Back Home!

We are back from our missions trip, so post n' pics will be forthcoming....however, right now we are having to deal with Scott's shoulder injury, my car that has died, and mountains of laundry. And I had to go back to work today! :-/

Just be in prayer for Scott's shoulder. He was playing basketball last Thursday on the trip and popped his shoulder out of joint. It was bad enough for a visit to the local ER (yikes). He is going to doctors today and I believe is having an MRI done right now to determine the extent of the damage. They are saying it might even be a shoulder separation and surgery is more than likely in his near future.

Oh, and my car battery has died so I'm borrowing Rachel's car, but it will be Wednesday night before I can see about getting a new one. Just pray that the battery is the only thing wrong!
But, God is faithful and His name was proclaimed in a little town in a little country that has been really dark for a long time!

Summer, Already??

With the return of students from far and wide, the advent of hot weather, finals at school, and the preparation for Camp Straight Street, comes SUMMER!

This summer promises to be a busy one, and it starts next week when we leave for our annual Road Trip!! We do our College Group Road trip either before camp starts or after it ends, so this year we managed to fit it in early. Which is fine by me, as it only gets hotter as the days get longer. We are headed to Washington DC and New York City, leaving Tuesday morning at 3 or 4 AM.

Also on tap for this summer will be the first ever College Group Missions Trip to Montenegro, also my personal first foreign missions trip! If you don't know where Montenegro is, look it up on Google. It's a lovely little Baltic state, but only has 125 believers. That's staggering to me. I can't wait to go! We will be running day camp for local teens and pre-teens, using sports, art and English classes.



I'm not taking a class this summer, mostly because of our missions trip, but also because there was nothing I needed being offered at night or online. Bummer. I hate taking a semester off since I only take one class each semester, but it's nice to have a break too. I really am praying something will work out financially for 2010 so I can take more classes each time!

I have also joined a weight loss challenge that some wedding photographer friends of mine are hosting. The Greshams are wonderful, talented photographers and we worked together last year some. Check out their website for great pics, and the start of our Challenge! It's 20 weeks, so by the end of September, I hope to be 30-40 pounds lighter! Food is a huge obstacle for me-it's the first thing I run to for comfort, or out of boredom, or to celebrate. For heaven's sake, I spent 4 years learning all about food and how to cook it, present it, appreciate it. I think I can still do that, but NOT become slave to it too. It's going to take a heart transformation though, and I realize that now.

This is my official "before" photo taken by Brandon Sunday at the Bham Botanical Gardens!

"Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:2-3

So, that's a random update on what's happening, here at the beginning of the summer.

Stay tuned for pics and crazy stories from the road trip next week! Follow me on Twitter, as I'll be tweeting from B'ham to NYC and back!

From Me, To You

Rachel of RachelJones Photography, started this nifty little fun thing! I responded to her blog post, so now I will pass this on to YOU!

The first five people to respond to this post (from my blog and/or FB) will get something made by me.

This offer does have some restrictions so please read carefully:
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
- What I create will be just for YOU.
- It will be done this year (2009).
- It will be something made my own two hands.
- It might be a mix CD, a knitted scarf, stack of cards, a poem, baked goods, an original photograph....the possibilites are infinite.

In return, all you need to do is post this on your blog or facebook and make 5 things for 5 other people. Pass it on!

Survey Time! Couple's 25 Questions

This is kind of like the 25 things - except they are pre-decided questions, and they're about you and your spouse, not just you. Come on, play along - inquiring minds want to know! ;-) Once you've been tagged, send it back to the person who tagged you, and all those you want to do it as well!!To do yours: copy and paste to your notes/new note. Highlight these answers and replace with your own. Do your tagging, and post!!

♥ What are your middle names? Marie and David...I get really annoyed when people ask me that question.

♥ How long have you been together? Married for over 7 years, but together for almost 12

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? Well, we've actually known each other since childhood, but we became closer friends in high school, then really close friends. After getting really close, it was a couple months before we were "official". I was about to start my Senior year in high school and Scott was about to start at Samford.

♥ Who asked who out? We hung out a ton together, and with other people. The first "official" date that we consider, was when he took me to see The Sound of Music at the Alabama Theater and dinner at Salvatore's (the nice restaurant they used to have), right before he left for Africa for the summer.

♥ How old are each of you? 30 and 29

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Mine, definitely.

♥ Do you have any children together? Nope

♥ What about pets? Not anymore...RIP Katie Belle. Hopefully another cat in a year or so.

♥ Did you go to the same school? Yep. Scott was 2 classes older than me.

♥ Are you from the same home town? HAHA! I have to LOL this one... I have lived here all my life, but Scott was born in Buffalo, NY, lived in San Diego, then moved here when he was about 8 years old, and has been here ever since. So, basically, that makes him from Birmingham too! ;)

♥ Who is the smartest? Scott, for sure

♥ Who is the most sensitive? I am, I guess, since I'm a girl. But Scott is sensitive toward me, in a good way.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Chez Lulu's and Jim n' Nicks

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Paris, France

♥ Who has the craziest exes? Well, neither if us really have "exes", and none are crazy...

