Thoughts on leaving the bright lights

So I've been up since before 7am....arghhh...if u know me, then you're thinking the same thing....i don't have to be out of the bed till 9:45 for church this morning so I thought...maybe God wants to talk...worth a shot anyway, huh? Anyway, so here's some verses that have kind of been roaming through my heart lately and I thought I'd share-they have everything to do with me leaving (guess you can blame it on Him when you're sad):

• "Why do you make me SEE iniquity, and why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is parlyzed and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goe forth perverted. 'LOOK among the nations, and see wonder and BE astounded. For I am doing a WORK in your days that you would not believe if told'." -Habakkuh 1:3-5

• "ENLARGE the place of your tent, s-t-r-e-t-c-h your tent curtains wide, DO NOT hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you WILL spread out to the left and to the right; your descendants will disposess nations and settle in their desolate cities." -Isaiah 54:2-3

• "Unless the LORD builds the HOUSE, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the CITY, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go to bed late, eating the bread of anxious toil; for HE GIVES to his BELOVED SHEEP." -Psalm 127:1-2
  

You could all also blame Celia for posting this blog (see below) a little over a year before I heard God calling me....it just tugged on my heart and i printed it, stuck it on my mirror and started praying it. Ever think God shows u something simply for you to pass it on to others? I had just started volunteering at the crisis pregnancy center and I intended it to be my prayer for my involvement in that ministry. ummm...can i take it back?

O Lord,

Open my eyes that I may see the needs of others;

Open my ears that I may hear their cries;

Open my heart so that they need not be without succor;

Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,

Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.

Show me where love, hope, and faith are needed,

And use me to bring them to those places.

And so open my eyes and ears

That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee.

My point is...while I'm sad to leave the city lights of nashville and all the bright lights that God has placed in my life, pointing me to exactly where I am right now (yup each of you has played a role in getting me to the goodbye as well); I have been given a sense of peace about it, more than I have these last months and I know it's time to begin the first leg of my journey. I'll be back soon city on a hill.....very soon. and the warmer weather is pretty welcomed too.

Savouring the last few moments

Wow the second week of Feb. has come and gone....insane! Yesterday, was christmas. Seriously, I'm gonna quit blinking (although, slightly unproductive b/c my contacts would dry out and then I'd be blind...hmmm....maybe a time machine would be more effective.....I'll get right to work on that in all the spare minutes I have)! So last wkend my auburn girls came in and we had lots of fun.....see? the 80's really were fun. I promised snow and produced. I'm tired of words, easier said in pictures.....

the girls...Celia, Stephanie, Audry, Me, Jackie

Me and Heather

Brooklyn and us girls

Countdown: 13 days till I head south for the remainder of winter and then some....me, some clothes, books, assorted music, my tv and of course my boyfriend tivo all packed in my global warming causing, gas chugging, but reliable SUV. This sounded like a better idea oh about 4 months ago. So this week has been me avoiding the innumerable questions of my excitement, preparedness, and details.....I'll give u it in a few words......SAD, unpacked, and blissfully unaware. Basically, I'm just going to throw things in the car, fill up my tank, and drive....if I think about it anymore, I might cry. It's all a little scary, but I know it's where God's calling me for right now...I'm just trying to think of it as a very short hiatus.....nothing more than a few days. As for after that...the plan is back to nashville till I leave for life on another continent. Right, i know i'm irrational...part of the charm right? k, just remember all of this when approaching me in the coming days and keep in mind that u should never back a scared animal into a corner :)

Wedding Bells

Ok, so I guess I'm still alive....but avoiding Blockbuster with a passion. These last 2 wkends I got to spend with old friends and making new as we celebrated Jessica's wedding.....She's MARRIED! and living in Alabama now (Just remember that this technically means YOU are the one that left!-first)...I'm sad already! So some pictures to commemorate the occasion. Now we shall start planning the first reunion...perhaps early June to hike/camp out!

Spa Beauties!

