Notions from a 23 year old....

Daily Affirmation

2010-10-12T13:10:00.001-07:00

The Perfect Children's Room

2010-10-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

From Lonny Magazine...so cute!

This kids blows me away!

2010-09-24T21:32:00.001-07:00

Watch this, it's one of the cutest things ever!

Halloween

2010-09-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

These invites and Halloween cards from Rifle Paper Co make me like Halloween and want to have a Halloween party!

why i love J crew so very much!

2010-09-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

The two biggest ones are the ones i like the best! This isn't a hint, this day isn't even close! I just think they are pretty.

It's okay if you cry a little.....

2010-09-13T12:52:00.001-07:00

Sweetest thing ever!

EXACTLY!

2010-08-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

The overnight International Flight

Where my kids at?

2010-08-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

Not much going on here! Training for a 1/2 marathon, its been fun and challenging so far. It's finals week for Summer school, school starts the 26th. Have a good week!

new TOMS!!

2010-07-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

pretty stinkin cute!

www.tomsshoes.com

so cute!

2010-07-17T11:37:00.001-07:00

Graffiti Proposal from PR!MO on Vimeo.

Graduation Present anyone?

2010-05-30T13:03:00.001-07:00

I know my graduation is 19 months away.......but...........cutest watch ever!

Also you should check out the band Wakey!Wakey! Their CD Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time the Last Time I Saw You...is awesome! Yeah long title...but worth a buy!

This is what my job entails!

2010-05-21T14:39:00.001-07:00

when i'm a mom....

2010-05-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

THIS is the cutest diaper bag!

Braid.

2010-04-20T19:25:00.001-07:00

I want my hair to be just like this.

So funny!

2010-02-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

second dress post

2010-02-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the dress Karen! I couldnt edit my last post, so here ya go!

Cutest Dress Ever!

I LOVE IT, especially the back!

so cute!

2010-02-21T13:25:00.001-08:00

am I wrong or is this the cutest dress ever!!

Haiti

2010-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
yes it's been a long time since i've posted but HERE I AM!

My mom and I are headed to Haiti on Monday to see how we can with the relief work there. This trip was quickly planned because an opportunity presented itself and we took it! Please pray for us while we are gone, I really feel led to take this trip and really have not stopped praying since I found out it was a possibility.

I wish you all a pleasant week!
K

baaa baaa

2009-12-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

This is one of the best things I have ever seen!

Make This.

2009-11-08T20:08:00.001-08:00

I made this salad when I went to St. John with the Burtons. I've made it several times since. It may sound not delicious, but believe it is. I usually make it with quesadillas, I put the salad on the quesadilla and its GOOOOD! Here is the recipe!

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Juice of 1 to 2 limes

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 head romaine, sliced 1 inch thick

Combine the onion, cilantro, salt, pepper, lime juice and oil. Add the lettuce and toss. Done and done.

It is important to note a couple of things.

Be sure you get pretty big limes- not the baby kind
you really don't need the whole red onion
its really good the day after, but every flavor is heightened!

DELICIOUS! I made double chocolate cookies this weekend, but they were all eaten up before I could take pictures! I plan on making another batch tomorrow and will shoot them then! Have a good day!

week one: pumpkin cupcakes

2009-11-02T19:20:00.000-08:00

So week one is in the bag, and it was smoother than I thought it would be! The cupcakes were super easy to make!

The only thing I had trouble with is the icing.

1. On icing- perservere! The icing ingredients consisted of powdered sugar, butter and cream cheese. For a while I was sure that I was just going to end up with a chunky mess but after at least 5-10 minutes of mixing I ended up with a beautiful whipped cream cheese icing. It was delicious too!

Thanks to my favorite person Erin, I was able to transport the cupcakes to church on Sunday! Erin send me the COOLEST cupcake carrier ever! It was also because of her that the cupcakes ended up looking as pretty as they did, she also sent me TWO! icing spatulas! I am forever grateful, I had so much fun using them!

I'm going to have to learn through this process a way to photograph food so it looks pretty. These pictures do not do justice to the cupcakes. They were so pretty and tasty. Needless to say I will work on it!

Coming up next weekend Double Chocolate cookies!

a new goal perhaps?

2009-10-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

So I just saw the movie Julie and Julia. It was really sweet. I teared up a few times, no real tears though I promise. I am at the end of a bought in Colorado and filled with inspiration. You can call me a copy cat after you read this, that is fine, but I have a goal, a new something to do and I am quite excited about it. Karen just bought me The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. Most who know me know how much I love cupcakes and sweets and this cookbook looks amazing. My goal starting in this last week of October is to make every recipe in the book in 15 months. With 60 recipes in the book this roughly means one recipe a week. So for a while, this blog will become a foodie blog, I know there are millions of those out there, but I will enjoy writing about my cooking and giving sweets to everyone I know.

This weekend I will start out with pumpkin cupcakes. I will take pictures and make them as pretty as possible, but this being my first try you'll forgive me if it's not pretty.

With this new adventure comes a list of things I will need and with Christmas and my (shhh 23rd) birthday right around the corner, I hope some gift giving brethren will see this!

I need a cupcake carrier:

from what I have seen I like this one, and this one.

I also need a icing spatula:

I like this one and this one. I don't know whether to go with an offset icing spatula or a straight icing spatula, Karen says it's good to invest in nice kitchen utensils. That is why I put the williams sonoma spatula on there. I assume that because it's $32 it must be nice, however I would be fine with whatever I received.

I also need 3 8-inch cake pans, a 10 inch ring mold, a 9-inch springform cake pan, and a 9-inch pie dish.--> just examples of what those things look like.

After writing all this down it seems like I need a lot. It will be quite the adventure to make all of these recipes! I don't expect anything! I promise! These are just gift ideas if you need them!!! Please follow me in this journey and let me know if you need a sweet pick me up at any time!

done with one on to the next!

2009-10-07T04:32:00.001-07:00

I finished A Year of Living Biblically! It was really good. It made me laugh and made me think about how the world views Christians. I am about to start the Alchemist. I think and hope at least.

This weekend I went to the Revolve Tour! It's basically a Christian conference for teen girls. I spent the last two days with 12 7th grade girls! It was so fun but i'm glad to be home!

2009-09-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

I have to say that besides yesterday I had a pretty good weekend. My friend Bethany came over and we made a Greek festival. We made hummus! It was a little soupy but it was delicious! We made pita sandwiches with toasted pita bread, hummus, cucumbers, bell peppers and feta! With olives on the side. It was great. I don't know how to get a good consistency with hummus. I think it would help if I had a blender with more than one setting on it.

I feel like this is the best depiction of what Zeke does on a daily basis when I nanny him.

Here is Zeke breaking my potted plant, you may ask why do you have this on video. The truth is, before this he was doing something really cute and I thought I would try and capture it. Instead he threw it on the ground.

