Time...

Perfect Song to start the New Year.

"I've looked in the mirror & the worlds getting clearer...."




"Now..this is my time. I'm gonna make this moment mine..."

Let it Snow..Let it Snow..Let it Snow

So, I'm trapped. I'm stuck in my small cozy apartment watching every Hallmark movie known to man. This morning I made the journey to my car and couldn't believe how much snow we really got. The snow around my car is up to mid-thigh. You can only take so many walks and watch so many Hallmark movies before you lose your MIND. On the bright side I was able to do my laundry, clean my kitchen, and wrap all my Christmas presents. I am seriously considering rearranging my whole room, but we'll see if that happens. At this very moment I'm watching 'Deadliest Catch'...those men are insane. I would love to go to Alaska though, even if I have NO desire to go sea fishing. Those waters are very violent. They make a lot of money in those waters, but is it really that worth it? I guess they believe so. I know one thing...it sure makes for a interesting TV show. On another topic..I miss my dog. Just 4 more days and my beloved dog Chewy will be home with me. I can't wait. I miss his company. My family is coming into DC for the holidays and I couldn't be happier. I'm planning on taking them to the National Christmas Tree and the National Cathedral. It's beautiful during Christmas time and I'm just hoping the snow stays around long enough for it to be a white Christmas. Because even if the roads suck..it's absolutely beautiful outside. Besides....Chewy loves to play in the snow. I'm off for another walk...lattas.

Bon Jovi..New Jersey...

Last night I was looking for the music video Bon Jovi did with Cindy Crawford in the early 90s on youtube and of course a THOUSAND Bon Jovi videos came up, to which I took a trip down memory lane. You know, that’s why I love music so much. It takes you back to times and moments you almost forgot. Whether good or bad those moments have some amazing sound tracks. Bon Jovi is one of those bands that do that to me. I was 15 years old and it was my sister’s 17th birthday. I wanted to get her something she would really like, so I decided to buy her a CD. I remember searching through different bands she liked and all of a sudden I saw Bon Jovi’s New Jersey. Was it a new release? No, but it had so many AWESOME songs. I mean ‘I’ll be there for you’, ‘bad medicine’, ‘born to be my baby’…the list goes on. I’m a thoughtful gift giver..so this CD meant a lot to me because I remember being in a car with my sister blaring ‘bad medicine’. Since we use to fight all the time that was a good moment for us. Growing up my sis & I weren’t allowed to listen to anything but ‘Christian’ music, so we would rebel from time to time by listening to Bon Jovi & others. lol Anywho, I bought my first CD (Christian or otherwise) and it was Bon Jovi. I gave it to my sister for her birthday thinking I would copy it on cassette (remember when we could do that). Lol Sadly, before I got a chance to do that my sister had a ‘spiritual’ awaking or whatever and got rid of ALL of her ‘hidden’ non-Christian music. She destroyed Bon Jovi. I remember I was SO MAD when I found out. ONE – why didn’t she just give it to me. I love them. TWO – it was a gift I gave her that she destroyed. I was really hurt by that. Luckily, my sister no longer destroys non-Christian music, in fact she’s probably shaking her head right now remembering how silly she was. It’s funny…I forgot about that story until I met a friend who’s completely OBSESSED with Bon Jovi. I understand why he is. Their songs were the sound track to our childhood. A constant staple in our lives, and to that I say Thank you Bon Jovi AND NESS you STILL owe me the CD ‘New Jersey’. ;-)

Attached is a song I would repeat OVER & OVER while dancing around my room before my sister destroyed it….lol….memories.


Don’t hate on the hair bands…..the 80s wouldn’t be the same without them. :-)

I wanna dance....

So, yesterday was my first Sunday as the new Small Group Kids Coordinator for Kids Quest at McLean Bible Church. It was a great day full of new things. I’m so excited to be serving with some amazing people. Some of the volunteers I’ll be working with have been at Kids Quest for years and years. What an amazing testimony of service and sacrifice! These volunteers see the big picture for these kids and how you have to start young. To instill into our children a love and hunger for God’s presence in their lives. I remember when I was interviewing for this position I went in on a Sunday morning just to check out the process. I went into a room with a class full of 4 year olds. I’m not going to lie…I was scared out of my mind. But it didn’t take long for my heart to melt for these little ones. In the corner of the room was a little boy sitting with his Bible on his lap alone. I walked over and told him how lucky he was to have a Bible with pictures. Those are for sure the coolest Bibles. ;-) He told me his daddy got him the Bible and where his father put his name. This little boy, Billy..went on to show me his favorite Bible story (with pictures) and wouldn’t leave his Bible unattended to go play with the other kids. After talking to him for a little bit I asked him if he would like me to watch his Bible so he could play with the others. He thought about it…then agreed to let me hold it for him. To which for the remainder of the class that Bible never left my hands. I found it so endearing that at the age of 4 this little boy cherished his Bible so much. He was sitting by himself in the corner not playing because he didn’t want to leave it alone. He cherished it because his dad gave it to him. This book was important to his father therefore it was important to him. I thought to myself how vital it is to teach our children the importance of God’s Word at a young age. At 4yrs, Billy’s dad is instilling the foundation of what kind of man Billy will become. Being a part of helping these families do that is a honor…a blessing. I’m so excited about the different things the Lord is going to teach me with this new position.

I’ll leave you with a funny story from yesterday…

Well, we had a few children yesterday who were having a hard time settling down. So much so that they were given to the Kids Quest staff to calm down in our office. This one little girl was just screaming and throwing a fit to say the least. She wanted her mom and she was obviously use to getting what she wants. At Kids Quest we teach good behavior so of course we have to be consistent and never cave to the child. So, she was screaming and screaming…kicking her legs against the door of the room she was locked in. At some point she was crying so hard she was making herself tired OR maybe my ears were ringing so much I became delusional but I SWEAR she was scream humming and door kicking to the tune of ‘I wanna dance with somebody’ by Whitney Houston. For the life of me I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I started humming/singing it while she proceeded to act a mess. She finally calmed down and was a very sweet cute little girl, but that tune is still in my head with the imagine of a child throwing a fit. I think I found my future cooping mechanism. lol

So because I love you all so much you can join me in my mental flashback. I do love this song…lol
“I wanna dance with somebody” by Whitney Houston.

Bahamas 2009

Heaven Help Us All....more to come!!

This video catches the essence of our first few days in the Grand Bahamas.


Jon is the Sandman!!
You can't go to the beach without burying somebody. Jon wanted to be a sand woman so because we loved him so much we MADE it happen. I have to admit though...that was the ugliest sand woman I ever saw.


