Good bye to 2009!

Merry Christmas, a little late!

and, Happy New Year! I can't believe today is New Year's Eve... when did that happen? Anyway, it has been a while my blog readers. I apologize. When I was at home, I just never sat at the computer long enough to read blogs, let alone write an update!

I had a great Christmas. I went home on Dec 23rd and only got back to Raleigh yesterday. It was a wonderful seven days in Virginia Beach. I visited with a couple of friends... Heather and Christy. I also was able to take my dog, Pansey, out on the beach. The weather was mainly sunny and about 60s-70s. Gorgeous... and definitely unseasonably warm.

My parents... oops, Santa... were also very generous. I got a shopping spree (lots of nice, new winter clothing!), a 10-day pass to Disney World to use this February and next December, a blue tooth, and some CDs and movies. What a nice treat! I feel blessed by their outpouring of love in this way. Now... where to put all of this stuff in my already too full room?

I did take my Belle home. She loves the car... she likes to sit on the center consul and in my lap (yes, while I am driving... at least she isn't under my feet!). Here are two poorly taken pictures, but you can see in both of them that she is not in her cage, or on the backseat.

Now, Belle is normally a very sweet and lovable cat. She is definitely a cat, so she has her tendency to only want love when she demands it. But overall, she is friendly. Well, not when she goes to the vet or the first day she is at my parents house. Here is a video of her "devil cat," act. Wait til the end for the real hiss.

Mean, isn't she? I promise she normally isn't like that.

Well, I hope all of you all had a wonderful Christmas. I'll try to post tomorrow on my goals for the new year. Hope you are doing something fun for New Year's Eve!

Decorating Cookies

Last Monday for a Christmas Potluck I made sugar cookies and did some decorating. For my first attempt, I think they turned out pretty well. Now, I just need some real decorating tools and I will be doing this every Christmas! Check out some of the finished product:

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?

RENT!

One of my favorite musicals is Rent. I love it... end of story. The tour is coming to Durham in January with two of the original stars, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. Guess who just bought tickets to go with a couple of her co-workers? That would be me! I am so super excited... that will be added to my countdowns. There are many right now! So many exciting things happening. :-).

Christmas: 7 days, one week!
Rent: 38 more days!
Disney World: 71 days!

Hope everyone else has fun things to look forward to... it really helps when it is about the fifth foggy, gray, rainy day in a row. When will I see the sun again?

Top 10 Christmas Albums/Songs

Is everyone getting in the spirit? I am definitely getting more and more there. Christmas music has been on almost constantly this last week (an occasional break so not to go crazy). In honor of all the Christmas music I have been listening to, I thought I would share with you all my Top 10 Favorite Albums/Songs. I was going to do all albums, but I couldn't come up with 10, so the last three are songs that are just some of my favorites during the Christmas Season.

In no particular order they are:

1) Behold the Lamb of God: The TRUE tall tale of the Coming of Christ- Andrew Peterson

2) Candlelight Processional- Various Artists: This one is an Epcot production done every year; celebrities do the readings and choirs are singing all the songs. Last year, a teen I know was part of a High School choir who was brought down to sing for a week in November. I think their celebrity was Neil Patrick Harris. The CD version I have is with James Earl Jones doing the reading... that's right, it is Darth Vader/Mufasa doing the reading!

3) Glory in the Highest- Shane and Shane

4) Sing- Josh Wilson

5) Snowed In- Hanson: Come on! Who doesn't love this one? A classic Christmas album that promptly returns me to 8th grade.

6) Home for Christmas- 'N Sync You know you love this one, too!

7) Elf Soundtrack

Here start the songs...

8) Jewel: Christmas Medley from Joy: A Holiday Collection

9) Jars of Clay: Little Drummer Boy

10) Barenaked Ladies w/ Sarah McLachlan: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

What about you? What are your favorites? Any new ones that you are listening to right now? I am very curious about the Casting Crown's Christmas CD as well as Third Days' Christmas CD.

Have a wonderful day!

Baby Step Number 1: Complete!

So, as I have mentioned in previous posts, I am working on getting myself out of this Credit Card Debt and just being all around smarter with my money... and it is more than that. I also need to be glorifying the Lord with how I handle money, and right now I am not. I am not trusting Him to provide all things; I am attempting to control it... and that will never work. I need to open my hands and let go of many things in my life right now, and finances are just one of them.

