Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Friday! This weekend is truly one of my favorite weekends of the whole year! 

It's the weekend that kicks off summer... the best time of the year and it means my birthday is less

than a couple weeks away (the best DAY of the year) : )

I've said many times how much I love this season and time of the year. I feel the happiest

in the spring/summer and just love all the things that come with this season. I tend to be a past

reflective person (is that a word???) meaning that I like to think back on certain times of the 

year and ask myself... what was I doing last year on Memorial Day weekend? What was I doing

two years ago?? Insert holiday or event and I like to wonder where I was a year ago and then 

think where will I be next year? What new people will be in my life a year from now? How will

my life change in a year? It's always just been something I do and it fascinates me. 

So, in the process of thinking about the past few Memorial Day weekend's I realized that

I have either been out of the country or out of state the last 3 years on this weekend. Three years

ago was spent in Rome, Italy, (most amazing trip ever) two years ago I was in Guatemala City,

Guatemala with my small group on a mission trip serving and sharing the love of Christ, and

last year I was in New Orleans, LA at a benefit concert for the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak

we had in AL. 

This year I don't have big plans to escape to another country or state. It's going to be a low

key weekend spent with my mom and dad and brother that is flying home TODAY from 

Florida! I haven't seen him since Christmas and looking forward to spending some QT with him. 

Just poolside, maybe lakeside, family dinners, and possibly puppy shopping for mom and dad. :) 

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend! 

A few blast from the past Memorial Day weekend pics...

 Spanish steps in Rome 

 Roman Coliseum (coolest thing I've ever seen) 

And again at night

 Roman Pantheon 

Piazza Navona (art district) 

Bridge in Florence, Italy

Trevi Fountain 

The Pope drove right past us at St. Peter's Square 

 Sweet girl in Guatemala

Look at that face : )

My little Katy stole my heart. 

 

Guatemalan woman walking home

Pretty flawa... 

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend filled with LOTS of memories

of those you love most! 

Ten Years Ago Preview

So, I'm writing this post the day before my ten year high school reunion. 

Yikes! Has it really been ten years? The past couple of weeks I have had memory after

memory flood my head and heart as I have had conversations with friends, looked at old

pictures, skimmed through the yearbooks, and read all those "remember when" people write

 in your annual. 

High School was a great time for me. I know everyone doesn't have the same feelings. 

HS can bring back so many different memories for people, but for me looking

back to the year 2002 was a great year filled with memories that I will always treasure. 

I've had a lot of conversations lately with a guy I graduated with that I am actually going 

to the reunion with. I asked him the other day if it was weird that all of this makes me sad

in some ways. He was like, no I feel the same way... it's just a nostalgic feeling. 

I have so many random feelings going on with this weekend... excitement to see faces I haven't 

seen in ten years, nervousness in those faces that you have forgotten about and don't know 

what to say to (ha), sharing lots and lots of memories with those friends that are still a major

part of my life and always will be, and just soaking up bittersweetness of the last ten 

years and where we all have come since then. 

Prom Night! 

These girls are lifelong friends! 

So thankful for them. 

Rachel, Becca, Mallory. 

I'm trying to save all my thoughts and maybe deeper feelings for another post, but just wanted 

to give a quick update and let you guys know what's going on and how excited I am

about this weekend! Look for my outfit reveal along with lots of pictures next week! 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend... 

Think about me and pray I don't do or say anything stupid... ;) 

Here's to the Class of 2002

Lent AKA No Shopping

So, Happy Ash Wednesday. Or, for those of you that are giving up something

for Lent... Happy first day of sacrifice and suffering! ha!

Let me preface this by letting you know that I am not a Catholic or Presbyterian or any

other domination that actively push their members to give something up for Lent. I am

not one to give up something for Lent every year. In fact, I think I have only done

this one other year in my life. I grew up in a Nazarene church... aka Church of the

Nazarene. What is that you say? Basically we have the same theology as the Baptist Church

with just a few differences. Our church broke off from the Methodist church due to wanting

to be more missional. I'm actually a PK. What is that you say? It stands for Preacher's

Kid. Yes, my dad is a minister and being a preacher's kid is SO MUCH FUN!! ha.

Sarcasm?! Never! No, it's really not that bad... yes, people tend to hold you to a different

standard and expect you to know the whole Bible because I mean come on your dad

went to seminary and is an expert... why aren't you!? But, despite that I have had a great

experience being a PK. Lots of wonderful families with great hearts who have loved my

family and I as if we were their own.

But, all of that is really beside the point... just wanted to give you a little background into

my life. This post is really to open up my heart a little and share with you why

I have decided to give up shopping for Lent. I am not one who is an excessive

shopper or spender... I don't have a lot of credit card debt... I tend to think I live within

my means and am a responsible person. Well, at least by the "world's" standards.

