She's Sun and Rain

1. I get food stuck in my teeth. 2. I like things clean, however, at some points, I may have clothes on my floor or bills on my dresser. 3. I had two dad's named Barry. 4. My real dad named Barry was an alcocholic and cocaine addict who when I was 11 rededicated his life to the Lord and lived the last 12 years of his life like every day was going to be his last telling people about Jesus. He is my hero. 5. I like macaroni and cheese. Alot. (I dated someone once who hated cheese and this was a problem). 6. My mom doesn't like social gatherings all that much, but is super nice. And beautiful. 7. My stepdad repeats himself all the time - he says things like "I'm fine, hope you are" and he is way too sarcastic. He once threatened a guy with a shotgun and a shovel when I was 15 and we were going to a rodeo. 8. I love not wearing shoes. 9. I highlight my hair and it costs too much. 10. Sometimes I like to get my nails done - a couple of times a year - and it costs too m...

There's just something delicious about pasta with cheese on it. ;) I woke up LAUGHING this morning! It was amazing. I had a friend call to say good morning, and then after I got off the phone I remembered my dream. This is a common occurance. I almost always remember my dreams. Usually they are completely random, like I'm in an airplane and then two seconds later I'm at a park learning how to golf or something. BUT Today was different. I've only dreamt about my dad 4 or 5 times since he died in April of 2002. Last night I had the most fun dream. See, my dad was the most fun person I have ever met. There's no other way to explain it. He walked into a room and it lit up. He made people laugh and smile and made them feel comfortable. No awkwardness about it. He would tell you he loved Jesus in the first five seconds he knew you. He liked jokes, corvette's and road trips and being spontaneous. He loved people. And he wouldn't ever pass up a chance to dance or s...

Is that God is in control. He sees life from beginning to end, like a blimp that flies over a parade. He knows not to let me do what I want or think might be right at that moment...and he knows what is best for me, better than I do. He wants to say 'yes' to me, and does say yes to me because he wants me to be what he made me. He loves me unconditionally and holds me in his arms at all times. He forgives me for my sins and never ever changes. That has got to be the coolest thing about life.

There's a picture in my boss's office of the mountains. Underneath it says "Don't let valley trials keep you from mountain vision". I was thinking about this today... I went to California for work on my birthday a couple of weeks ago. Was surprised by a visitor at my gate at the airport :) But when we were outside of the airport I kept looking at the mountains in the distance, from the car, and then from the Santa Monica pier, and even the ones in Hollywood. Beautiful mountains. When we were in the Phoenix airport for a layover I could see them off in the distance, surrounding the city. I really enjoy looking at the mountains. However...the view from on TOP of a mountain, is much more incredible and amazing than the one from the valley. Sure, you have to go through some rocky spots, some hills, maybe even a few cactus that leave a thorn in your foot...but once you get through all that and to the top...the view takes your breath away. It's much harder to see th...

Was having this conversation the other day about how life is a series of a 'choose your own' adventure books. Every day we are faced with questions and decisions. We are faced with yes or no questions, and right or wrong choices, or do this, or don't do this opportunities. Think about it...every single thing you do, you have one way to do it, or not. I can order a double cheeseburger, or a salad. I can go for a run, or not. I can get out of bed and smile, or frown. I can make efforts to put in 100 % or 98. All these are my choices. Free will. And sometimes my decisions affect others and sometimes they don't. Isn't that crazy? Life's picked up some these past couple of weeks with Nationals coming up. The phone rings alot more and my hours are heavier. Still a happy place to be working. My schedule is a little bit crazier with trying to fit things in, especially relaxing times, but it works. Just takes a little more discipline. I have friends having babies all ove...

GIHP...or, the Girls in Hot Pursuit. I wish I could fully explain the way I feel about these girls and how awesome I think they are. God moves in weird but cool ways - and my life during the past year has been a big question mark to me, as it is to most people majority of the time. We go through life and can't see to the next day so we pray and trust that God is in control; and because he knows what is in our path, we just follow him and know that it will all work out in his will as it should. And if it doesn't, we figure out how to make that happen. I've heard alot lately about the vine and the branches, Shelly wrote a song about it and it's been mentioned several times around me lately. I am grafted into him, he is in me, and because the holy spirit who lives in me, I can hear his voice and he teaches me something new every day. He keeps me in line, he reminds me when I need to 'cowgirl up'. But to explain where these girls fit in, and Charlotte South, and Ch...

