Thanksgiving Misadventures

I should have seen it from the start. The day started with making a breakfast that Krista doesn't like. Whoops. Then I forgot to buy eggs so I couldn't make the pies I promised for the Thanksgiving meal we were going to. Luckily Kevin found an open grocery and rescued the day.

All of this, though, pales in comparison to the misadventures that awaited us in Indianapolis. We plan to go to Indy every Friday after Thanksgiving so that Kevin can coach a clinic with his mentor. So, Friday came, and off we went. The drive up was smooth. We had planned to take Krista to downtown Indy to see the greatness that is the city. BUT it was the night that they were lighting their city so it was CRAZY!! Parking was nuts, people were singing off key at every corner, and cold and crowds were in abundance. Needless to say, we didn't stay long. We did want to eat some where that's an Indy original and ended up at Aubeulo's. (Sp?) Grandpa's house and my stomach did not like each other. It was NO GOOD!

Saturday was pretty quite. Kevin coached. Krista wrote a paper. I slept and did some work. We went out with some of the other coaches for dinner - a fun time was had by most. There was a coach there that had a little too much beer and the more he drank the louder he got. The rest of the evening was a blast though.

Sunday - the day of all days. Kevin went back to coaching. Krista and I thought it'd be a great day to go shopping so off we went to this cute outdoor mall. It was good - except that i was sick, AGAIN. Oh and it was miserable outside - cloudy, and wet and nearly snowing. When we had all that we could take of looking at things we couldn't afford we decided to go to Barnes & Noble and get coffee. Warmed from the coffee goodness we decided it was time to go and get Kevin and hit the road. My car had other ideas. We got in and turned the key: nothing. Tried again still nothing. So, I opened the hood, grabbed my hat, scarf, and gloves and looked for some jumper cables. But they are in Kevin’s car in Nashville. If your car doesn't start - it's obviously the battery. So I was quickly and rudely welcomed to the North. Hood up, tears welling, i asked numerous passer-bys if they had jumper cables. No, no, no. Finally a cop pulled into the parking lot. So, Krista mustered her courage and asked the police officer if she could give us a jump. To which she replied, "I'm not obligated to help. But I can call a tow truck." Thanks a heap coyote ugly!! After about another 30 minutes someone FINALLY came and offered to give us a jump. But they didn't have jumper cables. So they went and found some and came back. But it didn't work.

Another 20 or more minutes pass with people walking by, not caring. Finally a nice gentleman came and pulled out fancy jumper cables and wanted to help. He tried to jump the car. It didn't work. He asked me to turn the headlights on. They came on with ease. "sorry, but it's not your battery." GREAT!!! I call Kevin and he suggests I ask someone for help. ARG!

Frustrated beyond tears i turn to the owner’s manual. It turns out there was a light in my dashboard indicating that someone tried to steal my car. I knew that means that the car was in lock down. So I try to call the dealership that I purchased the car from. Closed. So, I 411 a local dealership. Closed. So I call the number in the owner’s manual. CLOSED!!! Finally a nice lady that tried to help me in the parking lot offered to Google the problem and see if she could find something out. She also let me know that all dealerships in Indiana are closed on Sunday - it's a law. (What state has so much free time in its legislative season that they can take time to vote on whether dealerships should be open on Sundays and then make it a law?!?!?)

Finally, the caped super hero found the number for Dodge's road side assistance. Such a kind lady! So I call. They agree - the light means my car thinks that someone tried to steal it. So...3 hours after this whole ordeal began a tow truck appeared to take my car away. He let Kevin, Krista and I CRAM ourselves into the cab with him (half way to the place he was kind enough to let us know that we could have ridden in my car.) Once we got to the dealership we ask the tow truck driver if he could give us a ride to a nearby hotel. He wasn't obligated to help either. So we gathered our luggage, left the keys at the dealership and started to hike. We literally hiked up hill in the snow to a Steak N Shake where we grabbed some dinner. Then we continued on our trek to the hotel. Wet, unhappy, and tired we arrive at the closest hotel - a crack motel apparently. So we locked ourselves in for the night and tried not to touch too many things.

With morning came a sense of optimism. I called the dealership to see if they had a shuttle service. The receptionist told me no. So, we gathered ourselves and our luggage and stepped back into the snow to walk the 1/2 mile back to the dealership. We arrived soaked and found at least some free coffee and danish. While munching on our goodies a nice, older fellow popped his head into the waiting room and asked if anyone needed the shuttle service. I'm pretty sure that at this point the Holy Spirit lent me all the patience and self-control that I needed. Because if i wasn't a christian I would have gone and smacked the receptionist with all my might!!!

Turns out that the wireless key module in my car was fried. I don't know how or why. But it did. So they didn't have the part in stock and had to order it from Chicago - which meant we were stuck for another day!! Apparently, Indiana is not the friend of the auto-mechanic or the stranded tourist. So, luckily my car is still under warranty. The nice warranty company paid my bill AND gave us a rental car. No more hiking in the snow. So we went back to the nice hotel we originally stayed in. They were nice to us and gave us free laundry soap (b/c I'm not an over packer like some we had run out of clothes) and a reduced rate for the room. SWEET! So we hung out in the room, mostly defeated. Had to go to Cracker Barrel for dinner - comfort food and sweet tea! And, after not really sleeping since leaving TN we bought me some Nyquil and I got to sleep! Ten lovely, sleepy hours later I woke up, late.

Quick showers were had and things were thrown into suit cases. We shuffled back into the car and headed back to the dealership. They gave me new keys and a bill. Then the cashier, who apparently couldn't read the big post-it note on the bill charged me for the ENTIRE COST! I literally snapped at her and made her take it off my debit card. 10 minutes later we were all back in my car - two days and hours of frustration later than we had planned - we were headed back to Nashvegas. Never thought I'd be so happy to see the TN boarder in all my life.

Today I had a moment of panic. It turns out that the cashier (whose nametag should have read "Incompetent") processed the $630 bill on my card anyways! I called the dealership - I think they knew it was me, they didn't answer. Then I called my bank. She also processed a credit, but it was taking a while to show up. The cashier is lucky because at this point I was ready to drive back to Indianapolis just to kick her!

Now, I'm ready to stay home and have no more adventures.

Now What?

I miss my friends, but I honestly put off calling them. Why? I dread the, "So what's new with you?" question that's always asked. I know that it's my friends way of checking in on me and they don't expect some wonderfully exciting piece of news. The problem is I do.

I had all of these plans and dreams. Some of which have come to pass. Others seem to be floating off into some ethereal place, or to have fallen behind the refrigerator of my mind. I feel as though I've accomplished very little in the last 28 years.

Am I just adjusting to mediocrity? Do I need to just let go of the dreams and plans and adjust to the monoteny that is my life? Is this the point in life where I wake up and realize, maybe it's not going to happen. This is what you'll see day in and day out for-ev-er.

Or, do i shake the dust and cobwebbs away, take a good hard assesment of where I am and adjust course? The only answer I have is the honest question of, ugh I don't know. I've lived life (or have tried to) by my favorite passage of scripture "A man's life is not his own. It is not for man to direct his steps." Jer 10:23

But, that can lead to a theological conundrum and the diference between Arminianism & Clavanism. My Calvanist friends would say, obviously God placed you where you are, so bloom little flower. [Ok, not all of them would add the bit about the flower - they're not all rosey -HA! Get it!] But my strong Arminian side screams back - BUT I HAVE FREE WILL; Perhaps it's my poor choices that have landed me here! Then this huge debate happens in my head that leads further down the rabbit trail to the deep recess of perhaps too much philosphical and theological training (or not enough).

We've been talking about vision, purpose, and mission in our church and family group, err Village - it will always be a family group to me. I think I may have it by George!! Maybe my mission can be to find and live in the tension of not being satisfied with where I am or what I'm doing, but still being content in where I've landed (been led). To praise God for the past and to give to Him the dreams and ambitions and let Him shape them. Sort of like a toddler who sees some great sculpture in her head but can only make worms out of her playdough. So I'll give my playdough to the One who can match the picture placed inside me. Hopefully when it's done I'll see some of my fingerprints (places where I was listening and obedient to God).

