Dirty Dancing

There are movies, books, TV series, etc that define each generation. Is Dirty Dancing one of those movies for girls my age? I loved, LOVED this movie growing up. Now I watch it and think... what were my parents thinking letting me watch this? But of course I have no clue what was going on. I really liked the dance scene at the end.

What movies did you love as a kid?

And because we all love this scene (just admit it, you do!), here it is. Go and watch it for old times sake. ;-)

A Sad Good-bye

What was the first roller coaster you went on? Do you remember?

I do!

It was the Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. I remember being really excited that summer because I was finally able to ride the Big Bad Wolf. I also remember being terrified as I stood in line. My stomach was in knots. I could barely breath. But I wasn't going to back down. My brother was going to ride. Jessica and Kelly were going to ride. No way was I not going to.

And you know what? I survived!

I also took the boys I nannied for one summer on it for their first roller coaster ride. Aiden screamed bloody murder the whole time so it sounded like I was torturing him. But Riley, the youngest, he thought it was the best thing. He laughed. He wanted to ride again and again.

Want to know what it is like to ride it? Check out this video:






Now for the sad news.

According to this article, it is the Big Bad Wolf's last summer. It is going into retirement. It is a sad day indeed.

Here is to all the good memories! RIP Big Bad Wolf. It was never the fastest, or the tallest. It was never the scariest or the meanest. But it will always be my first conquered roller coaster.

Happy 3rd Anniversary Jenn and Josh!

I have gotten behind posting this week. For some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to be productive in any sense of the word in any portion of my life (not at work, not at home, not with life, etc).

Anyway, I missed saying Happy Anniversary to Jenn and Josh on May 27th. Why not now?

Jenn and Josh's wedding may always be my favorite wedding. It could be because it was one of the first weddings of my closest friends. maybe it will be the because Jenn is my best friend and I was so excited for her and Josh. or maybe because it was our last hurrah before we all really did begin to head in our separate ways. No matter what, it was one of the longest weekend affairs of my life... but also one of my favorites.

Jenn and Josh- thank you so much for including me in your special day. I pray for you both individually and as a couple constantly. I am excited for you two to someday expand your family to three, then four and maybe even more! I was honored to be your maid-of-honor, Jenn; I just wish I had better served you. Thanks for showing me what a godly couple looks like. I am so thankful that you both continue to share your life with me.

Here a some (ok, maybe a lot) of photos from that day!

As maid of honor, I had to do put on a couple of showers. Luckily Melissa helped me with each of them (too bad we always did most of the stuff the day of. Anyone else a procrastinator?). This is from the girls shower-- enough said, right? ;-).

The rehearsal dinner was very fun. The picture on the left is part of my table. We definitely were laughing a ton. And then afterwards, we some how got talked into going to see X-Men 3 in the theaters... what you need to know, it was about 11 when the movie started. Not kidding. We of course, didn't change. Best dressed group in the theater. :-)

The next morning (at about 7 am), the groomsmen, Melissa and I all went to paint The Rock. If you went to UM, you know about painting The Rock. It was across the street from the church were Jenn and Josh got married and Jenn dropped hints that she wanted it done. So... we did. The boys complained about it being so early, but that is ok. Melissa and I fed them. Besides, they went back to bed. Melissa and I still have to go get hair done, etc. Do you like the finished product?

Do you like these group shots? The one of the left has to be my favorite of all of us girls. :-) and the one the right is such a fun story. Jeremy LOVES Enrique Inglesias; so when Hero came on, he circled up the bridal party and we serenaded the couple. A little awkward, but worth every moment and the fun photos.

These are probably some of my favorite candid shots from the photographer.

Melissa and I spent some much time together those months and weeks leading up to the wedding -- from planning the three showers to making the scrapbook; from getting dresses to fit to buying supplies to paint with, we never left each others sides. I was glad she was there to help me. It was my first time in a wedding, let alone the maid of honor.

These are me performing maid of honor duties... the speech (never been so nervous in my ENTIRE life) and being in the middle of the dance floor (Jenn said she was depending on me to make sure everyone danced). I loved every moment of the wedding... can you tell!

Well, thanks for sharing in all of the memories with me. Join me in wishing Jenn and Josh a Happy Anniversary!

