Merry Christmas!

Something I've realized while watching my niece and nephew rip open their presents and become instantly disinterested with that one while they run for another present to open.... my manicure is not condusive to putting together toys and opening toy packages that are not only child proof but aunt and uncle proof too. I guess this is why I don't have kids now, I want a nice manicure, so I can't have kids. :) Just kidding - Christmas was fabulous this year, we spent yesterday morning doing the family thing since my brother had to go to his inlaws this year.... It felt like Christmas morning yesterday with my whole family there and a nice breakfast etc etc - then we did the Santa thing this morning at my sister's house and Charlie and Kate are possibly the cutest kids on the face of the planet - but we all already knew that anyway right? ;)

Christmas Eve

Tonight I helped performed the Christmas Eve service at my home church in Liberty - Liberty Christian Church. It was really great to see my home congregation and just be there for such a special service. Leading worship has become somewhat complacent for me, since it is actually a job for me now, so it was nice to be in a place where it was rather special! I helped lead along with Dave Culver and Aaron Todd who is also a Timothy at our church. He is starting seminary in January and currently works as the director of youth ministry (I think) at Hillside Christian Church. Who would've though two of us from that youth group age group would have ended up in the ministry? It was wonderful to see everyone and I'm sorry I could chat more with everyone there - but they should know how much it meant for me to be there and that I'm so thankful for such a wonderful and loving church family!

Christmas Eve Eve

"Was it hard to see Brandie and Jason together?" - I almost didn't even notice, so no, it wasn't hard to see them in general, or even see them together, I really don't care that they are dating - if they are happy, I'm happy. Instead, it was horrible to see you and have you buy me dinner and open the door for me and call me "girlie" and "blondie" like you always have - but then I knew that at the end of the night you weren't going to say "I love you" when I walked out the door - but that I was still going to want to say it to you.... Why are you the one who said "I Love you" first - but now I still feel like I'm in love with you? Why can you separate your feelings and not confuse a Christmas kiss with somethine more, something that still lingers, or does it? Why am I the one that broke it off because I was in self-preservation mode and thought that it was better for me - but in the end I'm still the one hurting? Why am I in constant self-preservation mode, trying to prevent myself from getting hurt, but in the end it hurts more?

Mr. Gingerbread Man - Where are your balls?

I made a gingerbread house with my niece, nephew and sister today and Kate wanted to know where Mr. Gingerbread man's (gum)balls' were... how do you answer that?

One Semester Done

I'm through my first semester of seminary! I can't believe it's already over - it feels like I just moved here! It was an amazingly easy transition though and I have enjoyed every minute of being here so far. It was definitely a much easier transition than going to undergrad - I remember having a really hard time with that. Anyway, I have one semester of Hebrew, Theology and Intro to the Bible under my belt! And with decent grades - a definite bonus! Now I start January term, Jan 2 - I'm taking "Judeo-Christian Dialogue" which I am pretty excited about. It should be a really interesting class. But for now, I have two weeks off class and one Sunday off from work, so I will be home for about 6 days - it will be great to see my family and friends and good way to spend the holidays!

Overreacting

So I know I'm probably overreacting to this whole situation, but I am ABSOLUTELY devasted at my computer. I feel like I can't breath and that I'm going to vomit every time I think about it. I mean, I guess it's nice knowing that I'm going to be getting a new computer in the next few weeks, but I honestly don't care. I would rather spend the rest of my entire life not using a computer if it meant that I could have my hard drive back. I have hundreds of dollars in downloaded songs, another couple hundred in downloaded applications and programs, and how do you place a value on the memories of the last three years of your life? Every picture I've taken in the last three years was on my computer, and I had no way of backing them up, so no - I have no back up - I know I should have done something - and thanks for reminding me - but no that's not helping me any. I still feel like I've lost someone in my life that I deeply cared about, not my computer, I'm not that ridiculous - but every picture, every memory, every graduation memory, every picture I had of my niece when she was born, every picture I had of my grandfather in the last three years, my brother's wedding - I could go on and on and continue to cry about it... I'm absolutely paralyzed and have no idea what to do about it....

My Computer Crashed

Soooo - my computer has decided to crash - dead - died - can't bring back to life - can't retrieve any data - can't use it at all - can't get my final papers off the hard drive - dead. Perfect - the week before finals and my computer decides to die.... that's fabulous, especially since my notes for all my classes is on my computer.... how do you tell your professor that your computer actually ate all your notes and has since died, so the computer can't give it back? Think they have any simpathy? Let's hope so! And if you know of any companies having a good deal on computers or have any suggestions concerning laptops/desktops - buying a new computer.... let me know - I'll be in the market for a new computer the day after Christmas!!

The Real Night Before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas
and all through the town
not a sign of Baby Jesus
was anywhere to be found.

The people were all busy
with Christmas time chores,
like decorating, and baking,
and shopping in stores.

No one sang, “Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed.”
Instead, they sang of Santa
dressed up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart,
Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour upon hour
the presents they’d wrap.

When what from the TV
did they suddenly hear?
Except an ad, which told
of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall
they flew like a flash.
Buying things on credit
and a few on cash!

And, as they made their way home,
from their trip to the mall,
did they think about Jesus?
Oh, no… not at all.

Their lives were so busy
With their Christmas time things.
No time to remember
Christ Jesus, the King.

There were presents to wrap
and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember
who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior,
They had not time to stop.
Because they needed more time,
to “Shop ‘til they dropped!”

On Wal-mart! On K-mart!
On Target! On Penney’s!
On Hallmark! On Zales!
A quick lunch at Denny’s.

From the big stores downtown
to the stores at the mall,
they would dash away, dash away,
and visit them all!

And up on the roof,
there arose such a clatter,
as Grandpa hung icicle lights,
up on his brand new step ladder.

He hung lights that would flash.
He lung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus,
Light of the World.

Christ’s eyes…how they twinkle!
Christ’s Spirit…how merry!
Christ’s love…how enormous!
All our burdens, He’ll carry!

So instead of being busy,
overworked, and uptight,
let’s put Christ back in Christmas,
and enjoy some good nights!

This is REAL snow!

When the weathermen in Kansas City forecast snow - they mean SNOW like this picture of my parents back porch.... now when they predicted snow in Kentucky - everyone on the news made such a huge deal and freaked out the entire city, closing tons of schools, including two colleges that I know of, and made for just all out pandamonium. But turns out we got sleet/freezing rain and less than an inch of snow. Now to prevent myself from becoming the big bitch that I'm sure people will assume me to be if I keep going on and on about this sort of thing, I'm going to make fun of KY once - and once only - concerning this subject and then let you judge for yourself. When you say snow, you better be talking about at least 3 inches, because unless all the grass is covered and I can't see the topes of blades of grass, it doesn't count. Learn to drive on slick roads people, I've seen people freak out when it rains and drive crazy like that in the summer. You may be able to move away from snow people, but you can never move away from rain, so learn to drive in any kind of slippery weather starting with and including rain. No you don't need to run to the store and stock up on milk and canned food everytime it threatens to snow. If people in Colorado can somehow manage and somehow don't need to run to the store...um....everday, then so can we. I'm just amazed and I guess very thankful that I grew up in the midwest where you can appreciate a good snowfall and teach your kids to do doughnuts in the parking lots rather than teaching them to freak out at the possibility of snow. Ok....ok...I'm done now....maybe...

