Time off

This month has been really relaxing for me.  Since I wasn’t able to use my vacation most of the year, I had to squish it into one month.  That means that I am working 3 days or less every week.  I was planning on using it to clean, get errands done etc, but I haven’t done much.  I spent time with some friends, bought a new camera, shopped at Walmart for 1 1/2 hours, played on my computer, slept, etc.  I haven’t even taken my Christmas tree out and decorated it.  Of course, I don’t know if I still have my tree.  I think I do. . .

Tuesday was a lot of fun.  After I bought my camera I went to Starbucks to work on my bible study.  I’m working on Phillipians right now.  It’s a good study, but I’ve been neglecting it for some time.  I noticed this one guy that kept looking over at me, and finally he asked me what I was doing.  I talked to him about how the bible study digs in deeper than just reading the text in the bible in order for me to get a better understanding.  He seemed really interested and asked where he could get bible studies like it.  I gave him some websites and stores, but then Jon, Ariel and Taylor showed up.   Jon said that I should have told him to read Romans, but he took off once they’d arrived.  Maybe I’ll bump into him again in order to tell him.  I’ve never had a  stranger ask me about the bible or been able to share anything with them.  That’s awesome!!! 

The rest of the evening was great.  Jon walked us through Revelation (a bunch of students and a few parents showed up later).  Even though Revelation is so scary, it’s exciting too.  After that, Jon and I hit the dollar theater to see Dark Knight on the big screen again.  It was better the second time.    Plus the movie was only 75 cents (did you know that we don’t have a button with the cents sign on our keyboard?  How have I never noticed that in all my years in data entry???) and they’ve cleaned up the theater. 

I have a four day weekend this weekend, so I’m looking forward to that.  Later!

Time is weird

Last night I was talking to my friend, Jon.  We realized that we’ve only known each other 4 (almost 5) years.  It seems like so much more than that since we’ve gone through so much and know so much about each other. 

So that got me to thinkin. . .

My best friend Jen and I have not even known each other 1 1/2 years.  Wow!!!  I feel like we’ve been friends forever. 

I’ve only been a Christian for 5 years.  Yet I’ve done and grown so much!  

I’m 32 years old and feel half that most of the time. 

I’ve watched a lot of my friends’ kids grow up and go to middle school and feel like I was just holding them as babies. 

My cat has been with me for 10 years and she’s still a kitten in my eyes. 

I’ve worked at the same place for 5 years and it feels like an eternity.  And a day at work, a simple eight hours, feels like days.

I graduated from high school 13 years ago yet I can tell you some of the things we did in full detail.  And remember almost everyone’s names!

When we go on our trips with the youth group (or any trip now that I think about it) the flight/ride there and back take forever, but the actual time spent there goes by too fast!

Time is just weird.

Thanksgiving/Birthday break

I had a great, busy week last week.  My birthday was really good despite the fact that I had to work.  In the afternoon, my employees surprised me with a cake that one of them made.  It was really good.  The woman who made it was off for the whole week, but came in to celebrate with us!!  I love my staff!  That night I met up with 16 of my favorite people to have dinner and celebrate.  It was a lot of fun.  My friends and family all met each other finally. 

On Thursday, my sister, dad, and I went to a church in East Plano to serve dinner to the community.  My mom wasn’t able to go since her back was acting up.  I wasn’t sure how my family was going to respond when I asked them to volunteer with me, but they loved it.  My sister and I were put in charge when we got there since we looked like we knew what we were doing.  My dad ended up cutting/tearing 20 turkeys.  A lot of the 10th graders were there with their families too.  They were working hard and having fun.  The rest of the day, we just relaxed since we weren’t cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  I kinda missed it, though.

Friday was a lot of fun.  My sister and I cleaned my apartment before Jon and the 10th graders showed up.  We filmed a skit for the lesson Sunday, but unfortunately, it wasn’t edited on time.  Plus it was too dark.  It was a lot of fun trying to film.  We ended up laughing about stupid things the whole time.  We will probably end up refilming it.  I can’t wait.  Jen wasn’t able to go this time, but hopefully she can join us next time.  That night Jon, Jen and I went to see Twilight.  Good movie.  Better if you read the books.

