Exceeded expectations

A section in my bible study was extra good this morning. The wording is what I'm loving....I think I went back to read it like 5+ times. Thought I'd share:

"Every day our fragile tents of flesh hold together, we again experience His miraculous healing. All healing flows from His hands: from the healing of a cold to the healing of cancer. And when that day comes that I no longer experience His physical healing on this earth, ah, to live has been Christ...and to die will be gain." -Beth Moore

To-do:

• Prayers for those in need of his miraculous healing.
• Let go of my worries/stressing over upcoming finals & comprehensive testing. 
• Be a blessing to someone this next week. 
• Have faith to be healed and a faith to be delivered, but mostly a faith to trust.

Short & Sweet

"Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives." Psalms 90:14

This scripture has been on my bathroom mirror but I came across it again today and thought I'd share. It's great wording of how I'm  feeling....satisfied by His unfailing love! He has given me so many reasons to be joyful! I love that this whole month is devoted to reflecting on the Great things He has done/is doing! 

It's my prayer that I continually wake up each day and am reminded of His greatness-His unfailing love! 

The Good Stuff

In this beautiful month of November I'm creating a list of the little (yet so big) things I'm thankful for...

QT with family
Jam sessions in the car with the seesta.
Baking new recipes with the madre.
Sweet church fam.

Pandora entertainment while studying.
Sugar B's guatemalan coffee.
Dad's horrible (yet hilarious) Forest Gump impersonations.
Random netflix greatness with the roomie

Dark chocolate.
Indoor plants that survive with little care.
Lotion filled kleenex and cough drops.
Pumpkin bread/muffins/pie/creamer.

Slumber parties & makeup sessions with the cousins.
Lunch/skype dates with dear friends.
Random Road trips.
Glee Umbrella/Singin' in the Rain performance.

Extra large/soft blankets.
Trees changing to fall colors.
Old photos/videos for sweet memories.
Laughing sessions.

Making a "thankful" list has been a great reminder at how truly blessed I am! Can't wait for this week of fam/food/fun. Hello Thanksgiving Break! Lets be Friends :)

Fingerprinting

So I started a new job that required fingerprinting before starting. Kinda cool being in the systems but kinda not cool having black ink everywhere. To my relief everything turned out to be electronic...holla!
Anywho...I  had my sweet swirly prints scanned and that was that. Not much more thought went into the process until I ran across the following in my bible study (discussing how God has been there for us all along)...

"We will look for the fingerprints of our invisible God interspersed throughout our lives. Beloved, God has been there all along-even before we acknowledged Him as Savior. He is the infinite, eternal, omnipresent God who woos to his heart those who will draw near."

It got me to thinking how God leaves His fingerprints all over our lives. 

Those prints aren't always super obvious and time needs to be devoted to look for them. So I started  looking back in my prayer journals to find evidence of some of His fingerprints in my life. Answers to prayer. Open and closed doors. Growth. Peace of mind...the list goes on...

God also gave each of us our own unique fingerprint to leave behind....I love-love that. We touch lots of things throughout our day. Each time we leave a special mark behind. I suppose that can be encouraging or discouraging, depending on what kind of mark we are leaving. What kind of mark am I leaving on those I encounter everyday? 

To-do list:

Love more.

Cold

It's been beautiful outside lately and I'm loving it! I'm just not ready for this greatness to pass and since I'm not a fan of being cold....I've decided to start the mental preparation for the upcoming winter weather now. So far this prep involves self-pep talks and shopping.

My current finds: Must-have apparel for when I have to venture out into the weather :) Thanks etsy for the entertainment and sweet finds!



Gotta love the bow :)

Leg Warmers

To-do:

Collect cool sprinkles...I got a little distracted during my search.

 







Tag I'm it!

Ok so here is the deal-yo! I was asked to answer 8 questions through a blog-game. My understanding is that if you get "tagged" you are suppose to respond to the questions and then tag others to answer questions & so on. 

Welcome to my 8 questions:

1) If you could pick anywhere in the world to visit, where would you go? Why?

"Backpack" Europe. Yup, 'backpack' with quotes because I couldn't possibly fit what I needed/wanted to bring in a backpack...duh. Backpack sounds way cool though so in my head that's how I picture my visit. I WOULD bring a super stylish backpack along to carry my camera everywhere I visited though. First, it's just a neat place to visit [so I hear]. Second, photos would just be super-fun to take/have [i.e., architecture, people, museums, art]. Third, I want to ride in a gondola being serenaded by a European [because this totally happens there].


travel journal!



2)One Favorite childhood memory?

Mmmm.....lots of fun memories. A fav was making mud pies with my sis and singing 'Happy Birthday to Jesus' on any given day..... Apparently we were confused about His actual day of birth and didn't want to miss it so we sang it often?

3)What season is your favorite? Why?
I'm torn between summer and fall. Weather wise I'd have to say summer because those cold temps are not my friend. If you take the weather factor out....My all time fav is Fall. The fall candle scents rock my world [aka wood wick candles], my birthday month falls in fall, pumpkins are cool, trees turn amazing shades.....and the list goes on.

