Fun stuff and Finding your Passions

I started out today very thankful for the sunshine and for the fact that I heard birds chirping outside.  It's been a while since I've seen and heard all of that!  Work got a little frazzled, as it is our busy fundraising season, but now I'm home and off to choir practice tonight.  By the middle of the week, sometimes I just want to sit and veg out, but I'm always so glad when I go.  I just love singing, especially as an act of worship.  I'm so glad I get to be a part of this.

I was reading Kelly's Korner blog today, and she mentioned going to a store that was super cute.  She posted this picture...

...and before I even saw the store name, I knew it was in Fayetteville, because I got to go there with S.M. and Katie when we visited!  I don't know what it is about Fayetteville, but I just really loved our visit.  Maybe it was the company and the fact that we didn't have to pay for a single meal, or plan where to go.  It was all done for us, which now I appreciate so much more.  Being a grown-up takes a lot of thinking and planning sometimes!  I digress.

Ok, back to the store--it's called RiffRaff, and it's just an assortment of all kinds of painted, personalized and creative things.  The girl that owns it is just about my age, and it's in an old building that used to be a daycare run by her mom.  I just love to hear of people being successful and creative, and doing things they are really passionate about.  {I think this is the right story, but it's not posted anywhere on the RiffRaff blog.  S.M.'s mom and dad could be the next mayors of Fay-town, so they just know everybody and pertinent details about them.  It makes driving around town pretty entertaining!}

{Such cute stuff!}

And speaking of finding things we're passionate about and getting to do them...I'm currently trying to figure out how I can combine all of mine into one fantastic job.  Not sure how that's going to work, but if I could involve music, writing, people (kids and adults), and maybe turn it into a ministry, then I think I'd be set.  Any suggestions are welcome.  :-)

Happy Birthday SMoo!

Today is my dear friend and college roommate's birthday.   Sarah Margaret, affectionately known around our house as SMoo, S.M., Smooface and many other silly names, is a sweet, sweet friend.

I didn't know what I was missing until I lived with Katie and SM in college on the corner of 12th and Wood.  We lived in an apartment that would be known as the "Donna Lewis" to us, and others if they cared to remember.  I think we picked the name because of one of her songs, and D.L. was also the same initials as "Delta Love." (You can go ahead and gag here if you'd like.  I know it's slightly ridiculous.  But that's what college is all about.)

Here we are on the porch senior year with about to head to our last Home football game.  This pic became our Christmas card that read "Sic' em Seniors."  It was pretty cute.  

And speaking of Christmas....

Here we are in the Panhellenic building about to go into a Tri Delta meeting.  There was a contest for best costumes, and Little Miss Competitive Katie loves a good contest, especially one that involves dressing up.  So what did we do?  Put on our onesie pajamas and men's boxer shorts (both Christmas gifts from various years).  We won.  Duh.  

SM is a wonderful friend.  Here are some of the things I appreciate most about her:

• She taught me how to play flag football after hyperventilated when I realized a BOY was coming to watch me at my first intramural game ever. I played Corner Back for the E team and pulled two flags that first game.  All thanks to her coaching skills, I'm sure.
• She is extremely loyal, and will drop everything if you need her.  (She has done this for me, and it meant the world.)
• SM is a very diligent worker.  She studies hard and does well in school.  She just graduated in December with her masters in accounting, and is going to work in the accounting world this summer.
• She's from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and she finally took us up there this past summer.  It was probably one of my favorite things.  Ever.  One, because we got to see where she grew up.  Two, her Mom and Dad treated us to some really fabulous food.  Three, it was just a really fun trip--we laughed a lot.  Katie was sure to put together a really great soundtrack for the car ride up there, so Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A" and The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" always bring this trip to mind.  And she also STILL holds the three-point record in basketball at Fayetteville High.
• SMoo is someone that's perfectly content to sit and talk, watch Gilmore Girls, or bop to music (She does like to bop!)  She's really easy to hang out with, and I'm so glad she's moving to Dallas this summer!

Here we are at the lake last summer--my current and former roomies :-) 

SM was shakin' her stuff.  I'm sure she will love me for posting this.  

Happy Birthday, SMoo.  

Hope you've had a wonderful day!

Scripture Memory Verse

It's March 1 already!  Crazy.

If you want to jump in on the scripture memory verse for the 1st and 15th of each month, just leave your verse in the comment section.

Remember:  God's Word does not return empty!

SING 2010 predictions

I have pics but don't have time to upload them, but for the Baylor-ites, here are my pics for All University Sing 2010. Just wanted to get them up before they announced the winners late tonight.  The top eight acts will perform at PigSkin at Homecoming--one of my favorite weekends of the year.  It's up there with Thanksgiving and Christmas!

KOT*
Tri Delta*
Sing Alliance*
Kappa*
Pi Phi
Phi Chi
Chi O
Kappa Sig

I starred the ones that I thought could place.  Of course, only first, second and third places are awarded, but I'm a little torn, so that's why I picked four.

