Where are all the snow cone stands?

I moved to Illinois toward the end of last summer, evidently too late to realize its total lack of what, to me, is quintessentially summer.  However, as the weather grew warmer this year (relatively speaking, that is) I began to notice a strange absence of the little booths gracing almost every street corner in Texas and Oklahoma.  Where were all the snow cone stands?  I thought surely I just wasn’t looking hard enough and if I was just more alert in my day to day commutes I would certainly stumble upon one.  Nope.  Nowhere.  Not a single stand was to be found.  I lamented this fact one night at small group, whiningly asking the same question, “Where are all the snow cone stands in Illinois???”  J.C., ever helpful with the advice, piped up to tell me that there was one at Oak Brook mall.  Not exactly around the corner, but I filed that tidbit away for a hot and humid Illinois day.

Well last week that day came, and coupled with the need for a Clinique run, I head out in search of whichever store was having “bonus week.”  Lord & Taylor it was, so with face-wash (and cute tote-bag) in tow, I set out for my highly anticipated snow cone … the first of the year.

Let’s just say I should have waited for Texas.  I paid $3 for the most pathetic excuse for a snow cone I have ever tasted.  I could have rustled up a better one myself with a block of ice, a knife and some grape kool-aid.  There are plenty of reasons that I absolutely love living in the Chicago area, but when it comes to snow cones, Chicagoland has a lot to learn from the south.

So here is my perhaps not-so-humble attempt to explain to my northern friends the supremacy of the southern snow cone … you don’t know what you’ve been missing.

1. An excellent snow cone needs excellent ice.  Not just any ice-shaving machine will do.  If it’s something you’re supposed to turn with your arm, it’s no good.  You need a machine that will produce something the consistency of actual snow, and usually this requires a motor.  Only then will you get the most even distribution of syrup throughout the cone, which brings me to #2.

2. An excellent snow cone needs excellent syrup.  Now this one can be a gamble, no matter where you are.  A good indicator of superior syrup is the number of options available.  Oddly enough, it seems that the more flavors offered, the better the syrup quality.  And don’t be put off by strange flavor names, either.  If you find yourself at a stand advertising “Pretty, Pretty Princess” or “Ninja Turtle,” you know you’re in the presence of true snow cone creativity.

In addition to these, I would add the necessity of a styrofoam cup (I know, I know … I’m a bad environmentalist) and a spoon straw.  A good top is a must; this can be accomplished using anything from a funnel to the end of a ladle.  Some stands in Oklahoma put in gummie bears which can be a delightful addition.  Really, it’s not that hard, guys.  And there’s a wide open market up north. 

(me & my brother at our favorite Abilene snow cone stand)

And my soul wells up with hallelujahs.

As I type this I am on a plane heading to Texas.  I haven’t been home since Christmas, so needless to say I’m a little jazzed.  The plan was to use these couple hours to get through at least one more chapter of assigned reading for my Christian Theology intensive class coming up in a few weeks.  (I’ve read/taken notes over 3 … out of 37.)  However, as the plane began to take off and I looked out my window to see Lake Michigan just beyond the Chicago skyline, I was just a little overwhelmed.  I always try to pick a window seat whenever I fly because how often is one privileged with such a view?  Skyline, lake, clouds, Midwestern farmland, whatever … I soak it in.  As we ascended further into the immaculate brightness of clouds that wouldn’t allow me to glance out the window for more than a couple seconds, my heart began to sing the words of a chorus I haven’t thought of in years.

And my soul wells up with hallelujahs.

As soon as the pilot gave the okay for electronic devices, I pulled out my laptop to find the song that upon playing sounded like an old friend.  As we rose above the clouds I could once again look out my window and sing (albeit silently … although I may have been humming; I’m not sure) along with Chris,

“Oh praise him all his mighty works,
There is no language where you can’t be heard,
Your song goes out to all the earth,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah”

This beautiful meditation on general revelation then called to mind another song, this one a bit more in recent memory.  Last Sunday began a sermon series on animals at my church in Glen Ellyn, and at the close we sang one of my favorite hymns.  It’s just too good to only quote a line or two, so you get the whole thing … best lines bolded.  Perhaps you can worship along with me as you read or even sing.  Happy 4th of July, friends.  The Lord is King, let the heavens ring.  God reigns, let the earth be glad.

This Is My Father’s World

This is my Father’s world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres

This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hands the wonders wrought

This is my Father’s world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
Declare their Maker’s praise

This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fair
In the rustling grass, I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere

This is my Father’s world
Oh let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet

This is my Father’s world
The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be satisfied
And heaven and earth be one

This is my Father’s world
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let the heavens ring
God reigns, let the earth be glad

Standing the Test of Time … and Distance

Because I couldn’t have written it better …

Indiana, here I come!

Well, I just made an impulsive decision.  On Thursday I’m planning to drive four hours to (not to mention the four hours back from) a city I’ve never been to – heck, a state I’ve never been to – all for the purpose of preparing my heart for Easter.  I’ve been debating for weeks the practicality of such a trip but finally decided that the pros outweigh the cons.  The closest stop on Andrew Peterson’s Resurrection Letters tour is Terre Haute, Indiana, and I just bought my ticket.

This isn’t the first time I’ve crossed state lines for an Andrew Peterson show.  I had been keeping a close eye on his tour schedule for years, but he never seemed to play shows anywhere near me.  However, a couple years ago he toured just outside Wichita, KS, and at just a couple hours away from me, I was not going to miss it.  I was willing and prepared to go by myself but at the last minute convinced a friend to come along (on a school night, no less).  And even though we were an hour or so late, it is still one of my favorite concert memories.  (You can read about it and see pics here … yeah, that’s me with blonde hair.)

