An Unexpected Weekend

I guess this blog title is a little misleading because it implies that I wasn't aware that the weekend was coming.  Oh, I always know that the weekend is on its way!  I suppose it was "unexpected" because I did not realize all the fun things I would get to do and, more importantly, all the fun people I got to see.

The greatness of the weekend all began Friday afternoon, when I happened upon a little shop in Frisco.  I found a fun shirt (bottom left) on sale because the shop owner thought it was "too springy."  I, however envisioned it with turquoise jewelry and a brown belt, therefore, making it Fall-ish.



Friday evening, Adam and I went running and then he mentioned he had a surprise.  I truly had no idea what the it entailed, but walked out wearing jeans and my new shirt to beautiful flowers and the smell of homemade lasagna.  I was speechless.  And dinner was delicious.



The floral shirt and good food quickly became the theme of my weekend, as I enjoyed lunch with Claire and a new friend of ours at Chip's Hamburgers down in Highland Park.  It was a great girls-day-out, and the burger and cheese fries hit the spot.  We all commented how much we loved the spontaneity of Saturdays.



Saturday night, I got to eat with Smoo and her parents who were in town from Fayetteville.  Once again, the food (this time at Kenny's Woodhouse Grill) did not disappoint.  We sat there in the restaurant until 11 p.m. catching up.  It was DE-lightful.  (And, yes, I wore my new floral shirt again.  Different jeans.)



Sunday afternoon I attended a baby shower for my lifelong friend, Allison, and soon-to-arrive baby Madeleine.  It was rather surreal in that three years ago, I sat in the same house, celebrating her upcoming wedding.  I love having lifelong friends, and it is so special to me that we can celebrate the milestones in life!  It was such a fun shower because I got to see friends I went to Baylor with, and also Baylor Summer Bunch friends (pictured above).  Quite a treat.



To complete the weekend, I donned my floral shirt once more to head to church.  I was particularly looking forward to it because we were having dinner afterwards with the BSB grads that now live in Dallas.  Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the six of us that headed to Dickey's BBQ after the service, but it was really a great way to end the weekend.  It felt rather monumental to me because we got together on our own, without the rest of our families.  I love that we have all chosen to be friends as adults, and it especially warms my heart that we ended up all at the same church.  (See, parents, you raised us well!)



I'm so grateful sweet friends and weekends full of seeing them.  I'm looking forward to a short work week and a long Labor Day Weekend.  But this four-day week is filled with many things to be excited about, and hopefully I'll be sharing some of it soon!

Crazy Nails and Other Random Things

I walked outside this morning for work and stopped dead in my tracks.  And shivered.  It was a cool 71 degrees when I got in my car this morning, and it was glorious.  I even rolled the windows down and turned on my heated seats.  (Seriously.)  The best part was that it was completely unexpected.  Just last week, I was wishing for Fall.

I haven't been running regularly since the two-mile relay a few weeks back because it has been SO unbearably hot.  (And I was still a little scared to run outside, since the last time I ran, Lyndsy scared me half to death.)  But I decided today that it would be a great day to lace up my running shoes, so that's exactly what I did.  Who knows how long this weather will last, but I'm grateful for it while it's here!

And I'm generally creeped out when people take pics of their feet, but I had to show you my blue toes. (And I figured people tend to read posts when they have photos in them.)  No, they are not blue from the cold.  Ha.  I actually chose that color from roomdog's ever expanding selection of nail polishes.  It's really loud for me, a typical pink/red girl, but she told me that color was "so in," and what's a girl to do but listen to her little fashionista roommate?!

{Blue toes and running shoes = first run of "Fall"}

And I was recently tagged in this strange/funny/fabulous picture on Facebook from Natalie's wedding last month.  

{There was A LOT of dancing that night.  And some crazy facial expressions, apparently.}

And in other news...Claire is back teaching at school, which means that we have a typical evening routine again.  I'm really enjoying it, because it means more chances at having dinner plans together in advance, and also I tend to go to bed earlier because she's already asleep, and it's not fun when you don't have someone to talk to!  

Her class this year seems to be much better than last, and I'm so glad for her.  It's amazing what having a year of teaching under your belt will do.  I am so impressed with how she has grown as an educator in just one year, just from things I've heard her say and different ways she's leading her class this year.  Way to go, Claire!  Those kids love you already, I'm certain.  (After all, who else rocks purple nail polish on the first day of school??)

