Wednesday, December 26, 2007

My Favorite Christmas Music (pt. 5)
Okay, so technically, it's now the day after Christmas (as of 10 minutes ago), but I just didn't have a chance to sit down and do this list. I was enjoying spending time with my parents on Christmas Day. :-)

My Favorite Christian Christmas Music

Rose of Bethlehem (by Selah) - I heard this song for the first time last year, and sang it at both my current church and my home church this past week. It is a beautiful picture of the price that Christ paid for us. I wish I could find a video to post with this song...I just love it!

In the First Light (by Glad) - I grew up hearing this song...It's a reminder to me of just exactly how miraculous the birth of Christ was...not only His birth, but what He came to do.




All Is Well (Point of Grace version) -




Bethlehem Morning (by Sandi Patty) - I grew up hearing this song every year as well. I loved singing along with it, because it was so exciting to be reminded that the birth of Christ gives us so much hope. God kept His promise to send a Savior through the birth of Jesus.




O Holy Night - I love this song and love several different versions of it. I think I can safely say that his is my favorite Christmas song, so I thought I'd find a few versions.

Celtic Women:


Shane and Shane:



Renee Fleming:



Josh Groban:



Billy Gilman:



And probably my two favorite versions...

Kelly Clarkson:




Point of Grace:

Monday, December 24, 2007

My Favorite Christmas Music (pt. 4)

My favorite Christmas Albums - I decided to save my favorite Christian Christmas songs for later tonight or tomorrow. Here are the Christmas Albums that I can't wait to listen to every Christmas.

My Holiday (By Mindy Smith)












Bethlehem, House of Bread (Annie Moses Band)










Brand New Year (SHeDaisy)









A Christmas Story (Point of Grace)










Winter Wonderland (Point of Grace)










Christmas with the Cambridge Singers








Christmas (Mannheim Steamroller)









A Time for Romance (Lee Ann Womack)









Peace (Jim Brickman)









White Christmas (Martina McBride)










Rose of Bethlehem (Selah)


Sunday, December 23, 2007

My Favorite Chrtistmas Songs (pt.3)

My favorite Christmas Songs that aren't really Christmas Songs
These are all songs that can be found on Christmas CD's, but if you listen to the lyrics, they are not talking about Christmas.

What are you Doing New Year's Eve?(Diana Krall Version) -
Okay...so this song is about the Holiday right after Christmas. I like it because it's fun so sing along with. And maybe I'm hoping I'll hear it from some mystery guy (who I obviously don't know yet) and actually have a New Year's Eve date this year.



Count Your Blessings(Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) - This one gets included on Christmas CDs because it was in in White Christmas. Like I said before...I love Bing!




River (by Joni Mitchell) - Okay, granted this one mentions Christmas at the very first and at the very end, and you can hear Jingle Bells in the accompaniment and the beginning and the end. Other than that, it's not really about Christmas. I found this video on iTunes with figure skating (which seemed appropriate).



Baby It's Cold Outside - I think this song is so fun and flirty!! It talks about the snow, but isn't about Christmas specifically. (You could listen to this in January). I couldn't decide which version to put up, so I'm putting up two.






Let It Snow! - I was listening to the radio on my way to Amarillo today and learned that (according to the DJ who was on whatever station I was listening to) this is the most requested Christmas song of all time...and it's not even about Christmas! Strange, huh?

I thought the Gilmore Girls would be appropriate for this...since Lorelai loves snow as much as I do!

Murder Mystery Party

Here are some pictures from our Murder Mystery Christmas party (College and Career) at church. It was a blast!!














Thursday, December 20, 2007

My Favorite Christmas Music (pt. 2)

My favorite sentimental Christmas songs
These are the songs that under normal circumstances, I would find way to sappy and annoying and cheesy. And while they are all of these things, I love belting them out in my car!

Where are you Christmas? (by Faith Hill) - Why school choirs think they need to sing this, I'll never know (this is a solo song and hearing 15-30 kids scoop around the pitches is not a pretty sound). I found this clip on Youtube with both the version from the Grinch movie and the version Faith Hill sang in the closing credits. I love hearing this one on the radio. I turn it up and sing it loud!


