My new little friends (:

Here are some of the precious little kiddos I've been hanging out with this week. They are just so cute, and I am a little sad that our time together is coming to an end soon.

This is Alexa. She speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. And she hasn't even been to kindergarten yet! Anyway, today was 'Career Day' and Alexa wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She was sooo cute today and just pirouetted all over that place. (Coach Glenn, if you're reading this, you should know I can't hear the word "piroutte" without thinking of that Jars of Clay "hymn" song where he talks about doing that on his grave...haha)
This is Biz. Her real name is Elizabeth but her older brother couldn't say it when she was little. So, she goes by "Biz". She is the sweetest thing ever!!!
And here we have Emily. She is so tiny and sweet and her mom is great too!
And finally, Maddie. On the first day of camp she raised her hand to tell me that she was half-Chinese and half-Norwegian. I just found it humorous that she randomly volunteered that information. The thing I love most about Maddie is that she always is giving me hugs!
The whole class!

it's been a while....

....but here is a new picture. My posts have been a bit blah lately because nothing particularly exciting was happening. Last night I met Michelle and some others for dinner at Gloria's. Here is a picture she snapped of Asian Paul and me--Enjoy!

Oy Vey!

I don't know if you can tell from this angle, but something is missing from Marco. Can you guess what it is??????

If you guessed that Marco is collar-less...then you are correct! Here is what's left of his leather collar:
When I came home tonight and let Marco out of his crate, he ran out and there was no noise from his little tags. He had chewed his collar off! Now, this is shocking for your average dog. But it's even more impressive because Marco has about 4 teeth left. That's not an exaggeration. So as frustrated as I am that he has chewed through his 2nd collar, I am more in awe of his perseverance and sheer determination to be free. I can only imagine that this drive comes from his time at the puppy mill where he had to live amongst 120 other dogs.

It's a good thing that he is so cute, sweet, and snuggly because here's what he's destroyed in his 2.5 years with me:
2 harnesses
2 collars
2 leashes
1 comforter (i would like to add that he was crated in my bathroom, dragged himself about 10 feet into my bedroom by body-slamming himself against the crate, pulled the comforter through the cage, and gnawed on it for hours)

Anyway, adopting Marco after his 5 years at a puppy mill was really one of the best decisions I've ever made. He is a constant source of joy for me and it's great to come home to something that is happy to see you. However, I would really appreciate it if he would stop going into pre-rescue-survival-of-the-fittest mode.

Let's Make Friends!

This was the theme of Barbie Camp today. I hate that I dreaded it so much because it really was kind of fun. Part of my fear was that these kids were from Highland Park. And let's face it--their parents could probably BUY Mattel.
But these little girls are all going into kindergarten next year and are all so cute and polite...a welcomed change from my usual 8th graders. I will get some pictures of these cuties... I just want to eat them up!

Tomorrow is 'Tea Party' day and they are all very excited about dressing up...so it will be fun. Personally, I am looking forward to Friday. No, not because it will be the last day, but because we're going to have a "slumber party". We are all wearing pajamas!!

I think that I need to spend less time dreading things in life and just embrace living in each moment. It makes life so much more enjoyable when you realize that all you have to focus on is the exact moment that you're currently in. Jim Elliot said it best: "Wherever you are, be all there".

Life in plastic, it's fantastic

Oh Barbie....
I have never liked her.
She was only something I occasionally received as a gift. I would promptly cut her hair.
Then I would play with my brother's Hotwheels, or kick the soccer ball, or something else. Anything but Barbie.

Well, ironically, I will be spending a lot of time next week with Barbie. Somehow I got talked into working 3 weeks worth of Barbie camps again this summer. I originally agreed to do it because I had my eye on a new car. But now that I am roommate-less, I'm just doing it to have a little something extra to put away. So, no fun purchases will come from Barbie earnings. But that's okay. It will keep me from watching 3 hours of "Reba" a day..which is totally possible if you have Lifetime and the CW.