♥ Who has the worst temper? We don't ever really lose it with each other...but, I used to have a fairly bad temper

♥ Who does the cooking? Me, duh, but Scott holds his own in the kitchen right beside me. He does have exclusive control over the grill tho

♥ Who is more social? Scott, because he can go into any type of social setting and be comfortable. I usually have to battle some insecurities...

♥ Who is the neat-freak? Hmmm...well it depends on where you are looking. I'm neat at work, but Scott definitely is not. My car is for sure a wreak, but he's pretty OCD about his car. The house falls somewhere in the middle.

♥ Who is the more stubborn? Scott?

♥ Who hogs the bed? He hogs the space in the bed, but I usually hog the covers

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Neither of us...we both sleep until the last possible minute. Usually tho, I'm out the door before he is, since his commute to work is about 5 minutes.

♥ Where was your first date? Oh, well, see above for the answer

♥ Do you get flowers often? Not as often as I used to. ;) But Scott always brings roses to my office himself for Valentine's Day!

♥ How do you spend the holidays? Running around to family stuff, but Christmas Eve is always at church, then Christmas morning is just our time.

♥ Who is more jealous? ?? Both if us?

♥ How long did it take to get serious? Well, I knew by Christmas of my Senior year in high school that I was going to marry him, but he says he knew he wanted to marry me before that! So, pretty quickly, I'd say...especially being so young!

♥ Who eats more? Uh, really? Scott? Depends on what we are eating! ;) I win if it's something chocolate!

♥ Who does/did the laundry? Both of us, whoever can get to it...usually he'll wash and dry and leave the baskets full of clean clothes around, so I'll fold and put away

♥ Who’s better with the computer? Scott is, for sure.

Menu-Planning Monday: March 9-15: Happy Spring Break!

Spring Break! Yeah! Party!

Er, not really...I haven't had a true spring break since, well, probably high school. And I was the party animal, let me tell you.

The sarcasm is dripping today, probably due to the lack of an extra hour of sleep...puts me in a mood. I'm not sure what kind of mood, but it puts me there. So, I sacrifice my sleep so the farmers of America can farm for an extra hour in the evening. Wait, what?

Let's get back to the subject at hand.

Breakfasts: (can we say: stuck-in-a-rut?)

~oatmeal packets

~bananas

~fruit/yogurt parfaits

Lunches:

~Lean Cuisines

~apples/low-fat peanut butter (the Jif brand is pretty good)

Dinners:

~Easy Beef Tips with Noodles from Allrecipes.com *I've had some sirloin tips in the freezer, meaning to use them

~Grilled chicken kabobs with rice

~Breakfast for dinner, backup plan/extra dinner

We may go out of town Friday-Sunday this week with some students, still trying to decide/find somewhere to stay.

Blizzard of 2009!

Well, it happens about once every 10 years...snow in Birmingham! Measureable snow that is. It has flurried, sleeted, etc off and on during the winter months, but seriously, it was the year 2000 when we last had a good snow shower. We have waited all winter anxiously for our snowy dreams to come true, and the weather waited until March 1st!

Here's some pics from our fun snow event in Birmingham!

Our little house in the snow!

The shed in our backyard looked a lot cooler covered in snow!

The big magnolia in our front yard

The Smith Farm in Bluff Park

Snow-covered pansies at church

We went downtown so Rachel could take some photos. This is the Jefferson County Courthouse and Linn Park.

Linn Park looking toward the BJCC and Art Museum

Snowy Scottie! You can see how hard the wind was blowing the snow around!

City Hall and Linn Park fountain

Me and Rach...we were quickly getting covered in snow!

Rach, doin her thing. This shows how hard it was snowing! This is REALLY alot for Birmingham!

Random Funness (AKA Chain Blog)

I know FB and Blogger have been virtually infected with surveys that you pass along like old-school chain letters, but this one was quick and interesting! Rachel did it and looked fun!

Random Band Generator

Here's my band's name and album cover:

Here's the instructions so you can have fun too:

1 - Go to "Wikipedia." Hit "random article" in the sidebar.The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations" (or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3) The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to Flickr and click on "explore the last seven days" (or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days) Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in.

22 Random Things

So, a bunch of people tagged me in their 25 Random Things notes, so I figured I would do it...

I'm publishing this on Blogger, but if I tag you in FB, you have to do the same! Then tag 25 others!

1. I have a weird accent. Pseudo-British-ish. I think that I trained myself out of a real southern accent when I was a kid and heard my self on a video. I was embarrassed that I sounded so country.

2. I also have a good phone voice, and sometime my friends call me and are not sure if it's me or not because I'm using my phone voice. I recorded a lot of the phone messages that you hear when you call my office.