Sending You a Little Christmas (by Jim Brickman, feat. Kristy Starling) -This song is one I sing out loud and proud to as well...until I tear up! My friend Lisa sent this to her husband while he was in Iraq. Beautiful song! I like this video version of it the best, but it wasn't available to embed, so go here to watch it.

All I Want for Christmas is You (by Mariah Carey) - very cheesy, but I liked this song before I was old enough to really have a reason to sing it! :-) Instead of posting the Mariah Carey version, though, I thought I'd post the Love Actually version.



Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (as sung by Judy Garland) - This version is from Meet Me in St. Louis. (Great movie!). In this since, the little sister is sad because their family is moving right after Christmas (Father is the only one who actually wants to move), Judy Garland's character is singing to help comfort her.



I'll Be Home For Christmas (sung by Mindy Smith) - This is a song I like no matter who sings it, but Mindy Smith is one of my favorite singers, so finding her version of this from the Grand Old Opry on YouTube to post was too good to pass up.


The Christmas Song (sung by Martina McBride) - This is another song I like pretty much no matter who sings it. I love Martina McBride's voice and her Christmas CD is very simple and traditional and one of my favorites.

Blue Christmas (by Elvis) - Harry Connick, Jr. also does a version of this that I love, but you can't beat Elvis!

And saving the best for last!!

White Christmas (sung by Bing Crosby) - I love, love, love Bing Crosby's low, croony voice, and this scene from the beginning of the movie White Christmas always makes me happy.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Which I think is funny, because a lot of Christmas music is so ridiculously cheesy, and that's the exact reason that I don't usually care for patriotic music. I took this quiz that Amy Bunch had on her blog and got a 96% (only missed one). See how you do and post your score in the comments section.

So like I said, I love Christmas music, and not just the stuff about Christ's birth...I love it all! I was going to do a top "something" list of my favorite Christmas songs, but decided that would be too hard because I like different songs for different reasons. In fact, there are certain artist's versions of songs that I like a lot, and the actual Christmas song is not one of my favorites usually. Anyway, I am going to post four different lists over the coming week--My favorite secular fun Christmas songs, my favorite ridiculously sappy, sentimental Christmas songs, my favorite Christmas songs that aren't really Christmas songs, and finally, my Christmas songs that celebrate the birth of Christ.

So...to start off with (in no particular order)...

My favorite Secular Fun Christmas songs

Jingle Bells (SHeDaisy version) - SHeDaisy is supposed to be a country group, but they sound more like a secular Point of Grace (with one less person). Their Christmas CD is one of my favorites. I couldn't find their Jingle Bells on YouTube, but I did find their version of Deck the Halls which is so unbelievably corny, but fun!







Carol of the Bells (Mannheim Steamroller) - I have always love this Christmas song and it sounds amazing in this version.












Twas Da Nite (Take 6) - Okay...I admit that this one is one I grew up hearing and love simply for that reason! Unfortunately I couldn't find a video for this one, so you'll have to look it up on Amazon.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Point of Grace version) - Here is an example of a Christmas song that usually is not on my favorites list (I like it okay, just not a favorite), but I LOVE the Point of Grace version of it...couldn't find it on YouTube either...



Santa Baby - I probably should find this song too stupid to like, but it always makes me smile. It took me forever to find a video to put with this one, because it seems to be a rule when you sing this song that you have to wear a short santa dress with a santa hat and shake a lot.







And this article made me laugh: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_fe_st/odd_mary_christmas;_ylt=Agy5mSwALgn8OhLvw5Dx4jcuQE4F

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I think Marianne did this for Luke last year, but I couldn't resist "elfing" myself with my niece and nephews.



I also "scrooged" Kelsey, my little brother...this one really made me laugh!



Thursday, October 25, 2007

My Top Ten Favorite TV Shows

One of the podcasts that I listen to regularly is the Ramblecast with Jay and Jack (They also do an excellent podcast on Lost). A recent Ramblecast episode had Jorge Garcia (Who plays Hurley on Lost) on the show, and they each listed their top 10 favorite T.V. shows of all time. I started thinking about my favs and here's what I came up with (I'll try to include a video clip of each).

