Friday, December 30, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas!!
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~Isaiah 9:6
I had a wonderful Christmas with family and Santa Claus was very generous yet again!!
Here is a picture of the large spread at my Aunt Debi's house this afternoon with almost everyone from my mom's side of the family.
We are ending the night by watching the Vikings game, which is basically the perfect way to end the day. Here is a picture of my cousin Luke demonstrating a Vikings snap. It looks like he has a future in the purple and gold!!
Saturday, December 24, 2005
I am now a homeowner
As of 5:30pm EST on Thursday, Dec. 22 I am now a homeowner. It was probably the most stressful few weeks of my life preparing to do this, but the closing that afternoon went really smooth. I left with a handful of nice gifts from my realtor, lender, and even the seller, who gave me some perfume samples. He apparently sells perfume part time at a kiosk in Lenox mall over the holidays. I am very blessed to be able to own such a place!! I won't be moving in for a few more months probably, but I'm looking forward to painting, putting in new carpet and fixing it up in the meantime.
I've also been toying with the possibility of getting a cat. I love cats and have always had them growing up. In the house we have now we're not allowed to have them, so I haven't had one in a while. My main reason for not doing it would just be the cost of having one. But I found one online that I like so if it's not adopted over the next few months I might adopt him. He's super cute, large, and a long-haired cat which I've heard has less allergines then short-haired cats. His name is Fletcher.
I've also been toying with the possibility of getting a cat. I love cats and have always had them growing up. In the house we have now we're not allowed to have them, so I haven't had one in a while. My main reason for not doing it would just be the cost of having one. But I found one online that I like so if it's not adopted over the next few months I might adopt him. He's super cute, large, and a long-haired cat which I've heard has less allergines then short-haired cats. His name is Fletcher.
The Minnesota winter isn't so bad when you're enjoying it from a hot tub
Here's Matt, Shannon and I enjoying a dip in Matt's newly acquired hot tub
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Addendum to the previous cousins post
Here is one of my favorite cousins pictures- from L to R: Jeremy, Matt (my brother), Rochelle, and me. Rochelle and Jeremy and their familes are my cousins I talk about that live in Kennesaw now. This picture was taken probably in 1984 at Jeremy and Rochelle's house in Waite Park, MN.
Definition of Endurance
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~Hebrews 12:1-3
I was thinking about this yesterday as a way of encouragement to press through these next few days. I am anxiously awaiting the closing of the house on Thursday afternoon and the walk through on Wednesday afternoon. This has been a good test of patience and endurance to get through all the steps of getting this far, and the steps that lie ahead of making the house my own!
I was thinking about this yesterday as a way of encouragement to press through these next few days. I am anxiously awaiting the closing of the house on Thursday afternoon and the walk through on Wednesday afternoon. This has been a good test of patience and endurance to get through all the steps of getting this far, and the steps that lie ahead of making the house my own!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Serenity prayer revised
On one of the last days of my Ethics class, my professor told us about one of the worse experiences of his professional career. At the end of the story he began reading from an article that he wrote to the Journal of Psychology and Christianity about what he learned through this experience. It basically was the turning point for him to become an expert in ethics, in light of being wrongfully sued for following ethicial procedures. Here is an excerpt from this article:
"It is in looking back that I now can see the answers to my prayers. My experience of myself and my observations of others have taught me that when we pray to better understand forgiveness, we don't pray for the trials that teach us to forgive. We pray for wisdom, but we don't pray for the mistakes that make us wise. We pray for courage, but we don't pray for the challenges that make us strong. We pray for serenity, but we don't pray for the experiences that give us peace. We pray for faith, but we don't pray for doubt that is faith turned inside out.
In my own version of the Serenity Prayer, I often find myself praying for serenity, even if it means facing conflicts that ultimately bring peace:
God,
Grant me serenity,
Give me hardships that bring me peace.
Grant me courage,
Give me the tasks that make me strong.