3. I hate sports. I can't play anything, but secretly wish I could play tennis. Mainly because of the cute clothes.

4. I have a fear of heights and a fear of drowning.

5. Despite my fear of heights, I love roller coasters! My favorite is the Batman at Six Flags over GA.

6. I love to read! And I do not mind re-reading books. I try to re-read The Lord of the Rings every couple of years...it's better every time!

7. I secretly want to be an Elf (as in LOTR, not like Buddy the Elf) (yes, I realize that makes me a huge dork)

8. If I could do anything in the world for a job, it would be to go to work with Scott and help him.

9. I am realizing that coming up with 25 things about me is harder than I first thought!

10. I am still in college, trying to finish up a Bachelors degree at UAB in International Studies and a minor in French. I love school, but hopefully I'll finish before I'm 40!

11. I used to be scared that God would call us to the mission field and I would have to leave Birmingham. Mostly, I was afraid of "missionary jumper dresses" and no electricity. Now, I'm open to leaving, or staying. And I'm glad God changed my heart toward missions and leaving my "comfort zone".

12. I actually would really love to live in a different culture for a while. Preferably France.

13. I started learning French when I was in the 3rd grade at First Bapt. Church School of Pleasant Grove. I'll always remember those songs in French! "Sur la pont, D'Avingnon..."

14. I like to scrapbook, but lately I have not had the patience for it.

15. I love to decorate and I credit my ability and style to my mom and grandmother. We all have different tastes, but they taught me well!

16. My sense of style (for the house) has streamlined over the years. I think it has come from living with a boy. ;)

17. My sense of personal style has changed too; I dress much more casually than I used to. I think it's because we are always around college students or other people younger than ourselves! I typically wear jeans to church now.

18. I was a Hoover Belle while in high school. When I applied, I wanted that more than anything, and I was so excited that I got it! And I was super excited that I got to wear a hoop skirt! My dress was custom-designed by a lady in Mobile to look like Scarlett's picnic dress in Gone With The Wind, only mine was solid blue. I also had the biggest hoops of all the other Belles!

19. Despite my now-casual style, I love to dress up! I wish I had somewhere fancy to go so I could wear a pretty gown.

20. I also wish I had somewhere to wear a period dress. I secretly want to be a period reenactor.

21. I like etiquette and I read etiquette books for fun. I particularly like reading books from the early 20th century to learn how people (supposedly) behaved. I would secretly love to go to the Washington School of Protocol.

22. I have revealed several secret desires/wishes, so NO MAKING FUN!

Oh Snap!

I've been MIA lately, which isn't too unusual for me.

I'll have an update ready, pics and all, from our Winter Retreat of 2009!

I'll also be back with an all-new Left-Over Wednesday post!

Oh, Just An Update For Ya!

Its been a while since I blogged about random things, so I thought I'd be random today.

~ Finished my class for the semester. I had to write a paper on Navajo sandpaintings. Thrilling. I didn't actually hate the class though...it was an Anthro class on symbolism. What did I learn, you ask? Um, I'll get back with you on that one. Next semester I'm taking a comparative politics class, which should be really interesting with the new president and senate coming into office next month!

* I still have not finished decorating our house for Christmas...I feel like a failure of a housewife. Tonight, hopefully, I will watch it SNOW and finish decorating. And take pictures for Greta's Tour of Homes! Which, by the way, if you haven't participated, please do!! It's always fun to see other's decorations!~ Current Books I'm reading:

Christy Miller: The College Years by Robin Jones Gunn (3 books in 1 volume)

**I loved Christy Miller books when in high school! Now I can read about her college days! This is really easy reading, of course, but the books are packed with great Godly truths too....perfect if you know a teen who needs some spiritually-uplifting books to read!

God Is The Gospel by John Piper

** Piper has been my choice of devotional reading for the last year or so. I have to read his stuff slowly to absorb it! This little book (only 179 pages) is so crammed full of theology. Even though so much of how salvation works still remains a mystery to me, this book helps me delve into scripture to understand the Gospel, and how to l ive a gospel-centered life in Christ.* Current Music I'm listening to:

Coldplay's Viva La Vida

~~I can't help it. I know its been out for months now, but I just really like it alot still! My favorite track is "Yes"...the music is really cool and I love how deep his voice gets in that song.

Enya's And Winter Came

~~ I love Enya and was super-excited when her holiday CD came out! Got it for my b'day this week! "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanual" is pretty amazing!

~ I went to Sips n Strokes again last night with mom, Abby, Steph, Ashley D, Laura B, Heather and Rach! It went MUCH better than last time when we attempted a pumpkin! You would think a round vegetable would be pretty easy to paint...not so much. We had fun do "Retro Christmas Trees"!

* I cannot find a Nativity set that I like. Well, actually I did, but I bought it for the Jones House last year and I can't even remember where... The ones I find are either too childish, too fancy, too expensive, too small, too big...I need one that's "Just right"! And no, I do not want a Willow Tree set like everyone else. Willow Tree is great and all, but everyone either has it, or wants it.

Had enough randomess from me? Stay tuned...I'll post another "Gift-Giving That Makes a Difference" soon too!