Salsa

The Beach

The trip to the beach was wonderful, despite a few glitches from Hurricane Gustav.  We headed down Thursday night so that we could have all day on Friday to spend on the beach.  The weather was amazing Friday and Saturday.  Sunday was another story.  The weather never got really bad, it was just that nasty overcast stuff.  Every once in a while it would down pour, but never anything serious.  

Because we weren't really sure what the hurricane was going to do, the leadership decided to pack everything up and cancel our last session :(  In the midst of a panic, we decided that we would leave too.  We assumed everyone would be packing up and going home.  Well on our way out (after packing all of our stuff up) we stopped to eat.  While we were eating we decided that we really didn't want to go home yet and we wanted to just ride it out.  So we went back, unloaded all of our stuff, and stayed through Monday.  The weather was not pretty on Monday, but it never got bad.  It really ended up being a great rest day!  And a lot more people stayed than what we thought.

Here are a few pictures....

Charli and I decided to head out to the beach Sunday night.  The waves were amazing!  We saw some people taking some cool pictures so we decided to try and take our own.  That's what the black and white picture of me is all about.  I wasn't just trying to be a model!

Lunch with the girls!

I just got back from having lunch with some of my best friends.  All of these girls just happen to be girls I went to high school with.  I love that we still get together and keep up with each other.  I have great memories from high school and sometimes wish I could just re-live a Friday night or two with these lovely ladies!  We seriously had so much fun!  But it's so neat to see where we all are now and where we all are headed!  Many of us have moved off and came back, but through all of it we have always made the effort to keep in touch.  I have a feeling that we will still be doing lunch/dinner years from now!

On another note, I'm heading to the beach tomorrow.  Please pray that hurricane Gustav will die down, never to return!  The Generation (our college and singles service at church) is going to the beach.  So basically we will have 150-200 people averaging from ages 18-33 all together at the beach worshipping God and having lots of fun!  I'm so excited!  I flew home from Dallas last year and attended this same event, but I was at such a weird place in life, that I didn't really get to enjoy it.  

Eventually I'm going to do a post from this past weekend.  It was quite eventful........ several of us went Salsa dancing!  It was so hilariously funny!  

Basically I learned that as long as you move your hips and do it confidently, no one will really know if you can Salsa or not.  And just because you have rhythm and can dance, doesn't mean you can Salsa!  

Here is a sneak peak.... please notice the people in the background..... we were definitely the minorities (despite my friend Young in the front!).  I don't think I have ever experienced that much sweat in my life!   Sorry if that's T.M.I.

It's that time again......

ALABAMA FOOTBALL!!!!

I'm so excited!  It's been three years since I have been able to sit in the presence of other Alabama fans and watch the games.  I can't wait!  It's not quite the same watching the game by yourself. 

Trying to stay Optimistic.

This is what I'm doing right now..... trying to stay positive and not lose hope.

There are a few things pending as far as my job situation goes.  I am working at Student Life until the end of September.  After that, I really do not know.  I have very random things that I'm looking into.  However, there just isn't enough information to even start listing some of them. After I actually have a job though, I might go into more detail.  Please pray that the Lord provides (which I know in my heart He will) the right job for me and my life right now.

I'm trying to find a place to live.  Currently I'm with my parents.  As great as they are, it's time for this bird to leave the nest.  Hopefully I will have some exciting news in the next few days/weeks regarding this!  Please pray we find a great deal!  And that we find furniture and all those things you need to live on your own!  My mom's going to be sad to give up her dishes she has at our lake place.  They were mine from my apartment.  Sorry Madre!

Proverbs 16:9

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

One Word Survey...

I was tagged, so here goes....

The Rules: Answer the questions using only one word.

****Some of mine are more than one word.
1. Where is your cell phone? Desk beside me.
2. Your significant other? um.... Good Question!
3. Your hair? hat
4. Your mother? meetings
5. Your father? working
6. Your favorite thing? tough question!
7. Your dream last night? weird!
8 Your favorite drink? Coke (But it's a treat if it's not diet)
9. Your dream/goal? blurry
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your hobby? lots
12. Your fear? Scary
13. What do you want to be in 6 years?  mom

14. What you’re not? perfect
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? job
17. Where you grew up? alabama
18. The last thing you did? work
19. What are you wearing? jeans
20. Favorite gadget? camera
21. Your pets? Brodie
22. Your computer? slow
23. Your mood? blahhh
24. Missing someone? several
25. Your car? explorer
26. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
27. Favorite store? Banana Republic
28. Like someone? maybe....
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When is the last time you laughed? lunch
31. Last time you cried? olympics (Watching)

I forgot...

