So I just found out Peter Bradley Adams is in Chicago @ Schuba's (he used to be in EastMountainSouth...good stuff) on Sept. 18th. AND Brian Regan is coming to Peoria on Sept. 24th. Add that to my fall tour! Jeez, September's gonna be an expensive month.

Anyone in for some good laughs?

Take luck!

(you too!!!)

agrizoophobia = the fear of wild animals

When I returned home from Bloomington last night, this was waiting on the steps to my back door. (note: I did not take this picture myself, but it's from my internet searches on possums to find out how dangerous they are.)

Thankfully, some people were outside the coffee shop and informed me that this animal had been lingering around our back door area all night, so I was forewarned. I approached the back patio (on which there is an upstairs and a downstairs door) and proceeded to head to the upstairs door. I was on the lookout, and as soon as I got to the turn to the second little flight of stairs, this exact scary face was staring at me. I picked this picture b/c that's exactly what I saw. Needless to say, I turned around and went in the downstairs back door...shaking and trying to hurry in w/ all of my Meijer bags of groceries.

I'm pretty sure that now I'm terrified of these animals...and of my back doors. From now on I may have to walk around to the front of the building for fear that these teeth might bite me in the ankles. Ugh. yuck. I can't even handle that image in my mind, but I'm pretty sure it's gonna stay there for awhile. I saw online that garlic cloves can serve as a deterrent. I'm gonna have to go get me some of those and just line the stairs with them or something.

I just thought you'd all enjoy this story of my latest fear in life. Tell me you aren't going to have nightmares about this too! Laugh if you want. But if you do, I hope you run into a possum in the dark and it bites your ankles. ;-) (just kidding...i wouldn't wish that on ANYONE!)

randoms from panera

so I'm sitting in Panera and I really want to write, but I've got nothing of substance. so this is what you get instead. random comments.

1) the cutest mom just walked in carrying an even cuter little asian girl who was peacefully sleeping over her shoulder. adorable. this makes me want to adopt even more than i already do. it just makes me smile. too many kids need homes. i will adopt them. not all of them, but some. ;-) and not anytime soon.

2) my lips are dry.

3) college kids are certainly back in Bloomington/Normal. they are everywhere.

4) i had to shop for a wedding gift today and i got sick of target. i don't know that that's ever happened before. i just scrapped the list and decided to give them money instead.

5) i'm currently trying to decide whether or not to take a vacation day tomorrow and take Aubs up on her offer to go to Six Flags for free. I'm considering it. However, I think the forecast is showing rain, so I'm not sure. And it's a 3 hour drive.

6) There are a few people in Panera right now that I think went to Lincoln. Well some of them I know for sure did, but there are some others who look familiar to me. I think everyone looks familiar to me.

7) I still can't believe Missy & Jake are having a baby! I won't announce what they're having on here and I'll let her do that, but Steph and I guessed correctly!!! Sorry Alli & Heidi. We should have bet something.

8) There is a leak in my apartment from the rain, and there is a small spot of mold on the ceiling near the leak, which is located directly next to my smoke detector (which probably will not work now). I'm beginning to think the mold may be what's causing my allergies.

9) I just lost the soft earpiece cover to my hands-free headphones.

10) man, my final one was going to be a picture i took on my phone yesterday in lincoln, but blogger won't post my picture. oh well. you can see it another time.

music

Mmmk. so I just updated this post. Here's what's up: I'm letting ya'll know about some new CD releases and upcoming concerts you should check out. I like to be in the know of what's coming out, so as I write this I'm checking things out on Amazon myself. Here's what's to come:

already out - the Step Up Soundtrack. I'm pretty sure I need to get it, based alone on the dancing in the movie.

8.25.06 (today) - Ray Lamontagne's Till the Sun Turns Black. Just this year I fell in love w/ his smooth voice. It was all because the song Shelter was on the movie Prime and right then and there I got hooked. I can fall in love with or hate a song within 10 seconds I'm pretty sure.

8.29.06 - Rob Blackledge's A Song Like This. OK I just updated this post today (Saturday) to add this one in b/c I just found out today about it. And I'm not sure how many times myspace is going to let me listen to his new track "Worth Taking" but I can't stop! It is smooooooth.

9.8.06 - Justin Timberlake's Future Sex/Love Sounds. I'm not sure about this one yet. I might or might not want it. I still haven't decided. Kind of like I still haven't decided if I like SexyBack yet or not. I didn't think I liked it but yet I listen to it. I think it's growing on me.

9.19.06 - Matt Wertz's Everything in Between. I don't think I need to mention again how much I love his stuff. It's like there's an audio drug in his music that I'm addicted to. I can never seem to get enough of him. You can listen to some of the new tunes at his website; and from what the lyrics and feel of the songs seem to be (i love it) it seems like Matty might have a new love... there goes my secret dream of marrying him. i guess it's not so much a secret. if it ever was, it's out now.