Kind words

Kind words go a long way with me.  Seriously, I could live on a compliment for a good week and a half.  Write me a note, and I treasure it.

{Case in point: I've saved almost every note my mom put in my lunch box since I was in first grade.}

I was recently stalking my brother on Facebook, just for kicks, and I read this status update from the previous week:

Things I am thankful for: Wade Bogdon, Hershey park, my beautiful sister, Skippy, my 2002 Yukon.

It caught me off guard that I made Troy's list.  I think I'm still living off of it a few days after the fact.  :-) It was so sweet and unexpected that I teared up when I read it out loud to Claire.

Our family is big on personality tests, spiritual gifts analysis, the Five Love Languages, etc., so I've filled out several little tests in my short life.  Of the five love languages, {Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service & Physical Touch}, mine are definitely Words and Time, and Troy just made my week with a few words!

If you want, you can take the five question test here to find out what yours are.  I always think it's interesting to find out what others' Love Languages are, so let me know if you take the quiz!

Less is More

I have a Baylor friend that just recently returned to Haiti with her husband after living in Dallas for the Summer.  They have taught at a Christian school in Haiti since January, arriving just days before the earthquake hit.  You can read about Ben and Katie here.

 

One thing that they have commented on over and over again is how fast-paced life is back here in the states.  Their tone was not condescending, as they spent the entire summer going and going and going, but just more of an observation.  Katie's most recent post linked to a New York Times article about people who are choosing to live more simply, even in the U.S.  Tammy Strobel and her husband decided to downsize to 100 things and a 400 square foot apartment.  Whoa.

 

After getting back in town from vacation, my Mom offered to come help me get my apartment organized, since Claire and I were having a bunch of people over Friday night.  It was quite a helpful treat!  Needless to say, Mom brought to my attention the large amount of clothes that I have in my closet.  (I think we all know that I have a slight obsession with Target.)  As I write this, I have a huge urge to go home and clean out anything and everything I don't need.  (And I honestly don't need a whole lot.)

 

The news article suggested that people are happier when they spend money on exprieces rather than actual stuff, because you're creating memories instead of hoarding more junk. And I see where theyr'e coming from.  Personally, I'm happiest when I'm hanging out with my friends and family and we get to sit around and talk, or go to a park or hang out at the lake--things that actually cost very little, if anything at all.  (See BSB Weekend, Spending time with friends in town, or a Saturday filled with a run and hanging out).  It really doesn't take much.

 

More importantly than any article, though, this is what Scripture says about stuff in Matthew 6:19-21:

 

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 

That's really what gets me, when I think about it.  With cars that don't always work and ceilings that leak (both things have happened to me this week), I am reminded that things can and are destroyed in a blink of an eye.

 

I realize that I have quite a long way to go in the less-is-more scenario, but hopefully this is just the beginning of something new.  And don't think this is easy for me!  I must confess that I cringed when I read in the article that Tammy "owns four plates, three pairs of shoes and two pots."  I'm not sure I will ever get to that point (but I've learned to "never say never!").  At least a seed has been planted. 

 

And now I'm off to clean out my closet...

 

Mile Zero

I've been hiding...in Key West.

It was wonderful, and I enjoyed my five days without even thinking about work very, very much.

The sounds of summer were all around, and we had a great time with Adam's family on this little island, just 90 miles from Cuba.

{The Southernmost Point of the U.S.}

Adam and I went parasailing with his brother, and it was so much fun!  The three of us all went up together, and they pull you up in this parachute thing while you're sitting in a swing, almost.  I'm pretty sure I squealed during take off, but after that, you just hang out in the air and looked down at the incredibly blue water.  

See?  Very blue water.  We went snorkeling one day, and we got to see so many cool things!  Adam saw a barracuda, and we both saw a jellyfish.  There were tons of colorful fish hanging out near the coral reef.

{Think this chair is big enough??}

{With Adam's brother on our last full day in Key West}

Adam and I rented bikes and rode out to Fort Zachary Taylor, where there was a beach and the fort.  It was great riding around...I'd forgotten how fun bikes can be!  I loved having a little basket and a bell.  I'm telling you...it's all about the little things!  {And I must confess, we just posed by these bikes on our way home from dinner so we could have his dad take the pic.  I did not ride a bike in that skirt.  Ha.  That would've been quite the adventure...}

This week was full of laughter, lots of sunscreen, sandy beaches and salty water.  Adam's family made me feel so welcome, and it was great to get to all hang out together.  And I really enjoyed spending five days in a row with this guy...