Touche Yosef....touche

Yosef's Top Ten Things to Do if Another Bush Wins in 2008 (not necessarily recommended -- just possibilities)

10. Find a way to kill off mass quantities of brain cells so you can actually start believing what Bush says. It'll make life easier. Ignorance, after all, is bliss.
9. Cry.
8. Prepare to bomb another country whose populace is generally "darker" than our Anglo ruling class... ...under false pretense of necessity and hocus-pocus groundless intelligence that exploits many Americans' cultural and geographic ignorance, once again reemphasizing our stupidity and general unworthiness to the rest of the world. Woo, that one was smokin'.
7. Get one of those dumbass bumper stickers that'll say something like, "Don't blame me, I voted for ________"
6. Apologize for your country's general stupidity and ignorance anytime you go overseas and meet people who'll ask you questions like, "Why did zee Americans elekt Meestar Boosh again?"
5. Engage in finding, chemically, "alternate realities" as a form of escapism
4. Prepare for Israel and Palestine not to resolve anything, with our full backing
3. Prepare for the passing of the "Super Patriot" Act -- whereby Arabic as a spoken language is simply outlawed.
2. Change your name from Habib to Mark
1. Move (to Canada, Netherlands, etc.)
Ok, now how about some predictable commentary (a.k.a., Republican/right wing backlash) about how if I don't like it here, I SHOULD just move and good riddance (i.e., the redneck "love it or leave it" philosophy, which defeats the whole purpose of democracy and intelligent, critical discourse in an open society, etc.). C'mon! Any takers? I'm tingling in anticipation of the comments I may get...

Loose Screw

It's official - it's been confirmed - I've officially been diagnosed as medically having a screw loose. :) I went to the dentist today - the implant that is screwed into my jaw up to my eye socket - all good, so no worries. But the screw that screws into the implant may be stripped or may just be loose, so nothing too big, just routine kind of stuff for me! But yes, you can now officially accuse me of having a screw loose.... oh lord - who knows where this will lead!

The Ultimate Time Waster

Online Bubble Wrap.... Can I possibly waste this much time on the internet?

I've Never...

I got this in an email... what the hell - lets make it all public :)
(X) smoked a cigarette
(X) crashed a friend's car or relative -I crashed into Pam's car with mine the night before we left for our cruise! Ham! :)
( ) stolen a car - and why would you be admitting this to all your friends on email?
(X) been in love
(X) been dumped
(X) been asked to be a God Parent
( ) been fired
( ) been in a fist fight
(X) changed a tire
(XXXXXXXXX) snuck out of your parent's house - I wouldn't have had a social life in HS had I not!
(X) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back - don't know - they were confused :)
( )been arrested...
(X) gone on a blind date
(X) lied to a friend
(X) still have friends from grade school
(X) skipped school
( ) seen someone die
( ) been to Canada
(X) been to Mexico
( ) been to Africa
( ) been to China
What the heck - where are all the other cool countries in the world like New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Spain, Amsterdam, Belize, and Grand Cayman?
(X) been on a plane
( ) purposely set a part of yourself on fire... WHAT KIND OF A QUESTION IS THIS!
(x) eaten sushi
(X) become a minister .... I'm in the process - and what kind of question is this - are there honestly that many people doing this? Because where are they if there are that many people
(X) been water-skiing
(X) been snow-skiing
(X) met someone from the internet
(X) been at a concert
(X) taken pain killers
(X) love someone or miss someone right now
(X) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(X) made a snow angel
(X) had a tea party (as a kid) - I had one on my 20th B-Day in NZ too :)
(X) flown a kite
(X) built a sand castle
(X) gone puddle jumping
(X) played dress up - my mind is in the gutter-I'm going to hell :)
(X) jumped into a pile of leaves
(X) gone sledding
(X) cheated while playing a game (do drinking games count?)
(X) been lonely
(X) fallen asleep at work/school
(XXXX) used a fake ID - again I wouldn't have had a social life in college had I not!
(X) watched the sun set
(X) felt an earthquake - in NZ - they have over 10,000 every year!
(X) been in a tornado
(X) slept beneath the stars
(X) been tickled
(X) been robbed
(X) been misunderstood
(X) said something your sorry for saying
(X) petted a reindeer/goat/kangaroo
(X) won a contest
(X) run a red light/stop sign
( ) been suspended from school
(X) been in a car crash - I swear it wasn't my fault!!
(X) had braces - and EVERY other tooth problem you could imagine
(X) felt like an outcast/third person
( ) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(X) had deja vu - does it count that you've been to the Night Club Deja Vu? ;)
(X) danced in the moonlight
(X) liked the way you looked
( ) witnessed a crime
(X) questioned your heart
(X) been obsessed with post-it notes (Don't hold this against me please)
(X) squished mud through your bare feet
(X) been lost
(X) been on the opposite side of the country - all sides of it!
(X) swam in the ocean
(X) felt like dying
(X) cried yourself to sleep
( ) played cops and robbers - again my mind is in the gutter - but no - haven't done this one :)
(X) recently colored with crayons - I work with 3 year olds every W & F - what do you think?
(X) sang karaoke
(X) paid for a meal with only coins - I don't think a meal - but definitely gas!
(X) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
( ) made prank phone calls
( ) cut down your own christmas tree
( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) danced in the rain
(X) written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) watched the sun rise with someone you care about - yay for Fiji!!
(X) blown bubbles
( ) made a bonfire on the beach
( ) crashed a party
(X) gone roller-skating
(X) had a wish come true
(X) gone skydiving
(X) gone bunjee jumping
( ) ever had anyone throw you a surprise party for your birthday
(X) kept up with family and friends thru the email
( ) entered anything into the county fair
( ) allowed your pet to do things you would never allow your child to do

Katie watch out!

Check out my pledge daughter Lindsay - she's going to be the next Katie Couric!!

Awkward Stage

So when they say that everyone goes through an "awkward stage" - I was the epitome of awkwardness in 6th grade - I think I take the cake on everyone. Besides the fact that my parents decided to buy me some ridiculously oversized glasses when I couldn't see the chalkboard anymore and I was TOTALLY a school nerd because I really liked school and did really well at it, I had the worst of teeth/braces problems. Kids - I've had two teeth missing from my mouth since I was in 6th grade... fabulous eh? Granted, they put braces on me which covered up that fact, so it wasn't quite as bad, but then I had to have about 5 surgeries to correct my teeth and get implants that are screwed into my jaw pretty much up to my eye socket, and then of course the re-constructive gum surgery.... yadda yadda yadda.... I thought this was all over. I thought I was all done. Well turns out my implants are moving and having problems, so I'm going to the dentist next week - which makes me nervous in and of itself not knowing this dentist, but I'm going back because I have to get it all corrected again. I'm really quite upset about this, I really thought going through that awkward stage was over. I've always been a big smile-er, and big on facial expressions - so the fact that my smile isn't what it is supposed to be is really really distressing to me. I may be vain - but it really is a huge issue of self esteem if you can't smile like you want to. Just a laugh or when it's time for family pictures.... I hate that I may have to start this crap all over again - I hate that I have to feel like I'm in 8th grade again and the awkward girl that no one wants to talk to because her teeth look weird. Plus the dentist office called my house today to check and see if I had a cell phone. She said, "It might snow tomorrow and we want to make sure we can call all of our patients if the doctors can't come in." - I'm really not going to like KY in the winter with everyone freaking out about snow. Damn it - learn to drive in the snow - people in Denver - hell people in Missouri do it all the time - every freaking year! - OK, I guess I'm taking my frustrations out elsewhere....