Fall in PA

4)If you could do anything in the world right now, what would it be?
Right at this very moment I'd choose a remote island, weather in the low 90's. I'd be soaking up the sun and not have a care in the world. Mostly because it is currently stormy/cold and I am starting to feel the pressure of the semester and finals/comprehensive finals (since apparently that was the topic of the day today in class). Not cool. I would love an escape.

5)What is your favorite holiday?
My favorite depends on what holiday is coming next....I love excuses for days off and reasons to celebrate :)

6)Does your name have any specific meaning? If so, what?
According to google it means"the Kent river valley" like a river in England OR "bright river valley." Apparently it's been around  since the 19th century. Kendal is a very common first name for men (#538 out of 1220).  Thanks for the random info google.

Urban's version was slightly different...Kendal is "a really white person that is really white and not ghetto what so ever." For example, "woah that kendal is so white u could throw 500 of her out a plane and itd look like snow!" Hmmmm....TMI urban.

7)When it snows, would you rather build a snowman or a fort?
A fort?? That's a super fab idea. Next time it snows I am so on that.

8)What is your favorite movie of all time?
One Night with the King OR Baby Mamma :)

Bald?

So part of this blog thing is to document stages/ thoughts / dreams/ etc of life. Todays post consists of my Random thought of the week ["random" with all sorts of underlined-ness/ bold /italics because it is random to the max for most peeps]. Welcome to my mind for a minute...



I've always wondered what I'd look like bald.
Is my head a pretty shape?

Is it proportional or janky?

My female inspiration for this bald thing
It's super fab!

I'm sure being bald would create some awkwardness (e.g., stares) but Hello world of simplicity!

• Shampoo purchases would drastically reduce because a bottle would last forever.
• Hair damage, what's that? 
• Wouldn't need a blow dryer [unless of course you have an air matress to inflate] because your hair would be dry before leaving the bathroom. Whoa. Legit.
• Hair-free = carefree?

  



Battleship

Sometimes I feel as though I'm in a barrier game like Battleship ....where I'm on one side moving my pieces around trying to come out on top and the devil is on the other side. Apparently the objective of Battleship is to find/sink the opponent's fleet before they sink yours. No pressure....

It's like the devil is constantly making moves to cause us to stumble in our walk with the Lord. Strategically placing his ships to cause us to sink or to throw us off course. I think that he loves when we get distracted with crazy things [e.g., studying, stress/worry, busyness, over-planning]. It's my objective to find the opponent's ships in my life and sink them before they sink me... Find those distractions keeping me from growing closer to my Savior and developing a heart like His.

I fully believe that God has this plan for me and it's freakin' amazing. I just have to get rid of the barriers that keep me from seeing the direction He is pointing. It's my prayer that I realize what those barriers are in my life so I can take the steps needed to remove them.

"Our human affections and interests are so narrow in comparison that we cannot comprehend the depth, length, and breadth of God's. Our tendency is to think that if He loves us all the same and has a corporate plan as important as the individual, He must be spread pretty thin. God's love is measureless. His plans are infinite. He loves each of us and plans for us with limitless extravagance." -Beth Moore

To-do:
Learn something new about God each day.
Dominate the opponent's fleet.

Count DOWN!

So we are officially into October!! October aka my Birthday Month!! It's kinda a bigger deal this year because both my room mate and I were October babies. We don't do a huge hoop-la every single day BUT it does mean something out of the ordinary slash new must happen :) Yes sir. The count down chain is up and the festivities have begun!

Celebration Count down to the 12th & 24th have begun:

1. 10/1 Cutest Monkey Card ever from roomie!
2. 10/2 QT [aka quality time] with apron, baking a carrot cake...first attempt wasn't my fav but totally edible. 
3. 10/3 Granny Smith apple perfectly laced with golden goodness (aka Carmel).  
4. 10/4 Pumpkin Spice Coffee ....turns ordinary coffee into Fall greatness.
5. 10/5 Dinner Date!
6. 10/6 Cookie Cake!

7. 10/7 Surprise Lunch with new Broccoli and Feta Frittata recipe :)
8. 10/8 Big Red & Gerber Daisies! [Fresh flowers at the house....love it!]

9. 10/9 Sugar B's!
10. 10/10 Coffee & Flowers [some QT with the books/notes for midterms...I'm a lucky girl!]
11. 10/11 Amazing Frankie cake [aka Frankenstein]! Yes, my room mate is considering a career cake baking/decor.

12. 10/12 Midterms and my BIG day are here!! 12 more days of greatness before A's Big day!

To-not-do:

Eat more cake.

Bathroom Etiquette

 I have gone back and forth trying to decide whether to 'post' or 'not to post' this blog thought....obviously the 'post' won the battle. I figure if no one ever shares then nothing will ever be done to correct it. Sooo here are a few of my pet peeves with public restrooms.