Part of the lure of the Kansas concert was the shared stage between Andrew and another favorite of mine, Jill Phillips.  So when I received an email today saying that Jill was also playing on Thursday, that was pretty much the clincher.  So … anyone  up for a show?  Here’s a little foretaste to lure you in.    All of this to say that I am incredibly excited to worship alongside Andrew and Jill and celebrate the risen Christ.  May your Easter be filled with joyful celebration!

2008: Another Illustrated Year in Review

Last year I started a new tradition.  Rather than sending out a Christmas card letter, I wrote a Christmas card letter blog … 2007: An Illustrated Year in Review.  It was a great way to reflect on the past year (good times and bad) and share my experiences with others, not to mention giving myself something to look back on and remember 2007.  So as 2008 has come and gone, I am attempting to answer Jonathan Larson’s melodic question, “How do you measure, measure a year?”

IN JOBS

2008 was my last year in residence life after three years as an RA and four as a Hall Director.  After deciding (finally) to go back to school in the fall, I closed down West Hall for the last time in May.  I have so many great memories from my years at UCO, and it was certainly hard to leave.  I especially miss all my RAs (my favorite part of the job was leading the staff) and fellow HDs.  Soon after moving to Wheaton, I began working at Bath & Bodyworks and then in the fall picked up a job watching a couple boys after school three days a week.  About midway through the semester I also started tutoring a girl for the ACT.  I didn’t necessarily plan to work that much, and it was definitely a hard balancing act with the demands of graduate school.  I hope to cut back or at least balance a little better this spring.

IN MILES

Hmm, I guess this applies in more ways than one!  If I hadn’t completely uprooted and driven over a thousand miles across the country to begin school this fall, I would certainly count running a marathon as the year’s highlight.  Back last fall my good friend Jamie volunteered to train and one my first marathon with me in April.  We logged many a mile over our five months of training, becoming quite1450 familiar with almost every street in Edmond and on a few long runs, Oklahoma City as well.  We had a good race and met my initial goal of breaking five hours with a time of 4:43:34.  I was a little disappointed that I didn’t beat Oprah, but there’s always next time … the Chicago marathon is calling my name!

IN GOODBYES

After graduating from OBU in 2004, I immediately moved to Edmond to start my job at UCO.  For four fun years I lived there, and deciding to move away brought a lot of sad goodbyes.  I had the best friends!  A few weeks before I left, my friend Melissa arranged a “slumber party card night” for a few of us that usually got together on Sunday nights.  When I got to her house, it turned out that it was actually a surprise Chicago themed going away party!  Sydnie (one of my very best friends who moved away at the beginning of the year) drove in from Tulsa, and a couple other friends were in from out of town as well.  We played cards (of course) and ate Old Chicago pizza while listening to Chicago (the band) and then watched Chicago (the movie).  The highlight of the night was when the doorbell rang and Candace and Melissa were nowhere to be found.  Everyone looked at me as if it was my responsibility to answer the door.  When I opened it, Candace and Melissa were standing beside a brand new bike with a bow on it!  My sweet friends had all gone in together to replace my bike that was stolen earlier in the summer.  Yeah, did I mention I have the best friends?  The young adult pastor at my church also threw a going away swim party, and I was incredibly blessed by the prayers and encouragement from my brothers and sisters I had so grown to love over the past few years (not to mention being blessed by the amazing bible software I got as a going away gift).  Several of these same friends also showed up to carry boxes and furniture down a pretty narrow stairwell come moving day.  I tried to cram in as much quality time as possible my last night there: dinner with Stacey, prayer time with Conversation Cafe friends, a Wal-Mart run with Rodney, one last game of cards with Melissa, Candace, AnaLeah, and Michelle, and then a goodbye to Todd, Jeanna and Caed (in utero).  I think I cried at each goodbye.

IN FAMILY

I love my family so much, so I’m pretty excited for any occasion that brings us together.  I can count on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but this year my cousin Ericka graduated from high school thus bringing us all together again.  I couldn’t wait to see my uncle Jay and give him the Tim Duncan jersey I got for $3 at a garage sale with Sydnie!  He wore it the next Spurs playoff game which unfortunately they lost.  This year also marked another momentous family occasion … Jayme & I getting to live in the same town!  Man, I love that girl; she’s the closest thing I have to a sister and I get to see her all the time now as we’re both at Wheaton.    My sweet, sweet parents and brother helped me get up there, and on the way we stopped in at my great aunt and uncle’s home in Iowa.  Of course we had to watch Field of Dreams.  The last time I’d visited there was about twenty years ago, so it was so interesting to see my grandfather’s home with grown up eyes.

IN CLASSES

The biggest change in my life over the past year was definitely my return to the classroom.  After tossing around the thought for several years, I finally decided on Wheaton and began their Biblical Exegesis program this fall.  This past semester I took Intermediate Greek, New Testament Theology, and Principles of Interpretation (the level of difficulty increasing respectively).  Principles was certainly baptism by fire.  I made it through my twelve page exegesis paper somewhat unscathed, however, and funfetti cupcakes have become my new celebratory indulgence.

IN VISITS

One of the best things about living in such close proximity to Chicago is people’s willingness to come and visit!  A couple weeks after I moved to Wheaton, a couple HHBC friends stopped in for a couple days on their way back to Oklahoma from Michigan.  I had such a blast with Rachel and Jenny and got my first chance to play tour guide … walking tour guide that is.  I bet we walked fifteen miles in one day.  In October my sweet friend and marathon partner Jamie came for a visit.  I gave her a jogging tour of Wheaton in addition to the soon to be trademarked “Sarah’s Walking Tour o’ Chicago.”  We entered our name into a drawing to win vouchers for discounted front row tickets to Wicked, and we won!  My aunt Kaye came up a few weeks later to bring my cousin her car, so the three of us put in the Chicago miles as well.  My last visit of the semester was from three of the card girls.  I was so happy to have AnaLeah, Michelle and Kelsey with me on their fall break.  They came to my NT Theo class Thursday night and then we spent the rest of the weekend in the city.  I won Wicked vouchers AGAIN, so Michelle got to sit front row on her birthday after having a hilarious birthday lunch at Ed Debevic’s.  We shopped the Mag Mile and did other touristy stuff having an incredible time.  Anyone else wanna come visit?  I’ve got the tour guide thing down.