Also it's funny how people who are close think the same things at the same times. I have been seriously thinking about my cousin Kristen for like the past month or two. Coincidentally so has my sister. What is even weirder is that Crime Stoppers of Houston just re-ran her story from 2006. There is also an article highlighting her death, if you want to read it click here.

I think when she died I was way to young to understand just how much this would affect my entire family. I mean her sisters, mother and fathers whole lives have been radically different after this one influential happening. It's not something you forget or grow out of. It's something that affects the rest of your life. For one I have an awful reaction to the word "rape". People, especially teens use this word so loosely. However when I hear it I see pictures and think of awful reminders of my cousin. I try and remind my youth to be sensitive of the fact that some people actually know people who have been raped and it's not something to just throw around. Anyway this has just been on my mind. I can't really stop thinking about it so I guess I'll just vent on here.

Also I just want to send a line of prayer my sister Karen's way. She had to put her dog Katy down yesterday. Katy was an awesome dog. She made my sister and brother-in-law very happy. She was with them from pretty much the beginning of their relationship, in a way she is like their first baby. I know karen and John made the right decision and katy is no longer in pain, but please pray for both of them. I know they are going to miss her greatly!

Welcome to my city....

2009-09-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

So thank goodness I read this lady, because she led me to this youtube video of Wyclef on The Electric Company. I didn't even know that show existed anymore!

book update.

2009-09-12T06:01:00.001-07:00

So I have officially finish all the books I was reading. In the process however I have obtained several more that I am going to start.

Does anyone have a vote on which I start next, they all look really good to me....so I'm at a loss.

Zeke Pictures

2009-08-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

So I FINALLY finished The Time Traveler's Wife- it was beautiful and wonderful and sad and happy and you should read it and experience it.

Today Zeke and I played outside and the weather was gorgeous, low 80's, slight breeze.... perfection. I took a bunch of pictures of him......here are the cutest..

So sorry there are so many...but seriously? This kid is cute!

week 2 and chicken pox

2009-08-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hullo! Welcome to week 2! This week Zeke officially has the chicken pox. I guess he got it at my house, which is awesome....Betsy had one of her little girls that she watches over last week and apparently she had a reaction to her immunization. Zeke had his immunization at his one year appt. so he has a very light case, probably 10 whole pocks. However we are still stuck at his house. Because he is sick we get to relax and watch movies. Today's movie is Finding Nemo, it's the first time he has seen it and so far, so good.

Sports officially start today so for the next couple months it will be Volleyball Tuesdays, Football Thursday and Fridays. I don't exactly like sports but it will be a good chance to reconnect with some of my kids I haven't seen in a while.

Still reading both books that I was reading last week...it's been very difficult to find some reading time, that and I think i'm stalling to read Time Travelers Wife, because I saw the movie and I know what happens. When you know something is going to be sad it's more difficult to dive into it.

Lisa Hannigan is no longer going to be at ACL- and I am the most disappointed woman in the world. Now I don't even really want to go. I know it will be fun, but she was who I was most excited about! Beastie Boys won't be there either because Mike D has cancer, bummer. I was really looking forward to seeing them as well.

Hope you are having a blessed day!

Nannying Week 1

2009-08-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

Nannying Week One- What I've Learned

3 months is a long time.
Karla voice and mommy voice are NOT synonymous, especially when using the word "no"
22 month olds are mischievous
cleaning objects (vacuum cleaners, brooms etc.) are more fun than toys
22 month olds are really fun!

Book Update

Still reading The Time Travelers Wife....I had to go see it with one of my youth so I broke my vow of always reading the book before I see the movie....BUT it was really good and I'm ok with breaking that vow this one time.

jumping on K-Fie's Bandwagon

2009-08-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

So because I like that Karen is now doing this, i'm going to do it too. I am going to post what current book(s) I am reading. You may call this copying or stealing ideas, ok.

Right now I am currently reading two books.

(one)

I am reading this book because my best sister recommended it. I also want to see the movie, but I believe that you should always finish the book before you see the movie. So far it's really good, i'm trying to finish it before tomorrow so I can go see the movie with one of my youth...i'll let you know how that goes.

(two)

The third book in The Lightning Thief Series. I really like this series. I've had a long week so I really haven't had time to get much reading done, but I interrupted this book with The Time Traveler's Wife because of the reading deadline. I think mythology is pretty interesting and these book make it easy for kids to know who the Greek gods really were. When they get to high school and have to actually read mythology I'm sure this knowledge will come in handy.

Nannying Year 2

2009-08-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Zeke and I have been spending some fun time together........

Owl

2009-07-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

So this is the print I am going to get for the 8x10 frame i bought.

They didnt have it in yellow but I asked the lady if there was any way that she could do that and she did!

I have no idea what to do for the 4x6. People dont really have prints that small. Let me know if you have any ideas!

cha-ching!

2009-07-13T17:14:00.001-07:00

Notion: TJ Maxx is a wonderful place.

I've somewhat been trying to save up to get these incredible frames for my new and improved bathroom. However they are $30 bucks a piece and that is just TOO much. I randomly look for frames whenever i'm out shopping but today magically....I found the perfect replacement!

Ta-Da!

So...for $6.99 and $9.99...that's right for $43 cheaper!

The only sad part of this is that they didn't have a 5 x 7 which is the only size I really needed...o well! These will work!

Have a lovely day everyone, i'm going to see Harry Potter 6 at midnight tomorrow so I have to get some sleep tonight!

Movie Critique:

The Proposal: I recommend everyone who even has an inkling of seeing this movie do it. The first 15 minutes was a little slow but after that I pretty much laughed the whole time. Their are several little comments that make the movie re-watchable.

My Sister's Keeper: I went into this knowing that I was going to cry, I even brought a roll of toilet paper, but man it was sad. I want to say it was good but it didn't leave me with any feeling of aww sad but comforting, it was just sad. Still if you need a good cry I would go see it.

Jealous?

2009-07-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Notion: I make this tool belt look good.

South Texas 09

2009-07-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a notion: Love Jesus and serve others.

Loves.

2009-06-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

The new Regina Spektor Album

Going on High School Mission Trip

-->I got a work belt this year *pictures to follow trip!

10 hour van rides.

boots...of course.

potty

2009-06-24T20:00:00.001-07:00

ok so it wasn't a week....

my mom finished my shower curtain and now jazzed about it again!

ok so here are some photos! *They aren't that good...both of my cameras broke and i've been relying on my iphone......*

BEFORE!

AFTER!

BEFORE!!

AFTER!

I got this frame for $1.00 at the garage sale. ballin.

Needless to say I still have a lot of work to do....but i'm on my way right!

ugh!

2009-06-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

Holy geez....since the last time I posted a plethora of things have occured.....

1. all my finals- 3.8 Deans List Baby!!

2. youth Garage Sale- $12,000 later....

