Why I Love Christmas

I am writing this post in March -- and having it post in December.  I am pretty sure this one is going to surprise me when it pops up on the blog.  But, why not write about it when the inspiration hits?

I can't take credit for this idea though -- again, it comes from this blog.

1. I believe in Christ.  A day to celebrate His birth, and ultimately celebrating why He came to this Earth.  Humbles me every time to know He died for me.
2. The anticipation.  Call me crazy, but I think the best part of Christmas is actually when you crawl into bed on Dec 24th and think to yourself "tomorrow is Christmas."
3. Relaxation.  My family does very little on Christmas.  It involved a lot of sleeping, playing with the new toys and watching TV.  Oh, and eating.  Now that I am older, I at least help my mom with that portion of it.
4. Christmas Music.  See this post from last year.
5. Time off.  It is the perfect excuse to take some time off, rejuvenate and NOT think about work.  I think every job should allow you paid time off at Christmas. 

Why do you enjoy Christmas?

I choose joy

I consider myself to be a realist.

At times the glass is half full.  Other times it is half empty.  And most of the time?

It just is.  The glass has water in it.

That being said, my roommate and I often talk what it looks like to live with joy, with hope.  It can be a struggle for both of us.

I know that I live with hope.  I know Christ.  He is my Savior and someday I will get to see Him face to face, in a place that is without the sin that has so corrupted this world.  And when I live in light of that?  Hope is easy.  Joy is easy.

But most days I forget about that truth.

I instead let life get in the way.  How will bills get paid while I am in school? Will I ever learn to trust Christ with everything? Will I ever know what it is like to have a boyfriend? be married? have children?  How will I get all my school work be done?  Will the people in my life who don't know Christ come to know Him as their Savior?  What do people think of me?  Am I too fat? too dorky? too tall? too quirky?

I get lost.

And then I talk to roomie and we discuss how we should choose joy. choose hope.  choose trust.

And I have learned over the last few months of attempting to choose joy, hope, trust, that it is a moment by moment decision; a hour by hour decision; a day by day decision.

I have been reading Sarah Markley's blog off and on for a while know.  Yesterday I saw this post and decided I want to join her in a quest to choose joy.

While I don't know if I will find 100 joys in December... or if I will be able to remember to photograph those things... of if I'll even remember to blog about it... I am going to choose joy.

Today I choose joy.

I am joyful because I had a super, duper productive night last night.  I mean, the type of productiveness that meant I crossed off 5 plus things off of my must-do-this-before-the-end-semester-which-ends-on-Dec-8th list.  And it felt good.

I am joyful because I have an awesome roomie who listens, keeps me accountable and is willing to live an authentic life with me.

I am joyful because I have a great group of friends who check in on me.

I am joyful because after last night's awesome convo with the roomie, I felt the Lord lift my anxieties off of my shoulders.

How are you choosing joy today? 

The 3's

Forgive my very long blogging break.  If you follow my blog, you know it happens.  Life has certainly gotten in the way... starting grad school, staying social, working part time, keeping up relationships... well, they all take time.

That being said... I am going to get back into blogging very, very slowly.  Here is a meme that I got tagged in...

The 3's:

Three names I go by:
1. Jaye
2. Jaye P.
3. Jaye Patricia (but that is reserved for the grandparents)

Three jobs I have had in my life:
1. Chick-fil-a... I worked in the back
2. far too many temp jobs; the best when I was a secret shopper and I ordered drinks to see if the wait staff would card me.  And no, I didn't get to actually drink the drink!
3. Girl Scouts, Membership Director and now a 100th Anniversary Project Coordinator

Three places I have lived:
1. Virginia Beach, VA
2. Ann Arbor, MI
3. Raleigh, NC

Three Favorite drinks:
1. Coca-Cola
2. Water
3. Barq's Root Beer

Three TV shows that I watch:
1. Glee
2. Teen Mom
3. Criminal Minds

 Three Places I have been:
 1. Budapest, Hungary
 2. Germany
 3. Istanbul, Turkey

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Pizza - Mellow Mushroom for special occasions and Papa John's if I am ordering in...
2. Chinese - cheap Chinese may be the best...
3. Quesadillas


Three things I am looking forward to:
1. being done with this semester
2. seeing people after Thanksgiving
3.  Christmas music :-)

Three people I think will respond:
1. you're assuming I'll tag anyone... HA!


