I love him. Lots.
Daddy,
If I were there, I'd make you a cake! Hope your day's great!
Friday, September 10
Papa's Birthday
It's my daddy's birthday today.
I love him. Lots.
Daddy,
If I were there, I'd make you a cake! Hope your day's great!
I love him. Lots.
Daddy,
If I were there, I'd make you a cake! Hope your day's great!
Thursday, September 9
Bloody Disaster
This nose piercing of mine.
It looks cool, I think.
And then the little stud breaks or a little shiny thing falls out, and I need to change it, because they can't be troubled to make a quality piece of jewelry for your face, so you don't have to bother with it every few weeks. No, that would be too convenient.
I decided I wanted to take a break from a stud and try a hoop. I bought said hoop, and then tried to put said hoop in my nose. It didn't go well. The thing most people don't realize is that cartilage like that, on your nose or mouth, closes up fast. Insanely fast. In the 5 minutes it took me to take the old one out, fiddle with the hoop, decide it looked stupid and opt for another stud... it was closing up! So I fought, and it's not easy to fight with your face.
In the end, it was a bloody disaster. Literally. It took four days to heal, and I had to go to Blue Flame to get it fixed. I vowed to never change it again.
And then the peridot stone fell out and it looks stupid again.
It looks cool, I think.
And then the little stud breaks or a little shiny thing falls out, and I need to change it, because they can't be troubled to make a quality piece of jewelry for your face, so you don't have to bother with it every few weeks. No, that would be too convenient.
I decided I wanted to take a break from a stud and try a hoop. I bought said hoop, and then tried to put said hoop in my nose. It didn't go well. The thing most people don't realize is that cartilage like that, on your nose or mouth, closes up fast. Insanely fast. In the 5 minutes it took me to take the old one out, fiddle with the hoop, decide it looked stupid and opt for another stud... it was closing up! So I fought, and it's not easy to fight with your face.
In the end, it was a bloody disaster. Literally. It took four days to heal, and I had to go to Blue Flame to get it fixed. I vowed to never change it again.
And then the peridot stone fell out and it looks stupid again.
Wednesday, September 8
Live concerts
Boy, do I love concerts. I get so excited. It's hard to keep track of everyone I'd like to see, and finding out they came through after I've missed it is not my favorite feeling. Since I missed a few amazing shows in the Triangle, I've tried to pay a little better attention to what's coming up.
Corinne Bailey Rae, for example, was sold out by the time I found out. I can't tell you how many times I listened to her album.
That's alright, though, because I did score tickets to this musical genius. He breaks my heart; his story breaks my heart, and I eagerly await the day that he changes his mind.
I'm hoping to get tickets to two shows, but for now they're on my wish list because of $$$
Sufjan Stevens
and
MGMT.
Feel free to help a sister out ;)
Speaking of sisters, the Weepies were mine and my sister's favorite. 'Our band' of sorts.
So... they're coming to Raleigh and I didn't know what was the right thing to do, but there it was, but I ended up deciding to go. I feel good about that. I miss her, and I think this will just be good.
Corinne Bailey Rae, for example, was sold out by the time I found out. I can't tell you how many times I listened to her album.
That's alright, though, because I did score tickets to this musical genius. He breaks my heart; his story breaks my heart, and I eagerly await the day that he changes his mind.
I'm hoping to get tickets to two shows, but for now they're on my wish list because of $$$
Sufjan Stevens
and
MGMT.
Feel free to help a sister out ;)
Speaking of sisters, the Weepies were mine and my sister's favorite. 'Our band' of sorts.
So... they're coming to Raleigh and I didn't know what was the right thing to do, but there it was, but I ended up deciding to go. I feel good about that. I miss her, and I think this will just be good.
Monday, May 24
Conversations with Dad, Part 3
This wasn't actually a conversation with my dad, but texts swapped between my mom and dad that he just told me about.
Mom: Do you love me?
Dad: Yeah, you're my BFFL.
My mom had to google that...
Mom: Boyfriend?
Dad: No, best friend!
And then he told her he was helping her learn text-schnizzle. Whatever that is.