Lonely Holiday

So it just now hit me that I'm going to be away from my family for most of the holiday season and that I didn't actually go home for Thanksgiving. I mean - I know I didn't go home for Thanksgiving, I'm not that dense...but it just hasn't really seemed like the holidays until now. It could be something to do with the fact that it's by 70 degrees here in KY up until today - but regardless. Rather than having ONE tradition taken away from me, all of a sudden most of the family traditions I've grown up on are suddenly different or even gone. I mean, as happy as I was to NOT run the Turkey Trot - I guess I sort of missed it. We haven't spent 4 hours in agony trying to get all of our smiles perfect while all at the same time entertaining the grandkids/nieces/nephews so that they at least have a half smile for the family Christmas photo. My mother hasn't sent me the family Christmas letter 29385 times to proofread and make sure that she doesn't make me sound like a complete idiot. The annual "girls baking Christmas cookies" has to be knixed this year. I don't get to have a flour fight with my sister and sister in law in the kitchen while my niece screams in laughter at watching her mommy act like a kid. What if I'm not ready to grow up around Christmas time? What if I start believing in Santa Claus again? Will that magivcally make everything the same again - but at the same time will Santa Claus magically go to work and class for me and pay all my bills that are due? I can't help but worrying that this year will seem a little lonely. On not as if relationships rule my life - but it's funny how quickly you forget what it's like to be single during Christmas after you've been taken for the last three years or so. Because I wasn't yet "in the Christmas spirit" I locked myself in my apartment tonight and while I cleaned a little I listened to a few hours of Christmas music. It worked - but I forgot about the other side effects..... "The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone." - Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I agree Mitch - but sometimes I think I can feel a little lonely while also knowing that I'm not alone....

Sarah McLachlan - World on Fire

Aside from my love for Sarah McLachlan - you've got to watch this video - it is fabulous!

Watch Video:

WORLD ON FIRE (Sarah McLachlan)

Four Dollar Bottle of Water

This past weekend I took some of my Junior High aged girls to a regional event in Bowling Green. First off - way to let Laura loose in KY - I've never driven anywhere in KY except Lexington and to the airport in Louisville and all of a sudden I'm responsible for two pre-teens on my first excursion outside of Lexington!?!? Whatever - it worked out.... but - we stayed at a hotel - Holiday Inn to be exact. In the 15 minutes I was in the bathroom showering, my girls thought that they just honestly couldn't wait to brush their teeth. So they opened the $4 "complimentary" bottle of water that the hotel leaves you, but charges you for in the end - and decided to brush their teeth with that. I think it was when they were spitting it into the hotel glasses that I started to hyperventilate - but I had to calm myself down... in the end I it wasn't a big deal. But you better believe when we checked out and that 3/4 full bottle of water was still sitting there I took it with me. I'm not paying $4 for your rinse water! :)

Student of Fate

I think fate is testing me and I might be failing - how do you study for and pass this test?

Chi Rho XP Xperience

This weekend is finally at end! After a very long couple of weeks, I came and took the longest nap in history. On Friday I headed off to Bowling Green, KY with two Chi Rho (Junior High) aged girls from Woodland. The Kentucky Region was having its first every regional Chi Rho only event! There were about 200 Chi Rho-ers and their sponsors at the event and it seemed to go very well! After arriving on Friday night we gathered for ice breakers/getting to know you/keynoter and worship which made for a fairly late Friday night, but a good one. Saturday morning was met with even more worship and fellowship, including workshops for both adults and Chi Rho-ers. It was helpful to me because I attended a workshop on how to plan a successful mission trip. Hopefully it will help for this summer! My two girls attended the Faith on Film workshop. For the afternoon all 200+ participants helped around the Bowling Green community in many different places. Our group worked with Operation P.R.I.D.E - a beautification project for Bowling Green. We helped by placing door knockers on neighborhood doors to advertise the P.R.I.D.E. project and different services offered to help with the project. Because we got done early with our service project we joined another youth group and went to Lost River Cave & Valley, a local site full of history and beautiful natural habitats. Because I had to preach this morning, we unfortunately had to leave early from Bowling Green and return home late Saturday night, but it was still a successful weekend! It was a great weekend with the Chi Rho-ers, I'm so happy to get to know them better and learn about youth ministry in general - thanks for a fun weekend!

Thanks for making me look like an ass...

After discussing relationships and such with my good friend Andrea I just had to put this thought down - not that it's necessarily in reference to anyone in particular, but just a general observation..... If people aren't honest in relationships, whether they be just starting out or years worth of love, then it ALWAYS ends up hurting the OTHER person and making them out to be the ass. Example... ok, so maybe this one is from experience..... What's going on with us? Are we interested in making this work? Is there anything "here" between us? Could there be? I felt as if I had been completely honest, exposing my desire to see where things may go, which I feel is only fair. However by the other person not being honest with themselves, or me, it makes me out to be the ass. Because I'm simply wondering what the heck is going on, trying to figure out whether or not they are interested, I appear to be needy, I appear to be smothering, I appear to be controlling... when in fact, it's just Laura taking an active role in figuring out what the heck these random flirtations mean. I admit, I may have my needy moments, all girls are allowed to want a man to be their comforter and to hold them safe from the big bad world.... but those are MOMENTS in Laura's life - I'm not needy, I'd like to think I'm not controlling in relationships and I know I shouldn't smother someone I'm interested in.... but because the other person isn't honest with themselves, or at least willing to take a risk on something and try to figure out what they want.... I appear to be the ass.... and it's Laura that gets the short end of the stick.... this dating thing is sweet :)

High School Sunday School

Woodland has been without youth direction for so long that they actually no longer have a CYF/High School Sunday School class. I offered my services to try and start it over - and today was my first day. Things didn't go so hot, so I guess there's no room to go but up! I figured if I started with "The Gospel According to The Simpsons" that I might create some excitement, a reason for coming, but not so much. Only one youth showed up, and although I know one more that would have/will be there on a regular basis, I'm still nervous on whether or not two youth = success? I only have 4 high schoolers in the first place - so if two come, that's 50%....but that's also considered an F at school.....hmmm....

I'm a Guardian

Yeah for wasting time on internet quizzes... seriously folks - Thanks to Al Gore for inventing the internet and making Americans even more worthless and lazy than they were to begin with.... :)

Laura, you are a Guardian.
Guardians, are the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to serving and preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing goods and services--from supervision to maintenance and supply--and they use all their skills to keep things running smoothly in their families, communities, schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses.
Guardians can have a lot of fun with their friends, but they are quite serious about their duties and responsibilities. Guardians take pride in being dependable and trustworthy; if there's a job to be done, they can be counted on to put their shoulder to the wheel. Guardians also believe in law and order, and sometimes worry that respect for authority, even a fundamental sense of right and wrong, is being lost. Perhaps this is why Guardians honor customs and traditions so strongly--they are familiar patterns that help bring stability to our modern, fast-paced world.
Practical and down-to-earth, Guardians believe in following the rules and cooperating with others. They are not very comfortable winging it or blazing new trails; working steadily within the system is the Guardian way, for in the long run loyalty, discipline, and teamwork get the job done right. Guardians are meticulous about schedules and have a sharp eye for proper procedures. They are cautious about change, even though they know that change can be healthy for an institution. Better to go slowly, they say, and look before you leap.

Dating in Seminary

I just want to say... it is very hard to even think about the dating scene here at LTS. For one.... LTS itself is soooo small that should you even think about being interested in someone at LTS, there's all sorts of extra drama and confusion that goes with everyone knowing everything, which just makes the thought of dating someone AT LTS entirely undesriable. Secondly, I guess I never really thought of what to say from now on when people ask, "so what do you do....", because trying to meet someone, making that first impression, often times when you answer anything remotely close to something about a minister or going to school to be a minister..... the conversation stops right there. Additionally, for me and anyone else that wasn't already close to Lexington to begin with, it's hard to meet people, friends or other, that aren't part of the seminary...so it's hard to "get away" if you need to. Aside from dating - I'm really just trying to "branch out" in general and meet people that have nothing to do with LTS - and its going pretty well....