Three pets I have/had:
1. Rosie, the best Rottweiler there ever was.
2. Lana, my first crazy Siamese
3. Belle, my current crazy Siamese

Three places I want to visit before I die:
1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. England/Ireland

Good Things: June 2010

Here goes all the awesome of June:

1- felt rested when I woke up
2- dinner at Becky's
3- my last ever Thursday night meeting for work!
4- Invictus -- pretty good movie
5- Kilwin's ice cream.  Do I need to say more?
6- lots going through my head
7- CPK w/ Laura -- I really enjoy that girl
8- bible study ended early, GLEE finale
9-  Beauty and the Beast at the DPAC
10- home to clean and organizer, that always makes me feel good
11- Virginia -- man, do I love the smell of salt air
12- mom's picnic for work
13- lazy day, nice dinner with the rents for mom's birthday
14- unpacked, the Pocketbook App
15- I love Girl Scouts -- they are some smart girls!
16- Day Camp
17- Tiffany was in town!  yea for seeing a friend for the first time in forever
18- got a night at home... lots done... and I slept on the couch!  I love sleeping on the couch
19- the Back to School Carnival went off without much of a hitch
20- baby sitting is good money
21- cleaned out my car -- boy did it need it!
22- BJ's for grocery shopping -- got lots for my money!
23- PURGED! 
24- scrapbooked :-)
25- Criminal Minds is my new show; it is disturbing but fascinating
26- Little Point Sable!!! :-), oh and maple sugar candy
27- Ece and Mete, they are a pretty cute cousins
28- Met baby Gabe!
29- Dune Buggy Ride at Silver Lake, MI
30- got good time with the mom in the car

With all that I have done this past month... maybe that means I should update this blog.  Not sure why I am not.  I have been isolating myself a lot lately and I am not sure why.  Trying to think through that...

Life is good, though!  I start school in about six weeks and I get more excited each day.  As well, more nervous...  Hope you all are staying cool.  It is HOT here.

Glee: Funk

photo from gleeimages.com

Episode 21: Funk

Jesse heads back to Vocal Adrenaline.  Their sneak performance leaves the New Directions crew in a funk.  How does Rachel deal with Jesse's betrayal.  Can Quinn express her feelings about Puck and the baby?  And do Sue and Will have feelings for each other?

Things I Loved:

•  the pearl necklace Sue wears on her "date" with Will... with her tracksuit.  Sometimes I love how well they have designed the caricatures in this show.
• the cheerleaders loosing it when Sue looses it.  What will they do with out the National Championships?
• Kurt at the National Championships.  Chris Colfer is one of my favorites.
• Finny D and Pucky Puck.  Good Vibrations.  Took me straight back to the 90s.  And I found myself wanting to get up and dance.
• All the guys sticking up for Rachel.  They are a team! :-)  Oh, and Kurt sitting down as soon as Will tells them to.

Things I'm Not a Fan of:

•  Will going to Sandy for drugs to get out of his funk.  Seems out of character to me.  
• Terri crushing on Finn.  Already done... multiple times (Dawson's Creek, The OC).
• Rachel getting egged -- I could have cried!  Mean Jesse.  Bad Jesse.  Never come back!

Favorite Lines:

•  Kurt: Rachel's one of us. We're the only ones who get to humiliate her!
• Kurt: I'm so depressed, I've worn the same outfit twice this week.
• Will: Today, I want to talk to you about regrets. Who has some?
  Rachel: Giving my heart to Jessie, just to have it crushed like the stage floor at a performance of Stomp.
  Quinn: Thinking "Trust me" was a sensible birth control option.

Ok, who is ready?  The Journey to Regionals CD was released today.  Safe to say I'll be listening to it all day at work.  The Season Finale is tonight... 9pm.  I am so excited -- but also really sad.  No new Glee until the Fall.  What will I do?  What do you think happens?  Will New Directions or Vocal Adrenaline win Regionals?

 

Glee: Theatricality

photo from gleeimages.com

Episode 20: Theatricality

Rachel meets her mom.  Burt sticks up for Kurt.  Everyone learns that deep down inside, they are all freaks... and a team.

Things I Loved:

• The Finn/Kurt/Burt scene.  Talk about intense -- but good.  Burt sticking up for his son, talking about the weight words can carry.  All great.
• "Beth"  The "Kiss-mates" did a great job -- and it made me totally fall for Puck, again.  One of the producers said in an interview it would... why do girls love to see bad boys be good?
• Rachel and her mom: the same love for Gold Stars, too cute.  And their rendition of Poker Face?  Made me actually like the song!
• Matt finally spoke!  Yea!