• Do NOT leave the seat up in co-ed bathrooms. Most should avoid touching the seat anyway but in case of a muscle spasm or slip...I prefer to land on the seat and not in a bowl of germ-infested waters. Thanks.
• In a restroom, trash cans beside the doors are a must. Then when paper towels are used to avoid pee-infested knobs and chunked across the room aiming for the bin....one doesn't have to feel bad when they miss. Then one must stand at the door awkwardly trying to decide whether to go pick the paper towel up again and start the process all over OR simply walk away. For indecisive people this isn't a cool place to be.  
• You might enjoy reading yourself some newspaper while doing the duty.....but leaving it behind in the stall for someone else later?? Really? No. Trash that sucker on the way out the door. Your hands are all sorts of sick-nasty. 
• Grunting and relieving yourself of enough ethanol to power the next space shuttle is unnecessary.

Kitchen

So it's pretty natural for me to get distracted during important testing times of the semester.... Today's study break I accessorized my future kitchen. Successful day.

My odd way to incorporate A chicken (note the singular tense) into the room....

The perfect kitchen chairs...

Sweet floor art....

To-do list: 

1. Get back to my studies

Fail

So kids are great BUT they definitely have their FAIL moments. Quick synopsis:

Scenario 1
I'm at the school doing therapy...minding my own business as usual when a 3rd grader bumped into me. It was all good because an apology followed BUT then she did a double take with a crazy little expression slapped on her face and said, "you look EXACTLY like my step-mom. EXACTLY." Note to self: whatever you did to yourself that day-Don't ever do again! FAIL.

Scenario 2
The room mate and I enjoy our time spent with youtube vids. We came across one that I can truly label "FAIL." Keenan Cahill you are super cool BUT this particular >>vid gets a big FAIL.

 

Scenario 3
Client: "It stins [aka stinks] in here....did you brush your teef this morning?"
Me (thought process): No dude, it's not my breath. The kid next to you just farted but I was trying not to disrupt our therapy session with drawing attention to it....but since you mentioned it....
Me (actual words):  No honey your classmate just tooted and needs to say 'excuse me.'

To-do list:

1. Always end with a "WIN"(came across this quote in a Beth Moore study)..."Blessings NEVER FAIL to follow obedience"
2. Consume Sugar Brown's coffee

Got Mail

I love me some mail....even those that are addressed incorrectly (i.e., "Kendall" or "Mr. Kendal"). Let me clarify though: I don't like to receive credit card applications or bills...most other things bring me joy. A special thanks to AT&T and Farmers Market, these two pieces in particular made my week :)

AT&T took the time to insert a picture story with my name included! Template or not...it's cool and has earned a place on our refrigerator door.

Farmers Market Ad.. It's coming to LBK October 13th.....the day following my SWEET day of birth. Thank you for the great birthday gift lbk, you really out-did yourself this time. If I didn't have clients the morning of its Grand opening....I'd so be there getting a free bag of goodness.

And peeps...while on the topic. Don't be weird with your mailbox. Take pride in that box of surprises.

Manatee's.....really??

To-do:

Eat Laffy Taffy

Decide on costume

 



Pie

Seriously inspired to bake a pie....of course this would come about the EXACT same time as the busy-busy point of the semester but that's the story of my life :) It's just about time management, yah? Part of me wants to cop-out, throw together a cobbler, and consider it done BUT Martha Stewart helped bring me back to my 'over achieving' ways. Consider it done... decorative crust and all.

Not exactly sure the filling but I know walnuts [new found allergy?!] and blueberries are out. I'm pretty set on a fruit filling...even though mississippi mud or peanut butter pie sound super delish. Oh and I'm saving the traditional fav's like pumpkin for November. Decisions, decisions??

To-do:

1. decide on filling 
2. find time to prep pie
3. find someone [other than myself] to consume pie   

birthday bash

I think I'm gonna plan at least one of my own parties. Umm hmm, at least one of the many we'll be having in October. We are celebrating all month between me and the roomie.

And I'm feeling pretty "fall'ish" and actually considering replacing the birthday cake with a birthday pie [yes, I just started a sentence with "and" ...don't judge]. I may even throw around a few pumpkins and crunchy leaves for decor. The following is my inspiration :)

We are leaving signs/balloons/streamers/pie out all month. Friends welcome.

Dude.

It's time for some randomness that makes my heart happy...

Quote:

"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning the devil says, "OH CRAP, SHE'S UP"!"

Song:
Tyrone Wells "Happy as the Sun" (Link is to a legit cover of it)

Food (most anything "mini"):

Picture:

 

Magazine:

Youtube'd

Target.....you are great and have somewhat summed up my thought processes. Thanks A for the great find!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NBvuwBt7Zg

Caffeine

Ok. I have issues. This summer I got into the habit of drinking this precious black substance known as coffee not 1x but 2x's a day. Wow. Problem? I think yes. I did, however, learn some great-quick ways to prepare it. I mean....if you are going to drink it that often you best know how to do it right.

My all time fav characters explain it best. It's so worth the 2 minutes and 14 seconds of your life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmipMKmcpmo

Tips to having the ultimate coffee experience:

1. Drink Folgers they claim to "match your morning mood"....I'm all about that.  
2. Drink from Bodum glasses. AKA "double wall glass" amazingness. It keeps that sustenance the perfect temp.  
3. Coffee House heated for 23 seconds before adding the powerful stuff.