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Tony and Mariah!

It is Tony and Mariah's third anniversary! Congrats! Can't wait to see photos of the little one due at the end of the month!

It was a fun wedding to attend- lots of friends to celebrate the day with Tony and Mariah! It was a beautiful May day in Michigan. The weather was warm- but not hot; and it was sunny! What a great day for a wedding!

The reception was short and sweet- afterwards all of us girls took a group picture. It took a little bit of effort to get us all one spot- but look how cute we all are!

And then we had a great cook out at the Cross St. house and a wandering party around Ann Arbor. It ended up at a Park with all of us taking turns on the swings. Fun memories of a great day!

Congrats to Mariah and Tony! Thanks for sharing your day with me and for all the fun memories it brings back! :-)

Daddy's Girl

My Dad is a teacher and I have many memories of him taking care of my brother and I. Because he had summers off (and we lived at the beach), we didn't got to summer camp. Dad took care of us. Our schedule was pretty much the same everyday:

- get up (around 8am)

- go to swim practice/Vacation Bible School/whatever activity was booked

- run errands (the stores opened at 10)

- come home

- eat lunch

- go to beach (at 1:30, after the WGN news was done)

- come home (normally around 4)

- eat dinner

- play outside

- go to bed

- repeat

Many great memories- and I am so thankful that I got to spend that time with my dad. Not everyone can say they truly spent everyday possible on the beach when they were kids... with their dad who would take them out into the Ocean up to his neck (It was way over our heads! My dad is 6 feet, 6 inches tall), who would bring snacks with him, who would lather us up with sunscreen because mom told him to, who would let us fish and crab, who enjoyed the beach as much as we did.

Well, this post here and this post here reminded me of some other stories about time spent with the dad.

My dad loves music. He probably has a better music collection than me and he is always adding to it. Well my mom loves to remind him that when she would come home from work she would find me in my crib watching MTV while he was grading papers. Yep, sounds about right. MTV was never off limits in my house (but in their defense, at the time it was more music videos than they crap they play today).

My dad also loved my long curly hair growing up. Check out these photos of me with the long dirty blonde/honey brown, curly hair:

(Sorry these are so blurry)

It made him sad when I got older and started cutting it. ANYWAY, in the summers I would get up and need someone to do my hair. Dad, doing his best, would brush it and then put barrettes in my hair. EXCEPT, they wouldn't actually hold any hair back, they would just clip in my hair that was already in my face. Come on girls, you know what I am talking about. Too bad we don't have any pictures of that... at least that I have in my possession.

What memories do you have of your dad? I am blessed with an amazing father! Love you, Dad!

St. Joe Weekend

In college, MLK weekend meant St. Joe Weekend. It was tradition started our Freshman year and one we continued until our Senior Year. My friends Jeremy, Dan, Josh and Beth were all from St. Joe (or well, the area itself) and they decided to play host to all of us. It was a time for us friends to fellowship together and enjoy a "quiet" weekend growing in our relationships with each other and with God. There was not a lot of sleep and many times adventures late into the night. Our first year there was the sledding on the dunes and walking out onto Lake Michigan (it had already frozen up some); a couple of times we walked out on the pier to the end (where the Lighthouse is); our Senior Year we went bowling; a couple of times we went Ice Skating. I have only good memories and I miss it. Maybe if we ever do a reunion we could consider another St. Joe weekend. :-).

Here are a couple of group pictures of each of the four years. (notice how it grew as we added underclassmen and just grew in number of people involved in the South Quad ministry).

My Freshman year- notice the pre-digital pictures. :-).



Our Sophomore Year.



Our Junior Year- we are getting bigger...

My Senior Year... the last time. So sad- but notice how big we are!!! And look at all of those shoes. Here is to hoping we have a reunion someday, families and all!

Happy 3rd Anniversary Keri and Mike!

And today is Mike and Keri Hamberg's 3rd Anniversary. Hard to believe it has been three years! Where does the time go?