This was one night on the resort's pier before we all went to dinner.  I think it's my favorite pic of us right now.  Maybe because I have pockets in my dress.  (Come on, who doesn't love dresses with pockets?!)

I came back to a two day work week, and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly another weekend rolled around.  I'm for two day weeks more often!  I'm off to enjoy it some more.  

A New Artist

I recently discovered a new (to me) artist, Brooke Fraser.  She's a singer/songwriter from New Zealand, and I really like her stuff.  I bought her entire album, "Albertine" just minutes after I heard it.  And that's saying something.

My favorite song right now is "Hymn."  I love the piano and violins.  Ah!  And it has been the prayer on my heart since I heard it.

"Hymn"

If to distant lands I scatter

If I sail to farthest seas

Would you find and firm and gather 'til I only dwell in Thee?

If I flee from greenest pastures

Would you leave to look for me?

Forfeit glory to come after

'Til I only dwell in Thee

If my heart has one ambition

If my soul one goal to seek

This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee

That I only dwell in Thee

'Til I only dwell in Thee 

Legends of the Fall

As the heat index stays somewhere around 110 degrees this August (as it does every August...I just block it out each year), I can't help but wonder if Fall is some elusive season.  Needless to say, I am ready for it.

To me, Fall means lots of things.  Namely, I get to wear tall boots again.  I am such my mother's daughter.  We love boots!  And I love finding them at Target.  I found some last weekend, and I just had to snatch them up before they ran out of my size.

source

And Gap always screams "Fall" to me.  Now I'm not 100% about this outfit, but it sure looks cute on her!  It just seems like it would fit nicely on a crisp, Autumn day.  Anyone with me?

 source

Fall also means getting to nap on weekend afternoons while football games are on TV.  Oh, those are such good naps.

More importantly, Fall to me means friends, family and celebrations.  Like Birthday Cupcakes from Sprinkles!

And this just makes me want to go jump in a pile of leaves.  Aren't those colors stunning?

{This was two years ago in Boston when the Cousins went to visit Troy.  I loved all the leaves changing!}

While I don't mean to wish days away, I'm just ready for a bit of change.  Just sayin'.  :-)  Only a few more months and then we can welcome our two weeks of Fall around here!  Ha.

Happy Friday!  Let the weekend begin!

1 Graduation + 1 (2 Mile) Relay + 1 Pup = 2.5 days of Weekend Fun

This past Friday, Adam graduated from the Fire Academy, so that makes him an official fire fighter and paramedic now, after a year and a half of training!

{All the guys wore their Dress Blue Uniforms for graduation...so handsome!}

We celebrated all weekend long with this delicious cake that Adam's parents brought down from Iowa.  (They brought corn, too, haha.  It was seriously the prettiest corn I've ever seen.  I haven't tasted any (yet!) but it looks delicious.  Seriously...don't laugh!)

It's crazy to think that when Adam was moving down here in October 2008, I was here with these sweet friends, not knowing what life would look like after Baylor.

{Me with Katie and Smoo--Fall, 2008}

During that time, we made tons of good memories and are still close friends.  It's comforting to know that some things stay the same, and yet some things change...

Like me running a two-mile relay with Adam last Saturday!  

It was quite a challenge, and I was so nervous.  We walked up to this much larger event than my first 5k, and there were all these RUNNERS there.  (As in legit runners who've done this before.)  I was really intimidated and didn't say much at all. 

Adam ran the first and last legs of the relay, and I ran the middle part of it.  I knew it would be different than the 5k because the course was on grass and dirt, not to mention trying to run with a baton.  There were hay bales to jump over, and it was super hot.  It was hilly, too, and I ended up walking more than I anticipated.  Needless to say, I was frustrated at myself during my two miles because I walked a bit.  And I stepped in a pile of ants, too.  Oh man.

BUT, we finished, and Adam told me afterwards that I ran my two miles in 20 minutes and 30 seconds.  I was shocked!  Seriously.  (By the way...he ran his much faster!)  Apparently my nerves and frustration had quite the effect on my running ability!  

