Talk Thursday // TV-holic

I'll be real honest, now that a new season of shows has started, I have found that my conversations revolve less around my own life and more and more around the lives of fictional characters. And I don't just mean Bella & Edward.

So I think it's time for all of us to come forward and confess: what's your weeknight schedule look like? Do you make plans around your shows? What does your water-cooler talk consist of? (And please, if you don't watch/own a TV, good for you - I'm proud, really. But don't make us feel bad for our entertainment needs.)

For me:

Monday, 8pm - How I Met Your Mother - CBS

Tuesday, 8pm - NCIS; 9pm - NCIS:LA - CBS

Wednesday, 8pm - Glee - FOX

Thursday, 9pm - The Office; 9.30pm - Community - NBC

Sunday - Seahawks football

Since I'm in class on Monday nights and don't have a TV yet to watch Wednesday & Thursday nights, Hulu is my friend. I can catch all my shows with relative ease at any time. Unless the free network I'm pirating internet from gets locked. In that case, I'll probably be calling one of you to let me come over. =)

What about you?

Morning Distraction

Because I read Stuff Christians Like, I'm inevitably introduced to things that I would never find on my own.

Last week, I followed the link over to Tyler Stanton's blog. I warn you now...if you're at work, do not do this. If you sit in a cubicle, surrounded by 15 people who answer phones or if you have to answer phones, do not go there. Wait until you can get home and laugh without restrain. Because unfortunately for my co-workers, I have the laugh of a hyena. And a donkey. And a midget on steriods. Combined.

This is one nugget of hilarity contained within the confines of Tyler's blog:

Seriously.

I have been laughing at this blog all morning. I now want to share the joy.

And if you know of any other blogs that crack your stuff and that can contribute to my workday distractions, please list them here.* If yours is hilarious, please let us know so we can all experience the mirth.




*If my boss reads this, this post was for the sake of posting and not because I actually read blogs at work...

Fall - I Forgot How Much I Missed You

You give me beautiful fall days in one of the most gorgeous places in the world...

You give me browns and oranges and reds and crunching...

You give me the opportunity to wear cardigans and scarves...

And you give me Seahawks football...

Thank you, Fall. Thank you.

Talk Thursday // Defying Gravity

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down

I'm through accepting limits
Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!

What are you dreaming of defying gravity for? Do you have any big dreams that you're ready to pursue and chase after? Even if it means people think you're crazy or foolish or....Wicked?

I haven't figured it out yet for myself. But I'm ready to have that dream. I'm ready to defy gravity. Thanks Elphaba!

Wednesdays are the new Mondays

I'm only at work 3 days a week.

By the time I get here on Wednesday, other people in my office are 1/2-way through their work week.

It puts us highly off-balance in terms of energy.


I think I'll need another 4 or 5 cups of coffee....


How's your Wednesday going?

On Why I Forget Jesus isn't Keith Urban

Confession: I have a major jones for Keith Urban. I think he's smolderingly gorgeous, extrordinarily talented and he's from Australia - the trifecta of attraction, really. At his Escape Together concert the other night, I was entranced. As his high-power guitar riffs wailed through the Tacoma Dome, I was so completely overwhelmed and caught up with the music that I didn't even know what I felt. At one point during the concert, he even came within about 10 rows of us. Momentarily, I weighed the option of tearing down those steps like a pre-teen at a Hannah Montana show or just enjoying the ride like a normal, sane 24-year-old. Lucky for all of us, option 2 won.

There are significant moments when I think Jesus is like Keith Urban.

Is it the hair? Maybe....




But really, I think it's mostly that I treat Jesus like some eternal, cosmic celebrity.

As much as I like and respect Keith Urban and would love to be his friend, I'm not. We don't have a relationship, he doesn't know me. I don't know who he is or what he's about. I know the music he has written or played and I know who he's married to, but really that's where it ends. There is nothing substantial drawing us together.

I often think of Jesus the same way. I like and respect him; I would love to be His friend; I know about who He is, and really, sometimes that's where it ends.