9.23.06 - Shane & Shane in concert @ First Christian Church in Greenville, IL. It's on my calendar. Anyone wanna join me? Can't get enough of these guys either.

9.26.06 - Adie Camp's Don't Wait. If you don't know, now ya know. First of all, Adie is short for Adrienne. She's married to Jeremy Camp. She's the former lead singer of The Benjamin Gate. Listen to some clips on her website...if you like Frou Frou / Imogen Heap, you'll like Adie. I'm glad a friend told me she was doing this solo album b/c now I can inform you.

9.26.06 - Jamie Cullum w/ Josh Rouse in St. Louis. I'm soooo pumped to go to this. My friend Sarah and I already have tickets and I cannot wait. I've been dying to see Jamie Cullum tickle the ivories and sing me into ecstasy. OK that word was a little strong. But I can't think of anything else. All I gotta say is he better sing 'Frontin.'

9.29.06 - Jon McLaughlin at Illinois Wesleyan University. Since I still have never seen Jon perform, you better believe I'll be there when he's 30 min. away from here. Plus, it's obvious I'm trying to see as many concerts in one week (from 9-23 through 10-1) as possible.

10.1.06 - Christy Nockels is at Westbrook Christian Church in Bolingbrook. Her voice might be one of the best ever. EVER. Can't wait to worship with her.

10.17.06 - Sarah McLachlan's Wintersongs. The title alone sells it for me. Winter is certainly a season that can claim its own songs...Christmas or not. And ya'll know I love my Christmas music, beginning in October. Good timing, Sarah, good timing.

10.27.06 - Derek Webb is at North Central College in Naperville. Hm...I have a college fair in Grayslake the night before....might just have to stick around.

And that's probably not all of them that will pop up along the way. And hopefully we'll have some good ones in the works here on campus as well...

What other concerts/releases do I need to know about? I'm sure I'm missing some good ones so fill me in!

2 totally opposite things.

#1, a question: Why do I keep getting so much junk mail in my email? Hotmail, I thought I trusted your junk mail sorter. Wait, maybe I never really did. Never mind. You pretty much suck.


#2: you really need to check this book out. I keep re-looking at it and it blows my mind every time.

currently:

-I'm being blinded by the sun shining through my pseudo-window in my office.

-Anxious to get home and eat some homemade ice cream and yummy mint chocolate filled cream puffs i made last night.

-Thinking about how my birthday is less than a month away.

-Listening to the self-titled Caedmon's CD on iTunes.

-Looking at my calendar and how I have 4 meetings tomorrow. I must be important. (j/k.)

-Wondering what else I'll do tonight (other than eat) when I get home...all the good TV on Wednesdays is over!

-excited about a new women's Bible Study on Daniel I'm going to start in a few weeks...it's amazing how even though I'm a Bible College grad I've never really done any major Bible Studies such as this outside of class.

-my brain is overloaded with stuff that needs to be done at work...needless to say in the midst of transition w/ 2 people leaving out of our office.

-switching my iTunes to an EastMountainSouth song b/c i got tired of the one playing.

-trying to decide if I'll run tonight or not.

-scrunching up my shoulders. I don't know why I do that. I hate my posture.

-going home. peace out.

seriously?

Did someone actually make these? I think I've lost time or precious value from my life for simply seeing these previews or knowing these movies are in existence. Have we lost our minds? Or has someone? Clearly. If either of these are box office hits...please help us God.

TV and running and the world

I'm typing this in purple and I'm not sure why...I don't really love purple, but I've gotta keep it different all the time.

Anyway, this is my update since my last grumpy mood post.

This week has been blah for me, but my thoughts on TV shows, going for walks/some running, and thinking about the world has kept me busy.

For starters, in the TV world my Wednesday nights will now be empty. So You Think You Can Dance ended last night with a nice finale of routines from this season, and I really didn't care who won. I was pleased with the turnout, though indifferent. I kinda knew all along Benji would win...but secretly sorta hoped it would be Travis, but either way I'm 100% happy for either one. And I'm sad that the tickets for the tour are SOLD OUT everywhere! ;-(

On the walking/running note, I have done this 3 nights out of the past 4. I'm quite proud of myself. I don't normally do this, but I love to when it's nice out. I've been walking and starting to run a little bit, and tonight I ran a whole MILE! This is unbelievable for me considering I usually can't make it from the door of a building to my car without being completely unable to breathe or bored out of my mind. I'm thankful for my handy pink SLVR phone w/ iTunes...my music kept me occupied and I actually enjoyed it! (shh...)

