It was a beautiful day...

So this morning dawned early...not so bright because of the rain and the fact that it was 6:30 ish when I got up. You read that correctly. I know, not exactly a 'Happy' wake up hour. I'm trying some new things in life right now. One of them is to get up earlier. And to establish a routine/stick to a schedule.




1.21.2010 So these are the Valentine's Day decorations that are on our kitchen table. This is what I decided to do after we finally took down the Christmas decorations this week. I just couldn't bear for there to be empty space. The table looked so lonely without decorations. (I also hung heart shaped sparkly garland above the table.)

1.22.2010 Yes, this is just a picture of my car. But there is a funny story behind the picture.... Friday morning when I got to work I had about 40 posters that I needed to carry up to my office on the 4th floor of the building. So I parked in an Admissions designated spot, turned my hazards on, and took all of the stuff upstairs. Around 3pm, I needed to go to the wearhouse across Warwick to pick up some items. I walked all the way out to the parking lot, only to then remember that my car was just outside of the building on the other side. I then remembered that I had left my hazards on...all day. Needless to say my battery was beyond dead. There were cars on either side of me and in the two spots in front of me. I called CNU PD and they brought a jump box, but my car was so dead that it wouldn't even catch well enough to start. Thankfully, one of the cars beside me ended up being my supervisors car and so she was able to give me a jump and got my car started.

1.23.2010 Good Saturday Morning Newport News! This was taken at City Center around 8:30am Sat morning. Yes, that is my shadow taking the pic. No, the pic is not supposed to be focused on the pole, that's just how it happened. I do not really know why, but this is the picture that made it for today. My coffee and muffin at Aroma's were good. I waited there for Justin to finish his employee meeting. Then we spent the day being lazy and watching movies. It was a good day.

1.24.2010 What you see here is what I found on my kitchen table when I got home Sunday night. It was lined up just like this. Oh Janet cracks me up. She is fun.

1.25.2010 This is my piggy bank. It collects my change until I need to spend it. Money weighs heavily on my mind tonight. I cling to the knowledge that "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory" (reference anyone?...I can't find it)

He is faithful even when we are not and for that I am incredibly thankful. He will provide.

AMEN!

I look forward to what tomorrow brings. Only He knows what the future holds.

*FREE*

Something that Sam said...started it all...

God is far better than we can think, imagine, or dream. The fact that you're alive at this very moment is evidence of God's grace upon your life. Don't waste your life.
-Sam Kang

What does it mean to waste your life? Are you wasting your life? What are you doing that makes a positive impact in the life of someone? What are you doing that makes you happy? And I'm not talking about happy in that moment but intrinsically happy? Long-term happy?

I'm trying to figure all of that out for myself. I spend so much time focused on other people and what I can do for them, that I forget about what I can do for me. Its a challenge that I have always had. Sometimes I handle it better than other times. I guess its all a part of growing and developing and I never will 'arrive' so it will always be with me.

Anyway, here are the pictures for the last few days:

1.14.2010: TRUST, SING, KNOW

Those are words that I know well, but that I fail to apply fully in my day to day life. I must TRUST that God is in control and that He has a better plan for me than I have for myself (which doesn't take much these days). I must SING because I have been gifted with a wonderful talent and not only does it make others happy and bless them, it blesses me because I worship so much more freely and with so much more of who I am when I sing. I must KNOW that my God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches and glory. I must also KNOW that all of the glory and honor for how God chooses to manifest his presence in my life belong solely to Him.

Soli Deo Gloria.

1.15.2010

This picture demonstrates the best way to end a Friday...NOT!!!

My computer at work went blue screen on me on Friday, while I was typing webpage wording in preparation for our upcoming Commencement. I was not very happy at that moment, but thankfully I had other things that I could do and have needed to do. Isn't it funny how easily we get caught up in the computer? These days we rely so heavily on it, that we struggle to survive without it. Do you remember days before cell phones and gps systems? When people actually carried change and phone numbers written down and they used maps and got directions to places instead of simply saying they will "mapquest it" or "plug the address into their tom tom/garmin/choose your brand..." We have become a society so dependent on technology that we cannot function without it. By that I mean, we have laptops and blackberrys and iphones that keep us connected around the clock. We cannot survive life without twittering or being on facebook constantly. We have virtual friends instead of real ones. We get suspicious when anyone in real life tries to give us something for free, but accept 'gifts' right and left with the click of a mouse for our profile page or gift page. We spend so much time enveloped in technology that we are getting fatter, more lazy, disrespectful, unhealthy and then we wonder why we feel bad throughout the day. When was the last time you went for a walk around your block on a brisk winter morning? Not just for the exercise, but for some time away from the beeps and dings and buzzes of technology. We should strive to do just that sometime. We should open our mouths and speak to people that we pass on the street. We should be willing to lend a helping hand to a neighbor or an acquaintance just because they need it and not because there is something in it for us. We have the power to influence change and to help people to be more aware.

