So I have discovered the one downfall to your dad being a preacher- the past haunts you. Today at church my dad told a story about me from when I was like 5 or 6. How dare he! It was a funny story and it for sure got everyone laughing, but at my expense! When dad started talking he didn't tell everyone one which daughter it was so when people turned and looked at me all I said was "I don't know what he's talking about!" I'm a liar! Is it a bigger sin to lie in the church building? Beats me!
Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I did! We ate at the Mosely's house and there were about 20 people there at one point in time! It was fun! LOTS of food and even more Pie. I think we probably had enough pie for everyone to have their own-pie that is! You know people always talk about the food at Thanksgiving being the best thing, and although I must agree, generally the food is better than at other times of the year, the best thing about Thanksgiving is definintly the company. Whether it's just your family, or if it's your family and 16 other people, the laughs and stories and fun is way better than the food! Just for kicks though- what is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Sweet Potato whatever it was on your blog, or turkey or in my case Chocolate Ice Cream Pie, which I made by myself this Thanksgiving and it was outstanding if I do say so myself! Let me know your favorite food! If I get too many responses- which always happened on my comments box- I'll clean them out so everyone gets a chance!
Cousin got a new car!
The drive back today was nice. I listened to a lot of country music. BY THE WAY!!! I got the new Brad Paisley CD, 'Mud on the Tires', for $10 bucks at Wally World. I have re-ignited my flame for Brad. I know it's very teeny bopperish to be in love with a music/tv star but hey- 'll take that chance. I know he's married and all that junk but he is still that coolest country music star out there, not to mention he has amazing character. So if you have been wrestling with what to get me for my birthday- which is in 24 days- a meeting with Brad would make you my new best friend!
No but really! Everyone have a great week. I look forward to hearing about your Thanksgivings. Talk to you soon! Be Blessed!!!
11.28.2004
11.21.2004
Stinkin' Cold
Well it's that time of year when everyone around you is getting sick. You always think that if you get a shot or if you take proper precautions that you won't get it, but alas, the inevitable will happen and you will get sick. If anyone goes through this winter and doesn't get sick let me know I will send you a "congratulations you didn't get sick" card (that I will make myself b/c Hallmark doesn't specialize in those). I am already a victim of this Winter Bug I'll call it (a cold).
Enough about that. Today at church Joe Almanza spoke. He is the new Community Outreach minister at Highland. It was amazing to hear his story! I can't believe that I am going to church with a former member of the San Antonio Almanza Mafia-Big time drug dealers! It's nuts! It was really good though. We also went to Russell Street today. This was the first time I have been able to go in the last month because I have been out of town every weekend. So it was nice to see everyone. Ryan, Ms. Maggie ask how you were doing. I told her you were fine I guess but that I hadn't talked to you in a while so I don't have much new information! Hint!!! Hint!!
Everyone on Russell is doing good it seems. There is a new family that moved into Rudy's house. There are like 800 of them so I don't think we have met them all yet.
Um other news...Valerie is here- my sister, for those that don't know who that is. She is funny! She flew up here. It was her first time on a plane so needless to say there have been some funny stories. My favorite goes something like this. "Well, we got on the plane and we started going up and I was thinking, 'Ok, that's high enough!'" She's cool, everyone should meet her.
Other News: It's been raining in Abilene for like 300 years now! Not that I am complaining but it would be nice not to drive home in the rain on Tuesday. I only have one class this week and it's on Tuesday morning, I think I am going to skip it though and go home early so I can have more time to spend with my nephew.
What else...Seems like there was something I was gonna say. OH! Wednesday night we had officer elections at club. You are reading the blog of the 2005 Alpha kai Omega (which will be abbreviated AKO so the club has decided) Secretary. I am so excited! It'll be WAY fun. My roommate Deanna is the new Historian so I am excited about that too.
I suppose that's all for now! Y'all have a great Thanksgiving and be safe! Call the people you haven't talked to in a while and update them on how things are going in Tennessee- or where ever you are! Be Blessed!!!
Enough about that. Today at church Joe Almanza spoke. He is the new Community Outreach minister at Highland. It was amazing to hear his story! I can't believe that I am going to church with a former member of the San Antonio Almanza Mafia-Big time drug dealers! It's nuts! It was really good though. We also went to Russell Street today. This was the first time I have been able to go in the last month because I have been out of town every weekend. So it was nice to see everyone. Ryan, Ms. Maggie ask how you were doing. I told her you were fine I guess but that I hadn't talked to you in a while so I don't have much new information! Hint!!! Hint!!