As a proclaimed Follower of Christ I have been called to live much much differently than

what the world calls normal or ok. Christ makes it very clear in His word that to be one

of his disciples our mission is to care for the poor/needy/widows/orphans and to use

our resources and blessings for the intention of others. Jesus says in Matthew that is

hard for the rich to get into Heaven. That is is easier for a camel to go through the eye of

a needle than for the rich to enter Heaven. WOWZA! Have you ever stopped to think about

that and what that means for us as Americans? You may not consider yourself rich, but if you

have food and a roof over your head you are richer than most in our world. We have more

resources at our fingertips than half the world. And while half the world is starving

and living on less than a dollar a day we are spending our money on new cars, bigger

houses, nice clothes, fancy purses, make-up, and anything else you want to insert

in the blank.

The Lord has been convicting me of how I spend my money lately. The world would tell me

you deserve this or that... you work hard, you make good money, your single... go enjoy

that stuff while you can. Right? But, Jesus Christ tells me something completely different

and I have done a wonderful job of shutting my ears and being disobedient to His

call in my life and what His word commands in my life. So, this has led me into deciding

to give up shopping for Lent. It is a step in the direction of evaluating how I spend

my money and learning to cut back for the sake of things with Eternal value.

My prayer during this season of Lent is that the Lord would change my heart through

his Spirit. I am unable to change myself and my desires. I can't try hard enough to make

myself better. To make myself less materialistic or more compassionate for the poor

and lost. I am not capable of it, but there is someone who makes that possible. Someone

who loved me as well as you SO much that he went to the cross and bore the weight of

the world's sins and satisfied the wrath of a Holy God so that even though I am a wretched

sinner that is CONSTANTLY in need of grace and mercy he makes it possible for for me

to have relation with the Father.

I pray that God will make me more and more like Christ every day and that my life

bring Him glory in everything I do.

This may sound intense, but I'm not trying to be... I just wanted to share a piece of my

heart and what God is doing in my life.

So, here's to a 6 week journey of no shopping. I'm not allowed to buy new clothes,

shoes, make-up, etc. Only necessities. If I run out of toothpaste, deodorant, or shampoo

then I can obviously purchase. In my moments of weakness when I really want a new

shirt or dress for Easter or some fabulous new make-up my goal is to pray and draw

closer to God. To confess to God that more than I want a new dress, or this new blush,

or new spring lipstick I want YOU!!

May Christ be enough for me and you!

11 Things... Tagged and Bagged...

So, I am maybe one of the world's worst in doing email/blog posts about answering

questions about yourself, but I'm feelin it today. One of my besties, Rachel tagged

me in her post she did so what the heck, let's do this thang!

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules.2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

So... here we go.

1. I HATE possums. Despise their being. I think they are satanic little creatures that roam

the earth that may have come straight from Hell. And yes, I deliberately hit them with

my car if I have the chance.

2. I was issued my second passport in 2007 and made a goal to go to a different country

every year that the passport is valid. 10 years. In 5 years I have visited 4 countries

(Italy, Venezuela, Guatemala, Mexico) and have 6 left to go!!

3. I LOATHE the smell/taste of mint. I can't chew mint gum and can barely brush

my teeth with mint flavored toothpaste. It honestly makes my throat close up and want to gag

when I smell it. If you are chewing mint gum and especially spearmint near me PLEASE

don't breath on me or I may walk away.

4. If I could be anything I wanted to be I would chose a singer/songwriter/rocker.

I LOVE good music and all the emotions it brings out. To be able to do that successfully

every day of your life and have people respect and admire you for amazing pipes the Lord

blessed you with would be a dream come true.

5. I love Italian food. I think if given the choice I could eat it every day of the week and never

get tired of it.

6. I love the words "Milk" and "Moist." Weird, right? I know. I love the way they sound

when you say them slow.

7. I don't like Birthday cake or Icing! Yep, I said it. I always got those big

chocolate chip cookies for my birthday and still do. Cake kind of grosses me out.

8. I don't eat the ends of things. Like for example take a chicken finger. I realize that you

do have to start at one end, but I don't finish. The ends gross me out. French fries

are the same way. Start at one, but don't finish on the other.

9. Last fall I met the Executive Producer of The Today Show!! Talked with him, got pictures

with him and personally sent him my resume. Working at The Today Show would probably

fall second into dream jobs after being a Rocker!

10. I love purses and make-up. Two of my favorite things to indulge myself with. Have

loved both of these things since being a little girl.

11. My kitty cat, Harley (that all my friends hate) sleeps in between my legs every night

and I love it!

My Questions to Answer:

1. What are you wearing right now?

A white waffle robe. No make-up. Hair in clip.

2. If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you move?

Oh gosh. Just one place? So many different places to go and experience before

I can answer this. But, with my limited knowledge and experiences I would say Italy.