IN FRIENDSHIPS

One of the hardest things about moving was leaving behind some incredible friendships.  From the card girls, to church friends, to the House Church/Coversation Cafe crowd, to coworkers, to Stacey (who defies any category), I was incredibly blessed in Oklahoma, and I knew those friendships couldn’t be replaced wherever I went.  Thankfully, there are great people in Illinois too!  I found a church I really loved relatively quickly after moving, and Susan and Marshall have been incredibly generous to host a 20-somethings small group in their home each week.  I became quick friends with Sharon, Jill and Kristi.  I also made a good friend my first week here after attending a random discussion group.  Kristine has since become my faithful concert buddy.  I’ve been nothing but impressed with my classmates and was thankful to have my co-exegesis friends Angie and Ashley each in one of my classes.  Emily’s a great roommate, and I couldn’t be more excited to have Jayme living just over a mile away.  She makes the family and the friendship category. 

IN CONCERTS

Yes, no end of year summation would be complete without a concert tribute.  I’ve already written about most of these, so we’ll just go with this year’s list:

• Derek Webb – University Baptist Church, Shawnee, OK
• Caedmon’s Call – The Door, Dallas
• Jenny Lewis – Epiphany, Chicago
• Rachel Unthank & The Winterset – Schuba’s, Chicago
• Don Chaffer – The Union, Naperville, IL
• Ray LaMontagne – Chicago Theatre, Chicago
• Andrew Peterson – Hickory Creek Community Church, Frankfort, IL
• Conor Oberst – The Vic, Chicago
• Over the Rhine – The Union, Naperville, IL
• Shawn McDonald – Willow Creek, South Barrington, IL
• Over the Rhine – Double Door, Chicago

Now that I have access to a plethora of great shows, I have reason to add a new list to this category … Shows I Wish I’d Been Able to See:

• Sam Phillips: No excuse!  I should have gone.  Looking back, I would have even taken a loss on a second ticket just to be there.
• Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God tour: Who cares that it was nearly two hours away on a school night?  I’ve been wanting to see this Christmas show for years, and it was finally going to be within a feasible driving distance.  A plague upon the paper that kept me at home!
• Derek Webb:  Only one thing could keep me from a solo acoustic Derek Webb show, and that would be the afore-cursed paper.  Yeah, I couldn’t really justify going the day before it was due.  I had hoped; it just didn’t happen.
• Bon Iver: A friend introduced me to this beautiful band earlier in the semester, and I was so excited to see he was playing The Vic in December.  Then I noticed the date was the same as one of my finals.  Seriously, Wheaton, you are completely interfering with my true purpose in living here!

IN MISCELLANEOUS

These are my honorable mentions, I suppose.  I certainly don’t want to forget:

• Volleyball nights at HHBC & Parkview
• My “Tribute to the Twenties” Finer Things Club invitation … No paper.  No plastic.  No talking about work.
• Henderson’s 20 Something Date Auction & subsequent date … Jamie and I raised over $400 auctioning ourselves off for missions, and we got to see Derek Webb. 
• Thursday night LOST parties with Todd & Jeanna
• My last West Hall Academy Awards Gala
• My last Strangers in the Night … my girls got me a date this year!
• Three weddings in two weeks … Kelsey, Anna and then Dave & Teresa
• Last weekend in OK road trip to Dallas … Jamie and I visited Kelly and got to see Shane Claiborne on the Jesus for President book tour.

Well, that about sums it up.  Until next year, friends …

The stars at night are big and bright (clap, clap, clap, clap) …

… deep in the heart of Texas!

In addition to reading to me every night as a child, my dad would often sing to me as well, and I distinctly remember requesting the “perfume” song many a night … “The sage in bloom is like perfume (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas.”

I just got back on Friday from my whirlwind tour of Texas, visiting family and friends from Amarillo to San Angelo (with Lubbock and Abilene in between). Four different stops all on or around my birthday meant four different birthday celebrations and even four different birthday cakes! My mom went a little Texas crazy in regard to presents, giving me a Texas flag blanket, Texas salt and pepper shakers, a Texas notepad, etc. I guess she figures this way I won’t forget my home once I’m over 1000 miles away. I was most amused by a little book she gave me entitled “100 Great Things About Texas.” Here’s a fun sampling:

Great Thing #34: Sticky Situation – West Texas women know not to wear lip gloss during a dust storm.

Great Thing #43: Even the Kids Don’t Mind – Everybody ought to have a chance to get their picture taken in a field of bluebonnets. (Yep, my mom has the pics to prove it.)

Great Thing #48: Abilene, Abilene – Most Texas cities have at least one country song named for them. (Oh, if you don’t know, you should! Ask me sometime, and I’ll play it for you … “Abilene, Abilene, prettiest town I’ve ever seen. The women there don’t treat you mean in Abilene.”)

Great Thing #51: See Texas First – You can go to the mountains, the beach, the forest, the lake, or the desert without ever leaving the state.

Great Thing #67: Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap – The stars at night really are big and bright.

Great Thing #78: Drive Friendly – It’s a courtesy in Texas for drivers to pull over to the shoulder to let a faster driver pass. And to acknowledge the courteous act with a wave of the hand or a tap of the brake lights. (Again, yep. On this trip alone, I was both the pass-er and pass-ee, and both gave and received the courtesy wave.)

