"YEAH!"-sung in a gospel sort of way

While Hilary's parents were visiting a week or so ago, we took them to Stubb's BBQ for the gospel brunch.
Here is a picture of the gospel group that performed...
Here is a little dude that played the drums!!....
And yes...you are seeing this right...
Hilary and I rocked out with the gospel group!!!!
On stage...At Stubb's BBQ...Next year...ACL Festival. Main Stage. Hilary and Emily. That's all I'm gonna say.

Rudy! Rudy!! Rudy!!!

Ok...call me a big dork. I'm ok with that.
Tonight while I was trying to get some things done around the apartment I put in the movie "Rudy" that I got last week at Target for $5.00.
The last time I saw this movie was probably when I was in high school.
So I didn't get the things done that I wanted to get done.
Instead I watched this movie and found myself smiling, crying, clapping and yelling Rudy.
Seriously.
I'm by myself in my apartment yelling Rudy.
What a great movie!!!!! I love it! Now I feel all inspired to go do something...I don't know what...but something!

Livin' in Community

Here is a video that they played during our church service a few weeks ago. We have been going through the vision series of the church. This week we talked about Living in Community. They interviewed Melody, Marcus and Jocelin from my small group. They are amazing. This last year was an incredible time for our group...check it out...

Things With Wings Art Journal

My mom, my sisters and I started a new blog together. It's a "Things with Wings Art Journal". A journal for a mom and her daughters. We are using this for our art and creative things. You can check it out here.
My mom and sisters are amazing artists and are really funky. I'm not much of an artist in the sense of drawing or painting...but I think I'm artsy in a different sort of way. So I'll contribute what I can!

What in the World is Happening?!?

um....I have no comment.

(HT Zach)

Ha larious!!!!

Here's a little motivation for you....

Here's another classic one...

I Love My Truck.

I have been babysitting for my boss quite a bit, and tonight I babysat for them at the downtown Hilton. They have a ball to go to this weekend that their little girl is a part of and they decided to just get rooms for the weekend. They had a dress rehearsal tonight and then the bigger kids (college students) that were involved, had a dinner that Jon and Tina went to. So I stayed back at the hotel with their kids.
It was fun!
First of all Jon told me to just valet park when I got there...
Ok...
#1...I have NEVER valet parked a car before. I have NO clue what to do in that situation, where to go, who to go to, how much to tip...
#2...I'm driving a 97 dodge pickup truck, that really needs to be washed and is a little on the beat up side...with a camper topper on the back.
#3...We're talking The Hilton.

Before I left work, my co-worker, Leona, was giving me a pep talk and was telling me what I needed to do. (she's a pro at valet parking I think!)

So I arrive at the Hilton and I end up having to go around the block a couple of times...
#1...to try and figure out where the drive way was where you unload...valet park...check in...
#2...there were a ton of people lined up waiting to get their cars valet parked and there wasn't room, so I had to keep going around.
#3...I'm still debating...do I really put myself through this...with the possible embarrassment of being in a beat up truck in the midst of lexus', suburbans and BMW's. Yes of course I put myself through this...this is going to make a great blog story!

So I finally get a turn to wait in line. I've committed to it...I got in line...there's no turning back. I'm trying to notice the people in front of me, to see what they are doing and how they are doing it.
So...it looks like they pull up, turn their blinkers on, wait for the guy to come open your door, leave the keys...they give you a piece of paper, no one is giving a tip...maybe that's for the end when they bring your car back...hmmm.
At this point, I'm getting hot, and I start sweating.
So then it's my turn...I pull up...I turn the car off, put the blinkers on...the guys not coming...do I wait?!
I open my door and the guy comes over and asks if I'm a hotel guest that is staying overnight. I explain my situation to him and he says, "I'm sorry ma'am we can only park hotel guests that are staying overnight because our lot is full, and we just don't have room."
DENIED!!!!

I was thinking either...
#1...this guy sees the truck and thinks...yeah right.
#2...the lot was really full and they couldn't park me...
#3...he saw the porsche behind me and thought that he would probably be getting a better tip from that guy!

He directed me to a public parking parking ramp on the corner of the next block down!
nice.

It was a fun evening...the kids were excited to be in a hotel and to order room service. yes...they had been looking forward to ordering room service...
Which brings me to my next new encounter.
#1...I have NEVER ordered room service.
#2...I have NO clue how to order, what to order, what to tip, what to do.

It actually ended up being ok! Although I couldn't believe that our total bill was $45 and it included a sandwich for me and chicken tenders for two kids.
I should have just called "The Pizza Man" and yelled "pizzaaaaaaah pizza pizza pizzaaaaah!!!!" and then hung up.---Ya Ya girls...that was for you!!

It was a fun evening and I always love watching their kids. They call me Miss Emily and they are so sweet!!
Here are a couple of pictures I took, one of the hotel and a couple of the view from the hotel room...