Except that it's completely not true - we are intricately and substantially draw together. Jesus knows me - intimately! We are friends (even when I forget); I know what He's about because He's told me and left a love letter unpacking the details. I even know who His bride is - it's me! Whenever I hear His love song, I get overwhelmed and in awe of the power of His music. He'll even come within a few rows of me, but because I don't want to look insane, I choose not to run and embrace Him.

Keith Urban will never stop his concert, step up to the mic and say in his sexy, Aussie drawl, "Sarah Nicole Lewis, I love you. Escape together with me."

But Jesus would. And Jesus did. He didn't stop a concert - He stopped the power of sin and death and said "Sarah Nicole Lewis, I love you. I love you when you forget that I'm intimately involved in the details of your life. I love you even when you don't want me to be involved. I love you when you compare me to a country music star and forget that we're friends. I love you because of your loud laugh and your expressive nature and your big hair. I love you so much that I died and came back to life so we could be eternally and completely drawn together."

Keith Urban may be super talented and Nicole Kidman may be a lucky, lucky woman, but at the end of the day, Jesus knows me.

And I'm good with that.

Talk Thursday // New Things

If we're friends on Facebook, you've probably noticed the many postings about my new apartment and my moving processes. Which I am sorry for, by the way.

If we're not friends on Facebook, that's weird and we should be.


Anyway, as of Saturday, I will be a new resident of Maple Valley, WA. Federal Way will sadly be short one loud laugher.

But it's a new change...a big change. I won't be living with my parents, I'll be living on my own, I'll have to actually cook meals rather than just live off Easy Mac and cereal. (Who am I kidding? Of course I'll live off Easy Mac and cereal...)

There are lots of big changes going on for a lot of people. So share yours. Are you excited? Are you nervous? Do you think you're going to chuck? (Maybe that's just me...) Let us know. Nothing is too small or dorky to share. If it wasn't for the move to the MV, my change would be my underwear. And yes, I would share that with you all. ;)

Monday's Word of the Day

I've used this word before, thinking it was modifying some noun. No no....it's an actual word.

crapulous

\KRAP-yuh-lus\ , adjective:

1. Given to or characterized by gross excess in drinking or eating.

2. Suffering from or due to such excess.

How odd...

Have you ever used a word you didn't know?

Talk Thursday // Movies

I got a phone call this morning from my sister and her man. The first thing I heard was "Put your hand down, Little Steve!!"

For most of you, that probably doesn't tickle you the way it did me. But I know it's from Get Over It and it seriously makes me laugh every. single. time. I might have even chortled.

There are just some movies, some lines that stick with us forever. And there are those movies that, no matter what, if it's on, I can't help but watch.

So...let's discuss: what are those movies that you just have to watch? What are some lines that you've heard that make you laugh every time?

Mine are:

* Anything by Mel Brooks ("Would you like to roll in zee hay?" "Roll, roll. Roll in zee hay....")

* Wayne's World ("She will be mine. Oh yes. She will be mine." "If she were a president, she'd be Babe-raham Lincoln.")

* Tommy Boy ("Richard, who's your favorite Little Rascal? Is it Alphalpha? Or is it Spanky?...Sinner.")

* Steel Magnolias ("Here! Take a whack at Weezer!" "You are evil & you must be destroyed.")

* The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ("You know what burns my ass? A flame about 3 feet high.")

* When Harry Met Sally ("You know it funny...you look like a normal person, but really, you're the angel of death.")

* Return to Me ("Whatever you do, don't shave your legs." "Why?" "...hairy legs are your only link to reality." "You should needle-point that on a pillow." "I just might. It kept me a virgin until, you know, whenever.")

What are yours?

Tuesday is a Good Day for Bad Poetry

Coffee -
Swimming in my veins.
Hebrews -
Filling up my brains.
Only two more hours
And I'm headed back towards the mains
Of my life up north
Where it's rainy & wet
Home -
Where my pillow is
Work -
Where the $$ is
And yet through it all
In my brain will be
Hebrews
In my veins will be
Coffee

Talk Thursday // A Summer Recap

My blogging friends, I feel like we've been apart for so long! But rest assured, we're back in full swing!