#10 - Profiler - This show started when I was in high school and was about a FBI forensic Scientist named Dr. Samantha Waters. Sam's job is to try to get into the mind of a serial killer to try to figure out who he is. There was a case each week that they focused on, but what was more interesting was the story arc about Sam and a serial killer known has "Jack" (Jack of all trades). Jack never killed a victim the same way twice and became obsessed with Sam. The tension and suspense of this storyline kept me tuning in every week. Once Sam left the show (at the beginning of season 4), I lost interest.







#9 - Arrested Development - This was a show that I watched completely on DVD. It's directed and narrated by Ron Howard and is one of the most bizarre and funny shows that I've ever seen. It's about the Bluth family-the most dysfunctional family that you'll ever meet. It's also one of the shows that Fox didn't give much of a chance (even after it consistently won Emmy's).



#8 - Pushing Daisies - This is a new show on ABC that I am absolutely loving and will probably move up my list! It is about a man named Ned who as a small boy discovers that he can bring dead things back to life by touching them. But there's a few catches. If he ever touches them again, then they will die. Also, if he does NOT touch them again within 60 seconds, then someone else will die. He starts working with a private detective. After a suspicous death, they go to the morgue and Ned touches the person who was killed. He finds out who really killed them, or at least clues about it, and then they try to solve the crime (for the money, of course). When the show starts, the latest victim is a girl that Ned was in love with when he was little. He goes to find out how she died, but doesn't touch her again within 60 seconds, so the undertaker dies. Now if they ever touch again, "Chuck" (Charlotte) will die.





#7 - Alias - Another show I caught completely on DVD. Sydney Bristow. Tough girl spy out to take on the world. What else can I say? She had a different Alias every week (some of them hilarious). Some of the later episodes got pretty ridiculous, especially with the Rimbaldi stuff, but I enjoyed this show a lot even at the end.






#6 - Firefly - I love Joss Whedon. Out of the shows that he's done, Firefly is my favorite. (Another show Fox cancelled before it had a chance). Firefly was a Western set in space. The show is set five hundred years from today in a new planetary system after humanity abandons "Earth That Was". Under the leadership of Malcolm Reynolds, a renegade who fought against the new unified central government (the "Alliance"), the crew of the Firefly-class vessel Serenity struggles to survive any way they can. (from TV.com). Both the characters and the witty dialog on this show made it amazing! Serenity (the movie) helped to conclude the story some. I also loved the music to this show, especially the theme song.




#5 - Gilmore Girls - One of the few shows that I have ever followed from beginning to end. This show tells the story of Lorelai Gilmore, a woman who grows up in a very affluent home, but balks against the life that her parents are planning for her. At the age of 16, she gets pregnant and gives birth to a daughter (Rory). She moves out and raises her daughter on her own and pretty much cuts off contact with her parents (Her mother comments on the first episode that it was nice to have her girls over on a day when the banks were open). The show starts right before Rory turns 16. Lorelai and Rory are more friends than daughters, and are living in the very small town of Stars Hollow. Rory gets into a very good private school, and Lorelai is forced to go to her parents to borrow the money. They agree on the condition that Rory and Lorelai come over every Friday for Friday night dinner. This show was quickly known for it's very quick and witty dialog as well as the insane number of obscure pop culture references that were included. The last season was not as good (I almost gave up on it), because the creators of the show left, but over all, this was a show that I kept up with for seven years.




#4 - Battlestar Galactica - Frak! I have Kyle and Jay to thank for introducing me to this show. It's another Sci-Fi show. In the miniseries, the Cylons launch a massive attack against the humans and wipe out the Twelve Colonies, sending the 47,000 survivors on a desperate search for the fabled 13th colony--Earth. The story continues in the series with Captain Adama and his crew and the newly sworn in President Laura Roslin as they try to work together to find Earth.