To-do list:
Drink less coffee.

Fam Time

Greatness from my last wonderful days living with the cousins....

Pace Maker:
My older cousin's explanation to his younger sister for a Pace Maker..."It's something that helps your heart. You know those packages inside the macaroni box that say "heart helper"....they just cram one of those inside you." There you have it. Pace Maker in its simplest terms.

Spa:

My new little sisters decided to treat me to a spa night. Foot soak, massage, nails, iced cookies topped with skittles & milk, entertainment (e.g., specially prepared skits/dances), dimmed lighting/music....they thought of it all. Each of my toes were specially initialled and glittered up. You don't even get this kind of treatment when you pay the big bucks! I'm officially spoiled :)  

Tattoos:
I secretly want a tattoo but the "permanence" of it keeps me away. My cousins learned of this secret and decided to help make it become a reality.

Dear Sonic...

Mom and I decided our night wasn't complete without a Sonic sundae so we made the super long 6 minute drive there and here is the convo:

Sonic: Welcome to Sonic, What can I get you?

Me: Could I get 2 hot fudge sundaes please

Sonic: "Maam the hot fudge is....well...kinda nasty right now. Do you still want it? "

Me: Did you just say "nasty"?

Sonic: Yes maam. I'm just being honest.

Me: (literally laughing out loud at this point) HAHAHA....nope I appreciate the honesty. Can you tell me the flavors that aren't nasty?

Seriously.....Thank you Sonic for making my night.

Glamorous Classic

I have met some great people this summer and one of them introduced me to Home Goods...a store full of good stuff [aka awesomeness] for your home [thus the name]. Anywho we went online one day and found my decorating "style."

"You have a refined sensibility with an appreciation for history/ tradition in your furniture & rooms. You value beauty/ craftsmanship. You are visually sensitive and understand how symmetry and a balanced layout give order to a room. You like to shake things up with some unabashed luxury and glamour to keep things from getting boring."

Wording is everything peeps. 
Welcome to my style..."Glamorous Classic."
There is much more but that's totally TMI for blogging purposes.

Monday notes

Random Notes from my M-M-Monday:

• Bacon bits are a sweet addition to cheese quesadillas....which I suppose that would make it no longer a "cheese" but a "meat" quesadilla. The great thing is you don't even have that sick-nasty bacon grease smell in your house for days after....Whoop for new discoveries!
• Pandora introduced me to Jack Johnson "People Watching"...I give you an A+ Jack, A+. 
• Christmas music was playing in the hospital bathroom today, really? It's August. Welcome to the correct month 'Bathroom Music Picker.' You are disoriented and may need to contact the Speech department for cognitive therapy.....I'm just saying. 
• I had a female patient  that grows facial hair better than my brother. One of the nurses responses to someones comment about her sweet mustache...."we all got 'em some just have better upkeep than others." Haaaaa!! So professional and amazing.

 

My Cart

I have a love/hate relationship with this whole 'not working' thing. And when I say 'hate'....I really mean the only bad part about it is not receiving a paycheck :) No paycheck means I have to actually budget and I have to avoid most all shops. It's a shame to not take advantage of the greatness around me.....but going there means I have to say 'no' to things. Totally lame, I know.

So I've figured out this great way to shop but not. It's called "add to cart" button online! I pretty much get to say 'yes' to whatever I want without breakin' the bank. Mostly because I don't ever actually check out. And the awesome thing is....I can go look at my cart whenever I want! And you know you have a good  online relationship with the company when they even send email reminders about your carted items. Mmmm.mmm.good.

I might have gotten a little carried away with my clicking.  Old school magnets, over-sized brown leather purse, 50's jaguar...

 

Rick

 I wouldn't normally put this long of something quoted in my blog because I've totally been on the other side of that....and seriously it's not always the funnest thing to read. I would like to consider it my blog [aka my own words not someone elses] BUT today I'm making an exception. PLUS I love me some good quotes :) Read it, don't read it, whatev!

Rick Warren is a pretty cool dude. During an interview he talked about his wife now having cancer and he discusses some of his views about life. Some of the following quotes of his were totally thought provoking and legit.


"God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy."

"We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness."

"Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life... And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for."

"When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings."

Wonderful Waffle

After conversing with a friend I've had this craving for waffles....and am afraid the ones from a restaurant aren't gonna cut it. I'm talking home-made. I decided I need (not want) a legit waffle maker.

Barn Animal Waffles

Penguin Waffles

Give me some fruit toppings and maybe some peanut butter and I'm going to town. Not my usual choice of sugary goodness (aka syrup) but if I'm going to do it... I'm going all out :)

To-do List:

1. Find good quality waffle maker.

2. Have Waffle Night! I'd deem it 'waffle wednesday' but Thursday is when the craving originated so that wont work.

3. Drink less coffee.

4. Pull out mad Wii skills to show teenage cousin up. 

5. Soak up every minute I have left with DFW and fam! 

Simple

Phrase directly from a study I'm in that's discussing logical thinking....

