It's an unnatural love...

As we all know, I have an unnatural love for Chick-fil-a.  I think it is quite possibly the best fast food ever invented, on earth, all of the above.

And as this guy is a pretty popular blogger, I am going to say he knows what he is talking about.

Chick-fil-a will be served in heaven. ;-)

For all of you who don't live near a Chick-fil-a, or maybe even have never had it... go ahead, plan a trip to a state who serves Chick-fil-a.  You won't be disappointed.

Christmas Music

I love Christmas!  I love the anticipation, the cheer, the food, the presents.  I don't so much enjoy the crowds at the malls, but that is neither here nor there.

I also love the message of Christmas. It is about a day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He came to this earth as a man to ultimately die for our sins.  He not only humbled himself to become man, but he entered as a baby, a baby born in a manager.  We don't deserve His grace, yet we are free to receive it.

Christmas is my favorite holiday for many, many reasons.  While I agree with this blogger's opinion and how American is pushing out Thanksgiving and that the consumerism of Christmas is taking over... I start listening to Christmas music November 1st each year (and I'll randomly break out my favorite CDs throughout the year).  I love Christmas music, especially from artists who keep Christ the center of Christmas and their Christmas Music.

Want to learn about some of my favorites?

Last year, I shared endlessly about Josh Wilson.  If you still have bought his Sing EP, I suggest you go and do that right now!

I also have found about Aaron Hale from MPT at his blog, Jesus Needs New PR.  I haven't downloaded the EP yet; I need to wait to get back to my personal computer.  But I have enjoyed listening to it on Aaron's website.

Speaking of MPT, he is doing a great giveaway on his blog through midnight tonight!  I am participating... you have a chance to win Chris Tomlin's new Christmas music/Worship CD and a bunch of other stuff. 

I also recommend you check on Daniel Renstorm's On the Incarnation.  It is his NEW Christmas EP.  It has 8 tracks and points to Christ throughout.  Daniel leads worship at my church, Providence Baptist, and I also love his other EP Adore and Tremble.  Support him and his wonderful music!

Other great Christmas CDs?  Well, I received Casting Crown's Peace on Earth for my birthday.  It is great.  I also love Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God or MercyMe's The Christmas Sessions.  And don't forget Shane and Shane's Glory in the Highest.

What are your favorite Christmas albums? CD's? songs? 

27 Things

As I mentioned, I am going to do my bucket list for the year... again.  I liked doing it... so here goes my "27 Things before 27."

1. Read through the Bible (I started in August and now I want to finish)
2. Floss regularly
3. Apply to grad school (and if I can, do it with only cash!)
4. Run a 5k
5. Pay off one of the two credit cards
6. recycle college laptop
7. buy a new netbook or laptop
8. one vacation w/ the girls (and only pay in cash!)
9. make a skirt
10. make a purse
11. get 4 pedicures!
12. read the following books: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, the last 6 books of the Anne of Green Gables series, Jesus Girls, Dave Ramsey, You! on a Diet, Boundaries in Relationships, Lord I want to Know You by Kay Arthur... do you have any other suggestions?
13. finish my living will
14. make my life bucket list
15. make a t-shirt towel (I'll explain later)
16. buy 12 books for the cottage
17. buy 12 movies for the cottage
18. buy 5 games for the cottage
19. take my pre-req class for NC State's MAT program (American History, here I come!)
20. con't to work out 4-5 days a week
21. start using coupons when I shop
22. start price comparison shopping
23. buy new brown flats
24. buy new jeans (from the Buckle)
25. con't to blog about 3-4 times a week
26. visit the cottage once it is complete!
27. start my 28 things before 28 list.

We'll see how it goes... I'll keep you updated!

26 Things

Well, now that I am 26 I need to recap my 26 things.  Do your remember all of the sporadic posts and updates?  Did I actually do them all?

Nope.

But I am ok with that.  The more important thing to me is that I attempted them.  That I had goals.  That I did accomplish some of them.  That I was able to do other cool things, even if they weren't on my list.

So, how did each one go, you ask (well, maybe you didn't, but I can pretend you did!):

1) join a Gym- DONE! joined Planet Fitness on 9/25/2009


2) exercise 2x a week- DONE! been going consistently 4-5 times a week since I joined the gym. :-)

3) go on a "beach weekend" - DONE!

4) play hooky to spend a day reading- DONE! and it was glorious!

5) buy a tent- DONE! I bought in May and I really am glad I purchased it.

6) pay of credit card #3- ok, so I wasn't able to do this one.  BUT, I have significantly lowered my debt (down a couple THOUSAND dollars) and I used all my birthday money to continue on that trend.  I know that wasn't exciting, but makes me feel better!

7) scrapbook each month (2-3 spreads)- yea, this didn't happen as often as I wanted.  BUT, I did get to scrapbook and I bought a book to start making my Joshua Scrapbook.

8) read 2 books a month- DONE!  I didn't post all of the books I read, but I definitely read more this year.

9) get my car detailed- nope, but I have cleaned gotten into the habit of cleaning it out once a week; and I asked my parents to get this done for me for Christmas.  I can dream, right?

10) write a living will- I started researching it...


11) call each grandma each week- DONE, and now one of them has email (Lord help us all!)


12) call Ross each week- not quite, but I worked on it.


13) Office at work: decorate, move around, organize, clean- it is a work in progress, but it is much improved!


14) buy new book shelves- DONE! and I bought a new desk, too!  YEA!


15) go white water rafting- DONE, well sort of!  The white water rafting trip fell through, but I am going to count going to Maine.