Anyway... I have some good habits. I use a modified version of the 10-10-80 plan. Instead, I have used the 10-10-10-70 plan since I graduated from college. I live off of (or try to) what my take home amount is on my paycheck (what I get after taxes). I tithe the first 10%, put the second 10% in long term savings and finally the third 10% goes to short term savings. Here is the problem... I never really knew what I wanted to do with that money, or what "long-term" means vs. "short-term." And well, the bigger problem, early on I lived beyond my means and that is where I am right now. Learning what I need versus what I want. I earn enough that as a single adult I should be able to live off what I earn and then have some leftover. But debt and interest eats away at that. So, I need to modify, people.

I also (pre-tax) put money in a 403(b)-- the non-profit version of a 401(k). I only put in the minimum amount though, to get the match. This past fall I met with my company's financial planner and he helped me pick my funds based on my age, performance, etc. I must say, he did a pretty good job. Despite the stock market crumbling, my 403(b) doesn't look too shabby. Long way off from being able to retire on it, but that is ok... I won't be retiring anytime soon.

So... what does this have to do with now? Well, because I am in debt, and I want to live a debt-free life... and use my money to better honor God, I am making some changes. Thanks to some advice from my friend Jessica, I looked into Dave Ramsey's plan, as well as looked at my church's program through Crown Financial. At this point in time, I am not joining a class or Bible Study for it, but I like a lot of what they say about getting out of debt. For right now, I am using a modified Dave Ramsey's "Debt Snowball." Here are my Baby Steps:

1) Save $2000 in long term, high-yield savings account.
2) Save $1000 in short term, (emergency) savings account.
3) Pay off three remaining credit-card debts
4) Pay off car
5) Save 3 to 6 months worth of expenses in high-yield savings account
6) Start investing 15% of income in retirement (either Roth IRA or pre-tax retirement plan)
7) Buy a home, build wealth and give freely!

What do you think? I think it is manageable... especially since I have just completed Baby Step #1!!! I am working on Baby Step #2 right now. The one big stumbling block on number 2 is my Disney World trip in Feb, but that is ok. I am only paying in cash for that and don't mind dipping into the short-term savings to make sure that I don't use the Credit Card.

I believe I mentioned a while ago that my computer crashed... I have rigged it to work for now, so I have put buying a laptop on hold for awhile... especially since I have a laptop for work. A new computer isn't a need right now... just a want. There are lots of things I want, but they won't help me get out of debt any faster.

I also have a couple of goals for the new year and my money spending habits:
- stop all credit card use
- start using this budget worksheet I have found (to better understand how I spend my money so I can set up a realistic budget)
- set up a budget

Anyway, here are all my current budget/financial thoughts. Let me know if you have any comments and/or tips that have been working for you!

Vegas Update

I noticed that I haven't posted any pictures in a couple of days... so, why not revisit a post that I made in the days before I knew how to post pictures (yea, I know... sad... but sometimes it takes me a little bit of time to figure it all out.

In the Summer of 2007, I went to Las Vegas with my family. The original post is here. Here are a couple of pictures from that trip:

My dad had to get a family picture with the Vegas sign. One our last night, we braved traffic and made sure to get one snapped. It turned out pretty well, what do you think?

We went to the Grand Canyon one day. It is one magnificent sight... I would love to spend more time there, walking the trails and just marveling in God's creation. Here is just one stunning view we were able to witness.

And, finally, this is where we stayed. The pools there were pretty awesome. All the hotels in Vegas are mini-resorts. Definitely worth the money you shell out to stay there. If you want to have nice long afternoons enjoying the sun, this one has a great lazy river, wave pool, etc.

I'll update on more life happenings soon. Have a great day!

PS. More cute childhood pictures of Josh Wilson today at his advent calendar. Check it out!

Something a little light

After my last, more thoughtful and deep post, I thought I would lighten the mood a bit. How does that sound?

I don't know how many of you know this about me, but one of my guilty pleasures is Hollywood, celebrity world. My brain just sucks that information up in a vacuum. The pink tile in Trivial Pursuit is normally my category.

In the recent months, I have begun to work on this. I stopped my subscription to People magazine and I don't allow myself to watch E! Television or other such "smut" (in the words of my friend Bethany).

However, I still go to People.com. I know, I know. Almost as bad as getting People magazine everyday, huh?

Well, today's headline was that T.R. Knight wants out of his Grey's Anatomy contract. See the article here. Anyway... here is my comment on all of this Grey's mess. THEY JUST NEED TO END THE SHOW. I didn't fall in love with the show as soon as it aired. But I did start watching it mid Season 2 because everyone and their mother talked about it. But, last year, i made the decision not to watch it anymore. Not exactly glorifying, encouraging television. Plus, there was more drama off the set than on the actual show. It just seems too much to me. I don't know... and now this. Who wants to watch a show where the people who are working on it don't even enjoy their job. No thanks.

