL and SEC football. It was amazing experiencing all the hype of the Saints last season. The championship parade was bigger than the mardi gras parades and there is a season opener parade scheduled for September 9th. I am definitely going to have to watch the parade and concert then run to a bar so I can keep track of the Auburn game and the Saints game. I can't wait!!!

Why I LOVE my new home!

2010-08-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

1. We all have our own rooms (love you Sarah but I know you're glad about this too)
2. I no longer have to walk through Kristina's room to get to mine.
3. I can get up and pee in the middle of the night without waking up Kristina meaning I can drink all the water I want before bedtime.
4. Sarah has studio space
5. We have a private front porch
6. We are located 5 blocks from the park and 1 block from the levy bike path/river
7. We have central heat and air!!!!
8. We have a washer and dryer!
9. No more flies infesting our trash (this was seriously uncontrollable at our last house)
10. New windows!!
11. We have 2.5 bathrooms (in case all 3 of us have to pee at the same time. haha)
12. No more leaking showers and mold in the bathroom
13. Several friends live on the same street as us

I think of new reasons every day. I LOVE IT!!

Excessive heat warning

2010-08-03T08:01:00.000-05:00

86°F

Feels Like: 101°

Details:

Oppressive humidity

Well said weather.com. I knew it felt freaking miserable on my run this morning. Yay for 101 degree weather at 7am.

sibling rivalries

2010-07-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

I am so glad that I was able to come home for my mom's 50th birthday this weekend, but more about that later. It is always good to spend time with my siblings. However, sometimes it is hard for me to relate to them as they struggle with the frustrations of living with each other. They are constantly fighting, making snide remarks, or arguing. They have no patience with each other and show no grace to each other. It breaks my heart.
I guess it is so hard for me to see them act like this because I remember when I acted the same way with Rachael. After the accident I had a whole new perspective on what was important (not that I am perfect in my interactions with others now) and I just want them to enjoy being with each other. I know their behaviors are a normal part of growing up but I HATE it. I've tried communicating this to them but they don't seem to listen.

Falling into pieces

2010-06-27T23:28:00.000-05:00

Today has been exhausting emotionally. I have been having a really hard time dealing with Jordan leaving and I was surprised that the rest of my siblings have too. I expected Katrina and Annika to cry because they are emotional like me but when Sarah and Corey started crying too, that was the end of any composure I had managed to maintain up to that point.
The entire drive back to New Orleans was like a series of emotional waves. I would be overwhelmed by emotions then just when I thought I had overcome them, another wave would hit. It has been really difficult to pick apart the reasons to why this has been emotionally trying but here is what I have so far:
1) A big part of it is that no other sibling has moved since I moved to college and now when I go home we won't all be together anymore. I'm worried that we won't all be together again (even though I know this isn't true, it won't be the same).
2) I think a lot of this has to do with losing Rachael and now that I am feeling like I am losing Jordan too, the old feelings of loss have resurfaced even though it is not the same situation.
3) Another reason is my lack of faith. I think that Jordan's time at boot camp is a critical point in his relationship with God and that this will either make him or break him. I am not fully trusting that God will use boot camp to draw Jordan to Him.
I know there is more lurking around inside me but I am too exhausted to probe any deeper. Off to bed and praying for deep, dreamless sleep...

Job update

2010-06-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

So I had posted a while back about starting the job search and just wanted to provide you all with an update on how that is going. I applied to several schools and had two official interviews--one with a charter school and one with a catholic school. The charter school was a bust but I got a job offer from the catholic school. The salary that they offered me was too small for me to live off of so I told them what I would need and they said they could not meet my offer.
The school systems here are so different than what I was used to in Auburn. Here you have the public schools, recovery district schools, charter schools, private schools, and catholic schools. The public schools are unstable because of state budgets being cut. The recovery district is a mess. The charter schools are like boot camp for teachers and students--long hours, extremely rigid rules, extended school year, etc. And the catholic schools can't pay enough for me to live off of.
So, after going through this process I have decided to take the Graduate Assistant position at UNO for another semester. I will graduate in December and apply to work for Early Steps which is what I wanted to do anyways. My only hesitation about taking this position was that I will be an independent service provider working for the state so I will not have any benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc) but I will get paid $60/hour and I can decide how many hours/cases I want to work.

PG-13

2010-06-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

This week has been soooo looong....I have learned some interesting things but I am past the point of exhaustion. Yesterday I was tested on putting in a catheter, feeding through a g-tube, and cleaning a trach. As I'm typing this, I am supposed to be listening to the powerpoint presentation on toileting skills.

Sorry about the picture but I just had to share it after stumbling across it in one of our many handouts. Why would I ever need to see a sketch of an individual relieving themselves through a catheter??

couch to 5k

2010-06-14T10:40:00.000-05:00

It's official! I'm training to run a 5K! No the world is not coming to an end. My mom just suggested that I start doing a program called "From Couch to 5K" so we started training when I went home to visit. I am in week 6 of 10 in the training program. It has been going well so far but I am starting to lose motivation now. This is partly due to exhaustion from my one week classes but also because this past week and a half I have been doing it on my own in the UNO gym. I am far more motivated to continue the training program when someone does it with me. So Sarah, if you're reading this, get ready because we are going to be running either in the mornings or afternoons because I need someone to kick my butt when I can't do it myself.

2010-06-13T21:05:00.000-05:00

Sad, BP. Just sad.

Livin' on Prayer

2010-06-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

I made it through my first one week class slightly exhausted. My routine has been getting up at 6:20, driving to the campus gym to workout, showering, then heading to class until 5pm every day. I've been making myself go to bed by 10pm so I am getting plenty of sleep but I am still slightly exhausted.
Today I was able to go yard sale shopping which is one of my favorite things to do. I love finding awesome deals on fun things! The rest of my day will be spent watching the US kick England's butt in soccer, napping, then babysitting. I just hope I can make it through my class next week then my summer will be a breeze.

2010-05-19T23:29:00.000-05:00

Today marks the nine year anniversary of Rachael going to be with Jesus. I have so many emotions running through me right now--jealousy, sadness, joy, compassion.
I'm jealous that Rachael gets to experience the joys of heaven and the splendor of God's presence. The sadness is self-explanatory. The joy is because Katrina and I have become closer and have been able to share more with each other spiritually and emotionally. Tonight we drove out to the grave side and sat talking about how adjusting over the years has been and how it has changed our lives.
The compassion is for the driver who hit our car. I can't imagine how this has impacted his life and I wonder how often he thinks about us. So often, I want to contact him to make sure he knows that I have forgiven him and to share God's grace with him. I don't know anything about this man other than his name but I hope that if he wasn't a Christian before the accident, that God used the situation to draw him to Himself.

Today's program is made possible by....

2010-05-16T11:17:00.000-05:00

Rainboots! My roomie and I woke this morning to a crazy storm with intense lightning and monsoon type showers. I looked outside after about 30 minutes into the storm and saw that our cars were about to be flooded so I ran to grab our keys (my roomie was showering so I said I would move both of them). I had to move them 4 blocks to an empty lot then trudge back through the river that was once our streets.

Church was cancelled because you couldn't get around unless you had an air boat. I was praying the entire time that I was moving our cars that I would make it. If we had waited any longer, our cars would have been ruined.

It's a blur but this is me conquering the monsoon. I was too wet and cold to let my roommate try to get a clear picture.

In front of my house:

Then to add insult to injury, I was attacked by one of those damn stinging caterpillars that live in the tree in front of our house. Ugh! I'm taking benadryl and curling up in bed with a book. Let me know when the sun comes out again.

Christmas In May

2010-05-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks Casey for my fabulous Christmas gift! It only took what, like 3 1/2 years to finish? Haha! I love it!

More Bugs! Eek!

2010-05-04T14:57:00.000-05:00

So, if anyone knows me they know that I am not an outdoorsy kinda girl. I prefer my environment to be air conditioned and bug free (unless I am laying on the beech reading a book--then I'll tolerate the heat and bugs).

Last night my friend Sarah and I ventured to a nearby park that overlooks the Mississippi river to hang out and watch the sun set. The swarms of what I thought were flying ants had other plans and chased us back to the car. This morning I checked facebook and saw that my pastor had posted a note about termite swarms in New Orleans. Apparently they come out in swarms between 7 and 9pm in order to mate. They are harmless but very annoying and have no respect for your personal space. How rude!

A new beginning, a new mayor

2010-05-03T13:33:00.000-05:00

My favorite part of current Mayor, Mitch Landrieu's speech: "The first step is to declare that we are no longer recovering no longer rebuilding. Now we are creating. Let's stop thinking about rebuilding the city we were and start dreaming about the city we want to become. The world deserves a better New Orleans.People of New Orleans hear this - today is a new day, today is a new time."

I can't wait to see what the future holds for New Orleans!

Bug Season

2010-04-22T22:23:00.000-05:00

It is official! The bugs have invaded New Orleans! I walked out the door this morning to a swarm of pesky mosquitoes chasing me and stinging caterpillars dive bombing from the trees. Now, I have experience with mosquitoes (can we say 100% deet...) but these caterpillars are another story. Apparently they invade every year too. No lie---we have hundreds maybe as much as 1,000 of these stinging caterpillars in the tree in front of my house. They have also found their way onto our cars, porch, and fence. I make a mad dash to my car whenever I step out my front door. Yikes!