Why buy it if I can make it?

After some delving into recipies in cookbooks and on line, and after various forms of inspiration I adopted a new slogan this past weekend. "Why buy it if I can make it?" My new mantra is formed by a desire to be frugal, to avoid preservative saturated foods, and to rise to the challange of making things with my own hands.

So, with my megarly equiped kitchen I made the following on Saturday: butter, multi-grain bread, cinnamon rolls, coca-cola cake, spagetti sauce, dog treats, and dishwasher soap. All without a food processor or stand-up mixer.

So here's the recounting of how my aspirations turn out.

The butter:

The recipe is simple: cold heavy cream & shake until it's butter. It actually called to put it into an empty jar with a lid and shake until the butter forms. Who actually has an empty jar with a lid around? I even looked in our recycling bin - but had nothing. So I used what i did have: a coctail/martini shaker. It seemed like a good fit to me - but i learned after about the 15th shake that it there's a reason you need a secure lid: pressure builds as the cream turns to butter. So much pressure that it will explode the top of a cocktail shaker right off. I had a buttery/creamy covered kitchen. Ellie was happy to help clean up. In the end I used my hand mixer (an updated butter churn) and I made some great butter!!

The bread:

The Ingredients


The dough


Rolled Dough


The finished product

With some recipe subsituting (after not wanting to back to the grocery for the fourth time) it was actually relatively easy. It requires a lot of patience though! All in all the bread took about 5 hours from start to finish. About 3 of those hours are spent waiting for the dough to rise. I did learn that making bread is a great stress releaver. You get to punch the dough and kneeding helps push away all those troubles :)

Cinnamon Rolls:

The yummy in my tummy filling


Pre-cooked - they looked even less professional once finished

Serisouly - I'm never buying refrigerator pre-made rolls again. The recipie i found was so easy! I did learn to read how many rolls a recipe yeilds - i ended up making about 16 rolls when it was all done - way too much for the too of us. They didn't look pretty or perfect but they tasted great.

Coca-cola Cake:

The hand-mixed cake batter

Finished Cake

The closest I came to failing in my baking extravangza. The failure came in not having a 13x9 pan - oh and the only pan i had to use was one of those stupid floppy pans. Whomever invented these is a demented sadist. It seems like a good idea - your baked goods won't stick - but the pan flops hot cake/icing onto my arm, my counters, and anywhere else it desires. The cake was too sweet for Kevin so now I have a cake to force-feed to people.

Spagetti Sauce:

Peeled - in the process of being seeded, fresh from the Kroger Vine tomatoes


The Finished Product

FROM TOMATOES ON THE VINE! I peeled and seeded about 3 pounds of tomattoes to my my sauce. I have to say in the end I think canned tomatoes would have tasted as good. It took about 45 minutes to peel, seed, & chop all the tomatoes. Tasty sauce, but not sure it was worth the chop time. (Maybe if I had a food processor and didn't have to chop by hand I'd have a different story.) The sauce turned out great though, and gave us less heart-burn than the typical sauce we buy.

Dog Treats:

Pre-Cooked Dog Treats

Ellie is a HUGE fan of these. She literally parked out by the oven, sniffing the air waiting for them to be done. They were supposed to dry out over night to be crunchy but she sat and whined for one and LOVED it hot out of the oven. I'm definetely not buying dog treats any more. The total cost for about 3 dozen treats was maybe a dollar, maybe. So easy too!

Dishwasher Soap:

A fairly simple mixture of baking soda, borax, & washing soda. It works well, but the open boxes of Borax & washing soda next to the bleach & vinegar in my cleaning cabinet make it look like I'm making bombs. The smell from the Borax & Washing Soda are slightly overpowering so I've had to bag them up and hide them away. Again though, for the frugal at heart this solution is very inexpensive for about $1 I have enough dishwasher mix to last for about a month.

So all in all I think my new mantra just might stick. Why buy it if I can make it?

Connected

You don't really know how much you love someone or something until it's needlessly taken away. When we moved to TN we "borrowed" an Internet connection from a neighbor. Ok, we stole it - don't judge we were really poor!!! Then that neighbor moved away and took with them our internet. So, we broke down and decided it was time to pay for a connection. We had our very own bonified connection to the internet - wireless even. Then within a week our network card got "crispy fried" as the nice man at Geek Squad told us. Good thing we bought the warranty. Finally, now after nearly 3 weeks (who knows how long it actually took - it was like i was living in another dimension) our dear sweet computer came home with a new network card. It's all shiny and new feeling.

Seriously though, I LOVE the internet. To be honest I spend most of my time on line staying connected with my scattered friends. I've felt cut off and disconnected from the world. And now it's all back - so watch out! Soon my dumb comments will creep into emails, blogs, and of course the Facebook.

Welcome home little internet. You will be cherished here.

no internet = no updates

We've had no internet at home for what seems like a month! So no internet = no updates. I'm actually staying late at work to write this little tid-bit.

I love Donald Miller! Read his blog - it's in my blog list. The most recent one about riding across America really just slapped me upside my head. He says, "I think the inability to think rationally begins when we believe we know more than we are actually capable of knowing, and do not think objectively because our identities are tied to our ideas." How true is that! How often to we get upset when people don't agree with us. I think it's less about having to be right as much our ideas usually compile our identity so when people disagree we take it as a personal attack. I try
not to do this too often but i know i have more than i like to admit. How great would it be to live in a world where you are not known by a profession or your list of ideas, but are simply known for you - all the quirky things that make you you.

I have nothing profound of my own to write - only that we are alive and will begin to blog again once we have internet at home.

Finally...a permanent job.

It's settled. No more moving for a very long time. I am now permanently employed by the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Office Manager. WOOHOO!!

We've been throwing around the idea of moving back to DC for higher paying jobs (and higher cost of living to go with it) but have finally decided that we're happy, and why ruin that? We are settling down and plan to make a life in this fun and funky place. So come visit!

Meanwhile...God seems to be teaching new things all the time. Lately it's that I have limited control over situations while he has limitless power to meet all my needs. And I was reminded of a lesson learned earlier on...there is a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. I wish I would remember that in the throws of despair and not wait weeks for that to suddenly dawn on me in the midst of worship.
There's so much more going on than I'm willing to publicly post. I really am just trying to just trust and rest in the knowledge that I serve a mighty God.

But...tonight we're going to Bluegrass on the Harpeth which is sure to produce many a picture and maybe even a video or two.

One other tidbit: I learned a rather cool part of Franklin's history this past week. In 1864 as the Battle of Franklin finally drew to a close, leaving 1000s wounded or dead on both sides of the war a Confederate preacher began to have prayer meetings and write those prayers down. God used his heart felt prayers and service to start a revival in Franklin - the one of the first revivals in the "holiness revival movement" in the Methodist Church. (Holiness revival movement = what we think of as revivals today.) As some of my friends my guess it was quickly shut down by the powers that be and he was moved to a small church in Mississippi. (Sound familiar?) Two of his books were published while he was alive and about 6 more were published after he died. You can still buy his books on Amazon. His name: EM Bounds. Check out the full story at: http://clusterpaper.com/article/em-bounds.

Beautiful Day

Quite literally, it is one of the most breath-taking-ly beautiful day's I've seen. The sky is the perfect color of mystery blue, there's cool breeze, and it's about 85. It was hard to stay indoors today.

But the beauty of the day isn't merely a matter of the weather. Today is a day that no matter what ill news may come (Stupid IRS) my heart will still rejoice. Today is a day when Justice is introducing itself to our history.

After years of relentless violence and horrible massacre the world's courts have begun to open their sleepy eyes and see the genocide in Darfur. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking to press charges of genocide against the president of Sudan. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/07/14/icc.transcript/index.html?eref=rss_world) If this warrent for arrest is issued, and President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is finally submitted into the earthly hands of justice, all should rejoice.

No, the violence in Africa won't stop. But, the hell that is Darfur and all of Sudan will perhaps know the peace that has been prayed for by so many. The voices of thousands of protestors will be heard and not haven fallen on deaf ears.