Captn' Ben trying to save our lives AND Jon's AMAZING war stories.

We had the BEST MOST PERFECT vacation. I went snorkeling for the first time...saw a stingray!! But what made it so perfect was the company that went. I laughed more in that week then probably my whole life. Between Ben's fire dancing...Jon's sandman...Michelle's limbo...and Carley's dancing queen...I was in stitches all week. We made memories for a lifetime...like walking 2 miles to the scary store in the dark, just to get there and realize we really didn't need to go OR Jon killing so many ants in the pool that we voted it justified his 98th kill. :-) I could go on & on but don't worry I won't. :-) I do have one regret though....I wish I had my camera with me when Jon & Ben had their Playboy waterfall model contest in the resort pool. I still can't believe they didn't kick us out, but they DID keep Jon's camera. lol


Ben fire dancing and LOVING IT!!
Background story, Ben refused to dance with me, Carley & Michelle, so we went to the DJ and asked him to embarrass our Benny. When the fire dancer came around we pretty much pushed Ben into her flaming arms. :-) You should of danced with us Ben!! lol


The Jon Roll
There was a guy & his family sitting beside us who kept rolling in the sand..completely embarrassing his family. So of course, our guys decided they wanted to do it as well. Sadly, I didn't get the sand angels on video. :-)


We had the most amazing time in the Grand Bahamas...even if we never used the free scooters.

It's a New DAY...

Ok, I’ve finally made myself sit down and write my blog. It’s been a CRAZY busy month to say the least, but the BIGGEST thing is I MOVED!! I FINALLY got my own little place and by ‘own’ I mean rent. Don’t judge..I live in DC it’s expensive, BUT no more roommates. Now, let me be clear…I’ve had some pretty great roommates who have helped me through some hard times, but there is nothing like coming home to your own little place. I decorate it the way I want…I have room in the frig for my own food (yes, that was a major problem before)…and I don’t have to worry about someone getting in the shower right before I was going to jump in. It’s my small little piece of Heaven. :-) I’ve been cooking and decorating…just loving the blessing God has given me.I’ve waited so long to have this. A quiet peaceful place for me and my poodle. Chewy is LOVING it by the way. He’s never kenneled anymore. He’s such a good dog and he’s made friends with my neighbor’s dog Bella. She’s a beautiful grey hound that’s 4 times the size of Chewy, but he loves her. So, we’re very happy in our new place. I was lucky enough to have my mom come down for a week to help me move in and decorate.
Even my dad made it down for a few days, so now all my lights have the ‘right energy saving’ bulbs. Dad’s are great! All my dad wants is a mission when he comes to visit. My father is probably the most impatient man I have ever met, so give him a mission and everybody is happy. Send him to the store for cough syrup, he’ll come back with tissues, cough drops, bacteria fighting mouthwash, and shampoo. Yes, you heard me right…no cough syrup…SO he’ll turn around and go back for it. :-) It’s a NEW DAY…for this little Adams girl. What’s next? Well, I’m going to the Bahamas for Thanksgiving and Ireland for my birthday in March. So, my future is looking pretty bright and full of adventure, which let’s be honest is all this girl ever wanted. ;-)

Sick Day..

So, over the last few days I’ve been sick. It’s a major head cold which I probably got from my friend Ben but that’s neither here nor there. The point is I’m sick and miserable. Due to this fact it made me start remembering other times in my life when I was really sick. One of those times was when I was about 14 years old. I got broncular pneumonia.
I remember it was around one of those surprise visits my grandparents love to do. I was downstairs after school watching TV with my mom and grandma (grandma was yapping on about something on TV) when I started feeling really bad. My dad got home and as soon as he heard I wasn’t feeling well…he yelled GO TO BED. This was a order to be obeyed…which at that moment I didn’t disagree with. I guess my mom knew I really wasn’t feeling well because I went to bed no argument. She got me settled into bed like a good mother and my mom is the best…so she rubbed my forehead for a little bit and let me go to sleep. Why is it every time you’re sick it gets worse at night? Well, I remember feeling like crap and having a hard time walking to my parents room. I got my mom and I had a major fever.
My mom wanted to take me to the emergency room but my dad wanted to wait until the clinic opened at 7am (I think). My dad had the amazing idea of putting his 14 year old daughter who at this point couldn’t walk on her own in a cold bath. I remember him telling my mom if my temp didn’t go down we were going to the emergency room. That bath was PAINFUL..like needles on the skin. I remember crying a lot. I had strength enough to get myself in and out of the tub but needed the help of my parents to get back to my room. To my dad’s luck my temperature went down a little..if not I think my mom would of killed him. Anyway, my mom slept by me that night and as soon as the office opened my butt was the first patient. My full temp was back and I was diagnosed with broncular pneumonia. My grandparents stayed with me during the day while my mom had to work. I remember I was very contagious so my grandma and mom were the only ones who would get close to me. Everyday multiple times a day my grandfather would pop his head in my room to in his words “makin’ sure you’re still alive”. He also dropped off things I loved like peanut butter cups, hot tea, and other random things. Sometimes he would just stand at the door and talk to me. A few times I caught him just watching me as I slept. I knew he was really worried. Now don’t get me wrong I’m very glad I’m not suffering from broncular pneumonia today…it was painful. But I do miss having that support system around me when I’m sick. That security of family taking care of you. It really sucks how fast time goes, but I look forward to the day I have a little girl or boy of my own who I can comfort by rubbing their foreheads to sleep. Giving them the security I have been blessed to have my whole life. I was/am a lucky girl.

The long goodbye

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

This quote has been going through my head for the last few weeks and it’s so true. A few weeks ago I made the long journey to go see my grandmother in a nursing home out in Pekin, IL. The last time I saw my grandma was April of 2008. I was in Ohio for my nieces baby dedication at her church and my grandma showed up and surprised my sister. My grandma loves surprises…I remember as a little girl randomly looking out the window from our living room in Connecticut one evening when my grandparents Roadmaster drove up the driveway. They just surprised us with a visit and I remember running to hug & kiss them. Anywho…back to April of 2008…my grandmother looked so fragile. We knew she was starting to suffer from Alzheimer’s. It started with her forgetting small things and repeating herself… to forgetting significant events in her life. That April my grandmother with tears falling down her cheeks kissed me goodbye. That was the last time my grandmother would remember who I was.
So….the trip I made two weeks ago was very hard. I walked into a nursing home and in the distance saw my grandmother slumped over in a wheelchair. I walked up to her put my hand on her shoulder, she looked up and had no clue who I was. I said Hi…she said Hi…then I had to introduce myself to my grandma. To say a piece of my heart broke is a understatement. The shear pain of that memory tears at me now. Alzheimer’s is such a horrible disease. In my grandmother’s mind she is a young girl…who wonders where her brother is and why hasn’t her mother come to see her in awhile. To her family…her daughters…her grandchildren…it’s a long goodbye. She’s not going to get any better. She’s only going to get worse…but what warms the heart of all that love her are the memories she gave us. I don’t remember my grandmother yelling at me…even though I’m sure she did a time or too. I just remember how much she loved me. How she made me and the ones around her feel loved…and even with this awful disease destroying her mind she can still show that. When I said goodbye this last time, she grabbed my hand, kissed it and told me she loved me and to try to come back. She may not know who I am…but she knows she loves me and like my Heavenly Father promises…Love concurs all.