When I had free time....

2010-04-19T23:09:00.000-05:00

I enjoy being creative by coming up with crafts for kiddos to do or by doing my own crafting. One of my favorite things is to take something that has been tossed aside and use it to make into something interesting or useful. Here are my latest works:

Shotgun house made from door panel, sliding lock, door hinge, and stained glass.

Lighthouses made from painted door hinges.

Shotgun house made from granite piece, wood scraps, old watch, and belt buckle.

Can't sleep....

2010-04-16T17:19:00.000-05:00

I don't usually have this problem. When I am stressed my answer is usually to go to sleep then worry about it later but I haven't been able to turn my brain off the past couple of nights. Just this week I have decided that I am not going to get an Add-On degree in Deaf Education but will just get my Master's degree in Early Intervention. This means I will take 2 classes this summer and 2 in the Fall then graduate in December.

The second decision I made this week is the one that is stressing me out.....drum roll please.......I have decided that I am going to look for a teaching job for the Fall. I know this does not sound that big but I have now been preparing for this moment for FIVE YEARS and it is time. There is a new charter school opening in the Fall and I REALLY want to work there. So now I am working like a crazy person to put together/revise my portfolio (lesson plans, behavior plans, intervention plans, classroom environment, resume, references, research, cover letter, teaching philosophy, etc.) as well as trying to prepare for what questions I may be asked to answer in an interview (God willing, I make it that far).

On top of it all, we have a girl from Teach for America staying with us and telling me about all these people who are in town interviewing for teaching jobs and all I can think of is "they better back off my school". Not to mention that I have two weeks of classes left and am trying to finish papers and projects before finals start.

Eek! No going out this weekend...or sleeping

French Quarter Festival

2010-04-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

The French Quarter Festival is Louisiana's largest free music event, a three-day local music showcase scattered throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are music performances on 17 stages which feature every genre from gospel to jazz, from funk to classical, from Cajun & zydeco to brass band. The community festival also features the "World's Largest Jazz Brunch," which are the festival food booths operated by nearly 70 local chefs and restaurants throughout the festival weekend. Here are some of the highlights:

Mary Anna and I sitting at one of the Riverwalk stages on Sunday.

Mardi Gras Indians. Really neat tradition and history. They only dress out three times a year--Mardi Gras day, St Joseph's day, and Super Sunday (and for concerts). This tribe is called the Wild Magnolias.

Saturday I spent some time at the festival with a family from church. These are their two adorable kiddos making funny faces after I asked the to smile. Haha!

Not a Morning Person

2010-04-10T07:37:00.000-05:00

Is it wrong that I want to hurt the Mission's team that began working on replacing the tin roof next door at 7 this morning???? So thankful these guys are here but 7am... Really?? Let's start with something that doesn't require tearing out loud tin sheets and the use of hammers only 10 feet away from my room. I'm going to need an extra cup of coffee this morning.

March Madness

2010-04-09T23:30:00.000-05:00

The month of March was crazy! I went to a good friend's wedding, Jordan came to visit, I went to visit my mom's family, the rest of my family came to visit, then spring break, and another good friend came to visit. Whew!! I can't believe it is April already.

My friend Alicia got married! Alicia was one of the girls in my program at Auburn and we all developed a bond as we experienced the trials of earning our degree. The night before her wedding another one of the special ed girls got engaged. Hooray!

Jordan and I at the St Patty's day block party near my house. My little brother is so big!

St Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter

Beignets at Cafe du Monde. Part of the whole Beignet experience is wiping off the powdered sugar all over you. :)

Sunset on the Mississippi river

Katrina and Sarah snuggled together on a deflating air mattress

Please pray

2010-04-08T15:25:00.000-05:00

My friend Sam's roommate, also named Sam, was critically injured last night when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit Sam while he was riding his motorcycle. I don't know Sam's roommate but it breaks my heart that he is paying for someone else's bad decision and it angers me that the driver was previously arrested for drunk driving but, after pleading not guilty, was not convicted. I can't imagine what emotions his friends and family are experiencing right now. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Instant Cash Sweepstakes

2010-04-07T21:00:00.001-05:00

The poet

2010-03-14T21:41:00.000-05:00

Here is another poem that Katrina wrote--this one is about me:

Older, smarter, funnier you are
My bigger sister who likes cigars
I look up to you all the time
Even though we're like partners in crime
The good times we've had
Including the bad and the sad
And the memories we make
And those mistakes
You're here for me now, that's what matters
I understand your past with all the shatters
There were hardships that you had to overcome
I know those things made you numb
You hid away for so long
After things all went wrong
We lost a sibling which was hard on us all
Then you put up that bearing wall
It's almost like i lost you too
With everything that you went through
There was pain and hurt, too much to bare
And of that i was aware
But you were strong and got through it
Day by day, Bit by bit

Apparently there is no age limit

2010-03-11T10:19:00.000-06:00

My 75 year old grandmother is on Facebook! The world is coming to an end!! I feel a facebook tutoring session coming on when I go visit this weekend. Some things we are going to have to talk about is how facebook relationships are not necessarily real relationships. Look her up if you want: Maud van Eysbergen.

A child's perspective

2010-03-10T19:13:00.000-06:00

I love that my siblings are growing up and I am able to see God work in their lives and I can get to know them on a deeper level. Katrina and I have been talking more and more and I am finding out that we have more in common than I thought... Katrina is good at hiding her emotions like me and putting on a happy face but we have recently gotten to talk about the pain that we share from losing our sister. We have never talked about this before but it was eye opening to hear what that day was like from her perspective. She was only 8 but remembers more than I expected. The topic came up because she has had to write a series of poems for school and I asked her to read them to me. She said I could share a couple of them so here is her "experience" poem:
Water was splashing as we jumped in the pool
Summer it was, as we had no worries
Up the hill to the familar house we walk
Through the door to see loved ones who dare not talk
Confused with the faces all around
Eyes red filled with tears only staring at the ground

Sobs are heard and pain can be seen
Searching for the reason around the room
Someone stands and begins to speak
The news has made it, crashing in like a wave
A car wreck with three but only two were saved
The impact gets worse throughout the day

A happy family of nine is what we would make
If we weren't one less to make us break
We are here for each other
To comfort no matter what
But there is nothing anyone could say
To make the nightmares go away

Friends!

2010-03-10T12:15:00.000-06:00

My childhood friend, Dane, ended up coming to New Orleans for a few days and his fiance, Brinkley, was able to come too. Dane is a brother to me and I could not be any more excited that he is getting married. I am especially excited that he is marrying Brinkley!! She is an amazing person and will continue to have a positive impact on Dane's life. Congrats you two!!

Move over People of Walmart

2010-03-04T22:11:00.003-06:00

There's a new time killer in town....

I can't figure out how to make it so you can see the whole thing but it goes like this:
Joshua: passed the guitar midterm :D

Beatrice: The grade needs to go up! You really don't want to mess with mother nature, now do you. D is not exceptable in your grades. You are a very smart guy. Get motivated

Joshua: Mom thats a smiley face not a d i got an a on the midterm...learn how to freakin read.

Me: And mom....spelling acceptable as "exceptable" is not acceptable. How old are you? Facebook even spell checks for you now. No excuses.

Check out more here.

I survived!

2010-02-18T14:08:00.003-06:00

Well, I officially made it through my first Mardi Gras and I am pooped. Over the course of 2 weeks, I went to 19 parades (including the Saints parade) and biked to the French Quarter with friends on Mardi Gras day. We stayed at least a block away from Bourbon St at all times and it was surprisingly PG to PG-13 rated everywhere we went.

Mary Anna and I pulled together an awesome, homemade peacock costume in a week but realized that we need to start planning ahead now for next year. We're thinking lemon wedge, oyster, hot sauce, and beer. :)

Me and my friend Ashley watching the Thoth parade with church family. I love that I am getting to know new friends on deeper levels now.

And SO GLAD to get to experience new things with old friends.

Lombardi Gras

2010-02-09T12:19:00.002-06:00

I was seriously offended yesterday by Andrew Perloff, a writer for Sports Illustrated, when he wrote the following ignorant comment in one of his articles:

“Brees and the Saints have bought into this emotional wave and it gave them an edge. But to honestly believe a sports team's success can have a sustainable positive effect on a community seems naïve. Not to dampen the party, but Brees efficiently running the Saints' offense has nothing to do with real urban renewal. How many people's lives is this really going to affect in a meaningful way for more than a few weeks?”

First of all, who do you think you are to shoot down the excitement and emotions that this brings to the people all along the gulf coast? This is the team they have been rooting for and dedicated to for 43 years despite them never having won a championship game. This momentous victory not only comes after a long awaited time and a period of devastation but also on a weekend where the city (black and white alike) have united to elect a new mayor who we hope will bring positive changes and during the first big weekend of Mardi Gras. It brings tears to my eyes when I remember how far things have come in 4 ½ years—from a place of utter devastation to this.

The Saints winning is so much more than just winning the Super Bowl, it symbolizes hope and pride and gives a sense of unity as we are all part of the “Who Dat Nation”. This unity is critical to the city’s continuing recovery. For example, I received this email today from school:

Faculty, Staff & Students,

With the Super Bowl victory in hand, New Orleans has reached this momentous point in its history and recovery. As a key part of this community UNO encourages you to participate in the celebration that has brought us all together like none before. For this reason, the University will be closing at 1PM today. All classes at all locations are cancelled and all are encouraged to go to the parade and take part by supporting the Saints in their victory that symbolizes how far New Orleans has come!