Great Thing #92: It Rubs off on You – If you’re from Texas, you’re always from Texas. (And I have the presents to prove it.)

2007: An Illustrated Year in Review

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the Christmas card.  I couldn’t tell you the history or anything, but for as long as I can remember my family has sent and received them.  It’s exciting to get something other than bills or advertisements in the mail, even if it is just a simple card.  Growing up I always appreciated those who would send a picture with their card, even more those who sent a letter.  Ah, the Christmas card letter.  Granted, for most people this is usually a somewhat censored version of the previous year.  You never get a letter saying, “Well, Johnny got out on parole this past April,” or “Suzy fell off the wagon once again, and we’re still waiting to learn her whereabouts.”  The Christmas letter serves to maximize the year’s triumphs while minimizing or ignoring its pitfalls.  Anyway, all that to say that instead of sending out my own Christmas letter this year, I’ve decided to blog it.  So here for your reading pleasure is my own illustrated version of the year’s events including the highs and lows … with only a little bit of censorship.  J

 

Wheaton, Part 1

I began 2007 in a scramble to get my application in for a master’s program at Wheaton College.  I had finally decided that grad school was for me, and Wheaton was at the top of my list.  The scramble was due to a grad assistantship application deadline in February with one of the requirements being acceptance into the graduate school.  So began the process of essays, transcript requests, and recommendation letters.  I soon found out I was accepted into their Biblical Exegesis program, a definite cause for celebration.  However, after a long application process including essay questions, a test, a phone interview and an all day long campus visit with several mini interviews, come April I found out I did not get the grad assistantship I was seeking.  Disheartened and disappointed, I decided to defer my acceptance into the program for a year, then not completely sure if Wheaton was the place for me.

 

Concerts

2007 was perhaps my favorite year in regard to concerts.  I finally was able to cross Ben Harper off my list (twice J) and saw Derek Webb twice as well.  In addition to my two absolute favorites, I caught shows with Jeff Tweedy, Guster, Charlie Hall, Shawn McDonald, Indigo Girls, Anberlin, Switchfoot, Rilo Kiley, and the Decemberists.  Best acts were Ben Harper at Cain’s in Tulsa with Jayme (front row), Rilo Kiley at Palladium in Dallas with Erin (second row) and Decemberists at the Vic Theatre in Chicago with Jayme (second-ish row).   

 

Running

The on again off again relationship continues.  I ran again in the Redbud Classic, its 25^th annual, and my 3^rd.  I also progressed onto the half marathon in the OKC Memorial last April after two years of relay team participation.  However, I slacked a little in my training and didn’t run the whole thing as was my initial goal.  I did run further than I ever had before, though, and finished the race with a desire to complete the full marathon the following year.  So the end of 2007 began my training for April ’08.  26(.2) miles in my 26^th year.  Yep.

Ben-friend to Boyfriend

2007 also saw the coming and going of my first “grown up” relationship.  An ambiguous friendship progressed into a defined relationship bringing with it both excitement and frustration.  I am so thankful for the experience, definitely a learning one at that.  I was honored in his pursuit of me and challenged by his character.  And while breaking up was hard initially (He broke up with me … I said I’d share the lows as well J), I wouldn’t trade that experience or change anything with the perspective I have now. 

 

Haircut

On the heels of a break up, what better way to begin moving on than a drastic haircut?  I usually have a hair cut goal I’m working toward.  You know – cutting bangs, growing out the bangs, blonde, red, etc.  For awhile I’d been admiring the Victoria Beckham shorter in the back, longer in the front cut (a reverse mullet, if you will), and the break up was just the impetus I needed to follow through.  I’ll just say that it’s my favorite hair cut I’ve ever had and that I get compliments on it all the time.  Seriously, strangers come up to me asking me who cuts my hair.  Kudos to Kendra … and my inspiration, Posh Spice.

 

Daniel’s Surgery

This summer my brother finally had a surgery his doctors have speculated about since his cerebral palsy diagnosis at six months old.  With a decrease in mobility over the past few years, they decided to go in and cut tendons in his groin and hamstrings in order to lengthen the muscles.  The expected recovery was up to eight weeks in hip to toe casts, pretty much confined to the house the remainder of his summer.  To add to the stress, my mom got really sick a few days before the surgery was scheduled and couldn’t make it there.  Thankfully my sweet aunt flew down to take over the “mom” role that neither my dad nor myself were equipped to fill, not being moms ourselves.  On the morning of his surgery I was able to share with him the verses that happened to be listed in conjunction with the devotional my church put out over the summer.  “The LORD has said to me in the strongest terms: ‘Do not think like everyone else does.  Do not be afraid that some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you.  Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty.  He alone is the Holy One.  If you fear him, you need fear nothing else.”  Isaiah 8:11-13.  What sticks out to me the most from being there for that experience was the incredible courage I saw in my brother as well as his trust in the Lord.  Before the surgery and in the months to follow, he shared how he believed God brought him through the extreme difficulty (not an exaggeration in the slightest) and has made him stronger as a result.  Indeed He has.

 

Saturdate

 

What began as a vision in my friend Stacey’s mind nearly two years ago came to fruition this summer in a conference about love, sex, relationships, and truth.  When Stacey asked me to speak at Saturdate, I felt terror and thrill completely intertwined.  I don’t consider myself a public speaker, and my topic (singleness) was personal.  I would much rather have written an article or something.  However, from the moment she asked me I knew no matter how scared I was, it was something I was supposed to do.  And do well.  In the months and weeks leading up to the event, I learned to depend upon the Lord in a way that I hadn’t ever before, and He faithfully provided what became, “Singleness, Embracing the Season.”  The process of preparation was almost as precious as the event itself.  I was so privileged to meet and chat with Shawn and Kate McDonald, our headlining performer and speaker, as I served as their chauffeur for the weekend. Everyone’s talks were incredible and in addition to Shawn, we were all blessed by Charlie Hall leading us in worship Friday night.  I met incredible new people and saw friendships strengthened as only serving together affords.  Such a short space cannot do justice to the weekend, so I’ll just stop there. 