Have I mentioned that I want to be like them when I grow up? Because I do.
Mom: Do you love me?
Dad: Yeah, you're my BFFL.
My mom had to google that...
Mom: Boyfriend?
Dad: No, best friend!
And then he told her he was helping her learn text-schnizzle. Whatever that is.
Have I mentioned that I want to be like them when I grow up? Because I do.
Thursday, May 13
10 artists you should be listening to
Music recommendations were really more up my sister's alley. She had a whole blog devoted to music. I should at least throw out a blog post.
I first want to share some beautiful local talent.
1. Lots of people know of Jess Ray and the Rag Tag Army. If you don't, you should ;)
2. I have a lovely friend who is currently working on her EP. When she gets it, and when she performs, you. must. run. Not walk. Sam Crowder. Her songs run around in my head for days, and she's just the most amazing woman.
3. Union County. Enjoy the harmonies. Especially on "Fresh On My Mind."
And then I have some favorites that you probably already know-
4. I not only enjoy listening to them; when I grow up I want to be them. Waterdeep. For real.
5. and aside from that (but still half of Waterdeep) is Lori Chaffer. Listen to "Diana." It's gold.
6. Sandra McCracken (Derek Webb's wife - who is pint-sized in real life, but with a voice that could move the trees).
7. You know you know Jon Foreman. He is my all-time favorite.
8. Preson Phillips will (I can't believe I'm saying this...) bless your socks off. You must download- and really listen. The observant & the anawim is outrageously good.
9. Kanyeah right! I only have ears for the Weepies.
10. Gungor! I've been listening to Michael Gungor since 2003 - that Doxology was insane. And they've only gotten better.
There's so much good music out there, so discover something new and lovely today!
I first want to share some beautiful local talent.
1. Lots of people know of Jess Ray and the Rag Tag Army. If you don't, you should ;)
2. I have a lovely friend who is currently working on her EP. When she gets it, and when she performs, you. must. run. Not walk. Sam Crowder. Her songs run around in my head for days, and she's just the most amazing woman.
3. Union County. Enjoy the harmonies. Especially on "Fresh On My Mind."
And then I have some favorites that you probably already know-
4. I not only enjoy listening to them; when I grow up I want to be them. Waterdeep. For real.
5. and aside from that (but still half of Waterdeep) is Lori Chaffer. Listen to "Diana." It's gold.
6. Sandra McCracken (Derek Webb's wife - who is pint-sized in real life, but with a voice that could move the trees).
7. You know you know Jon Foreman. He is my all-time favorite.
8. Preson Phillips will (I can't believe I'm saying this...) bless your socks off. You must download- and really listen. The observant & the anawim is outrageously good.
9. Kanyeah right! I only have ears for the Weepies.
10. Gungor! I've been listening to Michael Gungor since 2003 - that Doxology was insane. And they've only gotten better.
There's so much good music out there, so discover something new and lovely today!
Monday, May 10
Conversations with Dad, Part 2
Yesterday my dad asked me if I knew what IKEA stood for, and proceeded to make things up (though Wikipedia did seem to corroborate his story).
Today my dad called me and asked:
DAD: Anne Marie, do you know what P.F. Chang's stands for?
AM: No.
DAD: Me neither.
I think this was probably funnier in real life, but what makes it extra funny was his educational moment about IKEA yesterday. He is random. So random.
Speaking of random, my friend has this quirk of saying things twice. It seems I've picked this silly habit up. It's not cool. Not cool. (<--- see what I did there?).
Good night, and good night ;)
Today my dad called me and asked:
DAD: Anne Marie, do you know what P.F. Chang's stands for?
AM: No.
DAD: Me neither.
I think this was probably funnier in real life, but what makes it extra funny was his educational moment about IKEA yesterday. He is random. So random.
Speaking of random, my friend has this quirk of saying things twice. It seems I've picked this silly habit up. It's not cool. Not cool. (<--- see what I did there?).
Good night, and good night ;)
Saturday, May 8
Conversations with Dad
Conversations with my dad are pretty ridiculous. Thought I'd share this one with you...