Check out this article for more details of the impact this is having on daily life here. Only in New Orleans can you call your boss to tell him you are not coming in to work and he replies with "Duh". Haha. The culture and atmosphere down here is like no other.

Get Ready Miami

2010-02-04T10:26:00.002-06:00

This article is funny but true: read it here. It is somewhat of a warning to Miami and Colts fans of what to expect from their New Orleans visitors. :)

Celebrate Good Times!

2010-02-02T17:35:00.002-06:00

As many of you may know, New Orleans has experienced an amazing victory with the Saints going to the Superbowl for their first time EVER--over 40 years without a winning season. It has been incredible to see how something like a winning football season can transform a city. It truly is a picture of heaven.
The night after the Saints won the championship game I went down to Bourbon St to celebrate with my fellow New Orlinians. We drove down Canal st with our hands out the window giving high fives to Saints fans and Vikings fans. Everyone was going crazy! Even with all of the madness, cops noted the following morning that there were no crimes, vandalisms, fights, etc called in that night. Wow! Even today I read an article about how the homicide rate has declined after the Saints started the playoffs. It is speculated that this common purpose of rooting for the Saints and celebrating their victories has had something to do with this but who knows. It is so hard to put into words how this winning has changed New Orleans but I truly believe that it has given the city a goal and a purpose, no matter how cheasy that may sound.

Go Saints! Who Dat!

She would have been 21 today.

2010-01-29T12:20:00.002-06:00

Not every year is this emotionally painful but for some reason it is now. I don't know if it is because I am so far away from my family or because Jordan will soon be joining the Marines and I am terrified of losing another sibling and friend.

In all my sadness I am trying to stay thankful for the blessings God has given me. I am thankful that I got to have Rachael as my best friend, sister, and roommate for 12 years. I am thankful that we fought like sisters and I can now look back and laugh at it. I am thankful that even though I cannot be with my family right now, God has put me in a community and a city that knows my pain and loss. I am thankful for new friends here and old friends. I am thankful for the deeper relationships with my other siblings that are growing as they get older.

God is good all the time.

The city of Indulgence

2010-01-21T13:50:00.002-06:00

At community group this week we were talking about living in New Orleans and how we can be "resident aliens". I wasn't exactly sure how to verbalize the difficulties of living in this city and yet standing apart from non-believers until someone else in the group mentioned that NOLA is a "city of indulgence". It takes what is beautiful and meant to be celebrated and turns it into gluttony.
The pastor at my church has said that New Orleans is one of the best pictures of heaven...and hell. We are always celebrating, enjoying the company of others, eating, drinking, enjoying music, art, and the other cultural gifts of this city and yet these things can be taken to the extreme--not to mention the politics and general poverty and crime of the city.
I have mixed emotions about living here as it is one of the most unique and culturally rich places I have ever been, but it is also a broken place where you cannot hide from the constant reminder that this world is not our home. I am encouraged and exhausted by this reminder. There is so much work that needs to be done to restore this city and it is easy to get caught up in thinking that the redemption of this city relies on me when I know that anything I do will be a minor drop in the bucket. God is mighty! PRAISE the Lord that he is our salvation--not me.

Freezing like a popsicle

2010-01-09T22:26:00.003-06:00

Yes....that is an icicle IN my house! We left the faucets dripping so the pipes wouldn't freeze but with the combination of an old house and no central heat/air with below freezing temperatures, we ended up with iciles indoors and frozen pipes throughout. My landlord, being the wonderful person that she is, got my roommate and I hotel rooms for the next 3 days so I am now enjoying warm temperatures and running water. It is like a little "staycation"--the hotel has a heated pool, workout room, is located on St Charles Ave (so I can hop right on the streetcar and ride to church in the morning), and a little thing called rooooom service! AND cable television so I can watch plenty of football and law and order. Hehe.

Life Update

2010-01-06T11:36:00.005-06:00

My Mormor (meaning "mother's mother" in swedish) making cookies. I was able to visit with her for a few days before going to see my family.

After visiting Mormor, I met my family and cousins in Florida and we spent a day at Disney's Magic Kingdom.

Most of the cousins at DisneyMy FAVORITE part was the castle. It was georgeous!!!!While we were at my cousins in Jacksonville, FL we got to meet Quentin Groves!! For you non-Auburn people, he was a defensive end for Auburn while I was in college and now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Him and his wife were driving by my uncle's house and gave us a "War Eagle" after seeing our Auburn tags. They were looking for a house in the neighborhood and my uncle invited them in to see their's because there was one just like it down the street. They stayed about an hour just talking with us.

For Christmas all of the girls got boots. :)

I gave everyone a New Orleans themed gift--the girls got butterfly shaped Mardi Gras masks, the boys got juju dolls (meant for good luck), mom got a set of earrings made locally, and dad got beignet mix and community coffee.

Woot Woot!

2010-01-06T00:29:00.003-06:00

There are so many things I want to write about and hopefully I can get to them this week...but right now there is one thing that I am so excited about! I just met up with a group from Auburn (they are in town working with my church for the week) to see a popular brass band called Rebirth at the Maple Leaf Bar. As we were waiting for the band to start playing, several of the girls start whispering to each other and telling each other not to stare--I did not hear what they were talking about but I turned to see what they were looking at AND there was Kate Hudson standing about 5 people behind me. Wow! I always see movies being filmed around town but am not sure which one she is in. I am so excited to have my first celebrity sighting!! Too bad I forgot my camera--I don't know if I would have tried to get my picture with her anyways; I love her but I can't imagine not being able to go out in public without being bombarded by people--so I settled on doing the stalker stare (short glances back when I think she won't notice). hehe.

Rainy Day

2009-12-12T19:37:00.002-06:00

Ahhh...after a long week of finals I have just one left. Hooray! I worked all morning to finish a final and have spent the afternoon lounging in my room (it is the only warm place in the house). Right now I am snuggled up in my bed watching Mansfield Park on Hulu....Life is good...

This week I only have to work a couple of days in the office then intend to do some christmas shopping. Next weekend I will head to Florida to meet up with my family and visit the cousins. We will also be going to Disney!!! This will be my first trip to Disney!

Lord, Help my Unbelief

2009-12-07T18:02:00.003-06:00

Ugh... I talked to my brother Jordan earlier today and he informed me that he wants to become a Marine. I tried to remain calm and rational while I talked to him but on the inside I was screaming "NO!!!".

The first thought that comes to mind when I think about him in the Marines is selfish and unrational but I can't help to think that I can't handle losing another sibling. It is ridiculous. I also think about how other friends who have been in the military have been changed by their experience. A few changes have been good ones but others have left scars.

Please pray for Jordan as he considers his future. Pray that God will grant him wisdom and guide him and that God will remind me that He is sovereign.

Don't laugh

2009-12-05T00:35:00.002-06:00

I am thinking about buying a Snuggie. I know they are hideous and make you look like a Jedi but keep in mind that this is not something I will be wearing in public. It is seriously cold in my house. I live in a charming old house that I adore but the downfalls are that there is bad/no insullation, I can see the wind blow through the old windows and move the curtains, and we have LIMITED heating abilities. Our bedrooms have a space heater but on nights like tonight my roomie and I just got home and our rooms were a chilling 44 degrees. I am sitting in bed wearing 2 pairs of socks, pajama pants, shirt, hoodie (with hood on), scarf, and 3 blankets while I wait on the space heater to bring the temperature up to a livable situation. This calls for a trip to walmart; maybe they'll have a leopard print Snuggie in stock!

Help My Unbelief

2009-11-23T22:17:00.001-06:00

I'm an emotional person--period. I cry when I'm happy and when I'm sad; my emotions just overflow through tears. Anyways, this song is a song that brings out those emotions. We sang it in church this Sunday and I truly need to be singing it everyday. I fail to believe that God is enough of a savior for me and for everyone else for that matter--he has overcome the world and I don't have to. There is so much freedom and peace that comes in remebering this but I fail everyday and attempt to do everything myself when Christ has already completed it. Gah, I'm so messed up...good thing God doesn't call us to be perfect.

Baby!

2009-11-15T21:11:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine is pregnant!!! I am not going to say who because I want to make sure she has told everyone that she wants to tell. She has been married for less than a year and already having her first child! Congratulations friend! I love you and know that you and your hubby are going to be amazing parents. I'm praying for you.

Have you ever felt like you were going crazy?

2009-11-04T22:23:00.003-06:00

If you have... then you might enjoy these comics. The Garfield comics can be pretty funny already but if you take Garfield out of the picture it makes John look like he is losing his mind. Hope it makes you laugh!

If you enjoyed these you should think about buying the book Garfield Minus Garfield. It could make for a good Christmas gift for a friend or family member.

Pumpkins, Costumes, & Parties! Oh My!

2009-11-01T19:06:00.006-06:00

My weekend started out with a Halloween party hosted by the pastor of my new church. he is an amazing guy with a huge heart for this city. Here he is as Daddy Warbucks with his daughter as Annie.

I attended dressed as the Swine Flew. Here I am with my new friend and study buddy, Holly.

