Bring the Rain

I cannot shake the tired feeling. I stayed up too late every night last week getting ready for Happening. Then I got pretty much no sleep this weekend. It was so worth it. I forgot how amazing the Happening weekends are. The compassion, the joy, the healing, the FUN!! I loved every minute of it. Though, I do wish I had gotten more sleep the week leading up to it. I would post a couple of pictures from the weekend, but I forgot the camera cord at home. I definitely plan on submitting my staff application for January ASAP. That group of youth is so phenomenal. And that rector - Michael Graves - is going to be awesome!
When I finally looked at my phone at about 6:30 on Sunday there was a text message from Rhonda, our youth director. She said that one of the girls that regularly visits our church, Lauren Murchison, was in an accident, air lifted to a Jackson hospital and in critical condition. Deni immediately called Lauren's BFF Sarah Evans to get details. First Baptist Shreveport was on their way to camp on a charter bus. The bus had a blow out close in MS and the bus flipped 3 times. Through the conversation we learned that Lauren has multiple broken bones, severly bruised ribs and a big laceration on her head. But she is stable. We also learned that Sarah was with them!! She was actually sitting between Lauren and another girl was was critically injured. Sarah is sore and home. I thank the Lord for watching over her and Lauren. One boy died on Sunday. Another girl is still in critical condition with brain swelling. It is really hard to understand how this can happen a bus full of wonderful youth and volunteers on their way to church camp.
Then I just found out that one of my dear friends, Paul King, was in an accident yesterday! About 2 miles outside of Ruston he had a blowout and rolled 2 or 3 times! He is ok - just sore. But holy smokes! That is so scary!! And he got a ticket for careless operation of a motor vehicle. Seriously! He was in the left lane when it happened and was traveling to the right lane to stop and his car started flipping when he hit the grass! That is such crap! But really, with all that could have happened - I have to praise God.

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Bring the Rain - Mercy Me

Happening #34

Tomorrow morning I go to Woodworth, LA to serve on staff for Happening #34! I am so excited - it hasn't even hit me yet. That may be because it is the night BEFORE the weekend and I am already exhausted. Color me procrastinating... Of course I am not done with my caritas... Whatever it will be done when the time comes. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to serve on staff again - this time as an adult. I know that it is going to be yet another absolutely amazing experience. All in service for the Lord!
See you Sunday, Shreveport!

I See The Future!

I'm pretty anxious and excited lately.

1. Happening #34 is this weekend. I have not attended a Happening since #19 when I was on staff. This weekend I will be the adult small family sparkler. Deni is going to be our adult small family gofer. I can't even imagine how awesome this weekend is going to be. Deni and I have been prepping for the past 2 weeks pretty steady. Of course it still seems like I procrastinated too much, because I still have a ton to do! It's ok, though. I live for the last minute.
2. Camp Eagle is in less than a week. Deni and I are going as chaperone's for the middle school camp. And I found out today that Derek may be going, too! We are taking so many people that we may need another bus/driver. So that will be super fun!
3. New Orleans is becoming so real. We are about to start looking for somewhere to live. I don't think it gets more real than that. It's going to be so cool going somewhere new. Starting our lives together in such an amazing city. I plan on experiencing NOLA to the fullest while we live there. I don't want to move away and say "I never saw that" or "I never got around to doing that." I am going to embrace this move and make it a life experience.
4. Matt and I were watching food network the other night and they were talking about a BBQ joint on the coast of MS called The Shed. We are totally going to road trip there one day. We also talked to Christine and Jeffrey during Christine's b-day dinner last night. They gave us a nice list of must try eateries. The list included Betsy's Pancake House and The Bulldog. I can't wait for all of the great food in my near future!

So much to be anxious and excited about!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Thursday night Matt and I went to the Captains baseball game. Needless to say, we had loads of fun. I am happy to report that my new stadium chair definitely made the night more enjoyable. My parents met us out there, which is pretty cool. The game was actually exciting. We won in the top of the 9th when we threw out a guy at home. It was a pretty edge of your seat kind of night. It took a while for my favorite beer man to come to our side of the stadium, but alas, he did! He told us about Old Mother Hubbard and The Old Lady That Lives In the Shoe. He was wonderful, as always. Here are a few pics from the night.


