Bad Birthdays Begone!

Perhaps it is because my birthday is smackdab in the middle of winter and I was born in a state that actually has winter (in fact, I was born in blizzard conditions and my father borrowed a snow plow to get my mother to the hospital in time--it took about 6 hours for what is normally a 45 minute drive), my birthday hasn't always been the cause for a lot of celebration. I've never been "big" on birthdays.

Perhaps that is the reason for the quite a few of my birthdays have been bad.

However, I think that the tide is turning. The past two birthdays have been a quite excellent change from the norm and a great time of celebration with friends that feel like family. Last night's celebration, I think, was the best birthday and I can say that I felt loved and felt like 27 was definately something worth celebrating. So, thanks for all those that came and made my birthday quite memorable. :)

Weekend Update

The weekend: was relaxing. I slept in on Friday, read, napped, read, repeat. Saturday I saw Slumdog Millionare with Ashley which was really good, but also really eye opening about the poverty in India. It may be another blog post in the next coupla days.

Where I am at the moment: On my couch, in my jammies, eating some dinner.

On my to-do list this week: Confirmation, Youth Quake Prep and Youth Quake Adult leader's meeting, going to the bank to make a deposit, turn 27 (ergh... not sure how I feel about that yet), birthday party dinner(!) and that might be it. It's kind of a slow week

Procrastinating about: cleaning the apartment. It's not messy necessarily, but I do have laundry to put away and some mail to sort.

Book I’m in the midst of: Re-reading the Twilight Series. Hoping to get They like Jesus but not the Church from Amazon in this week (but with the weather...doubtful)

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: You Found Me by the Fray

Next trip: Youth Quake!

How I’m feeling about this week: Really good if this week includes a snow day!!!

Binge Reading

Last week, I had a little extra pocket cash and bought A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Housseini and The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I read both in about a 3 day time span, less if you subtract the time that I was gone over the weekend.

I have always been that way with new books. Once I open it, they're hard to put down until they're finished. Some of you may also remember when I read Harry Potter 7 in 5 hours. I read the whole Twilight Series in about 5 or 6 days. I think that I have an incessant need to know what is going to happen to these characters. Often, after I had finished the book, I'll read it again more slowly and pick up on the details I may have missed. Really, you think I'd learn and just read them at a slower pace!

My friend Rachel dubbed this phenomenon because she suffers from it too: Binge Reading. Any other Binge Readers or former Binge Readers? Any suggestions for recovery?

Bottom of the Curve

It's that time of the year again.

January, right around this time of the month (January 20-ish), seems to end up being the bottom of my emotional bell curve. Mark Blanke, DCE professor/educator extraordinairre, warned us about this back at Concordia.

He told us the reason they had their intern mid-year gathering was because that was the time we were statistically the least sastified about work/life/whatever and a gathering of friends and colleagues would be what could help us from spiraling further. Perhaps it's the close combination of having seen family and friends both at Thanksgiving and Christmas and a slightly lighter work schedule that leaves me having a bit of emotional crash.

I find myself, last night, after having a great time (and a GREAT cupcake!) at cuppies and joe, wondering, why exactly, some things had to be so difficult.

Why everything around me is changing and I feel like things are exactly the same as they were when I first moved here ...(in about three weeks from now, I'll look back and see how things aren't necessarily the same as they were a year ago, or when I first moved here).

I found myself wondering, why again, I'm having to plan my own birthday party, simultaneously dreading and looking forward to August 2009 and May 2011, when, I'll be handed the task of making a new friend circle. Again. I also have been given a lot of great romantic news from friends and family in the past couple weeks and am so very, very happy for all of them (hear that Sarah?), but it feels just a little bittersweet. It's also probably good that I don't have a trip to Colorado planned during this emotional pit because we all know that leads to some bad decisions.

I'm ready for the feeling of contentedness to return, which, I know it will in a couple of weeks.

Right now though, I just have to sit at the bottom of the bell curve and wait for it to pass.

The Inconvenient Journey...

This past weekend, the Messiah Youth Traversed to Camp Lutherhoma to Journey in January.