Grant me wisdom,
And the trials that make me wise."
~Dr. Doverspike, Psychological Studies Institute, published Fall 2005
"It is in looking back that I now can see the answers to my prayers. My experience of myself and my observations of others have taught me that when we pray to better understand forgiveness, we don't pray for the trials that teach us to forgive. We pray for wisdom, but we don't pray for the mistakes that make us wise. We pray for courage, but we don't pray for the challenges that make us strong. We pray for serenity, but we don't pray for the experiences that give us peace. We pray for faith, but we don't pray for doubt that is faith turned inside out.
In my own version of the Serenity Prayer, I often find myself praying for serenity, even if it means facing conflicts that ultimately bring peace:
God,
Grant me serenity,
Give me hardships that bring me peace.
Grant me courage,
Give me the tasks that make me strong.
Grant me wisdom,
And the trials that make me wise."
~Dr. Doverspike, Psychological Studies Institute, published Fall 2005
Ode to Ken and good times
I was deleting some old emails today and came across Ken's account of a July 2002 ill-faited outing of fellow Intown singles groupees....*
Tucker, Ga. (AP) --- Ami Franklin looked heavenward, to a slate gray sky and not a small multitude of raindrops, splashing, splashing, splashing against a convenience store parking lot in Stone Mountain, Ga.
"$#!*ing rain," she quietly muttered.
Franklin, a transplanted Californian in the New South and a woman given to helping refugee families and also to repeatedly reciting the amusement park calamities of people like Dave Glenn, was trapped, trapped like someone who went with friends to see a revisionist laser show that was threatened by a torrential downpour.
Ironically, that happened to be her precise predicament.
Franklin lowered her gaze, to a neighboring barbecue stand in a shack that looked like it might topple in a light breeze.
"Hey," she said, brightening, "barbecue. Me likey barbecue."
And so went an evening in which the vectors of heavy rain, Stone Mountain lasers and the imagined kin of rock and roll's king intersected. It resulted in fun and excitement for ages 4-to-adult.
The hopes of viewing Stone Mountain's laser show and its redneck spectators dashed, Franklin and her coterie returned to her Tucker home, hair and spirits slightly dampened.
"I swear, it's going to lighten up," promised Dave McNay, struggling to be heard over the furious back-and-forth lashing of Glenn's windshield wipers.
Instead, they repaired to Franklin's basement _ they being, of course, Franklin and her cabal, not the windshield wipers _ for an indoor picnic of deli sandwiches, potato chips and roughly 12 dozen deviled eggs, courtesy of the hostess.
According to one observer, Glenn consumed about half of them, including three swallowed whole.
It was at this point that John Robinson, D.D.M., passed around a bag of Hershey's Miniatures in a transparent attempt to build his customer base.
"Excellent," said Robinson in a sinister whisper, drumming his fingers together.
The meal was followed by a game of Spoons, a card game which doesn't require much in the way of skill or savvy, and yet one in which Frank Hull managed to disgrace himself anyway.
"Oh, I lost again," Hull said more than once.
The evening was completed with two rounds of the parlor game Psychiatrist, in which players pretend to suffer from the same psychological disorder that must be diagnosed, through a series of yes-or-no questions, by the appointed "psychiatrists."
"Actually, it should be called 'Psychologist,'"
pointed out the ever-nerdy Hull, who in the process unwittingly designated himself the future victim of a wedgie, and possibly a swirlie.
Franklin and McNay, the first two psychiatrists, quickly diagnosed the first condition, that each player believed himself or herself to be the player seated to his or her right.
Glenn and Jamie Van Houten were chosen as the next psychiatrists, for whom a diabolical delusion was hatched, that each person believed that he or she had been sired by none other than Elvis Presley.
Glenn soon tired of the game, his mind fried and his stomach ailing from deviled eggs. Meanwhile, Debbie Wilcox told anyone who would listen how much she looked like Michael Jackson.