At Cabanna....ummm...yummy chicken!

Bride to Be with some homemade sangria!

Rehearsal Dinner

Beautiful Girls.....Jessica couldn't be more excited AND calm.Seriously...court-you can straighten my hair anytime you want....thanks bunches!

Nashville won't be the same....we miss you!

Make it a Blockbuster Night

This may very well be my last post ever. So, as my potential last act as ruler of the world, I am issuing a PSA.

Blockbuster kills. Just say no to blockbuster. This is more important than the Huddle House ban of '06. Ignore their soothing blue lights and all-you-can-rent-videos-for-2.99-for-the-entire-month coupons. It is not worth the risk. That's right....my life, is in danger as I type. I do not exaggerate...ever...so you can take me at my word. Here's the story behind the facts:

Stalkers work at Blockbuster...apparently they don't run background checks or use the stalker personality checklist to weed out potential psychos. It's kinda important that the people entrusted with sensitive info like your name, address, phone number, and the kind of movies you love have a good head on their shoulders. They have to be more than just helpful and cheerful...they should also be law abiding citizens and uncreepy. They shouldn't make you want to run screaming from the store without first grabbing your movie you already paid for and then write a blog banning them.

Seriously, I'll recount the creepy scene....let's call the perp SSD (scary stalker dude). Early this wk, i stopped by to pick up The Office, season 2, disk 2 to catch up on my new fav tv show. As I was checking out SSD came up to me and in an ultra-creepy and annoyingly slow voice said "Hello. How are you?" and then just stared.....long after i left the store...that's right. He peered through the Blockbuster Video window at me as I was getting into my car and until I had driven off....k, that's not creepy at all. I shrugged it off, having just encountered Publix stalker, I was wierded out, but not threatened. So earlier tonight, I went back for disk 3. Who's there, but SSD. I quickly grab the video and head to the front, hoping to avoid him...but no, his radar is too good and before I can escape he comes up to me...did I mention his lazy eye? oh, he has a lazy eye.....and so him and his eye come up to me and say in the SSD creepy voice "Hello. It's you. I'm so glad you came in. I was hoping you would come back soon. You should consider making this a frequent occurance..your blockbuster attendance. How are you tonight?" At this pt, I was beyond hyperventilating and I was hoping that the register guy could sense my telepathic HELP brain signals I was yelling....I quickly grabbed my video and practically ran from the doors thinking....I will never return SSD! As I was driving away....I realized that he had all the info one would ever need to start stalking....my name, address, phone number...the make/model and license plate of my car (since it was parked next to the door)....and the list of movies i have most recently rented. That is more information than I would ever want him to know. Can I just interject here that SSD is one of those people that you would run from even if you had never talked to him...he just gives you that vibe....but tonight, at the counter...with his creepy voice and words seriously scared me.

So, from now on...it's Hollywood Video for me. I have not yet once encountered any employee there that has stalker potential and they have always been professional. Please join me in this important movement today, and save a life-possibly your own. Upgrade to Hollywood and don't make it a blockbuster night.

Out with the old.....

Adios 2006!-so long to the memories....another chapter is finished and it's time to look foward to a new year full of good times, laughs, and unforgettable experiences in 2007. Before I do, I'm taking a moment to list the top 10 bestest things about 2006 (that's right, i said bestest...it's my world, i rule it...get over it!)

2006 Top 10 Bestest Memories:

10-john mayer/sheryl crow concert @ starwood ampitheatre

9-discovering who my true friends are through several trials over last yr

8-helping one of my best friend's boyfriend propose

7-making the decision to move to africa for awhile and then actually getting excited about it

6-finally finding Fellowship and making it my home

5-running the CM1/2 with 10 of my close friends

4-all the mummies concerts

3-visiting Ireland

2-climbing camelback mtn/hiking in sedona-redrock/hiking into the grand canyon

1-running 26.2 miles in the desert and finishing alive (without being chased or compensated)