Dad: Anne Marie, do you know where the name IKEA comes from?
AM: No, actually. I don't.
Dad: Ask me.
AM: Where does the name for IKEA come from? *rolls eyes*
Dad: It's the initials for the man who started it, I and K, and then something else is E, and the A is the town he's from.
AM: Amsterdam? (Yes, I know that's not Swedish. It just popped in my mind).
Dad: No. Way harder. You can't pronounce it. It's like Asnooshkavicjazin.
AM: That explains his need to name furniture like he does.
Dad: I know. Makes so much more sense now.
...pause...
Dad: Aren't you glad I know cool things like that?
AM: Yeah, dad. You're awesome.
Even though I said that last line without zeal or animation, I really do mean it.
Oh, and here's the 411 on IKEA for you. I googled it, and it turns out Ingvar Kamprad (is that even a real name?) grew up on a farm named Elmytard in the town of Agunnaryd.
P.S. IK (mr. ikea) was involved in a pro-nazi movement. Uniformity. Efficiency. Lack of oomph and personality... I can totally see it. But I'll go easy on him, I guess, because he did end up calling it the "biggest mistake of [his] life."
Dad: Anne Marie, do you know where the name IKEA comes from?
AM: No, actually. I don't.
Dad: Ask me.
AM: Where does the name for IKEA come from? *rolls eyes*
Dad: It's the initials for the man who started it, I and K, and then something else is E, and the A is the town he's from.
AM: Amsterdam? (Yes, I know that's not Swedish. It just popped in my mind).
Dad: No. Way harder. You can't pronounce it. It's like Asnooshkavicjazin.
AM: That explains his need to name furniture like he does.
Dad: I know. Makes so much more sense now.
...pause...
Dad: Aren't you glad I know cool things like that?
AM: Yeah, dad. You're awesome.
Even though I said that last line without zeal or animation, I really do mean it.
Oh, and here's the 411 on IKEA for you. I googled it, and it turns out Ingvar Kamprad (is that even a real name?) grew up on a farm named Elmytard in the town of Agunnaryd.
P.S. IK (mr. ikea) was involved in a pro-nazi movement. Uniformity. Efficiency. Lack of oomph and personality... I can totally see it. But I'll go easy on him, I guess, because he did end up calling it the "biggest mistake of [his] life."
Monday, April 26
Where I Am Right Now
From Marta, on My Big, Fat, Cuban Family: I usually do this every six months or so, just to kind of "take the temperature" of where my life is at the time. I encourage you to do the same. It's a wonderful way to celebrate the extraordinarily ordinary lives we lead.
Outside my window... my car, which I just made my very final payment on. I'm pretty thrilled to finally have it paid off TODAY!!!
I am thinking... how to get my sewing machine to cooperate with my dreams of sewn greatness and visions of blanket and tote bag grandeur. It is NOT. cooperating. Yet...
I am thankful for... my amazing brothers and sisters in Wake Forest, NC. This is a beautiful place that I am blessed to call home.
From the kitchen... almost all the ingredients I'll need to get started on my perfect slaw!
I am wearing...PJ's. Don't judge me.
I am creating... a tote bag. Unfortunately, my sewing machine does not seem to have the same goals in mind.
I am going... to my favorite restaurant for dinner - Red Bowl with my amazing friend and vocalist Callie, right after Cycle class at the YMCA.
I am reading... The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
I am hoping... that my conversations and friendships are always seasoned with generosity, integrity, authenticity and laughter.
I am hearing... Veronica Mars, season 1, playing in the background. She's all kinds of awesome, and on days like this, I channel my inner 15-year-old.
Around the house... I'm running laundry, tinkering with my 40-year-old Singer machine, and psyching myself out for cycle class in an hour.
One of my favorite things... Moleskine journal. I bought my first one two months ago, and I just love to jot things down in there. Things I'm thinking, things I'm learning, things God is doing.
A few plans for the rest of the week... three coffee/chat/prayer times with different girlfriends. Church planting conference in the triangle today and tomorrow (David Platt is my favorite). Andrew Peterson concert and getaway to the mountains this weekend. Good things. Great week.