...I think I would title it... dot...dot...dot. No really. dot dot dot... Because, I think that's what life is. In a series of random or not-so-random events, it is a series of dot dot dots. :) You never really know what is going to happen next. Have you heard the phrase "if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans"? I wonder how many times I've tried to tell God MY plans. haha. And then they always change. dot dot dot. ... I tried to tell God I wanted to be a journalist. Yep, on the TV. I was wrong...I told God I'd never leave Raleigh, and then he moved me in a big fat circle until I got to Charlotte, where I told God I'd never move back to. Isn't it kindof humorous? I also mentioned to Him that I never wanted to move back in with my parents...so guess where I'm at? The past six or so months for me have been alot about attempting to 'surrender' my life to Christ. Although this is something I've probably mentioned to Him that I was g...

...is a long way! But we did it. Didn't run the whole way, ran some, jogged some, walked some...but I finished my first 1/2 marathon!! I am very excited about that. And it's nice to come home and not think about having to run too :) Now I'm back to dancing, tumbling, and stunting and that should be so fun! Congrats to everyone who ran the race :)!!!

She's sun and rain, she's fire and ice A little crazy but it's nice And when she gets mad, you best leave her alone 'Cause she'll rage just like a river Then she'll beg you to forgive her She's every woman that I've ever known She's so New York and then L.A. And every town along the way She's every place that I've never been She's makin love on rainy nights She's a stroll through Christmas lights And she's everything I want to do again It needs no explanation 'Cause it all makes perfect sense For when it comes down to temptation She's on both sides of the fence She's anything but typical She's so unpredictable Oh but even at her worst it ain't that bad She's as real as real can be And she's every fantasy Lord she's every lover that I've ever had And she's every lover that I've never had

Shelly says... I've been tagged :) and to write 8 random facts about me... so here goes. 1. I pick my nose 2. I had two dad's named Barry 3. When I get home from work, I put tostitos on a plate, put shredded cheese on top, microwave for 28 seconds, and it is such a tasty snack. 4. I make amazing home made hot chocolate when we decorate our house for Christmas. 5. My feet are really ticklish, but I love pedicures. 6. I use dermalogica. Thank you clear skin products. 7. I have glasses, and they are cute, but I only wear them at night. 8. I love to do back flips. This is fun, I should keep going....

Wake Up Laughing...it's a song by Martina McBride which I really like...and lately that's what I've been doing. Something I've always wanted to do...wake up in a 'happy smiley' mood on the way to my 'happy smiley' office. :) I love my job and I am seriously so thankful for what God has been doing in my life...it amazes me how fortunate I am. This morning I was able to give the devotion for Carmel Christian School :) It was really fun and got to meet some cool kids. This week is our retreat for work and we have gone white water rafting and out to a nice dinner to Villa Antonio and we're getting pedicures and manicures...it really has been a great time. I'm so blessed, and God is continuing to grow me and heal me, it's the coolest thing. So tomorrow, I'll wake up laughing, roll over, and open the blinds to greet another wonderful day! ;)

Yesterday was the fourth of July. I went to the beach, Wilmington, then to my dad's house in Calabash, and then to Raleigh to hang out with some fun people and watch fireworks. Overall, a great week. My grandmother still collects and keeps out an enormous amount of 'stuff'. But that's just her. My grandpa is 84 and still mowing the grass and has a garden, it's just him. My aunt Sharlene, is still in self-improvement mode. We visited with the Humphries, Karen and Nancy's parents at Myrtle and hung out with Kendall and Karen and the boys. Lots of fun. I got some sun (a little). :) I got a text from Pallie, it said "this is our holiday gin, happy fourth of july, i miss you" and then Todd, Jay, Shae and I were having conversation about traditions and it got me to thinking. When I was younger we always went to Badin Lake for the 4th, we had a place there, (my aunt and uncle live there still) and on the 4th they would have a boat parade at noon, and we would...