3. May-Mester--Yes i'm nuts...not a good plan...in fact my final took place the day of the...

4. LOCK-IN- It was good but resulted in some turmoil

5. VBS 2009- nuff said

6. Middle School mission trip to Hugo, OK to the Goodland Boys home. stellar!

So needless to say, i'm exhausted and would love to sleep. Nathan said to me today: "Do you ever think you just do too much?" The answer is yes. However I won't be able to do so much for the rest of my life, so i guess now is the time.

Now it's time for High School Mission Trip to La Feria, TX. We are staying on this side of the border but it will still be wonderful.

I'm also still re-doing my bathroom...the shower curtain is in the process of being made. I have a new toilet seat, a new shower curtain rod. Things are going up on the wall, but this is where i'm stuck. With NO budget, its diffficult to finish up this project. I have this one print

I want to put in there, and I know which picture frame I want...I just can't afford it. It will be nice when it is all done...but it is no where close because..I HAVE NO MONEY. I would love to do a before and after but that won't happen. Here is one idea I have:

I want to look for old shutter type cabinet doors and paint them and put them up on each section of these shelves, just so we can keep things kind of private...there could be up to four different sets of doors. I think it would be cool if they were all different. I don't even know where to look for something like that.

I will probably post after South Texas so around the 4th...I know you cAN'T WAIT!

PEACE

This is why he LOVES to come to Aunt Pickle's house.

2009-05-11T05:18:00.001-07:00

potty renovation

2009-05-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of thinking about redoing my bathroom. By redoing my bathroom I just mean: shower curtain, curtain for shelves, 2 or 3 new handtowels, and a couple things for the wall. So not outrages. I am going to make (please help mom!) the shower curtain and curtain, i'm picking out material right now and it's hard. I know this sounds ugly but the colors i'm using are blue and gold. I was inspired by one of the gold sparkly deer head I have hanging up in my media room. I want to move one into the bathroom and it looks good with the ocean blue bath mat I already have. So if you want to submit your opinion as to which material to make the shower curtain out of, feel free! PLEASE!! Here are my four choices:

For the curtain for the shelves I was thinking this:

However everything is still up for discussion.

SO FAR: this is looking really busy and not matchy at all but I think I can bring it all together eventually.

This is one of the wall pieces I have picked out. It's not an expensive print so it would be a good buy. We'll see.

if I was a mother.

2009-04-30T06:02:00.001-07:00

If I was a mother this is what I would ask for for mother's day. I don't know if I would be allowed to ask for something, but yes this is what I would want.

never enough time!

2009-04-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

New Loves:

Lisa Hannigan- Check our her CD!

Charley Harper:

New Layout of my room: Picture to come

Old Loves Revamped:

Dresses and Boots

Stripes

Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs

Christine Dillon

I love Spring! I feel revitalized, never enough time to write a thorough blog, but I still feel as if I have new energy that comes along with the sunshine! I hope everyone is having a great day!

oooohhh Mexico.

2009-04-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

Every year about this time I get an itch. I love Argyle, it's my home and I believe it will be for a long while, but every year about this time Argyle gets stagnant. I get itchy this time of year because it's getting warmer and warmer means Mexico. Mexico means Mission Discovery. Mission Discovery means Camp Cone. Camp Cone means old yellow school buses that break down every other day, girls strutting their stuff in one pieces, bug bites the size of quarters, linoleum rolls needing to be cut, roofing that needs to be loaded into the busted old yellow school buses, adequate camp food, the stinky Luke cabin, a styrafoam Mexico sign, and so much more. Camp Cone means Mexico. Mexico means, Evelyn, Pastor Valiente, Pastora Valiente, Orsini, Senor Guiermo, pequeno Guiermo, Paola, Pastor Fransisco, Maury, Carl, Ms. Pat, and so many many children that I know their faces and not their names.

Mexico means my extended family. Mexico isn't going to happen this year. The drug cartel's presence has become to strong and to powerful in Mexico. There was a shoot out in Reynosa a month ago about ten minutes away from some of the colonias we work in.

That being said no matter how sad I am about not going to Mexico, really I am completely worried about all the families that are having to live through it. We are so consumed with our economy and how bad our country is we can't look down! I hope wherever all my Mexico friends are they are safe. I;m going to miss them muchly this Summer, but I understand why we can't go.

We will be going to Hidalgo county this year. It is one of the poorest counties in the whole U.S. I support Mission Discovery's decision and i'm really looking forward to the trip.

2009-04-02T04:40:00.000-07:00

I just laugh so much every time I see this. Sorry about my last post, I couldn't find time to fix it. We had STUWO last night. 45 or so were there. It was a lot of fun, I made cupcakes at the new church, using BOTH our new ovens. That was awesome. I don't know what to do with my ninth graders, I feel as though they've checked out of STUWO. I mean they are there...but they are just there. They aren't into participating, we're going to have to find some way to keep them involved that doesn't involve singing or playing "silly" games. If anyone has any ideas let me know! Have a great day!

2009-04-01T06:18:00.001-07:00

*These are some pictures from spring break, but blogger is being stupid so I will rearrange them later....
Good day!
I just want to throw a shout out to my pastor! Yo....Kory left me a message in response to my last post and has truly inspired me to stay in school. Thank you Kory. (There was singing involved in this message, thats how inspiring it was!) I've decided to go back to education. I really had trouble with the policy/government side of social work and I am stoked to get away from at least that part.
Next Semester will be good. I have class from 8-2 on Tuesday and Thursday and from 5:30-8:20 on Monday nights. This will give me a lot of time to work and maintain my house (which is what im struggling to find time to do).

Anyway since my pictures wont move I and all I can see is HTML I will get on later and finish this post.

I can't make up my mind

2009-03-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

I am so frustrated with life right now. I think I want to go back to elementary education, but I just don't know. I don't remember why I left it. I think it has a lot to do with time. I don't want to be in school anymore and I know I'm stuck here for at least two more years. Please, I just need some sort of sign......or help.

a warning...

2009-03-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was on the way to the Knott's house to babysit. What I did not realize is that it was 25 mph, and before I knew it I saw lights in my rearview mirror...(where is it 25 and not a school zone). The policeman who pulled me over, let me know I was going 36 mph in a 25 mph zone. I told him I didn't know and I was sorry. He took my license and insurance and the rest of the dialogue went something like this.

Officer: "Do you still live in Argyle ma'am?"
Me: "Yes sir."
Officer: "What are you doing over here ma'am?"
Me: "I'm going to babysit the Knott's, my pastors kids."
Officer: "Oh really, I just pulled your pastor over! He was all excited, something about you guy's building."
Me: "Ha yeah, we just got our CO."
Officer: "That's very good ma'am, I'll be right back."

4 minutes later...

Officer: "Ok ma'am, I ALWAYS write tickets for 11 over, but since I just gave your pastor a warning, i'm going to give you a warning."

My first warning ever.....