A picture to share...
@theloaf
@samanthacrowder
and me, @annemaroo
Please feel free to join in. Tell me about your day. If you decide to write this on your own blog or on Facebook, please leave a comment with a link. Thanks!
Happy Monday.
Thursday, March 11
Don't Call Me 'Granola'
Because it might just be true these days...
Once I got laid off, the home-maker in me has just let loose! When I was working for the Census (35+hrs/wk on top of 15 graduate credits this semester) I didn't have time for cleaning, laundry, or even grocery shopping! I'm disappointed to have such a suddenly tight budget and no income, but I'm excited to have some time again. Time to read. Time to study. Time to love. Time to think. Time to grieve. Time to learn. Time to work out. Time to sew. Time to play guitar. Time to blog ;)
I also had time to watch Food Inc last week. I know everyone has heard nothing but good things about it, but I just can't resist the urge to plug it here. It's shocking, fascinating, entertaining and convicting. It makes us all want to know where our food comes from, I hope.
This documentary has me changing the way I eat, and what I eat. Since watching it over a week ago, I haven't bought any mass-produced, store-bought meat. Mostly I've gone vegetarian, unless I can come across local meat or at least free-range, natural-diet meat (Target carries some - and it's on sale and they offer FREE coupons). I have several reasons for this, and don't mind sharing with anyone that asks. I'm not morally opposed to eating meat, just the way that the we go about it. The average American consumes 200 lbs of meat a year. What are we doing to ourselves? To our planet? If any of us thinks that we aren't contributing to starvation in another country, we have been turning a blind eye.
My friend wrote a (not-sure-why-it-was) controversial blog recently, and he linked to the New Monasticism site (and there's a house right here in the triangle!) I got really interested in this idea of living off the land. I mean, back in Honduras, I did laundry on the pila - by hand! Now I have machines for everything from drying clothes to mixing eggs. The least we can do is eat the produce that's in season - not the tomatoes flown across the hemisphere and ripened with chemicals because they have no business being in our local supermarkets. So I've joined Crop Mob. I want to meet the people who produce food and other needed items in my community; they are farmers and have every reason to be in business, only most of us have no idea they're even there. They raise cows, pigs and chickens. They make soap, candles and lotions. They sew aprons and potholders. They grow zucchini, rosemary, potatoes and sunflowers. They harvest rice. We should know them.
Yes, I'm on a limited budget. But you'd be surprised how cheap it is to live when you put thought into your purchases. There's something wrong with this picture when we pay more for a few grapes than for a box of Twinkies. I hope that enough people will become informed and take action; I really believe we can make this fallen, broken, beautiful, future Kingdom, chosen world a better place - for God's glory.
Once I got laid off, the home-maker in me has just let loose! When I was working for the Census (35+hrs/wk on top of 15 graduate credits this semester) I didn't have time for cleaning, laundry, or even grocery shopping! I'm disappointed to have such a suddenly tight budget and no income, but I'm excited to have some time again. Time to read. Time to study. Time to love. Time to think. Time to grieve. Time to learn. Time to work out. Time to sew. Time to play guitar. Time to blog ;)
I also had time to watch Food Inc last week. I know everyone has heard nothing but good things about it, but I just can't resist the urge to plug it here. It's shocking, fascinating, entertaining and convicting. It makes us all want to know where our food comes from, I hope.
This documentary has me changing the way I eat, and what I eat. Since watching it over a week ago, I haven't bought any mass-produced, store-bought meat. Mostly I've gone vegetarian, unless I can come across local meat or at least free-range, natural-diet meat (Target carries some - and it's on sale and they offer FREE coupons). I have several reasons for this, and don't mind sharing with anyone that asks. I'm not morally opposed to eating meat, just the way that the we go about it. The average American consumes 200 lbs of meat a year. What are we doing to ourselves? To our planet? If any of us thinks that we aren't contributing to starvation in another country, we have been turning a blind eye.
