a photojournal of my summer thus far

Emily's Graduation

Fun with Maven

Ice Cream on a Hot Day

4th of July with Friends, Phase 10, and Goo Goo Dolls

My Poor Car

New Friends

A wedding and old friends

swimmin' in the rain, just swimmin' in the rain

As usual, I could feel the laughter. It began as air in my chest and worked its up my throat becoming a little giggle. The giggle was hard to suppress (as many giggles are), and I was quickly laughing out loud. I tried to hide the "haha's, hehehe's, and hoho's"....tried to bury my face into my towel, but the thought of the situation was just too much for me. The laughter couldn't be hidden.

The day was beautiful. A storm came through during church, but by the time it was over, the sun was shining and it was becoming rather muggy. My friend, Raina, and I had started the summer with this great plan of laying by the pool at her apartment complex every Sunday after church. The first two weeks, we were rained out. The third week was father's day. But today, well, it was going to be the day! Raina called and I drove out to her place...just imagining the bliss of the next two hours. We walked across the street, through the clubhouse, and into the....oh wait, the pool...it was a scummy green and had a "Closed for maintenance" sign gloomily hanging above it. We were doomed. A fourth Sunday with no pool.

Raina made a phone call and found a place for us to swim or...er....not swim. An apartment complex nearby. We arrived, staked out our spots, stripped down to our swimsuits, and settled into sun and good conversation. We had been discussing the state of men (which is another topic for another time) when we noticed a rather large, looming, gray cloud headed our direction.

"It's gonna blow over," I said. "Nothing is keeping us from our relaxing by the pool." A few minutes later, small drops of water began to land on us.

"It's just a little sprinkle," I said. "Nothing to worry about. The sun will be back in a minute."

Within a few seconds, people were scurrying to get underneath those tabletop umbrellas; away from the downpour. I merely rolled over on my stomach to keep it from pounding on my face.

"It's just a little sprinkle," Raina said in the same voice I had used. That's when the laughter began.

So there I was, roaring with laughter while lying on a towel by the pool; rain splattering on my back; the irony of the whole situation running through my brain. We decided that we didn't mind being the rain, but wanted our stuff to stay dry so we moved beneath an unoccupied umbrella. And then instead of returning to our towels...we did as the children were doing...we got IN the POOL! It was so fabulous! Swimming in a downpour! (the pool was actually warmer than the rain, too!)

I love rainy days. They make me feel refreshed, renewed; like starting something new. And today....it also made me feel like a kid...swimming in the rain. Raina and I could have run for the car....let the rain ruin the afternoon we had planned. But instead we embraced it and made it part of the fun!

I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin',
Singin' in the rain

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

Today is a day that needs to be on record so you have the joy of listening and being the time capsule that you are so grand at being.

I started a new weight training program at my local gym. My friend Jon set up my program. After doing my day two routine today, I discovered that my cellphone had been stolen...most likely by one of the teenaged day campers. The only reason I believe this is that when we called it, EVERY time the same voice would answer and it definitely sounded like a kid.

So I trudged home...I say trudged not only in light of the circumstances, but also because I was incredibly sore from this new routine. I parked my car, went inside, and again, called my cellphone. I checked the messages and then called the cellphone company to put a lock on my service for the time being. Then I returned one of the phone calls. I had just hung up the phone when I heard a crash outside. And then I heard on of the male teenagers that live in my neighborhood say "oh dang!" And THEN I realized that the sound had come from the direction of where I had parked my car. So I trudged to the window not wanting to see what I already knew. The guys were playing catch and had nailed (and SHATTERED) my back window with the football. There was glass everywhere - even in my front seat! So I dealt with that.

Then I went to work. And now I'm going to bed because tomorrow I still have to deal with both my cellphone and my window being gone. I'll share some pictures with you as soon as I get them developed.

Dreaming already (of a world where stuff like this doesn't really matter)

Amanda

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West   Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The Inland North
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

the coolness of t-bones (the person, not the steak)

It's Wednesday night. Tanya is home early from house church and has settled on my bed with her computer. We just finished sniffing the rotten egg that her dad sent us in the mail (in his defense..it has scientific purposes as it has no shell) and have decided to blog. You may have notice that while I did give my blog a makeover, I have yet to actually post anything. As I contemplated aloud what to blog on Tanya remarked "Blog about how cool I am." So this, my faithful readers, is dedicated to the coolness of Tanya.