Saturday was very relaxing.  Jen and I met Erik for breakfast then saw Australia.  Good movie.  Could have been two movies.  I love Baz Luhrmann’s work. 

Sunday after service, Jon, Jen, and I took some of the 10th graders (and a ninth grader) to see Twilight.  We took up the whole row.  It was fun making comments back and forth.  The part that had me laughing for some reason was when we passed the large popcorn bucket from one side of the row and back multiple times.  Even with about 13 of us, there was still popcorn left.  That was a BIG bucket. 

All in all a really good break.  I realized yesterday that from my birthday to sunday, I was with my students 4 out of the 5 days.  Even with a week off, we still saw each other.  I’ve never had a small group that spent so much time together.  I hope they continue being close.  Good times. . .

While I’m waiting. . .

I’m sitting at work right now, after hours, waiting for two of my employees to sign up for their health insurance.  So I thought I’d catch up on all that’s been going on the last few weeks.

I’ll go backward. . .

Sunday I had a great day with Jen and Jon as we talked about the video we are going to put together for the lesson he’s teaching on Sunday.  After the 9th graders had their video shown, the 10th graders turned around and stared at me like I had any control over it!  We discussed and decided, why not?  So we’re doing one at my place this Friday.  I’m cleaning tonight for that. . .

I went to see Twilight on Saturday night.  My friend has two sons, and last year I brought the youngest (7 years old) on a “date night.”  The oldest boy (10 years old) was upset that I hadn’t had one with him, so I treated him to steaks and a movie.  It was actually his choice to see Twilight.  Jen joined us.  It was really good.  I wasn’t expecting it to be good at all, so I’m glad it was.

Friday night I went with Jen to see one of our students in her school musical, Bye Bye Birdie.  We’ve been to many plays over the last few years.  We normally get stuck sitting on a brick wall or fold out metal chairs.  This time it was an actual theater with cushy chairs.  I was upset that Jon missed this.  Another awesome thing was that our student thanked me, Jen and Jon in her biography in the program!  Wow!  It’s funny how you become part of your students’ worlds.  The play was awesome, and our student looked so good and had fun doing it.

Last Monday and Tuesday I had the days off.  It was soooooo relaxing.  I was basically just lazy.  But I got a few things done in my apartment.  Still not unpacked. . . I did meet Jon and David for lunch.  That was fun.

Last weekend I stayed with one of my favorite families.  I got quality time with each kid even though I spent a lot of the time making sure they were where they needed to be.  It was fun catching up.  I don’t get to see them as much as I used to.

This coming week is looking good.  I have my birthday tomorrow!  I convinced my family to serve for Thanksgiving since we’re not doing dinner.  Plus the Texas/A&M game is Thursday.  Friday I’m supposed to shoot that video with the students.  That should be a blast.  Friday we have a large group going to see Twilight again.    We’re like teenagers!!!  I’m looking forward to the week. 

Pride and Bragging

I have been in a great mood since we got back from Pine Cove on Sunday.  All the compliments and thank yous that I heard from the staff and campers made me so proud of our group and excited that it made others happy.  It wasn’t until later in the week when I received an email from the camp conference director and another email from our liaison that I started thinking maybe I’m a little too proud.  Both emails were thanking us and letting me know how great our group was.  I sent that to Dan and Jen, then I told my mom about it.  Then I realized that maybe I was bragging.  Oops. 

I think I need to take a step back and remember that how we served this weekend really has nothing to do with us.  Before we left I told the students not to go unless they were doing it for the right reasons, serving others and showing God’s love, helping others to grow closer to God.  This wasn’t a contest or ego booster.  I guess I’m the one who learned something on this trip. . .

Fun small group and dressing up

We had a great time in small groups last night.  The students and leaders showed up in costumes of all types.  We had a bunch of princesses (from Marie Antoinette to Queen Quenivere), a joker (who took his scars off halfway through the night), 2 cats (one with no ears), an anteater (ANT is an acronym for Automatic Negative Thoughts), Audrey Hepburn, a director (I think.  The wig was awesome) and a freaky masked kid (someone said Jabberwocky. . . all I know is it was freaky, especially when he stole the director’s wig). 