"It helped me understand the logical plan of salvation that's so disarming in its simplicity that people skip right over the basic truth: We can go from death to life because of God's love."

I've totally been people watching lately....and there is something about life and people that's so cool. That has got me to thinking though....Some people would be so much cooler if they had Christ in their life. There is like this huge accumulation of love out there and some people don't even know about it?? Crazy sad day. They deserve to know.

I've been convicted lately. I'm experiencing what the "real world" will feel like for me in about a year and trying to figure out how to be a witness through my profession. I encounter people with sad situations and who are going through some tough stuff everyday.....and I so badly want to tell them how they need to know about My Jesus! That brings on LOTS of questions...Where do you draw the line? What does your place of employment consider crossing the line? If I cross the line what will happen? How will the patient take what I have to say? Will they come back later and hold you accountable (law suits, etc.)? Wow. Overload.

Yes. I need to know the boundaries of the place I'm employed BUT I am called to reach out to people. If I wake up each morning and hand the day over to My Jesus.....He is going to use and guide me. He is going to open doors for opportunities. He's totally capable of making complicated situations simple.

Conclusion: God's got my back. I've just gotta take a leap of faith and do what I'm called to do.

Isn't God good!

Bomb Diggity

Speech pathology. That deals mostly with Upper extremities not the lower. You think the "speech" part would give that away but it doesn't. I've had multiple patient's tell me or show me the goods they left all over the sheets below them. Thankfully most makes it on the bed mat and not all over the crisp white sheets but yuck. I totally get that they can't all make it to the pot but seriously....please don't show me. I have a new respect/love for nurses....and I'm super thankful that I'm not one.   

Gross. Yes. Good news though. I stumbled across an amazing creation as I was researching solutions. I think I'm going to propose this one to the hospital. Many of our patients will fit in the small sizes BUT I think we could work a deal with the company and they'd start making them for heavier peeps.

Huggies Jeans. Did someone say "smart"?? They have an awesome point... "The coolest you'll look pooping your pants." Hello. Bomb Diggity Bomb. Huggies can thank me when I pitch the idea to the hospital. I'm just saying.

To do list:

1. Talk this idea up to the big-wigs at the hospital

2. Buy tickets to Zac Brown Band

3. Make waffles

4. Find someone to take me out in a row boat

Creativeness

Idea Amazingness with the cousins:

The "CPBJ" Sandwich (Cheetos-Peanut Butter-Jelly slathered into a hot dog bun). I was informed the "J" can be interchanged with "H" for "honey" and it's still awesome.

The "Flying Japanese Ninja Wasp" our sweet new dive into the pool. Yes. It's as intense as it sounds.That's what you get when you put 3 cool people (2 under the age of 13) together in a pool for long periods of time.

My personal fav is a new use for scotch tape....taping your nose in the upward position. The cheap alternative and less drastic measures to a nose job. Prepare yourself to be amazed.

OCD

"OCD"....."Perfectionist"....call it what you may. I admit I am a little particular when it comes to certain things in my life. I have about decided that instead of trying to completely change my ways I'm going to make minor adjustments. Tweak it up a little. I mean....Jesus was somewhat of a "perfectionist" too, eh?

Please feel free to place the word "Perfect" in front of the following:

Power
Salvation
Purity
Uniqueness
Position
Righteousness
Permanence
Provider

He is perfectly able, saves completely, so totally pure, set apart from sinners, above all else, holy, everlasting, and meets our every need. I'd say my Jesus is pretty perfect. It's something I would never want to change about Him.

So maybe the focus of my "perfectionism" is a little off base...direction of the toilet paper, closet organization, labels, etc. It's my goal to redirect some of that  to different areas that matter more. A perfectionist in the right areas could be a good thing.

Wedding Tips

So the sis was Beautiful on her Big day and ended up pulling off a super fab wedding. Props. We now have an additional member to the fam. I mean he was pretty much already a part of it but now we can officially add another dinning room chair to the table and purchase another Christmas stocking for the mantle. Whoop!

The list of things that went just perfect on the wedding day is super long so instead of going on and on about the "Do's".... I compiled a list of "Do Not's" when planning. Just for the record I'm not a pessimist :)

No particular order...

Don't rent suits from Jim and don't get measured at Bealls. They claim to be "America's Most Trusted Tuxedo Source." Jim lies. They did arrive on time but majority didn't fit correctly. Yes, one of the groomsman's shirts was made for a 'midg' (the sleeves below are not rolled or scrunched...just unbelievably short).

Candy bars at weddings can be a total 'win' but wearing a candy wrapper dress and dancing to 'Sugar, sugar' is a little much.

Don't pay extra money to have the girls hair done. My 9 year old cousin and I have been practicing. She would probably volunteer her services for free and does an amazing job!

Place someone (other than the bride) in charge of the details.....like making sure the song the bride walks down the aisle to is in proper hands before the ceremony begins. This will keep people from going into crazy mode15 minutes before...not that I know from experience. Ha. Or at least be ok with making a grand entrance to a cool alternative like "Ice, Ice baby" or "Bringing Sexy back"(one of the songs available on the first ipod in reach). 