My mom..sister..and grandma

Holding On...

Some of you may not know this, but I’m a very sensitive person. Of course, I act like I’m not, but if you really wanted to get to know me you would understand I’m a turtle. Covered with a hard shell, but if you crack that shell I’m very defenseless. This is how I know I’m a sensitive person….I remember every broken moment of my life. I can feel the ache and taste the tears every time I think of a time where something got under the shell. Why am I talking about this? Because I just heard a song that reminded me of a broken moment.

Tonight I’m going to see ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ with my girls. So, to prepare for this girly event I YouTube’d the movie trailer. Before I see any movie I always watch the trailer a hundred times. It always makes me so excited to see the movie. Anyway, the song playing behind the trailer for ‘the Time Travelers’ Wife’ is the song ‘Broken’ by Life House. The first time I remember hearing this song was last fall. A friend had really hurt me and I was thinking I’m never going to forgive him. A line was crossed and I was disgusted with this friend. I remember thinking with a friend like this I’ll never need enemies. So, I’m on my way to church praying… Lord I’m done…I’m done. Then all of a sudden Life House new song ‘Broken’ came on the radio.

Because music is MY AIR and He likes to talk to me through it… I felt God wanting me to listen to the lyrics. I felt Him say to me…Melinda, you’re broken and you’re hurt but hold on. Love like I want you to love. Love how I love you. I know you’re hurt and you want to hide, but I’m holding onto you, so it's ok to hold onto him. He's begging for forgiveness and you need to give it. I remember saying..Lord you know how defenseless I am and He said to me…then let Me be your shell my little turtle. It's in forgiving others that we truly see how much He forgave us. So, I forgave my friend and I would like to say no friend has ever hurt me again, but I can’t. The fact is people that feel deeply are usually deeply hurt on a regular basis…but it’s ok because I know I have Someone holding onto me through the brokenness. It's in those times of pain that I feel Him not letting go. And maybe some people in our lives aren’t really worth holding onto, maybe some you have to let go, but maybe someday He'll lead someone to us worth really holding onto and for that it’s worth coming out of the shell. I don’t want to be a turtle in her shell playing dead. He promised He'll always be holding onto me..so I'm going to come out of my shell and try my best to hold onto Him. Isn't it the least I can do??

Attached is a video that makes my heart melt. :-)

Battlefield..

New song I love...it's so true!! Enjoy some great music..girl can SING!!

Metro Hottie..lol

Dear Metro Hottie,

I'm not going to lie, I was very surprised to see you on the metro this morning. Most men in DC I catch suffocating in suits on their way to work, but you were different. A tall built guy with worn jeans, a baseball cap, a bright green t-shirt, and beautiful gray chucks. I have to admit I didn't notice you until we got off our metro stop together. Our eyes met for a moment and in that moment my heart stopped. As you walked down 18th and I turned to walked down 19th I knew our paths would cross again. Until then my Metro Hottie, please find comfort that I'll always think of you when I hear our song. The song playing on my ipod when your beautiful eyes met mine. I just wish I could remember what the color of your eyes were now. :-/

Love Always,
Your Metro Admirer <3

PS: Our song "Somebody Like You" by Keith Urban

Letting you in...

I decided to do something a little different then normal on my blog today and let you into my head. I know...kinda scary, but I hope interesting, entertaining, and ultimately encouraging. So, who has had their heartbroken? Who has let themselves fall for a 'project'? I say 'project' because that sounds better in your head, then saying the truth their a TOOL. The reason I can write this now is because I've happily closed out my 'project' file and decided to stop making excuses.

Now, for those of you who are/were involved with 'projects' know what I'm talking about when I say EXCUSES. We make excuses for their bad behavior all the time and the sick thing is the more excuses you make for them the more involved you become with the 'project'. EXAMPLE: "She doesn't mean to make me feel like crap. She's having a bad day." or "He has commitment issues so he forgets to call me back, and has trouble being nice to me sometimes, because he's scared of how much he cares". BULL CRAP!! The TRUTH is these are SELFISH THOUGHTLESS UNCARING individuals who SUCK the LIFE out of thoughtful loving giving people. They make you feel like it's your fault. You loved them too much and cared too much for your own good. But let's be honest BRUTALLY HONEST..they're insecure individuals who attach themselves to people who build them up. BUT because they're insecure they resent how much they need you, SO they act out and since they really could care less about you, you're the only one left hurt.

Has anybody ever seen the movie called The Holiday? I LOVED it when I saw it in theaters a few years ago, but I hated it at the same time because I WAS the character Iris. It made be sick how much I could relate. Of course, I don't cry or freak out as much as her, but I felt her pain and sniffled through the whole thing. Come Christmas time I was opening up presents and MY DAD bought me The Holiday DVD. He said he saw the movie and thought me & Iris were a dead ringer. I felt sick to my stomach, EVEN MY DAD knew I had allowed my insecure 'project' to suck the joy out of me. Since then I have pretty much had every friend tell me they think of me every time they watch that movie. Today I had another friend tell me, which made me think of this blog. I was just as desperate to get out as Iris was from her toxic relationship, but I felt guilty. It was like a weight tied to my foot and I barely could keep my head above water. All my energy was on keeping my head above water that I couldn't notice all my friends trying to help me. I wouldn't let them help me.