Final World View Paper

2009-02-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

Dear World,
I thought I would take this time to ask you some questions. I don't understand why things are the way they are and I want your opinion. You were created in six days, six days! Whether those be six twenty-four hour days, or six 10,000 hour long days, it is still a huge achievement for you and your knowledge extends farther than mine ever could.
When human beings were introduced to you, did you rejoice? Were you excited about the inhabitants that would now spend their days basking in the force of your gravitational pull? Did you cry, when the apple was picked off of the tree, did you feel the beginning of wickedness? What did it feel like when man spilled another mans blood onto you, did you take that man into you and refuel yourself? And when man cheered for their achievement when they pulled out your life force, your minerals, your innards, and made machines, was it painful? Did you feel taken advantage of?
And when you tried to fight back, when you tried to take back some of what was yours, did you feel successful? And why, when we rebuilt, in your shallowest lands did you mock us and take it back again? Did we deserve it?
Do you feel the sickness of us seeping into you? Do you take in all the viruses, all the decay, all the inequality to? Are you, my dear earth, are you sick too? Have we stolen all of your resources? Are you finding it hard to heal?
I’m asking because I have. I have felt excitement, I’ve cried, and I’ve seen wickedness. I’ve have been refueled by others pain and I’ve been in pain. I’ve been taken advantage of and I’ve been vengeful. I’ve seen and felt sickness. I’ve seen and felt inequality. I’ve been sucked dry of all I have. I’m finding it hard to heal. I see you world and I know there is goodness and evil in you. I choose to find the goodness and help diminish the evil.

World View Paper...in progress...please help

2009-02-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

Dear World,

I thought I would take this time to ask you some questions. I don't understand why things are the way they are and I want your opinion. You were created in six days, six days! Whether those be six twenty-four hour days, or six 10,000 hour long days, it is still a huge achievement for you and your knowledge extends farther than mine ever could.

When human beings were introduced to you, did you rejoice? Were you excited about the inhabitants that would now spend their days basking in the force of your gravitational pull? Did you cry, when the apple was picked off of the tree, did you feel the beginning of wickedness? What did it feel like when man spilled another mans blood onto you, did you take that man into you and refuel yourself? And when man cheered for their achievement when they pulled out your life force, your minerals, your innards, and made machines, did you groan? Did you feel taken advantage of?

And when you tried to fight back, when you tried to take back some of what was yours, did you feel successful?

And why, when we rebuilt, in your shallowest lands did you mock us and take it back again? Did we deserve it?

Do you feel the sickness of us seeping into you? Do you take in all the virus's, all the decay, all the inequality to? Are you, my dear earth, are you sick too? Have we stolen all of your resources? Are you finding it hard to heal?

class time....let me know what you think and if you have anything to add....it's due tomorrow

2009-02-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

Look at what I got!!!!!!

Zeke and the big step!

2009-02-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

A Global Village

2009-02-03T06:01:00.000-08:00

This is something i've seen before, but we revisited it in my sociology class yesterday.

If the whole global population was made up of 100 people, these would be the schematics.

56 Asians

21 Europeans

9 Africans

8 South Americans

6 North Americans

And out of those 100...

30 would be Christian

17 would be Muslim

13 would be Hindu

5 would be Buddhist

5 would be Animist

9 would be miscellaneous

21 would be atheist or without religion

of the 100 people, 6 would control half the total income

50 would be hungry

60 would live in shanty towns

70 would be illiterate

It kind of puts things in perspective about who we really are in relation to the rest of the world. The illiteracy rate astounds me, and the fact that 1/2 of 100 people would be hungry makes me think about how many people in reality are hungry.

On a lighter note...a couple things my sociology professor said yesterday. They are all spelled the way he said them.

*Think really Texas accent

Latinia

Beejing

Deeoxides

How are you today?

2009-02-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

These are a few of my favorite pictures from the last couple of years. It's kind of fun to see what i've been through and done just through these photos...o yeah there are a few old school ones.

Baby Zeke only 2 weeks after he was born...HE LOOKS SO DIFFERENT! But he is such a special guy!

An old school one, my brother. This picture will live on in history forever, who falls asleep on the pot?

One of my favorite kids in Mexico, Guiermo, he lives across the street from Pastor Valiente so he was always always around. He was shy at first, but then after he got to know us, he wouldn't leave us alone!

Rylee, tiny and drinking water from the fountain!

This last year in Mexico. One of our family's kids. Sneaking bikes across the border is fun!

Lance Sommer in Mexico. Talk about your $10 bet. Who else do I know that would put a poisonous rattlesnake in their mouth?

Me and Charlotte, I just think it's pretty adorable.

My parents on their honeymoon. My mom says it was so embarrassing because one of the girls on the boat had the same swimsuit as her!

When I moved to Dallas 2 years ago, all the awesome people who helped me move into my apartment...I love love love living alone.

Well....
Hello! Last week was a great week! TWO ice/snow days makes only three days of school. It was great, adding also that STUWO was stupendous. The kids were able to get all there stir crazy indoor pent up energy out! I like school, I love my social work classes. My Sociology professor is missing his front left tooth and the first day of class pronounced..."Lifes a bitch" I forgot to mention he has the most southern accent ever! It's pretty great, another favorite thing that he does is pronounce variable...varable. Superb!

More later!

He makes ALL things work together for my good.

2009-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

and then I get something like this from one of my friends, and life looks differently.

Check This Out

Karla's Dark Day

2009-01-28T05:43:00.000-08:00

Due to some "slightly" inclement weather, this will be my second day stuck indoors. Yesterday I didn't mind, I finally lowered the percentage on my dvr, but today I get the feeling I might get a little stir crazy.

It's given me a little time to think, and whether that is a good or bad thing, it happened. Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I guess one of the reasons I don't do this often is because sometimes it hurts to think or brings up things you don't want to think about. I fill my life up with good things, youth ministry, school, babysitting, mission work, but don't ever sit down and reflect upon my experiences and the stillness that is God because when I do, I can't focus on the good, only the bad pops up.

A few things have already happened this year that I don't want to think about. Things that I can't comprehend and I think maybe if I stop to think about them, I will start to doubt my God. I don't want to do that. One of these things I already blogged about, Reagan. Thousands of questions run through my mind and I don't stop to answer them I just let them fall by the wayside. "Why was she sitting in the parking spot? Why Reagan? How could no one have seen? How is Eddie going to deal with this? How is Reagan going to deal with this? Why does life change in an instant like this? And the ultimate, why do awful things happen to people who are just being still?" Another awful event happened just a few days ago, there was a litle boy in Zeke's class named Brody. He was eating dinner with his parents when he choked on something and passed away. A one year old child. A human who has not even had the chance to start life. Simply gone. I know he is with God, but I cannot understand the pain left here on earth.

After going through tragedies close to me, I start to ponder injustice on a bigger scale. Poverty, war, genocide, child soliders, women forced into sexual slavery, abuse, disabilities, violence, all fly by in my head in a series of images that I just can't close my eyes to. Social injustice that surrounds me and leaves me in my own bubble.

