Songs on Repeat

When I get obsessed with something, I can't stop.  Just ask my roommates.  My  mom has gotten me hooked on NCIS.  I don't think I would want to even know how many of the marathons I have DVR'd in the last month or so.  And I am sure my roommates would forbid me from hitting the record button if they knew the number, too.

Or when I get hooked on a type food, then that is all I want.  For example?  Right now I can't get enough of egg salad or Grilled Cheese.  I make egg salad at least 2-3 times a week for lunch... and grilled cheese at least twice a week for dinner and at least two times each weekend.  I am sad and I know it... but it is how I roll, k?

That being said, this post made me think... what songs could I listen to over and over again?  Here is what I came up with:

1. Glory to God by Fee
2. Amazing Grace, the Josh Wilson version
3. Let There Be Light by Andrew Peterson
4. One Song, Glory from Rent
5. Only a Man by Jonny Lang

I am sure there are even more than that -- but that is what I could come up with off the top of my head. Maybe I should look at my Top 25 Most Played on my iPod.

Do you have songs you could listen to over and over again?

Me

Since I didn't get to play last week... here is me in 6 pictures.

1. I am a beach person.

2. I am a list person.















3. I am a Disney person.

4. I am a dancer.

5. I am a friend.

6. I am a big sister.

Books!

I went shopping yesterday.  We are heading up to the cottage Easter weekend to move furniture into the cottage.  We have renters coming in as early as May -- which is exciting... but also means we have lots to do to get the cottage in shape!  I am responsible for providing the books, games, movies and puzzles for the cottage.  I am quite excited to... and so yesterday I went shopping.

It was quite successful.

Approximately 45-50 books for $100!!!

 This is just the top of one bag -- two bags, filled to the brim with books! :-)

Here is the list of books I bought yesterday:

A Midsummer Night's Dream	Shakespeare
A Tale of Two Cities	Charles Dickens
A Wrinkle in Time	Madeline L'Engle
Ambler Warning	Robert Ludlam
Beach Road	James Patterson
Beezus and Ramona	Beverly Cleary
Call of the Wild/ White Fang	Jack London
Catcher and the Rye	JD Salinger
Charlotte's Web	EB White
Fudge-a-mania	Judy Blume
Great Expectations	Charles Dickens
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets	JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows	JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire	JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince	JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban	JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone	JK Rowling
Henry & the Paper Route	Beverly Cleary
Here's to You Rachel Robinson	Judy Blume
Little Women	Louisa May Alcott
Much Ado About Nothing	Shakespeare
My Antonia	Willa Cather
Nancy Drew: The Clue of the Broke Locket (11)	Carolyn Keene
Night	Elie Weisel
Phantom of the Opera	Gaston Leroux
Pigs in Heaven	Barbara Kingsolver
Posionwood Bible	Barbara Kingsolver
Practical Magic	Alice Hoffman
Prayer for Owen Meany	John Irving
Ramona the Brave	Beverly Cleary
Reflex	Dick Francis
Scarlet Letter	Nathaniel Hawthorne
Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1)	Lemony Snicket
Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room (2)	Lemony Snicket
Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window (3)	Lemony Snicket
Shattered	Dick Francis
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas	James Patterson
Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing	Judy Blume
The Awakening	Kate Chopin
The Client	John Grisham
The Danger	Dick Francis
The Firm	John Grisham
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe	CS Lewis
The Notebook	Nicholas Sparks
The Rainmaker	John Grisham
The Wedding	Nicholas Sparks
Three to get Deadly	Janet Evanovich
Time to Kill	John Grisham
To the Hilt	Dick Francis
Turtle Moon	Alice Hoffman
Two for the Dough	Janet Evanovich
Under Orders	Dick Francis

Do you have any suggestions for good beach/cottage reads that I need to add to the list? What about games?  All recommendations are welcome!

Creative Times!