On thinking about the world...this will deserve another post sometime soon, but there's a lot going on in my head lately about Africa and poverty and AIDS and hunger and the needs around the world and America's selfishness and my money and America's money and just our attention and God's heart for the world. If you haven't done so yet, you NEED to buy or at least look at the book Hope in the Dark with writer Jena Lee's words and Jeremy Cowart's amazing photography. It's their journey in Africa depicted through colorful words and vivid images that actually capture the humanity of Africans...down to the texture of their rough but beautiful skin. It changed my world the other day. You should at least check it out next time you're in Borders or Barnes & Noble.

grrr.

I'm in a grumpy mood today.

I don't know why, but some days I just want to stay that way. It's not a good thing when, in the morning you come into work and just know that everything's going to annoy you that day. Today was one of those days. I just wanted to go home. And then I got home, and I was annoyed with being there by myself and being bored and tired but unable to sleep. I'm annoyed with myself and frustrated with how my own mind works.

But then, I went for a walk, and it was beautiful outside. Probably one of the most gorgeous nights ever. And I'm better. God and I talked a little, and I still have lots more talking and listening to do w/ Him, but I'm not so grumpy anymore. Just tired.

But it still is one of those days. And it's on days like this I'm thankful for Sanctus Real's song "I'm Not Alright." It makes me realize it's okay sometimes to have "one of those days."

Okay, I'm going to go eat some homemade ice cream (because that's what you do when you're in a bad mood) and get some sleep. :-)

questions of the day...

Why am I getting a cold in the middle of the summer?

Why does fall have to come so soon and summer end so quickly?

Why isn't the movie Step Up playing in Lincoln?

Why does my face get sunburned but not the rest of me?

How is it that there seems to be an endless supply of good music to be listened to?

Which recipe for homemade ice cream shall I use to make some today?

How can Jesus love me so much?

How can I be so selfish in the midst of such great Love?

How can I give back to the world when there's so much to be done?

it's story time...let's take a stroll...

There's a place in my heart and mind where memories are etched, and they'll stay there for as long as I live. I remember certain places, smells, sounds, feelings, and tastes along with those memories. So last week when I visited a Christ In Youth (CIY) conference at SIU-Carbondale, even the slightest things gave me sensory overload and were gushing with nostalgia. Here are some pictures I had to take to appease that nostalgia.

(above) I actually have a few versions of this picture. I took this particular one last summer and tried to recreate it last week, but I like this one better. The skies were much brighter last year. It's of the corner of Shryock Auditorium on SIU's campus, which is where we had Celebration (the evening worship session) every year when I went to CIY in high school. This place has held thousands of students over the years, and it has certainly held God's presence in a mighty way. How do I know? That's where I first truly encountered Christ and felt a tugging on my heart to accept Him, but I ignored it the first year. It's where, the second year I went to CIY, I finally accepted Christ while singing "At the Cross" and found myself at the front of the auditorium and literally at the foot of the cross. I was baptized that next Sunday at church.

(above) These red stairs, leading to the balcony of Shryock Auditorium, also led me to a different perspective. I remember, quite vividly, the incredible times of worship from the balcony and how I thought that looking down on the rest of the auditorium praising God must be a slight picture of what He sees looking down at us. That image is still in my mind, and I love it. And as a side note, I'm sad to find out that this summer was the last year (I'm pretty sure) that they'll use Shryock for CIY...the huge arena will now be the location for all 3 weeks in Carbondale. That makes me sad.

I remember these stairs, outside of Shryock, for multiple reasons. Every year we took JCPenney photos with the entire youth group (first the guys, then the girls, then each grade, then the entire group--like 65 of us). I still have these photos and now it seems like when I look at them I find random people in the background that somehow I know now!

One other reason I remember these stairs is because something strange happened on them the summer before my senior year in high school. While we were inside those very doors worshiping God, there was some big crazy concert going on here on these steps. It was sort of a funny paradox of the two kinds of singing going on that night. When we came outside, the concert was over, and the remains of a big party scene were all over the ground...beer bottles, cans, trash, cigarettes, etc. As we walked to our His Time (youth group time) locations, something else was working on my heart. Keep reading...

(Above) This was our His time location every single year. I could almost cry still thinking of all the good times in the huge circle we had there. The 3 benches were always offered first to the girls wearing skirts and dresses while everyone else sat on the ground or stood part of the time. On the night of that concert, I remember standing up at His Time and deciding to go to Lincoln Christian College. I had never thought about that before in my life, and never before did I have the slightest desire to go to Lincoln. I can remember exactly where I was sitting and what direction I was facing and everything... Something hit me that night when I saw the university party scene outside, and I realized I wasn't quite ready for that atmosphere like I thought I wanted after high school. In that decision to go to Lincoln, I had no idea what I was going to do w/ my life, but I just knew the Spirit was calling me to a greater purpose in life. I'm thankful I had that moment. Had that concert never happened that night, I might not be where I am now, and that's crazy to think about.