And I wonder, who is the hope? Who will fix all that has been broken in this world? Honestly, I don't think anyone will because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If I want to doubt anything here the only thing I will doubt is mankind. For God created us with freewill, and this is what our freewill has turned into.

But i'm still left with questions. Where do I go from here? How do I deal? How do I use my freewill in a positive way, when things happen that I can't control? How can I just be still?

2009-01-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

Karla: I really like this nativity scene, it looks like it's really old.

Allison: yeah, except for BJ.

Karla: (puzzled look, thinking Allison might be talking about the cow)

Allison: You know, baby Jesus.

MADE MY NIGHT!!!

This Semester

2009-01-23T20:06:00.000-08:00

oops...I kind of spilled the beans tonight at dinner that i'm looking into a Social Work degree. I had an elaborate plan not to tell anyone until I was about to graduate, but it doesn't seem like that worked out. That being said I can tell everyone who is reading this...i'm REALLY enjoying my classes this semester so far. Intro to Social Work, Policies-Regarding Social Work, Psychology, Government and Social Problems, and I really think I like them all!

I'm exhausted right now, so i will post more about them later but i'm glad the cat is somewhat out of the bag.

It's still cold here....

2009-01-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

This weekend was pretty enjoyable. Here are some updates, some important, others just ridiculous:

Reagan update: As you know I went to see Reagan the day after her accident. I was happy to see that she was still the same person. She was in a lot of pain, but you could tell she knew what happen.

Reagan: I got ran over, do you know who did it? Eddy. Want to know something ironic, I was writing a text about him right before he hit me.

Huh, finding irony in an accident in which she was run over, crazy Reagan.

So besides her broken hand, fingers, ribs and ankle, dislocated shoulder, and bruised lungs, it looks like shes going to make it.

Mouse Count: THIRTEEN! I've found less turds, but seen more mice than i've ever wanted to. They are cute so I can't kill them, but if I found any more i'm going to have to contact some authorities. i.e. mouse killers.

Also since i've been on a Gilmore Girls kick, i've discovered a fund raiser I want to try for the youth ministry. I'll explain it how it was on the show and then see how I an tweak it to fit youth ministry. All the women in the town made a picnic lunch and put it in a wicker basket. Then all the men in the town bid on the lunches and then they have to go on a picnic lunch with the person who made the basket. I think we could change it to be fun for kids, but I don't know how yet. Then all the proceeds could go toward youth missions or something.

Anyhow, I had a great weekend, I watched high school basketball, and freshman basketball, in which one of the boys elbows went through a glass window in the gym. It was glorious, i'm so glad I have an excuse to go to these games and i'm not a creepy alum watching.

more pics later...hopefully.

It's a mouse party, you're invited!

2009-01-14T04:43:00.000-08:00

I don't want to take away my last post, but something unusual happened this morning. Initially I though I had one mouse...it turns out I was wrong.

A day after I put these traps out, the MICE CUBE. because I wanted to be humane.

I bought three $1.50 traps to cover all my bases. I caught a mouse, and I thought my worries were over, but left two of the traps out just in case. Last night I got home from some of the kids basketball games and realized I had caught another one. I've been discarding the traps after I catch the mice even though they say they are reuseable...they have poop all over them by the time I get to them, and that just grosses me out.

This is what the trap looks like with one mouse in it. This is what it is suppose to look like.

sad but at the same time, better than being squished to death. This what I woke up to this morning.

Pretty amazing....I just hope it's not the first two mice I caught....I should start tagging them. Anyway that brings the count to 4 mice and three traps that are now out of my house. I will have to go get more traps today. I hope the family of mice can manage to not drop their turds all over my house until I can get some more traps.

An Event

2009-01-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

This afternoon one of my kids texted me to tell me that another one of my girls had been involved in an accident in which she was run over. Nothing ever prepares you to hear that someone you love has been involved in an accident. Reagan was sitting in her sister's parking spot waiting for her sister to come pick her up, Eddie was on his way to Johnny Joe's and decided to cut through a couple parking spots. He didn't see her. It's amazing how rumors fly and how one detail can turn into a game of telephone. I heard so many different things about how Reagan was and what actually happened to her. This evening I finally found out how she was and that she is going to be ok. Her right arm, hand, and 3 ribs are broken. Her right side is all scratched up. Her left ankle is broken (she was sitting indian style). Both her lungs are bruised. So she is beat up, but she is living and with all things fixable. Eddie stayed with her until they careflighted her away and left for the hospital to be with her soon after. It's amazing how quickly people's lives can change. Both Reagan and Eddie will lead different lives from now on. Reagan will deal with her injuries and remember the accident for the rest of her life. Eddie will have to deal with the guilt and what if's of this day for the rest of his life. He'll have to go back to school and face the whole of his student body, he'll have to eventually face Reagan, and he'll have to learn how to be normal again. I will be visiting Reagan in the morning with Nathan and will post more about how she is later. I'm really glad i'm in youth ministry. It's tough because you are so emotionally invested in every student, but there is no job i'd rather have right now. I'm so thankful for every single kid that I get to have in my life. I hope they know I love them as much as I do. Well, I realize life can change in a moment and anything can happen. I'm just glad Reagan is going to be ok.

A review

2009-01-09T06:08:00.000-08:00

Still dealing with the mouse issue. I'm afraid i'm going to have to go get a trap...Ryder has not been able to kill the little bugger. I sent off Karen's package and she recieved it, I got her dog ear cleaner for Rylee, would be less exciting for some, but this cleaner is legit. I'm already thinking about next months package, i've been trying to come up with a few different themes for our packages, this is what I have.

Something International

Something for a Baby

An object that can fit in a matchbox

the largest object you can get for $15

Underwear month

An object for a dog

A house warming gift

If you have any other ideas for themes let me know! 11 days until school, i'm almost ready to be back on a schedule, schedule, i've been sleeping a lot. I think it's because I go to sleep late and get up early for Kettle Bells, so Tuesday and Thursday are wake up late days! Late meaning 8. I went to the Mavs game courtesy of Helm, it was a lot of fun. Zeke got on the Jumbo Tron....TWICE! I let him sit in the empty seat next to mine, and he LOVED it. He felt like such a big boy. He sat there without wriggling for like 5 minutes, and that is a long time in baby time. The other time he got on the TRON he was dancing with Nathan and smiling tremendously.

Tonight I am going to Ft. Worth to have dinner with Allison, i'm really excited to hang out with her because I haven't seen her in forever. And tomorrow Becca and I are having lunch. Becca was an intern with me in Mexico. It's going to be really good to catch up. Aina, Caleb and Charlotte might meet us there. They were in Mexico with me too! I love reunions!

I feel like I am going to be more crafty this year.

We did New Year's Resolutions this week at STUWO. It was quite hilarious. It seems gossiping is out this year...YAY! One of the kid's New Years Resolutions was "For me to love Karla more and for her to love me back." This is from the kid who put a knife to his arm and moved it back a forth(not for real) and said "Karla, this is what you make me do". I love him, but he doesn't always make it easy.