I saw it last Saturday night, but so much can happen between the two weekends of performances.  My mom saw it last night and picked KOT, Tri Delta and Pi Phi to win.

We shall see.  Hopefully I'll get my act together and put photos and explain what I thought.  I'm kind of hardcore about Sing.  It often surprises people that I'm competitive.  I really hate to lose.  (Which is why I hate to play games...ironically, we're hosting a game night at our place tonight.  And it was my idea...go figure.)

This is one crazy weekend.  Hope you're enjoying yours!

Restless

Do you ever get that "restless" feeling, like you are itching to go, do, or be something different?  Well, I've got it.  Do I have any profound answers as to what I want to do, or better yet should do?  Nope.  Not a clue. 

Perhaps I need to learn contentment, but I'm not finding much to be content about these days. (Hello...see my problem?)

Galations 5 has really resonated with me this week, and I particularly like the version from the Message (I have a parallel Bible so I can read the NIV alongside the Message.  I really like the context it provides.  For now, I'll just leave you with the very straight-forward Message version):

From Verse 21:
It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time...a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants...an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival...ugly parodies of community. I could go on...

From verses 22-23: (The fruit of the Spirit)
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

And then Hebrews 12:1-3, also from the Message:
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

I find it rather ironic that I'm LITERALLY having trouble with my vision lately.  My eye doctor said it's from looking at a computer screen all day.  Great.  I'm taking it as a reminder that I need to fix my eyes on Jesus, and He will give me the next step.  Until then, I'm just going to have to learn some patience, which, perhaps, is the point of all this right now. 

Hope this provided you with some insight for today.  And if not, thanks for reading.  :-)

Think Pink

A few weekends ago, we celebrated roomdog's birthday with a party.  It was a fun night, and the only requirement was that you wear PINK!


Claire is one of the girliest girls I know.  Everything in her closet seems to have ruffles and/or it's pink.  Literally everything!  When I find myself shopping now, I pick up things that are ruffly.  So it was only fitting that we have a Pink Party.  

{Roomies!}

I found this wall decal at Hobby Lobby, and it just screamed CLAIRE!  

For her birthday present, I decorated the house with all kinds of pink stuff from Hobby Lobby.    This isn't a great pic of the pink stuff, but in the background, you can see these pink lanterns hanging from the ceiling.  I also had this pink swoopy stuff on the mantle, pink M&Ms, Hershey Kisses, and a pink birdhouse.  It was easy to find all this pink stuff since her birthday is just before Valentine's Day.  A great excuse for decorating!

{Lighting the candles}  

It was really fun to decorate, and my mom came over one Saturday while Claire was gone to help me.  We had a great time.  Mom and I love red, and the kitchen especially is very red.  It kind of made Mom cringe to see pink and red clashing, but it was so worth it, because Claire was so surprised with all the decorations when she came home!

Claire realized that it would take almost two boxes of candles to have the appropriate 23 candles.  It was quite humorous to witness this revelation.  We actually just went with 20 very tall candles...hey, at least we're in the right decade!

{I was trying out the settings on my camera again.  I kind of like this one because Claire is in focus and nothing else is.  There's probably a term for this, I just have no idea what it is!}

It was a very fun night, and everyone seemed to have a great time.  I felt kind of old, or at least very "adult" because we sat around and watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics, and it was really fun.  It's hard to believe that I'm not a kid anymore.  I wonder if this feeling ever goes away...

{Me, Claire & Lyndsy}

Lyndsy was able to come that night, so we had a great time catching up.  She's quite busy with Physical Therapy school, so it's always a treat to see her!

And about our wardrobe: this is probably the most sparkly thing I own.  I feel very "Legally Blonde," and it only gets worn about once a year, but it's really fun for stuff like this!  Claire wore this killer dress, even though it was black.  Her jewelry had all these pink hearts on it, and she was the Birthday Girl, so there!

Skippy (Fox) Dog in the Snow

Last week I mentioned that I was thinking about going to take some photos of Skippy in the snow.  The Pioneer Woman gave some very helpful tips about how to get some great photos in the snow.

I was inspired--enough  to change the settings on my camera.  I usually just leave it on automatic, but I decided to be a little more adventurous, and I got a few that I'm pretty happy with.

I know I've talked about him before, but Skippy Dog is the most loved dog you'll ever meet.  He is getting up there in age, and with that, he's become a little (a lot) more stubborn.  I've started to come over to my parents' to take him on walks, and he always greets me with a wagging tail.  Medicine for the soul.

This is my favorite.  I think Skippy looks like a wolf or a fox in this photo.  It was taken in our backyard.  If you can believe this, the snow continued far into the night, and we really did get a ton of it.  

Blurry, but I still like it.

Also in our backyard--my mom is really good at making flower beds look great.  She has a green thumb that I lack (maybe that comes with age?).  You can't see any flowers right now, but I really loved this snowy butterfly.

These trees are right outside my apartment door.  I thought they were so beautiful with all the snow on them!

There's the possibility of snow again tomorrow.  This is really crazy.