#3 - The Office - I have my friends to thank for getting me interested in this show as well. It's absolutely hilarious!! It is done kind of in a documentary style. The Office is about the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Michael Scott, the regional Manager, thinks he is the coolest, funniest boss ever, but most of his staff just thinks that he is an idiot, with the exception of Dwight Schrute. The funniest parts of this show, though, are the pranks that Jim and Pam play on Dwight.






#2 - Lost - This is the show that actually brought me to most of my friends. Oceanic Flight 815 crashes on an island and the survivors must figure out what they can do to survive. This show is honestly one of the most confusing ever with all of the twists and turns and everything. But I love it! It definitely keeps you on your toes! (And gives you a massive headache trying to figure things out!)






#1 - Veronica Mars - I'm pulling this straight off of TV.com "In the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, California, the rich and powerful make the rules. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars, a smart, fearless 17-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the town's toughest mysteries. Veronica used to be one of the popular girls, but it all came crumbling down around her after her best friend, Lilly, was murdered, and her then-sheriff father, Keith, was removed from office for naming Lilly's rich father as the lead suspect. During the day, Veronica must negotiate high school like any average teenage girl. But at night, she helps with her father's struggling, new private investigator business--and what she finds may tear the town of Neptune apart at the seams." Kristen Bell plays Veronica Mars and she is the best female character on TV. Unfortunately this show was not given much of a chance. It was on UPN to start out with and then moved to the new CW where it only lasted a season...and was replaced by The search for the next Pussycat Doll. Come on TV execs! Why do you keep pulling smart TV and then replacing it with ridiculous reality shows!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Hot, Bothered and Bewildered

Well, Meagan and I are all moved in to our new place...but the air conditioning is not working! I figured this out last night when I came home from church and went to turn on the air. It was already on and set to about 72, but our apartment was 95 degrees! It's pretty miserable in there...thankfully, our maintanence crew is really good about taking care of things quickly! I'm sure they'll have it fixed by the time I get home tonight.

I'm very excited to be living with Meagan! There are adjustments for both of us to make, but we are both pretty laid back, so I think we'll be just fine. She's adjusting to living away from her family for the first time and living with just one other person instead of seven. I'm adjusting to having someone else there all the time!

The place is pretty messy right now as we unpack boxes. We both had things on Saturday and Sunday, so we haven't been able to unpack as much as we would like to. I have an especially messy room right now..she's been able to unpack a little bit more. I have Fall Break this week, so maybe I'll be able to unpack more (although I do still have some school stuff to do!) We're going to go grocery shopping tonight after we get home from our Monday night stuff, but I'm hoping to get a little bit more stuff unpacked. I would like to be completely unpacked before I leave for Nashville on Sunday...that's the goal!!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Wow...has it been a year already?!

Well, today officially marks my one year anniversary here at North Pointe (yesterday was the day of the week, today is the actual date). It also means that my nephew Canthen turns one today! Happy Birthday Canthen!










This past year has been a great year full of changes and surprises! When I started here a year ago, I was so excited because God had so carefully laid the path down for me to come here. I was absolutely certain that I was where God wanted me to be.

But along with that excitement was a lot of fear and a little bit of sadness. FBC Temple had been my church home for about 8 years...even the 2 years I was serving as music intern at another church, FBC Temple was home. I had served in the children's ministry for a little over 5 years at that point. My "family" was there. My mentors Doug and Terri Young who God so carefully placed there only a few months after my call to children's ministry were in Temple. They taught me so much and were my biggest supporters. Would I be able to step out from under all that guidance and support?

I loved the kids that I worked with! I had built such great relationships with so many of them and couldn't imagine not being around to see them continue to grow in the Lord (especially the ones that I had the privilege of praying with when they became Christians). As I looked through all their homemade cards and pictures, I cried and cried over how much I would miss them!

I had a great staff to work with, including a secretary who was so very talented and helpful! I had a childcare coordinator who was a joy to work with because of how hard she worked and how good she was with the children, and a CDC director who did all she could to work with us on difficult issues like sharing space. I loved my co-workers, especially the ministerial staff, that I was able to serve with.

I had a Bible Study group who supported and loved and prayed with me through a lot of difficult family stuff and relationship stuff. These ladies were my prayer warriors and I depended on them so much. I wasn't a minister to them...I was a person who needed love and support just like everyone else.