Van Houten soldiered on, gamely reaching her diagnosis after what seemed like an hour.
"Finally," sighed a visibly relieved Glenn, reaching for the plastic container of deviled eggs.
With the evening's revelry at a peak, guests began to gather belongings and head for home, but not before Robinson put an appropriate finish to the night.
In the driveway, under the cover of night, Robinson pulled down his pants and mooned the Franklin home, shouting for all to hear, "I got yer lasers right here!"
*Parts of this story may have been embelleshed or are untrue
Tucker, Ga. (AP) --- Ami Franklin looked heavenward, to a slate gray sky and not a small multitude of raindrops, splashing, splashing, splashing against a convenience store parking lot in Stone Mountain, Ga.
"$#!*ing rain," she quietly muttered.
Franklin, a transplanted Californian in the New South and a woman given to helping refugee families and also to repeatedly reciting the amusement park calamities of people like Dave Glenn, was trapped, trapped like someone who went with friends to see a revisionist laser show that was threatened by a torrential downpour.
Ironically, that happened to be her precise predicament.
Franklin lowered her gaze, to a neighboring barbecue stand in a shack that looked like it might topple in a light breeze.
"Hey," she said, brightening, "barbecue. Me likey barbecue."
And so went an evening in which the vectors of heavy rain, Stone Mountain lasers and the imagined kin of rock and roll's king intersected. It resulted in fun and excitement for ages 4-to-adult.
The hopes of viewing Stone Mountain's laser show and its redneck spectators dashed, Franklin and her coterie returned to her Tucker home, hair and spirits slightly dampened.
"I swear, it's going to lighten up," promised Dave McNay, struggling to be heard over the furious back-and-forth lashing of Glenn's windshield wipers.
Instead, they repaired to Franklin's basement _ they being, of course, Franklin and her cabal, not the windshield wipers _ for an indoor picnic of deli sandwiches, potato chips and roughly 12 dozen deviled eggs, courtesy of the hostess.
According to one observer, Glenn consumed about half of them, including three swallowed whole.
It was at this point that John Robinson, D.D.M., passed around a bag of Hershey's Miniatures in a transparent attempt to build his customer base.
"Excellent," said Robinson in a sinister whisper, drumming his fingers together.
The meal was followed by a game of Spoons, a card game which doesn't require much in the way of skill or savvy, and yet one in which Frank Hull managed to disgrace himself anyway.
"Oh, I lost again," Hull said more than once.
The evening was completed with two rounds of the parlor game Psychiatrist, in which players pretend to suffer from the same psychological disorder that must be diagnosed, through a series of yes-or-no questions, by the appointed "psychiatrists."
"Actually, it should be called 'Psychologist,'"
pointed out the ever-nerdy Hull, who in the process unwittingly designated himself the future victim of a wedgie, and possibly a swirlie.
Franklin and McNay, the first two psychiatrists, quickly diagnosed the first condition, that each player believed himself or herself to be the player seated to his or her right.
Glenn and Jamie Van Houten were chosen as the next psychiatrists, for whom a diabolical delusion was hatched, that each person believed that he or she had been sired by none other than Elvis Presley.
Glenn soon tired of the game, his mind fried and his stomach ailing from deviled eggs. Meanwhile, Debbie Wilcox told anyone who would listen how much she looked like Michael Jackson.
Van Houten soldiered on, gamely reaching her diagnosis after what seemed like an hour.
"Finally," sighed a visibly relieved Glenn, reaching for the plastic container of deviled eggs.
With the evening's revelry at a peak, guests began to gather belongings and head for home, but not before Robinson put an appropriate finish to the night.
In the driveway, under the cover of night, Robinson pulled down his pants and mooned the Franklin home, shouting for all to hear, "I got yer lasers right here!"
*Parts of this story may have been embelleshed or are untrue
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
New cousins!
