reunions

Life is too short to pass up an opportunity to meet with friends from college! Instead of saying, "Man, we should get together!" it's worth the time and effort to actually make the connection!

So, this week I met up with my sweet friend, Emily V., who works and lives in Marion, Indiana, and then Dan and Angie L. who live in Minneapolis. I was in Ohio with Jonathan for a few days and I was able to meet Emmy V. in Muncie and have a good "sit-down." Forgot my camera, dern it, but I'm guessing Em isn't too upset about that...

Then Dan and Ang were kind enough to wait for me at the Mall of America while I pushed Jonny through the parking garage levels of MSP airport looking for my CAR!!! I ran like a bat out of you-know-where when I arrived 3 days ago, and didn't pay close enough attention, etc. (More on all my airport mishaps and Ohio trip later...) We met up for lunch and tawkin'.

There's just something about college buddies - you can just pick up where you left off. Thanks everybody for a great time!

P.S. Dan and Ang have a great website, www.dangieland.com where Angie's blog has this pic and another one of Jonathan. After they took this, I asked, "Is it blog worthy??"

here's what i want:

When Paris Hilton walks out of jail, I want it to be as empty as a church parking lot on a Friday night.

No cameras, no press, nothing. Even crickets chirping would be a nice touch. And maybe somebody could make a big sign, so that when she walks out, it reads:

NOBODY CARES ANYMORE!

Okay, that's a little mean. But, really, is this the country I live in? Is this what we've become?

the rest of the story

Alright, we made it to Thursday!

The craft time has really gone pretty good, even the plaster of paris situation. I never realized how GOOPY that stuff has to be. It was a real learning experience.

Today was Sand Art, which I highly recommend. Everybody loved that.

I'm getting really good at Simon Says and entertaining the kiddos when there's 5-10 minutes left of craft time and they're already done. Sometimes it's not even Simon Says, but just yelling out things like, "Everybody line up against the wall and stand on one leg!" "Now show me your silliest face!"

this is my confession

I rot at crafts.

I never liked them when I was in Vacation Bible School. Why in the world did I agree to be in charge of them as an adult??

I know, I know, you're thinking, "Well, yeah, but you scrapbook and all that..." Listen: when I scrapbook, I do not use ribbons and buttons and all that crap. I use cool paper, write (hopefully) from my heart, and throw a page protector over it. Done.

I'm way over my head here. Plaster of Paris??? What is this stuff? I'm googling instructions for how to make a treasure tin for these little bohemians and I'm just DOGGONE frustrated. Will the world end if Vacation Bible Schools across America did not do crafts??? I don't think so!!! And we all know where they end up, don't we?!?!

To be continued...

the shuffle

Ah, my little ipod shuffle, how i love it so...

How did I live without this little piece of plastic for so long?

Going to the itunes store is one of my favorite things to do online. And just like Amazon, the recommend great music to me based on what I've purchased previously. No longer do I have to shell out $$ just to get my favorite song and suffer through the crappy ones. Now I just download my favorite for under a buck and giggle at my good fortune.

My shuffle houses a very eclectic group of artists. Here's a glimpse:

LOTS of Toby Mac -- Is it just me or does he get cooler the older he gets? I love his mix of rock, hip-hop, fun music you don't have to feel guilty about listening to.

A little Kirk Franklin -- This man makes me LAUGH.

Travis Cottrell -- I got to know him years ago at a Nashville music camp when I was fresh out of high school. Now he's a worship leader for Beth Moore. Sweet gig.

Etta James -- The queen of cool. Anyone ever heard her old song, "Sugar on the Floor?" Amazing. She's got this low, soulful voice that put "At Last" on the map, but I like the more obscure songs.

Martina McBride -- Just love to hear "Happy Girl" every now and then

Beyonce -- Okay, a little embarrassed here, but the girl can really make you dance...

Joaquin Phoenix -- remember "Walk the Line?" I think I like hearing him sing better than Cash himself, no offense Cash-lovers

Hyper Static Union -- fun new Christian rock band discovered by Third Day. They sound like Maroon 5 and the lead singer has a great voice.

Barbra Striesand -- okay, so her politics are a bit sketchy, but I still love to hear her belt one out. I'm a fan of "Piece of Sky" and "I'm the Greatest Star" ...reminds me of high school days, channeling my inner diva! HA!

Now I just have to download some Yolanda Adams!!

sunsets are like children

i didn't know what to take more pictures of...these handsome little dudes, or the sunset in front of them. well, okay, it wasn't much of a contest.

Meet MaryLou

This is MaryLou Alexandra - she is the newest niece in the family! Nick and Beth welcomed their 3rd little girl into the world this week. She was named after Nick and Aaron's grandma, Mary Lou. Great-grandma is thrilled, let me tell you.

Susan, Lucy (looking up) and the new one all together. We were hoping for a Polly to continue the Chronicles of Narnia theme, but that's okay...
Check out the gorgeous red hair! You know I love the red heads...

13 Going on 30

Check these chicks out! Do you remember being this cool in 8th grade? I certainly don't. I was at the height of incredible ick at this stage in the game. My sweet Kaela is third girl in, black and white dress. She graduated from 8th grade last week. The Christian school she attends just added the high school, so this is the last 8th grade graduation ceremony.

I told her I'd post this shot to make up for the one I put on the last post ("the view") Are we even now??

remembering

where it all began for me...

I'm not usually a documentary kind of girl, but I landed on PBS today, where they were showing "Death of a Dream: Farmhouses in the Heartland." My first reaction was, Good Grief, that's morbid. Is it really dead? But watching it brought back an intense collection of memories.


The documentary discussed what the farmhouse in America stood for, the simpler, slower way of life that is hard to find in today's culture. I smiled when they talked about how every farmhouse used to have an old upright piano that the families and friends would sing around.

My Grandma is one of those pianists you only hear once in a lifetime. She can make a piano cry for mercy. She never "plays notes." She makes a song her own. I used to love sitting on the piano side in church, watching her play with such joy. I loved hearing her play at her house, too.

I remember being a little girl at my Grandma's, listening to the swell of my family's voices fill the big blue living room: my Mother's soprano, my Grandmother's alto, Dad's tenor, and Grandpa's bass. The harmony would fill up my heart so much I thought it would break sometimes.

Isn't it funny how as you grow up, you reach back further and further to remember where you came from and how it made you who you are? Even if it's painful sometimes, it's so important to see the collage of what made you you. Hopefully, I can keep a little "farm" with me -- the stuff that slows down life, makes you want to sing and laugh and enjoy the ones you love more often.