Saturday night I attended a birthday party downtown then headed to Frenchman street where the real party was. :) I am told that this is mild compared to Mardi Gras! I can't even imagine as I was holding onto someone's shirt while they pulled me through the crowd. Wow!

Me and a couple girls from church--I had such a wonderful time getting to know more about the people I worship with!Today for All Saints Day, I got home in time to walk to a nearby cemetary. Supposedly, today is the day when families come out to clean up the graves and remember relatives that have passed. It is so cool to walk around, read the headstones, and try to imagine what kind of lives these people lived.
This tomb in particular freaked me out. Notice that there is a brick missing and you can see directly into the tomb.
I know there are no such things as zombies but... let's seal that sucker up just for the heck of it!

What a fun weekend building relationships and enjoying my new home!

People of Walmart

2009-10-26T10:42:00.002-05:00

My roommate recently introduced me to a website that is slightly addictive, disturbing, and hilarious...People of Walmart....you should visit it and see for yourself.
(I wouldn't recommend visiting it while small children are around as you never know what may pop up.)

Living by Grace

2009-10-21T18:47:00.002-05:00

So, right now I am struggling with what it means to live knowing God's grace. What is this supposed to look like? How does it play out in real life? How should my everday actions be impacted?
I'm a quite and reserved person. What I can't figure out is how does my sinful heart (thinking about myself and forgetting that my identity is in Christ alone) play into these characteristics? Is my being reserved a sin? Sometimes I think it is...I don't know...Augh!!!
Any thoughts???

Hmmm

2009-10-15T14:44:00.002-05:00

Obama visited New Orleans today and spoke at UNO. I didn't get tickets but was able to watch online; he had good answers to many questions but I am still concerned about this health plan being pushed through so quickly.

Clever Costumes

2009-10-15T11:51:00.001-05:00

For all of you out there who are struggling to come up with a cheap, fast, and clever costume idea, here is a little help:

Self-Absorbed
Attach sponges all over your body.
Behind the Times
Attach several fake (or real) clocks to your behind.
Bulk E-Mail (guys only)
Wear muscular padding under a dark sweatshirt with the letter E attached to the front.
Past Your Prime
Put a sign on your shirt that says "Sell by July 31 01" (or any date that has already passed).
Refrigerator Magnet
Paint a shoe box black and attach it to your back.
Mastercard Ad
Wear whatever clothing you choose. Attach a sign to your back that says "Shirt: $30...Jeans: $50...Shoes: $70......Halloween costume that took minimal effort: Priceless.
Someone You Can Count On (great pickup line if you are crushing on someone at the party)
Wear all black clothes. Cut out big, bright numbers and attach them to your clothes.
Chia Pet (probably easier to do on a child)
Wrap yourself in duct tape so the sticky part is facing out, then roll around on the lawn.

Now, I have not posted what I will be going as...you'll just have to wait and see...but it is going to be spectacular!

Beat the Heat

2009-10-08T12:37:00.003-05:00

93 degrees+66% humidity= 103 degree heat index
Yuck! I don't even want to leave the house...I would need to take a towel to dry off with if I did.

Here is what the Weather Channel has to say about this:
A HEAT INDEX OF 105 DEGREES IS CONSIDERED THE LEVEL WHERE MANY PEOPLE BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE EXTREME DISCOMFORT OR PHYSICAL STRESS. THE HEAT INDEX IS MEASURED UNDER SHADY CONDITIONS... AND DIRECT EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT CAN INCREASE THE HEAT INDEX AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES. So, in the sun it really feels like 118 degrees?? Fabulous!

When will Fall get here???

The sites

2009-09-07T20:04:00.004-05:00

I spent my labor day doing nothing productive and feeling guilty for it. The only thing that I did get accomplished was repairing a flat tire (the third one in a month--thank you to the streets of new orleans) and writing this post. While I was waiting on my car to get repaired, I walked around downtown and captured a few things along the way.

Notice the frightened animals at the bottom of the poster. I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean.

Found this sign on the side of an abandoned building. It makes me sick knowing this is true; pray for the police in this city as they fight to lower the number of homicides.

Just one of many abandoned buildings in this city.

Last but not least...a random light house in the middle of the city. It is up for lease if anyone is interested.

Ann and Casey this is for you:

2009-09-03T15:27:00.002-05:00

New Orleans by Numbers

2009-08-31T10:02:00.005-05:00

Check out this list of numbers relating to the recovery of New Orleans 4 years after Hurricane Katrina. For the full list visit CNN.com.

76.4 %- Population: More than three-quarters of New Orleans population is back, according to post office numbers showing who gets mail. In the greater New Orleans metro area, 90% of the population is back, getting mail.

6.8%- Unemployment: Engineering and construction work rebuilding Louisiana after storms has cushioned unemployment. Nation's rate is 9.4%.

1 in 167- Foreclosures: New Orleans ranks 119th on a list of cities with most foreclosures. In hardest-hit Las Vegas, one in every 13 homes is in foreclosure.

-15%- Tourism: Cash-strapped tourists and companies worldwide have cut travel to the Big Easy. City hotel bookings related to conventions and meetings are down 15% from 2008.

65,888- The number of unoccupied residences in March 2009, nearly equal to those in Detroit. Indeed, the New Orleans landscape is dotted by weed-filled lots and molding houses.

1- Murder: The city's murder rate, adjusted for population, topped all cities nationwide last year.

-17 %- Violent crime dropped in New Orleans in 2008. The city has done better than even a nationwide decline in crime the last two years.

2 Poverty: Louisiana ranks No. 2 in the nation for people living in poverty, trailing only Mississippi, despite billions in post-Katrina recovery dollars.

To do list: Buy Pepper Spray

2009-08-31T09:45:00.003-05:00

Sunday I decided to take a walk in the neighborhood because I am a few blocks from the Mississippi River where there is an overpass and I wanted to see what kind of view there was. I passed several people sitting on their porches and riding bikes. Everyone was friendly by smiling and saying hello. Then I passed a guy detailing his car; he also smiled and said hello so I did the same. Then he commented on what a pretty smile I had and asked if there was any reason for it. I responded by saying I guess it is just this nice weather and enjoying a little walk.

He made small talk asking me if I was from around here (yes, i just moved for grad school), are you married (no, i don't think I'm ready for marriage at this point in my life), so you're just looking for friends (yes)---still thinking nothing of our conversation other than a friendly chat. I commented on the car he was working on saying "that's a nice ride"; he didn't miss a beat in replying "so when can I ride you? (me: nervous laugh) what your boyfriend wouldn't like that?". I was so shocked by the comment that I replied "No, have a nice day" and quickly walked away while getting out my cell phone to call mom on my walk back home.

Augh! Living in New Orleans is emotionally exhausting because you are constantly faced with the brokenness of the world everywhere you go.
Pray for me and this city.

Friends!

2009-08-23T20:21:00.002-05:00

I have been feeling really lonely lately but God provided me with some encouragement today. I went to my church's prayer group this morning in the hopes of having time to fellowship and bond with people at the church. It was nice to spend time with this small group and be encouraged by their prayers for the church and its members.
After the service I saw several people that I wasn't expecting. Three friends from Lagniappe ended up visiting and I got to talk with them briefly. While I was talking to them I saw Mary Owen, a friend from Auburn, walk by. She is here for the week to volunteer with a group from her church in Augusta Georgia! It is nice to have someone in town who I know and can call up to go have coffee with me.
Thank you God for providing friends when I was feeling lonely!

Enjoying the down time

2009-08-20T18:49:00.004-05:00

I'm trying to enjoy my leisurely life before classes and work start back Monday. Today I woke up, read a little, browsed the internet, worked out, showered, napped, and cooked. Basically a whole lot of nothing.
It was a great day but I long to be around people at the end of the day. Even if I have been with people all day long I still desire to be around a few friends in the afternoon. I don't know what it is but I can be fine all day long by myself then dinner time hits and I feel lonely. Not to worry--night classes start soon so that shouldn't be a problem.
Anyways, thought I would show off my creations. I made my momma's chicken pot pie but tried to make it healthier by not having as much crust. I also made Anita's banana bread--my favorite breakfast food.

God is great! Life is good!

A whole new world

2009-08-19T17:33:00.005-05:00

SO...today I ventured to the local social security office to order a copy of my card because my previous one seems to have gotten lost during the move. Going downtown is always an adventure for me. First, I can't parallel park (without getting pissed off or scratching someone's car) and second, I have no sense of direction in this crazy, curvy city. I finally made it to the office (after trying several other buildings first) and got my number in line.

It was a small room that was crowded and smelled of B.O. and it was filled with many interesting characters. As entertaining as the whole experience was, it was sad to see many of these individuals who you could tell were homeless or struggling to get by. Everyday I get in my car and pass numbers of homeless individuals. I want so much to help but I have no idea where to start and keep having to remind myself that Jesus already saved the world--it's not my job.

This will show you how naive and small town minded I am... I was getting off of my exit right by the superdome and saw 50-100 people scattered about in the parking lot under the bridge. My mind immediately thought "Wow, I can't believe people are camping out for the Saints game". I went home and told my roommate and she gave me this look like "alright". It wasn't until later that week when I drove by and saw the same thing that I realized these people were homeless and trying to get out of the rain.