Pray that the beauty of the moment of justice will come. That it comes quickly. That the evil that has drenched the ground blood red will be bound on earth. That the tiny bits of morality that hold our fabric of society together will hold strong and rightly punish the wrong. Because, if no charges are brought, or if a prosecution fails in this court - hope is lost for the remaining inhabitants of that region. Retaliation is the free cool-aid of Africa and everyone's thirsty, and if not they're forced to drink.

PRAY. If you've ever had tug at your heart for Africa or for Darfur muster it up, put your foot on the spiritual battle's front line and offer up all that you have. If you don't believe in God or that God has anything to do with the outcome of events, let's put debating aside. Offer your good thoughts, write your congressman, your senator, the President, DO ANYTHING BUT SIT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER SCREEN AND NOTHING ELSE!

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Isn’t it funny how at 60 seconds can seem like the longest amount of time on earth and other times it’s way too short. Life is full of waiting, times when time seems not to be moving – or at least life’s not moving with time. Then there’s days when you wake up and realize that the memory you were just thinking about was actually 7 years ago!!!

In Philosophy of Religion that I took nearly two years ago (seems like a few months ago) we talked about whether we believe God exists inside or outside of time. I concluded that God exists outside of it, but as proven by history can step into it. (Jesus)

I want to exist outside of time. I want to not worry. And the more I think about it most of my worries and stress are time related, perhaps not on the surface but time plays a factor. I worry about money because I need it for future bills or other future needs. I stress over starting a family, my marriage, and so many other things – because of what might happen in the future or things that happened in the past.

Why do we feel that we have to measure our lives by time? By age such and such I should have done so and so. Ten years from now everything will be fine. Oh to be whatever age again when life was carefree.

Time consumes us. Literally, we’re eaten up one day at a time. I know in my head that it’s silly to worry about tomorrow or even yesterday – that all we have is right now. I wish I could teach that to my heart, my soul, to the thing in me that spends so much time wishing for things to be different, wishing for the future to be here now, wishing that I had done things differently in the past.

I can’t touch yesterday and tomorrow’s not certain. I want to learn to live right now. Not to think – ok I have an hour before such and such happens so I’ll just fill my time with something useless until then. Reliant K said it best in their song More Than Useless, “My datebook is packed full of days that were empty and now gone.” I’m tired of having empty days filled with nothing.

I don’t know how to fix it, though. Even now I’m counting minutes until Kevin gets home, days until I go to Tallahassee, months until we finally feel settled somewhere, and years for dreams to come true. I don’t want to be Hook – haunted by the ticking of the clock inside the crock that’s waiting to eat me. But, I don’t know how to get to the place Peter Pan found – where time stood still and he was a boy forever.

Tagged

Thanks so much lisa b. I have lots of different things blog about, but tonight i'm so congested and miserable I'll finally answer the tag. So I am supposed to share 6 things little-known facts about myself.

1 - I had radiation poisoning from the Chernobyl explosion when I lived in Europe as a child.

2 - I am extremely terrified of rodents. I am unashamed to stand on chairs and scream like a little girl.

3 - I have never been able to do a cartwheel or a flip - even now that i'm married to a gymnastics instructor.

4 - I prefer to eat nearly all vegetable's raw - corn, green beans, broccoli, green peppers, etc.

5 - I went to 11 different schools from Kindergarten to High school

6 - I'm so obsessed with Jane Austin novels that I named my dog after two of her characters: Elinor from Sense & Sensibility and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice.

and now...I'm tagging Kevin because he likes to make me blog and then never blogs himself!

For some people "home" is easy to define. It's where they grew up or where they live now. I have lots of homes. A home is waiting for me in a mansion some day. My earthly homes are more meager though. But of all the places I call or have called home, I have to say that right where I am seems to really fit.
It is so rich here. We have a great little townhouse. The people are friendly and strangers stop you to say hello. There's country charm in abundance. Beauty surrounds you on every hill side and the warm breeze carries with it the smell of wild flowers (or so I imagine since I don't actually have the ability to smell anything).
We spent yesterday exploring our wonderful, new home town. We began with a trip to the local farmers market. I went with every intention of buying everything from locally grown, organic produce to milk and eggs from the farms I pass by everyday on my way home. Turns out local farmers charge a lot for products like milk and eggs (about twice as much.) We did buy some green beans, potatoes, and squash though. After eating some green beans last night I can definitely taste and see why organic, local produce is infinitely better. I just wish our pockets were infinitely deeper so we could afford to buy the other products sold there like milk, eggs, cheese, and meat. Oh well.
After the farmers market we went to the Factory. The Factory began in life as a stove factory. Like all stove factories, I imagine, it dreamt of being something cooler. Now, 50 years later, in the prime of its life it is an awesome little shopping center and home to two churches (and the weekly farmers market camps out in its parking lot). Our church is located in one of the buildings, but most of the shops are closed on Sunday. Actually, most of the town is closed on Sunday. So yesterday we took a walk through. It’s filled to the brim with local crafts, arts, artisan guitars, fancy little restaurants, and an awesome antique dealer. I could have spent a lot of money there yesterday.

After the factory we took a four block trip to down town Franklin. Again, a place filled with cutie-pie shops, fun places to eat, and loads of charm. I found my new favorite clothing shop, though I think none of the clothes in there will fit my largeness. It’s called Philanthropy and its tag line is “Clothing with Compassion.” The store’s filled with awesome products, many of which have portions of the proceeds going to awesome causes like Hands and Feet and Sudan. There was even paper made of recycled Elephant poo. I also found a place where I scored (well a future score) a free hair cut. They need participants to come and get their hair cut so they can train their “Apprentices.” Fancy!
We ate at Puckett’s. Puckett’s is the quintessential definition of Franklin. It’s a replica, filled with authenticity. Franklin is home to the bloodiest battle of the civil war, and one of the last battles of the war. It was here that the Confederates decided they can’t keep up with the Union and should call it quits. Or something to that effect – American history is not my bag. Anyways, there is an original Puckett’s grocery and restaurant in Leiper’s Fork, a nearby farming community. This place has been around since forever – before supermarkets were the trend. It’s a place where you could go pick up what you didn’t grow on your farm and grab a bite to eat while you catch up with other folk. Now there’s a smaller version in downtown Franklin. It’s history and modernity all rolled up into a delicious glass of sweet tea and a yummy burger.

This is Puckett’s, Franklin. They still sell groceries; they’re on the wall behind us.


Our church, located inside the Factory. It’s way cool!

One of the farms on our way to Franklin

There are all these “dry” stone walls, a lot of which have been here since the battle of Franklin.


Downtown Franklin.


This is my favorite picture. Kevin took it yesterday, and I think the angles make it look all artsy. These history signs are about every 10 steps. The civil war history here is sort of a big deal.


This is what I mean about Franklin. Here’s a 100 year old+ building with a Starbucks in it. It’s unique – as in odd.

CONGESTION GO AWAY!!!

I was supposed rerecord the voicemail to include myself on the list of extensions today at work. The unfortunate thing is that once again for the millionth day in a row I'm completely congested. To make it even worse my 15 letter full name consists of almost all consonants. It's nearly impossible to say!! Bs, Ds, and Ts don't work when I'm congested! AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTHING WORKS to get rid of this!! Take allergy pills some suggest. The problem: I was tested for allergies in October(!) for this very problem and I'm not allergic to anything!!!!!!!!!! What the crap! So the pills don't work. Decongestants over the counter don't work. Nasal Sprays and Sinus rinses work for two seconds and then the old schnoz reacts with a vengeance. I'm to the point where I'm ready to use a coat hanger to rip out my sinuses! With my luck I'd get some horrible face infection from the unclean coat hanger. RATS! I probably should go see a doctor, but alas we have no health insurance and it's not like I'm going to die.

On a happy note - my job is practically perfect. I get to play with brochures all day, talk on the phone, and best of all: build nerdy databases that impress people. That's right I spent half my day in Excel heaven making the graphs coordinate to the season they represented. Pure nerdy bliss! Plus - we found a Wingstop not too far away, but I think only Kevin and Krista will understand the happiness found there.