My friend wrote a (not-sure-why-it-was) controversial blog recently, and he linked to the New Monasticism site (and there's a house right here in the triangle!) I got really interested in this idea of living off the land. I mean, back in Honduras, I did laundry on the pila - by hand! Now I have machines for everything from drying clothes to mixing eggs. The least we can do is eat the produce that's in season - not the tomatoes flown across the hemisphere and ripened with chemicals because they have no business being in our local supermarkets. So I've joined Crop Mob. I want to meet the people who produce food and other needed items in my community; they are farmers and have every reason to be in business, only most of us have no idea they're even there. They raise cows, pigs and chickens. They make soap, candles and lotions. They sew aprons and potholders. They grow zucchini, rosemary, potatoes and sunflowers. They harvest rice. We should know them.
Yes, I'm on a limited budget. But you'd be surprised how cheap it is to live when you put thought into your purchases. There's something wrong with this picture when we pay more for a few grapes than for a box of Twinkies. I hope that enough people will become informed and take action; I really believe we can make this fallen, broken, beautiful, future Kingdom, chosen world a better place - for God's glory.
Wednesday, February 24
The Goldilocks of Bibles
Hey there, friends. All two of you that still read this here blog-aroo.
When I became a Christian, I got a NIV Bible. It was pretty. Then, when I was 15 or so, I got a snazzy "TrueLoveWaits" Bible. True Story. Then I got the Collegiate Devotional Bible when I graduated high school. About five years ago, I upgraded to an NIV Study Bible. It was great. No complicated diagrams, or colorful inserts. Just good stuff. I mean, I enjoyed my "themed" Bibles but hopefully we all outgrow that at some point...
Anywho, I recently discovered the ESV translation. Man, am I a fan. For Christmas in '08 I asked for only one gift. This big guy - the ESV Workout Bible. It weighs in around 5 pounds. That's a lot of "Word." So, when the campus bookstore marked down these nifty little compact ESV's to 5 bucks, I got one! It was great. I had the monster truck size, and the jiminy cricket size.
One problem.
One requires that I lift weights on a regular basis, and open slowly in service so as not to cause a tsunami when I flip it open.
The other requires a magnifying glass.
I needed some kind of a compromise. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was time to get another ESV bible. So... I did my homework and picked out this number-
I almost got the ESV Journaling Bible, but decided I'd like to just journal, and leave this one unmarked (since all of my other Bibles are really marked up). A moleskine journal is on its way as well.
I think it's kind of ridiculous to have this many of the same translation, but I'm excited to get a size that's just right.
P.S. Personal update: I appreciate everyone's prayers for me and my family. It's been a long, hard couple of months, but I know that God is faithful to heal and restore us. We miss my sister, and to be honest, some days the loss overwhelms me. Still, I know that I am not alone. I know that God is glorified and gracious. I am grateful for the time he allowed me to have with Michelle. Really, truly grateful. And I have some pretty amazing friends who have lifted me up in prayer, listened to me, loved me and encouraged me.
When I became a Christian, I got a NIV Bible. It was pretty. Then, when I was 15 or so, I got a snazzy "TrueLoveWaits" Bible. True Story. Then I got the Collegiate Devotional Bible when I graduated high school. About five years ago, I upgraded to an NIV Study Bible. It was great. No complicated diagrams, or colorful inserts. Just good stuff. I mean, I enjoyed my "themed" Bibles but hopefully we all outgrow that at some point...
Anywho, I recently discovered the ESV translation. Man, am I a fan. For Christmas in '08 I asked for only one gift. This big guy - the ESV Workout Bible. It weighs in around 5 pounds. That's a lot of "Word." So, when the campus bookstore marked down these nifty little compact ESV's to 5 bucks, I got one! It was great. I had the monster truck size, and the jiminy cricket size.
One problem.
One requires that I lift weights on a regular basis, and open slowly in service so as not to cause a tsunami when I flip it open.
The other requires a magnifying glass.
I needed some kind of a compromise. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was time to get another ESV bible. So... I did my homework and picked out this number-
I almost got the ESV Journaling Bible, but decided I'd like to just journal, and leave this one unmarked (since all of my other Bibles are really marked up). A moleskine journal is on its way as well.
I think it's kind of ridiculous to have this many of the same translation, but I'm excited to get a size that's just right.