Highlights:
1. The van ride over. We didn't turn on the music, we all just talked. It goes down as top 2 van rides (number one being the trek to Ok'd with Jess where we listened to all the NOW Cd's with the girls and sang at the top of our lungs)
2. Staying in Thiemer. Indoor Showers!
3. Great Weather
4. Katrina-stellar adult leader
5. The theme-learning how God uses the inconveniences in our lives for His glory.
6. Catching up with Jenny/Pippi
7. Working on some Ms DYG stuff with Nikki
8. 4 of the Messiah kids on the planning committee (it's a big honor...) and sharing their hilarious and some sad, stories. Seeing them be leaders.
9. Saturday Night's "big event." We walked around from station to station and listened to the "stories" of some of camp people. At the end we followed them out to one of the fields and found out that they were representing Mary, Peter, Judas, and Thomas showing us how they let inconveniences get in the way of following Christ. At the end, they tied their inconveniences to "Jesus." It was pretty powerful for all the students.

Low-lights:
1. Rocky Thiemer, the squirrell that lived in our ceiling
2. Falling asleep at 4 am on Saturday morning
3. Chatty girl in the adult group
4. Not getting to spend as much time with my youth as I had wanted
5. The hour and a half stop at Subway in Muskogee... that's the last time we stop there!)

All in all, good weekend... Onto Youth Quake!!!

Weekend Update

The weekend was: spent at camp with my high school students for Journey in January. This year's theme was "the Inconvenient Journey" and focused on the inconveniences that keep us from following Christ. More about this in another post.

Where I am at the moment: Office.

On my to-do list this week: Confirmation, Youth Quake Prep and Youth Quake Adult leader's meeting, Voters meeting Prep, council meeting, dinner with the lovely housechurch ladies, making taco casserole for hc tomorrow night, making some birthday dinner plans.

Procrastinating about: writing my council report. boo.

Book I’m in the midst of: Just finished The Memory Keeper's daughter and A thousand Splendid Suns. Both good reads, but both a little depressing.

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: Winter Song by Sara and Ingrid (h/t to Ashley)... I know it's technically Christmas but there's nothing overtly Christmas about it. Also, Freedom, by Run Kid Run

Next trip: Youth Quake!

How I’m feeling about this week: Pretty good. Lots to get done, as always, but excited about all that's coming up :)

Weekend Update

The weekend that was: (started on Thursday b/c I'm off on Fridays) spent rooting on the Sooners (at B-Dubs) and seeing someone get kicked out and ending up on News Channel 4 (woot. I'm a big star now). Friday I had lunch with the GirgisMelson, Saturday saw Bride Wars and patronized McNellie's and then spent some quality time at church and at high school small group. Oh and dominated on rock band.

Where I am at the moment: in the office.

On my to-do list this week: Getting ready for Journey, more summer planning (RV's anyone?) and working on some mailers for the upcoming months (and overusing parenthesis)

Procrastinating about: taking a trip to the bank to make a youth deposit.

Book I’m in the midst of: Nothing right now. Any suggestions?

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: Single Ladies by Beyonce and Heartless by Kanye, only because they play every hour on the hour (or everytime I'm in the car)

Next trip: Camp Lutherhoma, in Tahlequah for Journey in January. It's this weekend. Pray for warm weather and an additional female chaperone

How I’m feeling about this week: Eh. Fine. Nothing too exciting going on 'round these parts.

Resolve

Everyone else has been posting New Years' Resolutions and this year, for one of the first years, I am not really making any. However, my overall goal for 2009 is "health." Under that vast umbrella falls physical health, spiritual health, social health, work health, financial health... et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I'm not sure what all that entails, but here are some things I've thrown into the general category of "health."

1. Being open to new people, new relationships, new friendships, and new situations
2. Pushing myself to pursue a more consistent time of personal devotion and worship.
3. Excercising! and cooking at home (not necessarily by myself--anyone is welcome!)
4. Continuing to build on old friendships.
5. Pushing myself and the youth Messiah to grow and learn and stretch themselves.
6. Learning to build a savings that doesn't get depleted in any small "emergency."

Of course, there are lots of others that could fall into the category of "health" and perhaps as the year goes on, I'll share a few more of my "health" goals and how things are going and working out.

I think 2008 was a great start to the beginning of a "healthy me" and I hope 2009 is a continuation of building up on that.

Here's to 2009!

Weekend Update.... no, not the Amy Poehler Kind.