Pictures tomorrow, I promise. Once again the camera stayed home while I went to work.

Excuse me, I think you have my stapler...

After what seems like eons of waiting I finally have a job! I am the new Office Manager for the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Yes, I am aware that's the longest name for a company ever - especially since I have to say the FULL thing every time I answer the phone and add a snappy greeting, well at least my name gets added. The new job is in the heart of historic Franklin - a cutie pie town. Think Havana, FL then add modern shops and fun restaurants.

I find it somewhat hysterical that I work for the Visitors Bureau in a county I've lived in for only a month. People called in today with questions and I had to research every answer. I feel badly for this poor tourist who called: "Where's the vineyard?" Uhm...let's find out together shall we, I mumble under my breath as I quickly Google the answer. "Doesn't one of Brooks and Dunn own the vineyard?" Uhm..."I think I remember reading that." Who are Brooks and Dunn? Arg...why do I have to loathe country music so?

The Williamson County CVB (as those on the inside say) has never before had an Office Manager. This is both good and bad. It's good because I'm not compared to some former guru that could hula while simultaneously perfectly answering tourist questions and creating exceptional charts. It's bad because there is no answer. How do you transfer a call? No one knows. They've only had the phone system for a few short months. How should I order these items that are needed? No one has a great answer - no company cards, no company checks, no petty cash. It's all brand spanking new! I'm sure in a month I've have them all straightened out - that's what I do best. In the mean time I'll wade through the mountain of brochures that are on my desk.

There are several perks that come with the job. A major perk - I get to see all the touristy stuff for free. Also, when there's big events going on, I get to not be chained to my desk and go play with the rest of the town. Plus, I got to meet the Mayor and his staff today. He's kind of a big deal in these parts. Finally, I get to find out where all the stars live. This leads me to my golden nugget of information I got today. I LIVE LESS THAN 5 MINUTES FROM BILLY RAY CYRUS. I know! You're all jealous of me now. I get to rub elbows with the king of mullets.

One more thing to tag on from today - my new boss took me to lunch today. The place where we ate was an actual GROCERY STORE / RESTAURANT Combo. That's right, here in the heart of Williamson County, home of Christian Music and Country "Stars" you can pick up your groceries and have a decent lunch at the same time. Who has time to waste going to a grocery and then a restaurant? Silly city folk! You can get your snow shovel and your fried chicken platter and be back in your office within the hour. Now that's fine country living!

Pictures to come tomorrow - I forgot the camera today.

Sniffle

Many thanks to my kind and adoring husband. He's so great, he shares everything - even his cold! If only I didn't find him so irresistible, then perhaps I could have quarantined him during his sickness, throwing Gatorade, tissues, and medicine in every so often to "nurse" him through. But i didn't and so now it's my turn to be stuffed up. It's super professional to go to an interview like this, dressed in my suit and heals and a box of Kleenex under my arm. Why won't they shake my hand?

Not really though - no new interviews. I am waiting, semi-patiently, to hear back from a couple of places that want to hire me, but don't know it yet. In the mean time, I've been watching our DVD collection. We don't have cable and I've run out of things to clean and organize. Today was Audrey Hepburn day - it made me miss Natalie terribly! (both Natatalies that i know - ironically).

On to another topic - we hit the jackpot! We've found a church on the first attempt. This place is definitely my third favorite church! First being Morning Star, second Oak Leaf, and now Journey to Ecclesia ranks number 3. They do need to work on the name. They were just Journey, but then merged with a church called Ecclesia and so they just kind of stuck the two names together - oh well. This is the first church that I've been to in SO long that i feel like I'm fed gourmet spiritual food - I'm talking the Smith and Wollensky of steaks, high-quality, right-on theologically spun preaching that fills the soul and demands another trip week after week. LOVE IT! Oh, and the worship is not just good, or thrown together. We have a christian recording artist as our music pastor - Drew Cline. The worship there is sweet and fills the place thickly with the presence of God. You can check out the website: www.journeyecclesia.com

The horizon looks bright and filled with goodness. It seems like we will settle in well here. We're starting to make friends, we've found a place to worship, Kevin found his dream job, and soon I'll find a job and we can start to put down roots here in the "hills" of Tennessee. They call them hills - I call them baby mountains.

Easy Come Easy Go

Yesterday I was filled with both excitement and moral angst when offered temporary employment with a mining company. Excitement at the paychecks to come and so that bills can be paid. Angst because I have to say that I've never seen anything positive come from mining. They strip the land, raping it for minerals that we use in products we don't need. At least they are legislated here in the US but in Africa and elsewhere they pollute souls not just the land with their corrupt politics and Chinese influence -- don't' get me started.

But, I need money and so I agreed to work for them on a temp basis until I found a permanent position. I was open and candid about that fact with them and with the temp agency. I was to start work tomorrow. All morning while trying to sleep in all i could think about is how my entire career has been filled with positions that help people and tried to change the world for good and now I'm going to work for a company that rapes the earth for a profit.

Well, now I don't have to worry about selling myself to evil. The temp agency that arranged my temp work was also to arrange an interview for a permanent position. Long story short, they decided to arrange the interview for the permanent position but then take away the temp work. Moral dilemma solved - financial dilemma still here.

I'll just trust Alicia Keys that every thing's gonna be alright. Well, Alicia Keys, Kevin, and my mother. Oh, and that whole Romans 8:28 thing or for the more obscure reference Nahum 1:7 - read it. Ooh and Proverbs 3:5. Good thing I've had lots of practice at this trusting God thing.

"I'm smiling at you because you're crazy"

I've watched an entire season of Gilmore Girls in two days. I'm filled to the brim with spectacular quotes and no one to share them with. Kevin HATES the Gilmores, hate perhaps is too light, he loathes it, it fills him with ire, his feelings for Gilmore Girls rival those of the Unibomber and Oklahoma City. (Did I mention I've watched a lot of Gilmore Girls?)

Why so much Gilmore Girls? Easy. No Cable. No job. Our new house is pretty much put together and Ellie's tired me of making her dance for my pleasure. I need to make friends or become gain fully employed. I've alphabatized our dvds, our books, and our food. Ok, not the food but there's always tomorrow.

So, now without a great tranisition - I LOVE MY NEW HOUSE!!! It's as close to perfect as I could hope for. I shall take pictures once I get batteries and then I shall be posted. Ellie likes it too, except for the cows that scare her when they moo (or lowe if you will). That's right cows. We live a stones throw from several ranches. I assume they're ranches - they have cows, cows that become yummy steak and are pretty to look at before they become my next Strip Steak. I digress.

We live in a cute small town about 30 miles outside of the Country Music Capital. We have yet to meet anyone famous, but the people who used to live in our house know a lot of famous (to me) people. The wife works for INO records (Mercy Me, the Afters, and more) and the husband plays bass for the Afters and some other bands that I've forgotten. They don't know it yet but we have plans to force them to be our friends and introduce us to their famous musician friends. It's only a matter of time.

So tomorrow I shall find to find new ways to entertain myself between interviews. Hopefully I shall soon be employed and all my creative, crazy, energy can be put to use making piles of cash. Ok, maybe not piles, but at least a stack large enough to pay our bills.

Ta ta for now dear friends. (See, too much energy + Gilmore girls + boredom = craziness from Bridget. But you all love me for it.)

Extra Extra Read All About It!!!

Ok, so it's time for an update. I know I said that I was going to blog every day, but who actually believed that!

So the count down to the move is 20 days! We heard back from Kevin's job. He'll be one of the newest coaches at Let It Shine Gymnastics, a Christian gym in Franklin, TN. I'll be doing something. There's a church that wants to hire me, but not may be very good benefits and a bunch of other places I've applied. We're still debating where we're going to live. We found a townhouse deal that might just be fabulous. The question is if it's in our budget. The townhouse has two bedrooms and is two stories. It's got hardwood floors, a fireplace, and fenced in back yard! Plus there's a potential that they will lease to own it so that all of our rent payments will one day count as a down payment if we want to buy it.

