Happy Birthday to JT and Jonathan!!!

Happy Birthday to JT...I dig you. Also, a bigger shout out to my good friend Jonathan! IHave a great birthday and I hope your baby girl comes today...what a gift!

*Today I am thankful for Tricia. I've missed you and loved our time last night! Love Love Love you Sis!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

A Big Shout out to my mom...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I love you and I am thankful for you today!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!

Would you rather be compelled to sign off on all your phone coverstations with "Ain't no thang" or tag "Holla" at the end of all your sentences? Death is not an option.

*Today I am thankful for Egg Plantation....yummy.

I Heart Palm Springs...

It was so beautiful this weekend. I couldn't of asked for a better time away. Holly, Lynn, Mandy and I set out at 1:30 on Friday afternoon. We stayed at the Westin Villas and had our own little apartment with patio all weekend. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect.

We went out to dinner at the Yardhouse and hung out in our Villa Friday night. Saturday we woke up with breakfast on our patio and just lounged for a few hours. Then we went and worked out, back to get ready, went for manis and pedis and then saw Slumdog Millionaire. (great movie!) Afterwards we went to downtown Palm Springs for some yummy Mexican food and then headed back to the hotel at 11 PM for some hot tubbin! We had so much fun playing stupid games, talking and encouraging one another and just relaxing. After a 1:30 AM pound on the door from security for being too loud we decided we better call it a night.

Sunday morning we packed up headed to the outlets and got home at 3:00. We all met up tonight at Grace Church! It was really good tonight. Rick Holland did a little interview with J Mac gearing up towards his 40 Anniversary next week. It was sweet.

*Today I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me with a great place to live and finances to go away with friends occasionally.

A Favorite...

Girls weekend in Palm Springs has been....relaxing, fun, packed, exciting, music filled, laughter, encouraging, up-lifting, short, filling and too short. I will give more details later but wanted to give a shout out to "Slumdog Millionarie". We saw this movie last night and loved it. It's up for some major awards this year and I really enjoyed it.

*Today I am thankful for PERFECT weather in PS!

I haven't fallen off the face of this earth...I am alive, well and kicking! :) I've received a lot of calls and emails seeing if I am alright because no one has heard from me....gotta love the Blog...bringing friends together.

I had a HORRIBLE bout of food posioning this week. People let me say...MISERABLE! A big shout out to my wonderful roommate Mandy who once again took care of me! (just picture me crying and laying on the bathroom floor between horrible bouts of regurigtation and calling for my roommate to bring me water!) Like I said it's over and I'm a new person. (Don't eat Chilli's enchilada soup....just ask Lynn who was also on her bathroom floor all night!)

Other than that work has been really busy....but a joy. I LOVE the people that I am surrounded by AND I've been trying to play catch up for Girls Weekend this weekend in Palm Springs. (to all my friends in the colder climates.....you really need to relocate!)

More to come soon....

*Today I am thankful for good health!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!

Would you rather make the sounds of the Bionic man when straining physically or make the sound of the Jeopardy theme when straining mentally? Things to consider: test-taking and working out.

*Today I am thankful that I am feeling better!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!

Would you rather dance to "The Hokey Pokey" before you're able to eat every meal at dinner time or would you rather have to sing Aretha's "Respect"? Death is not an option.

*Today I am thankful for a happy heart.

Tim Hawkins - Lovely Wife Song

I thought this was really funny. Enjoy.

I Heart Sundays...

I love Sundays. I get to go to church and worship the Lord, see my friends, laundry, afternoon naps and prepare for the next week. (Sunday night church is the best!) It's been so beautiful here. I am loving the weather and spending a lot of time outdoors.

I just finished the book "Crazy Love" and it was really good. I'm going to go through it with a girl I meet with. It really makes you think about God and long for Him and really love Him for who He is. It also convicted me about where I spend my time and money. I live a rather comfortable life and work hard to be live comfortably. This book really challenged me on that. Do I help those in need enough? AM I living for heaven? Is my faith REALLY an authentic faith that addresses the problems in this world with a radical even tangible solution? It's so easy for me to become complacent and I've been really challenged by that. I recommend this book.