P.S. Personal update: I appreciate everyone's prayers for me and my family. It's been a long, hard couple of months, but I know that God is faithful to heal and restore us. We miss my sister, and to be honest, some days the loss overwhelms me. Still, I know that I am not alone. I know that God is glorified and gracious. I am grateful for the time he allowed me to have with Michelle. Really, truly grateful. And I have some pretty amazing friends who have lifted me up in prayer, listened to me, loved me and encouraged me.
Friday, February 5
Spring Semester
I thought I'd be too overwhelmed to go through this semester, but as it turns out - it's just what I needed. I'm enjoying my classes, even though I don't have free time between 5 classes and 35/hrs a week of work for the Census.
These are the classes I'm taking:
Ethics
Old Testament 2
Theology 3
Anthropology
International Church Planting
Woot!
I bought my last full-time semester books (I'll still take some classes overseas)...
A Vision of the Possible- Sinclair
Ministering Cross-Culturally- Lingenfelter/Mayers
Discovering Church Planting- Payne
Church Planting Movements- Garrison
Anthropological Insights for Missionaries- Hiebert
Anthropology for Christian Witness- Kraft
A Basic Guide to Eschatology- Erickson
The Practice of Godliness- Bridges
The Pursuit of Holiness- Bridges
Life Together- Bonhoeffer
True Sexual Morality- Heimbach
Ethics for a Brave New World- Feinberg
The Doctrine of the Christian Life- Frame
A Survey of the Old Testament- Hill/Walton
oh, and Theology for the Church (Akin)
They cost $256. Yowza!
Good thing I LOVE me some books <3
These are the classes I'm taking:
Ethics
Old Testament 2
Theology 3
Anthropology
International Church Planting
Woot!
I bought my last full-time semester books (I'll still take some classes overseas)...
A Vision of the Possible- Sinclair
Ministering Cross-Culturally- Lingenfelter/Mayers
Discovering Church Planting- Payne
Church Planting Movements- Garrison
Anthropological Insights for Missionaries- Hiebert
Anthropology for Christian Witness- Kraft
A Basic Guide to Eschatology- Erickson
The Practice of Godliness- Bridges
The Pursuit of Holiness- Bridges
Life Together- Bonhoeffer
True Sexual Morality- Heimbach
Ethics for a Brave New World- Feinberg
The Doctrine of the Christian Life- Frame
A Survey of the Old Testament- Hill/Walton
oh, and Theology for the Church (Akin)
They cost $256. Yowza!
Good thing I LOVE me some books <3
Thursday, February 4
Coming Clean
I have a confession to make. Most days I don't get it right. For real. I waste time thinking about things that don't matter, planning for things that don't happen, and enjoying things that don't last. I forget that my life - my eternal life - was bought at a heavy price. And then it hits me. In the car. In worship. Going to sleep at night. I think 'Oh, God. I've screwed up. I've wasted precious time. I've seen my life through my eyes and not yours.' When that happens I'm grateful to feel that conviction, because I can know by that conviction that I'm really His. Still, I'm also overwhelmed by the realization that I'm still missing the point and not going deep enough with my Father.
This morning I had one of those moments. I've been shrouded in sadness, but going through the motions so people don't get too nervous. I've been focusing on loss, and wanting to wake up without the last month actually having happened. In chapel this morning I was just so overwhelmed with God's perspective - and the realization that I have fallen terribly short. We were singing 'Come Thou Fount' and I sang those sad, true words 'Prone to wander, Lord I feel it... Prone to leave the God I love...' I knew these words applied to me SO. much. more than I wanted them to. But then we got to the next hymn, which I can't remember ever having sang before. When we sang this part, it was so freeing:
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
It's a beautiful thing to come to a place where my sin overwhelms me, and then God reminds me of His grace, truth and glory.
I'm coming clean. I'm confessing. I haven't got it together - at all. I have royally screwed up. But He has me, and He's not letting go.