Droplets

I'm lovin' Miss Colbie Caillat lately (thanks Jamie!)...I love this song with Jason Reeves...(on his myspace profile it says he's from Iowa City, IA....????)
I need to find a "Jason Reeves" to sing and play with. (as in play guitar with...just to clarify!)
Enjoy the video...

Worship

(HT: Zach)

I Don't Need Fries.

I sat in Melody's car last night in the Double Tree Hotel Garage Parking lot after the church prayer meeting. We talked. I unloaded. She spoke truth. We laughed. We talked about brake pads.
I am amazed by her. I was reading Colossians 3 to her from the Message and I got to this part....

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."

I turned to her and said...I see you!
I do. I want to be like her when I grow up!

Some words of wisdom from Melody:
"The Lord is my portion and I don't need fries with that!"

I'm Swimming.

Tonight Hilary had her group and I hung out in my room just spending some time catching up on some emails and also spending some time in the word.
It seems that God and I are wrestling through some stuff...which has lead to a few breakdowns!
I'll be honest...it's true...I breakdown.
It needs to happen...I sit before God...read some of His words...I talk about it with a few people...they set me straight...and then I feel better.
It's sometimes a vicious cycle. But I know that God is up to something.
I was talking to a friend and I was saying that I sometimes feel like I am going under, drowning, then God reaches down and brings me up above the water...and I come out coughing, spitting out water, trying to catch air and flailing...that doesn't always look very graceful or pretty.
My friend's response: "You say that you feel like you're drowning and God is bringing you above water. Could it be that He's just teaching you how to swim?"
yup yup! alright! My response..."yes sir! I do believe he is teaching me how to swim!!...but I may need a life vest...or a noodle."
God is teaching me and working me for a purpose. It's hard. But it's good. I don't know for what. But I have to keep surrendering...a lot...it sort of makes me want to throw up. But a good throw up...I guess...sort of like how I've explained that feeling I get after church service (see previous posts) I'm weird...I know.
Hilary found my "Healing CD" that I made after a tough time I went through a few years ago. It's a CD of some amazing songs that really blessed me during that time.
She was playing it tonight after her group and I was so encouraged. Again, music does something to me. God uses it to get to me.
Here are some lyrics from a couple of different songs that hit me tonight...

"To the cross I run, Holding high my chains undone
Now I am finally free, Free to be what I've become
Undone
Hallelujah I'm undone!"

"There is a heaven
Open your eyes
And there you have no disguise
He’ll never leave you
No need to hide
He’s always by your side"

"In all that I have found
Your evidence abounds
I've always sensed Your fingerprints
If I just look around
And yet this grand display
Will all soon pass away
So I hold on to the mighty truth
That Your love is here to stay
The love of the Lord endures
The love of the Lord endures
If there's one thing I can be sure
It's that the love of the Lord endures
When I stumble
When I fall
When I'm walking ten feet tall
Your love is there day after day
Even at the worst extreme
Or after I have been redeemed
Your love is there
And it won't let me go"

"I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
Your the one that's keeping my heart beating
I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
That's the only way that I'll find healing"

Jesus-
I come again to You, You call me, You say my name...the name You've given to me..."beautiful bride, my darling". Could You really mean me? I know You do, you tell me over and over that I am Yours, that You have given me a new name, a new life...one that is hidden in You, covered by You, clothed with You. Thank You. Thank You for reminding me when my mind tries to separate from that truth, when it tries to go back to the old me. You are so quick to capture it once again and comfort me with Your words, with Your Spirit. I can't see You, but I dream of that day. I know You are here. Your gentle whispers, Your Spirit in Your children that You use in my life, the sense of the Spirit in me, bringing me to worship. My Love, keep pursuing me. I desire You, I desire the depths of my heart to burn for You. Love, bring me to my knees, bring me to my face. The realization that it was my sin that held You there, You would have it no other way. Again, I'm on my face. What else can I do, but give my life to You? You made the world and You came to the world. You created man, You became a man. You created the universe and know each star by name, You created me and You call me "my beautiful bride, my darling". Again, I'm on my face. What else can I do, but give my life to You? I love You. Thank You for loving me in creative ways. Thank You for fixing my brokenness and for healing my heart. I stand amazed. LOVE.

***smile***

My friends Chris and Erin Reichman were in the community group that I was in this last year. They have been such an encouragement to me. Erin has opened up her life to me and we have shared our joys and struggles with each other. She is a woman of beauty and strength, she is an encourager and a warrior.
Her husband Chris is a photographer (www.christopherreichman.com) and graduated last May. He is in the process of building up his portfolio and asked if he could use me as a "model".
Why not?!
It was really fun, but doing a photo shoot in Texas in the middle of the summer was a little difficult. Lots of sun...lots of sweat...lots of blotting...lots of sticky clothes...and lots of smells.
We shot at a few different locations...and I of course had to have outfit changes!
The pictures turned out great and he definitely made me look a lot cooler than I really am!!
I posted a few of my favorites below...if you want to see a few more you can go here.