So if you want to see some Oscar-worthy acting, come to Highland Park next week and watch me pretend to care about Barbie.

And before you think I have a hatred of all dolls, it's really pretty Barbie-specific. Barbie represents an image of perfection that has been proven humanly impossible. If a real woman were to have Barbie's proportions (in ratio to human measurements) she would have to walk on all fours in order to move.
BUT....human perfection is possible. Here is a doll that I know Claire and Anne will both appreciate.
Now a Bon Jovi camp...that is something I would gladly teach (:

Mother's and Father's Day

With the arrival of Father's Day tomorrow, it occurred to me that I completely forgot to give my mom a little shout out for Mother's Day. So, since my Dad always says, "You're mother and I are One", I will combine these two special days.

I just love my parents. They are amazing, and I don't think that I tell them that enough. I am so grateful to have such godly parents who have led our family and are still willing to do almost anything for my brother and me. If I am ever blessed to have children I will have great examples to follow.

My Dad
There are a few things that my Dad has said to me that have stuck with me through the years. One of the funniest ones was when I called in tears the day before a job interview a few years ago because my suit no longer fit. Rather than offering a word of encouragement, he simply said, "Get a girdle". Well, that wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear. But I did it, the suit fit again, I got the job and quickly ran off the 5 pounds or so. We joke that this harsh, yet helpful advice, is going to be the epitaph on his tombstone.

But seriously, my Dad has always been there when I need him. This year in particularly, he led me through the process of buying a home. I was asking him questions constantly. Still, he never got tired of answering them. Even though he'll be the first to tell you he's not a handy-guy, he has been able to help me with little home repairs and issues. So thanks Dad!

My Mom
She is the most beautiful person inside and out. My Mom has a tender heart and has taught me so much about who Jesus is, ever since I was itty-bitty. Out of all of the things I appreciate about her, this is definitely the most important. But I do get a kick out of how she gets a little giggly around 9 at night.

Thanks Mom and Dad for being so great. I realize that not everyone has people like y'all to raise them and to teach them truth. I'm so grateful for you both (:

it's not november yet....

but here's what I'm thankful for today....

Grace
cross-country phone calls from friends
lunches with old friends
blueberries
good music
summer vacation
my church family
that Claire taught me the right way to make coffee
Marco
natural peanut butter
skin-so-soft
new dreams
Hobby Lobby
Les & Lanae
comfy couches
air conditioning
mp3 players
blogs
Hope

on a break

When I was a freshman in college, I discovered running. It was a great way for me to relieve the unbelievable amount of stress that I was putting on myself. And good ol' ORU kind of had this requirement where you had to get so many aerobic points each semester. It was actually for a grade! So what started out as a means to escape school became a reliable friend. And nine years later, one of my most favorite things to do is lace up my running shoes and just go.

Running and I are kind of having a rough go of it right now. Summer in Texas is not really conducive to a good run. I decided to do laps on the track at Marcus HS last Sunday afternoon and just about passed out--literally. If I want to beat the heat, I would have to run super-early in the morning...and that's not safe for me to do by myself. The few evening runs I've gone on have been better heat-wise, but it has left my body ravaged by mosquito bites.

So, my only opportunity for reasonable physical activity is at the Health and Athletic Center. I didn't want to like going there, but I do. I have tried some new classes, am enjoying the weight machines, and have even found a that I like the elliptical. It's funny because I have always been kind of anti-gym. I've felt that mixing it up a little would not make me the die-hard runner I used to think I was. How ridiculously prideful is that?????

I will miss running outside until it starts to cool down in the fall. Like I've said before, running is when I feel that I hear the Lord speak to me with the most clarity. But, I will make the most of the nice, air-conditioned facility with the teacher discount. And I know that God doesn't just want to hang out with me only when I'm running. I will learn to quiet my heart in other places and expect Him to show up in a new way. But I cannot wait to hit the pavement again.

Great news!!!