I have been making more time to scrapbook lately -- it has been really good, too.

My roommate and I had a conversation on Friday about how important it is to take care of yourself... and sometimes that means making time for things you enjoy. I have been feeling less guilty about doing things like this for myself since that conversation.

Ever since last December when I have my first "duh!" light bulb moment (the one where I realized that I enjoy crafts and making things and the sense of accomplishment it gives me), I have tried to make time to be crafty.  It hasn't been a ton (between taking a class, work, cookies, etc there isn't too much me time), but it has been some.

Want to see some proof?  Here are a couple of pictures for you to enjoy -- as a note, I am not a professional scrapbooker... I just enjoy it!

from my trip to Maine with Laura.

     

from our trip to Disney World last Feb/March -- still have a couple more pages to make, but I am loving what I have done so far.

I think the other reason I am enjoying it so much is that I am scrapbooking the stuff that inspires me -- ie, makes me want to get my materials out and do it. It was my "duh!"/light bulb moment of this past weekend.  I can't wait to do more -- finish up the Disney stuff and search through all my photos and figure out what is next.  

Hope you are doing things that make you happy and feel relaxed! 

Priceless

What are the things you wouldn't want to lose?  This may be bad, but I have a list in my head of "if I have to evacuate my building immediately what I would I take with me."  Of course, fire means I would take less and leave more quickly -- but still.

Here is the list of things I would be heartbroken to lose:

1. Photos/Scrapbooks
2. External Hard Drive (it has all the important documents on it)
3. Books.  Each book I read has a soul to me and I can't imagine loosing some of them.
4. Bible.  Seriously, each note I have written in it means something to me.  That book has walked me through more than anything. Each page, each note a journal entry and memory.
5. iPod.

Your turn -- what are the things you can't imagine losing.

And PS. I mean I would be heartbroken if I lost any of these things.  You would see tears coming out of my eyes.

Commercialism and Faith

Have you ever visited Donald Miller's blog?  It is one of my favorites.  Right now he is doing a series on Commercialism and Faith.  The first three posts have been really interesting. If you have time, take a moment and read them:

Post 1: The Effect of Commercials on the Human Brain.
Post 2: Paradise Lost
Post 3: Rituals and Evangelical Voodoo

Personally, I have been thinking and learning a lot materialism.  I have so much stuff-- from music on my iPod to clothes in my closet; from books to read to paper and pens to use; from crafting supplies to scrapbook with to DVDs to watch.  I don't have a need... not one.  I have extra food in the pantry.  I have clothes to keep me warm.   I have a bed to lie on each night.  I have a roof over my head.  Yet I want all the time.  I want that new song I just heard on the radio.  I want an iTouch.  I want not the food I have in my pantry but the fast food I just passed.  Donald Miller's series definitely has me examining the why's and even more importantly thinking about how to combat this mindset.  I look forward to more of his posts!

What are your thoughts?

