Confessions of a Rainy Tuesday Night

It's cold. It's wet. It's dark.

After a bubble bath, I decided that flannel pajamas, wool socks and a bowl of firing hot tomato soup was just what I needed. I got the soup warming, and went to check my email. A few minutes later, I was worried I would burn it. Tomato soup is unpredictably easy to burn. I whisked it off the stove and poured it into a bowl. I let it cool off and spooned the soup into my waiting mouth. BLAH! Something definitely went wrong in the making of that soup. After a few tries, I concluded that it was a bad can of soup. I poured the rotten tomato soup down the drain, rinsed the sink and started over. I was nervous about this next try, but I really had a hankering for hot tomato soup!! After a little research on what to add for better flavor, I decided on onion, salt, pepper and basil. I stirred, sipped and stirred some more. Then, I poured my second bowl of tomato soup. I let it cool off and spooned the soup into my impatient mouth. BLAH! I once again poured the even more rotten tomato soup down the drain and rinsed the sink. I dug through the trash examined the cans. Stupid healthy choice crap. This goes to show that the real stuff is always better.
I dirtied up 2 bowls, 3 spoons, 2 pots and a stove stop, all to end up on the couch eating popcorn and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.

When is spring coming?

Lately I've...

* Replaced my air filter in my house for the first time. I know, I know.

* Fixed a 50 year old antique bed, painted it and replaced some hardware, pictures to come, get excited.

* Was told by an 8 year old that if we needed to speak with him, we needed to talk to his lawyer.

* Started writing a children's novel... laugh if you want. I could be famous one day.

* Bought my favorite juice: Blueberry Pomegranate.

* Presented at a training over Guided Reading.

* Eaten more chocolate than I'm willing to admit. I may be single, but I have 31 valentines who knew the way to my heart... and straight As.

* Added boiled eggs, parsley and celery to my chicken salad. And, it's fantastic.

* Watched Walle and "the cricket" with Mia and Mason.

* And, if I just had an itty bitty allen wrench, I could fix the handle on my door. Well, you can't have everything in life.


Sing Song This WEEKEND. Bueno, Michelle, Lytle and KoJoKai, here I come!

February... what?

I can't believe I'm already turning the page on my calendar.
January brought many things...
- The "hard freeze" we barely survived. (Houston, overreact about weather much?)
- Haiti.
- Higher Bills :(

Those things aren't very happy. But January also brought Michelle's Baby Ben, who I simply cannot wait to meet and squeeze. :)

And let's not forget what we get to look forward too: March. (I overlook February generally... it's shorter and by now you are ready for spring)

March is a great month... here's why:

- March Madness (If you love me, you will buy me a ticket to go be a real cameron crazie at a home DUKE game. :) Pretty Please...I'll paint myself blue and jump up and down)
- Spring Break- Break out the sunscreen and put away the coats
- St. Patrick's Day- my favorite. Who doesn't love the luck of the Irish? And Green is a great color!
- Planet Earth: Life on the Discovery Channel... get excited, folks, it's gunna be good.
- Not to mention, it's the start of Jeep Weather here in the south.

So there you have it. I'm leaving bills and the cold in my rear view mirror and looking ahead for greener pastures. (Literally.)

I have some friends in Haiti right now dealing with the real stuff. Say a prayer for them. If you want to donate or follow their efforts, tune in here: www.missionlazarus.tumblr.com or missionlazarushaiti.tumblr.com

Lookin like a foo whicha pants on da ground...

My remote is missing. Either a serial killer is messing with my mind, or Hurley has swallowed it whole.

"I'm Feelin a Little Naked Up Here"

This is the phrase my preacher uses when he's feeling "alone" on a topic. He'll say, "I'm feelin a little naked up here, can I see some hands? An Amen?" Usually everyone giggles and then shows the appropriate participation.