At the same time - dating in general - I know, I know - we all suffer from the same excitement of the situation, but here are some of my thoughts on the subject. We all want and hope to find someone, to find that person with whom we can share our dreams and thoughts found only in the secret fissures of our hearts, and I am no different, but then somehow the situation always seems to be different. Something I’ve been struggling with lately is in the beginning stages of dating, or just getting to know someone in general. In order to get to know someone, I must make them, or our situation a priority in my life. However, I don’t feel it necessary to make them a priority yet, because I don't know that they are worth being a priority, and I know that this is mainly because I do not know them, who they are, etc. enough to desire to make them that important in my life. I know this makes me sound stuck up, to insinuate that someone is “not worthy of my time,” but that’s not my intention. It’s such a catch 22 – in order to make some a priority in my life I need to know who they are, what kind of person, that they are worth making them a priority in my life. BUT I must allow for them to be a priority in the first place in order to get to know them. In order for someone to be important in my life, they must ALREADY be important, so that I can discover whether or not they should be that important... ok...I’m done.... I'll just continue to be single and busy - maybe if I keep myself busy enough I won't notice being single... ya think?

Kentucky Girls

Sure, girls from NY, they are tough. And girls from GA, they are sweet. But those fiesty Kentucky girls, they are the ones you have to look out for. We have sugar and fire in our blood. We can ride a horse, be a debutant, throw a left hook and tell you the entire UK line up all while making sweet tea. And if we have an opinion, you get to know it. We're both the pride and the downfall of the bluegrass..." ~Ashley Judd. I hope I turn into one of these :)

Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?

Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?

Reception 4

Ok, ok, so I did find time to hang out with girls, and of course my sister. For those of you that have never met her, this is Kerri - do we look a thing alike?!?!

Reception 3

I found my spot, suprise surprise! Hanging out by the bar with the boys talking about the game! ;)

Reception 2

Jamie, my New Zealand brother, currently living in London came over from London just for the weekend for the wedding! I guess the fact that the bachelor of century got married was a pretty big deal! Jamie is holding Charlie because they are ready to catch the garder (sp?). Good luck!

Chad & Christie Wedding Homily

Let me preface this with saying that my brother and sister-in-law got married on the same day that Mizzou and Nebraska played football. Seeing as how he went to Mizzou and Christie wen to Nebraska, it made for a fun day!!
The first thing that I think of today when reading this scripture, is that Jesus must not have been familiar with Big 12, Tiger, or Cornhusker football when he said this. How is a Cornhusker honestly supposed to love a Tiger on a football Saturday half way through the season when they are tied for first place in the northern division? But, all joking aside, this scripture still presents a difficult question. How are two people, two very different people, supposed to love one another, in with the same amazing love with which Christ has loved them? And in attempting to address this question, even still, Chad, how is your unmarried, younger sister supposed to give wisdom and thoughtful reflection on this passage and marriage? Frankly, I cannot give that type of wisdom, because I do not know how. Quite frankly, I cannot speak to that type of wisdom for lack of experience. However, I do know how to speak of two parallel things to that type of wisdom. I know how to speak of the gospel, and I know of this love, which Jesus speaks of in this passage, the love, which Jesus shows to us all.
Both families have come here today, to this celebration of love, and have raised you two in love. Love from both families, friends and family alike, are represented here today in the fact that you have over 200 people here to celebrate the love between you two. Chad, I know that we have grown up with love, and Christie, that I have seen immense love within your family. I saw immense love during such a hard time just a few months ago and it still pours out passionately from all sides of your family, including from above. Vince still provides his true and great love to you and your family today, on this joyful celebration of love between you and Chad.
Now I am not suggesting that I even begin to understand this love you two share, because I know it is great and powerful, and something only the two of you can understand between one another. But I do affirm, as does this passage, that it must be like the love God has shown for us. As is the love of Christ, it should be unending, powerful, and unconditional. You can dedicate your life to it, spend a lifetime in this love, and yet there will always be more love than you can imagine, offering more to one another than you could ever know. As I can spend years studying the love Jesus has shown all of us, you can dedicate your life to the love between you two, and in both instances, it should be one of the most eloquent and powerful things you will experience in your life. Whether I speak of the love you two hold for each other or the love God offered to us through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, it matters not, because it holds true for both. Your marriage should be a reflection and joyful celebration of the love Christ has shown to us, and as he charged us to show one another.
Although it was not read today, Jesus continues on in this passage to speak about laying down your life for another as the greatest expression of love. Today you two are laying down your life for one another – not in a sense of a sacrificial death as in the case of Jesus Christ – but in that you offer your lives to one another, to join in life with each other. This sacrificial love you two are showing to one another is what Christ speaks of in John, that we love one another as he has loved us, in the fullest manner, in the greatest way we know how, through the example Jesus Christ has shown us. Christ laid down his life for us, so that our joy might be complete in him, and exemplifies one of the highest forms of love you could know. It is through this example today that you Chad & Christie are laying down their lives for one another in love, giving their lives to one another in love. Through joining your lives together, offering your life to one another, you give new life to your relationship and too each other, newness to a life joined with one another. While marital love is flawed and imperfect, because as humans we are flawed and imperfect, our love should strive to reflect divine love, laying down your life, offering your life to one another in love.
But surely Christ could not have meant that a Tiger should love a Cornhusker! Despite the fact that you as Tigers and Cornhuskers normally do not get along, Chad and Christie I know that your love will work through any dilemmas that may come, through football and basketball season, through joyous and distressing days, through faults and forgiveness, as Christ’s love has done the same for each of us. Christ still offered life to us through our faults, in the same way a new life in marriage is offered despite faults and indifferences that may come your way. Martin Luther says, "Marital love begins when intoxicating love disappears." While I hope this intoxicating love and infatuation does not have to completely die in marriage, Luther's point is well taken: in marriage we must not confuse loving our spouse with always feeling that our spouse is lovely. Although I can’t speak from experience, I trust there will be plenty of bad times in marriage where being "in love" will be replaced with perseverance, the ethic of love, until the feeling of love can be nurtured to return. This perseverance of love, the ethic and principle of love is what always remains, regardless of those feelings of loveliness that may from time to time disappear. Continuing from today, through this commitment and those you have already made to one another, your love will continue to grow through all of these instances, moments in thinking your spouse is lovely, and instances when you think your spouse is many other things, but regardless of these times, there will always be love.
I want to finish today with a reading I have found since starting at seminary; a reading that I believe speaks to love from Christ, and the love we can all show to one another. Whether you are dedicating your life to the love of Christ, or adding to this dedication to Christ through marriage, I believe you must give yourself to love, every type of love, and all that it allows you to enjoy in life – because of love.

Kind friends all gathered 'round, there's something I would say: That what brings us together here has blessed us all today.Love has made a circle that holds us all inside.Where strangers are as family, loneliness can't hide.You must give yourself to love if love is what you're after; Open up your hearts to the tears and laughterand give yourself to love, give yourself to love.Love is born in fire; it's planted like a seed.Love can't give you everything, but it gives you what you need.And love comes when you're ready, love comes when you're afraid; It will be your greatest teacher, the best friend you have made. So give yourself to love if love is what you're after; Open up your hearts to the tears and laughterAnd give yourself to love, give yourself to love. Chad and Christie – may God grant that your love for one another, reflect the love of Christ for us. May it continue to grow as you faithfully serve Christ in the world - through this reflection of love in your marriage today and your reflections of love forever more.