Know Me

Saw this over at simply modern mom and just couldn’t resist…

Making : myself with cookie season.  I turn over all paper work next Friday!
Cooking : lots of egg salad and grilled cheese lately.  They're my new obsessions.
Drinking : water, miss Coke, but glad to be reminded that I live in a nation with plentiful clean water.  Praying for those who aren't so blessed.
Reading : Anne of Green Gables series... and my American History text.
Wanting : an iPod touch -- seems like a fun toy.  Being responsible and resisting.
Looking : out the window wishing I could be outside.
Playing : my iPod.  It is almost always on.
Wasting : time by filling this out.
Sewing : nothing right now... maybe something for some upcoming showers.  Depends on how adventurous I feel.
Wishing : to spend a week in the Bahamas or Hawaii.  How can I make that happen?
Enjoying : the sunshine and weather. :-)  and more time for Scrapbooking.
Waiting : to find out if I got into Grad School...
Liking : the new Pearl Jam song.  It is very unlike Pearl Jam which is why I probably like it.
Wondering : when my tax refund will come.
Loving : my life.
Hoping : and trusting in Christ, in His plan for me.
Marveling : at how capable at wasting time I am.
Needing : nothing.  there are lots of "wants" that I am making into "needs," but I don't really need them.
Smelling : nothing.  I should change that.
Wearing : my cute navy blue dress I got from the Gap Outlet when I went to Tennessee with fun friends last summer.
Following : no one on twitter.  I deleted my account because I was letting it waste so much of my time.
Noticing : that I can be disciplined for two to three weeks at a time and then I let it go for a week; then I hope right back on the "discipline" wagon.
Learning : about American History.
Thinking : lots of things.  When am I not thinking?
Bookmarking : lots and lots of blogs.  I need to updated my blog roll.
Opening : lots of emails.  Oh Work Inbox, how I would love to turn you off some days.
Giggling : at nothing.  I am a laugh out loud kind of girl/
Feeling : good about life right now.  I think it is all the sunshine.

 

What about you?  Feel free to fill this out and let me know how your life is!

Spring has Sprung!

not my picture.  found it on google images.

I am loving the weather lately.  I am pretty sure that spring has arrived here in North Carolina.  Not every day has been sunny with blue skies, but even on the cloudy days, we are still getting up to the 60s.  And I am loving every minute of it!!!

There are lots of reasons to love spring, but here are a couple of mine:

1. skirts.  I break them out this time of year and I love to wear them.  I know that sounds strange coming from the girl who didn't wear them. EVER. in high school and college.  But they have grown on me.  Better than shorts!
2. sunshine.  I swear that the winter makes me Vitamin D deficient and now I am soaking it all in.
3. driving with the windows down.  Need I say more?  Especially if a good song is on the radio.
4. sleeping with the windows open.  I also love doing this in the fall.
5. longer days! I really like it being sunny until 7ish.  It makes me so happy.  I will say I hate the "spring forward" part, though.  It makes getting out of bed a bear!
6. Beach Music nights at North Hills.  They start up again soon and it means I'll be shagging on a regular basis again (and for those of you who don't live in NC, shagging here is a type of dance, see this video.)
7. being outside.  All of the sudden my friends and I start hiking again, spending Sunday afternoons just enjoying the weather by playing frisbee, volleyball, etc.
8. beach time is just around the corner!  As a beach bum, I am counting down the days until I can sit on the beach for hours on end with a good book! :-)

So much to love about the Spring.  What are some of your favorite things?

What's that Smell?

I love lists.  And this blog has lots of great lists.  You may get bored of them.  Sorry! But think of it this way, you are getting to know me better! :-)

1. The beach, salt water air.  It is a distinct smell and it is my all time favorite.
2. Mom's cooking.  Her cookies, any meal she makes.  My mom is talented in the kitchen and I love sitting at home and suddenly getting the first smell of dinner.  Wish I had her talent.
3. Books.  They smell so good.  Have I ever mentioned I could get lost in a book store?
4. New cars, especially if they are leather.
5. Almond. 

And your's?

Special Happenings in 2010

Ok, another fun idea from this blog.  I couldn't resist!

1. The cottage will be finished!
2. Going to Michigan for Jenn's Baby shower (and you know what that means... Jenn is having a baby!)
3. God willing, heading back to school to get my MAT.
4. Disney World at Christmas with the WHOLE Kremers gang.
5. Josh Wilson is coming to the Caswell Beach Retreat again this year!

I Will Always Eat

I found this idea at this blog and thought I would share mine with you...

1. Chick fil a
2. Trolli Sour Gummy Worms
3. Papa John's Pizza (especially their cheese pizza)
4. Seafood
5. Goldfish

I just can't seem to pass these food by.  It would be better for me if I could, but I can't.  Oh well. What about you?  What foods can't you pass by?

It's Official...

... I have submitted my applications for Grad School.

I am scared.

I am excited.