So, what do you do in hopeless situations? YOU PRAY!! Lord I don't care if it hurts just delete this virus infected project from my life. I felt myself dying and my strength fading. My God is faithful and He knew the exact time to save the day. He gave me an opportunity to run and I did. I ran so fast I can't help but giggle about it now. It hurt, it hurt bad. I had to admit to myself that I was wrong and my efforts to help somebody were in vain. I lost a friend, but I gained so much more back.... MYSELF. My blunt in your face self. My TO strong for you self. I am the leading lady to my movie and will never settle for the best friend again. :-)

It's so funny to think about now. It took A MONTH to let go of something I THOUGHT would take a lifetime. LOL I'm such a silly emotional girl sometimes. BUT I hope my heartbroken story can help you AND me in the future. If someone doesn't appreciate you and love you even in a friendship... walk away. If you feel drained after being around someone, because they emotionally take so much...walk away. If you feel like a lesser version of yourself with them...RUN AWAY. Whether it be in a relationship or a close friend ALWAY ALWAYS 100% be yourself. So, you loving giving selfless people...KEEP ON LOVING!! You selfish thoughtless uncaring people...I hope you develop a clue before the cycle continues....

Attached is a movie clip of my movie counter part, Iris. Watch to the end...she's SO happy because she let go. When I realized I had let go I couldn't stop laughing at myself. A movie that use to make me cry NOW makes me laugh, because I was so silly for so long I can't help but giggle. :-) I can honestly say now I can't believe I let myself be miserable for so long. Never let someone else control your happiness or allow their insecurities to become your own. God is Good, trust Him! You'll be surprised where He leads your story. :-) Best quote: "If my hands are fully occupied in holding onto something, I can neither give nor receive." Stay strong my beloveds..and be happy, for we have an amazing HOPE. And in that amazing Hope is SO MUCH FREEDOM!!!!!!

Breath of Kindness..

Great Quote for the Day:

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away."

- George Eliot, poet and novelist

Zack's BACK!!! (girly SCREAM)

If you ever wondered why I LOVE the BLONDES!! Zack Morris, my FIRST Love!! :-)

A Whole New World...

So, it was the summer of my 12th year. It was 1992 and my view of relationships would never be the same. I fell in love that summer. I fell in love with an idea, a dream some would say, of what I wanted my life to be like. I wanted to try new things, be in some amazing adventures and of course find a love that longed for the same. 1992 was the year I decided never to settle for anything less. I remember the exact moment too.

We were in Illinois visiting my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins when the NEW Disney movie came out. It was in theaters and I couldn't wait to see it. My dad being the BEST DAD EVER raised his daughters with a great love for anything Disney. I don't give a crap where they stand politically, I will always jump at the chance to go to Disney World and act like a 12 year old. Anywho, I'm watching this AMAZING movie Aladdin with my own popcorn (which was very awesome since my dad NEVER bought us popcorn, no less our own), it was a special night. A hot summer night with a theater packed out to see Disney's new creation.

So imagine if you will, an adorable younger version of myself, drinking in this amazing masterpiece. My heart raced during fights with Aladdin and Abu. I loved that little monkey. My big awe struck brown eyes couldn't get enough of their crazy adventures, but then it got better. This is where my romantic ideals would never be the same. You see Aladdin fell in love but to get the girl he had to grow up and become a man. He became a man and showed the Princess all the things she longed to see and be a part of. How amazing and awesome this world can be, if we're only up for an adventure.

So, in my little 12 year old heart I decided never to settle for anything but my Aladdin. Someone who would give up everything just to show me what the world could offer us together. A boy who wasn't perfect, but tried none the less. So, I'm in my 29th year and as I look back on that decision I made from a very innocent young heart. I can't say for the life of me that I regret it. I've had alot of adventures so far and a few wannabe Aladdin's, but I'm very happy in knowing the best is yet to come and risking sounding overly girly, my Aladdin is still on his way. :-)

Attached below is the moment everything changed for me. Thanks to my beloved Disney!! :-)

Life is Beautiful..

Music is my air and I just love this song from Vega 4. Even when we go through hard times, you can't help but see the beauty our Heavenly Father has given us. Life is Beautiful, but complicated. Enjoy..

The Little Things....

Great quote I wanted to pass along. Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

"Anger is a little thing. Hate is a little thing. Order is a little thing. Each of these little things has a major impact on the big picture. Right thinking, right action, and right response to the little things will help us conquer the big things, like injustice, inequality, poverty, and disorder. Until we are each able to conquer and master the little things in our lives, the big things will remain undone." - Iylana Vanzant

Come Back to Me...

I love David Cook's new song Come Back to ME!! It's a great song about letting go. I'm a fixer by nature. God gave me a gift for seeing the potential in people, but sometimes that gift gets me in trouble. Because sometimes I see so much of the potential I forget to see how damaged and toxic that relationship can become in my life. When someone is damaged and broken sometimes the only thing you can do is let go, before their issues become your own. I've learned recently that its not selfish to refuse to let someone elses insecurities become your own. And before someone can be a healthy influence in your life they have to figure out who they are. Only when they do that can they be a good friend, boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse.

As Christian we're called to support, encourage, love and pray for each other...sometimes the only way we can do that is by letting go and wishing them well. Whether they come back or not, you can sleep sound knowing you did your best to help their situation, and now it's time to help your own. "One of the things my parents taught me, and I'll always be grateful for the gift, is to not ever let anybody else define me." - Wilma Mankiller, the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation. The minute we allow anyone to define us other then God is the minute we allow a toxic relationship to begin. So, I know this video is more about romantic love but I hope it encourages you to let go of unhealthy relationships and challenges you to find yourself in God.

Music doesn't always have to be in the 'Christian' category at a Bible bookstore for us to find God in it. His Glory and Majesty is in everything....:-) Listening to this song made me think of God's broken heart everytime we walk away from Him...begging us to come back. Of course, we'll never be able to find ourselves outside of Him. Come back to me.....

Sleepwalking...

You know, not many people know this, but I use to sleepwalk when I was a little girl. I grew out of it..but I couldn't help but get a kick out of this video. My chewy dreams alot but he's never gone to this extreme. lol

A Servant of All...

Comfort Zone...

Here's the Quote of the Day for all my friends missing their comfort zone.

"God stirs up our comfortable nests, and pushes us over the edge of them, and we are forced to use our wings to save ourselves from fatal falling. Read your trials in this light, and see if your wings are being developed." - Hannah Whitehall Smith (evangelist, reformer, & author)

Romans 8:37-38
"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love."

Take heart my beloveds that our Father always has a plan for us and in the middle of a major storm, He sees the blue sky ahead.

For Adam...

Laughed my butt off... This show was just classic. BTW: I almost have the routine memorized. OBX PROM WATCH OUT!!

Easter Weekend...