Reception

Why didn't anyone tell me I was making an ass out of myself? Clearly I had quite a bit of fun at the reception!

Party Bus!

After the ceremony all 16 members of the wedding party and significant others included hopped onto a party bus that would take us from Dodge to the thriving metropolis of Fremont. We had plenty of champagne and beer to go around...Maybe Laura had one too many bottles of champagne on the bus on the way to the reception?

Wedding Day 2

Amanda Landwehr - thanks for making the long drive from STL with your parents... you know you were my saving grace at the wedding! :)

Wedding Day

Like I said - I'm still a daddy's girl at 23! We had to be at the church at 10:30am for pictures - this was definitely an all day event. During all the pictures, you better believe we had the Mizzou/Nebraska game on! The game started at 11:30am, the weddding was at 2:00pm and entering into the ceremony it was a tie game at half time, 24 - 24, I'm not sure anyone would have listened to my homily had I not mentioned the game and the score in the middle of it....

Rehersal Day!

The Bride and Groom one day before! We had to set up for both the reception and the rehersal dinner on Friday, decorations, arranging tables, and course making sure there was plenty of room for the bar. :) Chad, unfortunately your hat didn't help the cardinals here, but Christie, your "Bride" hat certainly seemed to be successful! ;)

15 Important Things to Learn in Life

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve its full potential, that word would be “meetings.”
3. There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.”
4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
5. You should not confuse your career with your life.
6. Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.
7. Never lick a steak knife.
8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, sexual affiliation or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
13. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention on first dates! It never fails.)
14. Your friends love you anyway.
15. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. (We'll have to discuss this ark thing, but I still thought it was a good point) :)

You Know You Are Living in 2005 When...

Another good forward I thought I would share :)
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2005 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cellphone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. You read blogs of people you've never met or talked to, yet you feel so close.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list. AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.

I promise I will start posting real posts when I get back from my brother's wedding - I didn't realize how crazy my life in KY would start out and take off so quickly!

It finally clicked

So it just finally clicked for me yesterday that I live in Lexington, all on my own, and that I will for quite a while....I mean, it's it not like I've been on drugs since August and haven't noticed - but it just sort of clicked the other day because I'm so used to moving all the time. Ever since high school I've continued to move almost every semester, city to city, hell country to country, never really living anywhere for the summer because I'm always at camp or traveling or something and other than living at home last year, this is the most permanent I'll live in one place for a long time since I was in high school. (Can we say run-on sentence?) It's like I've felt as if someone were going to wake me up one day and say "we're just kidding, this isn't your apartment, you don't live here, you don't live on you own, move out, either into a dorm or move home with your parents again...." I guess I did live at home for quite a while last year, but I think I'm also trying to block out how it made me feel like a big loser to live with my parents at 23.... :) Bottom line - I'm feeling very comfortable living on my own, no roommates and in Lexington in general :)

Women are like apples

Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just take the rotten apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy.......The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree. Are you brave enough?

Decisions

I'm prety vocal - especially politically - especially recently. But I'm not going to lie - something I tend to back away from and not hold a stance on - is pro-choice vs. pro-life. I can't make up my mind - and I'm concerned I never will - is that bad to want to base this issue on a case by case basis? There is an organization called "The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform" that is running The Reproductive "Choice" Campaign - they claim to "expose the horror of abortion on the roads of America" by driving around huge semi-trucks with horrific pictures of aborted fetuses on the side of the trucks. They also print huge signs (7 feet tall by 22 feet wide) and hold them up on college campuses around the US. They used to do this at the University of Missouri and then I saw them today on the UK campus. I know a lot of that is propoganda and the way you present information - therefore I need to come at this, almost with a cynical point of view. At the same time, it is VERY convincing and therefore effective. Yet at the same time, I can't hep but think that my friend that was gang raped has the right to have the decision to get an abortion. Or what about people that clearly would not be good parents, that the child would end up in "the system" anyway? Or the infants that would be born with a disease or a syndrome, knowing that their parents would not want them or would not want to deal with their problems, and would not do it? I have seen a statistic that says 40 million fetuses have been aborted since 1973. How would our country be different if even half of those children were born - and we had 20 million more citizens in the US? What if we had all 40 million? Will I ever have an opinion on this or an answer?

Kentucky is as Kentucky Does

So my friend Kelley - native Kentuckian - recently went on a date with her step brother and discovered a new way to plan her life, make major decisions, and basically a new religion to follow. It's called "The Cube." Wanna know what the cube says about me? I'm sensual and mysterious, my lover is moralistic but has fogotten to show up, my thunderstorm can be predicted about as well as Hurrican Rita, but fixed with Prozac, my children are inside my womb as an extension of my blonde self, and my lover is closer to my friends than me. As for Andrea, she wants to show her kids off and wants a Clydesdale of a man :) We're waiting to find out about Kelley until she's done dating her step-brother.

Running for what?

I went running again today....Something tells me the guy that ran past me in the other direction, in flip flops, cigarette in hand, he was not running for the same exercise reasons I was. :-D

Quarter Life Crisis

You may find yourself straying from the crowd more than any other time in your life. You start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now. You start realizing that some people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that some of the ones you have given up on are realizing that too and that most of them are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you are. You look at your job. It may not even be close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared. You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But you start to realize that while some of them are great friends, others weren't so special after all. You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. Sometimes you feel great and invincible, and other times you feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward. You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or maybe you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person. One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap, and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. But yet, they both still seem to happen. Maybe it seems like almost everyone you know is getting married, and maybe you really love someone too, but you just aren't sure if you're ready to commit for the rest of your life yet. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself. While winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender! What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best and worst times all at the same time, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Yay for a good ER!

First off - yay for finding another ER partner in KY that is as obsessed with it as my sister, mother and I are....Thanks Andrea for helping me fit in ;) Secondly, this week's was great after a very disaapointing season premier.
Mean Girl from Subway: "If you're a doctor, then I want a second opinion."
Neela: "Sure then, Dr. Lockhart would you like to offer a second opinion?"
Abby: "Your ankle may be broken and you're a bitch"
:)

Fumes....NO Oxygen....

So I've been running again - about two miles each time - very excited to be doing that again - one problem though. I don't know my way around Lexington enough yet to go running in an area that isn't a major thoroughfare! I mean, I know it limits the places I run because I'm a woman and I normally run at night in the dark, so I DO run on major streets for safety reasons... but seriously, this has got to improve. I need to find some places to run that don't involve cars. Tonight I'm not sure if the gasoline fumes from all the cars did more damage than running does good for your body. It felt like acid in my lungs - it was fabulous. Please tell me if you know where to run that won't feel like I just inhaled an entire bottle of tobasco sauce into my lungs.

Mizzou's Rec Center

I think my most favorite part about the fact that Mizzou's Rec Center won the "BEST REC CENTER" in the nation according to Sports Illustrated is that my student fees helped pay for it and that I will never get to use it, even though I'm still a student. Thanks for the help Mom & Dad, look what you helped to create :)

The Ultimate Forwarded Message

I want to thank you who have taken the time and trouble to send me your chain letters over the past 12 months. I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat crap in the glue-on envelopes cause I now have to get a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing. Also, I scrub the top of every aluminum can I open for the same reason. Thank you for making me feel safe, secure, blessed, and wealthy. Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because I know it can remove toilet stains. I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put "Under God" on their cans. I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer. I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS or another terminal disease. I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day. I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me. I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually AlQaeda in disguise. I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support ourAmerican troops or the Salvation Army. I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers. I no longer have any sneakers -- but that will change once I receive my free replacement pair from Nike. I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe. I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish. Thanks to you, I have learned that God only answers my prayers if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes. I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital (for the 1,387,258th time). I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program. Yes, I want to thank you so much for looking out for me that I will now return the favor! If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00PM(EDT) this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician. Have a wonderful day.

