The One on My 35th Birthday!!

Go me, it's my birthday! Go me, it's my birthday!!  (Puts crown away)...

Ok, here is a video of the mission trip we just took to Europe.  The pics go by a little quick, and I kept having to cut some out.  Now I know what a movie director feels like.  I didn't want to cut ANY of them.  

Sidenote: this video is as much about the lyrics of the song as it is the pics.  

PS. I'm a Texas girl, but you'll still get the idea.

The One About What I'm Into Right Now

1. Diplomas.  White w/red & blue lettering.  Kay Lynn Stacks.  Bachelor of Humanities.  Boom.  Bam.  What's up?
2. Bluegrass music.
3. Shoes.  More specifically, orange ones from Banana Republic.
4. Cruises.  As a graduation gift to self.  With Tiffany.
5. Art History.  Best class I've ever taken and I waited until my last semester in college!
6. Gavin.  Because he's mine and smart and handsome.
7. Our Team.  Because it's clicking.
8. Some other stuff.

The One About the Song I Heard on My Birthday

First blog of 2012!

I turned 34 a few weeks ago. There are several blogs in my head about that - but today I just want to say I love being 34! I heard this song on my birthday, and I've listened to it a lot since. I love being 34.


Brandon Heath - I'm Not Who I Was

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was

I found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I'm not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it's a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I'm not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe 'cause I want it so much
I'm not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

The One About December

Tomorrow is the last final of the semester.  I have just over a month of free time.  That is to say, no school. My last semester begins on January 18.  I'm super pumped on several levels.  One, I love - absolutely LOVE the three classes I am taking in the spring.  I'm excited about school for the first time in a long time. Two, it is (most definitely should be!) my last semester as an undergrad.  It seems a stretch to say that hanging a piece of paper on the wall will actually make me a different person, but I feel like it really will.  I haven't figured out exactly how I'll be different, but I think it requires a whole new wardrobe.

Anyway, here's a glimpse of my reading list for the month off:

1. Finish Engage by Nellie Searcy.  (I've started calling him Nellie now.  Apparently, I'll even nickname total strangers.)
2. Simply Strategic Volunteers.  I have a lot of volunteers.  It seems I should read a book about that.
3. The Accidental Creative.
4. Thoughts on the Creative Process.
5. Something fictional and really good.

The One About Why I Don't Blog

Here are some reasons I haven't been blogging:

1. I've been tired. 
2. I have a tv in my bedroom now.
3. I haven't been doing my school work.  Therefore, it would be wrong to blog.
4. I've been putting my creative energy into other things.  
5. I'm lazy sometimes.
6. I haven't been cleaning my house.  Therefore, it wouldn't be right to blog.
7. I've had too many ideas and can't decide which ones to develop.
8. I've spent a lot of spare time practicing guitar.  (Not sure why 3 & 6 don't apply to that one.)

Anyway...

The One About Friends. Or Drama. Or Friends and Drama.

This is an intro to a post I started back in July...

I said something stupid the other day.

Surprised?

Me either.

Talking about girls and their drama, I commented to another counselor at camp, "See?  That's why I don't have any friends, right there.  I hate that stuff."  Girl drama.  And the other counselor laughed, but then made that "Awww" sound that we make when someone says something that makes us feel sorry for them.  I was really just being silly when I said it, and was emphasizing the fact that I hate it when girls do drama, but in the two weeks since, I've thought about it no less than ten times.  Why would I say something like that?

I came home and the fuel pump promptly went out on my car.  Two friends came to the rescue to get it to my house.  Another set of friends loaned me their car for an entire week.  


And here is what I want to say about it now...


I've learned a lot the last few months about friends.  It takes a village to raise a child.  It takes a village to do almost anything.  Lately I've been saying, "it takes a village to run a ministry."  I've need a lot of help recently.  And the Lord has just shown me every day what it's like to have friends.  Good friends.  The kind you consider family.  I'm not ready to unpack the last few weeks...but I've learned the value in telling my friends I love them.

"See you in the morning.  I love you.  We're gonna get through this."
"Love you.  Mean it."
"Love you guys."

It's a weird thing to tell another grown up that you're not in a relationship with or that's isn't family that you love them.  I didn't grow up that way.  I don't remember ever seeing it or hearing it done.  But God has put people in my life that love me, and he has knit our hearts together in such a way that I'm amazed.  I'm grateful for these good people.

Anyway, I think the original point of the post back in July was that almost as soon as I said I didn't have any friends, God started showing me I do.  I love the way I can be His child and He shows me truth in my life.

The One About Disney World

Best. Vacation. Ever.