A Crowded Newsfeed

I should stop reading Facebook newsfeed. I just get annoyed by reading everyone's last meal and random thoughts that just are not interesting. And what is it with people talking about "him" or "her" all the time? Who are these nameless, faceless people? A curious girl like me can't stand it! Grown people (well in their 20's anyway) are putting things like "so in love with him" on their status. This whole "missing her" business is just crazy. Post on "her" wall that you miss her and leave the rest of us alone. We're not in middle school anymore. Don't be shy. If you're really in love, put a name on the love of your life and shout it from the rooftops! Come on people; be bold and be brave! Admit who you're talking about because mysterious statuses are just as ridiculous as what you had for breakfast. Be creative with your status. Update us on funny moments or observations from your worldview. Consider if anyone else would find what you have to say intriguing/hilarious/informative/enlightening before you post.

Where Did Fall Go??

It's a good thing I took lots of pictures of the colorful trees this year because I blinked and fall was gone. Everyone else is rushing and bringing out the Christmas decorations. Not me, I'm going to savor this last week or so of autumn. I think it's strange to have out Christmas decorations at Thanksgiving. No one gives that holiday its due. This is still a time for turkey and pumpkins and candles that match the leaves outside. Why people don't enjoy the season they're in? All of you that already have your trees out will be the first to wish for spring. What makes Christmas decorations special to me is that they're up for such a short time. My tree is reserved for after Thanksgiving. I bought a new wreath but dutifully put it in the garage and left out my orange rose wreath until the time comes. I'm no Scrooge; I just like every season equally. When the time does come; it will look like an elf vomited Christmas all over my home. Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Home Sweet Home Away From Home

We made it back home safely and efficiently today. I'm going to really impress you now; I've already unpacked and put away the luggage. However, I have not done any laundry and I only did the dishes because they smelled. Our trip went really well. The weather was unusually colder down south and I got to see brilliant stars in the beautiful southern sky. The city lights outshine our stars. Visiting Arkansas is strange now. When we first moved to Kansas City, going back to our home towns felt like, well, going back home. Now I feel like I'm vising family and I'm actually from Kansas City. As we drove into the city today, I felt more at peace than I have after any of our other Arkansas trips. This is where God wants us right now. Kansas City is our home now. I really felt like a foreigner at times this weekend; especially when my grampa introduced me as his "granddaughter from Kansas City." I had also forgotten about Jonesboro's dry county law until we had to sign in at Olive Garden. Ha! What a silly procedure! In case you don't know the law, restaurants who serve alcohol are required to be "private clubs" so they have their diners sign up for free "memberships." It seems pointless since most restaurants don't keep up with their list of "members." Gotta love that small town charm! I loved seeing my family and friends this weekend. I've missed each and every one of you so much! And to the ones I didn't get to see; we'll back for a week right after Christmas. Hope to see you all then!

Costumes and Candy

I haven't celebrated Halloween in years. When I was a small child I loved Halloween. What kid doesn't love getting candy just for playing dress-up? I was a red M&M quite a few times; probably because I never outgrew the outfit. Sometime in middle school, my parents stopped taking us trick-or-treating and instead we went to the church fall festival. I stopped wearing costumes around that time because no one else my age did. In highschool, I got my fill of costumes in the fall play and spring musical every year. The "cool" thing to do was find "haunted" places to go to and watch scary movies. In college, I was too busy with homework. I just kept skipping over this silly holiday. I forgot what a good reason it is to get together with friends and act completely ridiculous. This year, I thought it would be fun to go all-out. I'm collaborating with a friend to throw a costume bash. It's kept me pretty busy but it's all in fun. I feel like a little kid again; getting ready with costume ideas and schemes. I can't believe I've been ignoring October 31st for so long. Happy Halloween, everyone!

I've Been Idly Watching Life Pass Me By

This summer I really got into a slump. I watched far too much tv and sat on the couch more than any twenty-something ever should. And this has become my lifestyle. I work until 11:30 pm, so I sleep really late; later than my body needs to. I get up, wander around in my pj's all morning, play with Chipper, then go to work. I have become a lazy bum. I put off everything until the weekend. Well this ends now. Life is zooming by and I'm not seizing every moment to enjoy it. I find I need some structure and goals in place to accomplish anything. I'm completely lost without my college deadlines! So I'm putting these goals out in public for all the world to see and hopefully hold me accountable to. I'm putting these in can-do/will-do phrasing so they seem more like statements than goals....thereby tricking myself into accomplishing them. Maybe this will work....

1. I'm going to get up earlier because I really don't need 9-10 hours of sleep every night.

2. I'm going to read more. And not just those trashy magazines that keep coming in the mail for free. I want to read through the entire Bible and constantly keep another book going too; a chapter of both, a day. I'm also going to read the news every day.