Top Ten reasons why Tanya is cool

1) I can call her T-bones
2) Her dad collects weird stuff like road kill and rotten eggs (ask her about it)
3) She likes to do dishes.
4) She is a total "P" on the Myers-Briggs, and we all need some p-ness in our lives.
5) She'll eat anything I cook...even the experimental flops.
6) She plays a mean trumpet. In fact, I think I saw it blow the wig off of the old woman in the front pew last week at church.
7) She likes to sleep on the couch on Friday and Saturday nights.
8) For every picture that Neil takes where I look stoned, there is a picture with her and some alcohol.
9) She has a rabbit and I have a turtle. Get it? The tortoise and the hare!! hehehe
10) She leaves all kinds of nice notes and is very encouraging!

just your normal, average, run of the mill saturday afternoon

I didn't do a whole lot today...hung out with my friend Jessica who is visiting from Wisconsin, baked and decorated a cake with no pattern, picture, or directions (Grandma, I think I could compete for Miss Betty Crocker 1955), directed a children's choir, and went to a party. Yep, just an average day.

Brandon's response to the G207 scandal

Honestly, I'm a little insulted. I get blamed for everything! Someones pen goes missing and it must be Brandon's fault. Never mind Yoda sitting there on the desk asking for soda. No, that's completely normal. Does Amanda think that I can hold such sway over a Jedi Master? The roots of my evil empire reach deep but they are not so power as to conquer the Force. That Yoda was there on his own volition and I for one think it's time to lay blame where it belongs. I'm happy that she's found a new pen but you haveto ask yourself this: where are all the good pens dead, in the heart or in the head?

Peace,
Brandon

on working out

I've always been a bigger boned, bigger muscled (or flabbed) girl, but there once was a time that I was in good shape. In college, I was too focused on the busy work required of the education major and my over-committment to this thing I can never get away from, InterVarsity (despite the way that sounds, I actually love IV). After I graduated and moved to this great city, I joined the thousands of locals at the gym, and I worked out pretty consistently. My membership ended when my full time teaching position left my life, or..er..I maybe left it. The last six months, I have battled with my own home remedies for getting fit - walking my neighborhood, wall push-ups, etc. etc. etc. None of which really worked for me...I couldn't get motivated and being at home, I would be distracted by my laundry or rearranging the entire of array of dishes in our kitchen. (Yeah, I like to organize things and make them efficient...my roommate LOVES that side of me...just kidding) . So I finally was able (with the help of some good old birthday money) to secure a membership at the most local gym which has been completely renovated and is quite the gym. I have actually been using that membership, and even have a couple of funny stories of which are the REAL reason I write tonight (that's quite the long intro, huh).

Story One: My FIRST day back in the gym, I was doing a some lifting when I noticed this older (upper 30s-lower 40s) man sitting at the bench press watching me. That just sings Crreeeppppy! I finished my set and was allowing my arms to rest a minute when I heard, "Can I please get a spot."
Yep, he was talking to ME! I took one look at the 200 pounds he had the bar and said, "I can stand behind you, but there is no way I lift that weight off of you should you get stuck."
He convinced me that he wouldn't even need my help, but just wanted it as a precaution. As I reluctantly made my way to my place behind the bench, he inquired as to what sport I played. If only he could have heard the roaring laughter in my head.
"I don't play any sport." I responded.
"You're built for playing sports." He must not have seen me on the treadmill earlier.
"No. Not since high school."
Luckily he started that heavy breathing routine that is done just before benching more than you are actually capable of so the conversation ended. Although then he was breathing out the beer he had consumed prior to coming to the gym. I'm not sure what is worse, ackward conversation or getting intoxicated off of someone's breath.
Anyway, he made it through one rep with all of that weight and decided to go for another during which he got stuck and his face started turning really red. AND I had to help him. It's a good thing that he could push while I pulled up or he may not be living right now!

Goodness. I do have another story, but I'm tired so I will post it tomorrow.

new year, new pen

That's right. You read the title, and many of you who know me will not believe what I am about to say.

"I'm done with the G2 07."