Scared of Heights?

So this is one of Chad & Christie's MANY MANY engagement photos - which they are all fabulous - (done by www.kellyjackson.com). Anyway - I just had to share with everyone.... Christie must be some lady to get Chad "I used to crawl up the grand stand at Busch Stadium" - to sit ON TOP of a high rise building! :) Congrats you two - can't wait for the wedding!

Tropical Storm Rita

So they say that Tropical Storm Rita may hit the "low lying Florida Keys" so Gov. Jeb Bush ordered an emergency evacuation because of the possible threat of a TROPICAL STORM. What was the reason this was not done for people in New Orleans? I mean I know that a majority of the people did - but why is this being done for only a TROPICAL STORM when they knew well ahead of time that Hurrican Katrina was going to be a very strong storm. Think maybe it has something to do with a relative in the White House not wanting to suffer the blame of another hurricane catastrophe? Hmmm.... Also - It says in the news that the storm is currently over the Bahamas right now... with 50 mph winds. I've been to the Bahamas - and I don't see it as being severly hurrican ravaged... how do they manage to cross with almost every hurricane or tropical storm and all this weather that eventually dies down... and still have tourist season every year. I mean, I foresee New Orleans still being re-built, and still being rebuilt by the time I am graduating from seminary - but these countries in the bahamas seem to do OK year after year with 19 & 20 storms forming and at the least sweeping by them. I'm really not trying to be a bitch or a smart ass with these questions - but I just don't get it...

Woodland Christian Church

I have accepted a position as the Student Associate Minister at Woodland Christian Church in Lexington! I feel very lucky, as a seminarian - most students with positions are required to travel quite a ways away to get to their congregations. I, on the other hand have about a 3 minute commute, that in nice weather I plan to walk. As the Student Associate, I will mainly be working with the youth, however I will be able to participate in many ways. The way that it was explained to me, because a "teaching church" should teach more than simply youth ministry, I will be expected to entertain many different types of experiences. They hope to help me grow in many different aspects of my ministry, which requires me to have a plethora of options! Woodland is a very socially aware church, close to down town. I'm hoping this will be a good way of at least experiencing a taste of "urban" ministries. Although I wouldn't consider them an urban church, they tend to be concerned with similar issues which at least give me a taste of it!

Final Test

I really thought that my last test ever was going to be my last final of my undergrad. I even remember it... remember thinking I would never have to study for a test ever again - I mean yeah, maybe I'd have to take a sobriety test, but you can't really study for those :) OK - just kidding, I never plan to take a sobriety test. Nonetheless, I thought that my Finance 333 - Investments - was the last test ever. It was over at 4:00pm on May 12, 2005 - I drank Wednesday night to Saturday morning when my family arrived for graduation..... I have a Theology One test tomorrow... so much for that theory! Wish me luck :)

Aunt Laura's Angel

This weekend I went to a wedding in St. Louis of long time family friend. It was really great to see the Ammann crew, including all four girls and all their children! It was also a really nice time to see my family since I've now been in Lexington a month! It doesn't feel like it, although my apartment definitely appears lived in :) Charlie & Kate were adorable, and I'm sure they will do awesome in our upcoming family wedding! The next time I get to see the fam is at Chad's wedding in October!! The wedding was beautiful and a fabulous time, those Ammann's sure know how to throw a party - I guess the should know by now since this IS their third :) Congrats Susan & Chris!

Daddy's Girl

I'm 23 and still a daddy's girl...is that ok? ;)

A Response from the LTS President

This is sort of long - but I thought it was a GREAT response to the hurricane by our President of LTS R. Robert Cueni.

The Psalmist penned the words to describe the Hebrew people's overwhelming despair after being marched into exile. An enemy far more powerful than they could reasonably resist had conquered them. They had been forced out of their homes. They left behind most of their personal belongings. No longer could they look out on the familiar landscapes of home. They did not know when or even if they would ever return home. With each passing day, fewer and fewer found the strength to muster the courage to hope. The psalmist describes it this way: "By the waters of Babylon, we sat and wept."
Barbara Jones, Regional Minister for congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in hurricane ravaged Mississippi and Louisiana quotes the Psalmist in an email today to describe her own sense of being overwhelmed at one of the worst, if not the very worst natural disaster in history of this nation.
"By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept." In quoting those words, Barbara Jones, touches something deep within each us - this growing sense of being overwhelmed, helpless, even made hopeless in the face of circumstances beyond our control.
With many of you, I have struggled all week to find an appropriate way, particularly for LTS to respond. My first instinct, to encourage a group from the seminary to head south and help, was quickly jettisoned by the reality that New Orleans does not need a group of well-intentioned, but untrained, unskilled people trying to help but really getting in the way. While you and I might not be able to do much, there are some things we who feel overwhelmed can do - not the least of which is praying and weeping.
In the midst of the frustration of wanting to do something to help, but not knowing what to do, remember there is the opportunity to pray for and to weep with the suffering. Don't underestimate that as a contribution. There is something greatly to be valued in prayer; something healing about weeping with those who weep. Indeed, "By the waters of Babylon, we sat down and wept."

He goes on to mention the Week of Compassion, a direct relief arm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which is a much more organized and worthy way of giving time, or utilizing them as a resource to help in any way you can. www.weekofcompassion.org And as he said, prayer & weeping are not to be underestimated as a contribution. Therefore I will pray, and weep with them.

This is eerie....

This article was published last year and talked about the damage a direct hit hurricane on New Orleans would ruin the city....
http://205.188.130.53/ngm/0410/feature5/

Isn't this the truth?

Couldn't pass up posting this - I know why gas prices have shot up lately, so I'm not going to complain about having to pay for them knowing what other people are going through - but I seriously just thought I was going to fall out of my chair this is so funny.... :)

Hurricane Katrina

Wow - I am speechless to know this is right here in the US. Worst of all, I really had no idea this storm was even coming, because I had no cable or internet, therefore no television, I don't et the paper etc. I went to a friends house on Sunday night to watch the MTV VMA's and they all told me about it, and finally had the chance to check out some information on the internet etc. Luckily, my best friend and college roommate Emily Compton, who lives in Baton Rouge, had already left and was waiting out the storm at home in the mid-west. Nonetheless, I'm still in awe, and paralized at how to react to all this, all the news, all the pictures, all the death, neglect, reaction of the USA...all of it... Weird to think the storm could also affect weather this far north into KY.... Our prayers are with you all!

Good Mexican Tequila

All the kids celebrate with some traditional Mexican Tequila - thanks to the Trujillo fam!

My Two Families!

The New Zealand and American families are finally togther! It only took a wedding to do it! For those of you who don't know, my New Zealand family met my parents/sister/brother when they all lived in Syracuse, NY in the 70's. Ever since then, each person in my family has visited them in NZ and they have all come to the US/KC, but never together. So for the first time in history, we were all together in California for Rupert & Liza's wedding!! Congrats Rupert & Liza, it was amazing!