Please pray for this city and its people. Pray also that God will show me my role in ministering to the many needy individuals here.

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield." -Psalm 33:20 (NIV)

I love lists!

2009-08-19T17:22:00.003-05:00

I just thought I would share that I love lists! There is something so gratifying about getting to cross something off your long list of things to do that it motivates me to get moving and get things done. The most gratifying thing though is getting everything on the list completed then throwing the list away. Woo Hoo!

I know I'm weird but I embrace it because it gives me this warm tingly feeling inside.

Merry on the Ferry

2009-08-14T09:06:00.003-05:00

So...Dane suggested I take the Riverwalk Ferry as a free thing to do downtown and you get a great view of the city. Last night my roommate and I grabbed coffee then boarded the Ferry while listening to a live jazz band on the Riverwalk and watching other dinner boats and barges pass by us. We successfully crossed to the opposite side (Algiers) where we got an amazing view of the city and were chatting and waiting to go back when the captain told everyone to abandon ship (well, not exactly those words) because they had to trade Ferrys. Little did we know that this process would take close to 1 1/2 hours.
There is not much to do in Algiers but we did spot a little bar at the bottom of the hill, the Dry Dock, that looked like a respectable establishment. A few people had just come out of the place and were headed our way so we asked them if it was a decent place. After they confirmed that it was indeed decent and had shared their life story with us, we headed to the Dry Dock where we ordered a couple of appetizers and drinks. They ended up bringing us an extra side which a couple at the end of the bar was eyeing. After sharing this side with them they cozied up to us and were chatting about everything. Their names were Leigh Ann and Jason--a middle aged couple who are originally from chicago; Leigh Ann was a chatterbox and very friendly with a couple of drinks in her :). They ended up getting my roommates number so they could call us in a couple of weeks when they were going to go out again.
I can't wait for them to call; it will be a great opportunity to see some fun places and bands as long as it is not one of the nights that they go to the strip club. I don't think they are Christians judging by the things they said, but the whole time Leigh Ann was talking about how she looks at every person as a potential friend and how showing someone grace is a great way to get to know them--in one of her stories showing someone grace meant giving them a cigarette. "Grace" was a regular word in her sentences and I am hoping that God will use me and my roommate to show her His Grace.

I made it...

2009-08-05T08:23:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that I drove 6 hours towing my car without a single incident. I arrived to New Orleans and my friend Charles arrived shortly after to help me unload all of my stuff. It rained the entire time we were unloading but it was perfect and refreshing in this Louisiana humidity.

One helpful tip my friend shared with me is to keep at least a half tank of gas in your car during hurricane season because if a storm does come it can be difficult finding any.

Life in New Orleans is already so different than anywhere else I have lived. I'll have to make a list sometime soon of the uniqueness of NOLA.

Our first day in DC

2009-06-29T20:46:00.002-05:00

Sunday morning we packed up the van and drove 10 hours to Arlington, VA where we spent our first night of vacation. This morning we packed up again and headed to DC. We are staying just a few blocks away from the capital and the mall. Our first stop was the Smithsoniam museum of natural history. Here are some moments from the day:
A bird pooped in corey's hair--notice the white spot--so i had to snap a picture; he was pretty mad.

The oldest living fossil by the oldest natural fossil. :) I love you mom!

Eaten by a shark!!! Oh no!!

Eating a snack and waiting to go into the museum.

Here is a cool picture from the metro right before my first ride. It is not bad if you are sitting but i got a little motion sickness when I had to stand...i guess it beats driving and trying to park downtown.

Real Life

2009-06-24T22:05:00.002-05:00

I feel like a real adult and I am longing to be back in my Auburn bubble! I am working two jobs and love what I do but it is exhausting. Today I worked from 7:00 am to 9pm with a 2 hour break somewhere in the middle. Did I mention that I'm exhausted??

2009-06-06T09:45:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I visited a Buddy, Ame, who was admitted to UAB and had a tricuspid valve replacement surgery. She is recovering well with the help of her friends and family and is encouraged by the cards, balloons, and flowers she has received.

Ame is probably the sweetest person I know. She has down's syndrome but that has never slowed her down when it comes to being a great friend. Before her surgery she had to go in to have her heart looked at. When Ame woke up, she knew the doctor had been looking in her heart. The first thing she asked the doctor was "When you were looking in my heart did you see Jesus in there?" The doctor replied, "Ame, every time I see you I see Jesus in your heart."

Moody has a website?!

2009-05-26T09:45:00.003-05:00

Moody, Alabama... the fourth fastest growing city in the state! Moody now has a population close to 14,000 but I was truly shocked to find out that we now have a website. Check it out for yourself! It is like finding out that Andy Griffith created a website for Mayberry.

Here is some neat info I found on their site:

~The city is home to the state’s first Miracle League field and has state-of-the-art park and recreation facilities.

~Moody got its name from a man named Epps Moody who settled here with his family in 1820. There were two stagecoach routes that crossed here forming Moody Crossroads, now Moody Parkway and Park Ave.

~The first area school was formed in 1879 followed in 1882 by the organization of the first area church. (not sure what church they are talking about or where it was located)

Best Buddies Greek Sing 2009

2009-05-18T22:08:00.001-05:00

I have been involved with this wonderful organization throughout college and was the President this past year. Every year we are the final performance for the sorority dance competition while the judges tally up scores. It was great to hear the crowd give a standing ovation to our Buddies who choreographed and learned the whole routine. Just ignore my dancing...the Buddies are much more fun to watch. :)

I'm Done!!!!

2009-05-11T19:03:00.005-05:00

I made it! It is so surreal right now as I am moving out of my apartment into our pool house for the summer. I will move to New Orleans in early August to start classes at UNO (Pray that I will find safe and reasonably priced housing).

This summer I am working at Glenwood, an Autism and Behavioral Center in Birmingham. I will be an assistant teacher in a classroom with 7 students. I am so excited about the opportunity to work here!

I will also be working on attaining a Louisiana teaching certificate so I can officially be accepted into the University of New Orleans. This means taking a couple of standardized tests, waiting for scores, waiting on my Alabama teaching certificate to be sent in the mail, then mailing it all to Louisiana along with my transcripts.

This is my friend John who is also moving to New Orleans this summer to serve two years with a program called Teach for America. I am so thankful he will be nearby! God has been so faithful to provide what I have needed--friendships, a summer job, a way to pay for school, and so much more. I pray that I will continue to remember His faithfulness and trust that He will provide for my needs.

Graduate School

2009-04-07T14:36:00.002-05:00

I just received my admissions letter to the University of New Orleans! I teared up when I got it and am so relieved that I have a post-graduation plan come August. Now I am working on figuring out what to do to earn money this summer and how to pay for graduate school for the next two years.
I am also giving myself pep talks on a regular basis. I think I can...I think I can...23 days until classes end! Freedom is in sight!!
*Deep breath*
Now back to work. Ugh.

Spring Break 09

2009-03-22T21:47:00.002-05:00

I am sad to see Spring Break end. My week was busy but not the schoolwork kind of busy so it was nice. I visited Lagniappe for a few days, went to new orleans to visit a potential graduate school, and went to Fairhope to see family and the Arts and Crafts Festival.
Katrina and I at an old graveyard in new orleans. We parked near the French Quarter then hopped on a trolley on a mission to find a block party. On our way we found this graveyard. One of my favorite head stones said, "At Rest". Won't it be glorious when God comes back and we are all finally at rest!?
This is my friend Beka and I in New Orleans on St Patty's day. We finally found the block party somewhere downtown and enjoyed a green beer at 11am--probably the earliest I've ever drank before. :)

Later on St Patty's day, we went back to Lagniappe and enjoyed time with friends. I hope Katrina isn't too scarred from her experiences.

Don't I have georgeous siblings!?

I love these guys!

I killed it!

2009-03-13T22:17:00.002-05:00

Last year I bought my very first plant with my former roomie who is a horticulture major. From the beginning I struggled to keep it alive. The first day I brought it home it shed all of it's leaves and I thought it was dead. It finally came back and was looking great. Now it looks like this and I don't know why...maybe it is because my horticulture roomie moved out and now it is neglected. I tried but I definitely don't have a green thumb. I guess I'll stick to silk plants for now. :(

Teacher Appreciation week

2009-03-01T15:09:00.003-06:00

I absolutely love the kids that I teach but since I can't show you their adorable faces due to privacy issues (boo), I will show you pictures of things they gave to me this past week.
Monday they brought letters to thank us for being their teacher. My favorite letters are the homemade, handwritten ones but they all melt my heart.

Tuesday our students brought their teachers one flower each. All of our flowers made a beatiful arrangement that I have in my bathroom now. And I'll let you in on a little secret...if you put the flowers in Sprite they will last longer. It's true; we had flowers in school that were in water and I took mine home and put them in sprite. My flowers are now alive and well and the others have already wilted.

Wednesday they brought all kinds of treats for us to enjoy. Homemade cookies, candy, girlscout cookies, roasted pecans, and much more. Me and my roomies enjoyed them all!

Thursday's theme was to be extra kind to your teacher. It was wonderful!

Fridays are our teacher planning days and are also set aside for the teachers to test and evaluate students to see if they qualify for services so our kids do not come to school. However the PTA had wonderful food set up for the teachers all week.