One thing I forgot to mention yesterday is that my sister started the first day of her senior year of high school!  Seriously?!?!  That is crazy to me.  And it's a great thing around our house.... for the past year she has been counting down to this day!  I'm about tired of hearing about it.  The only other things left for this year to mark off of her countdown list are 1.) to have her Senior picture hung above the piano next to mine (this must represent something big to her because the count down has been on for several years now!) and 2.) to graduate.

She and I only went to the same school for one year.  She was in Kindergarten and I was in the 6th grade.  I was teasing her yesterday about that year.  Basically she cried everyday for the first half.  And not just crying and then getting over it.  She cried pretty much the entire day.  I would have to run if she ever saw me in the hall.  

It got to the point that I would cry because I was always late to class and it was just sad.  Her poor teacher would meet me at the door everyday and try to pry her loose from my legs.  My parents finally told her that she had to sit with her own class in the gym (before school started everyone would wait in the gym to go to their own classes).  It was so sad.... I couldn't look in her direction because she would be sitting there with tears coming down her cheeks.  Ahhh, break my heart!  (And she wonders why I'm "motherly" sometimes!)

We never found out why she cried like that but after Christmas (and me crying to my mom and telling her I couldn't ride the bus anymore and she would have to take Cassie to school and deal with it!), she just got over it!  She never cried again after Christmas break.  Praise the Lord!  My 12 year old heart just had all it could take!

So now she has one year left.  Be praying for her!  She has potential to do big things!!!  And I can't wait to see how God uses her!!!!!

Right Now....

Right now, my life is so confusing.  I have no idea what God is up to.  I don't feel like writing about it, because honestly, I just don't want to think about it.  I'm pretty numb at this point.  I just don't know what to pray for anymore.

Right now, I'm trusting God, but yet I'm doubting myself.  

Right now is the hardest and most exciting time of my life.

Right now I'm praying for contentment.  And learning what that really means.

Right now I'm learning that "It" isn't all about me.  I have to stop trying to figure out why things happen and how they are supposed to effect me.  I'm just a small part of a much bigger plan.

Right now there are a few people I want to just shake and ask them "What are you thinking!?!" (I'm pretty positive, it will not be anyone who actually reads this blog.  So the four or five of you guys are safe!)

Right now I want to be at the next step of my life, but I'm still stuck where I am. (And that is not me saying I wish I was married now!)

Right now, I don't know what that next step will be.  So I'm putting my entire life in God's hands, knowing that it will be worth it.

This is an amazing song by Rita Springer.  It's so where I am right now.  If you've never heard it, download it.  

"It's Gonna Be Worth It All"
I don't understand Your ways
Oh but I will give You my song
Give You all of my praise
You hold on to all my pain
With it You are pulling me closer
And pulling me into Your ways

Now around every corner
And up every mountain
I'm not looking for crowns
Or the water from fountains
I'm desperate in seeking, frantic believing
That the sight of Your face
Is all that I need
I will say to You

It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this

You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
I believe this
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
I believe this

Bottoms up!

A few weeks ago the Osborn's (which is the/my family from Dallas that I lived with--- I claim them as my own now!) made the long journey from Dallas to Alabama for a visit.  We have been planning this trip since last summer and finally it happened!

They got here on a Thursday night and we went straight to eat.  They love mexican food so we hit up El Carraton (the local Mexican resturant where EVERYONE goes).  I wanted them to experience the white cheese dip/queso we have here in Alabama!  And for those who don't care for it (.....Tim and Amy), they loved it!

After dinner we went to The Generation (our college/singles service at church).  It was so cool for them to meet people I have been telling them about for the last three years.  I felt like they finally got to step into my life a little bit.  It's still crazy to think that three years ago I didn't k

now these people even existed.  And then I live with them for three years and now they come and spend a week with my family.  

Everyone just thinks it would be awkward.  And let me just say that there is no awkward

ness at all!  My family gets a long great with them!  They have a daughter, Karley, who is a year older than my sister.  Cassie and Karley get along great too!  It's just amazing what God can do!

After the service we went straight to the lake.  We spent the rest of the weekend just hanging out and doing nothing.  It was so fun and relaxing.  