Anyway, my opinion on a not very important happening. But thought I would give it to you anyway. ;-)

Disconnect

I mentioned yesterday that I was feeling a little bit out of sorts. It feels a lot like a fog has just settled in. In some ways, I just don't feel like myself. Its kind of hard to explain, but that is probably the best way to describe it "feeling" wise.

I am trying to figure out why I feel the way I do. I think a lot of it has to do with being (and feeling) disconnected. I feel disconnected from my family, disconnected from my friends, and mostly disconnected from God. There are reasons for each, some circumstantial, some my fault, some I can pinpoint reasons for and some that I can't. Anyway... it is just frustrating and tiring and has caused some hard times recently.

So, I feel disconnected from my family... I think part of this is just the cleaving process. I don't depend on them in the same way as I have in the past. And that is ok, but it is just an adjustment. It is weird to feel like a "visitor" in my parents house, my home. And then it is just weird to not feel like my apartment is home. Because it is my "home" but in some ways it isn't. Maybe I should start trying to process and think through what the definition of a home is.

I also feel disconnected from my friends. I spent all but the first weekend of November on the road. It is hard not to go to church for three weeks in a row; i felt disconnected from the church body. I also just feel like because I was gone to Michigan for two weeks and then at Fall Retreat the other (where I was helping to run it, so I didn't always get to do things), that I just haven't had some good solid hang out time. I have been working on that. Last night I had roomie time with Laura, and I have to say that for a bit, the fog lifted. That was glorious. So, I am going to keep working on that.

But I also feel disconnected from the Lord. And in some ways, isn't that the most concerning? I know we all go through valleys, so this is a valley. I just don't know how to begin to climb out. I think I have begun some of that process by asking people to pray for me, and by being vulnerable and telling Jenn, Laura, Rachel and a couple of others about how I feel. But now comes the hard part for me... I need to take the steps of faith and have action behind my faith. I can't remember if I have ever told you all this, but I don't feel this great need to spend time with God. I am a firm believer that the way you view God is greatly affected by how you view your earthly father. My Dad is a wonderful man who loves me as close to unconditionally as humanly possible. I know this with 100% confidence and in some ways that is awesome. I trust fully that my heavenly Father feels the same way about me. But, my Dad and I aren't always close, especially emotionally. There are many reasons behind this, and that is ok. But it doesn't mean that it isn't hard. And because i don't feel this need to emotionally connect with my dad on any semi-regular basis, it is the same with the Lord. And I think I also struggle to have "Quiet Time" regularly because i also don't know how I best connect with Christ... is it through musical worship? prayer? the Bible? Is there a good book out there that would help me with this?

So yea... I think that is how I am feeling. There are some other circumstantial things that have also brought some of this out... as well as my past and my insecurities. Can you all just pray for me? My roommate challenged me last night to come up with a couple of things I would like to change and work on them. She said it could be as simple as find something I like to do and make time for it once a week. So here is what I am thinking about doing:

- make time to Scrapbook once a week
- get up early and have an extended time of prayer for myself, my friends, and my family
- go to Panera/Starbucks/somewhere once a week for extended quiet time
- try to find a book on connecting with God and read it
- call my parents once a week and make an effort to talk to my dad
- call my brother once a week
- find a working definition of a home
- attempt to make my apartment feel like a "home"
- overall, be more intentional.

What do you think? Keep me accountable... pray for me. Thanks for listening (well, reading!).

This Past Weekend

Man, I think I am recovered. This past weekend was quite busy... fun, but very busy. What is it with this time of the year? There is just so much to do. Oh well, I do like the Christmas season.

Anyway, I spent a lot of my time Scrapbooking. For Christmas, my mom wants me to put together a book for me and a book for my brother with all of our school pictures, etc in them. I was working on that; it has been kind of fun (and extremely mortifying) to look back at some of the pictures. I'll post some finished products when I am done.

I also went to the Shelly Moore Band CD release party. She has put out and EP with some of their favorite hymns. They are great... it has been playing in my car since them.

Then on Sunday night I went to the Shane & Shane, Phil Wickham, and Bethany Dillion concert. It was amazing. They are on their "Glory in the Highest" tour; it makes me want to buy the album off of iTunes right this second. I am going to wait until Friday, though... got to have the paycheck. They are very funny, and you can tell they have lots of fun interacting with each other (not to mention, Shane and Bethany are very cute in their love for each other). If they are coming near you, you should go!