I am thinking of doing another thing this year. Its been rolling around in my head for a little while now, the title of the project is called Stories. Basically, the idea is to go around and to be intentional about taking the time and showing that I care enough about people to hear their story. I can think of a few people off the top of my head whom I would like to approach yesterday. These are not hot shots, these are not big wigs, but are normal people just like you and me....although the hot shots and big wigs still put their pants on just like the rest of us.

1.16.2010

The answer is Yes. Before you even ask, I took this picture while I was driving. It was a beautiful sunrise Saturday morning. I was making my way down the road to Virginia Beach for a Mary Kay training session. I love sunrises, but I also enjoy sleep and I had forgotten what it was like to be awake to see a sunrise. I need to and will be doing it more often. As I write this my alarm is set for 7am tomorrow morning. I am glad that the days are getting longer, because it is actually light at 7 now. Anyway, I am working to put somemore discipline into my life and to make sure that I take advantage of every sunrise that I can.

1.17.2010

So Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny and I chose to spend the morning sleeping and to go to church in the afternoon. It was wonderful and I am glad that I did it. Not only did I get some extra sleep, but I also was able to see some friends that I had not seen in a while and do a bit of work on these crowns. This picture actually has most of our living room in it, with the sunlight streaming through the windows. And with all of the supplies and such laid out on the floor ready to be used. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!

1.18.2010

This is Max. He is 11 weeks old and came to visit me today at work. He was sooooo cute!!! My desk sits just to the left of the area that the picture captured, and I was working on something when I see our Executive VP jog down the hall playfully and look behind him. I stuck my head out the door and here came Max. He got distracted from chasing the VP and ran right over to me and of course I squatted down so that I was more on his level. He just was so excited to be there and to get attention and to be loved and petted. His little tail was wagging so much that it shook his whole body. Oh I want a dog. Now, Max will get to be about 15 pounds when he is fully grown. And he will still be just as cute then. It was great to have him come for a visit. The spirit was lighthearted and there were smiles and laughs and excitement. The people that I see on a daily basis were acutually happy and excited to see Max and it showed not only in their faces, but in their body language and in their willingness to leave what they were doing to enjoy time with Max. It was priceless. And I am thankful that Max decided to stop and love on me during his visit.

1.19.2010

SHINE!!! That is something that we all should do on a daily basis in our daily lives. I fail to shine lately. If I am shining, I just have a dull shimmer. No, I am not trying to put myself down, just stating some truth. I need to fully be the person that God created me to be, but that can only happen when I let go. One day I will see my Jesus face to face and I know for sure that both of us will be shining on that day. So shine on, shine on, shine on me, whenever something's missing you're exactly what I need. Your love has shown me the life and now I finally seen. So shine on, shine on, shine on me.

1.20.2010

So today I finally decided that I would be better off going to workout with the track team than going by myself. So I left work at 3:30 and went with the track team to workout. Let's just say that I am sore now, but it is a good sore. I am looking forward to working with the students on the team and helping them develop some leadership amongst themselves.

I have not done a workout for track in several years, so I know that we will start slow, but we will also be steady. It was an interesting practice for me. In the midst of trying not to pass out (because my heart rate was sky hi and my body was rebelling), I watched the short sprinters complete and finish 12-80 meter runs. 

It was good to see them do a real work out. I will 

enjoy working with them in the future.

Well that about sums it up. I will do my best to make sure that there is not this much of a lag in time between posts from now on. I have been good about taking my pictures , but now I need to make sure to load them on the computer. lol.

Well this is where I sign off for tonight. Have a wonderful night!

Be blessed now and for always and be a blessing.

*FREE*

HI!!!!!!

So I really don't have much to say today. I'm tired. But then again who isn't these days.

I heard something interesting on the radio today. They were talking about money and greed. And about tithing.

'Obtaining more items in life does not diminish fear, but they increase it.'

I thought that was really interesting considering the way that Americans are. Its more more more. I get tired of more. At what point in life will we want less less less.

I need to have less stuff, but somehow I keep accumulating. I think part of the challenge is that I enjoy shopping. Not just spending money, but the actual process of shopping whether it is for me or for other people. (Actually I think I may enjoy shopping for other people more than for myself.)

Random I know.

So here are the pics for yesterday. (1.12.2010) Yes, I said pics. It is a series. If you have a weak stomach or a strong gag reflex you might want to be careful. (Don't worry its nothing gory or vulgar just questionably gross. hehehe....)