To get us jump-started, let's have a summer re-cap. I know that a lot of you went on trips, had awesome experiences or did nothing at all.

Share with your fellow bloggers how your summer was. Pictures will always be welcome. =)

Huzzah!

WTF?

This was literally a lyric I heard on the radio today:

"Shush girl, shut your lips, do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips."

What the crap does that even mean? Does that songwriter even know who Helen Keller is?

Helen Keller would roll over in her grave if she knew about this....

I honestly worry about the future of our world.

Talk Thursday // Back to School

"Back to school! Back to school! To show my dad I'm not a fool!"

Oh Billy Madison. How much laughter you bring to me.

All over the country, summer is beginning to wind down and school is beginning to get started back up. Here is NW, we won't go back for a few more weeks, but the feeling of energy is already in the air.

I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I love shopping for school supplies. There's something about starting a new year with new things that just makes me feel hopeful. It might possibly be my most favorite time of year. Even more favorite than Hannukkah. And I love Hannukkah.

But I know that for many of you, school does't affect you anymore. Or you disklike school. Some of you LOVE it too. To which I give you a Blogger High-Five!

So today's question: what are you most excited about for this coming school year? Whether or not you're in school, what excites you most about the time from August/September to May/June?

When God is Funnier than You Thought

Have you ever had those moments where you stop and think, "Whoa. God is a lot bigger and funnier than I ever imagined."

I had a moment like that last night. Allow me to share. =)

A few weeks ago, a friend asked if I was interested in an opportunity to nanny for her aunt this coming weekend on a cruise in Alaska. This might interest me normally, but the "icing on the cake" was that this cruise was the Gaither Homecoming Alaskan Cruise and my friend's aunt is Ladye Love Smith of Ladye Love & Reggie Smith who sing with the Gaither Homecoming crew.

You have to realize that before 2 years ago I couldn't STAND Southern Gospel and especially the Gaithers. I harbored this little vendetta because it was "uncool" and for old people. You also have to realize that I've never before moving home I was not so good with the being around children-thing. Although, I'm still not sometimes...

But I knew it was one of those once in a lifetime things that I just would regret if I didn't try to make work. I turned in my notice for my job hoping that everything would come through. I started planning what I could take to entertain a 7-yr-old kid for a week while his parents perform. I thought through how to be cool and not act the way I did when I met Sandi Patty last summer (but that's another story...).

And the Lord let everything work out.

Last night my mom looked at me and said "Sarah, isn't it incredible the things the Lord will give you, even when you don't ask?" And I honestly would have never, not in my wildest dreams, thought to ask to nanny on a cruise ship. In Alaska. For the Gaither Homecoming show. Two years ago I would have never even dreamed this was something I would have even wanted to do. Now I'm excited to go and minister to this family so that they can minister to a whole cruise-ship full of people. I'm excited to hang out with this little kid so that he can be part of his family's life. I'm excited to hang out the members of a group that I love to listen to.

This might be one of those things that you think, "What is the opposite of name-dropping?" because you think this is lame. And that's ok. But it's amazing to me what God wants to give us, even when we don't know we want it.

And btw, you should probably learn to love the Gaithers cause you know we're gonna be singing "Because He Lives" all the time in heaven. =)

The Joys of Craigslist...

Toilet (Covington)

Date: 2009-08-07, 2:15PM PDTReply to: sale-ps5wd-1311372017@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

I have one free toilet. Was working when we took it out. Just upgraded to a better one. Round bowl, toilet seat included. Will need new "guts" (about $6 at Home Depot). This toilet was made in 1994- so I think it is pre "low-flow." E-mail if interested. Can send pics if want. Thanks.
Location: Covington

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests.

***

Are YOU interested in obtaining a free toilet on the internet? Yeesh....

Talk Thursday // If..

If you could have only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If you could sing one song perfectly, what song would you sing?

If you had the chance to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

If you could relive any season of life again, when would it be?

If you could choose, who would you choose to be trapped in an elevator with?

I love playing make-believe! =) 

The Moments I Wish I Had Twitter

I don't like Twitter. It's not that I dislike people who Twitter, it's that I don't like my text messages going off all the bloody time. It's like getting a Facebook update to your phone all the time (which I've done and it drove me wingy). I love you; I just don't want to know what you're doing every moment of the day.