After having almost all my friends move away after college, and the ones who hadn't moved were married, God had finally brought me some single girl friends (Cindy and Andrea). The three of us are so different, yet we worked so well together as friends. They saw me through some difficult times. We even shared a love of music and sang trios together. I love singing with people, so this always was a blessing! I was even kind of seeing someone.

There were so many families--the Knoxs, Dinah Jones and her family--who really took care of me...how could I possibly leave all of that??

Yet, I knew that if I obeyed what God was leading me to do and stepped out in faith, then He would take care of my worries. I have also had to remember that the closeness and fellowship that I had with that staff and with those friends and family came over the course of 5-8 years of getting to know them and serve and worship with them.

This past year God has blessed me in so many unique ways.

I may not have my girlfriends that I can sing with...but now I sing with our pastor and worship pastor! That has been more fun than I can tell you! (I don't know that I've ever known a pastor who could sing). These two men have such hearts for God and for worship, so getting to worship alongside them is a joy!

Although I don't have my mentor walking me through every step of the way, I have a staff that is always willing to help and who value my opinion and my judgement. We plan worship together as a ministerial staff, so I'm able to give my input on helping the children to engage in worship. I've also starting writing a Kids' Worship guide (for 3 age groups) each week to help them connect to the pastor's message.

Being closer to DBU has certainly been a blessing! After years of wondering if I would ever finish, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, and know plan to graduate in May 2008!

Being in the DFW area has been a plus because of all the different shows and musicals and just everything that there is to do! I've mentioned all of the things that I've been able to do and am going to get to do, so I won't list those things out again, but I LOVE getting to do those things!

The biggest way that God has blessed me has happened over the past several months. I spent the first 5 months here loving my job, but not really having anyone to do anything with socially. I prayed that God would send me some friends...and He answered this prayer over and above my wildest dreams!

I've had some great friends over the years--from my childhood friends, to my church friends, college friends and then my single gals--and there's no way I would replace a single one of them! They have all been a blessing and what I needed at that stage of my life. But this group of friends has been unlike any other! I have never connected so quickly with a group of people before...and never have I felt more comfortable to be myself!

It started with Meagan, the girl I wasn't sure I'd have much in common with, because all I knew about her was that she worked with the youth, was a little younger than me, and had a nose ring. But Pastor John said that he thought that the two of us would get along, so I asked her if we could meet for lunch. It turns out that we have so much in common that it is scary sometimes!! We love the same books, the same obscure musicans, the same food, the same TV shows...and we're great big dorks! We even share the same negative sense of direction...we've gotten lost several times together!

Little did I know that being a dork was going to bring more friends my way...

"Wow! I just realized something. Nissa's a dork!" With those words, more friendships were born, and for the first time in several years, God has brought some truly amazing guy friends into my life.

There's Adam, who can turn anything into a reference to the show Lost (which we all get together and watch during the season). His home is where we all hang out a lot of the time (my place is the other place we gather) He hosts the best movie nights because he knows so much about movies and how they are made. We don't just see the movie, we get to analyze it and hear why certain things happened or the history behind it.

Then there's Jay...who shares my birthday and has become like a brother to me. He's probably my best guy friend here and has been there for me whenever I needed him. He also likes to pester me! (Like hiding a pillow from my couch where I couldn't reach it!) We have fun movie nights where we each pick out a movie the other one hasn't seen and get together and watch them both. Because of me, Jay has now seen Newsies, The Sting, and The Importance of Being Earnest. Because of Jay, I have now seen Say Anything, Rocky, and Tremors.

More recently Kyle has been added to the mix. Kyle is a fellow dork! He loves most of the dorky stuff the rest of us do (and brought Battlestar into my life), and shares my love for music (He got my other Nickel Creek ticket). Kyle and Jay can get me laughing like no one else! You add Adam to that mix and it's just a mess!!!