In the mean time we're trying to get in all the sightseeing we possibly can. This past weekend we went to the Cherry Blossom festival, two of the Smithsonian museums, and tried to squeeze in the Holocaust museum but it was closing. We've got quite an extensive list; yet to be seen: the spy museum, the Holocaust museum, Arlington Cemetery, the Library of Congress, the rest of the 6 or 7 Smithsonian museums we haven't seen, the top of the Washington Monument, the National Archives (to see the Constitution), the National Geographic museum, Rock Creek Park, and an Baltimore Orioles game (they're playing the Yankees. )

Oh did I mention that we have to pack all our belongings, figure out where we're going to move, etc.

Busy, Busy

The Home of Country Music and The Home of the Delta Blues

And now it's time for a breakdown, er an update. So, for those that don't read Kevin's blog - ghetto life's gotten rough. We love DC. It's a cool city, there's tons to do and you really feel like you're living in a city of the world, not just America. But, it's also too DANG expensive. We're making about the same amount as we did in Tallahassee, but it's just not cutting it. After lots of thought and prayer we're contemplating leaving the bright, shiny city. We head off next weekend to Tennessee - the land of the Titans, the home of Elvis, the home of the Delta Blues, the birth place of Country Music (Please don't get me started on that!), and the Christian Music capital. Kevin has interviews with two gyms, one in Nashville and one in Memphis. I have an interview with a church (admin work) in Nashville. We'll see what happens. I've told my boss a little of what's going on and there's a chance he may promote me or give me a bigger raise -- then we may stay. We want to have a family and eventually own a home. Since houses in the DC area are on average 4 times the cost of houses in Tennessee we're thinking we'll have a better chance in the Volunteer State.

Why Tennessee? Well, the gyms Kevin's interviewing with are renown, professional, and Christian gyms. Tennessee is Southern enough to make Bridget happy, and Northern enough to keep Kevin happy. It's MUCH closer to home (8hrs to Tally and 11-12 to Tampa -- much better than 16 & 20). It's close enough to Asbury I can do their commuter option and perhaps finally finish my masters. My mad admin skills will score me a sweet paying job in one of the cities. So, hopefully next weekend will shed some light on the situation and we'll have more to report.

Saint Patty's Sick Day

Happy Saint Patrick's day ya'll. Saint Patty's day here in the DC metro area is, I must say, beyond ridiculous. People have been warning me of the craziness for days. As early as 9am there are lines out of the bars ready for the green beer and celebrating "everyone being Irish." I didn't believe it, that is until we got on the metro Sunday morning to go church. There, on the metro, at 10 am were people dressed top to tip in green, leprechaun hats and clovers galore. Crazy!

No green beer or clovers of celebration have been seen in the Thornton household. We've been recuperating. Sinus infections, the flu, and even a touch of potential bronchitis. Seems like we've been sick for a month now. Even Ellie's sick - she has an ear infection. Maybe since I am part Irish and it is Saint Patrick's day our luck will change.

Tell me all your thoughts on God

Actually, I'm thinking about Israel tonight. We're watching a documentary called "To Die in Jerusalem." Jerusalem is Hebrew for the "city of peace" or the "city of wholeness" HA! In Arabic it's just called "the holy ". The documentary focuses on a 16 year old female Palestinian suicide bomber who in her "operation" (as they keep calling it) killed only one girl - an Israeli girl of the same age. The creepy thing is when you look at their pictures they could have been sisters. It's really focused more on the mother of the Israeli girl.

"Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those that are sent to you, how often I've wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing" (MT 23:37) [Complete sidebar: how ridiculous is it that this verse is used to defend the idea of God being a woman or gender neutral. It's called a fricken metaphor people!] This was (is) Jesus' prayer for Israel and his people. Even in Christ's time Jerusalem did not live up to the title "City of Peace." History shows it has never been peaceful and the Bible says it will never be until Christ comes and establishes his kingdom on earth. But America and the Britain decided that Christ's coming isn't soon enough and the Jewish nation must be created. Screw the Arabs and Palestinians that've been living there since the 400s!

All the way back to Genesis we see that modern Jews & Muslims are descendants of the same clan - Abraham's decedents that really do outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore. All this contention over land and it's really just a big family feud. (Abraham slept with Hagar and had Ishmael which = Arabs then he and Sarah had Jacob who became Israel and had twelve sons -the twelve tribes) Oh the tangled webs we weave when we sleep with the maidservants.

There were 193 suicide bombers between 2000 and 2002 (when the documentary was made) the toll must be much higher now. Meanwhile, George W. thinks he can solve the problem by inviting the Palestinian and Israeli leaders to Camp David. Nothings solves centuries worth of fighting like S'mores by the campfire.

I don't have an answer. I know Biblically, God gave the land to Moses for the Jews -- but I also know that the Jews disobeyed God. A lot. (like all people groups) The result was the diaspora (to Babylon), then a reuniting, then the destruction of the temple and another diaspora. Now - we're all in a big mess and no history book, or holy book will solve it. Christians and Jews (OT) refer to the Bible as their defense and the Muslim to the Qu'ran. (I'm not claiming equality in the religions nor am I making a theological argument.) S'mores and hugs and kisses arn't going to solves the problems either. My realistic assessment is that it's all going to be a big crap hole until Jesus comes and truly makes it a City of Peace for the Prince of Peace. How's that for a positive spin ;)

Need to Breathe

Last night we went and saw one of our favorite bands at a cute coffee shop/bar in metro Virginia. As they sang the song More Time (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=6218874 - there songs change all the time) and all I could think of is how much their music has been woven through Kevin and I's life toghether. The band's first ablum came out when we were first dating. Then early on when I had doubts (and he knew but didn't tell me) he would constantly play thier song Hailie (the perfect song for the occasion). There albums don't leave our ipod playlists, cd players, etc. We rang in our first New Years as a married couple at one of thier shows and Kevin's seen them three times in the 4 months we've been here. Let's just say - we're fans. For wondering minds - favorite song - Washed by the Water - so good and I think it will strike a cord with many older Wesley folks:
"Even when the rain falls, even when the storm comes I am washed by the water." It talks about how some people talk trash and are mean - but no matter what we're washed by the water. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=33&chapter=36&verse=25&version=31&context=verse)

It's funny how God and music and life and friends get all mingled together in the mix.

And now thanks to last night's shows I have a new band to obsese about: I nine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZhT89-5ilY) This girl can belt! They rock! Plus - any band that has a CELLO PLAYER wins my vote for cool.

I'm sure Kevin will have pictures on his blog.

Rough Day

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Growing Up

I'm feeling very grown up today. Or maybe I'm just realizing I'm not 22 anymore. Perhaps this all came about from having a drink with one of my oldest and dearest friends. We were discussing our upcoming 10 year high school reunion - YIKES! I remember back in high school thinking I would have accomplished a long list of things and traveled to an even longer list of destinations. But I love the life I'm living (most days :)

So, yeah a real tax paying (and paying and paying and paying) grownup with all sorts of bills and responsibilities. And now we're hoping to add one more responsiblity - we go Tuesday to see a doctor for a pre-conception prenatal appointment - in English - we're starting to plan a family. Well, an addition to our family. If that doesn't make you feel grown up I don't know what will.

When did all this happen? When did I end up with a full-time job, laundry, dishes, a house to keep clean, dinner to make, prenatal vitamens to take, blah blah blah.

Well... I guess I'm still growing up because there are days when all i want to do is watch cartoons and play video games or go outside and play. Guess I'll always be a little bit of a kid at heart.

So Tired

[enter giant yawn here]. i think i could sleep for a hundred million years.

Why are all the guys on American Idol so weird looking this year? Not a single cute one -- all odd! What's up with dread-boy with the puppy-dog eyes.

That's all I got.

Honest(ly) random thoughts

Life is confusing. Seriously. I wish I were superwoman, or maybe just a bit more like some of my friends (lisa). I want to work full time, have a baby, get a dual masters degree (=two masters in the same time as one) keep my house clean and still have time to blog and shop. But I don't think I can do it all. Heck, I don't even blog or shop as much as I want. So, instead of trying any or all I spend my time worrying about the what ifs and wondering how to keep a marriage alive in the midst of it all. =-/I'm sure worrying and what it ifs are the more painful than trying any and failing.

