Fair WEATHER Fan

Ok, so i'm not actually a fairweathered Braves fan, i've rooted for the home team as long as I've lived in the ATL (which would be my entire life)...but today this title seems apropriate.

Apparently I have been hexed with the "Free Ticket Curse." Every time that I have been given free tickets to a Braves game from work, out of nowhere a mighty monsoon decides to grace Atlanta with its presence. Two months ago I received some tickets the afternoon of the game, and about 10 minutes before we got out of the car a torrential downpour covered the stadium (and us..who had no umbrellas, by the way). We waited out part of the storm like drowned rats with about 60 other fellow soggy fans in the neighboring KFC, only to dash over to the stadium in a lighter downpour and find out an hour later that the game was called. Bummer.

Today was no exception.

I enjoyed a beautiful ride with the top down to a relaxing outdoor lunch with some friends at around noon. At 3pm I was offered 4 fantastic seats to tonight's game, along with a convenient parking pass.

And right on schedule, at 3:30pm the rains, they came a pourin'.

Oh well, maybe they will hold out this time - or maybe i'll just get another shower... :)

Daylight Savings?.....Nah!

It's mornings like today that I wish I hadn't gone back to being a brunette, then I could just choc my stupidity up to having a 'blonde moment' and get on with my day...

I go through the exact same routine every morning...set my alarms (all 3 of them) - hit snooze about 10 times each, wake up late and scramble to get out the door by 8:15 to make it to work by 8:30 (I am so not a morning person). Now considering I went to bed extremely late last night, I might have been a little out of sorts when I woke up this morning. Maybe that's why I did what I did. I glanced at the clock....quarter till....shoot! I only have 30 minutes to get ready and out the door. I rush around getting ready, trying to find the clothes on the hangar that needed the least amount of ironing (and think to myself, 'I have got to start ironing clothes when I hang them up') and im out the door.

As I pulled out of the neighborhood and turned on my headlights, I thought to myself that we must be getting closer to the fall time change, because I never have to turn my headlights on. Either that, or its just super cloudy...and I kept driving on in sleepy oblivion.

It wasn't until I pulled into the parking deck at work that I think I actually woke up. I pulled up the ramp to the 2nd floor, and was surprised that there were available parking spaces...I always have to park on the 4th or 5th floor by the time I get there.

And that's when it hit me....it was 25 after SEVEN, not EIGHT!!!

How in the world I managed to get up and get to work an hour early, and not realize it until I got there is beyond me...either I was really, really tired or maybe, just maybe that blonde is seeping back through....haha. ;)

Happy Weekend!

I Wish For You

I Wish For You
By: Jessica Andrews

Time goes by so fast, and days they seem to dance
Into the distance till they're gone
If I had a map, to lead you down life's path
I'd give it to you, But I don't
So go on

Cry hard, laugh loud
Be humble, stand proud
And don't be afraid of your fears
Let love break your heart
Just be who you are
All of this
All that there is
I wish for you

You can never know which way your world will turn
How the stars are gonna fall
Salty tears they burn
There are lessons you will learn
But you'll be stronger for it all
Oh, yes you will

Cry hard, laugh loud
Be humble, stand proud
Hold onto your faith with all your heart
Be careful, Be brave
Be still, but don't stay
In any one place for too long
Remember God's grace
Give more than you take
All of this
All that there is
I wish for you

Weekend Seclusion

Friday night I ventured to Vevay, Indiana again...where everyone knows everyone, and where I have no cell phone reception (nice). :)

It was kind of nice to just get away, hang with one of my best buds (Casie), and not worry about what parties or social functions I was missing back home. We made our own schedule, and had some good old fashioned small-town fun. We went to Vevay's Annual Swiss Wine Festival, and it was exactly what you envision a small-town festival to be. It was funnel cakes and face painting, country music and corn on the cobb; crafts and carnival rides, and fireworks over the river. We watched a parade down main street, and I even got to judge the cheerleading competition! What fun!

Today, back to reality...but only for 3 days. Thursday it's off to Destin, and I can't wait! If anyone needs me, i'll be somewhere asleep in the sand...

There's God

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."
Proverbs 3:5

Sometimes in life we have what my pastor, Andy Stanley, likes to call "Where's God" moments. Moments when you look at a situation, and wonder how in the world God could let something like that happen. I'm sure many of my friends, as well as tons of people in the Atlanta area have felt caught in the midst of a "Where's God" moment this past week, as we watched a tragedy unfold right before our eyes. I was shocked when I got a text early Wednesday morning that a friend's mom, Jenny Ewing was missing. I immediately began to pray that she would be found, but as the hours wore on, I feared the worst.

When I heard word that her body had been found, I was horrified...and my mind instantly flashed back to a similar scene, when I mourned the death of two coworkers and friends, Lori Brown and Cindy Williams, who were brutally murdered in a random act of violence just three years ago. It's so easy to look at both of these situations and think..."God, where were you when this was happening? Where were you when these families' foundations were rocked to the core?"

As I sat in Jenny's memorial service on Monday, I was surrounded by "There's God" moments. I sat among hundreds and hundreds of people who were impacted by the life of this woman, and the events that led up to her glorious journey home...there's God.

I watched as one by one, her children, family and friends painted the picture of a woman who was a light to all who crossed her path. An incredible wife, mother, friend and servant of the Lord who left a legacy that many can only hope to acheive in a lifetime...there's God.

Jimmy said his mother always told him that the enemy attacks those who are a threat. This is so true. But over the past week, we have watched this family stand firm - firm in their committment to each other, and firm in their refusal to let the enemy get a stronghold on them...there's God.

It was just two weeks ago that Voddie Baucham spoke of his own family. With tears in his eyes, he said that every couple should live their lives and raise their children up so that when they are gone, their children are the missles that they fire out into the world to continue the fight against Satan, and to spread God's word far and wide. It is evident in the lives and actions of her children that Jenny exemplified this principle.

Also at the memorial, their family pastor read from Proverbs 31, of what a Godly woman should look like. Instead of being sad, I walked away from the service moved and humbled to hear the story of a woman who's life embodied this very description...

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain....Strenght and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue...Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her saying: many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all."

I am inspired and ever so humbled...There's God.


Bigger Than Me
By: Amanda Bailey

I'll admit I like to win
and hear a 'that a girl' every now and then
a pat on the back, a compliment, feels ok

I'd like to see my name in lights
and I'd like to sail my ship into paradise
I want things that sparkle and shine
but glitter fades

And at the end of the day
I want to hear them say
she gives more than she takes

Cause there is something bigger than me
How will they remember me?
Did I laugh enough?
Did I give, did I love?
Did I make an offering...to something that is bigger than me

I could quickly make a list
of this or that I need to bring me happiness
I'd like to be the best of the best at anything

But is it wisdom or age
experience or grace
that helps me find my way

To something that is bigger than me
and what I want the world to see
is it beauty from within
that only comes when I give unselfishly
to something that is bigger than me

Let the sun shine down on me
Let the wind blow soft upon my skin
Let the rain wash my fears away
Let me live if only just to live for something that is bigger than me

A love, a light, a legacy
I look in my daughter's eyes, I know I leave behind
A reason to believe
in something that is bigger than me

Home Sweet Home

This past Saturday afternoon was wonderful...I chilled at home. And by home, I don't mean Dunwoody - I mean H-O-M-E...where my parents are, where I grew up, and where I have all of my fond memories from the last 18 years.