You heard me. I'm done. I have been a loyal fan since the day Tim Sluiter told me to use his. My dedication was so deep that people at the company I used to work for would steal my beloved G2s just to torment me (no names mentioned of course - ehem, Brandon Marshall) In fact one particular time, I left my desk only to find that my G2 had been replaced by a Yoda pez dispenser with a note attached saying "Feed the Force. Buy Yoda a soda." Clever. But I was not happy.

Alas, I never thought it would happen, but I have found a better pen. A pen whose swift strokes make me want to write on every surface like those pesky high school kids do. (we all did it at one point, right...well, I didn't because I never wanted to get in trouble, but that's a different story). My new pen of choice writes brilliantly, dries quickly so that no smears are left, and makes my name shine like a star. I actually feel like a rockstar or a famous artist when I write my name...just because of the amazing way this pen dances with the paper.

Yes folks, my pen loyalty now lies with none other than the G2 05. You should try it. You will never go back.

It's raining today which means I got to wear my new raincoat, a Christmas present from my grandparents. For the first time in years, I stayed dry in the rain. And I felt New York Stylish while doing it.

It's raining today, and Urbana is over. I'm feeling surprisingly rested, although it took me several hours to shake off the grogginess that the night cold medicine left me.

It's raining today. What would normally be a busy coffee shop is void of college student hub-bub. It was nice to not have to wait for a table or even have to go to a different location for once. I came here to work on a new project that I've taken on, but I can't seem to get beyond staring out the window at the beautifully dreary day and reflecting on pieces of life. There is a guy sitting directly in my line of sight that looks just like Ryan Motola with long hair. Not only are their faces the same, but their mannerisms are the same too! Makes me kinda miss the guy!

It's raining today. I love rainy days; a reflection of the woman I've become or that I am becoming. Contemplative. A little more calm (well, sometimes). More decisive about the future. It feels good. Stable.

It's raining today, and I like it.

from inside the exhibit hall

The "A" team aka my floor proctors.



Meeting of the minds - around the Aisle 1200 trash can - Jonathon, Tim, and Mike



Jonathon, Wendy, and Kim



Bird's eye view of a very busy hall



Marcie, Lauren, and Bum "Bossman"



Justin Timberlake and Brittney Spears wannabes? Just kidding, but the headsets did make us feel like rockstars.

urbana...from behind the scenes

Thousands of people are probably blogging about urbana, but very few had an experience like mine. I can't tell you about the worship and how incredible it was, I didn't hear but maybe two songs. I can't tell you about the seminars and how they challenged me or opened my eyes for I did not step one foot into any of them. I can't tell you about the speakers (well, I can tell you about a couple of them). What I can tell you is that Wycliffe, Pioneer, and Lutheran Bible Translators had people sign their names next to a language which signifies a commitment to pray that the Bible will be translated to that language. Or that InnerChange, Servant Partners, and Servants to Asia's Urban Poor combined booths to build a shack where many conversations and prayers for the world's urban poor took place. My role in Urbana was one that kept me away from the main programming, and tied me to the exhibit hall or, rather, the Global Connextions Hall. Many people's response is "that's too bad" or "you missed out on a lot of good stuff." I could view it that way and spend the next few days lamenting about how I missed all of the good things, that I didn't get anything out of urbana, but that would be a complete lie.

I got to work with a team of 16 mostly IV staff unlike any other team I have been a part of. My current supervisor and I spent pretty much every waking moment together...it was fun! And good to get to know the man I work for in a different atmosphere. I laughed a lot at him...with him...its been a while since I've laughed like I did this week. Instead of getting to know and care for students, my focus was on exhibitors. As I walked the aisles of the hall, I had the privilege of witness what was being taught in sessions lived out. Missions organizations taking time to listen to the hearts of students. To pray and care for them. To help them process and discern. On New Year's Eve, as we closed the hall, and exhibits were being dimantled, I imagine I felt the same as many of the delegates...exhausted in every way, delighted to have seen the Lord at work, refreshed, and of course, a bit overwhelmed.

I didn't see much outside of the exhibit hall, but the Lord was in booth 601 just as powerfully as he was in the worship sessions. Thank you Lord for the exhibitors, for the team you gave me to work with, for allowing me to see your calling on others lives lived out in one room.