The book I'm reading In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day (Have I mentioned that it's a great book?) says that we need to be good stewards of our opportunities. Also one of the core values of our church (the author = my new pastor) is to work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God. Easier said than done. Which opportunity am I to be a steward of? You know honestly, I think I can handle work + baby or work + school. But maybe the opportunity here is to try and do it all, working as hard as I can, praying hard as I can and then in the end it will all work out.

So the math would be:
me+Kevin+work+baby = easy, requiring God, but able to attempt on my own
me+Kevin+work+school = easy, requiring god, but able to attempt on my own
me+Kevin+work+baby+school=only possible by God's grace and help.
Ok, maybe the answers there Maybe I just need to not be a chicken, maybe I need to be a lion chaser - but, damn, the math is easier than living it out day by day. ARG! I feel like if I were called to go to Africa, sacrifice all that I have here, and surrender to martyrdom I'd pack my bags, kiss my husband, pet the princess Ellie, and jump across the ocean - why is it the "simple" things of work, baby, and school that frightens me? Hmm...

On a complete tangent, I really love igoogle. It's my favorite, especially now that they have a gadget that makes ladybugs crawl on your screen (and you can move them) AND I can play duck hunt!

While I'm tangenting (is that a word? Who cares!) I'm so stinken excited about going to Atlanta this weekend it's not even funny. I miss my friends something awful and it will be so great to see prego people and PT. As if that's not enough goodness packed in one weekend we're going to Myrtle Beach (never been) where we get to hang out with Kevin's cousin, Eric (best man in our wedding) and his wife, adorable daughter Maddie and brand spanking new baby Emily. I think that if we add anything else fun to the weekend I might explode!

One last tangent - if I have to think or deal with Minnesota anymore I may snap - it's too much. If you don't know, please don't ask me to explain because seriously, close to snapping here. Don't push the envelope people. It's dangerous. #=-(

Pray for me. Pray for Kevin too, poor guy -- all this mental anguish/excitement and all he wants to do is fix it and he can't.

This message will self destruct in five minutes.
Run.

Princess Ellie the Pooper

Meet Eleanor Elizabeth Kip Colon Thornton, better known to the rest of the world as Ellie, though she has been given many another nick name (El Diablo, The runaway, Princess, Pooper...). Ellie likes to establish that she is the ruler of her world. In the morning, she demands a walk in the bitter cold, not caring that it's 5:30 in the morning. She scratches and barks, demanding that her humans react. So...out we go. But the Princess must find the perfect spot. Not just any pile of dirt will do for her - oh no. She must find the perfect spot, the most delicate leaf, the spot in the middle of a thorn bush.

That's not enough; no scrap of food is safe. If the demanding, sweat, puppy eyes don't win out then the puddle of drool slowly collecting beneath her will. Once she's had her fill of your food, she positions the pillows on the coach just so. She must rest her head on a pillow - silly human - you expect her to be without a pillow?? And it doesn't just stop at pillows. She'll drag a blanket to wear it suits her.

The world is her toy - she doesn't care if it's your shoe, or hat, or chapstick. It's hers. She is ruler of the universe.

Aside from her only child syndrome and princess-ness she really is a funny, cuddly little mutt. She's quick to growl and play ruff and even quicker to kiss and make up. (And if you’re a boy, she's quick to make out - careful her tongue will end up in your mouth.) She's also a sweaty-pie who likes to cuddle with me and make sure that I know I'm loved.

This is princess Ellie.

Well Duh

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/nyregion/14slay.html?scp=2&sq=psychiatrist%20stabbing&st=nyt

So while I was waiting for my lunch to heat up -Microwavable as usual - i saw the above linked article in the NY Times.

For those of you who are like me and won't take the time to click the link, here's a summary:
Late at night two psychiatrists are working in their office. A man comes in and asks to see one of them. He's busy with another patient. So, the man sits, makes small talk and then goes into the other psychiatrist’s office instead. While in there he cracks and stabs the woman to death. Meanwhile the other psychiatrist has heard the screams of his colleague and rushes in - so he then gets stabbed.

Where's the well duh part? Here it comes my friends, "A day later, the police said they did not know the motive for the frenzied attack ..."

DUH - why can't we just say because the killer was CRAZY! When did we complicate things so much that we have ruled out the obvious?

Freezing Rain

Whoops....so much for posting everyday. I'm a slacker. Can someone please explain to me the purpose of freezing rain? Why can't it just snow? Stupid ice everywhere!

Yeah so...

So...I haven't blogged in awhile. No really good excuses. I'm lazy.
So...Today I felt like puking on my shoes all day - NOT MUCH FUN
So...Today I heard a sermon that kicked my butt - hopefully I'll let God change my heart, heal it, and do something cool
So...we're moving...AGAIN. But hopeully not for a while after that.
So...when we move I can go from getting up at 5:30 to getting up at 6:30 - SWEAT!
So...the wind was so bad here today it blew over a LIGHT POLL - CRAZY
So...I got nothing else.

PACT

Who knew that PACT actually stands for:Politically Incorrect
Agency
Co-founders of the
Tactless Society

So this week has been filled with social blunders at work. The first faux-pas was on a staff meeting on Thursday. My boss asked the group if anyone had any exciting news. To everyone's surprise one of our quieter staff members said, "Actually, I'm pregnant" Everyone was shocked and congratulations filled the room, UNTIL...my boss asked "was it planned? I mean were you surprised by an accident or did you mean to get pregnant." I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped. To clarify the immensity of this blunder, this co-worker of mine HARDLY EVER TALKS. It's not like her and my boss has this joking relationship, where it might, possibly, in some sick-way be acceptable for him to ask her that. She responded with a quick "yes it was planned." and the rest of us tried to move the conversation along.

Faux-pas number 2 is a combination but since it affects the same person I thought I'd lump them together. This week the finance division had a new staff member join. I swear he's the identical twin of David Bruce. Now, from day one I knew he was gay. He didn't even hide it - PINK POLKA DOT UMBRELLA and pictures of his "Kids" two English bulldogs. He even talks about his partner. No big shocker - right?

Well apparently someone didn't get the message. New guy was introduced at a group meeting where a co-worker was taking notes. When co-worker sent out the notes she put that "His wife works for USAID" actually it's not his wife, it's his partner: Steve. I'm not really sure how you mix that up, but he and I laughed it off. THEN THE BIGGEST BLUNDER OF ALL TIME:

When someone new starts working at PACT Human Resources sends out that person's job description so that everyone knows what to expect of newbie. Well...the HR director sent an email that she thought had his job description as an attachment. But, what she actually sent was his employment letter THAT PUBLISHED HIS SALARY!!! I guess the only good news is that it was only sent to managers and department heads that had access to that information anyways - BUT STILL!! Poor guy, now everyone knows how much he makes AND thinks he's straight and married.

I think I'll be offering everyone a class one socially acceptable statements and questions. Good Lord!

Bad Day

You know it's a bad day at work when you hide in a storage closet to cry.

I think they were handing out numbers for people to get in line and harass me or point out mistakes. Hooray!

Rainbows

It's been two days since I posted. Don't worry you didn't miss much.

Saturday was Kevin's birthday and we went to Ocen City, MD. It's like Daytona, Panama City, and St Augustine all rolled into one. Oh, wait and that it was in the freaking 30s!!! It was fun though. We hung out with two of his co-workers, had a really great dinner, played pool, and I had a little too much to drink.

Sunday Kevin and his co-workers had a meet to coach/attend. It was interesting because it wasn't USAG (USA Gymnastics - i'm picking up the lingo) and it was lower level gymnastics so there weren't a lot of really cool gynmastics you think of when you watch it on tv. It makes you appreciate the process, i guess. Then everyone came back to our house and we watched the GIANTS STOMP THE PATRIOTS!! I mean we, simply watched the superbowl.

Mixed with all of that was joy of figuring out this thing called marriage. Most would call it a fight. Oh well.