San Diego

Let’s hear about out trip to San Diego – mom’s a wreck because she thinks we’re going to be late to the airport and yells at all of us the whole way there – we arrive in plenty of time just to find out that our flight is delayed. The plane we are supposed to be shortly boarding hasn’t even left Dallas due to weather, so our flight is delayed 1:20. We finally get on our way to Dallas when they smell burning in the cabin so we have to make an emergency landing in Tulsa in order to figure that out. We have to de-plane and wait for another plane to come into Tulsa. At which point we find out that the last two flights that were supposed to leave from Tulsa to Dallas were cancelled. Helpful. We wait for this incoming flight to arrive and switch our luggage and flight crews. We’re finally on our way to San Diego through Dallas!! When we arrive in Dallas they ask us to all leave the plane – “But our flight was supposed to be continuing through all the way to San Diego” – Flight Attendant – “This plane is finished for the night, this flight crew is at the risk of working over the 14 hours in one day mark” (which is apparently illegal) – So another flight crew boards and starts boarding all the other passengers on their way to San Diego, which have been waiting in Dallas for two hours now. Which they are also right on the edge of this illegal mark and announce this as everyone is boarding. “Please take your seats and load your carry-on luggage within the next seven minutes (full flight) otherwise we risk the crew going over the 14 hour mark and the flight being cancelled. We don’t want to have to cancel the flight.” OK – so it finally gets loaded, not cancelled and we arrive in San Diego. Welcome to Hertz – you have a reservation, but we don’t have a car for you. Even though you called and informed us your flight was late, since technically your reservation was for yesterday, we gave away your car. So "Trenae" is it? You're going to give us a car - because Kerri reserved one, you're getting on her nerves, it's already been 10 hours since we left KC and we still have an hour drive ahead of us. Needless to say - we got a car and finally made it to the "Comfort Suite(s)".

Thank you Bethany!!

Thank you for being understanding and putting up with my irrationality. For being the friend you have been, for the friend you are, and for the amazing and "SO IMPORTANT" person you are. :) It's helpful to know others are with you in such transition in your life and that you don't have to be such the strong individual all the time - that others can be that for you. It's amazing what can happen when you let God give the directions - and who you will meet knowing that God is in charge. :)

Peace Interns

These are all Disciples Peace Fellowship interns - the internship I held the summer of 2003. Each year there are four or five interns that travel to church camp for the entire summer and promote peace and social justice issues to high school aged youth. It's a fabulous but very hard and trying summer. I was recently at our General Assembly national gathering of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) where as many of us could held a reunion. We always try to get together, but it seems like everyone is so busy with all their other NEW endeavors that we are never able to! Now - let's all check out and make fun of Laura and her ultimate sorority girl pose...can you really blame me? 4 years of it - it tends to rub off!!

Vacation Bible School

Do I look like a Lion? This year's theme for VBS was Serengheti Trek - "Where kids are WILD about God!" - I was in charge of the "Mane Event" so I figured I needed to get into character. Yes that is my own hair - and yes it went back to normal!

TomFooleries

Tomfooleries with Emily, her brother Michael and some of their friends from Truman State...what a night!! I told Michael I would pay his bar tab if he licked the bowl clean from our Spinach/Artichoke Dip. Guess I should never make that sort of statement to a poor college student eh?

My brother Chad

SO - This is my brother... he's getting married October 22 - the bachelor party is this weekend though... and I mean ALL weekend - it starts today, Wednesday, and goes until Sunday... it's costing them over $3000 to throw this thing.... but this was him last night....trying on the petti coat to his fiance's wedding dress. She's obviously been hiding her dress and all pictures of it and when he saw the petti coat - he thought that IT was the dress! How are we even related?

Top 100 List

So I have this list of 100 things I would like to do before I die. Some are fairly simple, or don't require lots of money, like falling in love or graduating from high school, while others are a little more dramatic, like get married, beoome a mother, see the Taj Mahal or see the Great Wall of China. I've been working on this list since about 1995. Since graduating from Mizzou (which was also on my list) in May 2004, I've been living at home and working a pretty monotonous job which I haven't been very happy about and pretty much though my life at home was just this temporary time of loser-ville in which I was living with my parents and in this dead end job. Well - now that I look at my list of 100 things - this past year I have accomplished or at least contriubted to 10 of those things on that list!! So maybe this year wasn't such a waste of living at home and not moving onto grad school right away. :) I know, I know - it wasn't a waste - but there were definitely times this past year, you could have fooled me!!

Grinnell, Iowa

This weekend I went to Grinnell, IA to see my best friend Jayn - where she is now very stable and has a stable job and is settled and such an adult! It's crazy that all my friends are graduating and becoming adults....do we have to grow up!?! She has a great little apartment up there - and it was nice to just relax, catch up and have a good weekend with a lifelong friend that will always be there for me - regardless of how far apart we ever are. Thanks for the fun and all the memories - espepcially the ones we can share at Thanksgiving time etc. :)

Granfalloon

The girls and I went to Granfalloon last night - the new one that just opened up near Zona Rosa. Laura is single and fancy free now - so let's take advantage of that! We had a great time, and it was good to hang out with the girls from high school for a while. Michael ended up coming, just as my brother and Christie did, and as well, Jason Breit. I ran into lots of people from Mizzou, including one friend of mine who actually lives in St. Louis - so that was random. Good to hang out with everyone before I head off to KY!!

Trenton CYF Camp

Grant puts sticks in my car. This is Grant - One of the campers from my CYF camp in Northwest Missouri. He likes to throw sticks at me, so he thought it appropriate to fill my car with sticks. That's ok though - since I'm a counselor, I can go into the boys cabins - so I took all the sticks from my car and put them in his bed, only after I stole his bedding and stored it in my now locked car. CYF camp in Trenton is my favorite, the kids are great and I love the counseling staff as well. I'm sad that I might not be able to come back next year. :( Not to mention that there is a celebrity in our midst when we are there. Nathan Brooks - the greatest up and coming singer ever... www.brooksrock.com. (There's your plug Nathan!)

Charlie's Sick

Charlie came over for a day because he was sick and Kerri still had to work - so mom and I babysatt sick Charlie. Were we in for a treat!! Charlie thought it would be quite fun to throw up all over my bed - so as you can see in the picture, there are no sheets on my bed - but he's smiling away, just minutes after the event. I've been trying to pack my room and all of my stuff for my move to Lexington - and Charlie made it so much easier by being sick and being there :) It was good though - I'm afraid I won't get much more time with my family before I leave, so I'm not complaining on anytime that I've been spending with the fam! Charlie also helped me pack for the next camp I'm off to in Trenton, MO - then I'm done with camp - I'm only slightly excited.... :)

Father's Day

Chad isn't even a father and the only pictures we have of Father's Day is of my brother because he is a tool. We went over to my aunt Mable and Uncle Lyle's house as usual on Father's Day and my grandfather was there too. So Chad took it upon himself to use Grandpa's scooter in order to go get himself a new beer. Instead of walking 15 steps to the cooler, he thought it much more efficient to get on the scooter - use grandpa's "reaching stick" to get in the cooler and then back the scooter up to his chair again. I dread the day he actually does becom a father and teaches his children these things. I'm sure he's dreading payback as well for everything he put his father through! :)

New York City!!

Amber Cantrell and I headed off to NYC June 15 - June 19 to celebrate Shively's 21st birthday!!! Lindsay Shively (my Kappa pledge daughter) is in NYC this summer with an internship with Fox News (we'll forgive her for that later). She is insanely lucky and gets to live in the NYU law dorms!! Pam also lives there with her boyfriend, so I was extremely lucky to also get to see her. I miss my Ham!! Amber and I definitely burnt the candle at every end while we were in NYC! We managed to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Little Italy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, Central Park, The Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Chinatown, SoHo, NoHo, Greenwich Village, Serendipity, The United Nations Building a street fair, and I'm sure I forgot to mention the rest!! That's where we are in the picture - feeding each other our goodies from the street fair - a raspberry lemonade and a mozareppa!! (It's mozarella cheese cooked in between two pieces of corn bread). Fattening and insanely wonderful I might add! We looked all over for Carrie Bradshaw - but surprise surprise we didn't find her... I guess that just means we'll have to go back!!