I love my job! We now have off every Friday in July, I'm going to Indiana, maybe Alaska, Dallas, and Phoenix, all in the next month. And I get to travel all through the winter, and I work with the best people ever! And Emily's wedding is next Saturday 7-7-07 and it's going to be so fun! And I'm going to the beach :) And my uncle just got a promotion as the President of Wachovia Atlanta! And I get to go hang out with his fam in August. Woooooo. And Nancy had her baby and they might be at the beach for the Anniversary party this weekend! This week is going to rock!

That name has retired, it was going to be the name I called my house...so that there would always be fun, and laughter... smiles. Even though everyone has hard times, I wanted, when I got married to call my house something. Planet Fun has retired. It can be no more. I'm taking suggestions for the new household name. Of course there's no house yet, and no fam, but I've gotta come up with something more clever than Planet Fun. Ideas? House of a thousand dreams? House of Ha? Laughter Land? ohhh I might like that one.

Last night I was analyzing what it takes to 'heal' your heart, or in this case, my heart. I even went over a sord-of check list with my best friend..ok here's what I'm doing, haha. Counselor-check, prayer-check, word-check, more prayer-check, reading-check, spending more time on me-check, staying single for a while-check. Taking myself out of the situation-check, not getting sucked back into the on-going stuff that keeps coming up-check. So now, time. Hopefully sooner than later and I'm not leaving anything out on the heal-to-do list. God can heal my heart and I know that he will. And I'm excited about what God is doing, because seriously, other than the past week of mishaps, God is working in my life and I know he is blessing me because of obedience to get out of something that was bringing me down. It's exciting...the job and friends and fun things I'm getting to do. And I know I'll fall in love again, and that's exciting too...God's man in...

Time tells the truth in all things. Wise words from a wise person. Everything that is in the dark will be exposed. All I can do is be obedient...! Praise the Lord for saving me from this world and all of it's mess, and knowing that I can trust in HIM! No matter what I have been through or the mistakes I have made, I can start new by God's grace and mercy, that is amazing.

I'm going to run in the Va Beach 1/2 marathon, and I'm going to start training today. It's September 2nd. And I'm going to do it. I've just finished 2 books, Captivating, and Gift-wrapped by God. And I'm beginning Tender Warrior tonight. I'm praying more for my family, friends, etc. I'm reading in the word EVERY DAY, hopefully twice, or 3 times a day. I got invisalign. And I'll be done by September, just in time for Rebecca's wedding... can I tell you how excited I am about Rebecca's wedding! I'm putting God first. And when I am ready to date again...this is my prayer... Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid (as we're inclined to do), I do not need a handsome man but let him be like You; I do not need one big and strong nor yet so very tall, nor need he be some genius, or wealthy, Lord, at all; but let his head be high, dear God, and let his eye be clear, his shoulders straight, whate'er his state, whate'er his earthly sphere; and ...

Today is yet, another brand new day. I woke up this morning and His mercies were new...I was made new again. Every day. Renewed by Jesus. By what He did for me. Any sins, my sins, no matter how disgusting or distasteful or dispicable, are forgiven. I can forgive others, TRUTH exists... and all we need is Love. Love one another. Speak kindly. Build each other up. LIVE TRUTH. That's what I'm going for today. Life is real, people are real and feelings are real. Emotions...love and hurt and pain and... we can forgive each other, we can do things right, because God allows us to, wants us to. To see the good in each other...not the bad. We are sinful human beings, but we are made holy and righteous,.... once again I am reminded I probably sound cliche' but it really is true... if Paul used these words, so can I. Here is the reality of it... We all suck.... but we all can be forgiven and made new by God, no matter what we have done, and we can all forgive each other for what we ha...

Lovin' this song... She's a yellow pair of running shoes A holey pair of jeans She looks great in cheap sunglasses She looks great in anything She's I want a piece of chocolate Take me to a movie She's I can't find a thing to wear Now and then she's moody She's a Civic without a sunroof With her blonde hair a-blowing She's a soft place to land And a good feeling knowing She's a warm conversation That I wouldn't miss for nothing She's a fighter when she's mad And she's a lover when she's loving She's a Saturday out on the town And a church girl on Sunday She's a cross around her neck And a cuss word 'cause its Monday (AMEN!) She's a bubble bath and candles Baby come and kiss me She's a one glass of wine And she's feeling kinda tipsy (yea, so) She's the giver I wish I could be And the stealer of the covers (um, ok I confess) She's a picture in my wallet Of my unborn children's mother She's the...