Casie came with me - we went to hang with my parents and see my little nephew they were keeping for the day. She and I relaxed out on the front porch swing, and I remembered all those lazy summer days when I used to spend hours on that swing - writing, making up songs in my head and daydreaming about anything and everything. That little corner of the porch was my haven - my hideaway; it was my space that I claimed in the house. I camped out there on rainy days, wrote so many poems and stories, and when I was older, even had a first kiss there. Casie and I sat there and tried to remember what life was like before cell phones and boys, work and stress and responsibility... days when we could daydream about being a fairy princess rescued by her prince, and believed that one day we would live in a castle filled with anything we could ever want. I began to long for the days when all I had to worry about was what time Saved by the Bell came on, and which friend was going to come spend the night so we could stay up gabbing 'till the wee hours of the morning, ingesting every calorie in the pantry like we had the metabolism of a tapeworm and not thinking twice about it.

In the true spirit of reminiscence, we decided to "fast" from our cell phones. I did something that I haven't done since probably my freshman year in college, I (gasp) turned my phone completely off. And so did she. We hopped in the car and drove around the neighborhood to find a garage sale that we saw a sign for when we pulled in. As we drove around the block, I remembered it like the back of my hand...I pointed out where the bus used to stop for all my friends, the house of a boy I had a secret crush on, and all the neighborhood kids I used to babysit for. After some vintage record purchases (records.....do you remember them? I used to love to listen to my parents old 45's!), we headed out to eat lunch with the family. What a perfect day.

My head may be in a million places sometimes, but home is definitely where my heart is. :o)

Patience, Grasshopper...Patience

Isn't it so cool how God uses so many different avenues to speak to us? Here's my "God moment" for today...

Just last night I was talking with a friend about how lately I have felt conflicted, or maybe frustrated (for lack of a better word). I have been struggling with direction, and where the "next steps" should be in my life, mainly regarding career, but also touching on a few other areas as well. I knew a year ago when I accepted the position that I am currently in, that it was merely a "transitional" job; one that will add skillsets that I will need in the future, but ultimately serve as a stepping stone towards wherever it is God is leading me down the road. The uncertainty now comes in the question of "how long do I stay here, and where do I go next when the time is right?"

I am not one who likes to be complacent in a spot where I know I could be doing/learning/acheiving more. However, I also know that if God has ingrained nothing else in my head and heart over the past several years, He has continually challenged me with mastering the art of patience. In every aspect of my life, from dating to career to finances, to basically everything, the central recurring theme He has shown me has been wait. Yes, the four letter word that strikes fear in the heart of every Christian...W-A-I-T. But how do you make sure that your "patience" doesn't become "complacency"? As a child of the "microwave generation," its so easy to want something or to set a goal, and expect to have it immediately. I set my own timeline, hand it to God and say "ok Big G, here's what I want...why don't you see what you can do to make it happen in the next 30 days..mmmkay?" Uh...yeah, im sure (as ive learned the hard way in the past) God is probably taking one glance at my timeline and laughing hysterically. In one of my favorite books by John Ortberg, "If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat," he wrote something that stuck with me: "For good reasons, God does not always move at our frantic pace. We are too often double espresso followers of a decaf Sovereign." And he is so right. On the front end, we see something we want, or we discover a passion for something that God has placed in our hearts, and we wonder why we can't have it now. But on the back end, God is telling us to wait - maybe because we're not ready for it yet, maybe because He's still building the framework to make it happen, or maybe some other reason that we'll never know. But whatever the reason, He knows my whole story and He knows how the book ends, so shouldn't I trust that He knows which chapters to build everything into? Easier said than done.

I was that kid that used to beg my mom to let me open one, just one present before my birthday. I was sure that if I could have just one thing early that I would be content until my birthday got there. Wrong. One year she actually let me do it. I can remember opening that pink Barbie umbrella and being elated because I had pointed that out to her in the store months before. But I can also remember that the excitement lasted all of about an hour. After that I was dying to know what was in the other boxes...if I got one of the little things I wanted, there was no telling what else I might get..the possibilities were endless! I'm sure I pestered her until she was ready to tape my mouth shut that year, because I never got to open another gift early. On that same note, God doesn't give us things before we're ready because He knows we'll just be that impatient little kid who will never be content.

Back to the patience/complacency debate...as I said, ive been struggling with knowing that this role that I am in is only temporary. I'm good at what I do, I work hard to make sure of that, but while I do constantly learn things, I don't feel like I am being continually challenged. I know that I am capable of doing much more than what is in my job description. This is where I find my conflict. I've tried to be still and just listen to God - to figure out whether I need to continue to be patient as He prepares me for the next step in my life, or is it time for me to seek out a new challenge where I feel I can learn/do/be more? I've repeatedly asked myself (and God) why I am still in this role that I feel is holding me back from reaching my full potential?

Enter God stage left...

So last night, I just laid it out to God - talked to Him like we were chit-chatting over coffee. I told Him, "God, I'm confused. I don't know why I am still where I am, and I don't know when or where I am supposed to go next...you're gonna need to give me some directions here, i'm feeling a little lost, and a little bit like im spinning my wheels." Earlier in the night, I had told my friend that I feel like im ready for a next step, but that I kind of felt like maybe God is telling me to wait just a little bit longer, but im not really sure. I prayed for clarity and direction.

Ironically, expecting it to be a while before I got an answer (probably another test of patience), I got a little more insight today. (how fast!) I have a box sitting on my desk of daily devotionals - on one side it has a bible verse, and the opposite has a prayer for the day. I pulled out my devotional for today and here was the verse:

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."
-II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

And then I turned it over and read my prayer for today:

"O Lord, help me to understand the reasons for your chastening."

If you're like me, the definition that comes to mind of chastening is to hold back. I decided to look up the actual definition of the word. And as I thought, the first definition was along those lines.

Chasten: 1. to restrain; subdue

But then I read the second definition that was listed:

Chasten: 2. To rid of excess; refine or purify

Ahhh. Ok God, I get ya - you're coming in loud and clear. So many times we mistake God's timing as restraining us from reaching our full potential, when in all reality He's still doing a little refining "behind the scenes" to prepare us for what's ahead. I feel that my intuitions for (gasp) waiting just a little longer are right on...I don't understand at the moment exactly why, but I know He will reveal it to me in time, and I know that He will open those doors for me when He knows I'm ready, not when I think I am.