That's all for this week. Have a good day!

blah blah blah

2009-01-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over. Although my break still has 2 weeks left in it, thank goodness. I still want to get together with a lot of people that I have not had the opportunity to see lately. The Burtons, the Carruths, and Becca Holland being the main goal.

I'm in the middle of a mad I wish I was doing missions right now crisis. I can't do anything about it until June 2009, when we go to Reynosa, but I really have it bad. I don't know if that is because of the holidays and seeing how blessed I am and wanting to share it, or what.

Since seeing the Carruths going to Morrocco for Christmas break and seeing all the pictures from that, I have had a interest in visiting that part of the world.

I don't have the money financially to do anything.....

TO continue on a different note! WE HAVE A MOUSE! There is a mouse in my house! In my kitchen to be exact! This morning I found mouse turds in the silverware drawer (disgusting I know!) So I cleaned up all my dishes and found more turds...I vaccumed it all up, and now I am just hoping that Ryder will find the darn thing and eat it before I come home tomorrow. I'm no animal activist when it comes to mice, I am so grossed out. BLECH! Anyone have any mouse remedies they wish to share?

Out with the Old...

2008-12-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

Wow, so much has happened since I last blogged. It's been a busy holiday! I had a lot (almost too much) family time. A great birthday, full of friends and an awesome dinosaur birthday cake. Christmas was great, except I feel like I don't really think my family really focuses on the most important thing, which is Jesus's birth. It's not really ever mentioned at our gatherings. I don't like the fact that we never go to a Christmas Eve service, which I guess can't be avoided, but I wish it was a priority. I think I get so caught up in getting gifts for everyone that I get caught up in the worldly Christmas instead of the Christ Christmas.

Next year I would like to stay here at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I love this town and I don't like Colorado's cold or Houston's humidity. Thats not why I would like to stay here though, I just feel better when I am home. Even in my freezing house, that is now slightly warm, thanks to my mom's friend Rossi.

New Years Resolutions

Continue Working Out

Develop a more positive attitude

Control getting angry or upset

Get at least 4 A's this semester

Study God more

Hang out with kids as much as possible

Thats it....I have a long way to go! Happy New Year's Eve Officially! I hope 2009 is stellar for everyone!

silent night???

2008-12-19T06:44:00.000-08:00

Monday of this week I started out baking. I made

Peanut Butter Balls: Peanut Butter Fudge:

Banana Bread:

Zeke helped me make....peppermint bark: he crushed up the peppermint...sort of

Wednesday at STUWO we made gingerbread houses! They were pretty good. Except when some of the kids painted themselves with icing.

Kids who don't usually sang, sang, that was pretty cool. Chadd, featured in this picture just jumped onto the stage and started singing. It's pretty great when kids are into the things we do. 9 out of 10 times they aren't, so it's exciting when one kid brings everyone into it.

And Zeke is now crawling through tunnels. Other funny things he did this week include: Stood up against the dryer and licked it...a lot. Tried to stand on his head. Stood up against the glass door at the church and licked it. Figured out how to go through a doggy door. Got freaked out when he watched a dog come through a doggy door.

The birthday countdown is now 4 days and counting. The working out thing is going well. i've gone 5 times in a row. I will go Monday Wednesday next week and then I will have to skip Friday because I will be in Houston :(. Saturday we are delivering gifts to two families our youth ministry has adopted.

I can't stop moving.
This has been a busy busy week!

Fa La La La La

2008-12-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

Went o a wedding with Ben Nelson today. My favorite part of the day was when Alanis Morissette was on the radio singing Head over Feet and Ben said "You've already won me over, inside of me" instead of "inspite of me". It pretty much made my day.

The wedding was really nice and the reception was..was.

I am ALMOST done Christmas shopping. Yay, 10 days until my b-day. I don't have anything of worth to say, just Merry almost Christmas!

Thank you for Jesus.

nothing makes me think of Christmas like....

2008-12-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

outhouses...

smores playing guitars

Indian Barbie

The Wizard of Oz

Star Santas

I heart Christmas and ornaments! I hope everyone's holiday is going really really well!!

why?

2008-12-10T04:32:00.001-08:00

I went to kettle bells....i feel a little like im about to die, but i went! In yo face! Free Lunch for Me!

Phew!

2008-12-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

I will get up at 5:10 and go do kettle bells with Todd Mead. I will get up at 5:10 and go do kettle bells with Todd Mead. I will get up at 5:10 and go do kettle bells with Todd Mead.

2 more finals. one more internet final.

I have no words because my head is empty. Maybe from studying. It's just empty!

a load of information

2008-12-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

This weekend was kind of chill, which was nice. It started Thursday at 2, because my Friday class was cancelled. Thursday night I took a few kids to see Brave Combo at the Denton Tree Lighting. It was fun. Denton has a load of different people. I saw the counselor from my Elementary School, Mr. Ball, Jacquelyn Stevenson, and Trey--he is one of my kids brothers and I was in a couple classes with him last semester. There was a wassil fest going on at all the stores so I got to delight in all the wassil I wanted. One store gave me, and one of my youth, spiked wassil. It was disgusting, we got rid of it real quickly.

Friday, I don't really remember what I did. All I know is Zeke wouldnt take a nap so a lot of my day was spent with a crankster. He was still fun though! I think I watched a lot of movie on Friday. Which was nice.

These are a few of the onesies my sister and i made last week during Thanksgiving. I have more but blogger has an issue.

Saturday I cleaned, and fed animals and watched some more movies. Revenge of the Nerds 4 anyone? Then at 4 I had to go get my picture taken. Dad if you are reading this close your eyes. My dad has a lot of awful pictures in his offic of me, so this is what i'm getting him for Christmas, a picture of me. Wow that sounds vain....o well. Dad you can continue reading. Saturday night I babysat one of my favorite family's, the stoops.

Sunday was a usual Sunday. MAS studying for my environmental science exam, which is over now thank you very much. Only 3 more exams..............

Anyway today is today and right now Zeke is napping...THANK YOU JESUS! Later we have Martin Luther King Rec center and tonight I will be going to coffee with one of my kids who is having some issues.

It's almost my birthday, 15 days....so lets take a poll the few of you who read this...Buca Di Beppo Pizza, or Pappadeaux Gumbo and Greek Salad....

Merry Holidays!

ALMOST DONE

2008-12-02T07:29:00.001-08:00

almost done with school! Here is the breakdown of my week.

Wednesday- Environmental Science from 8-8:50. then done for the day.

Thursday- Earth Science- Final Review-8-9:20;

Computers in the Classroom- turning in a portfolio 9:30-10:50

Human Development- Last class

Friday- Envirtonmental Science- Final Review 8-8:50.

Next week:

Monday: Environmental Science Final:8-10

Thursday: Earth Science Final: 8-10

Math final 10-1200

and then i'm done done done.