I say that to say, I'm feelin a little naked, here! Sometimes in this big city it is hard to find Christian support in friends. I am learning more and more that the people I associate with do not believe in God. Some will try to convince me of their beliefs, and some will just live the way they are and not drag me in it. These are the people that have really been on my heart lately. I don't know if it's our society today that creates young adults to feel self-sufficient and bullet proof or not, but we do. We THINK we do. We want to wear what we want, say what we want, eat what we want-- and have no consequences for it. Some of us pride ourselves in planning. Planning gives us a false sense of control in regard to what's out there. I am exhibit A.

I am a mere couple of weeks into January and already I feel that this year presents heavy challenges. Every one of my bills has gone up this year, and there's a new one that I didn't even know about! Talk about bubbles bursting. I'm feelin a little naked, here! Has anyone else seen this problem? Unexpected raises in bills, but no unexpected or expected raises in pay? Any planning that I had done for this year has rapidly declined.

I think in times like these God carves us into the people he needs us to be. These cuts aren't easy to take or pleasant to endure.

This year I am hoping that my focus can be on things above and not on those on earth. Or, in what applies to me: That I can pay my bills and give to those in need without shopping for new clothes and shoes! In truth, I know I am not "naked" here. There IS a God. He lives. He loves. And He'll get us through.

At This Time...

Here are a few things I am interested in during the first month of 2010....

1. Armageddon Week on the History Channel.

2. Words With Friends.

3. Homemade spiced tea in a longaberger mug.

4. Twisted Peppermint Bubble Bath.

5. My bible app and the Robert Roberts reading plan.

6. A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers.

7. A solitaire marble game I don't know the name of. (And can't seem to beat)

8. My Pandora workout play list- search "black eyed peas" and get pumpin.

9. Ordering flour tacos with ground beef and queso only... at every Mexican food place I go. You should try it.

10. Ways to change old furniture into a "new" room.


Happy New Year Post 2010. What are you supposed to say anyway? twenty ten? two thousand ten? I feel like we need to come up with a saying for the "teens" of the millennium.

What's That You Say?

When I was in high school, there were only a few kids to make up a small youth group. Occasionally, we took trips to the mountains, a lake, or to youth rallies. We didn't live near water, so trips to the lake were cherished with full attendance. A few church members owned boats, and one family had something we affectionately called a "water weenie." It was red and looked like it should fit inside a giant hot dog bun. There were 6 handles on the top side, enough for 6 people to sit and hold on for dear life. The water weenie was pulled behind a boat full of screaming kids and peering adults. The goal of the driver was to sway the weenie this way and that, causing as many teenagers to jump ship as possible. It was a complete blast, and generally if one fell, all 6 were sucked under water. We left with bruises, seared skin and burning lungs, but it was always worth the trip.

On one particular outing such as this, we hit the water. The sun was blazing off the murky lake. The wind swirled through our hair, and we were ready to ride. We piled on the water weenie and held on. We gave up only using one arm for 8 seconds, and instead grasped the strap with a death grip. We swished through the water and leaned left and right. My eyes were stinging with spray and I could hear those around me yelling and laughing. A faint voice from the back hollered, "RAE'S GONE!!" We looked back, and sure enough Rae was floating at an increasingly far distance back. We started waving an arm and yelling, "RAE'S GONE!!!!" to those in the boat. They yelled back at us but didn't stop. We were confused and kept yelling to get their attention. Finally, someone bailed off and they stopped the boat. Apparently the reason they hadn't stopped earlier is because they thought we were saying, "PRAISE GOD!"... well, it was a youth group trip.

This story serves as an intro for what happened tonight. My family and I were enjoying a margarita at our favorite Mexican food restaurant while eating supper. Our Spanish-speaking waiter came by and asked if we would like any more. We told him, "No thanks!" He said something in response, but we didn't understand him. He repeated himself twice and after the third, "HUH?" from my uncle, I decided to interpret for him. I spoke loudly, "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!" Matt said to the waiter, "Oh!" and then, "To you, too! Feliz Navidad!"

Come to find out, the poor Waiter had simply informed us that it was still "Happy Hour" and not "Happy Holidays". HA! That's what I get for trying to fix things.


Praise God and Happy "Hour" and Holidays to all of you out there! :)