My cousin Kristy had her second child last week, Brayden Ross:
Born: 12-08-2005
Birth Time: 11:59 pm
Weight: 10 lbs 4 oz (his mom is my height and dad is like 6'6'')
Length: 24 in.
Congrats to her and her husband Chad and big brother Gavin!! Brayden is my 10th 2nd cousin to be born to my generation of cousins (both sides included).
My uncle Andy and aunt Tanya are also having their baby this week, so hopefully soon I can post their update!! Their new baby girl, Isabella, will be my 46th first cousin (both sides included).
I always grew up getting to play with so many cousins all the time, so it is a blessing to welcome these new ones in, who will hopefully have many happy memories as well of doing the same!
Born: 12-08-2005
Birth Time: 11:59 pm
Weight: 10 lbs 4 oz (his mom is my height and dad is like 6'6'')
Length: 24 in.
Congrats to her and her husband Chad and big brother Gavin!! Brayden is my 10th 2nd cousin to be born to my generation of cousins (both sides included).
My uncle Andy and aunt Tanya are also having their baby this week, so hopefully soon I can post their update!! Their new baby girl, Isabella, will be my 46th first cousin (both sides included).
I always grew up getting to play with so many cousins all the time, so it is a blessing to welcome these new ones in, who will hopefully have many happy memories as well of doing the same!
Shameless plug
I wanted to do a shameless plug for these people who have been the greatest help to me along the way. For those of you who live in Atlanta and are thinking about buying a home, I can't imagine a better lender or reatlor then these folks:
Realtor:
Kay Mazur- Century 21 Across Atlanta
http://kmazur.century21acrossatlanta.com/
Mortgage Lender:
Jeffrey Pinkerton- Hillside Lending, LLC
http://www.hillsidelending.com
Realtor:
Kay Mazur- Century 21 Across Atlanta
http://kmazur.century21acrossatlanta.com/
Mortgage Lender:
Jeffrey Pinkerton- Hillside Lending, LLC
http://www.hillsidelending.com
Stoked beyond stoked
Yesterday I was really hopped up because I had the home inspection during the afternoon and my last final for the semester later on that night. I have to admit, by about 11:00am my anxiousness was taking over! But of course, the inspection went pretty well and it looks like the seller will fix the problems before closing (Dec. 22), and I got a 98% on my final.
In light of this this verse came to mind last night as I was reading my Tabletalk devotion: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:33-34.
In light of this this verse came to mind last night as I was reading my Tabletalk devotion: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:33-34.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
House update???
Well, there basically is no house update. We've been trying to get the seller to fill out this last addendum page, and once that is done then we are in a binding contract. I think this guy is really busy and he works two jobs, so trying to get a hold of him is not very possible. Luckily my realtor is the most proactive person in the world and doesn't mind staying after him. If anyone is looking for a realtor in Atlanta ask me about her because I am probably her biggest fan at this point!
We are scheduled for the appraiser and home inspector to come out this week as long as we get that last page faxed back by tomorrow. So if you're reading this please say a prayer that these last details go well. And say a prayer for my sanity. I'm trying to balance this and take my last final on Tuesday. If everything goes as planned I will get at least an A- on my final and we will close on the house December 22.
We are scheduled for the appraiser and home inspector to come out this week as long as we get that last page faxed back by tomorrow. So if you're reading this please say a prayer that these last details go well. And say a prayer for my sanity. I'm trying to balance this and take my last final on Tuesday. If everything goes as planned I will get at least an A- on my final and we will close on the house December 22.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Too much adult conversation?
I often hear this from stay at home moms and elementary school teachers: "It would be nice to have more adult conversation!"
My world consists almost entirely of adult conversationn. Sometimes that is a bad thing. Being in an adult world does sometimes consist of unmet expectations, hurt feelings, frustration, being overwhelmed and overloaded, etc.