I am praying for God's will.

I am overwhelmed with that this could mean. financially. emotionally.

But mostly I am relived.  One step closer.

Join me in praying that God will open and close the door as He sees fit and that I am ok with whatever the outcome is.

Vote for Global Hope

I am pulling all of this from a friend's blog.  BUT I did hear Abby speak at my church on Friday night and I have to say that I was humbled by her, what she is doing and it motivates me.  It makes me want to follow Christ whole heartedly, whatever He has in store for me.

Embedded below is a short video about a ministry of Global Hope Resources, and the work of Abby Tracy in Kampala, Uganda.  The piece is a submission by Sophia Ruvolo to YouTube’s Project: Report contest.

Just last week, Abby came to our church while in the States to speak at our missions festival, and she also spoke in my LIFE class.  Her heart for street children in Kampala is contagious.  God is continuing to bless this work, and one small way that you can help this ministry gain exposure is by watching the video, and then voting for it on Project: Report.

If your browser works as it should, you can simply mouse over the video while it plays, and at the bottom of the clip (while playing) it will offer the opportunity to vote.  If you are not able to vote this way, go to the Project: Report channel on YouTube, click on Vote, search among those videos for ‘Global Hope,’ and you will find the same video.  There you should certainly be able to vote (to the right).

Enjoy the video.  Praise God.  Pray for Abby and the kids.  And vote.

Good Things: Feb 2010

Another month has arrived!  Do you remember being little and waking up and saying "Ribbit, Ribbit" for good luck?  No?  I am the only one -- oops. 

Anyway -- here is my list of good things from February.

1- Snow Day! worked from home :-)
2- Dinner at Moe's w/ Becky -- and it was FREE!
3- Teal and Laurie came to the Gathering.
4- up at 6, out of the house at 7; didn't get home until 10 -- but I survived.  That was good, right?
5- Kanki for dinner!
6- Shrimp Bread from Lucky 32.  It was delicious -- don't judge by the name.
7- Superbowl -- fun time hanging out with friends
8- MEW -- always good to be in the Word
9- dinner @ Chris's with friends
10- I got caught up with life!!!
11- Belle got a new t-shirt.  She looked stylin'. (I'll try to remember to post a picture)
12- Keli kept me calm on one heck of a night :-).  Dinner @ CPK
13- Cookie Delivery Day -- despite starting late, we ended ahead of schedule!
14- took a nap :-) gift from Laura :-)
15- social w/ the MEW girls.  lots of laughter about lists, spam, and other such random things.
16- took a comp day!
17- Chili's with the roomies
18- chocolate milkshake (which I had been craving all day so it just made my day)
19- watched the Olympics -- snowboarders are crazy.  Have you noticed that?
20- lots of fun and random things; lunch @ Carolina Cafe, hanging out with Becky, and dinner to celebrate Doug's bday
21- lots of laughter after a great Baptism service
22- my Inbox didn't explode upon opening up at work!  seriously... I only had 20ish new emails!
23- took a night for ME!!!
24- started writing my essays for my grad school application.
25- lunch w/ Deanna
26- Missions Dinner at church -- awesome to hear from a girl who at 20 raised 50,000 to build an orphange/home for street kids in Uganda. 
27- Glee-ful night w/ the girls from Duke!
28- lots done around the apartment, made me feel good -- now I can hit the ground running for my crazy week ahead!

Quick question -- why do most of my good things center around food?  I need to work on finding good things that aren't food.  That is going to be my goal for this month.

Did you see this?

This is kind of old -- well, maybe even really old.  Forgive me.

BUT, did you see one of my favorite musicians Josh Wilson in the Newark airport?

Well, it made US Weekly!  Nope. Not kidding -- here is the little article.  

Made me smile. 

That being said, there is a rumor amongst my friends that Josh might be our worship leader again this year at the Fort Caswell retreat.  I can only hope... because Josh is awesome!