Lubbock: The Journey

These are pictures taken from the car on my iPhone on the journey to Lubbock, TX. In case you didn't know, I ventured to Lubbock with my friend Alyson this past weekend. She is from Lubbock and went to Texas Tech, so we went home to have a "girl's weekend" at her house! We had so much fun. The weekend started with a "mini blizzard" as we got closer to Lubbock. We had observed the temperature dropping as we traveled across the state. We started out at 68 F in Fort Worth and it had dropped to about 29 (if I remember correctly) by the time we were at her parent's house in Lubbock. Once we got on top of the "cap rock" (aren't you proud Alyson, I'm using my new vocabulary) the temperature dropped some more and there were snow flurries! It was so cool to watch the snow sweep across the ground. For those in MS, the snow here is so dry and light that it sweeps across the concrete as the wind blows. Below are some pics that show the snow blowing. Just look closely at the conrete, what you see blowing on the ground that looks like steam or smoke is actually SNOW!

 

I am having some problems with my other pictures of the snow. As soon as I've got them figured out, I'll post them.

Ripley's Continued

As you can see, we ran into quite a few people after Britney! First up was Johnny Depp on the set of his new movie. Such a nice guy--he even let me sit in a chair reserved for his co-star (who I can't name!). Then there was Oprah--and "O" did we have a lot to talk about! Then Michael sat down for a nice chat with David Letterman--he's always a funny guy! Then I got a piece of Dr. Phil! Boy wasn't that fun! Last (but most certainly NOT least!) we ran into Ron, Harry, and Hermione! AHH! The thrills never end! (for those of you that are completely clueless as to who those people are--you really should read Harry Potter...I'm just sayin'). Until next time America...you can Believe It...or...NOT!

Birthday Celebration--Believe It or Not! Part 1

Michael, Kristy, Deanna, and I got together this weekend to celebrate the recent birthday's of Kristy and me. We decided to go to Ripley's Believe It or Not and the following is just the beginning of our fun day!

**disclaimer**I am fully aware that there is a random picture in the top, left corner of my cute scrapblog above, but it doesn't show up in the scrapblog page and I can't find it to delete it. Therefore, just use your imagination to will it away.

First up at Ripley's, we ran into some rather famous people!

Oh Look! Its JFK!

And there's sweet George...he looks a bit frazzled though!

Sadly, Obama couldn't make it! Darn.

Oh Look! It's Britney! Hey Brit, do you mind posing for a pic?

Isn't she sweet! Always willing to give a fan a photo op!

Come back tomorrow to see what other big names I met!

Dinosaurs 2

These phtos were taken after we had enjoyed the attractions at Ripley's Believe It or Not! We were no longer concerned about being kicked out! Although Kristy was very nervous--she's the mother in the group! She kept worrying that I was going to have to get a tetanus shot because I was climbing Mr. Dino barefooted. (I thought that was safer than with flip-flops on!) Luckily, I've had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years, so I'm good. Anyhoo, good times were had by all! More on our trip to Ripley's to come soon!

 

Prayer Update

I just received word that my former co-worker, Debra Robinson, passed away this afternoon. Mrs. Robinson also taught me my senior year during the Block at MSU. Please continue to pray for her husband, family, and students as well as the Sudduth staff. Her husband lost his first wife five years ago, so this will be very difficult for him. She taught Kindergarten, so this is going to be a very difficult and confusing time for her students.

On a light note, my interview went very well yesterday. I should know whether I got in in about a month. Thank you for your prayers!

Please Pray

Please be in prayer for a former co-worker of mine. I just found out that one of the kindergarten teachers at Sudduth is in the hospital with a very bad case of pneumonia and is not expected to live. Pray for this teacher, her family, the doctors, and her students. Thank you!

Practicum Interview

I am interviewing to begin my Practicum work today at 1:00. I would appreciate your prayers! Basically, everyone has to go through an application process to start Practicum. Practicum lasts for 3 semesters and is followed by a semester long internship. If I get in this go round, I'll start Practicum 1 either this summer or in the Fall. If I do not get in this go round, I'll re-apply in the Fall and hopefully start in January. Anyways, please pray for clarity of mind so that I can clearly convey to my interviewer what God is doing in my life and where he is leading me in my ministry as a counselor. Sometimes I get nervous and forget important stuff! Thanks in advance!

Dinosaurs

*WARNING* If all goes according to plan, you should have lots of posts to enjoy this week! Rejoice, be glad!

Today's post is dedicated to the dinosaurs. Those big metal ones outside Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Grand Prairie. You know you've seen them off I-30. Here they are:

 

These photos were taken while we were waiting on Kristy and Deanna to arrive. We were being safe, so that we would not get kicked out before we ever got started.

WIND!

One thing about Texas that drives me nuts is the wind! It NEVER stops blowing! There is no point in even brushing my hair because its going to be a big rat's nest by the time I get wherever I'm going. I am accompanying my friend Alyson to Lubbock a.k.a. "west Texas", a.k.a. "God's Country" (in Alyson's opinion anyways) where the wind is supposed to be worse than it is here! I might blow away and end up on Kansas or something! At least you'll know where to find me because I warned you ahead of time!

 

Fun with PhotoBooth

I'm easily amused. Thought you might be too. Enjoy my silliness!