Goals for this week:

Go do kettle bells at 5:30 Monday/Wednesday

Finish school with vigor

Clean My house

Zeke and his drum and decorations.

2008-11-22T16:45:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas time! It's only one month to Christmas and it's time to decorate! Which I have, and it's been a lot of fun!

This is the wreath and table decoration my grandma gave me that i re-did to put on my front door.

This is my Christmas tree with and without the flash. It has lots of gaudy ornaments, it's quite BEAUTIFUL!

Some inside shots...

some outside...

Zeke really likes my house in the winter. Besides it being -50 degrees, it's festive!

where is my heart...

2008-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Since i've been back with Jamaica i've really had some heartbreak rumbling around in my chest. I can't imagine giving up a child, even if I wasn't married. But many of the people of Jamaica are forced to because they experience poverty that you and I cannot even dream about. In the orphanage in Jamaica only 2 of the babies/toddlers are adoptable. This is because the parent will not give up their parental rights. I don't know if it's a pride issue or their parents have hopes of getting their children back one day. But day after day these 25 babies/toddlers are in the same great room, thrusting their arms up at anyone who walks in, just asking to be loved. Now don't get me wrong the staff does their part, the feed, hold, and love the babies as much as they can. But this is what they go back to day after day, babies that aren't theres, that they can't get fully attached to without fear that one day that child will be gone. Either sent back to their parents, another relative, or the most great thing that could happen, adopted, it would be so difficult to work there day after day without seeing these babies lives change. But what God has placed in my heart this week is that all you can do is love. I need to love this child

and this child

with the same vigor and hope for the greatest future for them.

Jamaica

2008-10-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

2008-10-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

TIME FOR...

2008-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Jamaica here I come!

this weekend

2008-10-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

So I saw City of Ember on Saturday night. It was SO good! I want to read the book now. Allison thought it was a little slow, but she still loved it. I love it. I would like to see it again. Anyway if you have the chance to see it....do.

Jamaica-13 days

Passport Found- Check

Money Raised- Check

Money Sent- Darn you Columbus Day

Mentally and Emotionally Prep- eh.

Presidential Quiz

2008-10-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

With the presidential debate coming up, i've really been confused about who I am voting for. You should check out this quiz. The results were different than I thought they would be! Check it Out! This is from Aina's site, thank you!

2008-10-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

Jamaica is coming up. I can officially say that this month I am going to Jamaica. 25 days from now I will be on a plane on my way to Montego Bay.

Aruba, Jamaica oo I wanna take you

to Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go....

Yes that's enough. Anyway I only have to raise $300 more dollars for my trip. I am confident it will happen.

de...wait for it...lightful....delightful

2008-09-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

It's funny how little things can make your day. So far a couple things have made mine and it's only 9:26.

I initially forgot my book, but because i had to go to the church to print some stuff off I remembered it and had time to go back and get it.
They opened an Einsteins Bagel store in the Union...It was delicious.
I have a boss that is stellar at math and that really helped me study...DARN YOU EMPIRICAL PROBABILTY.
87 on my Earth Science exam....BIG BLESSING!
getting extra credit for going to class.

So anyway even though these things dont seem too exciting, I am having a wonderful day.

What's Going on.

2008-09-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

My first questions is, is this blasphemous?

Moving on STUWO: Remix is well on it's way. We have started having the kids plan what they want STUWO to be. It's still a little tricky to assign students to do everything because they have 1000 other things on their plate and as much as I want them to be able to do the whole service it hasn't worked out like that.

Last night we had the first "cookout" STUWO. And besides a stressful start in logistics yesterday afternoon, it went off without a hitch. We asked the Men's group, namely Al Dourgarian, if he could cook for us, and we planned on paying but he donated everything, it was pretty great. We ended up having 73 kids come to STUWO last night. It was pretty awesome. After eating we went down to the outdoor worship area and did three acoustic songs and Nathan spoke while there was a campfire over to the side. The only thing that was missing was smores! Then Jon Donahue fufilled my life long dream of being a fire woman when he let me put out the fire with a a real fire truck hose. It was AWESOME, and I didn't even have to be big and strong.

Tomorrow my dad and I are taking a road trip to Houston to check on some of the fam. It's going to be quite surreal to see the devastation that was Hurricane IKE. I will be staying with my grandma K who still doesn't have electricity but she says it's quite nice in the evening.

Besides that i've just been babysitting and going to school! I also went to Blue's 90th birthday this week.

Gotta go have a great day everyone!

2008-09-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

quick post..but o my gosh cutest baby ever....

watch this...

2008-09-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.popeater.com/television/article/fey-shines-phelps-wobbles-on-snl/173107?icid=100214839x1209319712x1200566833

o my gosh...I was cracking up

It's scary how alike Sarah Palin and Tina Fey are!

try this out...

2008-08-29T12:10:00.001-07:00

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/flash.html

2008-08-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Fortalicious

2008-08-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when i was babysitting we made a fort in my living room. It was pretty much the most ginormous fort ever built.

The inside.

It was a lot of fun. I'm back from my whirlwind trip to Houston. It's one week before school starts and I am D.R.E.A.D.I.N.G. it. But what can one do, nothing. Also I had a dream last night that my dad was being charged with murder but he was innocent. It was crazy. I woke up right after I was screaming to a crowd of people how innocent he was.

Weird. Anyway everyone have a good day.

babyshowers r us

2008-08-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

My cousin Amanda was suppose to have her babyshower this Sunday in Houston. But low and behold her baby decided to come 8 weeks early. She wasn't going to find out the sex until the baby was born, so the shower was a little hard to shop for, but because little Calli came early, I got to add a little pink to the mix!

Calli Rae was born at 32 weeks 5 1/2 lbs. 16 1/2 in. long. She has a little feeding tube in her tummy by her belly button because she doesn't know how to suck yet. But she is now breathing on her own.

I will be leaving for Houston tomorrow morning around 4-4:30, I dont know if there is a shower anymore, but either way I hope to see baby Calli. No matter what I get to see my grandma! I will show you some pictures when I get back!

What I finally decided to give to Amanda
all wrapped up

Ryder really likes the quilt Karen made

the underneath

Karen's BEAUTIFUL Baby Quilt from all sorts of angles

Final Product...i used Karen's wrapping for mine.

FRY!!!!

2008-08-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tonight i made fried okra. i will never again make fried okra.

1st batch- oil too hot, okra not cooked
second batch- oil still too hot, okra not cooked and too salty
third batch- oil good temp, but not enough okra to fry

thank God for Luby's

framing fabric.

2008-08-11T21:39:00.001-07:00

ok. well here we go. this weekend i have been trying to clean my house. like treat the wood floors and dust everything. I think this house just looks dirty because even after everything i do, it still looks the same. I was windexing the picture frames, when some windex seeped, seaped. seped. one of those anyway. the windex got on the mat that was beneath the glass. it has an ugly water spot on it now but it kind of inspired me. Here is what i came up with. I need someone, anyone to tell me if it looks better with three or one.

also I watched Penelope today, it was so good. Karen...a must see. I havent got to the skirt so its ok if you dont have time to make it. im sorry! i feel like you have enough on your plate. if you want to do it let me know!