It is so nice to know that you are appreciated for all of your hard work! Hopefully all of the teachers will remember this appreciation when they are having a tough day/week.

Look What I Can Do!

2009-02-22T21:59:00.002-06:00

Before:

After:
My Model:

My church here in Auburn has a women's knitting group (sorry to all you guys that wanted to participate!) whose first project was to make baby hats for the Women's Hope Medical Clinic here in town. They are hosting a baby shower for the women tomorrow night where they will give them the hats we made as well as other baby items.

The group is called K2 TOG, which in the knitting world, means to "knit two together". Thus the purpose of this group is not only to help women with children but to also build relationships between women at the church. It truly is a neat group of women!

My next project to knit is a cotton baby bib. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Note that this is only my second knitting project. It takes some time but I love the outcome!

I had a great day!

2009-02-18T18:56:00.003-06:00

Today I went to my gym to get my reevaluation done and here are the results since Thanksgiving...drum roll please...
I've lost a total of 12 lbs!
I've lost 9% body fat!!
My at rest heart rate has dropped (thanks to a cardio class that is kicking my butt).
Go me!

My life song

2009-01-31T10:43:00.003-06:00

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieves. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Chorus: My chains are gone! I've been set free! My God my Saviour has ransomed me! And like a flood his mercy reigns! Unending love. Amazing grace.
The lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secured. He will my shelter and portion be as long as life endures.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow. The sun forever to shine. But God who called me here below will be forevermore...will be forevermore. You are forevermore.

This is a beautiful rendition of amazing grace and a comforting reminder that God is gracious to me. I so often forget the grace that has been imparted to me and do not give grace to others.

Probably the biggest reminder of my sin is when I am interacting with the Buddies. I so often see and hear their anxiety. Their ability to focus only on themselves is aggravating. Then like a lightbulb from the Holy Spirit I am reminded, "oh yeah...they sound kinda like me...dammit". Thank you God for being so gracious toward me in my sin. Help me to impart that same grace and love to others and continue to remind me of your grace.

My Love/Hate relationship with Technology

2009-01-22T22:01:00.003-06:00

Why I love it:
1. It cuts down the number of hours I spend drawing things for school and coming up with craft ideas.
2. It is an easy way to turn in assignments and to research topics.
3. It allows me to keep in touch with friends that I don't get to see often whether by facebook, my blog, or phone calls.
4. It is a great form of entertainment--watching movies, news updates, etc
5. Almost any piece of information is only a click away.

Why I hate it:
1. I had 10 missed calls, 4 answered calls, and 11 outgoing calls today. I also listened to 9 messages today.
2. I spent a total of 2 hours answering emails today. (partially because some emails require searching to find an answer to questions) On average, I read and answer about 15 emails per day.
3. Nothing ever works when I need it to work.

So I guess there are more reasons I love it than hate it but gee whiz! We live in a world where you are expected to be a call or an email away. Heaven forbid you decide not to answer your phone for a few hours or not check your email for a day. I am guilty of this midset also but some days I struggle with deciding whether or not to feed my cell phone to the dog.

Life update

2009-01-11T22:15:00.002-06:00

I am so excited about starting my last semester at Auburn! I don't want to think about leaving Auburn and my friends but I will be so glad to graduate. Last semester I taught 1st-3rd graders and although I enjoyed it, it made me realize that I am most passionate about teaching younger children.

This semester I am happy to say that for my internship I am teaching preschool! I have 3 and 4 year olds four days a week then a teacher workday on fridays. I also only have a 10 minute drive to school compared to my 35 minute drive and working in the eastern time zone last semester.

My three year olds arrive by 7:45am and leave at 10:15am. Then the four year olds arrive at 11am and leave at 2pm. There are about 8 students in each class. Most of the students have language delays or other developmental delays then we have a couple of typical students that act as peer models to model appropriate behaviors and developmental milestones.

I love my kiddos and can't wait to update y'all on what we do each week!

God is still Sovereign

2009-01-03T09:40:00.002-06:00

Despite the loss and the sadness that Mallori's family is having to bear, God is still at work in their lives. Mallori's husband acknowledged that he was missing a lot more than just Mallori in his life; he was missing God. At Mallori's funeral, the pastor announced that her husband had accepted christ as his savior and acknowledged his need for him.
I pray that he continues to grow in Christ so his children can be raised by a Godly father and that Christ will continue to heal his heart.
There is something so healing in knowing that God can and will use things as horrible as the death of a loved one to bring about his sovereign plan and further His kingdom.

In need of prayer

2008-12-28T22:40:00.002-06:00

Today, immediately after church, I was informed that my best friend up through Jr High School was killed in a car accident. Mallori Whisenhunt Harper was thrown from her car after it flipped on hwy 174 between pell city and odenville. Her 2 young children (bailey-2yrs and harris-3yrs) were in the car with her. Bailey came away with minor cuts after escaping from her seat and crawling into a nearby yard. Harris is currently in the ICU with multiple injuries. Among his injuries are bruised and swollen eyes, a punctured lung, and shattered leg bones.
Mallori was the oldest of 4 kids. Her siblings are Blaine, Andrew, and Abby. She was living at home with them her mom, kim, and her stepdad, kevin, and her two kids. Mallori just turned 22 years old last week.
Praise the Lord that her 2 babies are ok but the whole situation is a mess. There are so many things for which I would covet your prayers.
1. Mallori was in the middle of a divorce and custody battle. For this you could pray that Mallori's mother would receive custody of the children since the children's father's job requires him to be gone weeks at a time.
2. Pray that the custody battle would not get ugly.
3. Pray for rest for the family as they grieve. Grieving is so exhausting but it is so hard to turn your mind off and actually rest.
4. Pray that the family would find strength in God and know that they can make it through this trying time. It definitely will not be of their own strength. Words cannot describe how it feels to look back on the hardest experience of your life and realize that God was and is powerful enough to bring you through it.
5. Pray for peace for the family--that they won't blame themselves for anything and that they will be able to slowly move forward without dwelling on the accident and what they could have done differently.
6. This last request is a little selfish, but pray for me. Pray that God would use me to be a comfort to this family. Also pray that God would grant me peace as this situation brings back a lot of memories from the loss of Rachael and as I mourn the loss of my friend Mallori.
Thank you for your prayers!

Family

2008-12-22T21:12:00.003-06:00

The family is still crazy as always. Here's our christmas update:

1. Jordan is senior and is considering attending a local community college, Jefferson state, for 2 years while living at home then transferring to another school after he finishes his core classes.

2. Corey is 13 and taller than me. He is playing soccer and football at Moody Junior High and enjoying attending public school.

3. Katrina is also enjoying attending public school and is struggling to figure out who she is and what she stands for. She will turn 16 in about a week but is grounded for the rest of her high school life, so she may never drive a car until she goes to college.

4. Sarah is 11. She has a heart for children (excluding her siblings of course) and enjoys babysitting. She is taking piano lessons and her teacher recently found her a beginner's piano book of the Jonas Brother's sheet music--which she loves.

5. Annika is 9 years old and very difficult to describe. She definitely dances to the beat of her own drum--literally. The boys her age love her because she is basically one of them. When someone called her a "tomboy" she responded by saying, "I'm not a tomboy! I'm a tomgirl--half boy and half girl."
6. Mom is continuing to work on designing her children's heirloom clothing patterns. She recently had a photo shoot for some of her patterns to be displayed in next year's christmas edition of Sew Beautiful.

7. Dad is keeping busy with work and his large list of things to do at home. We recently added an addition onto the house for a new den. We started this addition before the turn in the economy and were planning on paying for it by cashing stocks. Dad is stressed over finances both with paying for this addition and thinking about all the kids going to college, thus he is thankful that jordan is considering living at home and going to a community college for a few years.

Picture Updates are a lot easier

2008-12-21T22:04:00.004-06:00

Me and my buddy, Cathy, with Santa at the Best Buddies Christmas party at the Farmhouse frat house after my last day of class. :)
Sunday through thursday, I was at Lagniappe helping with the RUF blitz build. We built a 4 bedroom house in a matter of days despite the rain, mud, and fog. The dots on the picture above is all the moisture in the air--not rain, just fog.

Thursday I left Lagniappe and returned to Birmingham to attend a couple of wedding showers for my friend Ruth Ann. Here she is at her lingerie shower looking at her underwear mobile.

I also attended a bridesmaid's tea for another one of my friends whose wedding I am in in May but I don't have any pictures yet from that.

Time Saving Tips

2008-12-10T11:58:00.002-06:00

I had a long, tiring day yesterday while writing a paper for finals and trying to get things done for Best Buddies and Friends For Life. I also spend a good chunk of time every day listening to messages and returning phone calls. The one thing that made my day yesterday was...are you ready for this?...discovering how to text in the shower!
I'm a genius! Granted, this probably won't save that much time but it is pretty fantastic. I wonder if I could use the same method to return phone calls while in the shower. Ok--that's kinda weird, but I could listen to messages.
All I did was slid my opened flip phone into a plastic baggie, sealed it closed, and viola! You are now ready to text or listen to messages in the shower!

Mmmm

2008-11-23T20:48:00.002-06:00

After cleaning out my fridge to leave for Thanksgiving break, the mere contents of my fridge now consist of 2 beers, a bottle of wine, and a bag of carrots. Ahh...the college life. :)

Update in pictures

2008-11-22T20:09:00.006-06:00

When your paperwork gets higher than your morning coffee, it is time to quit and carve a pumpkin!