Ministry

 

With my best “hang out” friend moving to Tulsa in September, not to mention the breakup, I had a little more time on my hands this past fall.  Really wanting to redeem the time, I looked for opportunities to serve both at church and school.  Within my FLOCK, a new teaching team began this fall with the intent that members of our group would take turns teaching our class under the mentorship of our current teacher.  Considering that’s maybe what I want to do with my life, I thought it might be a good opportunity for me to gain some experience in that area.  Who knows what people gain from it, but I certainly have learned a lot through the process.  Also, as the Campus Crusade advisor I’ve made an effort to be more active this year by going to meetings and even getting to speak at one of them.  Perhaps my favorite ministry involvement this year has been my work with Conversation Café, a ministry to international students to help them work on their English and in turn build relationships.  I’ve gotten to know one girl in particular who is now truly my friend and often joins me at church.  The volunteers for this ministry are so genuine, and I am incredibly blessed to have met and now know them. 

Wheaton, Part 2

As the fall semester began, I felt more of a sense of urgency to figure out my plans for the following year.  If Wheaton wasn’t for me, then I had better soon figure out what was.  The more I thought about it and talked it over with family, friends, and even an old professor, the more my heart settled in on Wheaton again as my number one option.  I figured the ultimate test would be another visit – half business and half pleasure.  My cousin started there as a freshman this fall, and so I planned a trip to visit her, complete with fun restaurants, sight seeing, and even a concert (actually, a couple of concerts J).  On the business side, I arranged to sit in on several classes and meet with a couple of students in the program I was considering.   I left for the trip fairly confident in my plans to begin there next fall, but I left with certainty.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should be joining Jayme fall of ’08 … for Christ and His Kingdom.

So there you have it, 2007 in a nutshell … perhaps a large one at that.   Thanks for taking the time to read my Christmas card letter, friends!

03.18.07

Welp, big day tomorrow … involving a flight to Chicago … even bigger day Tuesday … prayers are appreciated, my friends.

I don’t really have any time to write, but I hated that I was going off to said momentous days without any sort of a Xanga precursor, so here it is.  More to come!

07.12.06

Time for an update of the actual goings on of my life, not just a collection of musings. I almost went to Missouri today.  Let’s just say that this was not in the travel itinerary.  Two of my coworkers and I went to scope out our intended RA Training retreat site, and in the process got a little off course.  I will say, however, if you’re going to go in the wrong direction for over an hour, the Pimp Van (or Learvan as it has been called) is the vehicle for you … complete with flat screen TV, DVD player, VCR, and track lighting.  Granted, we looked like we were stuck in 1992, but the inside was luxurious.   So as we approached the McDonalds that stretches above the interstate, Todd remarked, “Okay, so I think we’re almost in Missouri.”  Yeah … and the signs saying Joplin was only a few miles away were a giveaway as well.  On the plus side, we might have run into some famous musicians on our “scenic detour.”  As I was walking out of McDonalds, two guys were walking in, and I immediately got a “band vibe.”  These guys just seemed different, not to mention their clothing and hair was way conspicuous for Vinita, Oklahoma.  Camille saw a McDonalds worker ask for one of the guys’ autograph, but come to find out he (McDonalds guy) didn’t even know who the guy (band guy) was.  The supposed “band member” signed something illegible, then got into a van carrying a large trailer, reinforcing my band theory.  Hmm … I’ll probably never know.   Speaking of bands … I officially am going to Austin City Limits!  After seriously praying about my brakes, the repair ended up being inexpensive enough to allow for ACL!  I bought my ticket last week, and today they sent me a sneak peek of the schedule.  Now I’ve never been to a music festival before, but I’m smart enough to figure out that if two bands are performing at the same time, you can’t be in two places at once.  Thankfully there aren’t many overlaps that concern me, but what is up with putting Ben Harper and the Flaming Lips on at the same time?  It’s not really a dilemma for me (I choose Ben, hands down), but it’s just a little frustrating because I definitely wanted to see the Flaming Lips!   More band news:  I am officially stupid.  Back in April, when Cain’s announced that The Fray was coming in July, I immediately wanted to take my seventeen year old cousin.  Rather than getting my tickets then, I reasoned that we’d just get them at the door and avoid service charges and shipping costs.  Not smart.  It turns out that The Fray is more popular than I thought.  So now, rather than paying $20 plus service/shipping, I am going to bid who knows how much on Ebay to get tickets to the stupid sold out concert.  Wish me luck. I do have tickets, however, to Rob Bell’s “Everything Is Spiritual” tour this Friday.  I don’t know that much about Bell (only seen one Nooma video), but he is quite the engaging speaker.  More posting to come on him, I’m sure.   

Happy birthday to my baby brother!  Thirteen years ago I remember my dad mouthing the word “boy” to us from the other side of the hospital glass.  I was so excited to finally have a sibling.

05.22.06

As promised, here are the bests and worsts of May-cation.