However, there are those rare moments where I think Twitter would be great. If I'd had Twitter, this is what I would have written this morning:

This morning there was a wolf in my yard. Friendly but considerably less so at the mention of vampires. Too much Twilight for me? Probably.

If you could Twitter about your morning so far, what would it say?

Sharktoid Factoid, No. 1

Did you know that Great White Sharks have been known to jump out of the water at over 12 feet?! Since they are easily one of largest and heaviest shark species, this ability is fascinating and awesome. Researchers have observed that in an attack, they move directly vertical towards their prey on the surface at speeds near 20 miles per hour.

Hecks yes.

Shark Week 2009, Greatest Week of the Summer

I know I've mentioned before that sharks are my most favorite animal (alongside lions) in the world. I have been fascinated with sharks since I was little and Shark Week on the Discovery Channel is the greatest week of my summer. 

And it's here once again. 

Since I feel like I haven't been here much lately and this week of awesomeness is upon us, I have decided to celebrate Shark Week Sarah-style. (Which we all now is the best style. ;) )

To start things off right, please enjoy this video. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but mostly you'll just laugh. 

Happy Shark Week, everyone!!

This Week

I had forgotten how much I love VBS. The songs, the excitement, getting to act as silly as possible because kids LOVE that! On Sunday's we are doing "Outrigger Island" for the kids program at church. It was a blast. Now with Sports Camp well underway, I see this week shaping up for awesomeness. Which is a strange feeling indeed because I don't do well with children - they intimidate me and parents get mad because I threaten them with bodily harm as my means of obtaining obedience. But I love it all the same. 

This week at Veritas is Sports Camp. It's like VBS, only this time we're putting lacrosse sticks in the children's hands and telling them to have at it. I feel an inordinate amount of bruises to come...

So if you don't see very much of me on here this week, it's because I'm plumb exhausted from the go-go-going-ness of it all. But I promise pictures to come. =) 

Things That Make Mornings Awesome:

* Hot showers

* New clothes

* Leaving on time

* Mom unexpectedly making sausage & bacon for me (I love living at home!)

* A rock-awesome mix CD for the commute

* Jack Johnson playing in the coffee shop

* Realizing that it's Friday

Talk Thursday // No Doubt

On Sunday the 5th grader inside of me partied hard. Some friends and I went to go see No Doubt in concert at the White River Amphitheatre and it was my 5th grade dream come true. 

Tragic Kindgom came out in 1995 and I remember sitting in the basement of my church, listening to "Spiderwebs" and "Just A Girl", wishing I was as cool as Gwen Stefani. 

15 years later, there I was, sitting and enjoying the show I'd dreamed of for so long. And I still wish I was as cool as Gwen Stefani...

So I wonder: what does the 5th grader in you wish for? 

Outta Here

The Common Denominator?...

These things just make me want a vacation. Listening to Kenny who makes me want to listen to James who makes me want to listen to Jimmy Buffett who makes me want to sip a margarita on a sunny beach with a good book with Justin Timberlake.


Man, I need a vacation.


What about you?

Talk Thursday // Help!

Today's Talk Thursday is completely selfish, but I'm willing to do it... for the cause.... of myself.

I'm at work. At 10 to 10 we completely ran out of things to do, but I'm on the clock til 4:30. What in the world am I supposed to do to stay occupied for the next 6 hours?!

Have ya'll been in those types of situations? What do you do to keep yourself busy during a long day?

New Things, New Things...

If you know me, you know that I am not a big fan of “topical sermons.” I have heard enough poorly exegeted messages that it has left me with a foul taste in my mouth for what I consider proof-texting. So I unfortunately tend to shy away from and devalue the practice of topical sermons.

Which is exactly what my pastor is doing for the month of July.

However, I trust Bob and know that he is a hermeneutical guy. So I made an agreement with my brain that I would calm down, let him preach, and me refrain from judgment for the month.

I am glad God got to me.