Before-After

I have temporarily moved in with my cousins [including a 13 and 9 year old] while I complete my internship this summer. So the life of  living on my own and doing the college thing has officially been placed on hold for the next few months. The layout pretty much stayed the same [Study-work-workout-play] but the details have changed drastically.

Study

• Before I studied with my girls at a coffee shop or shut away in a quiet room.
• Now I study with my sweet cousin sitting behind me braiding my hair while the other attempts to read the terminology from my paperwork. It's pretty awesome. Yes, I'm a little less productive but at least I have a sweet 'do' when I'm done.

Work

• Before I sat in a cubicle auditing on a computer and got paid.
• Now I run around a hospital all day in scrubs, wash my hands non-stop, and receive no check. The experience, however, is great!

Workout

• Before moving workouts consisted of running/weights.
• Now workouts consist of swimming like a mermaid, learning to ride a unicycle, or running to catch the ice cream truck.
• I attempted a "before" workout a few days ago and my little cousin appeared in the doorway with her workouts on ready to go with me. I must say....the workout was pretty entertaining! If we keep it up I'll be a pro at running & conversing...."are you tired yet?", "do you always run this long?", "what are you listening to?", "when are we going back to swim?"....and the list goes on :)

Play

• Before moving I would hang with girls my age, soak up sun by the pool, and have a party on the patio. 
• Now I get to hang with my cool cousins, have contests like "who can hold their breathe the longest" or "who has the best dive," and have dance parties in the play room. 
• I almost forgot the Double Bubble contests....."who can fit the most candy in their mouth." Yes. I have some sweet video footage. I'll attempt to share one of these days.

BIG changes but BIG fun! Such Big things happening this summer! I'm excited to see what the BIG guy upstairs has in store for me!

PS. I feel there will be fewer blogs this next month....between work and time with the cousins I haven't found 'blog' time. Time with fam is precious though and I wouldn't trade it!

   

For life?

Sunday a group of us were asked to decide whether we would want to have either a) stinky feet or b) bad breath for the rest of our lives? My immediate response to that was 'B.' Bad breath. Then we shared our answers with those around us. I honestly thought more would feel the same as I did. Yah, not so much. A whopping 2 of about 150 people [myself included] chose bad breath over stinky feet.

I'm pretty sure my decision was influenced by a dressing room experience a few months ago. All was good until the chick next door removed her shoes. It was beyond rank. Haley and I were to the point of gagging. Literally. I'm a shopper and I was ready to call it quits. So....no....I refuse to opt for stinky feet for life.  

And peeps....I have some good news. I just saw a commercial. Dentyne Pure. Apparently all other gums cover the smell and this packet of pleasure cleans it.

Problem.....bad breath for life.
Solution.....Dentyne Pure.

Overall the reviews are good. So for that ONE other out there that chose bad breath. We are good to go. I suppose it will only be problematic if you aren't a gum chewer. Then you should choose stinky feet....but I'm afraid we can't be friends :)

Word of Day

"Voraciously"

Most can tell by my vocab that I don't technically have a new "word" everyday. Even though it might be pretty legit if I did. BUT I was reading an AOL article today about this "proud cheapskate" grandma who left 4.5 million to her town when she passed....when I stumbled across my word [aka voracious]. Apparently she was "very simple but very kind and giving" and "read Barron's/Wall Street Journal voraciously."

Sometimes you just can't get enough of something....and one might not want to say "I just can't get enough of ________." Bam. One word. Straight to the point. Voracious. Congrats to you "voracious" you made the word of the day!

For those who don't feel the need to utilize cool resources like dictionary.com...I did it for you :)

vo·ra·cious (vô-rshs, v-) adj.

1. Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

2. Having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit.

Please take note. My word of the day is definition #2...personally the first definition grosses me out.

Anywho, that g-ma couldn't get enough of Wall Street Journal....probably why she rocked the stock market and had so much money-honey.

Blah, blah, blah.... here is what I took away from this:

• Live voraciously for Jesus [aka don't be satisfied with the place you are at....constantly pursue Him more]. 
• Become a stock market junky and read Wall Street Journal.
• Be a cool grandma living the simple life [who rocks sweet hats]. No, the article didn't say this cool g-ma rocked sweet hats....but I'm sure she did. And while on the topic....I feel that wearing them should be a prerequisite to being a cool g-ma. 
• Apparently to become a grandma you need to have kids first...until then the plan is to just find a sweet hat and go to the Kentucky Derby.

   To-do list:
Find these hats...

Unplanned goodness

Well my research filled and busy weekend turned into a pretty chill weekend. Something about a virus on campus and the entire system going offline? I'm actually not sure what happened exactly? A guy just came on the speaker talking about a virus. Blah, blah, blah....all that means to me is that I can no longer check my emails or spend hours looking up research articles this weekend! Thank you Texas Tech Health Science Center for forcing me to enjoy my weekend at home.  I'm currently watching paper-view movies (aka Mr. Eye Candy himself, Dwayne Johnson in Tooth Fairy) and eating my weight in apricot cobbler.