Do you think we look alike?

I had to dress like the 80s for school on Thursday So I continued the theme through my other halloween festivities. Above is me with some Buddies and the Best Buddies halloween party and below I am with my roomies at our party. And yes, those are leopard print tights that I found in the regular section of Target--not the halloween section. Now that's scary!

Police on halloween

2008-11-01T04:34:00.004-05:00

Well, it just wouldn't be halloween if something eventful didn't happen. I just finished giving my statement to Auburn Police for our lovely neighbor banging on our door at 3:30 in the morning for about 30 minutes.

At About 3:30, I woke up to someone banging on our door and decided to ignore it since all the roommates were home and I figured someone was probably just too trashed to remember where they lived. A few minutes later someone starts to pound again then walk off. By now, I am just pissed. One of my roommates is up and looks through the peep hole to check to see if anyone is out there but doesn't see anyone. And another one of my roommates is awake because her dog is barking at the little felon.

After a few more times of him pounding on our door and my bedroom wall, a roommate and I decide to call the police. It just doesn't sound like your typical lost drunk. He has been pounding on other people's doors too and he doesn't stick around at all after knocking, just moves on to the next one.

By now, 2 of my 3 roommates are sitting in the kitchen with me waiting for the police to arrive. The police arrived a few minutes before 4 am and apprehended the dude. They spend some time doing drunk tests which are kinda pointless because he is beyond wasted. Then they ask one of my roommates to identify him--she saw him out of our peep hole as he stumbled up to pound on our door the last time. Eventually, they charged him with something (attempted something or other).

The police officer said that people have been knocking on others' doors and if no one answers after a while, they assume that no one is there and kick the door in to rob the place. They think this is what he was doing but said that he had another excuse. Do you want to know what our friendly neighbor's excuse for scaring us half to death was?!... "He wanted to ask one of us out!" Hah! You are guaranteed success with that method mister. I'm shocked you're still single.

And after all of this, my roommate Ann is still out like a rock! She hasn't budged through the pounding on the door, the dog barking, police coming in to take my statement, or the 3 of us sitting in our living room talking. It must be nice to be a heavy sleeper.
Now that it is 5:30 am, I'm going to sleep--praising the Lord that we are all still alive and that tomorrow is Saturday. :)

Peace and Joy

2008-10-08T22:00:00.004-05:00

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverence; perseverence, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:1-5

I am constantly guilty of focusing on all of the things that are going wrong in my life or obstacles that I am faced with. It is so easy to forget that I have been shown grace and that I am forgiven. I do not have to earn grace, it has been GIVEN to me. It was not free by any means, but God sacrificed his only Son to give me grace. I can't imagine what they would be like! To watch your son be beaten and spit upon. Despised and rejected. And all this for people who were created in his image to worship him but then doubted and are constantly sinning against him and looking for satisfaction in everything but God. For me!

Thank you God for reminding me of the greatness of my sins and of your grace!

Blagh!

2008-10-07T21:08:00.002-05:00

I feel like every time I open my mouth to speak that I am throwing up words. I have so much on my mind and feel like sometimes nothing comes out (dry heaves) and sometimes everything comes out (you-know-what).
Things I am thinking about:
1. Which Buddies to mail another application.
2. Email college students to pair them with a Buddy.
3. Get paperwork from everyone so I can mail it to regionals
4. Call everyone back that left me a message today
5. Email everyone who emailed me today
6. Fill out and mail my adsentee ballot application
7. Mute the debate!--I can't take all this politics, confrontation, and arguing.
8. Pack everything I need for practicum tomorrow (notes, snack, caffeinated drink)
9. Set alarm- 5:30 am
10. Read the book about copyright laws for class thursday.
11. Did I turn in my project that was due today?
12. Fix lesson plans from last week
13. email practicum supervisor my self-evaluations, intervention plans and lesson plans from last week
14. write next week's intervention plans, lesson plans, etc
15. am I going to go to UNO for grad school
16. where will I work?
17. where will I live?
18. where will i go to church?
19. how am i going to pay for it?!
20. Stop thinking!!
I am now going to finish my glass of wine while I listen to the rain and fall asleep-- I'm pooped out!
"God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!"

A little peek into life in the special ed classroom

2008-10-01T19:53:00.001-05:00

1. Today we had a funeral for the month of September. (It had to die so October could take its place)
2. Apparently the word salt is sounded out as "slut".
3. One of the student's parents had a birthday this week and turned 104.

My favorite commercial

2008-09-24T14:01:00.004-05:00

I often have my TV on in the background while I am answering emails or doing homework and I stumbled upon this amazing commercial. It provided me with many giggles the rest of the night as I would randomly think about the commercial while finishing homework. Enjoy!

Update from Lagniappe

2008-09-02T13:06:00.002-05:00

I got this email from Curt Moore, a pastor at Lagniappe church in Bay St Louis, MS, as an update on how things are in the Bay so far:

Dear Friends,
Since Lagniappe was closed to volunteers most of the staff were out of town when Gustav came through today. My wife and I remained in Guflport while Jean Larroux stayed north of Kiln, MS for quick access back to the Bay. The following is a report issued from Governor Barbour has been edited to only include information pertinent only to the Lagniappe parrish residents of Bay St. Louis and Waveland:

Governor Barbour just reported, with limited access, the effects of Gustav. 10 foot tidal surge in Waveland. Several hundred homes damaged in Waveland. Curfew in effect 6pm-6am.

MNA's Disaster Response secured accommodations for coastal residents at First Presbyterian Church's retreat center, Twin Lakes where approximately 30 PCA families evacuated. All Lagniappe staff, families, and members are safe. Since many area residents sustained flood damage in Waveland, Lagniappe will be opening it's bunkhouses to families in need of shelter, and will also open it's kitchen to begin serving meals as soon as possible. Highway 603 was flooded today, but is expected to reopen by midmorning on Tuesday.

Please pray for travel mercies for all those returning home as well as Lagniappe staff who have been asked to return to facilitate disaster response at Lagniappe.Will report more tomorrow. You may also check out our blog for continued updates at www.lagniappechurch.blogspot.com
Curt Moore

Pray for the Bay

2008-08-31T09:09:00.005-05:00

Hurricane Gustav is currently a category 3 storm but could be a category 4 or 5 by the time it hits land on Monday. Parts of Lousiana and Mississippi, including Lagniappe, are under a mandatory evacuation issued by the state. My heart is heavy and tears well up in my eyes as I pray for these people who have recently lost family, friends, homes, and possessions from Hurricane Katrina. Here is a little blurb from the Lagniappe church blog that gives you a picture of the atmosphere in Bay St Louis, MS as people contemplate the effects Gustav may have:

"There is a heaviness in the air here. The sentiment that I have heard over and over again is, 'I just can't do this again...' I find myself nodding in agreement. For tonight Bay St. Louis is peaceful. There is a band at the Mockingbird and I saw a clarinet player just playing to himself on Main Street this afternoon. This town has a soul that is resilient, but she is tired and weary. I know how she feels."
Lagniappe has asked that you pray the turths of Psalm 107: 23-32 as Hurricane Gustav approaches.

Psalm 107:23-32 (NIV)
"23 Others went out on the sea in ships;they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders."

I read this verse while watching the news and just heard that the winds have gone down 5mph and that the wind shear (winds that work against the hurricane) may keep the hurricane from gaining strength and becoming a category 4 hurricane. Cry out to the Lord! He is powerful and can still the storm to a whisper!

It has been a while

2008-08-23T16:41:00.002-05:00

So...a lot has happened since my last post but then again..nothing really has happened. One friday night while I was home, I was talking to my dad about grad school and taking the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). I decided to sign up to take it on that Monday. I didn't study and yet managed to make an 1100. I guess this is a decent grade but I don't know what the graduate schools that I am interested in are looking for. Currently, my favorite choice for grad school is the University of New Orleans. Supposedly they have a really good early intervention program because they work with a local hospital and they have good funding. Also, I would only be an hour away from Lagniappe. :)
I have now been in school for a week. I am already overwhelmed but am trying to believe the gospel. It is taking a lot to get Best Buddies going for the year. Best Buddies has been taking up more time and effort than school. We have over 60 Buddies with intellectual disabilities then their College Buddies and extra students who do not have their own buddy.Managing 130+ people is a little overwhelming at times.
I'm enjoying my classes so far. I am taking history of social welfare, severe disabilities curriculum, educational media, and practicum. I am learning a lot of interesting things like how to make my own web page, different issues that have affected social welfare laws, and strategies to use when working with children with severe disabilities. It is awesome to be excited about school and I hope it continues through the semester!

Let the games begin!

2008-08-09T09:24:00.004-05:00

I decided to throw a party in our pool house to celebrate the olympic opening ceremony. We invited the Boykins, Morgans, and Mary Morton to come celebrate with us. Annika and Sarah made olympic rings out of paper plates and torches out of construction paper and cellophane. Our menu was a chinese theme including: fried rice, stir fry with dog (tastes like pork), PF chang's lettuce wraps, fortune cookies, and Dissident's death by chocolate for dessert. Annika and Sarah helped me make a playlist for our party and one of their favorite songs on the playlist was the Chariots of Fire theme song. We were playing the song when Griff and Annika decided they were going to play soccer in slow motion. (If you haven't seen Chariots of Fire...Casey....then you probably won't get the video. Go out and rent it now!)