Ode to Casie

It's never a dull moment at the castle.....the "JC Castle", that is!

Ok so yes, we named our apartment, we're dorks....what else can I say? But maybe the fact that we're just cheesy like that plays into why we constantly have so much fun, and why I absolutely adore my new roommate! Casie, I love your guts...this shout-out's for you!

Now i'll admit, I had quite a few reservations about getting a roommate. In fact, I didn't want one. I was very content living by myself, as I have for the past four and a half years. I've come to enjoy having "my space" (and no, I'm not referring to MySpace, that's a whole different blog for another time, one that will probably be titled "senseless addictions I should probably purge from my life, but im too hooked to let go of..." haha). Having just settled into my new place back in March, getting a roommate was not really on the agenda. Then I met Casie, We became instant friends, and randomly decided to take a road trip to Indiana together, where we had the absolute best time! We decided that we had so much fun, why not do it all the time, and save money too! :o)

Life with Casie, so far, has never been dull. Since she is a lazy teacher and home for the summer, I never know what im going to find her up to when I get home. Monday I came home to find that she had hung a shelf in her room - but the story can't be that simple. The shelf was slanted so far, I dont know how her frames stayed on it - and so were the mirrors that she permanently stuck to the wall behind it...she proceeded to remove them (and part of the sheetrock) with Windex, so that she could straighten them up, and put more holes in the wall to fix the shelf. Needless to say, we were laughing our heads off, and she is no longer allowed to do any decorating in the apartment without direct supervision from me. :)

And to add to the fun, here's part of our conversation while she pushed me around in the buggy (er, I mean "cart"...sorry Casie!) at Target the other day. (yes, you read right, she pushed me around like I was a 5 year old kid...we got a lot of weird stares, but it was fun! :)

Casie: (looking at a dog carrier bag) "Ooh, look how cute this bag is! I have to have it for my dog!"

Jamie: "Uh, Casie...you don't have a dog"

Casie: "Oh yeah..."

Since im a fan of top 10 lists (they're so much fun), here's a list of my top 10 reasons why I love my roomie:

10. We are in each other's space almost 24/7, and have yet to get sick of each other!
9. When either of us is down, we know just what to do to cheer the other one up.....go shopping!
8. You just never know what random comment is going to come out of that girl's mouth at any given time, and it usually makes me laugh my butt off.
7. She loves double cheeseburgers as much as me, and we've been known to venture out in the middle of the night just to satisfy a craving....(we suck, dont we Cas?)
6. She's the best hairbrush singer I know.
5. She has the coolest family ever!
4. She will chase a bug into the hallway, but make me kill it with her shoe.
3. I come home for lunch, and she's still in the clothes she wore yesterday, and just woke up (ahh the life of a teacher, haha)
2. She picked up and moved from small town Indiana to Atl answering the call of God to be involved at NPCC - the girl has such a passion for Jesus, it's incredible! She's on fire for God and it shows in all she does. I truly admire her passionate spirit.

And the number one reason I love my roomie is:

1. Saturday mornings when we sleep late, she'll plop down in my bed and we giggle like we're 14 again while we talk about everything in the world, and plan another exciting weekend - it's a neverending slumber party!

Casie, you've made it to my Blog Wall Of Fame...feel special, 'cause you certainly are in my book - i'm so glad we're friends, and even more glad that we're roomates!

How great is our God!

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."
-Psalms 139:8-10

Tonight I tried to see just how far the far side of the sea is...and it's impossible. As I went for a walk on the beach this evening at dusk, and stood on the shore underneath the most gorgeous full moon i've ever seen, I strained my eyes to see how far I could possibly see... to catch a glimpse of what? I'm not quite sure. But what blows my mind is the fact that even though I can't see beyond the scope of the human eye, God can. He can do the impossible - He can see the farthest side of the sea, the heavens and everything in between, and doesn't even bat an eyelash doing so. He also sees the depths of my heart, and still showers me with grace, in spite of myself. Great is His faithfulness!
You're the name above all names
You are worthy of all praise
And my heart will sing
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD...

On the road again...

This time I flew solo...and it was fantastic! I love half-day Friday's at work!

After sneaking out of work at an astonishing 11:30am (a feat I rarely get to conquer), and having a great lunch (while meeting new friends!), I packed my bags and hit the road for South Carolina...a quick road trip to Hilton Head to spend some quality time with the family for the weekend. Since my parents and siblings were able to take off more work days than me, they were already at the condo - so I drove down alone. There's nothing better than being able to just take some time to close my mouth, open my eyes and ears, and bask in God's unyielding beautiful design in the landscapes all around me.

Apparently I was soaking in His glory a little too fast...or at least that's what my $180 speeding ticket concluded...oops.

Go figure that I drive 90 all the way there, and in the last 40 miles I get a ticket for going 75 in what I thought was a 70 mph zone (which actually turned out to be 60mph). Me and my stinking lead foot...oh well.

But even the speeding ticket couldn't put a damper on what was otherwise a fabulous drive. I just allowed myself to relax and try to clear my mind of all the clutter that has been my daily grind. Reeling in the warmth from the sun as I cruised with the top down, I turned my radio up and belted praise & worship music out at the top of my lungs, not even caring if I was on key! What a beautiful day to enjoy all the gifts God puts on display for us!

I'm here, and now after smothering my nephew in kisses (even though he's grumpy tonight and won't go to anyone but my dad), and spending a little time catching up, im off to go sleep with NO alarm clocks set for the morning! Tomorrow will be a nice relaxing day filled with napping, snoozing, oh and maybe a little relaxing. ;o)

Keep smiling...it makes people wonder what you're up to

Don't you just love it when your day gets off to a great start? It makes everything just that much better...

Today is a good day. I woke up on time (a rarity), and even had time to fix a cup of coffee on the way out. I hopped in the car, put the top down, and hit 11 of 13 lights green to make it to the office in record time (which also never happens). I settle in at my cube with my cup of coffee, and was elated to find out that my newest toy, my iTrip, will actually work on my little dinky radio that sits on my desk. Oh yes, I am quite content for the rest of the day knowing that my entire music collection is now at my fingertips all day long...my music can sometimes be my saving grace on stressful days - it calms me down, or revs me up when needed!

It doesn't even matter that some irate customer found his way to my phone line this morning and complained to me not once, not twice, but on THREE separate calls! For the record, I cannot activate/fix/repair/replace your phone...I just work in Human Resources for crying out loud people! haha. But it's ok - Mr. Groucho still didn't kill the happiness buzz that I have today.