Things I am Not a Fan of:

• The boys dressed up as Kiss.  No one should ever wear spandex, especially boys.
• Finn in the giant, red, Lady Ga-Ga outfit.

Favorite Quotes:

• Tina: My mom won’t even let me watch Twilight. She says she thinks Kristen Stewart seems like a bitch.
• Artie: (about Tina's new look) It's so weird.
  Finn: This so isn't you.
  Tina: I feel like an Asian Branch Davidian.
  Will: Tina, are there any other looks you can try?
  Santana: Biker chick?
  Finn: Cowgirl?
  Mercedes: Hood rat.
  Quinn: Computer programmer.
  Brittany: Cross-county skier.
  Puck: Catholic schoolgirl.
  Brittany: Happy meals, no onions. Or a chicken.

Glee: Dream On

photo from gleeimages.com

Episode: 19: Dream On

We all have dreams.  Some attainable, some not so much.  If all of our dreams from High School don't come true, do we turn into bitter, star-sucking, black hole-creating adults, or do we just shift to more realistic dreams?

This weeks episode explored dreams lost, dreams attainable and dreams unattainable.  Does everyone's dream come true?

Things I Loved:

• First and foremost: Artie's Safety Dance.  OMG, was it beyond awesome.  I immediately rewound the DVR (can you rewind a DVR???) and watched it again.  That's right, didn't even finish watching the show to watch it.  That is how killer the dance was.  Kevin McHale is an awesome dancer -- too bad he is in that wheelchair! 
• Emma being an actual guidance counselor to Artie.  She properly guided him to realize that he may not walk again.  Heartbreaking to watch, but I like how Glee doesn't try to sugarcoat EVERYTHING (although most is sugar coated)
• Neil Patrick Harris.  He was awesome and made me laugh out numerous time.  The best?  Those jean jackets!
• The flashback of Will in High School -- more of those awesome 90's styles please!

Things I am Not a Fan of:

• The cheese level, especially coming out of Will's mouth?  NPH is creating black holes by cutting the Glee Club.  At some point we just have to say enough!
• Emma being an actual guidance counselor to Artie.  Yes I loved it... but I also hated it.  I just felt so bad for Artie.
• I felt like their were two endings -- The "I Dreamed a Dream" sequence and the "Dream a Little Dream" -- I know it was because there were two storylines to close out/preview to... but I just felt like it was too much.

Things I am Not Sure About:

• Jesse -- So we see why he really change schools.  Makes me not like him -- yes, it gives Shelby depth, but we see that Jesse might not really care for Rachel.  And I don't want him to hurt Rachel.  I guess I really want to like Jesse and I can't decide if I can or not.

Favorite Quotes:

• Rachel: (About a cassette with her mother on it) What if she's singing on the tape? What if she's terrible? Or worse - what if she's better than me? 
• Bryan: (to Will) I was introduced to Jesus. He was my Honduran social worker. I straightened up, put down the pipe, met the love of my life, Wilma, and now I run a successful used Hummer dealership. Don't make that face. Global warming's a theory
• Will: You take away glee, you’re not just putting out those kids’ lights. You’re creating 13 black holes.

Glee: Laryngitis

Photo from gleeimages.com

Episode 18: Laryngitis

Our favorite Glee characters all deal with loss.  Rachel loses her voice, Kurt loses his identity, and Puck loses his Mohawk.  How do they deal with these loses?  And do they learn anything from them?

Things I Love:

• That I now know how to spell Laryngitis.  Seriously, have to type it out for this post has helped me.
• The song choices -- I was a fan of all of them this week!  Jesse's girl was a classic -- and Cory (Finn) sounded great!  And you can't go wrong with U2's One.
• Lady is a Tramp.  Did Puck (played by one talented Mark Salling) look and sound great or what?
• Kurt's "Rose's Turn"  Chris Colfer is quickly becoming on of my favorites to watch.  His comedic timing is amazing and boy can he perform.  I believe Mike O'Malley (who plays his dad) once said something along the lines, "You just get out of the way of that talent."  