3. I'm going to blog once a week; like I planned to do when I started this thing.

4. I'm going to capture one moment a day in a photograph and share it.

5. LESS TIME ON FACEBOOK!!

6. I'm going to re-learn Spanish. It helps to have a second language in your back pocket; at least the basics. I've heard once you learn one new language, other languages are a piece of cake.

7. I really want to to teach myself guitar; not concert/leading church-worthy guitar, but enough to have fun and play a ditty occasionally.

8. I am going to constantly have an art project going; not going as in sitting-in-my-closet-hasn't-been-touched-in-weeks, either; actually really, truly working on and finishing projects.

9. I'm going to work out in some form or other every day. I'm going to go on afternoon walks with Chipper and Chris every chance I get.

10. Weekly dates with Chris are going to happen. Going out or staying in; tv off. Face-to-face time with my best friend.

Everybody's Changing and I don't feel the same

I just got a call from a friend and her ringtone is the song "Everybody's Changing" by Keane. Not surprisingly, it really struck a chord with me. The most random and mundane things can really grab my attention sometimes. I started thinking about the past and how much I have changed. My husband and I recently acquired a small inside dog. For those of you that knew me when I was younger, this probably comes as a major shocker. I used to be terrified of big dogs and annoyed by little dogs. My mom tells a story of my loving uncle terrorizing me with a poodle when I was a toddler. She attributes the start of my fears from that episode. However, I vividly remember being chased around my grandparents backyard by a giant (man-eating beast from The Sandlot) dog when I was in elementary school. His owner claimed hot pink (the color of my favorite windbreaker) happened to be his dog's favorite chew toy color. I guess I was about the size of a chew toy at the time. I narrowly escaped/jumped/flew into my dad's arms when he came outside because I was screaming as I ran laps past every window. My annoyance of little dogs came from some family members who owned hyper inside dogs that jumped all over me and yapped and were just generally obnoxious. We also owned an idiot Dalmation mix for a while too. I had so many bad experiences with dogs that I just tried to avoid them. It translated into me not liking pet type animals at all since I think cats are creepy and ultimately Satan in fur form. My strong dislike for cats will never change, but my dog fear did with time. When I went to college, my parents experienced a strange form of empty nest syndrome and attempted to replace me with a medium-sized outside mutt. Ginger was the sweetest, most good- natured dog I ever met. When I was home, I would sit out on the porch and pet and play with Ginger. I could just feel the stress melting away. Ginger changed my outlook on canines. I had just happened to meet a poor sampling of her kind. It would be the equivalent of judging the entire human based on Joan Rivers and Hannibal Lecter Since moving up here, I've missed my relaxing dog-petting time. So Chris and I had been talking about "expanding our little family" with a small pet. It was perfect timing when my old college roomie needed to get rid of one of her dogs. Chipper is a poodle-bichon frise mix and he is perfect for us! He's playful and content to nap on the couch with me too. I'm so glad to have Chipper around. He really cuts down on the loneliness and need to blog on here....obviously since I've taken such a long hiatus. I am curious what Mom and Dad will replace my brother with. A Great Dane, possibly?

Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes

I watched the movie Footloose last night for the first time. It's one of those classic movies that I've wanted to watch for a while but never found the time for it. I couldn't believe how much the story line tied into my current events. Here's a quick synopsis for those of you so un-cultured as to have never seen it. By the way, I highly recommend it. This is a tale of teen rebellion and repression. Kevin Bacon's character, Ren, moves from Chicago to a small Midwestern town. This town is set in the Bible belt and the local fundamentalist Christian church is the focal point. The pastor of said church seems more important than the mayor. Rock & roll music and dancing are viewed as sin and are thereby outlawed. They also banned various books based solely on their title. Obviously the plot is that Ren fights the elders to have a school dance.

As I watched this movie, sadly I wasn't shocked by the church's attitude. I grew up in the Bible belt and I know that many of the generation portrayed in the movie would love to ban all kinds of "sinful" behaviors. It's because of this atmosphere that Ren felt like an outsider and I fear many people do when they visit churches.

At church and small group, we've been discussing "church lingo" and how it makes newcomers feel excluded at times. This can be a hard concept for me, considering my background. But, when I consider it closely, the concept is simple. To people who weren't raised in church or the south, saying "Jesus came into my heart" sounds insane and calling them "brother" or "sister" is odd and can be off-putting. There are other ways to explain your salvation that sound more intelligent. I know we're the family of God but the "brother/sister" thing is sickly sweet, especially to a stranger. I consider many new and old friends my family! As Christians, we've created this subculture where watching rated R movies, drinking beer, and dancing are faux pas. Who are we to judge people, rather than love them? We raise up our morality higher than our relationship. Jesus dined with the lowest of the low in his society, yet we surround ourselves with "good" things and fear stepping out of our comfort zones to be in the world and not of the world. I know that's a thin line to walk, but I think we can all do a better job of it.

This may seem harsh but know that I'm talking mostly to myself here. If you're convicted, then so be it.