Besides, his grumpiness was cancelled out when I went home for lunch and met Nate the Mailman, who was incredibly pleasant and overwhelmingly friendly. He took the time to learn my name so that he could put a face with the mail he was delivering, and apologized for only having junk mail to give me today. I told him I would rather get junk mail than more bills, but if he wanted to bring me a big fat check for a million dollars, or Mr. Right wrapped up in a nice little package, I would gladly accept them as well! He said he'd see what he can do. ;o)

Back at the office, my boss has left early for a weekend getaway, so I have a little bit of peace to catch up on the things I need to accomplish before I head out early tomorrow. I'm so excited, to only have to work 1/2 day tomorrow first of all, but also because im spending the whole weekend with my parents, sisters, brother-in-law and adorable nephew down in Hilton Head! It has been eeons since we've all been able to get away together, and im looking forward to the relaxation time just hanging with the family and enjoying their company. I'm driving down by myself, but im all set - I'll put the top down, my hat on, crank up Iggy (the iPod) and take some time to just breathe, soak in the solace of isolation, talk to God and maybe practice belting out a tune or two where noone can hear me mess up as I learn a new song. :)

Tonight...even better, dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday - sure to be filled with good food, conversation, and great fellowship! What a perfect end to a perfect day!

"Be happy, it's one way of being wise." -Colette

Memorial Day Mischief

Ahh...there's nothing quite like 4 days of friends, fun and sunburn all around!

As you know from previous blog posts, I LOVE a good road trip - and this weekend certainly qualified in my top 5. Our trip got off to a little bit of a slow start, taking us almost 2 hours to get out of Atlanta...gotta love that holiday traffic! I guess everyone and their brother (and their brother's brother for that matter) had the same idea as us...get outta town! But have no fear, we had plenty of iPods to keep us entertained while we sat in the parking lot we affectionately refer to as GA 400. About 7 hours and 200 girlie song selections later, we finally pulled into Destin. Poor Mark, he never had a chance to play iPod DJ with 3 females overruling him in the car. Needless to say, this is what he looked like after listening to our "chick music" for what must have felt like an eternity...


And wouldn't you know it, we got in trouble TWICE in the first hour that we were there! First, Kristin, Leah and a few of the other girls decided they wanted to go for a night swim...even though the pool was closed, and the gates were locked. They scaled the fence and hopped on in. Little did they know that there were security cameras all around the property, and before their fingers and toes could even begin to prune, a security guard came running out threatening to call the police! The girls shimmied back over that fence quicker than you could say trouble. Then just as all 16 of us decided to chill out, chat and enjoy the view on the guys' balcony, we get a knock at the door from security that we are being too loud and we have to move the party inside. Oops!

The majority of our days were spent lounging in the beautiful sand or at the pool, with a few volleyball games and a guys' golf outing thrown in the mix. Lesson learned: don't lather up in SPF 30, float around in the pool for 4 hours, THEN look to see if your sunscreen is waterproof (which it wasn't). Needless to say, aloe became our good friend. We filled the evenings with fun dinners out, and of course what trip would be complete without a little dancing thrown into the mix? Saturday night was dinner at Red Bar, and Sunday after dinner at Back Porch we hit up Baytown for some fun booty shakin', rolling back into the condo at about 3am. By the time we headed for home on Monday, we were burnt and tired, but it was well worth it. Fun times had by all!

And now, in true Letterman fashion, I will present to you the Top 10 Reasons I loved this weekend:

10. You CAN freeze to death at the beach in May...condo thermostats are posessed.
9. Surprise mystery guests are fun!
8. Ten girls in two bathrooms can get ready faster than 8 lazy boys.
7. Betsy can sweet talk her way to getting just about anything she wants (just ask the bouncer at Baytown!)
6. Go Kart races are fun, but you'll always catch Will "ridin' dirty"
5. 80's Mixes on iPods are the best for road trips!
4. Flipping Leah backwards off a deflating air mattress can never get old
3. New friends, new memories and endless laughs always make me smile
2. Food made with looove always tastes better (but not better than food fed via the airplane method)

And the number one reason I loved this trip...

1. You're never too old for a good 'ole fight-till-you-draw-blood game of spoons!

If this weekend was a preview for how the Labor Day Retreat will be this year, then I can't wait for September! :o)

Livestock in suburbia?

I saw the most random thing yesterday on the way home....

As I was sitting at the intersection of Glenridge Dr. & Johnson Ferry Road, I watched a very nice black Toyota pickup truck pull out of one of the upscale neighborhoods...with two BILLY GOATS in the back! In the infamous words of my good buddy Matt...what the pants?!?

Ok, yes I know this is Georgia, and it's not uncommon for people to let their dogs jump in the back of the truck and make a quick trip to the store...but I just don't see someone in a nice suburban neighborhood in Dunwoody saying "hey honey, ive got to run to the store and im taking the kids" (and by kids, I mean baby goats...yes, pun intended), then toss the goats in the back and head on down to Kroger? Hmm...not exactly something you see every day. I'll admit, I had to do a double take.

I laughed half the way home, and wondered what type of livestock or maybe even exotic animal I might see hanging out of the sunroof of a Lexus on Ashford-Dunwoody tomorrow...;o)

Wednesdays with Mema

With a busy and often chaotic schedule that keeps me all over the place, sometimes its nice to have just a little bit of pleasant consistency...

I know that I can look forward to this every week...I know that no matter what other crazy things are going on during the week, Wednesday evening means that im going to make the weekly trek up to Acworth for dinner with my grandma, a tradition we started when I moved a year and a half ago. She lives alone, and was so afraid that if I moved away from her (we used to live in the same neighborhood), that she would never see me again. So to make sure that didn't happen, I promised to come take her to dinner once a week to catch up, run some errands and just have quality time.

We go through the same routine every week - I call her when im on the way, and ask her where she wants to go eat. It's always the same response.."I don't know, where do you want to go?" When I get there, we ponder ideas of locations to eat while watching GSN (for those of you not in "the know", that's the Game Show Network....yes, ive gotten rather skilled at Lingo, Jeopardy and Who Wants to be A Millionaire...look for me on Wheel of Fortune one day!). One of her favorite things to do is have breakfast for dinner, so we frequent IHOP often...no complaints here, I love a good stack of buttermilk pancakes for dinner! One night, a man eating at the table next to us asked if we were sisters...we both looked at each other and died laughing. She was flattered (of course), I started to wonder how bad those smile lines on my face really were...but we both knew he was just a lonely old guy who wanted to strike up a conversation with someone...anyone, and flattery is always a good way to get people to talk back to you. Who doesn't like a compliment?!? ;o)

Our dinner conversations often center around the events of the week...the weekly bingo update with how many prizes she won, and of course how "so and so" wasn't there this week because they had health problems, or how "so and so" has a new great-grandbaby. I fill her in on my week, and then we'll often talk about her next field trip with the Senior Citizen group at her church, or how her next door neighbor is driving her nuts because he keeps taking her trash can from the curb instead of his own. And aside from someone mistaking us for sisters, we often have good laughs like the time that she tried to cut a baby tomato on her salad, but it flew across the table and landed in my drink. Our waitress saw the whole thing, and I thought she was going to fall in the floor from laughing so hard - we were all in tears.