Keri and I went on Summer Project to Virginia Beach together. We then lived together at 727 Oakland our Senior Year (well, for first semester. then she moved out to get married!). Mike and Keri met at the University of Michigan. They had been dating just a few short months when we went on project together. It was fun to hear her think through if she loved Mike, if she could marry Mike. It was fun to talk to her about what the distance that summer was doing in and for (and sometimes hurting) their relationship. God was faithful and in December of 04 she and Mike were engaged. A year later, on January 7, 2006, she and Mike were married. It was an honor to witness their wedding; it was the first wedding I went to for a close friend... and more importantly it was the first wedding I went to were it was a Christian couple getting married and placing Christ at the center of their relationship. Congrats to Mike and Keri!

Here are a couple of pictures from that day:

Mike and Keri entering the reception hall. Doesn't Keri look radiant?

My table. I sat with Melissa and Scott, Jenn and Josh, and Keli. Keli and I joked we were each others dates (I did wear her jewelery). As well, the whole table joked we were banished to the "not wanted seating" up in the balcony. Really it was because Keri had more people say "we can come!" than she thought. And, hey, we had the best people watching position. ;-).

Keri and I. Probably one of my favorite pictures of us together.

Cutting of the cake!

The (original) 727 girls all together- one last time. Yes, I lived with 10 other girls... more on that later. I love us!, and I miss us, too!

Happy Anniversary Keri and Mike!!

U2

What kind of music did you listen to growing up? Me, really whatever my parents listened to. However, I used to try to get them to listen to the Oldies station. Why? Well, because "I couldn't get the beat to the other stuff." (or at least that is what my mom tells me I said). And I can believe it... growing up in the early 90s... all grunge... what kid would be able to get the beat to that stuff?

But I also remember how much my parents loved Bruce Springsteen, UB40, and, of course, U2. Because of that, I have a love for all three, but especially U2... you can't go wrong with U2.

Do you know what I just learned... U2... new album... March 3rd. I am so there!

And, if/when they go on tour, will some one go with me? I have to see them... seriously... it would be awesome!!

What kind of music did you listen to growing up?

Disney World!

Guess who is going to Disney World? That would be me!!!

Laura, my roomie, Rachel, one of my closest friends, and I booked out hotel last night. We will be staying at the Pop Century All Star Resort. I am pumped, to say the least.

We are looking for a fourth person to go, but I don't know if that will happen. No matter what... Feb 27th-March3, I'll be in Disney World. EEE!!!! I am sooooo excited. So, today, I thought I would share some memories about Disney and all the greatness it has to offer.

Well, the first memory is one I have been told about. I don't know if I actually remember it. But, anyway, my mom and dad took Ross and I many times to Disney World. Evidently the first time I ever went, when asked what my favorite ride was, I answered, "The bus!". If they had know that, my parents could have saved a LOT of money.

There is also the story floating around in Kremers legend of my younger brother, Ross, throwing a HUGE fit in the middle of the Polynesian Resort. According to this legend, we also have this on video tape somewhere. I'll have to see if I can't dig it up.

I also remember staying at Grand Floridian. It was the period in my life where I didn't have to take naps, but Ross did. I have this memory of my mom telling me to "pretend to sleep until Ross goes to sleep. Then you and your dad can go ride rides just the two of you." And, I also remember staying up really late to watch the fireworks with Dad.

In High School, my parents took us two different times. In ninth grade, I took my friend Amy with me. Do you know what I remember most from that trip? Amy having to call her boyfriend at-the-time every waking moment of the day. Oh geez... I am still rolling my eyes.

Then in 11th grade, I took my friend Heather. Talk about a much more fun time. :-)!! But, if you asked us both about this trip we would remind you of how COLD it was. We each only brought one pair of pants and one sweatshirt. It is all you have pictures of us in because we were that cold.... the whole time!

I also have gone to Magic Kingdom twice since then; once with some girls for a Bachelorette weekend and once with some girls from Duke. But this will be my first staying on the grounds in about 8 years. And, I am about to jump out of my skin with excitement!!!

I am trying to decide what my favorite ride is. And, I don't know if I could tell you. Of course the Tower of Terror at MGM is great... and so is the Rock 'n Roll Roller coaster (you listen to Aerosmith the whole time). The are the classics at Magic Kingdom: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, The Haunted House, etc. Animal Kingdom is cool just because of what it is. Epcot has never been my favorite, but I have heard they are working to make it much better. Oh man... I can't wait!