I learned nothing about my research topic BUT here is what I did learn:

• Cobbler is way cooler with a lattice pie crust. It's all about that presentation baby! 
• 1% milk is truly better than skim.
• Ice cold milk enhances the cobbler experience by at least 5.25%.
• I shouldn't have waited this long before trying a philly cheese steak sandwich. It was worth every calorie but now I want to visit Philadelphia.     
• I wish I had a green-thumb.

To-do list:
Go running.
Purchase cool/low maintenance/indoor plants.

R & R baby!

No I'm not going military on you....even though it would be pretty legit if I did considering it's like Memorial Day weekend. R & R like "Religion & Relationship" not like "Rest & Relaxation"... 

You found two words that have been around for forever...Go me! Not an awesome discovery, I know. The words are thrown around all the time. But I started asking myself what the words actually mean and what is the difference. If I sat here long enough I could generate a pretty simple definition but the coffee hasn't kicked in yet. I'll use my resources. Thank you dictionary.com...

Religion- a specific fundamental set of beliefs/practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.
Relationship- a connection, association, or involvement.

If I wore glasses [yes, a fragment...it's my blog...don't judge]. Which I have always secretly wished my vision wasn't great so I could wear them. Tap on wood. "Tap" not "knock"... because if my vision quality decreased and I needed glasses....I wouldn't be that upset. Anywho, if I wore glasses and you were looking through them....this is how you would view it.

Viewing God as a set of rules to follow is religion. Viewing God on a more intimate/personal level is relationship. A little off topic....but maybe even better than "relationship" is "kinship." My handy-dandy dictionary.com says, "kinship generally denotes common descent and implies a more intimate connection than relationship."

Jesus suffered for us so we could have a more direct way to connect with God. I think that when you have more relationship than religion you become more comfortable with God. I have a mental picture of the people that I LOVE to be around. Conversation is easy and everything can just hang out.  It's comfy. It's great! We should be able to have a comfortable relationship with God. Love to be around Him. Conversation easy. Everything hanging out. Still respectful but comfy. He desires for us to have that comfy relationship with him. It's Great!  

To-do list:

1. Buy these sweet Prada cat eye glasses [non prescription, of course]

2. Become a librarian so I can more easily justify wearing fake glasses.

3. Buy vintage sunglasses from http://www.giantvintage.com/

New-old fav

I have had an unusually large chunk of time spent in front of the TV since school has been out. I've come to the conclusion that TV isn't nearly as good as it used to be though. Seriously, what happened to Sesame Street or Full House? Good education, good lessons, good guests, good music, good dance moves....and the list goes on. Pure goodness...

The must see link...Sesame Street with the Backstreet Boys ...heck yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNvGc7onL7Q&feature=related

Check it!

I'm the queen of curb checks. Since I'm in the 'rents car though and dad would kill me if I knock that sweet piece of Tahoe out of alignment....today I had a personality check instead :)

I would search for a sweet way to word it but lets be real. It wears me out. Thank you Joyce Meyers for teaching me to be more blunt.

You want to be happy? Awesome! Then get over yourself.... It's not about you. It's about God. Empty yourself of YOU so there is room for God to work.

Ephesians 3:16-21

Pray for God to fill the personality of both you and the church. Yup....we all have different personalities BUT pray that yours becomes Spirit filled.

Sum it up baby...

 ....I'm a visual learner :)

Cough

I have this sick-nasty cough that I acquired during finals week. Yes, I was that annoying girl coughing through the exam. It is super obvious that I have a cough because it's constantly coming out of me.

Hmm. My brain is wired weird so excuse the RANDOM connection. I feel like as a follower of Christ....I should be like my cough. It should be super obvious to people that I have Jesus in my life because he is constantly coming out of me. I don't feel like it's all about words though. It's about love.

Maybe not be as ANNOYING as a cough....
Maybe showering them with love and not saliva/germs...
But kind of in a weird way....like a cough :)

Nothing new....I know. I thought it was common sense until I started digging deeper. I consider myself a loving person but do I really know how to LOVE on people? Is Jesus always beaming off of me? I'm not sure I can say I am consistent because loving people isnt' always convenient or easy. How many people throughout my week do I encounter that I forget to love on? Sometimes it takes opening your eyes first. It's just NOTICING those hurting around you. New goals: looking for those in need of love and loving consistently.

National Chicken Dance Day!!

Prepare yourself for the amazingness....I just stumbled across a few GREAT websites of monthly holidays. This is a grand discovery for people like me. Seriously? Even if you don't truly acknowledge all of the days....it's super cool that you just know they exist. And who isn't looking for another good reason to celebrate the day? Yes, it should be good enough that you rolled out of bed once again BUT if you want another reason....the 14th is National Chicken Dance Day!

Ok so my thought process was, "heck yes, I have an excuse for randomly busting out the Chicken Dance today"....but the world wide web has taken it to a new level. We officially have a web address devoted to "International Respect for Chickens." Hmm...I don't know if it is weird'er (yes, weird with an "er") that the site exists or that I found/read it. I'm all about respect but really?