Dinner is often followed by a late night trip to Kroger to pick up a few items, and get her weekly case of water that she cant pick up by herself. We do a little shopping, and when we get to the register, she always asks me if I have her "Kroger Plus Card" ready, and make sure to tell them to give her the Sr. Citizen discount! I just smile and say yes, as always (if I haven't gotten that routine down by now, then clearly there's a problem..haha). I'll fill up her car with gas (because she is still scared to pump it herself), and we head home.

Back at her house, im put to work...performing little tasks around the house that she needs help with, like changing light bulbs, etc. We'll sit around and watch her favorite Christian TV station, and sometimes we'll pull out old boxes of pictures to sort...we laugh (and sometimes cry...I miss my grandaddy dearly), and make fun of old hairstyles and clothes. But I always love to hear the stories that go with the old pictures of when they were young.

When it's time to go, she always walks to the door and says the same thing..."I love you, be careful, call me when you get home." Yes, im almost 26, and I have to call her every week to let her know I made it home safely...if I forget, she hunts me down. Even if it makes me feel like im 8, I happily oblige, because I know she does it out of love.

Our weekly rituals may be monotonous and expected, but I look forward to them every week. I know one day when im older, ill look back and long for that simple routine...so while I can i'll cherish every Wednesday, and all of the prized predictability that comes with it. :o)

Is it Sunday already?

I love the weekends...when else can you cram as much fun as humanly possible into a 48 hour period and not worry the least bit about sleep deprivation? (hrm...or maybe thats just me....but I refer you back to my motto in my very first blog.."ill sleep when im dead!") Sleep is highly overrated. This weekend, just like so many others, brings a smile to my face when I think of all the fun and excitement it brought about. I won't bore you with a play by play, but here's some of my highlights...

- New roomies
- Root, root, rooting for the home team with 25 of my closest buds
- Fireworks in the city skyline
- New friends
- Random detours around Atlanta (and when I say around, I mean AROUND...literally)
- Salsa shaking my 'bon bon'
- Late night heart to hearts in good company
- Sleeping in, even when we have a ton of things to accomplish
- One word...IKEA...enough said.
- Doing laundry, FINALLY
- Family dinners, lots of love and Grandmommie's home made cookies
- Amazing baptism testimonies
- Crawling into bed at 1am Sunday night, thoroughly exhausted, but already anxious to do it again next weekend..

Have I mentioned lately that I love my life...?

"Praise be to you, O Lord...Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you' you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

I'm in love...

...with my new ipod Nano!!! Now I can literally take the soundtrack to my life everywhere!

Yes, I know it took me a little while to get with the times - I'm usually the one on top of the latest technology (because im a techie nerd at heart, with a super cool exterior), but hey a single workin' girl's gotta pay the bills. Anywho, so last Saturday I finally spent about 4 hours loading my entire cd collection onto Iggy (yes, Iggy the ipod, I named it - I name everything-my car, our apartment, the plastic fish that used to sit on my desk...im retarded, deal with it), and started creating some really fun playlists. I love the fact that I can create crazy playlists like "Cheesy 80's Music" or "Line Dancing Songs"....anything to fit my mood! And I love the fact that if I want to pop in my earbuds and practice my John Travolta-esqe strut to the Bee Gee's 'Stayin' Alive', I can without ridicule from the outside world, because noone knows what im actually listening to!

I love music. I love to listen to it almost 24 hours a day, and I have been known to bust out in just about any song when random conversation triggers my almost ridiculously accurate memory of lyrics. I may not be able to tell you what I ate for breakfast yesterday, but I can spout out every single line of "Ice Ice Baby" on a moment's notice. (pitiful, yes I know - but you wouldn't believe how many times my lyric knowledge has come in handy!)

Seriously, if it weren't for the sheer fact that I would appear socially exclusive, I would wear my headphones everywhere I went. I can drown out the world, and surround myself in my guilty pleasure...music. It's my outlet, its my expression, and now thanks to Apple it's always at my fingertips!

Iggy, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship... :o)

I got tanked!!

And no, I don't mean that in the way you're thinking! Yesterday during lunch, I decided to stop for gas on the way back to the office. As I was listening to Q100 and pulling into the gas station, I heard them say to be caller 100 to win free gas for a month....and guess what, I WON!! Wahoo! The DJ thought it was hilarious that I was actually at the gas pump as I was winning, talk about irony!

Now here's the funny twist to the story...

So, as I pull up to the pump, my gas gauge is literally on E (yes, I procrastinated filling up when the gas light came on the day before, but I figured I would just stop on the way to work). What I didn't know (because im a new Costco customer, and this was the first time I used their gas station), was that they only accept American Express or their Costco card, to which I had neither...AND no cash on me. Normally this would not be a big deal, I would just drive across the street to another gas station, except there is NO gas station anywhere near there or within a few miles of the office. At this point, im running pretty late to get back from lunch. I figured I probably had enough gas to get back to the office, but I had no idea whether or not I could make it from there to find another gas station in the opposite direction.

When I left the office that afternoon, I prayed all the way down the parking deck that if I could just make it to the gas station, that would be super. :) I've never driven so easy in all my life - usually my lead foot likes to take the lead, but I was barely tapping the gas pedal for fear of using up the fumes I was probably running on by then. To make it more interesting, it was pouring down rain...wouldn't that just be the most fun time to run out of gas...rush hour traffic and torrential downpours? Nice!

Luckily I made it to the gas station with a sigh of relief. And next week, ill make sure my gas light doesn't come on before I fill up, compliments of Q100! ;o)

Don't touch my stapler...

I, like Milton, often tell people in the office "dont touch my stapler," but with good reason...you might get your finger involuntarily stapled off! You see, I have this electric stapler that sits on my desk right next to my computer. A week or two ago I noticed that every couple of hours I would hear a slight buzzing sound, and then ZAP...my stapler would automatically just staple (absolutely nothing), all by itself. (One time it went off with my hand dangerously close to it...I almost jumped out of my chair!) I determined that either my stapler was demon posessed, or it was the curse of Milton.

Today I figured out why it really goes nuts...

Since ive been working here, I always sit my cell phone in the same spot on my desk - next to the electric stapler. Apparently if you sit it too close though, the phone has the capability to transmit through the stapler! (kind of like when you put your phone too close to the tv, and you hear a chirping sound before it actually rings) I kid you not, as I am typing this blog, I hear it chirping again...creepy.

Which leads me to my next thought....if a cell phone has the power to make an electric stapler work all by itself, what the heck is it really doing to our brains when we hold it to our heads? Yikes!

And the moral of the story? Handsfree is a good thing....mmmmkay?

