We All Have Our Weirdies...

“People who get tagged need to write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”

I've been tagged by Ben Robinson, who I know through Nicole Judd. I am tagging Erin Burnett, Nicole Wilson, Rachel Bolyard, Casey Chappell, Kristin Cook, and Katrina Maestri...

It'll be difficult for me to narrow down my quirks to just 6 concise answers, but I'll try my best:

1. Sometimes I like to drive around bad neighborhoods with graffiti on the buildings and trains listening to songs like, "Where Is the Love?" by the Black Eyed Peas and pretend that I am in a music video.

2. I don't like to wash my hands. (Don't worry, I do it, I just don't like to.)

3. I LOVE the theme song from The Biggest Loser. I get all teary-eyed when I hear it. "What have you done today, to make you feel proud.... yeah, we need a change, yeah, do it today, yeah.."

4. I get annoyed when people say, "I gave 110%," or really any percentage over 100. It's just not possible, and it just means more if you are realistic in saying what you did or how much you love someone.

5. Local commercials deeply frustrate me. It makes me super annoyed that someone would make something so cheesy and so non-professional and then air it like it should make us take them seriously. Except for Sammy Stevens of course... http://youtube.com/watch?v=vao-IfsMROA. He is the only exception. This is only because his song can be adapted to all walks of life. Take margarine for example... "It's just like, it's just like, like butter, but worse." Or take the elliptical machine... "It's just like, it's just like, like running, without the joint damage..." It works.

6. I don't like "daily doubles" on Jeopardy. They interrupt the flow of question and answers, and I generally lose interest and change the channel when they occur.

There you have it. I'm super weird :-)

Snow!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Well, I woke up this morning, and as I was getting ready for work, I thought I'd check outside, just in case it actually snowed like they predicted. It did!!! I'm super excited about it! I've only seen snow once a few years back when I went to Alaska, and before that, never!! This was the first time my dog Poucha (or Precious, or Baby Girl, or Baby Dog Face, or just Face) had ever seen or touched it, so that was fun!

Before any of you begin to mock me, please understand that I realize this is not a lot of snow, and that in most places, no one would even take a look at the dusting on the ground. However, I'm stoked!

Now that I'm done with the disclaimer, on with the story :-) Since I didn't have to go into work, due to the icy roads, Kristin and I took a run around the block (out of sheer excitement...). I later threw some snowballs at Kristin as she rode her bike to work, then I threw some at Akasio's window (which he soon came out and pelted me right back with one as I wasn't looking...), and then I made each of our neighbors a mini-snowman... (pictured to the left... so I'm not a great snowman maker...).

I hope more snow comes, and soon! I have decided that I love snow. How did I ever live in Florida for so long?

A girl's best friend.....

Some girls have a purse fetish. Some love shoes, or hair products... I happen to love t-shirts. However, the really funny ones are super expensive! Since I can't go out and buy 12 new t-shirts, I thought I'd post some of the funny ones here. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed them! And if you are a t-shirt designer, and you happen to be reading this... please make them cheaper for the common folk. Please.

For there is no distinction...

So, I forgot my password for about a month and a half… but I know it now! :-) I want to update this more regularly, with prayer requests and funny stories, etc… Several things have changed since the first and only time I posted a blog.

A) Kristin, Nicole, and I moved into the house next door. We love it!! There's a real dishwasher and a separate room for laundry! We are thankful for the newfound space we all have in this house, and we want to use it for the glory of God. Come over and hang out if you're in the neighborhood :-)




B) The crack house down the street was busted. This caused most of the prostitutes to leave, since they basically only prostitute themselves to support their drug habits… we have mixed emotions about this. Our desire is for the drugs to be gone from the neighborhood, but it also takes the girls we were getting to know out of our sphere of communication. It is a lesson in trust that God is in control and will continue to work in their hearts through other people, we pray.

C) Our friends Ben and Akasio moved into the place Nicole and I used to live. That makes 7 guys living next door, which I think helps all of our parents to sleep better at night. We are thankful for the fellowship, as well as the added aspects of accountability, encouragement and safety.

I really wish I would have been doing this blog for a long time, as I thought through the past 7 months and all that has happened. Some general things that have happened recently on our block are: drug deals, Bible study, murder, being banned from the Super Dollar (if you want the rest of that story, just ask...), prostitution, great conversations, peeping toms (well, tom-ettes actually…), car theft (see Casey's Blog) and a whole lot of learning. The most important thing I have learned recently is found in Romans chapter 3. It’s right before a very popular verse. “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift…” I am awed and humbled by this. There is no distinction between myself and the prostitute. Between myself and the thief, between myself and the drug dealers or users. None. I am thankful for that reminder. May I never forget.

My first blog!

This is my first blog. Well, technically it's my second. But it's the first you'll ever see on this page, since I don't know what I'm doing, and the 1st one I created last night is nowhere to be found. I'm off work today, so I thought I'd try to figure out more about this whole blogging thing. It's too bad I haven't been doing this for a long time, because a lot of exciting things have happened in the downtown area since we've been here. "Downtown" encompasses quite a bit. It includes fun places and fun things to do, beautiful homes and old neighborhoods. It also includes the neighborhood we live in, which is right on the edge of all of that. Our street is literally the dividing line between some of the wealthiest people in Raleigh and some of the poorest. We live here on purpose. Our neighborhood might be described as ghetto-fabulous. Ask me on a bad day, though, and the "fabulous" part might not be on my lips. I am easily discouraged, which is one reason I am starting this blog, so I can be reminded of the faithfulness of God as I recount all He has done and taught. We love being able to live in a community where there are prostitutes and drug houses and darkness. Let me rephrase that. We don't love that the darkness is there, but because it is there, we are grateful to be able to be lights among it. We are not doing this alone, either. Our church offers much support and wisdom, as all of the pastors and their families, along with many other church members live in this community or similar ones. My roommate Nicole and I currently live in one half of a duplex where 6 guys from TCC (as we like to call our church, for short) live on the other side. We are grateful for their help with reaching the community and for giving us insight in helping those around us. God's faithfulness abounds through my weakness, doubts, and many fears!