Today I woke up sad, tired, a little overwhelmed by life, and frustrated. But as i was walking up to the Metro I noticed a bright rainbow in the midst of the dull, gray clouds that have perpetually hung overhead since we moved here. Made me think of God's promise to not destroy the earth because of the circumstances humanity causes. Which then made me think of Isaiah 42:

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope. This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."

That is, God has a plan and it's not to harm us. Even if it hurts. He wants freedom for us --AND he wants His glory, which means that sometimes he puts us in circumstances we can't handle just so he can rescue us and then get the glory.

That made my day.

I feel blah

I really have nothing to write about today. It was a blah day. It rained really hard all day and then it was cold. Didn't Maryland get the memo that the weather is supposed to be like Florida anywhere I live?

All I want to do is sleep. Is that bad?

A True Story:

I work in a building that has elevator attendants. They push the button for your floor and make the door open and close. I don't know why the owner/manager of our building thinks it's a wise use of our rent money to employ at least 5 different people just to run the elevator, but apparently it's at the top of their priority list, above cleaning mold from the a/c ducts.

Anyways...now that the tangent is done. I stepped into the hallway and pressed the up button. A minute later someone else stepped into the hall and pressed the down button. The first elevator car came and it was going up. I stepped in; the other person wasn't paying attention but caught herself at the last minute. The elevator attendant's helpful word of advice, "Press the down button."

This person is a "Professional Elevator Operator." Either she has come across so many people that don't know how to operate elevator call button and has therefore lost all her faith in people's abilities to press the correct button - OR - this job is actually challenging for her and she thinks others need help figuring out this whole elevator thing.

Does anyone else see the comedy in the situation?

Do you donkey or elephant? WARNING: THIS IS SURE TO PISS PEOPLE OFF

Do people really know why they subscribe to a particular political party? I would say the majority do not. Warning: I will use sweeping generalizations for both sides...

Today at work a conversation began about politics. I'm often surprised by the number of republicans at work. I am a democrat and have often found that people in organizations that help others, like the place I work, tend to be democrats because the Democratic Party typically spends more money on helping others.

The other day Kevin and I were watching a documentary on Evangelicals. After watching that, I'm proud to say that I'm neither Republican nor Evangelical. Why? Why would a Christian be proud of being neither?

1. Definition of Evangelical: Evangelicals believe the Bible is infallible, believe in the trinity, and the authority and sovereignty of Jesus. I believe that too - BUT I think that too many Evangelicals have forgotten that Jesus said the two most important commands: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and the Second is like it Love your neighbor as yourself." Apparently for Evangelicals that means blowing up abortion clinics, legislating morality, protesting at the funerals of stars because they acted gay in a movie, etc. I can feel the love.

2. I am pro gay marriage. Why? Because GOD GIVES US FREE WILL. God doesn't smite homosexuals, but the Conservative Right doesn't grant the same freedoms God does. Hello? Regardless of if you think homosexuality is a sin or not -- we don't pick on other sins. Why do the conservatives start rallying over sinners like liars, the greedy, the hypocrites, etc?

3. While I'm not pro abortion, I am pro choice. Don't be confused. I personally will never have an abortion, and I pray that people will make wise choices both pre-sex and post. Again, if you refer to #2 I believe that God gives us free choice. I think He will hold us responsible for the atrocities we commit (Like murdering little babies), but he gives the choice to do it. Some would prefer that the government be more restrictive than JESUS. I don't think the government should legislate morality.

4. I have known and experienced poverty. (To clarify American poverty - which is still richer than 2/3 of the world.) I believe that because of our history as a people and our societal structure not everyone is given an equal chance and the government ought to support those that don't have the same opportunities.

5. Environment: People are generally stupid with resources. In 10 years if we just let people do what they want with the environment, we won't be able to breathe from carbon emissions, and the oxygen producers like trees will be gone, we'll be scorched by the uncontrollable sun beating down on us through our giant ozone holes, will have no clean water, will be overcome with garbage and waste, need I go on?

6. Taxes: a necessary evil. That pays for #s 4 & 5.

So, have we established that I’m a moderate Democrat?

So vote Obama. His wife doesn't do all his campaigning for him like Hillary and Bill. THE BIG PLUS: He's funded through grassroots efforts, not big money backing him like the oil companies (Hillary). He was the first candidate to mention supporting Africa and is proposing solutions to problems in a place that has been forgotten.

The point? Search things out for yourself. Research the candidates at: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/compare-candidates/index.html

A day in the life of me

3:30 am - wake up, steel covers back from Kevin & dodge being elbowed in the head (a tricky task)

4:30am - wake up, steel covers back from Kevin and Ellie by shoving ellie off my legs and dodge being elbowed in the head - again tricky

5:30am - alarm clock goes off, roll over, roll my eyes and try to figure out how to hit the snooze button

5:40am - reach to hit the snooze, can't figure it out, and turn off the alarm clock in stead.

6:00am - wake up to ellie begging to go out, freak out because I was supposed to wake up half an hour ago

6:05 am - quickly dress, and then add layer upon layer to go out into the bitter cold and wait for ellie to find the PERFECT FREAKING SPOT to pee and poo -- pick up the poo because I'm a good citizen and HATE! stepping in poo.

6:20am - finally get back inside - she takes forever! Rush to get ready

6:52am - run out the door, praying I didn't miss my bus. Have a minor panic attack thinking I left my phone at the house and then realize it's fallen to the bottom of my bag

6:54am - bus comes, get on. Look at no one, find a seat, and read In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. Realize that everything I blogged about yesterday just might be the will of God and I should shut my mouth and listen for the next step, not 15 steps down the road. Think about carrying a journal so I can right revelations like that down but get distracted by the crazy lady that talks to herself and laughs at people.

7:40am - arrive at the metro, fight the crowd to get on the train. I actually got a seat today - woohoo

8:03am - get to my office building, and grab the elevator. Greet the elevator attendant (you read that right - we have elevator attendants) and ask for the 3rd floor. The elevator sails past the 3rd floor to the 7th, then the 8th, then finally the 10th. I'm the only passenger left and cheerily say "I need three." Turns out that the elevator is broken and doesn't want to stop at the 3rd floor despite the handy, worthily employed elevator "technician". When we arrive at the lobby by boss is there. It's 8:15. Of course, this time it stops perfectly. I believe this is called Murphy's law.

8:20, finally get to my desk, switch shoes (it's my attempt to be like Mr. Rogers), hastily eat my oatmeal and print my report for the meeting I have with my boss.

8:35, check email. South Africa office is panicked. I roll my eyes and RUN to my bosses office. We meet for a good half hour - piling the work on we then focus on the next meeting. I get a phone call in the middle of the meeting. It's South Africa. I make them wait. I'm not a fan of our South Africa office.

9:20 (meeting in 10 minutes), call South Africa. No answer. So I email. They want money I already sent to them. So I send them the confirmation. They email back and ask for the confirmation. I slam my head onto my desk and hit RESEND. They email back and say, "Oh, that's a lot I guess it was there."

9:35 - important person we're meeting with has been waiting for 5 minutes. We chat and wait for my boss. I call to remind my boss to come to the meeting. We chat some more. Eventually the meeting starts - bickering about what can be done in a year.

11:00 - prepare for next meeting. Do a million other tasks, get lunch set up. Enjoy lunch meeting with visiting field staff.

1:00 - prepare for Thursdays BIG meeting by making binders - my job title should be Binder Maker Extraordinaire.

2:30 - get office ready for new guy. Avoid asking anyone for anything because at Pact that means you add 18 extra steps and get turned into a human ping pong ball (Why ping pong? Why not air hockey puck? - I digress)

3:30 - ask boss to get a temp to finish boxing up the stuff in this office because it's been there for 6 months and the room is packed! He solves the problem by having the CEO's SPECIAL ASSISTANT come and do it for me. I feel about an inch big. Sigh

3;30-5:20 - start new duties, work on international banking regulations, create pdf versions of policies for field staff, solve a million other office dilemma

5:23 - run (well if you consider walking really fast running) to the metro to try and get to my bus on time. NO SEATS :( Spend my time on the metro noting the difference between people's eyes. Why are some people bug eyed and others look like there eyes are attached to the back of their head? Watch a guy use his limited English to flirt with the girl next to him. Train in front of us is BROKEN :( Get to Ft. Totten with 30 seconds to catch my bus. LITERALLY RUN (i may have knocked someone over) to my bus. I missed it. So I catch the longer ride bus. Enjoy watching the cutest little boy laugh and play with his mom and everyone around him. Sigh.