It was funny to find out from my mom that when I was a kid, I hated dressing up.  She said it was a fight every Halloween.  I love to do it now.  I went through so many options last night before I just fell on the old familiar Queen Guenivere.   One of my best friends, Becky, and I used to go to Scarborough Faire every year in order to dress up and hang out.  We used to have so much fun doing that.  When she met her future husband, I knew that he was the right one for her when we went to Scarborough Faire.  He dressed up in a kilt and loved doing it!  I would love to have a masquerade ball just to dress up.  I think we need more dress up holidays. . .

Pine Cove Workcrew Fall 08

Two days ago I came home from my fourth Pine Cove workcrew.  It was great!  We left late on Friday (figures) only to be caught in traffic on the way, so we didn’t actually arrive in Pine Cove until 9:30 that night.  After throwing our bags in the staff cabins (which are really nice), we let the students go hang out around camp.  Nothing too thrilling happened that night.  We ended up sitting together later to talk about ourselves; name, favorite color, and what we’d bring if stranded on an island, but it had to start with our first initial.  That was funny since if you knew you were going to be stranded, why would you go, and most of the objects we brought would save us from being stranded such as boats, planes, etc.  

The next morning everyone jumped right in and started setting up and serving the campers.  After breakfast, Pat, our director, asked us to do odd jobs around camp, such as sweeping the pickleball courts and picking up trash.  I was with the group for trash.  At one point Jen and I realized the students were just following us and not paying attention to where we were going.  I showed her Espionage hill (otherwise known as Mt Everest by the students) and decided we’d see if the students would follow us up.  Half way up this really steep, high hill, the students realized they had no clue where we were going.    When we got to the top of the hill (after catching our breaths) we marveled at the amazing view of the lake below and wondered if the portapotty was a secret elevator for the staff.  Afraid of attack raccoons, though, none of us looked in to find out. 

Wanting to take an easy way down (other than tumbling), a few of us took a trail and followed it.  We found a camp (later we learned it was the Bluffs) right above the area we were staying in.  I never knew that camp was so close.  Later that night, I took the students back up that path to the hill top in order for Jon to teach them.  It was nice, but I never knew that nature could be so loud.  No hillbillies or snipers got us either, so I was happy (strange fear I don’t want to explain right now).  Jon scared the students with a werewolf mask he’d brought, though.   

The next day after breakfast we took a set of “stairs” up the hill next to the cabins and found a chapel at the top.  There was a graveyard next to it with graves from back in the 1800s.  We found a small trailer/cabin thing (hard to explain) that looked out over another great view of the lake.  It was a lot of fun exploring these places.  On the way back to our cabins, Jon found two machetes on the ground by the trail.  Nice.

After lunch, and after some of the students and Sophie (yay!) braved the zip line, we headed home.   I didn’t make it till 9 that night before I was asleep. 

I wish I could tell y’all about everything that happened, but then I’d be here for awhile (and so would you as you read it).   I’ll just say that watching the students this weekend was great.  They have all grown so much and learned so much since I first met all of them.  They were cheerful the whole time, they got along with each other, and no one complained.   I can’t wait to do it again in the spring. 

Dogs vs Cats

People have asked me over and over why I own cats and not dogs.  Here are some reasons (just remember, I really do love dogs).

1.  Dog Breath – Cat’s don’t pant in your face.

2.  Cats don’t wake you up at 2 in the morning to go to the bathroom.  They’re potty trained.

3.  Cats can jump.  Most tiny dogs need help getting up on beds. 

4.  Cats are flexible.  When I pick up an animal to cuddle it, I don’t want to feel like I’m gonna break it. 

5.  Independence.  Granted, my cats are a little unusual in that they have to be around me always, but most of the time, they’ll leave me alone when I want to chill.  Dogs . . . not so much.