*Today I am thankful for Grace Community Church.

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!?

Would you rather have your height fluctuate from day to day or your age? Death is not an option.

*Today I am thankful for my sweet ride.

My Favorite Birthday Wish....

This was a video that my brothers back in Iowa sent me (and their mom and my DEAR friend Debe). They are so talented and cute. I love you Jesse, Aaron and Debe.

30's the new twenty...I'm still so HOT!!! (Jay-Z)

I haven't paid much attention to my birthday this year as I didn't want to make a big deal about it. (actually I didn't want to think about it! :)) Yet, my wonderful friends decided to throw me a suprise party to celebrate. I was suprised. I thought i was going to dinner with Kelli, Lynn, and Tricia but as I walked into Tricia's house everyone suprised me. It was really special and one more way that my friends have gone out of their way to show their love for me. I was given an abundance of sweet gifts and gift cards, there was a good spread of food and fun fellowship. Thanks to everyone for making it so special and ESPECIALLY thanks to Lynn, Kelli and Tricia for planning a rocking party. I must say...I have never felt better! God has done some major work in me and I am so thankful that He has me right where He wants me! He has been faithful to this girl!


*Today I am thankful for God's goodness to me. (I'm also thankful that my birthday cake said "Holla!"

A Year in Review...

It was a year ago that I posted my New Years Resolutions. A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change.
A year ago I resolved to:
1. Time spent in the Word and prayer daily.
2. To live with all my might (don't waste time).
3. To live in such a way that the Lord can say "Well done good and faithful servant".
4. Listen more talk less.
5. Exhibit humility.
I have thought about this list numerous times over this last year. This year has been a year full of trials but it has been a good year. I wouldn't trade this year for anything as I have grown so much and the Lord has used this time in my life to teach me some great things! I have grown to love the Lord more and see the blessings that He has given me and He has given me them abundently. I have been even more overwhelmed by the people who He has put in my life. I am so loved. I don't say that proudly (hence #5) but with all humility. I know there are so many people loving on me and praying for me that it's a bit overwhelming at times. I am so thankful for these gifts in my life.

#1:I have clung to the Word this year so spending time daily in prayer and the Word has been a joy.
#2.."To live with all my might". I could always be improving on this one. I don't think one can ever do enough. I am a home body. I love to be at home chillaxin' but I have made it more of a point to be with people and invest in their lives. I see how God has used me in this way and I have been super blessed becasue of it.
#3: "To live in such a way that the Lord can say "Well done good and faithful servant." I have a ways to go on this one. The work that needs to be done is more internal than external.
#4: "Listen more talk less." This is a work in progress but I am growing. I need to continue to grow in this with #5 in mind.
#5: "Exhibit humiltiy." I am understanding more and more about pride and how it manifests in my life. This is a contiual work and people showing me this in my life.

I am keeping all the same resolutions for next year with the following additions:

1. Run in a half marathon. (Caitlin...we CAN do it!)
2. Do more random acts of kindness.
3. Give more money to those in need.

Press on with me friends.

*Today I am thankful that Tricia is back home and for getting to spend time with her this morning...i REALLY missed you!

Happy New Year...

I can't believe it's already 2009!!!!! CRAZY! It makes me sad to think my break is almost over. It's been so nice. Last night I went out with my good friend Patricia and we picked up our friend Denise half way through to celebrate in the New year. We went to a cafe on Ventura that was having a party. We didn't have reservations but we know the owner from going there before so he let us in! :) It was fun to be there and just talk with some girls I have come to love. Afterwards we went to our friend Amanda's who was having some people over. It's a great time to think on all the blessings of the last year. There have been many.

*Today I am thankful for good friends!