Chivalry is still hanging in there

Sometimes it's the little things that make me smile...

Yesterday afternoon I packed up my laptop and headed for home as usual. Onto the parking deck, where I waited forever on the eternally slow elevators. When the door opened I got on, pressed 6 and went straight to the back to make room for everyone else - it was 5:30pm, and a full house because everyone was anxious to go home. The door closed and I found myself in an elevator full of about 7 men (talk about lack of estrogen, ha!). They all seemed to know each other, carrying on various conversations about the events of the day, while I stood silently in the back corner, ready to breathe a sigh of relief as I get in my car and know im done for the day.

We took the elevator all the way to the top. Ironically everyone in there was parked on the same floor (which is uncommon, but im not complaining - that just means fewer stops and that I can get to my car that much quicker). And then something rare happened. When the door opened, every single one of the men stopped talking, stepped back and cleared a path to let me off the elevator first. It was like the parting of the Red Sea.....of men! Now I know what Moses felt like on a much, much, much smaller scale. ;) How polite!! I gave a nod and a thank you (hoping they didnt see the astonishment on my face), and went on my way. But as I walked to my car, I couldnt help but crack a little smile. Ahh, there are still a few gentlemen left out there who remember the manners their mothers taught them.

Boys, take note...it really doesn't take much to make us happy - even the simplest of gestures can make a girl's day. ;o)

I Love Random Road Trips!

So we're back, and in one piece...and oh what fun we had! There's something to be said for random road trips, I LOVE them! We packed a bag, threw in our favorite cds, a camera and our favorite snacks (not to mention a ton of caffeine), and made it to Indiana just before 1am. I dont think ive laughed that hard in quite a while - in fact, a few times I almost ran off the road. Here's an example of some of the dialogue that went down on the way up there... this was after stopping off in a gas station/Buddy's BBQ (yeah, odd combination, I know but the one next door was a gas station/Taco Bell/Dairy Queen...talk about weird!)

Casie: "We have to get going, we just wasted 20 minutes in that gas station!"
(doing what you ask? I have no idea...)
Jamie: "That's ok, ill make up for it with my lead foot"
(after about a 3 minute pause)
Casie: "Wait, I thought it was your right foot...?"

Ok Jessica Simpson...I said LEAD foot, not LEFT!!! haha. We had six hours of conversation like this, but by far my favorite was this dialogue after we got stuck behind a big slow 18-Wheeler that had the words "England" printed on the back of it...

Jamie: "That truck is so slow, I wish it would just go back to England, haha"
Casie: "Can it really drive all the way there, or is there water that separates us?"
Jamie: "Please tell me you're joking!"
Casie: "Oh you know I dont know geometry!"
Jamie: "Uh...Cas, I think you mean GEOGRAPHY..."

Yeah, that would be about the time I had to snatch the car off the shoulder and back on the road because I was laughing so hard! The rest of the time was filled with great conversation, and of course belting out a few of our favorite songs at the top of our lungs like we were rockstars (and yes we did this with the top down, so my apologies to those innocent bystanders who had to subject their ears to the debauchery we called "entertainment" haha)

On to the tiny town of Vevay (pronounced vee vee), population...about 3,000. To put it in perspective, I realized that the size of her town is about the size of the 7/22 crowd on a given Tuesday...HELLOOOO Mayberry! And it was everything you could imagine a cozy small town would be - one stoplight in the middle of town (no, im not kidding), two gas stations that closed before midnight, and Moe's steakhouse - the local hangout (and one of the only places to eat), where everyone dined and where we were welcomed with a warm smile....[cue Cheers theme song]. If you ever needed to find the policemen or EMTs in an emergency, you can bet they'll be eating dinner down at Moe's on just about any given night.

Ah yes, there is something to be said about small town charm - everyone knows everyone, and nobody locks their doors. And on Sunday morning, we all headed down to the Baptist Church. It was family Sunday - Casie, her sister and I even got up and sang a song for the congregation - a last minute decision by Casie which was pre-empted by an hour or so of practicing with "mics" (aka. hairbrushes) in her room late at night (see dorky picture). But it didnt matter that we weren't on the program, the preacher glady worked us in and we had a blast! After saying our goodbyes, it was already time to get back on the road again...

The trip home was just as much fun as the one up, but much more caffeine was involved. Who would have thought we could be so tired after visiting a sleepy little town? We donned our pj's and hit the road, making a 1-hour pit stop at an outlet mall, and of course what road trip would be complete without some gas station hot dogs? I think we consumed more junk in the car than all our weekend meals combined..yum! About 900 miles on my car later, we made it home sweet home...back to the land of sweet tea, hey y'alls, traffic jams and 1,000 Peachtree Streets. It's always fun to visit new places, but there's nothing like good 'ole A-Town! (and I think we even convinced Casie's mom to come see it for herself!) Monday morning, back to the grind, but our next road trip is already in the works....all I have to say is the next city better beware, here comes trouble!

And we're off...

I'm so excited about this weekend! Casie and I are taking a road trip to Indiana, another state I can check off of my "states i've yet to visit" list! Yep, we're rollin' out of town this afternoon with the top down, the wind in our hair, and not a care in the world or a schedule to go by!! I'm leaving all 4 of my alarm clocks at home (sad, I know), and im not looking at my crackberry, palm pilot or laptop if it kills me. I sooo need this little break. We're going to visit Casie's hometown, which apparently has one stoplight, and a population of about 3,000. Small town as it may be, I have a feeling they're still going to make fun of my southern accent, haha. Oh yeah, we're just two wild and crazy gals itching to get outta the big city for some R & R and a little road adventure...Mayberry here we come! :o)

Weekend update with Tina Fey...

Well, as I predicted in my last blog, this weekend certainly did not disappoint. I think I got about 6 hours sleep total over the whole weekend, but it was well worth it. A low key Friday night was followed by a 'get up at the butt crack of dawn for a 3-mile walk in the pouring rain Saturday'. Sounds miserable huh? It was actually a blast! A few of us gals decided that our team was just a little too quiet, so we took it upon ourselves to wake them up with a little booty shakin' fun! Oh yeah, we busted out all the old school dance moves, and even started up a dance party with other teams at the end of the walk! There was no way that we were going to let a little rain ruin our good time, or let it get down the spirits of those who were there for a great cause! You've never done a 5K until you've done the entire thing dancing and singing!

After the walk/dance party, it was off to finish preparing for the evening's big event - Parker's Jimmy Buffett birthday party. An afternoon of hard work paid off with a successful party that was a ton of fun! The CG clubhouse was very festive, donning leis, tiki lights and even "cheeseburgers in paradise" complete with mini umbrellas! A good time was had by all. But the evening was far from over! Oh no, there was still yet even more booty shakin' fun to be had, as a ton of us headed off to Hole in the Wall to dance the night away. I think I rolled into bed about 3am, and one things for sure - 8am came waaay too early. It's mornings like that I remember why I love my coffee maker... :o)

After a Sunday afternoon spent lounging by the pool and reading the last of my small group study for the week, a little early evening nap helped me prepare for another anticipated long week ahead. Ahh, back to the grind, but I cant wait to see what fun adventures next weekend holds as the girls head off on an out-of-state road trip which is sure to bring about more fun filled memories!