Things I'm Not a Fan of:

• Will you just stick to one pairing of couples?  I mean -- Puck hits on Rachel, then he hits on Mercedes, and isn't he supposed to be having a baby with Quinn.  At the end of Episode 13, didn't he want to be with Quinn?  I get he is a player -- but let's have some longevity to some of these pairings.  If we don't then we won't have any couples to really back. 
• The whole singing "One" with the paralyzed guy -- it was awkward to me.  I get why they did it for the storyline, but I just couldn't handle it.
• I would have loved to see more of the character solos -- but I know we only have one hour to work with here... but still.  They were all looking to find their voice -- what would Quinn have sung? or Artie? or Tina?

Favorite Lines:

• Rachel: In my case, the obstacle is you. 
• Puck: Watch out black girl whose name I don't remember.  The Puckster is about to make you his.
• Rachel: I'm like Tinkerbell, Finn!  I need applause to live!

Glee: Bad Reputation

 Photo from gleeimages.com

I took a small hiatus from blogging in May -- mainly unplanned.  BUT, here I am again, attempting to be consistent.  Lots to update you on, including all of my thoughts on Glee.  As June 8th is the Season 1 Finale, I thought I would do a countdown of sorts, where I recap and give my thoughts on some of the episodes I have missed.  Are we ready?

Up first, Episode 17: Bad Reputation.

A Glist surfaces -- a list of the Glee members with the worst reputations.  Will has to hunt down the conspirator or risk having the Glee Club shut down.  Puck is the prime suspect, but did he do it?

Sue gets a taste of her own medicine when some Glee members leak a rather embarrassing video of her.  Will she get redemption?

And on the musical side of things, we see some rather awesomely bad songs get re-vamped and re-done, Glee style.

Things I Love:

• The Puck and Rachel story line. I love Puck and  I am not afraid to admit it.  And so any thing that showcases him, well, I will typically be a fan.  Loved seeing them together, seeing their chemistry.  Also glad to see it fit well with the story line.
• Run Joey, Run video -- it was ridiculous.  Almost too ridiculous, but it was also hilarious.  Loved seeing Sandy Ryerson (the creepy teacher and previous Glee coach from the first half of the season) prance across the lawn -- good use of his character!
• Sue's sister!  Sue has a heart and when you bring in her sister you see it.  
• All of the dancing!  It was BRILLIANT!  Especially the "You Can't Touch This" scene.  Heather Morris (plays Brittany) can MOVE! 
• Quinn being the Glist maker.  We are getting to see how hard being pregnant and still homeless (we don't know who she is living with yet) are just hitting this once popular cheerleader very hard. 

Things I'm Not a Fan of:

• The Physical video.  I don't know why I didn't like it... I just didn't.  Maybe because it felt so forced in the story line?  I mean really -- Olive Newton John just happens to see it and wants to re-shoot?
• The ballet dance to "Total Eclipse of the Heart."  Like the song, normally like the dancing.  But this time is just didn't do it for me.  Maybe it is because I don't really see Lea Michele being much of dancer.  Sorry that wasn't nice -- but kind of true.

Favorite Lines:

• Artie: I'm kind of getting cold feet here.
  Brittany: Can you even feel your feet?
• Will: (about the Glist) Puck, seriously, did you do it?
  Puck: I said no! I'm a delinquent, sure. I like setting stuff on fire and beating up people I don't know. I own at. But I'm not a liar.
• Puck: I try to be a good guy. I go to school and I say, ‘Be cool, Puck. Be nice.’ But by second period I have a fire extinguisher in my hands and I’m spraying some dweeb with it and I don’t know how I got there.
• Emma: You're a slut, Will!"

Overall we are getting closer and closer to "old" Glee -- before it was a massive hit.  I am sure to be watching "Ice, Ice, Baby" and "You Can't Touch This" over and over again... in hopes to pick up some mad dance moves! ;-).

What did you enjoy?  What didn't your like?  Are you even a Glee fan?

Glee: Season One Finale

I may or may not be counting down the days, hours, minutes until the Glee Season One Finale.  I love this show -- as you can all tell.  I just wish I was as talented as them, wish life was a musical, and so this show fits me perfectly!

That being said, check out this sneak peak:




Does it make you smile as much as it makes me smile???

Teaching and Being an Evangelical

Found this article through a friend of mine.  That friend is the Josh Dickson interviewed for this article.  He and I went to college together and led in Campus Crusade together.  He is an amazing man who loves the Lord, and who is also very passionate about education. 

I have a very specific memory of being in a car with him, on the way to a leadership retreat I believe, talking about the power of education, how our father's being teachers affected us and talking about our dreams for education. 

I am excited to see where God takes him -- sounds like Josh will be used to change the world through education and social activism.  I am blessed to be able to call him friend and brother!

