Talk Saturday // What the Heezy?!

I just now realized that we didn't Talk Thursday it up this week. Shame on you for not reminding me! =)

Since it's now Talk Saturday and I've just returned from the Show-Me State and the Volunteer State and am wishing I was still there...

Where do you want to go on vacation? Do you get to vacation this summer? Pick your place and tell us your grand dreams of getting away. 

Families

Families are weird. But well worth the weirdness.

And that's all I have to say. 

Diary of a Traveler, Day 6

Well, we got Heather all graduated, Lydia married off, Emily's birthday celebrated and my Missouri fix. =)

After a 16-hour drive, it's Tennessee time and soon I'll be in the holler. Which means no phone signal, no internet. But at least I'll be with the fam. And where the blacktop ends, which has been on my mind as of late. 

So I hope you all are doing well and I'll let you know how things are going down here in the sticks when I can. Pictures to come!

Sincerely,

Sarah

This is Rachael and I about three hours into the road trip. Thank You God for Mac and Photo Booth to keep us entertained.

Talk Thursday // It's That Time of the Year Again

Today we went shopping for my youngest sister's prom dress. Finally, after looking through ball gowns, formals, and skanktastic eyesores, we hit the jackpot. Dillards, thank you very much. 

And it got me to reminiscing about my own prom experience. I went with my friend, Sara and our group of other friends, rather than go with a bunch of sweaty, spastic and easily excited senior high boys. I have heard of some prom experiences that were simply terrifying and some that were awkward. Luckily mine was just fun and friend-filled with very minimal drama. 

So I ask: what was your prom experience? Did you get to go to prom? Was it during a time of puffy sleeves (a la Pretty In Pink) or during a time of Fat Boy Slim (a la She's All That)? 

If you share, I promise to post pictures from my senior prom and from Rachael's. ;)

People Who Need People, Part 1

Animals fascinate me, as you well know. Very rarely do you see animals as isolated creatures; the majority of them live in packs or herds or schools or swarms. They are built relationally, communally. It is intrinsic to their very nature to be in groups, to be together. If they are separated from the group, they will die. This is understood for them. 

Interestingly enough, most people groups know this truth as well. They live in close-knit communities - tribes, clans, households. The identity of one person is bound up in the corporate identity. The two-thirds world (as the "third-world" is apparently now known as) understands the meaning, reality, and necessity of living communally and relationally. Almost every other people group in the world outside of North America and Western Europe live like this today. And even in America, hermits/reclusive people are seen as "social outcasts" - the weird ones. 

We are who we are only in relationship to others. No matter where I go, whether there are people around or I'm on a deserted island, I am and forever will be the daughter of Don and Juanita, the sister of Heather and Rachael, friend of Emily and Matt, college roommate of Adina. I am who I am in relationship to these people. We all are. 

Though community and relationality are seen all around us, why does the American mind refuse to see itself in terms of relationship? Why specifically does the American church fail to see itself as community? As the body of Christ? All too often, the American church is seen as "a church is often seen as a voluntary association made up of religious individuals whose allegiance lies elsewhere." (Drs. Brad Harper & Paul Metzger, Exploring Ecclesiology) Yet, that's not what we were designed for. 

We are designed and created for community, for relationship. It is who we are. 

How then do we live like it?

Talk Thursday // A Little Change

Is there anyone else out there who craves change? Who needs it to get by? I'm one of those crazy people who, in an attempt to stay sane, has to rearrange the furniture in her room at least once every two months or so. It happened all through college and has continued on. 

Some people are highly averse to change. They notice when a picture gets moved, shut down when job descriptions are modified, can't handle the new landscaping on the side of the highway. 

So I ask: are you a changer or a stability-type of person? Are you both? How do you stay sane? =)

Summer

It's my first day of summer. At least, according the Multnomah calendar. What am I doing? - laying in bed blogging. And it's raining. 

All of these things are not what I expected summer to be like. I expected SUNSHINE (is that too much to ask for? It IS summer...); I expected to have a job (still none on the horizon); I expected to have more of life together (nope - life is falling apart). 

But God quietly whispered, "AM I not still in control? Do I not have your best interests in mind? Don't you know I love you?" 

And to be honest, I don't remember. When things are falling apart around me and I just want to hide out, I fail to think of the promises of the Lord. 

Lord, help me to remember that You DO have my best interests in mind and that You ARE still in control. Cause I won't remember it if you don't help. 

In other news, I'll be in  Missouri next week. And Tennessee the week after. Praise Yah!

Talk Thursday // No Idea

My brain is fried. Simply fried. I've been (unsuccessfully) working on a paper for the last three days. After cramming for finals. I just want to go home and this semester to be done with....

So, I'm leaving today's Talk Thursday up to you. 

Tell us something about yourself.

Anything. We won't judge. Probably. =) 

So, c'mon, what's on your mind? 

Game of Non-Sequiters

I stole this idea off Alli Rogers' blog. Who is awesome. And who I hope doesn't mind if I steal from her. But she just had her baby. So maybe she's in a pretty not-wrathful mood. =)

Here we go!

3 things that are always in my fridge: Orange juice, eggs and bacon (apparently I love breakfast foods...)

Most recent guilty pleasure song: "4 Minutes" by Madonna and Justin Timberlake. It's old, but I like it. 

Favorite class from high school: Anatomy (yeah, it was... ;) )

If I could grow anything perfectly in my backyard it would be: corn. I mean, seriously, how cool would THAT be?! Stalks all tall and whatnot, in the middle of the 'burbs.

Talent I wish I was born with: playing the guitar. Then I could be the chick-version of this guy.

Color I would paint my fingernails if I didn't care what people thought of me: Orange. 

Moments from my most recent dream: This was from last night. I dreamt I was at some college, doing something and someone wanted to take some pictures of me for the school bulletin-thing. But then some girl told me I was too fat to be in the pictures. So I threw my Snickers Sonic Blast in her face. It was awesome. 

Favorite thing to find in your lunchbox as a child: A PB&J with BBQ chips in the middle (yum!)

Age you would not like to revisit: 13

Age you would like to revisit: 19

Book I still haven't finished but is on the top of my finish list: "The Life of Pi" by Yann Matel

Thing I'm most excited about today: The Veritas church BBQ tonight. And Dr. Pepper. And the sunshine. Ok, ok, I know that's three, but eh.... =)

So you can paste this into the comments and let us know what you're randomly all about. =)

P.S. Thanks to Shari's Restaurant for letting me steal wi-fi. Wow... I am such a klepto...