Do you all have any fond memories of Disney World? Anyone else, like my roommate, who has never been?

Concentration

Do you remember that sleepover game called concentration? I don't remember much about it any more... except that you chanted "concentration, concentration," over and over again. Was this also the one where you "cracked an egg on your back" and while saying that you pounded your fist on the back?

Do you also remember the game "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board." Man, fun times to be had a sleepovers as a kid. We played all of those game; they never worked. But that is ok... still the myth that is passed down; i feel like our moms probably played this games, too.

What other games did we play? We played lots of board games, watched many movies... I miss sleepovers. Maybe I should organize one and just give all of us grown ups a chance to be tweens again. We could even watch High School Musical (its a guilty pleasure of mine, not going to lie).

Well, anyway, I am thinking of that game today because I am having such a problem concentrating today. I just can't focus at work. I am getting distracted and not wanting to work. I wonder if this is because it is sunny out and I just want to be outside. I don't know why. I am just taking a moment to rest my brain and pray that the Lord would allow me to focus on what I need to rather than be bored and let my mind wander.

Girl Scouts

Guess what?!?!

I got a new job!!!

Who is excited? I mean, besides me? I am very, very excited, pumped, stoked, etc about this new job. I really think this is going to be a good fit for me.

I will be a "Membership/Field Director." I will be supporting, training, loving the volunteers. I will be letting them know that they are loved and appreciated. I will help them however I can, etc. There will also be a monthly newsletter that I will be responsible for... I will have to do some marketing (as a non-profit, we do partner with businesses around the area). So, all in all, I am very excited to be the face of Girl Scouts. AHHH!!!

Man, who would have thought that someday I would be working for the Girl Scouts. I have such fond memories of it all.

I started Girl Scouts when I was in first grade as a Brownie, and then kept it up until I graduated High School as a Senior. My mom was the troop leader (Troop 340, thank you very much), and it was good times. We went camping, our annual trip to Busch Gardens. Who can forget all the lock-ins I helped to plan... Thinking Day... selling the Girl Scout cookies (which when I was little made my brother sell for me because I was so shy about it...). Oh man... fun memories, and now more to come!

I am so excited about this job, and best of all, I just can't believe the timing. God totally knew what He was doing... not getting the Google job... having me wait to apply for a new job until the summer... etc. He is so good! Yea!

I'll let you know how the job goes. I'll start Oct 15th, and I can't wait!

TGIF!

I come to every Friday glad I made it through another week.

But, seriously... i LOVE Fridays! I get to wear jeans to work... normally it means going out for lunch... and it means I have two days of nothing but relaxation in front of me. I LOVE it!

It is always funny though, because on about half of the Fridays, i would say that we at work get nostalgic and talk about the good old days with TGIF on ABC. Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating, BUT we definately talk about those quality shows.

Who could forget Step by Step? Or, Family Matters (aka, the Urkel Show)? Then we undoubtably start wondering if Full House was on TGIF, or it was just on during the week? Anyone know that answer for sure? I personally don't remember it being on Fridays. Just on the week nights... but I could be wrong. Then we wander over to how great Home Improvement was. Why don't they still have those great half hour comedies on any more? I know they were cheesy... all problems solved in 22 minutes when the music comes on signify the lesson learned where we end at the 30 min mark with a nice little bow on the package. BUT, they were great! Come ON! Corey and Topanga, who didn't want them to get married? And didn't we all love when Uncle Jessie and Aunt Becky got married and then had twins! And even though I am not too sure about them now, those Olsen twins sure were cute babies. "You got it, Dude!"

Well, enough down memory lane. They certainly don't have the great family friendly comedies anymore... but I can't complain. I still LOVED Alias while it was on... certainly was WB girl during my teen days... I watched all of those one hour tween dramas (Dawson's, Charmed, 7th Heaven, Buffy, Angel, etc). Now you can't tear me away from American Idol or Grey's. I also love the new additions this season of Brothers and Sisters and October Road.

Man, I need a life. I think I watch too much TV. Guess that is why my nickname growing up was JP Jet the TV Set (anyone know what poem that came from?)