2008-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

I got new towels. Granted they don't say Cody. But once I get the bathroom all done, I will take pictures. Karen. Im pretty proud of you and your quilt making ability.

baptisms and curtains.

2008-07-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Let me just say I could not have returned to Argyle on a better day. Todd Mead baptized all three of his kids and brought me to tears. I feel like Todd has been gifted in his speech, I mean God really just gave him the ability to be vocal. It was amazing. Nathan baptized five other kids. Three that are in the youth ministry, two that are on there way. I, unlike Todd, cannot find words to describe this day, I work better in pictures. Let me just say that it felt good.

Most of the Mead family at their finest.

On a different note, Karen, my sister, came to Texas while I was in St. John and made curtains for my house. Here is a look at all the curtains Karen made me.

my CLEAN room
my kitchen

the media room

the living room

living room. this one isn't quite done.

alright. my sister is awesome. they are outstanding. they make this house so much....so much...better? prettier? me? choose whichever you like. Anyhow I know you want these Karen so here they are. I want you to notice I retook some of them because my house was a MESS in the others! Sothere ya go. Beautiful.

this is me Zeke and karen in front of my house!

a bit scatterbrained

2008-07-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

So i'm home.

I don't feel like I need to catch up on sleep, but i'm tired.

It's amazing how you can leave a place so wonderful like Mexico, and feel so whole and so empty at the same time.

Do you ever feel like you are doing something just because it's what everyone in your life is telling you to do. Yet it doesnt fit you 100%, but the world, and your parents, and even your best friend tell you it's something you need to do. You wonder what would happen if you didn't do it. Besides the looks you might get from strangers when you tell them you aren't doing it, and the shaking of heads you would get from those closest to you, would your whole world fall through? Are you doing it for them, or are you doing it for you? And what if you feel like God just isn't answering you on this one. I mean of course He is, but you just can't figure it out yet. People tell you that you aren't trying hard enough, when really you just don't have it in you to do better than you already are. And how would this affect your current life, where you live, what you drive, what people think of you. But is it worth exhausting yourself worrying about it, completing it, suffering through it. *As I write that word suffer, I think about Jesus. Even though I could say Jesus suffered through a lot and my suffering is minimal in comparison, should that be my thought for everything I do, even if I don't think it's right for me?*

I just wonder is it worth it.

Anyhow, I think i will just ponder on that until christmas.

2008-06-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

que bonita

2008-05-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

So i'm leaving in 3 days. Tuesday, Wednesday, then Thursday...the day. I feel like i use to have words for everything that I did. I could explain myself and everyone would understand perfectly why I was doing the things I was doing. Over the years I have become cloudy. It's not that I don't have opinions about things (most people know that), I just can't get the point across that I want to. I'm going to Mexico for a month to do mission work. I just started to get excited about in 3 days before the trip begins. I know i'm meant to be in Reynosa this summer and that God has amazing plans for me and for the families that we will be helping. I know because He says so, but at the same time I can't help but to secretly regret what I am leaving behind. Let me clarify, explain myself so that maybe in writing someone will understand, I do not regret in the sense that I would rather be in Argyle, TX. I regret in the sense that I do not feel that I have reached my potential, tried my hardest, and have not done all that I could in my ministry for the youth this Spring. Honestly, it has become hard for me, like a job. Youth ministry has never been a "job" before, not here at Argyle United Methodist. But as much as I love these kids and try my hardest to explain to them, that if they do indeed search for truth, justice, honesty and above all else yearn for Jesus, I feel like I am preaching to a blank wall. This is indeed my fault and something that in July I will try to fix. Back to missions: i'm extremely stoked. Last year I spent all my money buying clothes for all the mexican children I could and this year I was prepared to go in empty handed but my mom helped me out this morning. We went to target and scavenged the sale rack in the baby/toddler section. I know that I don't have to give these people anything but myself, but for me honestly it's not enough. I am humbled year after year by what these people endure. I am such a spoiled brat in comparison, but that is something that I am not focused on right now. I am focused on Mexico, Jesus and fufilling what God wants me to do. He has filled my heart with passion and I will be trying desperately all of June to love these people a fraction of how much Jesus loves me. It's not that it's hard for me, because believe me, when I'm in Mexico is when my heart is the most full of Love, but I look at my life, see the love of Jesus in it and I know i'm not capable of the love, compassion, and forgiveness that He extends to me on a daily basis. If you read this, please pray for me. Pray that I will be constantly vigilant to what God wants me to do. Pray for my safety and for the safety of all the churches coming down to Reynosa. Pray that I exceed my own expectations. Pray that my love extends it's capabilites. Pray for all the families in Reynosa. And please pray for Mexico as a country, and it's president and it's people.

2008-05-16T07:12:00.001-07:00

mothers day has come and gone...I got my mom a picture necklace with a picture of Karen and one of me. These are the pictures I used

We are pretty cute. I used planetjill.com because that is where I get all the photo necklaces I but for people.

Also school is out! and I will be leaving for Mexico in 13 days. That is scary, but I guess i will turn this back into a Mexiblog.

Rylee went to live with Karen, thats where I am right now. In Colorado. We went to the Flight of The Conchords show last night. It was good, but ridiculous. I got a shirt that says Brunettes not Fighterjets, which I like.

Anyway things are busy and good, i'm in my new house which I will take pictures of soon to postt! Have a lovely day.

2008-04-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Rylee+Ryder= love

2008-03-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Things are good here, im in class and im bored, Im extremely excited about you coming here for a week. will you go to the old folks home with us Thursday afternoon? How was your Easter, mine was weird..i had grilled cheese.

no way jose.

2008-03-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

So i guess i've found the secret to babysitting...a mac computer....anyway hey karen if you are interested I need to know so I can save you a spot! Its June 22-28. I know you are busy, but i would love it if you and john or just you could come. I will be on your team this year so we could spend some more time together...just let me know!

i heart you. I am keeping busy but I am extremely good.

late later latest

2008-02-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

Hello there, so I hope you are doing awesome, I wanted to write a good lengthy post about what i've been up to. So I'm sitting in my Child Development class, with a new teacher. Two weeks ago, my teach resigned, thats a little weird but it's ok. I've had UPWARD, and tests, and work and house sitting the last couple weeks. It's been busy but good. Here are some pictures from UPWARD

It was a lot of fun not only for the kids, but for the leaders. I made a lot of new friends that hopefully i will be able to spend some time with soon. But anyway things are good. hope to see you soon!

ella spells her name elak

2008-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

i gave ella her first "official" haircut today...this was before.

pppp...puppies!

2008-02-09T13:04:00.000-08:00