My two faithful readers might remember this post from a couple of months ago.
I was pretty disappointed when I missed a chance to hear Hillsong United when they came to DFW. But, today I found out that they are playing for FREE in Houston on July 15th. This is even better because it will give me time to learn some of their new stuff AND I'll get to see my brother as a bonus. It's on a Sunday night, but a little road trip would be so much fun. Let me know if you are interested (:

Roommate Reunion

Oh college...
It is hard for me to believe that I have been out of college for five whole years. Wow...I'm getting old.

Anyway, while I'm not always the biggest fan of ORU, I made the most amazing friends there. My roommate, Mandy, was one of them. Here is a picture of her that looks like she is getting ready for her first day of school (:

Mandy and I lived together for our junior and senior years. Living in one tiny little room really leaves little room to hide, so Mandy saw a lot of my junk. Everyone that meets Mandy just loves her. She is sweet, personable, beautiful, and fun.
One person who really noticed sweet Mandy was her husband Jay. The two of them got hitched in D.C. back in May and have recently moved to Dallas. Jay is a professor at SMU and Mandy is working on her masters in counseling.

Mandy and I met up today to have brunch at Breadwinners (thanks Hollie for the suggestion) which was within walking distance of Mandy and Jay's condo. Fun times. I hadn't seen her in almost 4 years!!! So we ate, hit up Northpark, and then we went to our respective homes.
It was so great to catch up and to know that we will be so much closer to each other now. And of course, I can't wait for little Carsons to come along (:

What are you doing with your summer?

This is a question that I get almost daily. And everytime I hear it, I cringe a little bit. Is it because it's offensive or intrusive? Not at all. Is it because it's an annoying question? Nope.

Perhaps the reason that I find myself dodging this is due to the fact that I don't feel like I have a good answer. The best thing I can say is that I'm consistently working out and that I'll be working 3 weeks worth of Barbie camps (don't ask...it's as bad as it sounds).
It has always been hard for me to relax because in my mind, there is always something else that needs to be taken care of. I think deep down I don't feel worthy of a vacation, therefore I am not being a good steward of the time off. But, maybe I just chose my profession very wisely and should embrace the hiatus from middle-schoolers.

Either way, I know there are things that I can be doing that are much more productive than spending my mornings watching "The Golden Girls" followed by "The Biggest Loser".
I am open to suggestions (:

in the land of the living

Just some quick little thoughts on a Friday night...
Tonight, Michelle, Sarah and I went to B.J.'s for dinner. Sarah is moving back to Nebraska on Monday so this was kind of a last supper of sorts. Anyway, we are back at the house and they are watching some movie I've never heard of starring David Schwimmer...interesting. I'm trying not to invest too much into it because at any moment, my brother, Matthew, will be arriving from H-town. This will be a short visit but I am excited nonetheless. He truly has become my best friend through the years which is nothing short of a miracle. I used to be very mean to him growing up, and I was even known to beat him up when he won at one-on-one basketball in the driveway. There were even golf clubs involved a few times. But maybe I'm revealing a bit too much....
Anyway, I sought forgiveness, he granted it, we both grew up, and now we're great friends. One of the things I love most about growing up is the way that your relationships evolve with your parents and sibling (or siblings for those of you who were blessed with more). Matthew truly is one of the most godly people that I know. He is so much wiser than I am--even though he is 2 years younger. The prideful part of me doesn't want to admit when he is right because he is younger, but so often he is there when I need him with an encouraging word and he always speaks truth.
During our last conversation, we were talking about a song that we had been singing at church and he looked up the scripture that a certain song was based on. This led him to Psalm 24 and I have been camping out in Psalms a lot this week. I have been encouraged by David's honesty with the Lord and how he doesn't hold back--whether it's good or bad.

So I guess the point of the post is this:
1. Be nice to your kid brother (he might grow up to be a man of wisdom)
2. Read Psalms (24 and 25 are a great place to start:)
3. Don't rent "Duane Hopwood"(that's per Sarah and Michelle)