• BEST: Getting to watch two Survivor episodes with my mom, including the finale.
• WORST: Missing watching Survivor with Todd & Jeanna, the fact that they had a “cliffhanger” on Thursday, and that Aras and not Terry won.
• BEST: Actually getting some exercise while on vacation … running at Nelson Park.
• WORST: Sucking at running because I’m not used to doing it in the heat.
• BEST: Weekday lunch with my mom.
• BEST: Getting a Franklin Middle School t-shirt for my brother (the same shirt that I wore when I was in middle school) at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store for $1.00.
• BEST: Buying a $.50 pair of running shorts, a $5.00 pair of Polo jeans in excellent condition, and a $1.50 “Don’t Mess with Texas” t-shirt from Goodwill.  I plan to wear my shirt all over Oklahoma.
• BEST: Having a Body for Life free day in Abilene … yeah for Blizzards, China Star and Rick & Carolyn’s Burgers and Fries.
• WORST: Giving myself extended free days and the resulting weight gain-age.  Hey, it was vacation.
• BEST: A surprise visit from my favorite aunt and namesake.
• BEST: Getting to visit my grandparents and uncle.  With his ALS, it’s gotten almost impossible to communicate with my grandfather, but we all had some quality time together watching the Spurs play.
• WORST: The Mavs winning an incredibly close Game 3.
• BEST: Mother’s Day … although my present didn’t get there in time, we had a great time watching The Best of Designing Women on Monday.
• BEST/WORST: Quality time with my dad watching Game 4 … but then again, the Spurs lost.
• BEST: Much needed unlimited talk sessions with Stacey in Houston.
• BEST: Getting a guy’s perspective on some confusing situations.  That’s what friends’ husbands are good for.
• WORST: The price of gas in Houston.
• BEST: My future flower girl (no, I’m not engaged) Molly!  Oh my word, I love that girl.  She has made me actually believe I will love my own children someday.  I visited her when she was a few weeks old, then a few months old, at 12 months and again at 13, but this time, this little sixteen month old girl and I bonded.  She even said my name once … Rah-rah … I’m not yet as popular as Mo-mo (Elmo).  I have never met a better behaved child with as much personality as her.  I love Molly!

  

• BEST: Visiting The Woodlands, walking around the plaza area, and playing with Molly in the fountain.
• BEST: The Spurs winning Game 5!  Yeah, that’s what I did while Stacey and Randy watched Lost.
• BEST: Making a day trip to Galveston with my family of friends.  Fun beach times. 
• BEST: The Spurs winning Game 6!  Um, it’s really bizarre that I care at all … I am definitely not a basketball person.  I played in 7th grade and was on the C-team.  I can’t help it though; Jayme’s got me hooked!  I feel like the players and I are friends … they all have such great personality.  I actually listened to Game 6 on the radio driving back from Houston.  What is wrong with me?

I can’t complain … way more bests than worsts … a great May-cation.

THE CONCERT THAT ALMOST WASN’T

So if you’ve been reading my Xanga for any period of time, you’ve probably heard me talk about and quote one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Derek Webb, several times.  I’ve been a fan since 9th grade … a whopping ten years, back when no one in high school knew who Caedmon’s Call was, much less Derek Webb.  This Tuesday marked my sixth time to see him live … the second time I’ve driven to Dallas and back in one night just for his concert.  So here, for your reading pleasure, are all the ins and outs of the long anticipated Derek Webb concert.

 

I love road trips with friends (family is sometimes a different story … not the trip itself, but the time together in the car).  They seem to lend themselves to some of the best conversations.  When Stacey L. and I drove to Chicago a few summers ago, I think we enjoyed each other’s company more in the car than while actually in Chicago.  Anyway, I was looking forward to spending 6+ hours in the car with one of my very best friends, my other Stacey. (Yes, it is spelled the same way as my other friend, and crazy enough, they have the same middle name … and their husbands have the same name too.) 

 

We set off for Dallas at about 5:30.  Doors opened at 9:00, so we were good to go.  Fun times, listening to Stacey’s newly created running playlist … haha … hungry like the wolf … hungry like the wolf.  Well, I would say fun until about eight miles from the Texas state line.  That’s when the traffic slowed and eventually merged into one lane.  Yep, stop and go traffic for eight miles that took two hours to get through.  Anticipating being late for the concert should have been bad enough, but no, I had to pee.  Probably more than I should share on Xanga, however … I had to go so bad that I made Stacey take over driving while I got in the backseat and attempted to pee into a cup.  Darn my well trained bladder … it was a no go. 

 

So finally, just before Gainesville we hit open road, and we were off.  Doors had already opened at this point, so I was really just hoping to make it before Derek started playing.  I was disappointed because his wife, Sandra McCracken, was one of his opening acts, and we were definitely missing her.  Finally at about 10:40 we made it to Deep Ellum, parked and walked up to the Gypsy Tea Room.  I could hear “Somewhere North” in the background as we walked up.  Hurriedly, we ran across the street to the bouncer ready to throw him our money and try and salvage what was left of the concert.  But then he asked if we had tickets. Um, it’s a small club … who buys tickets in advance?  After driving five hours from Oklahoma, this man was telling us that the concert was SOLD OUT.  I told him I was going to cry.  We explained our situation, all the driving and all, and he still told us no!  Stacey asked to talk to his boss, but he said he would just say the same thing.  They were already over capacity.  Stacey continued to work on him until he went in and came back out with wristbands … and let us in for free.  Man, I love that bouncer, not to mention Stacey.

 

So we were in, and Stacey was not losing any time.  She pulled me through the crowd until we were about halfway from the front.  We kept apologizing, explaining that we had just driven in from Oklahoma.  A group of guys said something like, “Oh, well Oklahoma’s in the front,” encouraging us to keep making our way forward, which Stacey did … again, I love her.  We made it almost right up to the stage just before he sang one of my top four favorites, “Wedding Dress.”  “I am a whore I do confess, but I put you on just like a wedding dress, and I run down the aisle, I run down the aisle.”  (Confused?  Read Hosea.)  Evidently he was finishing up a quick request set before a quick break then followed by a straight run-through of his new album.  I did miss two of my other faves, “Table for Two” and “Dance.”  Oh well, as Stacey pointed out, if we had gotten there on time, we probably wouldn’t have had as good of a spot, nor the nerve or justification for pushing our way up there. 