And Meagan...Meagan has become my best friend here. I've never had a friend who "got" me like this. We're so much alike, so we really can understand each other. It's definitely a two-way friendship. Spending time with her is always so much fun and always brings me a lot of joy! Some of that connection comes from a shared love of the ministries we've been called to. And because of that connection, we are moving into a town house together tomorrow!! I can hardly wait!! I have loved living alone over the past 2 years and wouldn't give that up for just anyone.

So a year ago, I wondered what in the world God was doing...now I am so thankful that His plans are always so much better than we could ever imagine!

Monday, September 10, 2007

More Nickel Creek













Friday, September 07, 2007

Update

Wow! It's been forever since I've made a real entry in this thing! Things have just been so busy lately.

I've started my next to last semester of Grad School. I can't believe I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm so ready to be finished and have my degree. I should graduate in May.

I'm also getting ready to move again (but only to a new place). My friend Meagan and I are getting a town house together. I'll only have to move down the street, but I still have to pack everything up. I'm really looking forward to a new place, though...and it will be so fun to have a roommate again!! I'm also finally going to have my piano (that I inherited from my grandmother) moved down here. So fun!!

Work is also going well. I can't believe I've been here almost year now...In some ways it feels like just yesterday, and some ways it feels like I've been here forever.

One of the benefits of living in the DFW area is that I'm getting to see some shows and musicals that I wouldn't get to see otherwise. I went to Wicked last May, I saw Jenson Ackles & Lou Diamond Phillips in A Few Good Men, I got to go to the Star Wars Exhibit at the Fort Worth Science Museum (with a lot of the actual costumes and things from the movies), I'm going with Meagan to see the touring Broadway production of the Lion King...and my latest concert that is the most exciting to me is that I'm finally going to get to see one of my favorite groups...Nickel Creek! I just bought those tickets today...I have no idea who I'm going to get to go with me, but I get to go!! They are doing a concert at the House of Blues in Dallas. (They are on their last tour before they take a break to pursue solo careers!). I can't wait!!!











Thursday, September 06, 2007

Omazing Grace???

I promise I'll find time to update this weekend! Andrea sent me this...watch all the way through for the funniest part!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Texas

I know I've been a bad blogger lately....I've seriously had lots of ideas for things to blog about, but I've been so busy, I just haven't had time. Here's something silly my grandaddy sent me to tide you over:
Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas ...

  • If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't workthere, you may live in Texas
  • If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas .
  • If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed awrong number, you may live in Texas .
  • If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas.
  • If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas .
  • If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may livein Texas .
  • If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas .
  • If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them,you may live in Texas .
  • If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybodyʼs passing you, you may live in Texas .
  • If you find 60 degrees "a little chilly", you may live in Texas .
  • If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Texas friends & others, you definitely live in Texas .

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Back from Vacation


I took some days off of work and went to Amarillo to visit my family. It was really nice to be away for awhile...after camp and VBS, I needed the time off!! Here are some pictures from my trip...










































































And here's my favorite pic from this week:






Grammy is still Aubrey's favorite person, but she actually wanted to be around me quite a bit on this trip. Aunt Nini really liked Aubrey following her around and wanting Nini to hold her or wanting to sit by Nini at lunch.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows about a half an hour ago...after reading straight for 3 hours...I'm exhausted, but it was so good! I loved it!!!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Something fun on a Monday...

If you go here, you can see what song was #1 on the Billboard charts the day you were born. "Call Me" by Blondie was number #1 when I was born. What about you?

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Nothing to Laugh about today

So...Our church was broken into last night...and my laptop was stolen. (The one night I actually left it at work). I'm sitting at a secretary's desk doing my work...or trying to.

What is so upsetting is that I accidently left my Bible in my laptop case...I suppose I should think that maybe someone will read it and get saved or something...but all I can think about is that my personal Bible...the one I took notes in, recorded births (of my niece and nephews...of Miss Ivy Grace), the one I recorded my friends marriages in, the one that has a picture of me with Mrs. Roberts (who had me in the baby room) on her 100th birthday...is gone...

I just want to go somewhere and cry...