Ahh...it IS still under there!

It's Friday afternoon, and im feelin' pretty darn good...for the first time in about 4 months, I can actually see my desk under the stack of stuff to do! Yes, it IS still there! I was beginning to wonder if my desk was constructed entirely of paperwork, and I had even forgotten that it was an ugly shade of "cubicle tan." I'm checking off one more thing on my to-do list, and then im gonna make like a tree and get the heck outta dodge! (too many cliches in one sentence? I think so, but hey its Friday, who cares?! haha) I am going to walk out the door today and breathe a sigh of relief that my task list for Monday morning is manageable (plus my boss will be out of town, and I always get more done when that is the case). Oh yes, it is going to be a good weekend...

Broken

I cant just post this song without giving the story behind the song, so consider this your “Behind the Music”…;o)

I started writing this song Sunday, during Andy’s sermon (I know that sounds like I wasn’t paying attention, but really I was). Andy gave us 8 words that he said tell the story of the bible, and one of the words kept ringing in my head…broken. I couldn’t get past it. As he repeatedly came back to that word, I read Psalm 51:17…

“The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God you will not despise.”

As I sat and thought on these words, God just completely poured this song out of me..I swear it’s the fastest I have ever written any song in my entire life. It was the coolest feeling. Anyways, I know its hard to read just lyrics on a screen and get the whole effect of the actual song I hear in my head, but you get the general idea. :o)

Broken
By: Jamie Waddy 4-9-06

Holy one
Tonight I come
I bow down before you
Righteous one
The perfect son
I surrender to you

Free me from all my sin
Lord let me live again
I desire to seek you from within

(Chorus)
I’m broken
Make me whole
Fill my soul with you
And I’m hopeless
All alone
Your mercy pulls me through
I surrender all ill ever be
and reach out for your hand
I’m broken
Jesus, make me whole again

Boundless one
You’ve just begun
To reveal your power
Faithful one
For all you’ve done
I’m forever thankful

Free me from all my sin
Lord let me live again
I desire to seek you from within

(Repeat Chorus)

(Bridge)
(I surrender all)
All I have is you
(I surrender all)
All I want is you
(I surrender all)
All my hope is you

(Repeat Chorus)

©2006 Jamie Leigh Music

My Prayer For Today...

Dear heavenly father, I thank you so much for today, and for allowing me to have such an amazing life surrounded by so many awesome opportunities to seek and serve you. Lord, you know the desires of my heart, and my prayer today is that if my desires align with your plan for my life, then they will be done. But God, if my desires are not those same desires that you have for me, I pray that you will change my heart. I want to seek YOU and follow YOUR plan for my life, not my own, and I ask for your strength to change my heart if it is not your will. Above all else, regardless of what it may look like, I pray that YOUR will not MINE be done!

:)

Lessons Learned

"Lessons Learned"
Carrie Underwood

There's some things that I regret,
Some words I wish had gone unsaid,
Some starts,
That had some better endings,
Been some bad times I've been through,
Damage I cannot undo,
Some things,
I wish I could do all all over again,
But it doesn't really matter,
Life gets that much harder,
It makes you that much stronger,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.

[Chorus:]
And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night,
Every change, life has thrown me,
I'm thankful, for every break in my heart,
I'm grateful, for every start,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned.

There's mistakes that I have made,
Some chances I just threw away,
Some roads,
I never should've taken,
Been some signs I didn't see,
Hearts that I hurt needlessly,
Some wounds,
That I wish I could have one more chance to mend,
But it don't make no difference,
The past can't be rewritten,
You get the life you're given,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.

[Chorus:]
And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night,
Every change, life has thrown me,
I'm thankful, for every break in my heart,
I'm grateful, for every start,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned.

And all the things that break you,
Are all the things that make you strong,
You can't change the past,
Cause it's gone,
And you just gotta move on,
Because it's all,
Lessons learned.

[Chorus:]
And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
Everyday I wondered how I'd get through the night,
Every change, life has thrown me,
I'm thankful, for every break in my heart,
I'm grateful, for every start,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned,
Lessons learned.

Time flies when you're....busy?

It's 5:30 am on a typical weekday morning. I hear the faint beginnings of the first of many alarms start to go off across the room (a side effect of living by myself). After a few moments of sleepy haze, I hurl myself out of bed and drudgingly cross the room to hit snooze... and then I crawl right back into bed and halfway doze off until I hear the next sound in the round of attempts to wake my non-morning self up. This pattern continues for at least a good 30-45 minutes. The radio alarm next to my head goes off...it's now 6:15. I know I should be up already, and should be doing my quiet time, but my eyelids feel like I have small rocks holding them shut. I wrap myself up in the comforter even tighter, and convince myself that ill only snooze another 10 minutes. Submerged in sleepless oblivion, I try to decipher if the traffic report I hear and the celebrity gossip is really on the radio, or if im having another dream.

I look at the clock...dang. It's 6:50. What happened to the 10 minutes I was just going to "rest" through? Now I have 35 minutes until I need to leave. I scramble to jump out of bed and get ready for work. I dont have time to do my whole bible study (we're doing a Beth Moore series in small group). I decide that ill take my lunch break to complete today's lesson. I rush to get dressed with as little ironing as possible, and im out the door - squeaking into the office just in time.

Work is so busy that the morning seems to fly right by. I glance at the clock, it's 11:15. I decide that I will take lunch at around 12:30, go lock myself in the supply closet and do my lesson. The next thing I know I look at the clock again and its now 2:45, so much for lunch. I scarf down whatever snack I have in my desk or grab something out of the vending machine and keep plugging away. I make a mental note that ill do my quiet time when I get home. Ahh, but yet it's another typical busy weekday evening, and I find myself getting home late. I muster up enough energy to go check my email. I respond to about half, and save the rest for later...ive been staring at a computer screen all day, so by this point another computer screen just makes my eyes burn. I throw in a load of laundry, wash my face, and collapse sometime around 1am.
This is often my weekday trend...notice something I missed? Oh yeah, I never got around to reading my bible that day like I said I was going to. It's such an easy pattern to fall into. I had every intention of doing it, but it (like it often does when I get slammed) got pushed by the wayside. Sure, I talk to God all day - I pray constantly...that should count for something right?