The only bad thing is what happened on Friday.  I talked everyone into jumping off of this rock that is at the lake (see below).  That's us after climbing up there.  It sounded like a good idea at the time.  Even though it did take me about 20 minutes to get the courage to actually jump.  

Everyone kept telling me to just jump with my legs closed (sorry if that's TMI).  So that was my focus.  Well unfortunetly, I jumped (with legs closed) but landed wrong on my rear.  I felt the pain instantly.  After that my booty was in pain.  I felt like someone kicked me really hard on the tail bone.  I could hardly walk for two days and thought I was going to cry every time I had to stand up after that. Karley has a picture of me holding my rear end at dinner that night.  It was so painful!

The bad thing is that it has been two and a half weeks and I'm still in pain!  Not as much as I was, but when I sit down.... ouch!  I think I have internal bruising!  Probably not, but I know now that I have nothing left to prove.  That rock owned me!  And that was the first and last of my rock jumping career.

P.S.  The Osborns' stayed until Monday and then headed back to Dallas.  The weekend was great!

Flowers from the road!

These were on my desk this morning when I got to work........  They are from the Student Life team that is on the road (actually going to the camps).  I'm loving them!  They were too pretty to just sit in my cube, so I thought I would share them!

Growing Up 101

So I had an interview this morning.  It's funny to interview with people you already know.  It's so serious!  Everyone was asking me how it went.  I don't ever know how to answer that question.  I was completely myself and was totally honest.  So if I don't get it, I know that God has a different plan for my life and for the job I applied for.  I can honestly say that I have complete peace about it.  

The only problem is that I tend to get emotional when I talk about what God has done/is doing in my life.  It's just more than I ever imagined and I can really see His hand on everything.  It's a good emotion!  But sometimes it becomes a problem when the tears are falling and I'm supposed to be having successful conversation!  It tends to get in the way when I'm trying to think clearly.

Luckily today, I wasn't too emotional.  Just got a little teary at the end of the interview when my current bosses began to pray for me.  (By the way.... how awesome is it to work in an environment where your boss actually cares about you as an individual!  I love that!)  So once again......... now I wait.

On another note, I had lunch with all of my best friends from high school today plus my cousin (who has and always will be a BFF).  We looked like such grown ups, just coming in on our lunch breaks to meet for lunch!  

Courtney (who I have grown up with my entire life) finally set a wedding date!  I'm so excited for her!  She and Zach will be getting married on May 9, 2009!  Let the wedding fun begin!

Just a story for fun:  At the last wedding I was in, a girl asked me about how many weddings I had been in and then after I told her, she compared me to the girl in 27 Dresses!  Ahhh!  Thanks hunny!

P.S. It's no where near 27!

A nothing to do weekend! Plus a quick update..

Well finally I had a weekend where I just stayed home and did nothing!  It was fabulous!  Friday night I kept some friends' kids.  Although I wasn't just sitting at home, I had some time to sit and watch a movie after the kids went to bed. 

Then Saturday I really slept in.  After waking up late, I sat around and watched movies until Saturday afternoon.  Then, I did get up and clean for a little while.  After cleaning I went and hung out with some of the college girls.  We had a blast!  I'm loving getting to hang out with people my own age again.  It's been quite awhile.  

Sunday was church and then we had a pool party with the college girls.  (FYI:  I still am going to the "Young Professionals" Sunday school class, but I have friends in the college too.)  We just ate and laid out all afternoon.  It was great!

Then after the party, I headed home and took a nap.  Wow!  What a fabulous weekend!

I'm finally starting to find my place back at church.  It was really awkward for me when I first got back home.  I just didn't know where or how I was going to fit in.  Everything was SOOO different from when I left.  But I'm loving it now!  

On a different note..... summer is coming to an end (Very quickly!) which means that my job at Student Life is coming to an end.  I'm praying through a lot of things.  I honestly do not have a clear direction yet.  I'm just walking through doors until God chooses to close them.  (Some of these "doors" are quite random I will say!)  I guess I will just see where that takes me.  God has ALWAYS provided for me.  Never in the timing I want, but always in HIS timing.  So I'm just waiting at this point.  

I'm excited about when I finally do get to update on what I will be doing!

Philippians 4:6

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Sista Senior Pics...

For anyone who is wondering.... my sister had her senior pictures done.  I picked them up for her and she wanted to see them, so this was the best way to make that happen.  There are also some that I edited for her! haha!

THE BEST ONES!