 

Texas Shower

I attended my first, official "Texas" shower last Saturday. My friend, Debra, from seminary and her husband, John, are expecting their first child in five weeks! I was so excited when I received the invitation to her shower. I mean, you know you've arrived in a community when you get a shower invitation. Anyways, so a group of 5 of use decided to go in together to get her a "big" present because as you know, bigger is always better. At least in my mind anyways (and my friend Leah agrees!). So we pooled the finances and bought Baby D (he doesn't have a name yet, so he's baby D) a high chair that attaches to a regular kitchen chair. It can be used for a newborn, baby, and toddler. I thought it was pretty cool! Anyways...I'm getting off the subject as usual! Leah and I head to the shower Saturday morning. (All the other girls had to work or prior obligations) We're following the GPS and we turn into the somewhat sketchy neighborhood. I was thinking...oh no...where are we going?!? We were a bit unsure of the correct zip code when we entered the address in the GPS soo anything could happen (note for the future, when you live in something as large as the metroplex, put your city and zip code with the street address on the invitation!) Luckily, just as quickly as the houses turned sketchy, they turned super, I mean SUPER, I mean better than Greenbriar probably even better than Bent Tree (That's a Columbus reference for my foreign readers) nice. Seriously, like one block was tiny little run down houses, the next block huge homes! We began to get a little excited. Then the GPS says, "Arrive at destination on right". We look to our right to see this sign:

Valet parking? Seriously? We had just gotten done discussing if we were going to have to play those silly Baby Shower games! Obviously NOT! So...I asked Leah...Do I just drive up there? She said, "sure!" So we drive up there, and there are two dudes waiting on us. They open our doors. One of them carries in the gift for me. Silly me tries to walk in with the car keys! DUH! They need those! I get my little claim ticket and off we go to the shower! The neighborhood did not disappoint! Super nice house! Crystal and silver dishes everywhere! Plus...brunch was catered. OMG! Fancy food though. I had to stick to the fruit and the nuts. Nothing new for me though! Anyways, the rest of the shower continued as a normal shower should...eat...socialize...open gifts...oooo...ahhh...over cute baby items. Oh yeah, they had these fantastic chocolate covered strawberries. They were decorated with baby blue and dark blue icing. Really cool looking! All in all--Good morning. Lots of fun! Oh yeah--we got a party favor! This really good smelling soap! Fun Stuff!

Help Holli Get Home

Follow the link to read her story and contribute if you can.

Tea Party

How well do you follow the news? Did you know about the recent "tea parties" in protest of Obama's administration's responses to the current economic crisis? Well in case you missed all that...Here is my official report: Michael came home Friday, and told me to get dressed he had something to show me. I hurriedly dried my hair and threw on pajamas because he promised I didn't have to get out of the car. (Yes I was just showering at 5:30 p.m.--its Friday...my day off!) So we get in the car, and he told me he passed a protest on the way home! How exciting! He couldn't tell what they were protesting, so we were going to go find out. Turns out, they were protesting Obama and the current Economic Bail Out plan among other things. Here are the pics I snapped with my iPhone as we drove by. We drove by twice to make sure we got good "coverage". Some of the signs read:

Pay your own **** mortgage!

No more public money for private failure!

Impeach Congress and Obama!

I bought a house I could afford!

Keep talking President Obama...we are listening VERY closely.

This was all very amusing and interesting to me. We saw a news camera out there, so we made sure the check out the news that night to figure out what the deal was. Turns out, people gathered in 30 cities across the US to protest. The protest in Fort Worth went off without any major altercations...except for that one Obama supporter who went and tried to start something with the protesters. Anyways, exciting stuff. Don't see a political protest all that often in Columbus, MS!

Sorry for the blurry pictures. Michael wouldn't let me roll down the windows because he didn't want them to talk to us! Can't blame him. One guy did see me taking his picture and smiled and waved afterwards!

Surprise Celebration!

My friend, Alyson, invited me to dinner last Thursday night to celebrate my birthday. I must admit, I thought it a little weird that she wanted to take me out to dinner, just me and her, in celebration of my birthday, but I thought Hey! She's the best friend I've got here! Maybe its a Texas thing and went. She was so sweet! She had picked a restaurant that was known for its cheeseburgers because she knows its my favorite! So anyways, I digress. Michael had been teasing me all week about my "date" with Alyson on Thursday night. I was excited to get to hang out with her out of the school setting and just relax. So she picks me up, and we chat all the way to the restaurant--which was named We continued chatting on the way in, and as we're walking in I can't get the door open. She is just standing there laughing. I think she's laughing at me, but no she's laughing at our FRIENDS trying to hide themselves from me. As I look up, they're all shouting Surprise!! I felt so loved!!! Three other girls--Leah, Courtney, and Debra--I've met at seminary joined us for dinner. We laughed at the "adult drinks" list that Leah thought just meant they were large! (to her credit...a kid's drink is small!) We discussed serious topics like child birth and issues recently preached in chapel as well as just laughing and enjoying getting to know each other! We had a fabulous waitress who took great care of us, and we got free deserts because they dropped the ice cream cake they brought for me!

These girls are a testimony of answered prayer. I prayed all year before we moved that he would bring godly friends into my life, and these girls are just that!