Now, I am trying to catch up in life before this weekend hits... too bad I have lots to do until then, too. Tis the season to run around like a chicken with its head cut off (who came up with that saying anyway... kind of disturbing...)

On the Web

Ok, so I just found these two websites, and I really, really like!

This first one is Cost to Drive. How cool!?!?! Want to know if it is more economical to drive or fly, this will tell you! Want directions, gives you a link for that, too. All I have to say, this is my new best friend. I always wonder how much it costs me to drive different places.

And the second, you frequent flyers may already know about... but I didn't. It is Kayak.com, a search engine to use when looking for flights. But what I like is I feel like the prices are actually affordable. Or maybe that is just the costs of flights slightly decreasing? (a girl can dream, but it it has been forever since I saw a flight to Detroit listed at $150 from here).

Enjoy these finds!

Little Mr. Rico Suave

Seriously, where did this kid come from? And can he come to NC and visit the guys I know, because I am sure (well, KNOW) that they could use some lessons (no offense guys).

All I have to say... this kid is cute now, but I really wonder what he will be like when he is a teen.

And wasn't he darling when he talked about how he isn't dating yet because he hasn't found the right girl yet? Seriously, kids are the cutest.

Finally, one last thought. All guys could take a lesson from him. How did he write the book? By observing. If it didn't work twice, he took note. If it did work a couple of times, he took note. So, men, the lesson is... "Stop and think. What is working for me? What isn't?" Maybe if try to find the common denominator and discard what doesn't work and use the stuff that does.

Man, oh, man. Too darling.

Much Better

I have been looking at old posts recently and found this one. The survey said I should find a new job. Well, I retook the quiz. I think it accurately portrays how I feel about my current job. :-)

Your Job Satisfaction Level: 71%

Your job is pretty good, even if it always doesn't seem like it. You have a lot less stress than most people, and your work environment is definitely above average. So if you love what you're doing, keep doing it. It doesn't get a lot better than this. But if you're in a dead end job, you may want to move on. Because if you're not advancing, it's just not worth it.

I am currently praying about what God has in store for me. If you think about it, could you join me in praying? I really do like my job, I just have this feeling that this isn't a long term thing. But I also don't feel called out of the job quite yet. Pray that I would be content where I am at but also taking steps of faith so that I am about to discern when God is calling me away from this job.

On the Josh Wilson front, he is giving away his version of "Angels We Have Heard on High," today on his Advent Calendar. Love this song and his version. Go now and get it! :-).

Things to Do

My friend Tiffany has two blogs. Her newest one is a really cool idea and I wanted to share it with you all. It is a list of things to do before you die... but they are all really cool ideas. I plan on joining her in the attempt to do them. Make sure to check it out!

As well, have you all be checking out Josh Wilson's Advent Calendar? Yesterday was free shipping on ordering his CD, "Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup." Today he talks about his Christmas EP and the song "Sing." Check it out! It's a great way to countdown to the day we remember the birth of Christ, the reason for this Advent season.

You may notice some changes over the coming weeks and such... I have lots of things I want to blog about and ways I want to make this blog a little more fun for all... but mainly me. I love sharing my life with you blog readers, but I do this more as a way to journal, try to remember things, etc... so I am going to try to spice this up and I hope you all enjoy it!

Josh Wilson

Merry Christmas season!!! This is my favorite time of the year... the anticipation, the cheer, I love it! Now, if it would only snow in North Carolina...

Today, I want to introduce you to one of my new favorite artists, Josh Wilson. I was originally introduced to his music when he played at our Spring Singles Retreat at Fort Caswell. He led worship there and from the moment he began I knew he was an artist to remember! He led worship in a way that showed humbleness and true desire to have God be the center. Not to mention, he just rocked the guitar and piano. I bought his EP and CD at the retreat and they have been on almost constantly since then.

His song "3 minute song" has been played on KLove, if you listen either in your hometown or online. As well, I think they recently began playing his song "Beautiful Like This." I would also go to youtube and watch this video of his version of "Amazing Grace."

All I have to say about him is that Josh Wilson is an awesome musician who takes Christian music out of the cheesy and puts it into the realm of good music. His music is amazing and paired with lyrics that are thoughtful, encouraging, convicting and God-glorifying. And there are times where you can hear some of his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, too. I encourage you all to check him out!

Seriously... check out his myspace page, as well as joshwilsononline.com. The website has an Advent Calendar and he promises lots of fun things, including free things for those who visit! I am not going to miss this Advent Calendar, that is for sure!

So, what are you waiting for? Buy his music on iTunes... request him on KLove... go! now! ;-).