This morning I had one of those moments. I've been shrouded in sadness, but going through the motions so people don't get too nervous. I've been focusing on loss, and wanting to wake up without the last month actually having happened. In chapel this morning I was just so overwhelmed with God's perspective - and the realization that I have fallen terribly short. We were singing 'Come Thou Fount' and I sang those sad, true words 'Prone to wander, Lord I feel it... Prone to leave the God I love...' I knew these words applied to me SO. much. more than I wanted them to. But then we got to the next hymn, which I can't remember ever having sang before. When we sang this part, it was so freeing:
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
It's a beautiful thing to come to a place where my sin overwhelms me, and then God reminds me of His grace, truth and glory.
I'm coming clean. I'm confessing. I haven't got it together - at all. I have royally screwed up. But He has me, and He's not letting go.
Monday, January 18
MLK Jr
It was MLK's birthday a couple of days ago, and now we're celebrating the holiday in his honor. Though it is a Federal holiday, and I'm a Fed... I'll be working an MLK day event. Last year Mark Batterson posted this quote, and it stuck with me:
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."
I know a lot of people have put him on a pedestal, and made his name great, but I'm grateful for the small things he did that had such a large impact. He really had good things to say, and they're still worth hearing today.
Read up on him, if you haven't. And definitely check this out.
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."
I know a lot of people have put him on a pedestal, and made his name great, but I'm grateful for the small things he did that had such a large impact. He really had good things to say, and they're still worth hearing today.
Read up on him, if you haven't. And definitely check this out.
Friday, January 15
Sneak Previews!
I see a lot of movies for free before they're even released in theaters. This month alone (January) the movies I got tickets to were:
Leap Year
Nine
Extraordinary Measures
The Lovely Bones
Dear John
Crazy Heart
When in Rome
I get asked how I score these tickets. Easy - go online! gofobo.com has free screenings, for example. There are a lot of sites you can join and get tickets. I'm also a member of meetup.com groups that will let me know of events in the area (sometimes free movies). The lionshare of the tickets that I get, however, come from my Newspaper - the Raleigh News & Observer. They have an amazing Rewards Zone for subscribers. I subscribe to the Sunday paper for coupons - which easily pays for the paper (just this week I got $136 of groceries for $34). The rewards I get and win on the Rewards Zone are just gravy!
Happy hunting! You can get lots of free stuff too, ya know. There's plenty to go around, or I wouldn't be telling you how ;)
Leap Year
Nine
Extraordinary Measures
The Lovely Bones
Dear John
Crazy Heart
When in Rome
I get asked how I score these tickets. Easy - go online! gofobo.com has free screenings, for example. There are a lot of sites you can join and get tickets. I'm also a member of meetup.com groups that will let me know of events in the area (sometimes free movies). The lionshare of the tickets that I get, however, come from my Newspaper - the Raleigh News & Observer. They have an amazing Rewards Zone for subscribers. I subscribe to the Sunday paper for coupons - which easily pays for the paper (just this week I got $136 of groceries for $34). The rewards I get and win on the Rewards Zone are just gravy!
Happy hunting! You can get lots of free stuff too, ya know. There's plenty to go around, or I wouldn't be telling you how ;)
Tuesday, January 12
Sad Days
I wish I had more to say, or that I felt like showing you pictures from last month. But I don't.