Monday, July 02, 2007


Nice idea...
A couple of Sundays ago we voted to call a new youth minister. We wait a week in between the candidate coming in view of a call and the vote, so he wasn't at the actual vote. He and his family live in the area, though, so once it was announced, the youth went over to his house and stuck cloth flowers all over their yard as a surprise.
As they were doing this, one of the youth girls (who helps me a lot in the children's area) told Meagan, "We should go toilet paper Miss Nissa's house!" When Meagan told me this later, it made me laugh out loud.
I live in an apartment...There is a shrub next to my door...that's about it!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I just almost had a heart attack!

Okay...so as some of you know, my friend Meagan and I are planning to move in together in the fall. We are both very excited about this move and are pretty much counting down the days until we can get on the list for the floor plan we want (we can put our names down no sooner than two months before).

I guess about a month ago, Meagan just randomly asked me what I thought about us getting a snake. I asked her what kind and how big. She held up her index fingers about a foot or so apart and said, "just a bull snake." I didn't say no, but said I would think about it. We've talked about it some since then, and I thought, "why not?

I decided to blog about this, and typed "bull snake" into google to get a picture...and this is what I found:


Along with a description that said it would get up to 5-7 feet long!!! Needless to say, I stopped breathing! I called Meg with a panicky message...








A few minutes later, I realized that Meagan had said King snake, not bull snake. I looked that up, and although it still can get up to 5 feet long...it just doesn't look as scary, although this quote from one of the sites made me shudder, "The most important point to emphasize is that kingsnakes and milk snakes, in fact all snakes, are amazing escape artists, and if there is even the slightest opportunity to escape, they will certainly find it."



Now...I think a king snake is a much prettier snake (there are lots of different kinds...this kind only gets about 20 inches long). I think I could handle having this snake in my place...








Although I'm betting this means that Luke will never visit me!! ;-)



Later Edit: Meagan called me back laughing at both of the messages I left her on the phone. She said that it was either a king snake or a corn snake that she wanted. She agreed that she didn't want anything that looked like it would kill her and eat her in her sleep! :-)

This is what a corn snake looks like...both are pretty...I could handle that... The other thing we agreed is that we have to give it a really girly name.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Day Four
Good morning! Only one more night to go!!

Last night we had 89 children, 99 Learners total (with special friends), and a total of 194 in all.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Day Three
Last night....
Children only: 80
Total with adults: 189

We also had 5 children who indicated that they are ready to trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior! What an exciting night! I went home with tears of joy in my eyes!

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Pictures from A Few Good Men














Dinner at Chili's before.


















A picture after the show with our playbills


















Fighting over Jensen...I think I'm trying not to laugh!


















Kiss! Kiss!! I think I look more committed here!
Day Two of VBS
I'm discovering that I like having VBS at night. I'm also still overwhelmed at how well organized this VBS has been. I just have an amazing group of adults helping me out.

Day One attendance (corrected): 68 kids, 74 learners (kids + special needs adults class), 169 total learners and leaders.

Day Two attendance: 83 kids, 95 learners total, 185 total learners and leaders.

It's going great!!! We have lots of visitors which is fabulous!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Friday night
Okay...I finally have a few minutes to explain my last post! This past Friday night, my friend Meagan and I went to see A Few Good Men at Casa Manana in Ft. Worth. Because of their Texas roots, Lou Diamond Philips and Jenson Ackles played the starring roles (Philips played Col. Nathan R. Jessep and Jenson played Lt. Daniel Kaffee). It was very well done, and we had a great time!

What struck me right before the play started was that before Friday night, I had never really been in close proximity to a real celebrity...and we were about to see two of them. I honestly was quite starstruck (Meagan and both think that Jenson Ackles is quite good looking; he's not as well known as Lou Diamond Phillips, though. He's a regular on a TV show we both watch). We even waited around afterward hoping to have a chance to get autographs, but no such luck! :-) Jack Nicholson plays Col. Jessep in the movie and of course has the famous "You can't handle the truth!" line that everyone knows. I was worried as we approached that moment about how that would go. I was glad that Lou Diamond Philips didn't try to sound like Jack. He did it in his own way and was wonderful. Ackles did an excellent job in his role as well (the Tom Cruise role in the movie). He was quite charming and cocky at the same time. Not to mention that he looked nice in the different military uniforms he wore. ;-)

In other news, we had our first night of VBS last night. We had about 156 participants (84 children) which is a good number for this church. We had a lot of visitors, so I was pleased with that!! God has been at work already heading off potential glitches, and I can honestly say that this is the most efficient VBS I have ever been a part of! Lots of good ideas that I will take with me wherever I end up!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

So this is what I did last night...and I was a little star struck...more on that to come...