Tall Oaks CYF Camp 2005

CYF Camp at Tall Oaks was a blast for me this year. We had three Liberty kids there which was really amazing especially considering what has been happening at our church lately. Camille Yameen was there for her first time and had a blast. Joe Massiovecchio was a senior this year, and also on the CYF Cabinet, a position I also held when I was in HS. Michael Williams came back after a few years and it was great to get to know him in my small group. It's always very refreshing to be at camp, but especially at CYF camp. Where at the Junior High camps, there is very little opportunity for you to have your own experience with God, and really experience camp for yourself, at CYF (HS) camp allows all members of the camp to participate on a fairly equal level. I feel like I can talk to these kids on more of a peer level than some adult sponsors and that they really appreciated that. At least I hope so!! One of our speakers was Bruce Frogge which was a real delight since he's been a part of my faith journey and he was able to catch up on what I've been up to etc. Bonnie Carenan is a DPF Intern this summer, and was on the KC CYF Cabinet with me in HS, so it was exciting to share with her my experiences, and also re-connect with her. Nathan Brooks came to visit and play with the "house band" so at one time we had three DPF Peace Interns in the group, and we also had all three Brooks siblings there... scary!! Thank you everyone for such an amazing week!!

Good Riddins!!

Good riddins Hanger! Today is was my last day of work - and I couldn't be more thrilled!! My boss has always hated me because I'm not this submissive woman that is going to take his crap or lies... So knowing how much he loves me, since Fridays are casual day - I took it upon myself to wear my shirt that says in very large letters right on the front "EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH" Obviously not the truth since Hanger doesn't have that title, but I'm sure he was pissed off and wanted to say something which was nice. :) Last night Sasha and Doris arranged for lots lof people to come out and say goodbye to me since I will officially be leaving for good!! Thanks a ton for the cards everyone and for coming out with us, Derrik (my sober driver, just incase), Heather, Amber, Sasha, Doris, Cindy, Lori, Debbie, Marty, & Angela. It was a blast and even though I won't even remember the job because I miss it that little, but I will miss the people!!

Charlie's Eating my Birthday Cake!

Charlie's eating my birthday cake!!

Memorial Day 2005

Memorial Day was at my lake house with my family - minus Chad & Christie. Christie's dad passed away unexpectedly last week, so after we all traveled up there for the funeral, we all came back to the lake for the weekend. Hopefully Chad & Christie can be there for the next time that we are all there together. Nonetheless, we still had fun and it was very relaxing. We all took turns cooking dinner and I will have to say that Derrik and I made some of the best fajitas I've ever tasted. I think he did a little more of the work - but you can't discriminate because I'm slow at cutting vegetables. We also celebrated my birthday down there with Angel Food cake (my favorite) - what can I say... I'm just so important that the whole country takes a three day weekend for my birthday! Did we really have to come back to the reality of our jobs?

Salsa Night!

What is Pam doing? Pam came into town tonight and we went to La Bodega for some tapas and sangria! Then after talking to the waiter - Pam discovered a very authentic night club to go salsa dancing! We had a blast - the only two white girls in there - but that made us a novelty! As you can see from the picture, Pam is wearing a white tank-top underneath a black sweater that is pretty see through. Well when you wear a sweater and go salsa dancing, Pam starts to sweat and then all the fuzzies off of Pam's sweater cling to her skin. So we go to the bathroom and she thinks, "hey I'll take off my sweater, I'm hot" - which turns into - Hey, Pam looks like a 45 yearold hairy man because there is black stuff EVERYWHERE!! Needless to say, she had to leave the sweater on even though she was really hot. OK - so it was probably much funnier if you were there in the bathroom with us... sorry.....

Pam's Graduation

Ham graduated!! I went down to Columbia to celebrate with Pam and her family. My parents also drove up from the lake to see Ham graduate! Now she's off to a middle eastern country to leave me alone in the good 'ol Kentucky! I can't believe it's been three years since she scared me into joining AIESEC and becoming best friends... Does this mean we have to be responsible and such now that we are both done with school?

Derrik is Home!! So is Jon!!

Derrik finally came home May 1st!! Yeah!! I don't think I could have been more excited to see anyone in my entire life!! It's amazing how much I don't know how to actually be in a relationship that is normal as this seems. I mean, we spent so much of our relationship apart, started out being long distance, and now that he's home, it's like I don't know how to be in a normal relationship. :)

Jon's Girls

Jon came home to KC from KS to visit for the weekend so it was like old times across the street at the Gallagher household. We missed you Emily - but we understand that finals come first!! All the boys were there, and all the girls except Emily - the old gang is back again!

Couples Massage

So I feel really bad that I wasn't here all day on my dad's birthday - but I went to our lake house and used it - shouldn't he be happy about that? On Thursday May 5th I drove with Derrik down to our lake house at the Lake of the Ozarks. Even though we had to get up sort of early, we went and got a couples massage at the Lodge of the Four Season's SpaShiki. It was AMAZING!! It's funny that they call it a couple's massage, because I didn't even realize that he was in there to tell you the truth, I was so relaxed by the massage I completely forgot there was another person in there! But it was amazingly relaxing and so nice to have him all to myself after not having him at all for so long. Then we drove home on May 6 just in time to have a birthday dinner with my dad - he's 57 :) Beautiful picture of him with a sombrero on... Then it's off to Jon's to see the gang and rekindle everything!

Disciples Bible Study One

Disciples Bible Study was a 36 week long Bible Study that I took through my church, Liberty Christian Church. I really enjoyed the class although it became really tough as the year progressed and more drama in my church surrounded our study. Gossip became most of the discussion rather than the Bible Study - but I had to stick with it. I was allowed to teach part of it, which was really nice because it helped me get some experience etc. It just so happens though, our last Bible Study and dinner was on May 1st - the same exact day that Derrik is getting home!! I saw him briefly before the dinner and then afterwards, so I survived. I'm just so happy he's home!

Lexington Theological Seminary

Lexington Theological Seminary here I come!! So it's been almost a month since I've written on here - how horrible! Sorry!! Although the pictures say this was two years ago, April 13 I flew to visit LTS in KY. Kelley (and everyone else, Courtney, Andrea, Jeff, Kevin and all) thank you so much for showing me a great time! What a hard decision to decide where I would be going to Seminary...but I'm infinitely happy now that I've actually made the decision!! So everyone get ready to send your care packages to KY and come visit me during the derby :)

Church Politics

Sometimes I really wonder what I'm getting myself into going into seminary. Recently a bunch of parents from my church youth group kids threw a major hissy fit about one of the new youth group sponsors. It is fairly obvious that he has several scars on both of his wrists. Whatever people choose to see this as is their own choice, but after spending one night with the youth group - people are now saying that he should no longer be able to spend time with the youth. HELLO!!! Do you people not think that he ALREADY OBVIOUSLY suffers enough from his OWN persecution? Depression is like homosexuality people....it doesn't rub off - you can't catch it - it's not something you can just jump in and out of - people live with it - that's who they are - and how you choose to face them and "deal with them" affects them just as much as it affects you and your kids - probably MORE than you could ever imagine. Just because you can hide all of your deep dark secrets, and he physically can't, doesn't mean you don't have them. Everyone has them, and that's between you and GOD - last time I checked, GOD is the only one that gets to judge us. Thanks for applying for the job, but, "You're fired!"