Well, yes and no. Yes, God wants us to talk to Him on a continual basis, but he also gave us His word for a reason, we're supposed to LEARN it! I dont think I would feel very comfortable going in for surgery if my doctor said "yeah, I kind of skimmed the med. school books..I can wing it enough to figure out what im doing"...uh, no thanks - ill keep all my organs in tact please. Same principle applies to us - how are we supposed to display God's word to others and convey it to those who do not know Him, when we ourselves dont dive into it daily? I have been convicted about this for some time, but hearing David speak about it last night at 722 confirmed the convictions of my heart. It's so easy for me to get distracted with all the other things on my plate, and put reading the bible farther down on my list. But how am I supposed to be achieving His full potential for my life if im not doing the homework? I could slide by sometimes in high school without reading the chapter, but real life's a whole different ball game.

I went back and re-read Psalm 119:97-112...

"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow you righteous laws,
I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.
Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.
The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end."

Wow. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. God doesnt command us to read His word to punish us and make us feel like we're always in "class"...He loved us so much that he GAVE us His word so that we wont fall flat on our faces every time we try to make a decision on our own. I mean seriously, who tries to put together a bomb without reading instructions first? Not reading the bible on a consistent basis is like walking through a mine field blindfolded and without a map. If you could only see, and you could map out exactly where the explosives were buried, your chances of being blown into bits would be far less than if you just aimelessly tried to wander through it all by yourself.

So tonight I pray for discipline. Discipline, diligence and commitment to immerse myself in His word every day...I've hit enough mines of my own, and from experience, I prefer to have the map.

JW

Let's talk about investments...and no, I dont mean banking...

Ok so I know there's probably some cardinal rule that says you cant post two blogs in one day, but I just have a lot on my mind (and technically its after midnight, so its not the same day hehe), so im throwing caution to the wind! Wooo watch me go..(she says with heavy sarcasm) :o)

Tonight I had an amazing time getting to know two amazing women. In a social group that is so large such as the one my friends and I have, it is often pretty difficult to dig deep and truly invest in a lot of people. But this is my passion, and this is what I feel is key to friendships - investment. Sure, its easy to be that "superficial surface friend" who says hey in passing, maybe throws out a half-hearted 'how's life' when the opportunity strikes, but I strive NOT to be that person - to me its a waste of time. Why hang out with people you're not willing to invest in and grow with? It would be incredibly selfish of me to not reach out to those around me and share with them the joys, wisdom, trials and experiences God has clearly guided me through for a reason. If He wanted us to live our lives in solitude, and to endure good times and bad alone, He would have isolated us all. No, God puts us through some of the trials in our lives because He is inadvertedly using us (whether we know it or not) as vessels to reach out to others. So maybe the next time you're going through something tough that might even make you question God's faithfulness, take a moment and pause. Reflect on it and learn - seek out what He is trying to teach you in that situation, and use it to glorify Him in any way you can. I personally see it as an honor when I can look back on a situation that I went through, and see how God used it, not only to test and teach me, but to touch someone else as well. I am so thankful that He is willing to use me, and that I am able to be that vessel for His kingdom.

And that's what tonight was about. As I sat there listening to these ladies' amazing stories, it warmed my heart, as well as opened my eyes to things in my own life and walk that I might not have seen on my own. I only hope that they had the same experience. Because that's what we're here for - to sharpen each other, and to hold each other accountable to the potential that God has created us to be. Who else but a true friend can hold that mirror to our faces when we dont even want to look ourselves in the eye? If you're my friend and you're reading this...that's what I want. I want you to call me out when you see that im doing something stupid, or maybe not making a wise decision - whether you think it will hurt my feelings or not. Invest in me. I will invest in you. We all become stronger as individuals, and in Christ, and we then in turn share that with those around us, and His light will continue to embrace everything around us until His joy just becomes so darn contagious!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
~John 15:13

JW

Head West young woman....er, I mean East

The times, they are a changin'! Yes that's right folks, im packing up and heading east...to Dunwoody (ha, ha), otherwise currently known as 'Fusion Social Central.' I will be gracing the ever-popular "CG" (as it is affectionately known) with my presence in just three short weeks. I think today the overwhelming feeling of how much stuff I need to accomplish before then actually hit me. For the past 4 months I have been shopping for a new place closer to work and church, but to no avail. Then randomly in the last two weeks, God just kind of lined everything up perfectly for me to move. I was even able to get out of the new year lease I just signed, without having to pay anything extra! (talk about divine intervention) It turns out that I wound up with a larger apartment, 5 minutes from work, cheaper than what im paying now, and right smack dab in the middle of all my best buds...talk about perfection!

I know it sounds weird, but even a move so small (it's about 15 minutes east of my current home) is a big deal to me. My current place is literally only the 4th place ive ever lived my entire life. I'm just not one who bounces all over the place, and I never lived in dorms, so "home" has always been one of those steady constants. But i'm incredibly excited about the new place, and having friends so close. I stay so busy now that I literally dont know a single person that lives in my complex, and ive been there a year! And for a social butterfly such as myself, that is rare - I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people and making new friendships!

So anyways, (are you keeping up here? I know my brain tends to wander to random topics...hence the title of my blog) I dont know if its the fact that my boss is out today, or maybe that ive just been so incredibly busy this week that my brain is on overload, but I have been a total slacker all day. I've spent a majority of my time making lists of what I need to do for the move, accounts I need to update, things I need to get, etc. (yes its the OCD in me) and trying to decipher how much packing im going to be able to cram in this weekend in between parties, haha. Do you ever have just so much on your mind, and so much to do that you kind of go kaput and dont get any of it done? You dont know which way is up, and where exactly to start. That's kind of how I feel right now. So ive chocked up today basically to a total loss of productivity for the things at work I need to get done...im going to have to hit the ground running in the morning to catch up for my brief moment of uncharacteristic slackness! (is that even a word?) Oh well, ill lather rince and repeat (much more effectively) in the morning. As Scarlett says, afterall, tomorrow is another day... ;o)

Welcome to my brain...

Hello!

Welcome to the innerworkings of my mind...readers beware! Haha, kidding! Ok, so ive been blogging on my myspace page, but I cant access it from work, and sometimes the mood just strikes me to write about something in the middle of the day, and so here I am...for your reading entertainment and my personal amusement. :o) I will confess...im a blog junkie - I love to write, so a blog is like the coolest invention ever to me...and I love to read all my friends blogs, it allows me to catch up on their lives and whats going on inside their heads, even when I may not have time to talk to them every day. I do lots of 2am blog reading, partially because im a night owl and never go to bed at a decent hour, and partially because im like every other 25 year old we know - my schedule is jam packed, im a workaholic, and 2am is the only time I have to myself to do some of the leisurely things I enjoy. My motto is "ill sleep when im dead." Heck, life is meant to be lived fearlessly and passionately, and I love to seize every amazing opportunity God puts in front of me!

So, anyways...hope that the musings of my mind dont bore you to tears, and I hope maybe they'll give you a little insight as to what im all about.

Hugs!
JW