Two Sundays ago, Bob preached on the book of Revelation. Indeed, yes, the whole book. And yes, I went into PTSD when I heard about apocaplyticism, pre-,a-, and post-millenialism; I got the shakes when I heard 666 and the “rapture” referenced. But it was a beautiful exposition of a book that we simply can’t and don’t understand.

Over on SereYodh, you too can learn about some heavy topics that we’ll be delving into during the month of July. I have posted about Revelation from Bob’s sermon (and added my own notes). I’m still the “research” hand of Bob’s sermon-planning, a task that I have missed and love.

Hope you learn some interesting things in the next few weeks!!

Open Wounds

One would think that time would heal all wounds. 

But it doesn't.

Eff time. 

Talk Thursday // Waiting

It often seems like life is a series of waiting games. We wait in line at the supermarket. We wait underneath red lights. We wait for birthdays, we wait for holidays, we wait for the weekend. We wait for phone calls and mail deliveries. We wait to be noticed, we wait to be asked. All this waiting is done in anticipation of the next thing to come, the next moment.

What would happen if we tried to forget about the waiting and revel in the now? I know that I would have no idea what to do with myself. As we speak....er....type, I'm waiting on a phone call from World Vision. I am daydreaming of working for them and what my life could look like if I had that experience. But what would happen if rather than wait all day for this phone call, I simply chose to live my life? To do things purposefully without dwelling in the moments to come, but to honor the moments I have now.

I'm waiting on a phone call.

I could be living right this minute, writing to you.

What are you waiting on? What are you waiting for?

Reasons I Never Want Cats

* Cat fur EVERYWHERE

* No sense of personal space

* Can't make a decision - inside, outside...PICK A SIDE! WE'RE AT WAR!

* In the dark they are almost demonic

* Have no sense of decorum

* Don't understand that 5:30 am is not an appropriate time to start meowing 

* I have to worry about feeding them

I'm cat-sitting for a friend this week. And the 2 cats are pretty good. But seriously, I am committed to not having pets. I'm too lazy and too selfish to keep pets. 

Are ya'll pet people? How do you handle the stress?

Talk Thursday // Happiness Is...

Sunshine...

Dr. Pepper...

Being outside....

What is happiness to you today?

Futbol?

Yesterday some friends and I went and watched a Seattle Sounders game. Now, you have to understand, I don't care for soccer. It makes me tired watching them run. And if I had my druthers I'd rather be watching American football. (One more month!!!)

But one thing I noticed is that you can' t be a "pseudo-fan" of soccer - it's all or nothing, baby. In the Qwest field seats, there is a section for the die-hard fans. You are required to stand the full 90 minutes and twirl your scarf about your head. (It kind of reminded me of a college football game.)

And this sport is international. There are no boundaries. If I could learn to like soccer, I could connect with anyone in most of the world.

The question then is, how to learn to love soccer? Hmmm....

I think perhaps it's best to learn by observing...






Perhaps I judged soccer too swiftly.... I could be a fan after all... ;)

Talk Thursday // Fill-In-the-Blank

Today I...

Tomorrow I will...

This week was...

Next week will be...

How's it going?

Wednesday

The worst feeling in the world is waking up and thinking that if it's not Saturday, it's gotta be at least Friday.


Then realizing it's only Wednesday.



Thank God it's Hump Day just doesn't seem to cut it today.



How's your Hump Day going?

Talk Thursday // Jesus & Art?

I am a believer in Jesus.

I am also a lover of the arts.

For some, it is hard to find the proper way to balance the two. "Traditional Christianity" says that you can't cuss, you can't drink and you can't go out with girls who do (no wonder I'm single). But much of the arts - theatre, music, paintings, spoken word, life - try to depict the real world, not simply an ideal world. That world involves cussing, drinking, and real-life problems that can't be wrapped in a happy little bow at the final curtain.

I went to a conference on my birthday that was about how the Church should be inclusive of the artistic community not only because it's there but because it is who we are designed to be. The premise of the conference was that if God is an expressive, creative designer and He created us in His image, then humanity as His creation is therefore expressive and creative and given to those impulses as well. For so long the Church has been unwilling to understand the need for good artistic expression and has produced art that is not only not good, but also unreal and unreflective of the world we live in.