As for today... Happy Independence Day America!! I am so glad we have this wonderful day to celebrate! Deni and I ran the Firecracker 5K this morning. It was quite an enjoyable run. Slightly overcast with a bit of a breeze that made it seem a lot cooler. Tonight I am going to go eat some grilled food at the Welch's and watch the fireworks at East Ridge. Some guy is paying Matt to help him set up and clean up their fireworks show. It should be good.

drawring

The internet went down at work today. This did not mean that I could not do work. I just like to pretend that it did. So, I started doodling. Well, then the internet came back. But I kept doodling, because it's practically Friday and I was tired of working! This was the result.

I ran out of paper or it may have been grander. I now have 18 minutes until I get to blow this popsicle stand. And I'm pretty pumped about my evening plans. We are going to the Captain's baseball game! In honor of Independence Day, the Captains will play in camouflage uniforms and there will be a postgame fireworks show. I realllly love fireworks. I am even more excited because Matt bought me this ----------------------->

Now my back and booty will be confortable. To make things EVEN better, I found out that they still sell ice cream in the small plastic baseball hats. The past few times we went, all I could find was candy being sold in the hats. But tonight, I am on a mission to find the ice cream that I have been assured still exists. What a great way to start a 3 day weekend!!

Oh Happy Day!!

September can not get here fast enough! I will be eligible for a cell phone upgrade September 6th. My birthday is September 24th. Do you see where I'm going with this?? Matt told me last night that I can have an iPhone for my birthday!! I did a happy dance that involved shaking my rump and randomly throwing punches in the air. It was nice.
So I started looking for apps. Here are a few that caught my attention. (Feel free to suggest some rockin' apps that I will not be able to live without.)

Yoga Stretch
Gascubby
Home Sizer
G-Park
Urbanspoon
Save Benjis
Scrabble
Bento
DIRECTV (if we get that for our TV in NOLA)
iOwn
Shazam
1password
Enigmo
Books
MobileCast
mint


I need to work on my "I love your new (HORRIBLE) haircut" poker face. I don't think I'm very believable. But come on! Shoulder length, oddly angled, butt cut! It's just not attractive!

Yesterday Matt went to the Sportspectrum sidewalk sale and bought new pair of running shoes so that he can start running with me more. He also got a pair of Birkenstock clogs. He said that he finally gets to scratch the clogs off of the "want" list that he made his freshman year of college. He said that I should make a want list.

My Wants:

Chaco ZX/2 Unaweep - preferably teal (hopefully before my trip with the middle school youth to camp)

King Sized Bed

iPhone 3Gs (I'm looking to make this happen when it's time for my upgrade in September - fingers crossed)

Hookups for said iPhone to play music in the car and in the home

Blu-Ray Player (I hear these play dvds, too)

Ironing Board

Big Flat Screen TV

Laptop (doesn't have to be an iBook)

Picture frames for a few unframed items that I have

Sewing Machine (along with a sewing class)
Aston Martin DB9

Photobooks for the last 4 or 5 years worth of digital pictures I've never printed

Diamond Stud Earrings

Vacuum Cleaner

Bicycle (maybe one day I can try triathalons)

Grown Up Computer Desk (to go with a whole grown up house)

"B" Monogrammed bathroom towels, kitchen towels, and sheets

Vegetable/Herb Garden wii Fit (I'll have to give the Stoll's back one day...)
wii Active
New Super Mario Brothers for the wii

Ski Boat

Super Comfy Desk Chair

Kitchenaid Mixer (the thing every little girl dreams of)

DVR (so I don't miss my programs)
Living Room Furniture Set (again to help with the grown up house)

Constantly updated wardrobe/shoe collection/purses (I'm not sure if this goes on the long term want list, but I always want new clothes, shoes, and purses)

This list is obviously not complete. I think of things daily that I need, I mean, want. But as I sit here at my place of employment, this is all that comes to mind.