6:58 - make it to my bus stop, skirting the crazy drunk on the bus. Legs go numb walking home. Too COLD!

7:05, pretending I'm on a cooking show I cook dinner for tonight and prepare chili to be slow cooked tomorrow - I entertain myself.

8:00 take Ellie out for our second round of take an hour to find a place to pee. This time it starts raining so I ask her to go potty. She looks at me, bends down and pees. Then it rains harder. SO I tell her to poo, she crouches over and poos. If only I could really train her to go to the bathroom on command - that would be a real trick! Run home.

8:10 Kevin's not coming home for another 40 minutes or so. I blog.

Still to come: shower, pick out clothes for tomorrow, clean kitchen, watch lots of FOOD network.

Magic 8 Ball

I need a magic 8 ball to tell me what to do with life. When should Kevin and I start a family (well, at least add a baby to our family)? Should I get my masters? Where should I get my masters? What should it be in? What should I be when I grow up? Should I try to get a promotion at work? What should I wear to work tomorrow? Do I take the bus or drive? What do I get Kevin for his birthday? Should I cut my hair?

So, in light of having only questions and no answers I'm going to give up trying to figure out the answers that only leads to stress and headaches. Instead of trying to figure out what God wants I'm going to pray over the magic 8 ball and it will be like casting lots in the Bible. Whenever I need to know the answer I'll ask a questions, giver her a little shake and see what we get. Of course I have to reframe most of my questions to not be open ended. How much would it suck to ask the 8 ball what I should be when I grow up and it says "Outlook not so good." Yikes!

In the mean time, I'm open for suggestions - why not add to the confusion.

I'm an addict

I suck. I already missed a day in the first week. Oh well, I'll post two today.

Yesterday was a great day! Church was great. Then I got to have lunch with Meghan and her new beau, Wes. They're so much fun! Kevin and I had a great afternoon and then went to a Bible Study.

Afterwards we went to get dinner and that's when the intervention happened. As we were looking for some restaurant I spied to glorious red lights of my addiction - no it's not prostitution --get your mind out of the gutter. Seriously people.

It's really hard to admit this, but I'm am slowly coming to terms that I am addicted to...Boston Market. I know many people think it's gross and to be honest I'm not addicted to their rotisserie meats. It's their side dishes. I love them! I NEED them!!

It's probably better for us to have moved away from Tallahassee. There I worked and lived within a mile of Boston Market. Now I have to traverse the scary traffic of DC and drive a few miles to get the good stuff.

Do they have a BMAA? (HA! That could also mean people who are addicted to pooping!)

GO SEE JUNO!!

OH my goodness...best movie this year!!! Seriously funny and written really well!! I love it! For shizzil!

Wizzard! (go see it!)

Song of the day

FAITHFULBen and Robin Pasley
I WANT TO SING YOU A LOVE SONG, YOU ARE THE THIEF OF MY HEARTRHYTHM AND RHYME TRY TO DESCRIBE ITNO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY...I CAN’T HIDE ITFAITHFUL, YOU ARE FAITHFULI HAVE FOUND NOTHING BUT GOOD IN YOUR HEARTLOVING, YOU ARE LOVINGI AM IN LOVE WITH THE WAY THAT YOU ARETHANKFUL, I AM THANKFULI HAD BEEN RUNNING AWAY ON MY OWNAND THEN YOU FOUND ME, OH HOW YOU LOVE MEI KNOW YOU’LL NEVER LEAVE, LEAVE ME ALONE
I WANT TO SING YOU A LOVE SONG, FOR YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
RHYTHM AND RHYME TRY TO EXPLAIN IT
NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY, I CAN’T CONTAIN IT

Mad Props to NCC or for the non-ghetto: Why I love my new church

Before Kevin & I ever moved to DC we began to research churches. From website searches we narrowed down the churches we would visit based on a variety of items: congregation, worship style, statement of beliefs, small group life, and location. From a long list we had about 3-4 churches to check out. At the top of the list was NCC (National Community Church --check it out at http://www.theaterchurch.com/). We went and knew right away that's where we belong.

Now let me tell you why. Neither one of us is a new kid on the Christian block, we've been a part of the church for a long time, have experienced a variety of churches and I have some deal of education in the area. All that being taken into consideration each week that we have attended worship we have consistently been challenged and changed by the message. I think I'm growing more now than I have in the past five years!

Not only is each sermon by the variety of pastors chalked full of goodness the music is descent (We've been spoiled -- Wesley, Morning Star, Jason Upton, etc) and the people are friendly. Plus they have so many small groups they have to put out a catalog!!

But oh wait, there's more! The lead/senior pastor put out a book called In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. It's about Benaiah -- captain of King David's guard who happened to have killed a lion on a snowy day by chasing it into a pit!!! Now that's a man! I've been slowly ingesting this yummy book, savoring each section (YES IT'S THAT GOOD!) and thought tonight I would share an excerpt from the 3rd chapter -- enjoy the goodness:

"The goal of love is fearlessness! As we grow in a love relationship with God, we unlearn the fears that paralyze us and neutralize us spiritually. That is the essence of faith.
Faith is the process of unlearning your irrational fears." pg 48

"Lion chasers don't hide from the things they fear. They chase lions into pits. they expose themselves to the sources of their terror because they know it is the only way to overcome them. Lion chasers have a high threshold for fear because they have built up fear immunity." pg 49

"The other tactic [Satan uses to neutralize you spiritually] is fear. Satan wants to scare the heaven out of you. He wants to put you on your heels so you can become reactive and defensive. That is why he is described as a prowling lion." pg 51

"I'm convinced he [Jesus] could have and would have talked his way out of the cross. Why? Because he never lost an argument. But he chose instead to close his mouth and go to the cross." Pg 52 (THAT ONE IS FOR KEVIN--I'LL TRY TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS AND SHUT MY MOUTH :)

"So here is my question: Are you living your life in a way that is worth telling stories about?" pg 56

Now that you have tasted the goodness READ THE BOOK! http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1590527151/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-6313366-5282317#reader-link

Be assured my friends you will be hearing more quotes and thoughts evoked from this tasty book. (I don't know why I describe good books like food -- I'm weird)

The Pros & Cons of Life

So today has made me think about all the great things and all the crappy things in my life. So here goes:

The Good:
1. Not having to ride the bus today (I love my husband!)
2. Mmmmm...coke. (You can't see the drool, but it's there)
3. Waking up at the same time that I'm usually standing in the cold waiting for the bus. (see 1)
4. Feeling better than dead
5. Rocking out on Guitar Hero III


The Bad:
1. Being sat on by a beast on the metro
2. South Africa NOT EVER KNOWING HOW TO COMPLETE PAPERWORK CORRECTLY (IDIOTS!!)
3. Ellie taking 10 hours to poop when it's 5 degrees outside. (I never exaggerate, EVER!)
4. Petty people at work at create drama
5. Debt


Then, in the mix of all this good and bad was the a news article that put my ridiculous, wasteful, irresponsible life on the map of life on the globe.

Did you know that the UN concluded that 9.7 MILLION children die before they reach age 5. 9.7 MILLION -- that's almost a 10th of the global population! Or to put it in even more perspective, 26,000+ children die every DAY!!! That's almost 18 kids a minute!

So, global good vs. bad.

Good:
1. God
2. Grace
3. Forgiveness
4. People living the life Jesus is leading them to
5. Prayer & Social Justice

Bad:
1. 26,000 children dieing each day
2. global warming
3. no health care
4. malnutrition world wide
5. Aids
6. nuclear weapons
7. fascism
8. Greed
9...need I go on.

I guess it's a good thing the good out weighs the bad.

HAPPY BLOG, huh?