Tonight I'm going to go see RENT, the Broadway musical. The major themes of the play are love, suffering, joy, relationships, community, true identity. However, there are many Christians who have (and continue to) boycott this show (and others like it) because some of the characters are homosexual, some do drugs, and there is foul language.

The question today is how do you view art? If you're a believer, how do you balance Jesus and the arts? If you're not a believer, how do you feel about the Church's typical response toward the artistic community? How can we change it?

(This isn't part of the question, but I'm SOOOO excited because it's Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp in the show tonight! The end. =) )

Also, I can kill you with my brain

Carlos posted this on his blog a few days ago as a Mid-Afternoon Distraction.
But the comments link was broken, so I couldn't see any of the captions people posted.

So it has fallen to you guys.

Caption, please.

Anger Is Like Leprosy

The longer is goes unhealed, the higher chance that vital parts of you will start falling off.



I wonder how many parts of me I've lost in my life...

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

- James 1.19-21 -

Talk Thursday // Genie In a Bottle

Say you’ve found Aladdin’s magic lamp one day as you were walking along a gorgeous, white sand beach. Out pops Genie and says you get 3 wishes. You have to abide by his three rules: 1. You can’t ask for more wishes; 2. He can’t make anyone fall in love; and 3. He can’t raise anyone from the dead.

So, what are your wishes?

Midday Distractions

Anyone else get distracted thinking about the mph it takes coffee to soak through a Kleenex and if anyone else has ever tried to come up with the equation?

So it's just me then? Ok.

Go coffee! Mush!

(Welcome to my brain)

What Not to Do on a First Date

1. Don't start the date without your date there.

2. If you're a dude and you invited, PAY.

3. Don't talk about yourself the whole time.

4. Don't recount in play-by-play format the correspondence you've had over the last 2 months, ending with "...and here we are, drinking coffee today."

5. Don't backpeddle. If your date doesn't agree with you on some like or interest, THAT'S OK.

6. Don't spend 30 minutes talking about the difference between Fords, Dodges and Toyotas.

7. Don't call a Dodge Neon a "sports car."

8. Don't tell your date that you cut your hair to look like a celebrity. It's not impressive.

9. Don't point out your receding hair line. Equally not impressive.

And the most important thing that you should NEVER, EVER do....

10. The night before the date, DON'T send a picture of yourself to your date. It's just straight up creepy.

So spill it: what kinds of terrible first dates have YOU been on before? (And if it was with your spouse, the chances are they don't read this blog, so you can share... =) )

Talk Thursday // I Love My Curves

I have a problem.

Last year I lost a good amount of weight and inches while I was working at Curves. I looked better, I felt better, it's possible that I just was better. =) Anyway, since our club closed in January and I've been intermittently going to another gym, I have gained back all the weight and most of the inches that I lost since leaving Curves. And I am highly discouraged.

But I found my gumption and hightailed it back to Curves on Tuesday. Tonight is my first workout and I have a feeling I'm going to want to pass out. Or just pass out. Either one.


So what are you doing to stay in shape this summer?

If you have no set ideas, can I suggest your local Curves? ;) (Man... Gary Heaven really should pay me for advertising... seriously.)

.

Caffeine

I think it may be pyschological. Seriously. At 8.45 this morning, I could barely keep my eyes open. Which, as a data enter-er (er), is sort of a requirement.

So I trudged my way down to the refreshments area and made myself a cup o' joe. With some chocolate in it.

Almost instantaneously, I was revived.

Which leads me to think that it must be more psycho-somatic than anything else. There's no way the caffeine would have had time to reach my blood stream before I was feeling more awake.

Apparently, I get revived simply thinking about the cup of coffee in my hand.

What wakes you up?

Now That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout

Thank You, Jesus.

I might miss Missouri. But I'm gonna enjoy this beautiful Washington State weather while it lasts. Which means mowing our overgrown, crazy, jungle-esque lawn, perhaps washing the car, and definitely driving with the windows down.

How are ya'll going to enjoy the sun?

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...