I had another wonderful beautiful weekend here in DC. Saturday I decided just to chillax at home, then meet with some friend for fireworks down by the Harbor. It was so beautiful and it ended up being a huge group of us.
Rob, Meredith, and Yoder were in my car, even though at certain points through out the night I thought Yoder was going to get murdered, if not by Meredith then ME. lol Poor guy never got his fish dinner, but we ended the night at Chevy's in Pentagon City. I didn't get to bed until 12 which isn't that late, but when you're getting up for Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial at 4:30, it sucks. So, 5:30am on the dot..Ben, Jen, & Rob meet at my place and we head into the city. Now, I went to Arlington's Sunrise Service last year (freakin' froze my butt off), but the Lincoln was WAY BETTER!!

Not only did I have the funniest people in the world with me, but it was just beautiful. Then singing some of my favorite worship songs on the steps of my favorite memorial was overwhelming. Our country is so blessed..even during these hard times. So many of my friends are suffering through this economic downturn, but it all seems so small compared to what Christ did on the cross for us. He understands our suffering more then we could ever know. So...with all the stress our nation has been under, He decides to send it's capital a cloudless day to celebrate Him. Aren't we lucky? After our wonderful Easter service we went to IHOP. I love that place. BEST PANCAKES EVER!! Of course, Ben had us all rolling with laughter about pretty much anything and everything. That guy is blessed with a gift of uplifting others. I wouldn't of had such a wonderful Easter weekend without him or Rob for that matter. I have some pretty amazing men in my life. I have some amazing Godly women in my life too. I remember not long ago I was in a horrible emotional place and my wonderful roommate Garland fixed me breakfast, even though she knew I couldn't eat it. She wrote scripture down to remind me of God's promises for my life and sat beside me as I wept uncontrollably. True friends stay by you during those difficult times. They give you strength to take on the next challenge. I feel like I don't deserve them half the time. This community I'm a part of has gotten me through some pretty dark days. And when I felt like surrendering to the enemy, they fought for me. They lifted me up and refused to let me break. They are the true body of Christ and I'm so blessed to have celebrated His sacrifice with some of them this weekend. I love you all more then I could ever say...

Dwight, Gotta love him..

It's impossible not to love this show...lol

I DID IT!!!

So anyone who knows me, knows I've been training to run the Cherry Blossom 10 miles race since December. Five months ago I decided to challenge myself like I never have before. I made the decision to run 10 miles, when at that point I never ran a mile. You see both of my roommates are huge runners. They are obsessed with it. I felt like I was missing out on something truly amazing, which is why I decided to run.
Training officially started January 2nd 2009. I had a program I stuck to, so I could run 10 miles in April. Sadly, I had a few set backs. The first was getting sick late February. It was awful...I couldn't run or anything. I totally got behind on my training because of it. Two...when I started training outside my legs started getting really bad shin splints. THEY SUCK...so the icing and the pill popping began. So, to say I was nervous is a VERY BIG understatement. I thought about flaking out...but I knew my sister & friend/trainer KC would kill me. I would be disappointing myself as well.
So...the day comes for the Cherry Blossom race. I'm feeling good. The night before I iced my shins, so I'm thinking I'm prepared. Of course I feel like I'm about to vomit, but luckily I'm too anxious to eat, so I'm safe. ;-) I started running with my sister and at first I thought I'm good, my shins feel fine. Then the pain hits..it wasn't good. I kept thinking how the heck am I going to run 10 miles with my legs feeling like they're on fire. My eyes were watering not only from the pain but from disappointing my sister and myself. I told my sis to keep going and I'd be right behind, but that I couldn't keep her pace with my legs. So, I started pushing through the pain...limping/running. Have you ever seen the movie Run Fatboy Fun? Well, if you have that was me. Running as much as I could..telling myself not to give up.
When I got to the 5 mile mark I was literally at a crossroad. Do I give up or do I keep going in danger of getting picked up by the short bus? With every mile I saw my time going up and I REALLY did not want to get picked up by the short bus. Now...the short bus picked up anybody going over a 14 minute mile. I felt like I had the devil and an angel on my shoulders, but I couldn't tell who was who. Was it the devil telling me I couldn't do it? OR..was it the angel telling me God gives your body pain signs for a reason you idiot. lol Anywho..I decided to get mad and SCREW the pain in my legs and the all hovering short bus and TRY. Because I'll never forgive myself for quiting, even if it's a legitimate reason.
So, I set a steady pace and stayed with it. I even made friends with a few fellow struggling runners. :-) A cute little Asian woman was really sweet, a inspiring big boy with his hip hop music, and my running partner for the last 2 miles Christin. Christin was a lifesaver because right before I ran into her... I was praying for the short bus to come. I was thinking if the bus comes for me I'm not going to cry, I'm going to laugh and give the bus driver the BIGGEST HUG and thank him for picking me up from my nightmare. :-) THANK YOU..THANK YOU SHORT BUS DRIVER YOU'RE MY HERO. That was my speech I was going to give him. lol BTW: The short bus never came for me because I MADE IT! I ran 10 miles with horrible shin splints and all. I ran across the finish line and my wonderful beautiful trainer KC and sister were waiting for me YELLING my name!! :-) I DID IT!!

I'm so proud of myself. Even if I'm sitting here on my couch icing my shins and still popping pills as I write this. ;-) At least I didn't quit and had alot of fun pushing myself over the last 4 months. I'll keep running, but my sister still hasn't talked me into running it again next year. lol

Infatuation vs. Love

I just love quotes..so here's a new one.

"Infatuation is when you think he's as sexy as Robert Redford, as smart as Henry Kissinger, as noble as Ralph Nader, as funny as Woody Allen, and as athletic as Jimmy Connors. Love is when you realize that he's as sexy as Woody Allen, as smart as Jimmy Connors, as funny as Ralph Nader, as athletic as Henry Kissinger, and nothing like Robert Redford-but you'll take him anyway." - Judith Viorst

Recently, a friend and I were talking about how blind infatuation can be toxic to relationships. Infatuation is always confused for Love. It's sad how blinded our generation is. So many of us feel like we're dating 'our dream' then wake up married and trapped with a 'stranger'. Have you ever heard from a dying relationship...he or she changed? I've heard that alot and everytime I do I think...they didn't change, you finally opened your eyes. That's why it's so important to surround yourself with amazing friends who tell you the truth. Who challenge you to keep your eyes wide open. So, here's to going into God honoring relationships with open eyes. Just remember, the higher the pedistal, the harder the fall. Let's leave that crazy insane obsessed infatuation for God and Him alone. I have a feeling that would save ALOT of us some major heartbreak...

Unaware..

This is a great quote I came across today and decided to pass it on. Sometimes we just need to slow down, analyze our actions, & realize what's right in front of us.