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/International_respect_for_chickens_day.html

I love chicken. Not like "oh, i love chickens and want one as a pet," but like "oh, how i love to eat you." In observance of this holiday....I think I will enjoy myself some Chick-fil-a. Upon completion of the greatness, I will do the Chicken Dance :)

To do list:
Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day on Saturday
National Sea Monkey day on Sunday

Haiti

My sis gave me a link to a photographer who documents her trips to Haiti on her blog. It has been several years since I have been but the people of Haiti still have a place in my heart. Looking through the pictures brings back so many memories! Haiti has experienced so much since the quakes and still the people amaze me. The joy they have and the smiles they wear are sooo refreshing! It is a good reminder that our joy isn't found in THINGS. If it was....they really wouldn't have a reason to wear a smile.  

Job 8:21

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."

Psalm 28:7

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."

 

Haiti Blog pictures:

http://www.jenkrollphotography.com/blog/page/2/

Blog from a pediatric nurse in Haiti NICU:
http://heartsongsfromhaiti.blogspot.com/

To-do list:

1. Pray specifics for Haiti everyday
2. Read old journals from my trip to Haiti
3. Email orphanage director to get updates on the beautiful workers/kids
4. Convince my married siblings to adopt a kid

Dirty hands

Short and sweet.

The Common already put it into words....so why re-invent the wheel?

I want to get my hands dirty.

https://www.thecommon.org/blog/post/441525324/dirty-hands

Sock Monkey

I decided to start a wish-list on Amazon. The idea behind it is that it will satisfy my current desires to go shopping. I'm also feeling crafty and Hobby Lobby sounds extra great right now. Of course. I should've known the temptation would come up during finals :) 

Current wish-list:

1. NikeiD (create your own shoe!)
2. camera lens 
3. vintage lawn chair  
4. sock monkey ....like the doll....not the dress. I'm blaming this one on my super-crafty SIL....she made one that's super cool....and now I think I need one (or three).

 

To-do list:

Finish finals going strong

Buy socks

Google sock-monkey "how-to"

Find yourself

Joyce Meyers....rockin' it.
http://www.joycemeyer.org/

She made some comments that kinda stuck. She said that we need to know who we are in Christ. When you figure that out....then you can make an impact. We should see His image and be continually transformed. He accepts us for who we are BUT He doesn't want us to stay where we are (paraphrased, of course).

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day" -Proverbs 4:18.

In Kendal words....I should be learning/growing in Him everyday. People should see a different light in me. Shine bright. Like a white girl in summer.... be blinding.  

He gives us convictions so we can continue to grow in Him! Are we letting the Holy Spirit conrol our behavior? Conviction...love it...pray for it! It is the Holy Spirit letting you know in your heart that your behavior stinks. Repent and turn around. Run in the right direction. Conviction is a wonderful gift!

Mmm hmm. Wow. Bring it!

Talents...or not so much.

I really wish I could flow
but most my rhymes blow.

One can usually tell...
that my attempts are a FAIL.

Once they begin to fidget...
they see the length of all my rhymes are midget!

Yah. That's all I got. Don't judge. I have a new respect for poets. 

To-do list:

1. Meet someone who will teach me the secrets to flow
2. Brush up on poetry terminology...because it intrigues me for some weird reason
3. Buy kettle corn

Challenge

 So it has been on my heart to get on top of my scripture memory. A lot of it stems from thinking about how many hours of studying I have put in this semester and all the school stuff I have memorized. I have made a commitment to school and so I'm putting in the work. I have also made a commitment as a follower of Jesus....It's my new challenge. I'm posting a few scriptures....it might be easier to bust out the actual book than read it on the screen?

Psalms 119:32

"I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free."

 Psalms 19: 7-11

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is
not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

To-do list:

1. Determined to commit a small portion of God's word to memory every day
2. Encourage at least one person each week
3. Accountability- find someone with the same heart for scripture to help stay on task

http://www.memoryverses.org/smc/

Smile

So I had a super nutritious lunch.....consisting of cinnamon teddy grahams. I was pretty excited about my purchase but was a little thrown off when I opened the bag. The usually cheerful bears.....were faceless. Are you kidding me? I eat goldfish because they are smiling....I eat teddy grahams because they are smiling. Today. They were not smiling. They didn't even have belly buttons??

I'm not sure if I bought a faulty bag OR if they have gone cheap-O on me! If they are cutting costs....they need to rethink their decision. You wouldn't think such a small thing would make such a BIG difference in a cookie eating experience!

A smiling cookie make a difference? Laugh it up. I'm a 'detail' person and it's kind of a big deal :)

So it got me to thinking. If a smile on a cookie makes a difference in my day....a smile on my face might make an even bigger difference in someone elses day.  Hmmmm. A little smile can completely turn someones day around. Impact? I think yes. People are going through some ROUGH junk and my junk doesn't even compare.

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." - Mother Teresa

Jesus loved on people. I want to love on people. If a smile is an action of love....then no matter what my day looks like.....I want to be wearing a smile. I literally started making a mental list of 'reasons why I have to smile.' They are count-less!