 

Derek’s new album “Mockingbird” is his most deliciously controversial to date.  “Don’t teach me about moderation and liberty; I prefer a shot of grape juice,” and “Peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication” are just a few examples of his jabs at conservative Christian cultural assumptions.  Missing from this show, however, was any pre or post song commentary; I suppose he preferred to let his pointed lyrics speak for themselves.  Backing him on piano and vocals, was his wife, who every time he glanced back at her, would smile a perfectly pure and endearing smile.  Hearing him sing, “Like an addict to his fix, so am I to your sweet lips.  The wife of my youth, and my drug of choice,” watching him catch her eye, and knowing that those were his words just for her … that was a great moment.

 

Derek finished out the night with the melodic and crowd friendly “Love Is Not Against the Law” whose inspiration I can only assume comes from Galatians 5:22-23.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”  These are what should characterize our lives, not a rigid adherence to a set of laws that may or may not even be biblical.  It was beautiful … a bar full of people singing in unison, “Love is not against the law, love is not against the law, no, love, love, love.” 

 

A lot of people have probably never heard of Derek Webb (although I’m sure a lot more will after the next issue of Relevant hits stands … he’s on the cover).  It really works out in a fan’s favor when your favorite band/singer is unexposed enough to be able to come out and talk to crowds after shows.  Stacey and I hung around for about a half hour so we could snag some chat time as well as pictures (which in my opinion are infinitely better than autographs).  We got t-shirts and chatted it up with the tour manager who graciously complimented Stacey’s cute short haircut and my trendy bangs.  After a bit Sandra came out, and I got to tell her that I was really sorry we missed her because of our traffic mishap, but that I had seen her play at Oklahoma Christian University several years before and had been a fan ever since.  Derek was soon to follow, and he was incredibly generous as I asked for pictures, promising I could take any pose or combination of people I wanted.  We talked about how far we had driven and how I had been a fan since high school, when only college students were really into Caedmon’s Call.   I even had an intelligent question prepared about a comment he made in a podcast regarding an article in Relevant about Bono.  We talked about it for a good five minutes.  We finally said goodbye, with Stacey requesting one more picture: a shot of their mutually tattooed fingers, Stacey’s with her husband’s name on her ring finger and Derek’s with cariV on his thumb.  My four years at OBU paid off for me … I knew that it said “grace.” 

 

 

So thankfully, the concert that almost wasn’t, was.  And it was perfect.  I made it back to Edmond that morning at 4:45 and am still recovering from the lack of sleep, hence the late post.  Hmm … not to mention, incredibly long post.  Obviously this is much more for posterity’s sake than any reader’s.  Okay, well maybe my mom will read the whole thing … and Stacey better.

 

Two more things:

1. How did I not know about the Austin City Limits PBS specials until tonight?  Seriously.  Tonight aired The Flaming Lips and The Shins.  Upcoming artists?  Jack Johnson, Ben Folds, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand.  Where have I been?
2. LL Cool J’s new album marks the unveiling of his actual given name.  And who happens to share the exact same name?  Crack me up … my fellow coworker and good friend, TODD SMITH!

03.18.06

Spring Break Highlights:

• Casa Olé green sauce
• Getting to see my cousin take 1st in both 100 and 300 hurdles at the West Texas Relays Track Meet (held in the stadium where much of “Friday Night Lights” was filmed)
• Watching endless episodes of Lost with the fam …finally finishing out the season … crazy stuff.
• Introducing Jayme to the wonder that is a Mezamiz Espresso Shake.
• Running with Jayme at Nelson Park while we both listened to our iPods.
• Going with Jayme on her first college campus tour … realizing that UTSA has about two signs that actually say University of Texas San Antonio, neither of which Jayme was willing to pose next to.  (Um, Jayme, if I remember correctly, Rory let Lorelai take a picture of her in a stranger’s dorm room holding a pen up in the air.)
• Getting semi-lost in San Antonio … Yahoo Maps suck.
• Casa Rio’s on the Riverwalk.  Yeah, Mariachis!
• Forgetting my clothes in Abilene and having to buy new ones before the game.
• The Spurs game and all it entailed (see previous post).
• McKay’s strawberry cake.
• Birthday presents!  501 Must See Movies book from the Thompsons … I’ve seen 142.  (148 if you count movies that I’ve seen at least 3/4 of)
• Daddy and Papa John beating Jayme and me in Rook … they had over 500, and we were in the hole.
• Abilene/San Angelo travel time with my mom.
• Toting my grandmother around to get new glasses, a hair cut, and specialty dog food for poor blind Bolly. 
• Quality time with Koko the 35 lb. cat.
• El Fenix dinner with my fellow Sarah Kaye and our moms.  (Have you noticed the Mexican food pattern?)
• Phase 10 games!
• Going to see David Matsler play at the Bean Counter … amazing cover of Damien Rice’s “Volcano.”  (Seriously, everyone should check him out: www.davidmatsler.com … download his song “Carousel”; it’s free.)
• Finding a new singer/songwriter I enjoy.  Sam Jaffe followed Matsler and was pretty impressive live.  Turns out he’s appeared on The O.C. (in the episode where Sandy sings to Kirsten) and had his music featured on Summerland.

So I’m back in Edmond; the break’s officially over for me.  I have to take two online tests before Monday that I haven’t begun to study for.  In keeping with my Derek Webb series, I’ll end this with some lines from “Faith My Eyes” (a song that encouraged me tremendously as I began college 300 miles away from home and that I often think about whenever I make the drive from Texas back to Oklahoma):

 

So keep ‘em coming, these lines on the road

And keep me responsible, be it a light or heavy load

Keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise

And I’ll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes

03.16.06

So the birthday’s officially over.  Good day … I got to see my grandparents and celebrate with them.  My brother got me the Curious George soundtrack.  The remake of “With My Own Two Hands” is great; Ben and Jack should sing together more often.  Sadly no Jack Purcells … stupid Abilene mall.  Anyway, as much as I could post about my birthday or just Spring Break in general, tonight I really want to write about my amazing last night before I forget significant details.

