She's Sun and Rain

Katie and I at dinner on Saturday night. On Monday we went to BusyBodies! It's a gym sort of place, locally owned, where kids of all ages go and play together. Ella loved it! Flying Ella :) I love this little girl! Me trying to be artsy! haha. She is definitely a studio baby! She crawls all around the dance studio where Katie teaches. Destiny Dance International Marissa! I hadn't seen her since Italy in 06 :) Me and sweet Ella!

Ella liked climbing on my suitcase :) We hiked up Pinnacle Peak in Glendale, where Katie, Chad, and Ella live (and their boxer Sierra of course). You can see the whole city and the mountains everywhere. It was 90 degrees at 10am! Katie was being sneaky!

Ella Claire :) We went to swim class on Friday...then Mila came over for dinner! It was a yummy meal for sure. Ella took 6 steps on her own Friday night! I was so excited to be there for it :)

I'm heading to Phoenix today to see Katie and Ella and have a vacation :) I am so thrilled to be going out there again. Last time we had so much fun. Hiking and shopping in Scottsdale...and the tentative plan is going to consist of a lot of the same fun. Ella has a swim lesson on Friday, going to the studio on Saturday to watch a dance rehearsal for a charity, then shopping in Scottsdale, and then maybe a trip to Tucson. I love being around Katie. She's an amazing person, mother, and friend. She never, and I mean never has a negative word to say about anyone. She's always positive. And she is an incredible mom, she's so playful and fun with Ella. I learn so much from her. She's got everything you could ask for and is one of the most humble people I've ever met. I just love her! She's my twin, we were friends from the moment we met in 10th grade. Phoenix is a beautiful city, and Arizona, or what I've seen is captivating. The mountains are everywhere, and ...

I think I left my journal on the plane. This means some stranger on the next flight from Chicago to somewhere, is reading it or read it. They got a story let me tell ya.

I watched the Kite Runner last night. Wow. I woke up thinking about it. The sadness in the world from the things that happen to people. The things people do to hurt other people. What a messed up world we live in. I'm also reading Heaven by Randy Alcorn and it talks about - heaven. So even though you see all the mess in this screwed up world, you know there is hope in heaven and living with God forever. I'd recommend this book to anyone. ..... Stopped by the church yesterday and am once again reminded I should start my own company. Or something. I think it is possible and could be a good thing. Wedding planning. It could give me a great schedule, flexibility, and hopefully enough income to get by without sacrificing time that should be used elsewhere. I need a name though...any thoughts? ..... I stopped by McDonald's this morning and got a sweet tea. Get this. I get to the window, and say "I would like a medium sweet tea"...she says..."you can get a large one...

Los Angelos on my birthday. 27th. I'm going to turn 27 next year too. The Original Gino's East restaurant in downtown Chicago. Delicious food at 9pm after an exhausting day! The crazy snowstorm in the midwest that resulted in lots of flooding. I flew over on my way to Minnesota...they weren't kidding. Lots of snow. Taylor and I in Kansas City, KS. I am the idiot who pulls over on the side of the road to take these pictures. :)

Picture: This is from our Wednesday night Hometeam. Do you remember that song...well, I do, that song we would sing at the end of the service on Sunday morning while holding hands with everyone in the pew..."I'm so glad I'm apart of the family of God...I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood,...." Picture: From Rebecca's Baby Shower, Kristi, Casey, and myself. We had the Pursuit (our Youth large group meeting) on Sunday night and Brad had a talk with the kids about where we've been the past year and how to grow the student ministry. My cousin stopped in and she said it felt like she was coming into a family meeting. I thought that was really cool. We are a family. These kids, and these leaders, are my family. I love it. Picture: Our fearless Youth Pastor Brad giving the thumbs up, with DJ - his beard, and the guys Picture: These are the girls homteam leaders. Haha. Back row: Kristi, Rebecca, Me, Front row: Casey, Emily I was reading my p...

Millie Hollomon photography. Absolutely amazing. Her blog is milliehollomonblog.com. My old roomate Rebecca is a photographer for her company now. Millie photographed Rebecca's wedding, that I was in - and her photography is just amazing. I feel like I should say this! Shelly Moore Band. Shelly was also my roomate in college also - with Rebecca. We had a house on Swift. It was an amazing house. We had acoustic sessions all the time, and shag parties on the deck covered with white lights, and lots and lots of singing. Shelly has a band, and it's pretty wonderful. She praises Jesus with her voice and Mike's guitar. www.shellymoore.com . You should buy her cd. Charlotte South Fellowship Where I hang out, praise Jesus, and learn more about Him. Where I spend time with the High Schoolers. Where I listen to KC Clark's voice on Sunday mornings and Kenny's preaching. Where I serve. www.charlottesouth.org . Cheersport Where I work. www.cheersport.net . I plan cheerleading co...

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! ;)