So this is photo #1. I had a little oops in the kitchen last night. And something went splat.

Photo #2. It was Janet's idea to use the plate to scoop it up.
I was just standing there looking dumbfounded. Janet saved the day!!!

Photo #3. In case you hadn't figured it out, I dropped the 2/3 full bottle of salsa. There is about 8oz left that didn't fall out of the colossal hole in the bottom of the bottle.

Now for today's pic. 1.13.2010:








Pretty. Simple.
A vacant encouragement card to go with the crowns from earlier this week.




Love.

*Free*

=>h

So I figured out the picture thing...but then I uploaded them backwards....oops

1.11.2010: Scissors for the ribbon cutting to dedicate the new Lewis Archer McMurran, Jr. hall at CNU. The building and growing continues. I think today I counted six new buildings that have been built and opened since I started there as a freshman eight and a half years ago. I guess growth and transition and change is in the blood there. Maybe that's why I cannot seem to settle successfully.

1.10.2010: These are Tatem and Allen's babies. From the back left counterclockwise there is Rocky, Widget, Riley and Elle. They are fun-loving and full of energy. I spent some time hanging out with them this evening. Tatem made pot roast, homemade mashed potatoes, and cheddar buttermilk biscuits. She has grown into a remarkable woman. A few years ago I would never have guessed that she would be where she is today, but God's grace prevails. I am proud of the woman that she has become and the little bit of a part that I had in the process.

1.9.2010: These are crowns for Rosemary's Womens Retreats. After making about 100 of these things I have finally figured out a system. They are relaxing to make and knowing that they will allow other women to feel blessed and to bless each other makes my heart feel good. I know that despite the effort that I put into the things that I make for retreats God always works through the effort that I have and something glorious results.

1.3.2010: The two following pictures are actually a product of love that I began three years ago. This is Tatem's graduation present from me. I used to sew and embroider greek letters for those in fraternities and sororities regularly. I began this quilt when I was in the height of doing that. However, somewhere along the way I got distracted and put it aside to deal with life. I hate it when life gets in the way of creative genius. And yes I know hate is an incredibly strong word, but that's really what I mean. Our lives should not be dictated by what situation and circumstance arises. We should not have to put down the things that we love and the things that give us joy and that bless other people because of the interruptions of life. However, I know that even in those times of "pause" there is purpose and God is working in us great and wonderful things. Finishing this quilt at the beginning of the new year has planted me squarely back where I belong when it comes to letting my creativity out. I completely and totally look forward to watching myself blossom and bloom in this wonderful first year of a new decade.

And I'm signing off now.

Free.

And so it begins...

Well I am not honestly sure how to do this anymore. I used to be a regular blogger, but that was when MySpace was big. Now, I find I just don't have an outlet. Facebook is too open. Twitter requires too much up keep. I think blogspot is where I have landed because I feel no obligation to post minute by minute, but I also know that unless you care, you won't come see.

So the first post...(it will probably be a little random for a while until I get back into some kind of grove with blogging, so bear with me)
The beginning of a new year always leaves us wondering about what happened in the previous year and what will come in the current year. I know that no matter what situation or circumstance arises, God is in control.

I have given up watching television and movies alone this month. I was reverting to old habits of just being alone and not caring about doing anything, just letting whatever is on the screen take over. Unhealthy, yes I know. So instead I am doing crafts, surfing facebook (not that I am pleased about having so much time to do this), and lots of reading. I think I'm in the middle of five different books right now. Such a range of topics and types too: The Shack by W.M. Young, The Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado, A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers, Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis and Do What You Are by????.

I guess I'm just trying to find different things to fill my time. Oh I have also decided to try something else in 2010. A photo diary (for lack of a better way to put it). Basically, it means that I will be taking one picture each day in 2010 and at the end of the year we will see where this year has taken me. Because I did not decide to do this until earlier this week, I am not sure that I have photos for the first few days, but that's okay. The past few days have been interesting because the photos really chronicle my life. As soon as I figure out how to do it, I will put the photos on here and will put descriptions of what was happening with each picture.

I hope that I haven't seemed too crazy or all over the place in this brief post, but trust that I have said what I needed to say. On a different note, for those of you who know what it means to shoot some arrows up, please let some loose for direction and clarity and the general struggle with knowing who we are and following that path. I read something today on a facbook profile that made me think "do what you dream. shine on."

Truth.

This year more than any other I just want to be FREE.

So that is what I pray for myself and for you. That is what I long for. That is what I am seeking God for. Only in true freedom can we experience and give true love. And that is where I want to be.

*FREE*