Everyone on Russell is doing good it seems. There is a new family that moved into Rudy's house. There are like 800 of them so I don't think we have met them all yet.
Um other news...Valerie is here- my sister, for those that don't know who that is. She is funny! She flew up here. It was her first time on a plane so needless to say there have been some funny stories. My favorite goes something like this. "Well, we got on the plane and we started going up and I was thinking, 'Ok, that's high enough!'" She's cool, everyone should meet her.
Other News: It's been raining in Abilene for like 300 years now! Not that I am complaining but it would be nice not to drive home in the rain on Tuesday. I only have one class this week and it's on Tuesday morning, I think I am going to skip it though and go home early so I can have more time to spend with my nephew.
What else...Seems like there was something I was gonna say. OH! Wednesday night we had officer elections at club. You are reading the blog of the 2005 Alpha kai Omega (which will be abbreviated AKO so the club has decided) Secretary. I am so excited! It'll be WAY fun. My roommate Deanna is the new Historian so I am excited about that too.
I suppose that's all for now! Y'all have a great Thanksgiving and be safe! Call the people you haven't talked to in a while and update them on how things are going in Tennessee- or where ever you are! Be Blessed!!!
11.14.2004
Camp Shakinah: Unshakable Faith
Thank you to all who have participated in the "Name That Camp" contest! What happened was those that submitted entries, Cousin and Ryan, will be receiving in the mail a letter of appreciation accompanied by $25,000 in the next week!!! YEAH RIGHT! If I had that kind of money I would give it to you BUT I don't so I guess you will have to settle for a coke next time I see you both! The title of camp for those that skip the titles of my blog is "Camp Shekinah: Unshakable Faith" I am really pretty much in love with this title so if you hate it-keep it to yourself and if you love it let me know! Cousin email me some history on Shekinah if you have any. And Ryan, I love the idea of unshakable faith! Thanks again guys! I am really excited about this camp-now if I only had a youth group to do it for!
Other News: I got back this afternoon at about 4:30 from the First Colony Fall Retreat. It was a great refreshing weekend. The three of us interns, me Joel and Sarah, drove down there together along with Landon and Justin (Sarah's BF) Friday night. The five of us loaded the Blue Dragon, which is cool kid lingo for the periwinkle colored mini-van, and took off for Sugar Land. We got to SL Friday night in time to hit up the last two hours of The Backdoor. When we got there we were kind of disappointed that there were only like 8 kids there, but we did have fun with those eight. Landon stayed at his house Friday night and the rest of us bunked at the Davis' and that was fun. We all decided that it was like going home. We had fun with them. Matt got up and made us breakfast Saturday morning and we went up to the church at about 7:50 a.m. We left at about 8:45 for the camp grounds. We took the Mini-van so we could leave from the camp grounds today and JCo rode with us. The four of us in the back, JCo, Landon, Joel and Me had a good talk about our break-ups. The three of us basically informed Jen of what happened. It was fun even though I was hearing everyone's story for the 2nd or 3rd time and telling mine for the billionth time. As far as the rest of the weekend, it was so good to see all the kids. The more time I spend with them the more I fall in love with them. I am so excited about going into ministry. The chance to impact the lives of kids in the name of Christ is the coolest opportunity I think God has ever presented me with. We all worked with the Jr. High kids this weekend and I can't tell you how much fun Jr. High kids are. Joel and I were group leaders together and that was a blast. It was the first time that we got to work together in a group setting as far as small group leadership goes. It was fun! Free time was great too, there was canoeing and archering. That was a blast. The first time I had ever shot a Bow & Arrow. I decided that is I was gonna do an Olympic sport I would do that b/c it's just so much fun.
The trip back today was enjoyable. Joel, Justin, Sarah and I played the question game for about 2 hours on the way back and that was a lot of fun. Other than that we kinda took turns sleeping and trying not to get knocked off the road by 18-wheelers, which did almost happen.
And here we are. I am at work, which is where I always do my blogging. I am listening to my new CD's! I love them! I am also trying to recover from the weekend. My voice took a beating this weekend and being out in the cold most of the time doesn't help you in anyway to be healthy so it's the good guys vs. the bad guys in my body right now and the fear of enemy defeat is slowly becoming reality.
Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and I look forward to the comments that continually flood my blog. Have a great week and Be Blessed!!!