My sister is gone, and it grieves me. Here is what I shared at her funeral:
Michelle and I were ten years apart. When she was decorating her room with New Kids on the Block and Vanilla Ice posters, I was learning why you don’t touch a hot stove and how to add 2 + 2. It had to be annoying to have a small child around as a teenager. One time while she was babysitting me, I ate a penny. She was so worried (not that I would get hurt, but) that she would get in trouble. So she made me drink a giant container of neon yellow Gatorade in attempt to flush it out or something. Another time I antagonized her so much trying to get her attention, that when she finally snapped she chased me around the house with scissors. We were fine, and I’m sure she meant no harm, but that memory is vivid. She was a terrible babysitter, but she was my awesome big sister. I was eight years old when Hurricane Andrew ripped through Miami. It was a scary night, but every few minutes we would do Projectile drills, preparing for the possibility that if something came flying through the window we would duck behind the couch and hide under my Garfield sleeping bag set up behind the couch that night. When she was getting married and having her baby, I was watching Full House and braiding my hair. At her wedding, I was her Maid of Honor. She picked out my forest green dress, and had me stand next to her on her big day. I was her friend. She introduced me to a sense of humor that was awkward, offbeat and hilarious. I can’t tell you how many times we watched Austin Powers (1, 2 and 3) together. I think we had it memorized. In so many ways, we were different. But in the ways that were important we knew and understood each other. Now I think of all the things we had in common; the beauty of a good song, the value of a stylish purse, the treasure of a great movie, the flavor of un buen sofrito, the depth of a warm hug. She did not get to experience enough great songs and jokes. She’s missed out on some amazing cooking from Mamita. But she was blessed beyond belief. She is cherished, not forgotten. Ten years ago, times got tough for her. She was going through a hard time and many life changes. All I knew to do was to share with her my source of hope and strength, Jesus. I told her of His greatness, His promises, His gift to us, and my sister rededicated her life to the Lord that day. Though this world had her down, God was with her. She was never alone. I think some days it doesn’t feel that way, but she knew that she was created for a purpose, crafted in His image, and bought at a price. Life got hard for her again, and now I feel incredible sadness, but my confidence is not in this world. It will let us down. My confidence is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who came to be with her and never left her. He is more powerful than her sadness, victorious over her losses, more wondrous over life’s disappointments. My prayer for her, and for you, is that you see God for who He is - our loving Creator, Father, Redeemer, Sustainer and Friend. May you and I be comforted by Him in our loss, and know that our hope is not in this world and this life, but in Him.
My sister is gone, and it grieves me. Here is what I shared at her funeral:
Michelle and I were ten years apart. When she was decorating her room with New Kids on the Block and Vanilla Ice posters, I was learning why you don’t touch a hot stove and how to add 2 + 2. It had to be annoying to have a small child around as a teenager. One time while she was babysitting me, I ate a penny. She was so worried (not that I would get hurt, but) that she would get in trouble. So she made me drink a giant container of neon yellow Gatorade in attempt to flush it out or something. Another time I antagonized her so much trying to get her attention, that when she finally snapped she chased me around the house with scissors. We were fine, and I’m sure she meant no harm, but that memory is vivid. She was a terrible babysitter, but she was my awesome big sister. I was eight years old when Hurricane Andrew ripped through Miami. It was a scary night, but every few minutes we would do Projectile drills, preparing for the possibility that if something came flying through the window we would duck behind the couch and hide under my Garfield sleeping bag set up behind the couch that night. When she was getting married and having her baby, I was watching Full House and braiding my hair. At her wedding, I was her Maid of Honor. She picked out my forest green dress, and had me stand next to her on her big day. I was her friend. She introduced me to a sense of humor that was awkward, offbeat and hilarious. I can’t tell you how many times we watched Austin Powers (1, 2 and 3) together. I think we had it memorized. In so many ways, we were different. But in the ways that were important we knew and understood each other. Now I think of all the things we had in common; the beauty of a good song, the value of a stylish purse, the treasure of a great movie, the flavor of un buen sofrito, the depth of a warm hug. She did not get to experience enough great songs and jokes. She’s missed out on some amazing cooking from Mamita. But she was blessed beyond belief. She is cherished, not forgotten. Ten years ago, times got tough for her. She was going through a hard time and many life changes. All I knew to do was to share with her my source of hope and strength, Jesus. I told her of His greatness, His promises, His gift to us, and my sister rededicated her life to the Lord that day. Though this world had her down, God was with her. She was never alone. I think some days it doesn’t feel that way, but she knew that she was created for a purpose, crafted in His image, and bought at a price. Life got hard for her again, and now I feel incredible sadness, but my confidence is not in this world. It will let us down. My confidence is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who came to be with her and never left her. He is more powerful than her sadness, victorious over her losses, more wondrous over life’s disappointments. My prayer for her, and for you, is that you see God for who He is - our loving Creator, Father, Redeemer, Sustainer and Friend. May you and I be comforted by Him in our loss, and know that our hope is not in this world and this life, but in Him.
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