The weekend that was: (I'm counting the weekend from Wednesday-NYE-on, because I can)...spent with friends celebrating New Years at a Dance Party, at Chang's for Jess's bachelorette dinner (I recommend the Singapore Street Noodles, ps) and celebrating the wedding of my two very good friends, Jess and Heath. Having to pick which side of the church to sit on was a hard choice as I love them both (and had a hand in introducing them!) I also saw old roommate 1, Bekah, looking so very happy and in love, which made me very happy for her. Also had a great time dancing the night away at the reception... I also got pulled up on stage by the DJ who had me sing the girl part of the Grease remix... fun times.

Where I am at the moment: in the office, procrastinating, obviously.

On my to-do list this week: LOTS... mainly trying to get back into the swing of work. Last week, I was back in Oklahoma late on Tuesday but didn't make it into the office the rest of the week (no one else did, either)... anyway, this week is... journey registration, small group leader meeting, starting to look at VBS, working on summer trip plans for ms and hs, contacting that adults attending youth quake, errands, lunches and coffees with high school students and college students... AND lunch with my fantastic cousin Matt who is in town this week!

Procrastinating about: well, right now, I'm procrastinating about starting working. Staff meeting just got over, so I figure that's a valid excuse, right?

Book I’m in the midst of: Well, I just finished The Bell Jar (I've read it before). Dang, Sylvia Plath has a great sense of humor. I have a feeling I'd have liked her had I met her in person.

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: I listened to a lot of Ingrid's "breakable," and of course with all the dancing this past week, "Cha Cha Slide!"

Next trip: Camp Lutherhoma, in Tahlequah for Journey in January. Not gonna lie, it's cooooooooold. But one of my favorite weekends. Which reminds me, I need to buy a new sleeping bag. Prontissimo. Maybe something with a heater attached.

How I’m feeling about this week: We'll see. A little stressed, but also energized with the whole New Year's "attitude."

h/t: YSMarko

Christmas Vacation and New Years' Eve Celebration

I'm stealing Moose-Tipping's idea and doing a day by day breakdown of Christmas Vacation... here goes:

Sunday December 21-
-Jessie and Alycia come over for hot chocolate a game of life (as a deterrant to them picking up boys for me at the mall)
-Mom arrives in OKC
-Boy steals coasters from our table at chilis (while we were sitting there)

Monday, December 22-
-Razr dies. (screen doesn't work but the rest of it does)
-Shopped with mom, got some sweet new red pots and pans and my nice new grey boots.
-baked cookies and watched Christmas movies ("the best way to spread christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear")

Tuesday, December 23-
-Was Lazy. A lot.

Wednesday, December 24-
-Christmas Eve Service at Messiah
-Get booty call letter from prisoner from one of my youth
-Drive to Illinois overnight with mom.

Thursday, December 25-
-Christmas Day presents at parent's house!
-
-Christmas Lunch/Dinner/Supper at Aunt Kate's.
-Marley and Me with the Miller Side

Friday, December 26
-Felt full force of driving overnight.
-Was Lazy. All Day.

Saturday, December 27-
-Lunch with my cousin's at Luekenbach's. Saw what a "party animal" looks like (fyi it's a coyote shotgunning a beer while wearing mardi gras beads)

-Christmas with the Stuckemeyer side. Played old school supernintendo(!) and Wii.
-Had dramatic readings of booty call prisoner letter (sadly, no videos were made), and googled said prisoner by prison number.
-Jacked the sister's sim's castaway game and played that. Became addicted. (also befriended a chimp on the game and called him chimpgeorgd. I'm not good at the typing on the psp)

Sunday, December 28-
-Church
-Drove to Springfield with the sister and parents to see family friends
-Played a LOT of sims castaway with the sister (also said things like, "befriend that chimp!" and "Quick, the hut is on fire!")

Monday, December 29-
-Loaded up rental car
-Had lunch with the Lail. Lost track of time.
-Drove to Topeka. Hung out with the Spode and her fam

Tuesday, December 30-
-Went shopping. Argued over winter shoes with the Spode.
-Drove back to OKC
-Slept

Wednesday, December 31-
-Met friend Callie and her friends for dinner and dance party in an airplane hanger
-Yes, it is as cool as it sounds. Be Jealous
-Danced the new years away with some great people.

That's it, all! More pics to come!

Oh, AND...

I wrote this article earlier in December... Go read it!