Other News: I got back this afternoon at about 4:30 from the First Colony Fall Retreat. It was a great refreshing weekend. The three of us interns, me Joel and Sarah, drove down there together along with Landon and Justin (Sarah's BF) Friday night. The five of us loaded the Blue Dragon, which is cool kid lingo for the periwinkle colored mini-van, and took off for Sugar Land. We got to SL Friday night in time to hit up the last two hours of The Backdoor. When we got there we were kind of disappointed that there were only like 8 kids there, but we did have fun with those eight. Landon stayed at his house Friday night and the rest of us bunked at the Davis' and that was fun. We all decided that it was like going home. We had fun with them. Matt got up and made us breakfast Saturday morning and we went up to the church at about 7:50 a.m. We left at about 8:45 for the camp grounds. We took the Mini-van so we could leave from the camp grounds today and JCo rode with us. The four of us in the back, JCo, Landon, Joel and Me had a good talk about our break-ups. The three of us basically informed Jen of what happened. It was fun even though I was hearing everyone's story for the 2nd or 3rd time and telling mine for the billionth time. As far as the rest of the weekend, it was so good to see all the kids. The more time I spend with them the more I fall in love with them. I am so excited about going into ministry. The chance to impact the lives of kids in the name of Christ is the coolest opportunity I think God has ever presented me with. We all worked with the Jr. High kids this weekend and I can't tell you how much fun Jr. High kids are. Joel and I were group leaders together and that was a blast. It was the first time that we got to work together in a group setting as far as small group leadership goes. It was fun! Free time was great too, there was canoeing and archering. That was a blast. The first time I had ever shot a Bow & Arrow. I decided that is I was gonna do an Olympic sport I would do that b/c it's just so much fun.
The trip back today was enjoyable. Joel, Justin, Sarah and I played the question game for about 2 hours on the way back and that was a lot of fun. Other than that we kinda took turns sleeping and trying not to get knocked off the road by 18-wheelers, which did almost happen.
And here we are. I am at work, which is where I always do my blogging. I am listening to my new CD's! I love them! I am also trying to recover from the weekend. My voice took a beating this weekend and being out in the cold most of the time doesn't help you in anyway to be healthy so it's the good guys vs. the bad guys in my body right now and the fear of enemy defeat is slowly becoming reality.
Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and I look forward to the comments that continually flood my blog. Have a great week and Be Blessed!!!
11.11.2004
It's a contest!!!
Ok here's the deal! I need a name for my camp that I have to plan. If you can come up with something that I like and can use, you win! I don't know what but I'll come up with something. Here's the content: Camp______ will be about being bold in your faith. We will look at different old testament characters who were bold in their faith i.e. Daniel, Shad, Me and Abend; Elisha etc. There will be a different "bible time hero" for each of the four days of came. The camp if for ages 5th through 8th grade so keep it appropriate-Cousin. What I have been able to com up with assistance from locals is "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "Courage: Do you have what it takes?" I like those but I feel that there is something better out there and you might be just the person to help me find it!
Other News: Today we had the Richland Hills COC Youth Staff visit our Foundations class. There are a lot of amazing things going on in that church and God is working in so many amazing ways. Even more then them coming, Melanie Blanks, a good ol' camp buddy and family friend, was with them and that was awesome. I got to chat with her and went to dinner with her and the other staff members tonight. It was just a lot of fun to see her again.
School is going really good right now. Not a whole lot of action except ANOTHER Greek test next week and this camp project that I am trying not to procrastinate on. So school is good. I am getting to sing in chapel tomorrow and I am pumped about that-makin' you proud Ryan! I have become accustom to Dr. Mattis' calls at 10:30 p.m. Thursday nights for me to sing on Friday but this time he called at like 6:00. I am very impressed- you know what that means right? I'm not just the bail out alto anymore! "Movin' on up..." Ahh Yeah!!! ANYWAY!!
Weekend plans: This weekend is the First Colony Fall Retreat and Joel, Sarah and I will all be making our way to Sugar Land tomorrow about 5:00ish. We have a couple of tag-a-longs, Landon and Justin. So there will be 5 of us in the minivan! I am so excited! I think it is gonna be a great weekend and it will really be great to get to see all the kids again and catch up with Joel and Sarah.
Um....I am running for Secretary for club. I am really excited about it. I got nominated for Chaplin too and I would enjoy that but I really really want to do secretary. So if you're in club and reading this, VOTE FOR ME!!! If you don't want to vote for me then vote for my roommate Deanna, she wants it too!!!