"If I am unaware of love, I live drably. If I become intoxicated with love, I live in dreamland. If I recognize love and shake his hand, then comfort, dreams, and sometimes intoxication become mine to drench in and give away as well." - Nellie Curtiss

Fix You

Anybody who knows me KNOWS I'm a HUGE Coldplay fan. This is my favorite song of theirs and it WILL be in my wedding someday. :-) He wrote it for his wife when she was watching her father die of cancer. What a perfect way for him to let her know he's there for her. It's so sweet, honest, and touching. I just adore it..I hope you do too.



FIX YOU

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home,
And ignite your bones,
And I will try to fix you,

High up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Getting there...

I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God he's still molding me to what his plans are for my life.

Song of the Day: Beautiful Lord by Leeland

My amazing beloveds hold tight to our Beautiful Lord, because the enemy is always on our heels to take us back to what we were. Hold on to His promise for peace, protection, and guidance. Don't let the enemy destroy what took our wonderful Father so long to create. I love you all.

Everybody's Amazing...Nobody's Happy

Hello my beloveds...check out this link! It wouldn't let me upload it. What he's saying is SO TRUE. If we just calm down and sit back from time to time, it's amazing how much God has blessed us. Enjoy a giggle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

Time Square Coat..

To anyone who knows a German, you should be laughing your butt off...lol

Cardboard Testimony...

A great reminder of the amazing grace of our Savior. We all have wonderful stories of His personal love for us.

What would you write on your cardboard testimony?

Metro Adventures...

Life on the metro in DC is always entertaining. I mean, it's no New York's dirty subway by any means but we like to keep up with the crazies from time to time. I have witnessed guys hitting on girls (a few times it's been me), people singing at the top of their lungs for attention, and once a man passed out in a packed train car. It's all a part of the overall quirkiness of the metro.

Yesterday, I ran to the train like any other day, but OH NO there were alot of people on the platform. Bad sign...this usually means DELAY. CRAP...I left home 15 minutes early today too. Whatev...at least I have a book and my ipod. I jumped on the train where I always get a seat and sadly I have to stand. It was already crazy packed. So, as I walked to the middle of the aisle I notice a very 'stocky' woman taking up two seats with herself AND her huge bag. Now, to all the non-metro riders THIS IS A NO NO! When it is packed you NEVER take up two seats and if you have a rather big booty don't you think you SHOULD be standing? It's just so rude. Anywho, the SLOW ride begins and a very cute old Asian man is sitting in one of the seats in front of me. Well, I'm listening to my music not paying attention to him and I feel something on my hip. When it's crowded people are always touching you, so I didn't jump. I looked down and that little old man had fallin' asleep and leaned into my hip. So, here I am trying not to laugh but there is this old guy using my hip as a pillow. So, because I was in a funny mood I quickly took his pillow away and he head fell. lol Don't worry he didn't fall out of his seat but he woke up real fast. lol I think he thought someone hit him. lol

Meantime, we're now stuck in a tunnel NOT MOVING for 30 minutes. We have old guy's head bobbing for a pillow again, antsy girl next to me making me nervous, my friend Jeff trapped at the other end of car looking annoyed, and 'stocky' woman STILL taking up two seats. Well, antsy girl finally had enough because she MADE 'stocky' woman move her bag so her tiny little self could put her makeup on. 'Stocky' woman was very huffy about having to share her seat, but I was annoyed I had to stare at her bad dye job for the last 45 minutes. I mean COME ON...why do I pay metro so much money for them to have issues EVERY DAY?!?! They constantly raise prices for their crappy service and we can't do anything about it. It's proof DC is becoming fascist. The metro is our own little version of Hitler's Nazi regime, instead of saluting an old guy with bad facial hair, we hide our beverages (not permitted) swipe our little metro card and pray our train doesn't derail. BTW: That's why we had a 40 minute delay, because not one BUT TWO trains derailed on the orange line.

So, I finally get to work safe and sound. Of course I had NO IDEA the joy the ride home was going to be. It took me two hours to get home last night with our wonderful metro system. Luckily, I got a seat this time. Unfortunately, it was with a 'stocky' man. Needless to say, I risked life & death AND DROVE today....

My LIFE...

I'm SO Excited...

Tomorrow I'm OFF..to visit my boo aka Jamar in CO. I'm so excited to just hang out with my friend, who I miss more then anything in DC. That boy has got plans and I'm ready for the ride! Hopefully this Valentine's Day will be good to me because I get to hang with some friends I LOVE with all my heart. I'm also going to see my friend Hollywood from Liberty. I haven't seen him in 5 years. Man, time just flies doesn't it?!?

Anywho, I'm sure I'll be back with great exciting adventures to tell. BTW: Just found out this past weekend...I LOVE Hiking!! We climbed up this rock cliff..I was so proud of myself. It was so much fun! I can't believe I waited so long to do it! I'm the kinda girl that loves adventure, but I sorta need to be talked into them! Oh well, it always makes for a good story. :-)

He's JUST NOT that INTO you...

My HEART is overjoyed with the opening day of the movie 'He's Just NOT that into you'. I LOVED this book. It's sad but empowering at the same time. A book written by a man telling us women how much we're worth. He says over and over what we really deserve. So STOP making excuses for bad behavior ladies and walk away with your head held high, because you're worth finding someone who REALLY is INTO you. Here's a few of my favorite quotes from the book.

Cut your losses and don't waste your time . Why stay in some weird dating limbo when you can move on to what will surely be better territory? Don't want to hear it? Fine. Here's the answer you're looking for, "Hang in there, baby. He's not the loser everybody's telling you he is. If you wait and keep your mouth shut and call at exactly the right time and anticipate his moods and have no expectations about communication or your own needs, you can have him!" But please don't be surprised if he dumps you or continues to drag you through a completely unsatisfying relationship.

He is a man made up entirely of your excuses. And the minute you stop making excuses for him, he will completely disappear from your life.

Don't let the "honeys" and the "babies" fool you. His sweet nothings are exactly that. They are much easier to say than "I'm just not that into you." Remember, actions speak louder than, "There's no cell reception where I am right now."

Calling when you say you're going to call is the very first brick in the house you are building of love and trust. If he can't lay this one stupid brick down, you ain't never gonna have a house, baby. And it's cold outside.

He will always be able to play the "friend" card on you. He only has to be responsible for the expectations of a friend, rather than the the far greater expectations of a boyfriend. He's got the ultimate situation: a great friend with all the benefits of a girlfriend, whom he can see or not see whenever he wants to. He may be one of your closest friends, but I'm sorry to say ... as a boyfriend, he's just not that into you.