Friday, June 01, 2007

Summer Reading
Well, I guess I've officially become an adult! It used to really puzzle me when I heard an adult say that they bought a book to read on vacation because they never have time to read at home. I love to read, so I pretty much read all year long. I also have no spouse or children to take care of when I come home from work. What I did have this semester was 9 hours of graduate work to complete during the week. I did practically no fun reading all semester.

I was clothes shopping the other day and discovered a Half-Price bookstore down the shopping center from the Cato's I was at. That may be a dangerous discovery for me! I just may have to make a rule that I can't buy a new book until I finish what I have in my library at home. And speaking of libraries, I really need to get library cards for the ones around here, so I don't spend all my money this summer on books.

Anyway, as I was looking at half-price books, I decided to buy several books that I've always wanted to read, but never have before. I reread a lot of really great books over and over again (LOTR trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, all my Jane Austen, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Little Women, The Anne of Green Gables series, etc.).

So I bought Gone With the Wind, The Count of Monte Cristo, Les Miserables & The Secret Garden (which i have read, but it's been forever). I also bought a little copy of Persuasion (one of my Jane Austen favorites) to keep in the car with my little copy of Pride & Prejudice (my very favorite Jane Austen). 5 books for only $15.

I also have some sets of Jane Austen novels that weren't completed and some Tolkien stuff to read (Simarillion, The History of Middle Earth, etc.). My friend Jay is reading though the LOTR trilogy for the first time right now, so it's been fun to discuss that with him (he's only seen the movies).

I've started Gone With the Wind and am loving it so far! I'll take a break from these books only when the new Harry Potter comes out. (I have to read through that immediately). I'm excited! If you have any suggestions of other books to add to my list (Luke, I'm sure you do), leave them in the comments area.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

New Friends
One of the things that God has blessed me with the most is good friends. Sometimes I have to wait awhile before He brings them into my life, but when He does, it has always been worth the wait.

One of the only things that made me hesitant to leave Temple was because of the two friends that I ran around with there. My best friend and her family moved about the same time as I did, so I was going to be living in a different town than them anyway. But leaving Cindy and Andrea was going to be hard. We had just become friends the year before, so I was wondering why God would move me somewhere after I'd finally made some new single girlfriends! (Most of my college friends had married and/or moved away).

When I first moved here, I didn't really meet anyone around my age. I just worked and went to school and came home. I was busy, so it wasn't like I was bored, but I was getting a bit lonely. I was also in danger of becoming "hermit girl." At the end of January, I finally went to my pastor and told him how I was feeling. He told me that he was starting a life group for young singles in February and suggested that I try to get to know our youth intern. We started hanging out and soon she suggested that I come with her to watch Lost at this guy's house. The Wednesday before, I stayed after Life Group with Meg and these other two guys and then all of a sudden, one of them called me a dork...and we've all been friends ever since!

I've been quite the social butterfly these days...I do something with just Meg or with Meg and the guys several times a week...I've never felt so comfortable so quickly with a group of people.

God is amazing.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Josh's Graduation

This weekend I went to Austin to see my cousin Josh graduate from UT.











Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mother's Day
Of course, I called my mom to tell her Happy Mother's day today!

But my biggest surprise was that I got the news that my friends Adam and Brooke Moore welcomed their baby girl early this morning. I can hardly wait to meet her!! Happy Mother's Day Brooke!!

Saturday, May 05, 2007

I went to see Wicked tonight with my cousin and a friend...It was amazing!!!!!! I had a great time! It's been such a long time since I've seen a show like this. Now that I'm living in the DFW area, I will have to do this more often!!