16) make a skirt- yea, no...


17) run a mile, non-stop (no time limit)- DONE, well kind of!  I am counting my running on the Elliptical...


18) visit Ross in Washington DC- DONE!  now for a more extended stay this year.


19) Take either GRE or GMAT- DONE! and I didn't do too badly either!


20) buy pair of TOMS shoes- DONE!


21) visit one grad school of interest, find out pre-reqs- DONE!  I actually visited TWO schools!


22) go camping- DONE!


23) blog 3 times a week- DONE!  Have you seen a marked improvement in my consitency? I have too!


24) try 2 new recipes a month- no, but I have been eating better and making food more often for myself.


25) get a pedicure- DONE!


26) go to the Piano Bar in Raleigh- miserable fail...

So, not shabby, I guess.  I am going to do a 27 things before I turn 27... mainly because I like having goals and it helps me stay on track.  Are you ready for them?  Well, let me make a separate post of those...

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday, November 10 was my 26th birthday! 

I never thought I would say this... but thank goodness!  I was so ready for a new year, someway to mark an end to the roller coaster year that 25 was.  I felt light all day yesterday... seriously, like a weight had just lifted right off of me.  It was glorious.  :-)

All in all, the birthday was great!  I felt so loved.  Facebook can be such a waste of time, but it was so great to have people send messages and wall posts all day.  I felt loved and cared for.  One roomie made me a delicious funfetti cake and the other took me out to dinner and then took me GPS shopping!  My parents gave me money to go and buy one... I used it for fun today:

And then tonight I am going to Mellow Mushroom with some very fun girls and well, it is just so nice to feel loved and appreciated and I am so glad to be able to mark a new beginning...

So, recap.

I am 26.  WAHOO!.  Thanks to all of my friends who made me feel so loved on my day!

I thought it might be kind of fun to see who I share a birthday with... rapper Eve, "actress" Brittany Murphy, Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo, comedians Tracy Morgan and Sinbad, director Roland Emmerich AND Martin Luther.  I thought Martin Luther was definitely the coolest one. 

Well, enough of this random post.  I'll update on my list of 26 things to do before I turn 26 and as well try to recap 25, what I learned, etc.  Have a happy Wednesday!

Digital Short: Firelight

Did you see this video on SNL last week?  I thought it was hilarious.  And mad props to Taylor Swift -- she did Kristin (is that the actresses name?) as Bella perfectly... biting the lip and all!

Digital Short: Firelight

Find something to make you laugh today!

Stellan Needs Your Prayers

*Update* It was a homerun!  God is good all the time!  And just posted, an update from post-surgery!

I have asked you to pray for sweet Stellan and his MckFamily before... but he is in need of our urgent prayer once more.  MckMamma has been very vulnerable and honest with how she is feeling... mainly overwhelmed with all that is going on, but also trusting in our good God's plan.  Please intercede on their behalf!  Especially as sweet Stellan is on his way into a very risky heart surgery this morning.

PS- if you want updates, you can follow her on Twitter.

Fridays are For One Question

I stole this from this blog.

But I liked it... especially since I have one question for you:

Do you still use phone books?

I only ask because living in an apartment, I feel like we get a new one every two or three months.  Normally they just show up on our doorstep.

But this week, it was different.

I got a package in the mail. My first thought "who would be so kind to send me something out of the blue? oooh, birthday present!"

No, nope. Not even a chance.

I went downstairs to pick it up and it was a phone book.

Yes, now they not only print them often (which is a waste of money), they mail them (even bigger waste of money)!

So, again I ask you blog world... do you use a phone book?  Because I certainly don't... and haven't since who knows when. Isn't that what google is for?

Good Things: October

Well, we have reached the end of another month. And I must say that the end of the month was just filled with joy and laughter and it has just made me so thankful for life, for friendships, for challenges, for adventures, for everything. I hope your October has been wonderful as well!

1- took refuge in friendships; good people watching at The Office gathering
2- had a good time setting up for Oasis; got to dance! :-)
3- U2 concert. need I really say more?
4- took a nap, had a very quiet evening
5- MEW, just felt welcomed
6- survived the dentist with no crying (which for me is a BIG deal)
7- had Laurie time after the Gathering
8- slept w/ the windows open!
9- quiet time at the apartment :-)
10- people watching in Mount Airy.
11- solid nap time in the car on the way home from Fall Retreat
12- good convo w/ Jenn
13- dinner w/ Meredith T. feels good to be understood!
14- I actually took time and studied for the GRE!
15- Puppy Chow! The Office gathering
16- took a day to myself... went home and took more review time for the GRE
17- Race for the Cure with the family
18- baptisms! went to bed early
19- MEW (FYI-- that stands for My Evening Walk Bible Study)
20- studied some more, began to feel somewhat confident
21- Glee & Real World Road Rule challenge :-)
22- GRE is done!
23- headed to Michigan... fun times in the car with my brother
24- fun friends and hang out time
25- arrived safely home
26- MEW social -- saw why I was with this particular group of women
27- good solid introverted time in apt; OTH marathon
28- Hurricane's Game for work... sometimes my job has some great perks! began school research and became EXCITED about the possibilities!
29- quiet hang out time with the roomies at the apt.
30- good car ride on the way to the Veverka Fall Retreat, just felt like I could feel answer to prayer
31- great time at the retreat... felt included, kayaked around the pond/lake

Lots of great memories for me this month. OH, and I began listening to Christmas music as of Nov 1st. :-)

Happy November, blog world!