Beware of the word "friend". It can often be used by men or the women that love them to excuse the most unfriendly behavior. Personally, when I'm picking friends, I like the ones who don't make me cry myself to sleep.

Everyone wants to be loved and needed, particularly by the person who just broke up with us. I understand. What could be better than hearing from the man who just told you he didn't want you in his life anymore ... his sad, wistful, "I miss you so much" voice on the other end of the phone? It's validating. It's exciting. It's irresistible. But resist you must.

A man who wants to make a relationship work will move mountains to keep the woman he loves. If he's not calling you to tell you he loves you and wants you back, it should only be because he's showing up at your new residence to do it in person ... if he's not doing any of that, he may love you, he may miss you, but ultimately he's just not that into you. Stop taking his calls and let him know what it's like to live without you.

Don't be flattered that he misses you. He should miss you. You're deeply missable. However, he's still the same person who just broke up with you. Remember, the only reason he can miss you is because he's choosing, every day, not to be with you.

It's very tempting when you really want to be with someone to settle for much, much less -- even a vague pathetic facsimile of less -- than you would have ever imagined. Remember always what you set out to get and please don't settle for less. These guys exist because there are a lot of women out there who allow them to.

He's sniffing for something better, and when he doesn't find it, he gets lonely and comes "home." It's not that he's so into you. It's that he's so not into being alone. Don't give him the chance to break up with you for the fourth time. (Even the idea of it sounds beneath you, doesn't it?) Reset your breakup maximum to one and move on.

Deciding to get back together with someone is a complicated and difficult decision. Just remember that the person you are getting back together with is the same person who, not long before, looked you in your beautiful face, took full stock of you and all your qualities, and told you that he was no longer in need of your company.

Don't confuse being classy with being a doormat. Classy is walking away with your head held high, graciously, and with all dignity. Being a doormat is offering to drive him to the dentist for his root canal.

He doesn't need to be reminded that you're great.

There's a guy out there who's going to be really happy that you didn't get back together with your crappy ex-boyfriend.

The reason it's so painful when someone disappears is you have to face the fact that the person you loved had probably left you a long time before he grabbed his coat and scrammed. The hardest part is realizing that he was lying to you, in some way, before the moment of vanishing.

Don't give him the chance to reject you again.

Being lonely ... being alone ... for many people ... sucks. I get it, I get it, I get it. But still I have to say that yes, my belief is that being with somebody who makes you feel crappy or doesn't honor the person you are is worse.

Life is hard enough as it is without choosing someone difficult to share it with.

You deserve to be with someone who is nice to you all the time.

The song dedicated to this post is STRONGER by Britney Spears!! :-)

Time Issues..

Time is a crazy thing. It has been two weeks since my past post. I would like to say that the time has gone by fast, but the truth is it's been painfully slow. Every day I have been debating on what my new post would say and I keep changing it. Do I want to talk about my life in the past month? ummm...NO Do I want to talk about some random dude on the metro hitting on me? ummm..NO..maybe next time. You see I just haven't felt like talking. I've been thinking..and thinking alot. Not only have I been thinking, but watching. Watching the relationships around me. I've always been someone who tries to learn from my mistakes and from the mistakes of others. So...I've been watching things around me and my heart is sick.

In the last few months I have really started to notice the broken relationships around me, probably because they reminded me of something I was going through. But I really feel God revealed some truths to me. It's funny because the one thing that has been so frustrating for me in watching these broken relationships has been the issue of time. The reason it's funny is because at Frontline they're doing a dating series and the last point he made in his message was regarding taking the TIME to grow a Christ centered relationship. These broken relationships around me ALL could of been diverted if they had taken the time to grow together in Christ. It's so easy for us to let our emotions run away with us, isn't it?! It's so easy for us to assume God has given us these feelings. BTW: God doesn't give us feelings that's another subject for another time. Anywho, just think with me for a second, what if it isn't God?! What if we're being deceived by our own loneliness or the enemy? What if we're so wrapped up in our own emotions that we can't hear God's truth?

Our Father is amazing and He gives us all Free Will. One thing that has stuck out to me upon hearing these stories of broken relationships has been this question being asked...Why has God allowed this to happen to me? The truth is, which of course nobody wants to hear is He gives us Free Will and it's up to us to listen to Him or ourselves. The deceiver sometimes confuses us in that regard. God won't always stand in our way of making a HUGE mistake..as any good Father He'll allow us to make our OWN decisions and fall, so HE can teach us how to pick ourselves up. You know Todd at Frontline has said multiple times to be careful in our understanding of God, because sometimes we know JUST ENOUGH to make ourselves dangerous. We get proud and arrogant in our understanding. That's the moment the great deceiver can come in and destroy everything you've been working for. In these relationships I've seen..some have been married couples, others have been dating, but ALL were deceived. They allowed their emotions to rush them into unhealthy attachments which fogged the red flags until it was too late and now we're dealing with broken individuals desperate to understand how it happened. It happened because they didn't allow the emotions to calm down before they made life altering decisions. The heart is deceitful, which is why it's so important to hold God's truth in our actions. Love is patient. You know you never hear of people regretting going slow in a relationship, but you always hear of the regrets for going too fast. Love IS NOT an emotion, Love IS an ACTION. The act of giving yourself 100% for someone else without receiving anything in return. Christ on the cross, THAT is LOVE! Warm feelings, good intentions and butterflies in the stomach are not..

So, my advice to my girl friends who are thinking of settling on a guy because you're tired of waiting..Love is Patient. To my guy friends who are so wrapped up in their physical needs they're fogged from the red flags...Love is Patient. To my broken friends who feel like their falling into a bottomless pit desperate for a miracle...Love is Patient. Until we look outside of our wants and learn how to love unselfishly like Christ we're going to continue to be deceived. Our whole world revolves around Time. Every second of every day is scheduled for us. We are a generation of micro managers who want to plan everything out, so we can check it off the list. But if we focus on God's word instead of the craziness around us, He will bring things together in His own time and He's all about His children being patient for His Will. He wants us to stop listening to our emotions and start listening to Him..maybe they'll be the same or maybe you'll be lucky enough to hear a wake up call before it's too late. My emotions have lied, deceived, and hurt me, but my Father is teaching me how to get back up. Just as Peter took his eyes off the Lord and started sinking in the Galilee, it only took a cry for help before our Lord picked him up again. It's a burden on my heart today that my generation refocuses on Him...

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield it's valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:7-8

My City...

I'm at this very moment on a bus taking me back to the most amazing city in the world, Washington, DC. The city I love more then anything with the people I adore. There is nothing like leaving home for a little bit to help you appreciate it more when you return. Do you know that feeling when you're missing somebody special and you're apart for a long time? When you finally see each other, you hug, but your special someone hugs you so tight and you KNOW they missed you just as much. You feel so wanted, it's almost worth being apart just to feel that. I missed my city, so much I want to hug it tight when i get back.