Take the time to read the article -- it is interesting!

Good Things: May 2010

I don't even know where I have been, blogosphere.  Good thing I really only do this for myself.  Here are my Good Things for May!

1- Dinner in Charleston, on the rooftop.  The Breeze and nice weather was more than I could ask for.
2- Boone Hall Plantation
3- 1st sunburn of the summer... not a great thing... but I love that it means warm weather is here
4- Home...
5- God provides (as always)!  My Boss takes me going back to school well; I finish with my pre-req class.
6- My CEO has a project she wants me to work on as my part-time position!  God is so good!
7- Shag Dancing :-)
8- Strawberry picking -- they were everywhere
9- filled out the FASFA -- dude, it was so much easier than I thought!
10- ...
11- Bible Study... just left encouraged
12- WICKED!  Need I say more?
13- very productive day at work... and dinner at Chipotle
14- orientation for school -- it is becoming so real!
15- lots of cleaning... boy did my apartment need it!
16- finished Angie Smith's book -- "I Will Carry You" -- easy read, but very encouraging
17- apt stuff not going super well... but lots of laughter with Laura
18- lots of new Glee music! :-), Wakey! Wakey! -- get their CD, it is so worth it!
19- Office Clean out day -- AWESOME!  My new clean office looks amazing
20- good time with Salem -- I have some great volunteers
21- Went to the NC Ag Fest... fun times! 
22- Lara and Bryan's Wedding -- Congrats!
23- found some quiet time
24- didn't have to work as late as I had anticipated
25- Glee and NCIS -- I lead such a sad life...
26- stared a new Scrapbook page... yea for creativity
27- flowers from my Wake 19 volunteers
28- check delivered
29- CASWELL!!! The sun came out and I got some quality time on the beach! :-)
30- shagging at Caswell... the awkward abounds, but sometimes that can be awesome.  Got to teach Josh Wilson and his wife! :-)
31- quality time with Laura.

Happy June!  Hope everyone has some awesome summer plans!

Good Things: April 2010

A couple of days late, but I was out of town... is that an ok excuse?  Anyway, here is what was awesome about April 2010.

1- no class :-)
2- the salt air; drove to Va Beach and was able to enjoy one of my favorite smells.
3- the COTTAGE!  It is done... and gorgeous
4- first fire at the cottage.  :-) such memories of an awesome summer vacation spot.  Can't wait to spend time at our very own family cottage.
5- after a LONG delay in Detroit I made it home.
6- SLEEP
7- What wasn't good about this day? learned I had an interview for Grad School, learned I got a raise, AND my new laptop came!
8- Interview at Meredith -- I thought it went ok.
9- a nice quiet evening
10- fresh pineapple! YUM!
11- I GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL!!!
12- started new Bible Study
13- Glee returned... and it was awesome! :-)
14- time to myself!
15- presentation for class... went pretty well!
16- Pizza House. that should be enough. But it was even more awesome because I just enjoyed being with some awesome people!
17- Jenn's Baby Shower... and I think it went pretty well.
18- quality time with Jenn
19- LOTS of leasing options...
20- Glee Night w/ Teal and Laurie.  It doesn't get much better
21- dinner w/ Lowther.  AND i won the iTouch.
22- my volunteers tell me you are the best membership director.
23- lazy night... and boy did I need it!
24- got lots done... including vacuuming my car.  Is it sad that might have been the first time I did since I bought it three years ago?
25- felt loved at church
26- transition looks better than I thought.... and the iTouch came! I love new toys!
27- was able to just lounge in my pj's... sometimes that is the best
28- dinner at the Nieman's... fresh strawberries!
29- NO Jury Duty!
30- Joy Prom!

Yea... it has been a good month!  Now for summer to begin.  I'm ready!  Are you?

I'm going to bury my head in the sand...

No seriously... today has been on of those days.

Where all you want to do at the end of the day (well, even before that) is curl up in bed and put the pillow over your head.

I have said so many things that embarassed me (not all that hard to do really); I have found out how one person can tell one person who can tell one person until it all gets out; I have put my foot in my mouth multiple times; life has kicked me back into reality.


Guess vacation can't last forever.  Charleston, it was good to escape for a weekend.  Now life has found its way back to me.  Boo. 

Pictures to come.

Thankful

Lots to be thankful this week!

7. new toys (I LOVE my iTouch)
8. vacation (I'm in Charleston)
9. smooth transitions
10.