6.  Cats clean themselves and rarely need a bath.

7.  Life with me would be unfair for a dog.  I have a busy schedule and somehow always get stuck on the 3rd floor.  Not fair to ask a dog to hold it till we get to the bottom of the stairs when they’ve been holding it all day. 

So until I live in a one story house with a doggy door and short beds, until I no longer have a life or sense of smell. . . I will probably not own a dog.  Okay, so maybe that’s not true since I want a dog, but a lot has to change before then.

A lot going on

I shouldn’t wait so long to write a blog.  Now I have a few things to talk about.  Where to begin?

My small group lately has been going really well.  The students are at a point now that they want to learn more when the lessons are being taught.  However, few of them actually seem to keep what they’ve learned when our time’s up.  I’m really trying to incorporate the lessons with their lives, but not quite sure how.  I think maybe this has been happening since I began small groups, but the group I have this year is different.  A few of the students were in the small group I was trained with when I started in youth group.  I’m closer to them.  Now they’ve grown up.  It’s hard to see them grow up and watch them turn into young adults.  Especially when they make the mistakes all teens seem to make.  There are a few that amaze me with the stories they come back with each week.  One girl is seeing God everywhere and can’t wait to share these stories with the group.    It’s great.

This week I’m staying with a student.  I usually learn a lot about myself when I am staying with my students or the kids I babysit when their parents are out of town.  For instance, I have a feeling I am going to be a strict mom.   I just set rules and expect them to be followed.  But I also worry a lot about them making mistakes and getting hurt.  I’m afraid that will only get worse when I eventually have a family of my own.  I just have to remind myself that starting with a baby, I will grow with the child and not have to start with a teen who already has life experience I didn’t share. 

Not having any relation to the above subjects, I went to the state fair this weekend.  I have season tickets to the Dallas Summer Musicals, and the tickets get us into the fair for free.  In order to avoid the horid parking, Erik and I took the DART train (which was clean minus the BO on the way home).  The fair surprised me when we got there.  It’s grown in the last few years.  Erik is not one for rides, so we just walked around and people watched.  It’s interesting to see people you’d normally not expect in your area.  There was one family who looked like they walked straight out of Little House on the Prairie.  Anyway, skipping the world’s smallest horse and the car shows, we headed to the food area to try Fried Gilled Cheese and Fried S’mores.  The grilled cheese was just crunchy, but tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich.  The s’mores were good!  They tasted like a funnel cake wrapped around s’mores ingredients.  After eating we headed to our musical, The Color Purple.  It was great!  Definitely the best show of the season!  I can’t wait for next season.  There are some really great shows including Fiddler on the Roof, Wizard of Oz, and A Chorus Line (which is one of the first shows I saw on Broadway when I was a kid). 

Since I have a lot going on over the next month, I’ll try to keep up with writing here and not have to glob it together in one post! 

Podcast entertainment

I’ve discovered the world of the podcasts this week.  The last time I had iTunes on my computer something wasn’t working right (or user error, who knows) and I couldn’t get any podcasts to load.  I recently got a new computer at work and downloaded iTunes to have something to listen to.  I love to listen to dramas and talk shows while working.  For some reason, I just can’t listen to music while working. 

Anyway, I went with my friend, Jon, to his new church on Saturday night.  It was an interesting lesson and definitely different than what I’m used to hearing at my church.  Afterwards, Jon kept talking about the sermon from the week before and said something about their podcast.  So I decided to subscribe to their podcast.  As I’m listening to that podcast, I get this crazy idea to look for more podcasts.  Before you knew it, I was subscribed to 6 podcasts.  I had a bunch more, but I listened to a few seconds of them and deleted them.  I hadn’t thought of this, but anyone can make a podcast and post it.  Some are. . . to be nice. . . amateur. 

I’ve decided to stick to podcasts made by people I know.  I have the Skit Guys, Simply Youth Ministry, Nooma, Bible Experience, the Village Church and the Onion.  That last one sticks out like a sore thumb.    I’m really enjoying listening to all these while working. Although I’ll still listen to BBC7 every once in a wile, I’m probably going to keep up with these.