We also held our own olympic pool games (water wrestling, water polo, synchronized swimming, and synchronized diving). Cobi, Tanner, Eli, and Corey were our synchronized diving winners.

Six flags is invaded!

2008-08-08T16:24:00.003-05:00

I finished my summer classes and now have about a week and a half until fall classes start. Woo Hoo! I met the family in Atlanta to use up our return passes to six flags before they expire. As we were walking into the park, we ran into our old friends from Community, the Griffith's. It was so fun seeing them and how big their kids are now. It made me feel so old to see these kids that I used to babysit that are now almost as tall as me. Wow! Here are some of our pictures from the park:

Thursday, was Katrina and Corey's first day at public school. They were so excited and said they had a good first day. I got to take them and my other brothers (the Boykins) to school in the minivan. Corey seemed to know a lot of the kids in his classes and Katrina had fun meeting new people. One of her friends said she looked a little lost but Katrina looks lost at home too so that is nothing new. :)
Below (left to right): Tanner, Yates, Cobi, Corey, Katrina, Seth

2008-08-04T16:42:00.003-05:00

The special education department at Auburn is mourning with a dear friend, advisor, and professor Kelly Brumbeloe who recently lost her husband to a rare form of cancer. Her husband, Sam, began having health problems in Septmeber 2007. His health declined rapidly in January 2008 and he lost around 30 lbs by March 2008 when he was admitted into the hospital for about a week. They ran a number of tests to figure out what was causing his pain and declined health. They finally ran an MRI of his brain and found a mass. Sam was sent to UAB to see more specialists who could determine whether the mass was a vascular malformation or a tumor. Sam spent about a month at UAB and had numerous tests and scans run throughout his stay. Sam returned home in June but continued to get worse so he went back to UAB for 1o days then after more tests, returned home with a hospital bed, wheelchair, and home nurse. The doctors said that there wasn't a definite answer but that they thought it was PNET (a rare cancer) but it was definitely cancer and definitely malignant. By this time, Sam had lost close to 70 lbs. They started radiation but didn't see much improvement. This last Wednesday, Sam was moved to a residential hospice facility here in Auburn where he passed away this Friday. Sam and Kelly have 2 young children together (a 4 year old boy and a 1? year old girl).

Please pray for this wife and mother as she grieves the loss of her spouse and father of her children. Pray that God will wrap his his arms around her and comfort her as she continues through life with her children. Pray for their children, that they will be able to remember their dad and the good times they got to spend with him. Pray that they will grow up with a close relationship to their heavenly Father.

Hebrews 13:5- "...God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

I had tears running down my cheeks, soaking my shirt as I listened to this boy remind me of the gospel. It is neat to see how God speaks to us in unexpected ways.

Twenty-one!

2008-07-27T00:16:00.007-05:00

My 21st birthday was this past Monday. I didn't get to do much celebrating since I was at the Best Buddies Leadership conference in Indiana and in a plane for most of the day; so me and my roomies made plans to go celebrate in Atlanta this Friday. Although, while I was in Indiana, some of the girls I met there, found a birthday banner and candles, made a makeshift cake out of pieces of banana, and sang to me at midnight. They were so sweet!

Last night was my celebration with the roomies in Atlanta. We left Auburn around 5pm and arrived home around 2:30 am; it was a blast! The night started out at the Atlanta Aquarium for live music and drinks. Then we headed to a cute little restaurant called Murphy's and a jazz club dowtown next to the Foxe theater called Churchill Grounds. It was so nice to hang out with my roomates and get away from school.

Its ok that I'm not ok

2008-07-23T08:42:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days where everything seems to build up to the point where you have 2 choices. 1) you can have a meltdown and become depressed or 2) you hand it all over to God and say "your will be done". Being the broken sinner that I am, I opted for choice #1. It felt like the world was against me and I could do nothing right; I was drowning and nothing could save me. Sometimes it is good to have a little cry but I dwelled on everything that was wrong and on things that I could not change. My advisor is moody and it is a rare occasion that she is in a good mood, thus making my life miserable; I can't fix a broken relationship; I am trying so hard to make a difference and there are so many obstacles holding me back. Why can't life be easy?! My thought was, "God, I am trying to do good and show your love...help me out here!". I felt like I had a right to get the easy path out.

Today, God has pushed me to the point of having no other choice than to hand it over to him. It is amazing the peace he has given me. I was reading from My Utmost for His Highest for July 22. The topic for the day is Sanctification. Some of the verses they reference are the following:

Matthew 10:34 (NIV)

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Luke 14:26 (NIV)

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple"

1 Corinthians 1:27-30 (NIV)

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."

I read the first 2 verses and I was like, you've got me there God. I am miserable and can't see the purpose in all of this. Now what? Then I got to the 3rd verse...duh...it is in my weaknesses that he is made strong. I need to hand it over to him because I can't do it on my own. I know all these things but why is it so easy to forget and so hard to do? He has freed me from myself and my works! I am His and can rest in Christ and his holiness! Thank you God for reminding me of your glory and power.

Family

2008-07-14T18:29:00.000-05:00

This is my family! Ok, so mom and dad aren't that old, but you get the picture. I love them dearly and have come to appreciate them more and more over the past few years. It is fun watching my siblings turn into real people. They are growing up and forming plans and goals for their future. I love bragging about them and telling my friends how weird my brothers and sisters are!

Often I am asked "how many brothers and sisters do you have?". This is probably one of the hardest questions for me to answer. The struggle is 1) do I take the easy way out and say "5" or 2) do I risk it and say "6". (Risk probably isn't the appropriate word but because I am not eloquent with words it will have to do.) There is always the chance that even if I do respond "6" they will not ask "what are the ages?". If they do ask, I can sometimes get away with saying "I am the oldest and the youngest is 9 and everyone is about 2 years apart". It usually is not hard for me to talk about Rachael but it is the response that I get when I tell people that she was killed in a car accident that is hard. It creates an awkward situation for all. They don't know how to respond and I don't know how to ease their discomfort.

Anyways, this is all on my mind today because I miss her. I go home and am jealous of the close relationships that my siblings at home are able to build because they live together. I had that once...Rachael and I would lay in our bunk beds at night and talk about everything. She would complain about girls at school that got on her nerves and the drama that surrounds them and I would do the same. Then we would talk about our latest crushes and how dumb boys were. Not to say that everything was perfect because we had tough times too. This may sound silly, but I even miss fighting with her about her getting into my stuff or never cleaning the room. She was so stubborn and most of the time I just wanted to yell at her but she was my best friend.

All this to say, it is bittersweet to see my siblings become closer. My favorite thing is to see Jordan looking out for Katrina. Putting it mildly, Katrina is very naive about how boys think and what her actions say to guys. Recently, mom was telling me about some boy that kept calling the house late at night to talk to katrina. Katrina claims they are just friends but she talks to him at all hours of the night. I have tried explaining to her that that is not what friends do and mom has talked to her too, but it was awesome to hear Jordan say that this guy better stop calling or else. He has also told her how she doesn't need to be talking to guys on myspace and facebook that she does not know. It is neat to hear him look out for her because it is a different Jordan than when I was living at home.

Sarah is a spit fire. She won't take anything from anyone, especially if you are related to her. She is a snuggler and loving when she wants to be, and she has seemingly unlimited patience when caring for other people's children.

Corey is the cutest little freckle faced blonde that I have seen (totally unbiased opinion). He has the whole west coast surfer look going for him. He also has a "girlfriend" and thinks he is so big and bad. I still see him as a little boy but he is growing up faster every day.

Annika is the most tender hearted of them all. She told mom that she was going to stay home when she grows up and take care of mom and dad when they are old. Also, when I asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, she said that she wanted to be a veterinarian and that she couldn't stand to see animals hurting. She is very emotional and can't watch certain movies without crying. I remember watching Charlotte's Webb in the theater with my family and Annika and I looking at each otherwith tears in our eyes after Charlotte had died. Dad laughed at us of course. :)

This is my family. We are broken and in need of God's grace. And I love them!

Life is a whirlwind

2008-07-12T08:56:00.000-05:00

The end of the semester is approaching fast, final projects are due, and I have to get ahead of my schoolwork so I can miss a day next week. This Friday I will be flying to Bloomington, Indiana for the Best Buddies Leadership Conference and flying back late monday night (on my birthday!). I love birthdays! They are a great excuse to get together with friends and celebrate! And good friends that I haven't seen or talked to in a while usually call me. It makes me feel loved!

Today I am sitting at Panera "working on projects". I will eventually work on them but I have to get all of my procrastinating out of the way first. This morning I went to a friend's house to help her pick veggies in the garden. I really just watched while she loaded my basket with tomatoes and cucumbers. She is so sweet! I help her by watching 2 of her girls whenever I get a chance and she gives me the best payment of all...fresh veggies and a delicious lunch!

In the blue bowl is a delicious cold salad that she makes for me and I made at home with what she gave me. It is made with an onion, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, basil, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper.

In the red bowl is a yummy vegetable soup that I made with some stewed tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and green beans---all given to me from her garden. (and an onion from wal-mart)