That about wraps it up for now. I need to read!!! OH WAIT!!! I got an 2 Acappella CD's and an AVB CD this week and I have been listening to them non-stop. If you don't know who they are then you are missin' out and if you do-praise the Lord!!!
Ok but for real I need to go read!! Have a great weekend and Be Blessed!!!
Other News: Today we had the Richland Hills COC Youth Staff visit our Foundations class. There are a lot of amazing things going on in that church and God is working in so many amazing ways. Even more then them coming, Melanie Blanks, a good ol' camp buddy and family friend, was with them and that was awesome. I got to chat with her and went to dinner with her and the other staff members tonight. It was just a lot of fun to see her again.
School is going really good right now. Not a whole lot of action except ANOTHER Greek test next week and this camp project that I am trying not to procrastinate on. So school is good. I am getting to sing in chapel tomorrow and I am pumped about that-makin' you proud Ryan! I have become accustom to Dr. Mattis' calls at 10:30 p.m. Thursday nights for me to sing on Friday but this time he called at like 6:00. I am very impressed- you know what that means right? I'm not just the bail out alto anymore! "Movin' on up..." Ahh Yeah!!! ANYWAY!!
Weekend plans: This weekend is the First Colony Fall Retreat and Joel, Sarah and I will all be making our way to Sugar Land tomorrow about 5:00ish. We have a couple of tag-a-longs, Landon and Justin. So there will be 5 of us in the minivan! I am so excited! I think it is gonna be a great weekend and it will really be great to get to see all the kids again and catch up with Joel and Sarah.
Um....I am running for Secretary for club. I am really excited about it. I got nominated for Chaplin too and I would enjoy that but I really really want to do secretary. So if you're in club and reading this, VOTE FOR ME!!! If you don't want to vote for me then vote for my roommate Deanna, she wants it too!!!
That about wraps it up for now. I need to read!!! OH WAIT!!! I got an 2 Acappella CD's and an AVB CD this week and I have been listening to them non-stop. If you don't know who they are then you are missin' out and if you do-praise the Lord!!!
Ok but for real I need to go read!! Have a great weekend and Be Blessed!!!
11.07.2004
What happens at the Ladies Retreat, STAYS at the Ladies Retreat!!
This weekend I had the privilege of leading a bunch of wonderful ladies in singing for the Annual Alvin Ladies Retreat. Ms. Nell Burns corrected our terminology this morning in her talk and told us we should call it the Ladies Recharge because that's what we do out there. No matter what you call it though the Lord is glorified. The theme was Amazing Love and we had 4 amazing speakers that shared their hearts with us and showed us what it is to be filled with God's amazing love. Amidst all the worship and fellowship, we did have free time and free time was full of fun and games. From all kinds of food and eating utensils in our bed to cheese on our toothbrushes, to crazy games of Nertz and 1:30 a.m. games of Phase 10, from 4 hours of karaoke to U2 the fun never ended. I am so glad that God has blessed me with incredible role models who know how to laugh. For those of you that are wondering what U2 is, well maybe one day you will know, but today is not that day. The only thing you need to know is that what happens at the Ladies Retreat, STAYS at the ladies retreat! And for all of you who are members of U2, hold your heads high and walk with confidence! You have accomplished the not-so-impossible!!!
For real though, here are some amazing things I got from this recharge:
Rosalind -"We can never believe that we have God figured out, that's when we get into trouble"
- "Sometimes we just have to believe what the Bible says"
Cherryl - "Look at those who are younger than you, watch how they love."
- "I am so much happier with less, because I really have more."
Ms. Nell - "Turn it over to the Lord."
- "if you don't know where you're going, get there before it's dark!"
Here's a question to ponder on, respond with your thoughts if you would like. I am interested in what you think. Are we the body of Christ based on what we do in our worship or are we the body of Christ because of what Jesus did on the cross? Which do our churches suggest?
I hope everyone had an amazing weekend!! Be Blessed!!!
For real though, here are some amazing things I got from this recharge:
Rosalind -"We can never believe that we have God figured out, that's when we get into trouble"
- "Sometimes we just have to believe what the Bible says"
Cherryl - "Look at those who are younger than you, watch how they love."
- "I am so much happier with less, because I really have more."
Ms. Nell - "Turn it over to the Lord."
- "if you don't know where you're going, get there before it's dark!"