In the end, I was really glad we ran, and it was fun to do together.  :-)  And now I can say I've done a relay!  Last time, I didn't get to keep my number, but I did on Saturday!  It's the little things in life, right?

Speaking of little things...the rest of the weekend was just really relaxing and low-key.  It was so nice not having anything much planned!  I stayed at my parent's house and took care of Skippy while they were out of town.

My favorite thing is when I walk out the garage, and he usually follows me right to this spot.   He peeks his head around the corner and just sees me to the door.  Such a gentleman, that Skippy!  So ignore the laundry basket and toilet paper...welcome to our real life.  :-)  I just wanted to capture Skippy Dog and the little things he does.  Isn't he sweet??

A Scare and A Surprise

This morning certainly started out with a twist.  I went running since it's about 20 degrees cooler at 6:30 a.m. compared to running at night.  Anyone else ready for Fall??

Well, I had my iPod in, and I had turned around to come back home.  I was on a road with lots of cars and felt safe.  Until someone came up and grabbed me and wrapped me in a hug.  I screamed.  I'm sure everyone at the stoplight wasn't certain what to think.  

It was Lyndsy.  I saw her running in the neighborhood yesterday on my way to work, and then we got to run together for just a little bit today!  It was quite a treat.  Unless you count the part where she scared the living daylights out of me.  But I'll forgive her.

{In the Swiss Alps in 2009!  Lyndsy is on the left.}

When we studied abroad in Europe together, she would run every.single.morning.  Even when it was super cold (which pretty much ended up being evey day.)  The only running I did was to catch a train or two along the way.  In fact, we almost missed most of our trains by a few seconds.  Good thing I could keep up with the Baylor track star! 

She's studying pretty much all the time for Physical Therapy school, so it was an unexpected treat to get to see her this morning.  Emhpasis on the unexpected.  :-)  Who knew that I'd have to be running in order to see her!

25 Years of BSB: the 2010 Edition

This last weekend, we headed to the lake to reunite with our lifelong friends, better known as "BSB"  (Baylor Summer Bunch).  As usual, it was a blast!  There are nine families that include 18 adults and 20+ kids.  (I use the term "kids" loosely, because we're all grown up now!)

We discovered mid-trip that this was the 25th year we'd been coming together with this group of families.  That's a long time!  

Girls!

We played card games

(well, most of the girls did...I'm not a huge fan of games,

 but I would sit and chat while they played!)

We all hung out on the back porch (near the fans) and had delicious meals.  

All these girls are Baylor Bears!  And four of the five are Tri Delts.  (No pressure, Katie!)

Just goofing off--what we do best!

And we decided to add the boys to our photo shoot for this one.  I know they appreciate it...

Brotherly Love, right here.

I love me some T-Roy

Comparing muscles.  I must say the 50-something looks more toned than the 20-something!

Sunset Boat Rides with a more-than-full boat.  Good thing we can all swim!

Trips to Sonic Happy Hour! (It was this photo right here that made me realize I drive a humongous mom-mobile.  Perhaps it doesn't help my perception that I'm wearing my mom's shirt.)

Twins!

I decided that we're some of the hippest chicks around because we all have similar shoes. :-)

Sunday morning with my cousin, Anna

All the kids that were there for the whole weekend.  We are missing so many!

This weekend was such a fun time, and great to get to hang out and catch up with a smaller group.  So many flew in from all over the country (Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Florida) because they didn't want to miss out!  I've had to miss once before, and it's a sad feeling knowing everyone is together and you can't be there.  

It felt funny because so many of us are now working full-time jobs.  We are so grown up!  Instead of talking about college classes and what we did this summer, we talk about vacation days, what we do at work, and what we might want to do next.  We definitely don't get to talk about summer break!

I also felt old because I was asked my thoughts about choosing a major and about dating advice.  It seems that they should be asking for someone else's thoughts, but I guess I did the same to the girls that are just a few years older than me!  (Sad to have missed them!)

I don't have photos of this, but Troy and I got to sing Sunday morning during our worship service.  I don't usually get to do much with Troy these days, so it was quite a treat.  And I always love singing!

We also "launched" our High School graduate, Katie, and got to tell stories about her, pray for her and encourage her.  That time is always sweetest to me, and I have happy memories of my own launching not too long ago.  :-)  

All in all, it was a great weekend full of lots of laughter, fun and sweet friendships.  

