Arkansas - the Natural State

Ok. For starters... I have no idea what it means by 'The Natural State".

Here is a list of random life happs in the grand land of Arkansas-

• Sweet Tea - nectar of the gods. We may not have fresh water, but by golly let their be sweet tea!
• 2 new addictions - 1) bejeweled blitz on facebook and 2) tennis. I am going to be the next Serena Williams (ha.)
• I am getting some reading done. Currently working on the C.S. Lewis Space Trilogy
• Got a killlllllller massage today.
• Doing some sleeping in.
• Went to a fish fry last night. If that doesn't scream the 'south', then I don't know what
• Newest employee at Nike. It's a pretty sweet set up.
  

Hmmm..

That's all that comes to mind. That and I am horrible at maintaining this blog. But here are some pictures for your pleasure:

Grace just learned how to show some love by kissing.... Mylo the cat as her next victim.

- Showing some love to her pink bunny -

-Reaching up to peruse some leisure reading...

-Spending some quiet time in The Word-

"Ah yes, I believe the passage on predestination is right here....."

-She l-o-v-e-s sticking out her tongue.

the happenings

first, let's take time to look at this precious pic:

second - here are my latest ramblings during this festive season of thanksgiving...

third - i am using this blog to productively procrastinate finishing a book and typing a 10-page paper with it. i am just spend with that class...and it will get done sooner or later.

ok...the latest happenings:

• my niece is a-d-or-able. it has been about 3 months since I have seen her, and she has grown sooooo much! she is pretty much the coolest thing ever. My family is so blessed to have her, and for the first time, i mentally justified in my head that I could see myself moving closer to home in the future to be near this tyke. she is so precious that she nearly brings me to tears.
• i went snowboarding this last week for the first time of the season! although i had to take it easy a bit with my recovering ankle (geriatric style) it felt good. it was great to hear my board carve against the snow and enjoy the beauty. i am a bit sore from the day, but it was well worth it. i hope to make it out quite a bit!
• It's true. I am slowly becoming a coffee snob. during my time in hastings over this thanksgiving break, I ventured to the local coffee house 'the blue moon' to check out the competition.... being a barista and all. After analyzing their menu, inquiring on a few drinks, and noting the cost, I concluded that it was a good coffee shop, but i still appreciate 'solid grounds' thoroughly. at least we steam are milk waaaaay better! ha. here's to you coffee lovers - SALUD!
• This thanksgiving break has already been memorable thus far, and is not over. this is the list of things that have happened thus far:
• went to grand island, did some shopping, went to a dentist, went to an orthodontist, got my wire off but getting a retainer, stopped to get a new cell phone, seen my niece, seen my family, went out for a birthday supper--got a steak and was embarrassed with a happy birthday song, ran into people i know
• what is on the agenda--traveling, working on a paper, grace's baby dedication, seeing my older sister brandy, chiropractor appointment, possible haircut for my shag, skers and buffs game! (go skers!), getting to see amber for a bit, eat some good food, have good conversations, and just enjoy life.

There is definitely something appealing about Hastings, Nebraska... as odd as that may seem, the majority of folk here have a grasp on what it means to live a simplistic life. I am down with that.....but Colorado has the mountains. :D

life as i know it

to start... i realize that i am absolutely terrible at keeping up with this blog.

my apologies to whoever you are.

couple of announcements about life:

(1) got a scooter. yes, that is right.
(2) saw Sigur Ros in concert. do yourself a favor and check out their newest album Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust (With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly). They are icelandic, if you didn't pick up on the NOT English album title.
(3) I just got my snowboarding pass tonight for 1/2 off! attempting to try out Winter Park and Copper this snowboarding season.....ahhh i cannot wait!
(4) My foot is still healing..... slowly..... I may make a trip back to the Doctors sometime soon.
(5) I am probably moving in with a family in a month or so! Goodbye over expensive apartment complex!

I read Psalm 51 the other day and it literally knocked my socks off. I thought I would put it on here to read... It's in the message version.

Psalm 51

Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I've been;
my sins are staring me down.

You're the One I've violated, and you've seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I've been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you're after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I'll let loose with your praise.

Going through the motions doesn't please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don't for a moment escape God's notice.

Make Zion the place you delight in,
repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls.
Then you'll get real worship from us,
acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
they can heave onto your altar!

Oh dear David.... how you write what at times I am feeling. This psalm was just so extremely powerful to me. Resonated a lot with how I have been feeling and what to do in life at this time. May this psalm encourage or convict you during your day and may we live out a life continuously learning how to live our lives for the glory of the Lord.

Oh, and my hair is long.... I need a hair cut

Adventures in Arkansas.

I am in Arkansas. Been here since Thursday. Leaving bright and early on Tuesday Morning.

Here are some random pics of the time in the South:

I decided to cave in on the cast and go above and beyond. Instead of random name signings, Amber decorated the majority of the cast. I get some looks.

Hanging out watching the Olympics.
Being true to the Red, White, and Blue.
Random concluding thoughts:

• Sweet Tea = love.
• Arkansas. Not too bad. a little humid, but nice.
• Met some great folk.
  