I'm so proud to live in a city full of such rich history. The people who walked those sidewalks have shaped our country. They have had a hand on each and everyone of our lives today, some good and some bad, but all beneficial to our future. Those men lying in Arlington have given us our life as we know it. One by one they fought for a higher purpose. They understood that freedom isn't free. Freedom is a bloody long exhausting path. Even young boys at the age of 12 in the 1700s understood the cost for freedom. They picked up arms and fought beside their fathers for the liberties we take for granted. When you walk around DC you start to understand the impact these men had on this nation. From the Capitol to the Lincoln memorial, you'll see just how much has been given to all of us. It's sad because we're such a ungrateful nation, full of takers not givers. Like JFK said in his inaugural speech, "ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country." Are we doing that? Are we asking, what can I do for my country? Or are we asking, what is this country going to do for me?

Between the bailout and everything else, all I hear is me me me. Our new president asked for a call to service today. I couldn't agree more. Serving each other today will shape our country tomorrow. As a Christian nation we shouldn't have to be asked. We should be actively getting our feet dirty, not just for our neighbors, but for future generations to be inspired by. Just like we are inspired by walking around DC and learning how our former leaders put their country first. We can say to our children, follow our lead. Teaching them to put others above themselves and to embrace the truths our Heavenly Father has given us. The thing I love most about my city is that it has my Father's stamp all over it. His hand is and always has been on this great nation. He has stood beside those brave barefoot 12 year old boys during the Revolution, He brought our country back together after a civil war, and He destroyed the enemies of the world in WWII. It's His might that has given our fighters strength and courage in the mist of death. He is the orginator for CHANGE. And it's because of that great truth, that I can dare to hope for HIS change to come to my Washington, DC.

New York, New York

It was a day like any other when I woke up this January 17th, but today was different because I’m heading on an adventure to New York City….the Big Apple. Of course, I was super tired because I stayed up until 1:30am and got up at 6:30am. It’s my own fault..I was so excited, it was hard to settle down and go to bed. Also, if I’m being honest I was watching some of my favorite DVR’d shows. :-) So, I’m packing up last minute items and running out the door with my puppy. My roommate was sweet enough to drop me off at the metro AND watch my puppy for the long weekend. Chewy came along to drop me off at Dunn Loring and I’m finally I was on my way. I got into the zone, the metro zone..of reading my book (Marley & Me), then listening to music when I transfer lines. Carley and I met up, then we’re OFF in a Bolt Bus to New York City. Now, Carley decided to take a nap right away, but I decided to finish my book. It was the last 30 pages, but they were the most difficult. It took me 2 hours to finish 30 pages because I was reading, crying, reading, crying, reading, crying, etc..until I finished. I went through almost a whole pack of tissues. Warming…if you’re going to read a book about a dog READ AT HOME. After popping a few Advil’s from the cry headache, I was ready for New York City!!

It only took 4 hours to get there and they dropped us off pretty much in the middle of Time Square. First thing was to meet Carley’s sister Elizabeth at the hotel, check in, and get lunch. It is FREAKIN’ FREEZING in the wonderful city. I made the decision on Friday that thermals were going in the suitcase and it was obviously the right choice. Of course, because things can never be perfect my thermals are too big and I kept having to make big steps to keep them up. We went all over Time Square, and then grabbed a cab(thought I was going to DIE) to this book store with 18 miles worth of books. Yeah…it was a big store. Carley was in Heaven! We decided after that to grab dinner and head back to the hotel. We have a huge day tomorrow and needed the rest. I mean we walked miles today, but tomorrow we’ll be walking probably three times as long. I couldn't be happier. I love this mini adventure. I’ve never spent days exploring New York, it’s a little scary, but very liberating. So, we grabbed a New York style pizza and are totally chilling for the rest of the night.

Its days like these that really make me appreciate being young and single. To have this amazing freedom to go where the wind blows is thrilling. Living in the moment is what this weekend is all about and I’m embracing it with both hands. :-)

LOVE YOURSELF..

So, I'm sitting here watching American Idol and these people are cracking me up. They honestly believe they have what it takes to be a star. To everybody else in the country we're like, do you hear yourself, but in their head they're awesome. I can't help but wonder..do I do that?!? I think I do...you know those moments where you're looking through old photos and you're wondering WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?! But you know EXACTLY what you were thinking at the time...I look HOT!! Yeah...I can't help but believe everybody else was thinking DOES SHE HAVE A MIRROR?!? I'm a girl that likes to take fashion risks. I'm a firm believer that people should be able to see your personality through your individual style.

So...I say PEOPLE don't be afraid to be one of a kind. You might get some funny looks, but being true to yourself is priceless and in the end it's all about making yourself happy. I personally will never regret the red lens sunglasses, sailor hat, or Juno Jeans, because they've made me one entertaining chick. And let's be honest I'm sure my fashion mistakes are not over OR at least I hope not, because how boring would that be. ;-)

The song dedicated to this blog is CIRCUS by the Legendary Britney Spears!! One girl that definitely dances to her own drum....

My little reminder...

So, some of you will never understand this feeling, but I wish you could. The feeling of loving something so much it hurts. You feel tears coming if you start to think about being without this special creature that fills your heart with unconditional love. My special creature is my dog Chewy. I don't think anyone besides another dog obsessed owner could understand this love. He gives WAY more to me then I ever could to him. When I'm feeling beaten & broken by daily life, I come home to my little ball of joy, who only wants to be with me. He's content with watching me make dinner, sleeping beside me on the couch, or playing with his toy. He follows me everywhere and gets very upset when I leave him for any random amount of time. If I yell at him for any reason, he doesn't care. He's just begging to stay right beside me. He loves me unconditionally. Me and that little poodle have been through alot over the years, but we always had each other. It's amazing how much strength I've gotten from my little dog. I can't tell you how many times I've been crying and my sweet poodle will cuddle up next to me and try to cheer me up. It always seems to work too...

He's my little reminder from God of how much He loves me. That unconditional presence that He's here, waiting to be noticed, and begging for attention. It's hard to imagine God begging for our attention, huh!? Why us...we're a broken needy people. But no matter what you say or do, He still longs to just be with us. So...this morning as I woke up to a sweet puppy laying across my chest trying to wake me up, I was reminded of how blessed I am. Blessed to have a million daily reminders of My Father's love for me, especially my favorite little reminder Chewy!!