2005 Was the Start of Something Good

{New roommates at a party last Winter.  It was definitely cooler than 107 degrees like today!}

It seems that I've blogged about everyone else lately except Claire.  And I LIVE with her.  My apologies, Rooms!  We moved into our cute little a-p-t at the end of October.  It was quite an ordeal to sign our lease.  The apartment folks are not the easiest to work with.  But we made it, and it's been so.much.fun.

We've had a few parties, watched a lot of Gilmore Girls, laughed a TON, cried a little, and shared lots of meals and stories.  We are definitely not short on stories. 

Claire is the in-house fashionista, and there are probably three times a week (at least) that I ask for her opinion about an outfit (even this morning), choose an accessory from her jewelry drawer, or share a shoe.  (Unfortunately, we don't wear the same size.  But there are a few shoes that work.)

She is incredibly entetaining.  I mean, who else would put on their point shoes in the kitchen to show us what it's like?  (I think this was maybe the second or third time Adam had hung out with Claire.  It was really funny.)

{In a previous life, Claire was a prima ballerina.  It makes her very graceful!}

Claire and I met our freshman year at Baylor, but not until December, despite the fact that we lived across the hall from on another.  I had asked about 20 girls to go to Salado to look at Christmas lights and shop around this little town about 45 minutes south of Waco.  It's really magical at Christmas.  (I love Christmas, by the way...)

 {This was so 2005}

Not a single person could go.  Not one.  And I was bummed.  My roommate at the time, Julia, had introduced me to Claire just a few days earlier, and we were all standing around talking.  Julia suggested that Claire come to Salado.  So we planned to head out Friday afternoon.  She showed up at my door in J Crew jeans, a button down and a bright cable knit sweater.  I was wearing a similar outfit.  (That's when cable knit sweaters were all the rage.  I look back now and think OMG, that was bright.  But I had turquoise moccasins to match, and I was coordinated, don't you know...) 

We talked the whole way there, while we shopped, and while we ate some delicious Mexican food.  Then we went to a Christmas concert at a local church we just happened upon.  It was delightful. 

We bonded SO FAST in my little Volkswagen Passat because we'd both had our little 18-year-old hearts stepped on that first semester.  We've definitely improved in the guy department over the last five years!

That Christmas, I taught Claire to get on the Tollway.  We grew up two miles from each other, and she'd never driven on this glorious road (she used Preston all the time.  So many lights!)  We fixed that right away!  And now she zips on up to school using the Tollway every morning.  Look at that. 

We made many trips to Sonic after class, labored through Spanish class at Baylor (really way too difficult for non-Spanish majors), and I began borrowing her shirts and asking for fashion advice.  Some things never change.

If something really big, dramatic or exciting happens late at night while the other is already asleep, we have this unwritten rule that it's ok to run into the room and wake the other person up.  It's happened.  And it's usually really fun stuff.  And always worth getting woken up for. 

This is the first time I've ever lived with just one other person (unless you count the dorm, which I don't, because you have 600 of your closest friends right there), and it's been a blast.  Here's to lots more adventures!

{At the Rodeo this Summer}

Claire, I'm so grateful for our friendship and our fun little lives we get to live together right now.  You are a dear friend and a great roomie! I love to see how the Lord has orchestrated our friendship.  It's amazing to see how much we have grown as individuals these last five years, and I'm grateful that we got to share college together, witness the awkward I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-my-graduated-self moments, and now experience life in the working world.  Thanks for being such a fun, sweet addition to life!

And forget not...

At work recently, I've been coming up with a proposal for a potential sponsor.  Part of the deal is that we say, "Ok, you donate X amount of money, and in exchange, we'll put your logo up all over everything we print, and you can hang banners and be recognized from the stage the day of our event, etc."  These benefits are part of the deal of being a sponsor. 

I keep typing and talking about benefits at work, and I can't help but think of this verse that I ran across lately in Psalm 103 that says forget not all his benefits. 

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5

To me the best part of God's benefits is that we don't have to do anything to earn them.  He's not asking us for $25,000 in return for being forgiven or redeemed.  Thank goodness!  And I can't help but be so thankful and want to praise him for all that he's given us.  So let's not forget his benefits this Monday.  :-)