Last night I babysat for my 15 month old honorary nephew, Quin. It was the first time I baby sat him since he's been able to walk. All I did was play with him and watch him. As we were building blocks-Quin building them and me knocking them down- I realized how nice it was to hang out with Quin. He has no expectations of me. He loved everything I did as long as all my attention was on him. He didn't complain about any of our activities. He laughed when I swung him around. He was so easy to please.
My purpose in writing this blog is not so that I get more calls to baby-sit. But, it was a nice night of me getting what I needed-time with a toddler- and the parents getting what they needed- time to themselves. I have the opportunity to get to do this again on Sunday for my other honorary nephew and niece- Evan and Julia. It should be fun and another nice break. Maybe all people need is a little more kid time.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Advent Devotional: Incarnate Grace
I just got done reading through the MTW advent devotionals that are up on this link. They are really good. I am actually trying to wipe away a tear from reading one! Anyway, in this season of celebrating the coming of our Savior, I invite you to read these (there's a new one each day until Christmas) and share in the joy! There are also ones up there currently by Bruce T and Scott S, for those of you who know them, and..mine is supposed to show up next week =).
New Pantene Product
I needed some conditioner so last night I drove to Target to get some. I haven't really been happy with my latest conditioner choices so I decided to try something new. This Pantene product caught my eye that said it was "intensive moisterizing" or something like that, and I thought, "Yes! That's exactly what I want!" So I grabbed a couple of bottles and threw them in my basket. When I got home I went to put the new bottle in the shower and realized the bottle also says it's for "women of color".
But, my hair is pretty curly and dry so I kept it and used it this morning. It was great. Probably the best conditioner I've ever had. My brush also swiftly combed right through my hair. Awesome!
But, my hair is pretty curly and dry so I kept it and used it this morning. It was great. Probably the best conditioner I've ever had. My brush also swiftly combed right through my hair. Awesome!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
A Minnesota Story
All of his life Ole had heard stories of an amazing family tradition. It
seems that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all been able
to walk on water on their 21st birthday.
On that day, they'd walk across the lake to the boat club for their first
legal drink.
So when Ole's 21st birthday came around, he and his pal Corky took a boat
out to the middle of the lake. Ole stepped out of the boat and nearly
drowned! Corky just managed to pull him to safety.
Furious and confused, Ole went to see his grandmother. "Grandma, it's my
21st birthday, so why can't I walk across the lake like my father, his
father, and his father before him?"
Granny looked into Ole's eyes and said, "Because, you dumb a**, your
father, grandfather and great grandfather were born in January, you were
born in July."
A Minnesota story
By 7 o'clock tomorrow..
My realtor and I have made an offer on the original townhouse I liked. The owners have until 7 o'clock tomorrow (according to the contract) to counter offer.
I am realizing more and more that the term "buying a house" doesn't really sum up this process. It's more like "sweating, panicking, praying, hoping, looking, analyzing, frustrating, rejoicing a house"
I am realizing more and more that the term "buying a house" doesn't really sum up this process. It's more like "sweating, panicking, praying, hoping, looking, analyzing, frustrating, rejoicing a house"
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Baseballs
I have these two little soft baseballs that I keep at my desk at work to toss at others whenever they least expect it. I just accidentially hit the guy in the head who has had brain surgery. Mark has deadly accurrate aim too..and now he has the baseball..
The World of Real Estate
Over the past couple of weeks I have been exploring the world of real estate to see if the next move for me should be to move into my own house. My focus has mainly been in a townhouse complex called Spring Harbor, located in a great area of Atlanta that is close to most places I need to go. I have a phenominal realtor and mortgage broker that have been a ton of help, not to mention great family and friends who have been so kind to lend their listening ears and gently advise me. This picture is of a potential house prospect. The house is actually a pretty light blue color but for some reason it's showing up gray here. It's 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath with a good amount of space for me an a roommate. There's lots of other things I could tell you about it but if you want to know, post a comment and I'll respond that way.
When you read this, please say a prayer for me that I would be wise about the decisions I will need to make and I would know the direction that God has for me.
Thanks!
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