• I dig the Mill.
• I am not ready to head back to Colorado and start school.
• I saved a good amount on textbooks... via online of course.
• I am going to miss Amber.
  

check off the list

check it off the list. got it done.
it means "beloved" if you were a bit curious. :)

thoughts, fireworks, and goals

Some random thoughts:

• my niece is adorable. i'm sorry, i might be biased, but wow.
• finalized my tattoo decision... and will be getting that soon...and posting pictures soon as well
  
• my lovely dog decided that his 30+ toys (most from the grandparents) was not sufficient, so we decided to chew on a great thing called my retainer.... $200 later, I will be getting a new one
• on the same note, as of tomorrow, I will have had Oliver for a year. Yep...the day after the 4th I decided my impulse purchase for a dog could not wait any longer.... wow... time flies.
• New goals:
• I want to complete an entire crossword puzzle
• I want to climb a 14.... maybe not this season... but I hope to climb all of them.
• I want to read 1 book a month... regardless of school or not.

Well... I guess that is all for now. I will post more soon when I think of more..

Oh HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

the latest dish

Here are some recent pictures of my latest love and me:

some of the latest dish:

- summer is almost here.
- i have ventured downtown 2 times already
- went hiking in the mountains the other day
- getting a chance to catch some rays at the pool
- downloading some stellar music
- saw Prince Caspian
- solidifying my tattoo decision
- dropped my New Testament class (decided my brain needed a break :D)
- in conjunction with the previous statement, I received my first C+ ever. Kudos to you Grad School!
- going home soon to see the family, niece, friends, etc.
- have a roommate for the summer and it is amazing
- still on the hunt for a scooter... so if anyone wants to contribute to the Lacey needs cash let me know.

- just turned on my TV today for the first time in....weeks (this does not include movies)
- iced green tea lattes from Starbucks are my latest fetish
- Amber took my bike in finally for a tune-up... so I will get a chance to ride it this summer!
- got an offer to live in a house with some folk for the next year... have to make a decision in the next few months....need to pray about that.
- brought a piano back to practice on, but don't have the adapter to turn it on... so will be Ebay-ing for that soon.


That's all off the top of my head. Besides my practicum and spiritual formation group, I am hoping for this summer to be pretty chill.

.grace elliot.

Born at 7:37am on 5/14

8 lbs 6 oz.

20 inches

little grace elliot.

how precious is she. i am so beyond excited to be her aunt! what a privilege! My sister is doing well, resting a lot.

i get to go home on tuesday to hold the precious babe. i will take more pictures when i am home.

how can a person watch the miraculous process of pregnancy and birth and see a child and NOT believe there is a Divine Creator.

And those are my thoughts. have a blessed day.

And here is the news...

Ok..This is going to be a quick blog. A lot has been going down, so I'll update in a Campbell's Soup Condensed version:

• Oli is back in Colorado!
  

• My dad went to the hospital for a few days while they are trying to figure out all that jazz with not feeling his legs.... turns out he has a rare disease called Guillian-Barre or something like. Been a crazy thing... pretty trying on the family...considering the whole workman's comp issue.
• With dad in the hospital, I jetted back to Nebraska, staying there for a little under a week. With less than 3 weeks of school left before the summer, I have a LOT to do.
• I wish we didn't rely on sleep so much...I just could get a lot more done!

• I am starting to learn Latte Art, and making some fun designs
• 
• I want to buy a scooter. Like I am really considering-slash-going to.... if I get a scooter, I'll have to get my motorcycle's license. I'll be a road-hog-mama? :)
• Went to a Rockies vs. Cubbies game. It was pretty stellar, despite the Rockies losing.
• Oli got sick. Took him to the hospital. He's ok. Just picked up a bug. Poor little guy.
• I have seen Across the Universe for a grand total of about 7 times. Loving it more and more.
• Starting to think about getting that tattoo again. Will probably get it sometime during the summer.
• Sister's due date = 22 days. = joy, joy, joy.
• 
• 18 more days until school is out.
• I met a new friend. I would like to keep her around for a while. She's pretty special.
• I cannot wait to walk in green grass, bare foot..... I have a list of books to read, sitting on my shelf.
• I have been getting a feeling that I should postpone my internships... possibly to research other ones... or maybe change my approach to where I am going? Who knows.

That is the update. More to come. Pray for a steadfast and studious mind and heart during these next few weeks. Be blessed folks. Hope all is well on your journey.

a must read.

i am not a big fan of long-distance traveling via car and solo.

so this last venture back to colorado I happened to stop at my hometown's public library to browse the 'audio books' section.

after narrowing the choice to 3 books, totaling approximately 25 hours of books (only for a 6 hour drive mind you) i settled on making my first listening choice with "Marley and Me".

The story is basically an autobiography of a guy, his family, and his unforgettable and crazy dog, Marley....and all the valuable lessons and memories he learns from the experience with Marley.

I believe I subconsciously chose this book above the rest to live vicariously through the author...since Oliver is vacationing. :D

Wow. It's been a great book. I am almost done and I can honestly say I look forward to get into my car to listen to the book....and even drive longer routes and slower to keep listening.

It's a sad one and a good one. Not for the faint in heart.... :) Or maybe it is the overly sentimental and sobby animal lover in me.

check it out when you get the chance. it has some great things to take home regarding unconditional love, loyalty, and priorities in life. who would have thought a book about a dog could offer so much insight and reflection!