Well … no one gave me any game sign suggestions.  Nevertheless, Jayme and I decided on a basic “Go, Spurs, Go” for me and a “I heart TP” (in true New York t-shirt fashion) for her.  Let’s just say that our signs were A-MAZ-ING.  Mine was black with silver glitter, and Jayme’s looked exactly like all the t-shirts.  I’ll post pics later on Facebook or here if I can figure out how.  **EDIT** Yeah!  I figured out how to add a picture … it only took forever.

Anyway, game night was last night … Spurs vs. Hornets.  We got there an hour before doors opened in hopes of being one of the firsts in the building, intending to get a good spot in line for pre-game autographs.  As it turned out, we weren’t there soon enough, and alas, no autographs.  Got some good pictures, though.  Jayme wasn’t too disappointed since she already has about every Spur autograph she could want. 

Jayme had been staking out tickets online since last semester, finally buying some from a season ticket holder.  Our seats were four rows directly behind the Spurs bench … amazing.  It was crazy to see all these people who until last night only existed for me on TV or in magazines.  Um, yeah, it was even a little more crazy when about midway through the first quarter the guy sitting next to Jayme pointed out that Eva Longoria had just walked in and sat down.  (And our seats were better than hers!)

Okay, so my cousin absolutely loves Tony Parker and has for about the past three years.  Last year she got great tickets to a game in which Tony was hurt and sat the bench the whole time.  She and her friend yelled at him on the bench the whole game until he finally turned around and waved at them.  Obviously, her objective for last night was the same … get noticed by Tony Parker. 

We didn’t really have a strategy going in.  However, at the end of the first quarter, as Tony was walking back to the bench, he was looking in our general direction.  Jayme held up her sign and we both waved at him.  He looked at the sign, looked at us, laughed, and waved back … all in the course of about ten seconds, which is actually a long time if you think about it.  Jayme was so excited; she didn’t even have to yell. 

I then made the remark that the rest of the game would be kind of anti-climactic.  I mean, she reached her goal, and we still had three fourths of the game to go.  Even so, we enjoyed the remainder of the game.  They never zoomed in on us for the jumbotron, but everytime the cameras showed our side of the court, you could see us (and our signs) just because we were so close behind the bench. 

Well, the Spurs won 96 to 81 … such a fun time.  Whenever the Spurs win at home, they set up a post game radio interview with one of the players.  According to Jayme it’s usually a bench player, but last night – amazingly – it was with Tony Parker.  Jayme climbed down a couple rows to be closer while I stayed behind with the signs.  Anyway, he gave his little interview and as he was concluding, he started taking off his shoes. 

As he began to walk toward the crowd, I barely realized what he was doing until the first shoe was already thrown (to a middle school girl … on crutches).  However, he waited a bit before throwing the second.  He was looking around.  I tried to yell at Jayme in order to give her the TP poster, but I doubt at this point she even heard me.  So I held the poster up behind her while she waved and yelled, and who did he throw his second shoe to?  Yes, friends, it was to Jayme.  She caught the shoe, and even fended off another girl to keep posession of it.  I like to credit the shoe aquisition to the poster.  I seriously think he was looking for the girl that made the incredibly cute, eye catching, and most of all, flattering poster just for him.  And he found her … and gave her his shoe.

So that was pretty much my first NBA game experience.  And even though I’m not a basketball fanatic, I am so excited I got to be there for Jayme’s big night.  I’m kind of sad it’s over, especially because it kind of rounds out my “three things to look forward to” that I wrote about awhile back.  However I recently added something else to the list … A Derek Webb concert in Dallas come April 4th.  I’m going … and if Stacey doesn’t come with, I will resort to asking every single person I know … anyone interested?

Finally in honor of the upcoming concert, I’ve decided to post a series of my favorite Derek Webb lyrics up until April 4th.  In light of all the “celebrity” chat up above, I thought this appropriate (from Ballad of San Francisco):

I love anonymity and I love being noticed
Just the same as anybody else
Years ago I told you how I loved to be alone
These days I’d be perjuring myself

03.10.06

According to Mapquest, over the next ten days I will be spending approximately 28.5 hours in the car.  Granted, Mapquest grossly overestimates travel time, but even so … lots of miles ahead.  Thankfully most of them will be spent with one of my favorite people in the world … Miss Jayme Lynn.  In less than a week, we will be sitting 7th row center at the San Antonio SBC Center watching the Spurs vs. the Hornets.  I kinda wish they were playing another team, since theoretically I could see the Hornets play anytime (although since they’ve come to OKC I have yet to attend a game).  Anyway, evidently our seats are pretty amazing.  Jayme wants to make signs to increase our chances of getting on the big screen, thereby increasing her chances of getting noticed by Tony Parker.  Anyone have any good ideas for a catchy game poster?

So I think “Lost” is maybe my new favorite show.  And … Randy’s M&M is maybe my new favorite store.  On Thursdays you can rent a non-new release for free, and for the past month or so, I’ve been working through watching the first season of “Lost.”  I am officially hooked.  It’s crazy the stuff that goes on.  Can I just say that I love Sawyer?  And Charlie … and Hurley … and Kate … and Sayid.  The bad thing is, you can’t just jump in mid-season.  Now I have to wait for season two to finish and come out DVD, and hopefully this will happen before season three starts. 

Well … Spring Break officially starts in about seventeen hours.  I hope everyone has a fabulous time!