Here's a question to ponder on, respond with your thoughts if you would like. I am interested in what you think. Are we the body of Christ based on what we do in our worship or are we the body of Christ because of what Jesus did on the cross? Which do our churches suggest?
I hope everyone had an amazing weekend!! Be Blessed!!!
11.04.2004
I WIN!! I WIN!!
Ok so for those of you that don't know- I love President Bush and because he won, I won!!! Me and George are like this (picture with me if you will, my fingers crossed and reread the last sentence!) So I am super pumped that he won the election. I am also impressed at the good sportsmanship the Sen. Kerry showed when he realized the he lost. Good election day to all those big name politicians who read my blog.
In other news: My reflections group service-learning project is finished but we have decided to continue our work through the end of the semester.
I finished my race relations paper for African Americans in the Restoration Movement class. It was a lot of fun doing this paper. I had to go to the library and read three articles on microfilm. It was so cool!!! Everyone needs to experience the microfilm machine at least once in their life. I had never used it before so the lady showed me what to do then left me there with the guy sitting next to me minding his own business. The magazine started in January and I needed to get to August and I moved the knob to FF and it started rolling forward and then before I knew it, it was scrolling faster then I wanted it too and making this freaky high pitched noise and then I was freakin' out and the guy next to me was laughing at me and then he made it stop going so fast and I could breath again. If you didn't the full effect of that experience, go back and read this paragraph again but faster! It was so crazy and lots of fun. I may go back and pretend I have another project to do just so I can use that machine again.
As far as everything else goes, I am heading to Alvin tomorrow to lead worship for the Alvin Ladies Retreat. I am really excited about it.
I heard this song on my way home last weekend and there was a phrase in it that just really made a lot of sense to me. It said "For every moment that I live and breath, is a moment made for worshipping." How cool to think of life like that. I can't help but praise God when I think that every moment of my life was given to me by Him. Wow!
I hope everyone has a good safe weekend! Be Blessed!!!
In other news: My reflections group service-learning project is finished but we have decided to continue our work through the end of the semester.
I finished my race relations paper for African Americans in the Restoration Movement class. It was a lot of fun doing this paper. I had to go to the library and read three articles on microfilm. It was so cool!!! Everyone needs to experience the microfilm machine at least once in their life. I had never used it before so the lady showed me what to do then left me there with the guy sitting next to me minding his own business. The magazine started in January and I needed to get to August and I moved the knob to FF and it started rolling forward and then before I knew it, it was scrolling faster then I wanted it too and making this freaky high pitched noise and then I was freakin' out and the guy next to me was laughing at me and then he made it stop going so fast and I could breath again. If you didn't the full effect of that experience, go back and read this paragraph again but faster! It was so crazy and lots of fun. I may go back and pretend I have another project to do just so I can use that machine again.
As far as everything else goes, I am heading to Alvin tomorrow to lead worship for the Alvin Ladies Retreat. I am really excited about it.
I heard this song on my way home last weekend and there was a phrase in it that just really made a lot of sense to me. It said "For every moment that I live and breath, is a moment made for worshipping." How cool to think of life like that. I can't help but praise God when I think that every moment of my life was given to me by Him. Wow!
I hope everyone has a good safe weekend! Be Blessed!!!
11.02.2004
Mandy for President
Vote for me! What if I ran for president? I wouldn't but what if I did? Could I count on your vote? See I would take the Jesus approach to leading and forgive our debts!! WOO HOO!! Then I wouldn't owe Old Navy a penny!!!! No, but really! I am waiting in anxious anticipation to see the results of the election.
Other things in life: Confusement, still is the state I reside in. We have 837 electoral votes for Bush here! School, has slowed down a lot here. After 3 papers and 4 test the last two weeks it's time to breath. It's nice to just go to class this week. Um...I'm starting to save money for Stream in the Desert next year. I am really excited. I think two of my roommates and another friend are going to come this year. It'll be fun!
Well, that's about it for now! Go Bush!!! Be Blessed!!!
Other things in life: Confusement, still is the state I reside in. We have 837 electoral votes for Bush here! School, has slowed down a lot here. After 3 papers and 4 test the last two weeks it's time to breath. It's nice to just go to class this week. Um...I'm starting to save money for Stream in the Desert next year. I am really excited. I think two of my roommates and another friend are going to come this year. It'll be fun!
Well, that's about it for now! Go Bush!!! Be Blessed!!!
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