a.j.a.m. and other randoms...

So... I had started writing this post, and got a phone call, so I hit save as draft, and Blogger ATE MY POST.

AARRGGGhh...

I had decided that I wasn't going to give a play-by-play of my weekend. We had a blast this weekend!!! Getting to be with good friends, and share, and laugh, and be serious, was definitely good medicine for my soul. For me, getting to share what's been going on with life, all the gorey details, was beyond therapuetic. In my own weirdo way, I needed to see their faces, hear their questions, face their reactions. It's all good. Talking about stuff... situations... life in general... getting it out was so good. My friend V. encouraged my heart about marriage too this weekend. She is a beautiful, talented woman, and I desperately needed to hear the words of encouragement she had about it. There are too many people in my life who are dismayed with relationships, and she isn't. God is still the God of relationships. Everything in life ISN'T a struggle.

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Yesterday when I got home, I was out for a bit, and then to a friend's to play Apples to Apples. I am now addicted. And, I think I'm getting a crush. Too bad they don't make crush medicine. I would self-diagnose my symptoms, take the prescribed amount, and in a few short days, this would pass. I'm terrified that: I'll get my hopes up, that I'm not good enough/pretty enough, that a friend of mine doesn't want to me have a crush on him either. There is a part of me that thinks I shouldn't be so open to share this. But it's been all the secrets, all the hiding, in my life, that make me feel an urgency just to get it out.

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Okay... today is too hectic to write all of this. Maybe later.

Emotional Hair Cuts

I've read the articles online about Britney Spears shaving her head. Being a woman who has cut her hair TWICE because of emotional haircuts, I feel confident to be able to "see one when I see one". I would have shaved my head if I thought it would have helped, tattoos too, but the reality is that hair or no hair makes no change to the inside... it really and truly only makes it worse.

It's a cry for help folks. A desperate LOUD cry for help. Britney needs Jesus,... BAD.

A.J.A.M.

I had such a ridiculously wonderful weekend! This picture only highlights the purpose of the letters. A.J.A.M. represents the first initial (of the first name) of each of the ladies in the picture. This was our second time having this little "retreat" and, God-willing, will be the second of Many!

I have so much that I want to write down! I know that I am going to have to blog in increments, so bear with me!

Some highlights/inside jokes of the weekend:

1) Our respective drives

2) No Teeth, but the best directions ever

3) Olde Tyme Photos

4) Corndogs

5) Snow!!!!

6) The Hot Tub

7) Food

8) that guy that hit M.'s car

9) "I really ordered a hamburger, not chicken"

10) Wine & Cheese

11) Milk & Cookies

12) "Aunt A."

13) Gifts :D

14) The fact that it took us three hours to get ready

15) Naptime

16) Flexibility!!!

17) Everything to do with the bathroom... LOL!

18) Bed Buddies

19) The ducks

20) Getting the keys to the wrong room, ... then the keys not working

This just highlights a few things...

True Yo.

"Whether we are aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence we are encountering God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who is tryin got catch our attention, trying to draw usinto a reciprocal conscious relationship." William Barry

"Perhaps our capacity to pay attention to God -- like the capacity to lift weights or speak Spanish -- only gets stronger when it gets exercised." John Ortberg

'Tis so sweet

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’erJesus,
Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me’
Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’erJesus,
Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’erJesus,
Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me
Wilt be with me to the end.

God is still in the pages...

So, yesterday I posted about the word Cleveland being mentioned in my book. I shared it at Girls' Group last night. My insecurity tells me that people hearing me talk about this, might think I'm nutty as a fruitcake. But it happened again. My co-workers and I have been conversing about "D.T.R." for a few weeks. None of them knew what it mean. They thought I made up this term. They have given me a really hard time about it. But last night, reading the same book, the author talked about D.T.R. I sat up in the bed and laughed! This morning, when I shared my little findings, no one appreciated it as much as had hoped. They hate it when I'm right. :) I just got tickled that a man, 2700 miles away, wrote about a topic TWO years ago that we are discussing.

Do I think this coincidental? Not even in the slightest.

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My precious best friend of 20 years gave birth on Valentine's. While I rarely get to see my nephew and neice, I am proud to be and "Aunt" of sorts to this precious new baby boy! His big sister and brother were no doubt even more anxious to meet him than I! Congrats BF!!!

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Really... I'm tapped out this morning. I had good prayer time on my way to work. I ran across an old hymn and realized the depth of the words. They pierced my soul this morning like a hot knife to butter. God's presence (and all that entails) are scandalously available to anyone who wants it. I'm so thankful for the little things...

American Idol

I sent an email out yesterday, and thought it appropriate to post something on here.

Vote for Phil Stacey!

Phil is now one of the top 24 contestants on American Idol. And I know him! (Craziness...) Phil and his wife both attended my Alma Mater around the same time I did. In 2001, I had the privilege to work with both of them at a youth camp. They are incredibly sweet people. Phil is extremely talented, and it's starting to pay off!!! If you didn't watch the show on Wednesday, you can go to the American Idol website for a few clip-its.

I shared in the email yesterday that God will use any medium necessary, even ones that we don't expect to spread His Glory. Please help me join in prayer for continued favor with the judges and favor with America in the coming weeks!!!

So... VOTE FOR PHIL!!!!!!!