What an amazing, romantic, historical place! ahhhh, yes!

3. Who is your celeb crush?

You know, I watch a lot of movies and get into all the celeb gossip, but I don't have just

one person that I'm obsessed with. But, a few of my loves would be David Beckham,

John Krasinski, Ryan Gosling, and Adam Levine.

4. What is a beauty product you couldn’t live without? (i.e. mascara or chapstick)

Seriously?? Just one product? My chest is getting tight... ha.

Man.. this is hard. Ok, I can't... here is top 3.

Bronzer

Mascara

Lip gloss

5. Do you think you are high maintenance or low maintenance? Why?

Some would tell you high. But, honestly I think not. Do I like nice things? Yes, of course.

But, I feel like I am a grounded person that tries my hardest to keep my priorities

straight and in line with being a Christ-follower. I do have to check myself often and ask

myself questions to see where my motives are, but I am very laid back... easy going... and

always drama free. Hate drama and caddy people. Ask Alison.

6. Would you rather have to run a marathon and a half marathon on consecutive days or be stuck on “It’s a Small World” for 5 hours?

Ha! Oh my word this is comical. I don't exercise people. I try and I go through phases where

I do (normally in spring for upcoming swimsuits) but never consistently worked out. So,

without a doubt I would say be stuck on It's a small world. Bring on these creepy little

dolls!

7. What is your hands down, all time favorite movie?

Cant' answer this one. I don't have an all time fave.

Movies I quote from often are Anchor Man, and Dumb and Dumber.

8. If you were on Death Row, what would be your last meal?

Penne Pasta with Italian sausage tossed in a marinara sauce with garlic cheese bread

and a coke or sweet tea. For dessert... homemade chocolate chip cookies.

9. What is your guilty pleasure?

For food... Recess's Peanut Butter Eggs!!!! Fave candy of all time. Hands down.

Other things... make-up, purses, clothes.

10. Do you wash your hair everyday?

LOL! Another comical question for me. Heck NO I don't wash my hair every day. I wash

my hair two times a week and use dry-shampoo in between and my hair thanks me for it.

My hair looks the most fabulous when dirty.

11. Do you prefer to text or talk on the phone?

TEXT!!! I'm not a phone talker. Ask any of my friends... this may be the most frustrating thing

about me as a friend. I hate the phone. I would much rather see your beautiful face in person

over dinner/lunch/coffee/house. I have found Hey-Tell (app for iphone) very

useful though. I can hear your voice, but still carry on what I'm doing without being tied

down to a long phone conversation.

My questions for fellow friends:

1. Birthdays. Love them or hate them.

2. Get your purse/gym bag: What are the first five things you pull out?

3. What is the one meal you can make better than anyone else?

4. You get one wish. No restrictions. What is it?

5. Cake or Pie?

6. What’s your secret talent?

7. Early bird or night owl?

8. Biggest pet peeve?

9. What’s your favorite weird food combination?

10. Which would you choose? No social media for a year or no working out for a month? Why?

11. What are you sending me for my birthday?

I'm tagging:

Alison @ It's Me and You Kid

Valerie @ I Am, I Am, I Am

Britton @ It's a Beautiful Thing This Life of Ours

Carolyn @ Better Together... Me and My Boys

Learning to Say Yes

Something I struggle with are choices. I hate making decisions about a lot of things

in my life. I find myself getting overwhelmed, stressed and anxiety ridden at times

over small and big decisions.

So, the movie Yes Man with Jim Carrey was on tv Sunday night and every time

I see this movie it gets me thinkin. What if we lived our lives like this? For

those of you that haven't seen this movie here is what IMDB says:

"Carl Allen is at a standstill. No future... Until the day he enrolls into a personal development program based on a very simple idea: say yes to everything! Carl discovers with amazement the magical power of "Yes", and sees his professional and romantic life turned upside down overnight: an unexpected promotion and a new girlfriend. But he'll soon discover that better can be good's enemy, and that all opportunities shouldn't be taken."

So, in the movie Jim Carrey says "yes" to everything in his life. Anytime an

opportunity presents itself he feels compelled to say yes and take advantage of the opportunity

before him. Obviously, for most of us there are major moral and ethical obligations

in saying yes to everything, but just think about the so called "good" "moral"

"ethical" choices we could say yes to. How many times do we tell ourselves we are

too busy, or don't have enough money to do something for someone else or for ourselves. Or,

how often does fear of the unknown in a choice paralyze us into not moving forward with a "yes." Insert whatever issue or choices you may be faced with.... just think about how your

life could be different if you began to say "yes" to more opportunities. How would

your life change if you quit making excuses and just said "yes."

Random thoughts I know. It's just an interesting concept to think on. My challenge for myself

and you is to learn to say "yes" more often and let's see how it changes our lives!