I don't ever remember there being flowers and beautiful landscaping around the campus when I went to CIY at SIU in high school. However, this year I noticed it. It made me realize that there's a different hope on that campus after 10 years of having CIY conferences there. Whether or not the SIU students recognize it throughout the year, something powerful happens there every summer for 3 weeks, and it's an amazing thing. I just thought this flower represented the life and hope and beauty that can come of something that may not have had life before Christ.

I could probably post a million memories from CIY's of the past, but I'll refrain from nostalgic overload. But I can't help but share this--I ran into one of the SIU staff guys who runs the cash register in the cafeteria area as I was on my way to leave last week. He's physically handicapped somehow, but I'm not sure exactly how, and you'd never know other than his crutches and thick dark-rimmed glasses aiding his vision. Anyway, I have seen him every year probably since I began going to CIY 10 years ago, and it's amazing that he still works there and in the same cafeteria line swiping cards. I introduced myself to him and we made some small talk, his ride showed up, and I left. Sadly, I don't even remember his name now, and I don't remember exactly what we talked about. That day, something about him reminded me of Jesus, and even the thought of that memory makes me smile.

It's not anything that CIY does, necessarily, and it's certainly not SIU that changes people. But I pray that the atmosphere created at these conferences leaves people with not only memories of a great experience, but with a life that is different. From that very campus and conference a lot of things have stemmed in my life: I accepted Christ; I rededicated my life once; I decided to go to LCC and live for a greater purpose; I served as Bible College staff and got connected with my first internship with One 5 Oh; I had a possible job opportunity; I spent a summer with 5 other girls (who are now all over the U.S.) that remain some of my best friends (the BCG's) in the entire world after only 6 weeks of life together; I have somehow impacted students and reconnected with people from years ago that have impacted me in great ways. The cycle of ministry is such a cool thing.

And for all of these memories and recollections, I'm thankful. I'm mostly thankful for where they've led me.

psalm 145

This has been working on my heart the past few days...and it still is. Jeez, I love the Psalms.

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord;
your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

because it's been awhile...

It's time for a random post.

Randomette #1: I'm rediscovering my love for some old school Jennifer Knapp. And I have a hard time accepting all the lesbian rumors about her...is that really true? I just can't get past it.

#2: Blogger is ticking me off for not letting me post pictures lately. What is the deal?

#3: I'm just wondering when the day will come that every person on earth has joined myspace.

#4: I have the best recipe for pork chops ever. It was ever-so-creatively titled in an old cookbook, "Pork Chops in Sauce." However, uncreatively named as it is, it's delish. If you want it, let me know. And I must say, I made a good apple pie last night.

#5: I can't believe my old roomie is starting to get a little preggers belly!!! oh my goodness, you're adorable missy!

#6: I have about a million piles of clean clothes in my room that I just don't feel like putting away. I'm not going to. Ever.... ok, i'm lying. I will.

#7: currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and loving it. Why hadn't I read this until now?

#8: it's totally raining outside and i just now realized it.

#9: i ordered the Hope in the Dark book of Jeremy Cowart's photos from Africa...saw it in Borders and it looks amazing. Check it out.

#10: So You Think You Can Dance is almost over. I can't even believe it! I'm to the point where it doesn't matter who wins now, b/c they're all good. And Allison is gone and she was my fave. Plus, we all know it's going to be Benji in the end anyway.

Enough random thoughts for now.
Maybe in the meantime blogger will work on letting me post pics finally.

the long way home...

(Toadie, this may slightly compare to your door-shattering of the Hole...except this was certainly not my fault, nor was it avoidable in any way...nevertheless, we'll both probably go down in the books for these experiences.)

It was quite a ride home from visiting our camp team girls at CIY in Carbondale, IL last night. What was supposed to be only a 3 and a half hour ride back to Lincoln turned into a 5 and a half hour ride. Why? Pictures to come soon (for some reason Blogger sucks right now and won't let me post them)... and explanation below:

As I was on my merry way, heading up Rt. 51 North, in the LCC '05 Camry, I proceeded behind 2 other vehicles...directly in front of me was a white van, and in front of the van was a big dark green truck. The truck turned right off of 51 onto a gravel road, and the van continued on. I did as well, however, the truck decided he was going to accelerate quickly onto the loose gravel road. As he did this, his back tires spewed up what seemed like a million rocks at me and the Camry.

I had the front passenger side window down about 4 inches, and probably thankfully so. However, rocks ended up flying in through the window at my head. But it sounded like the car was hit by more rocks than what were flying in at me, so as I began to move past the fact that I was just hit in the head by multiple rocks, I noticed the backseat passenger window was totally shattered. In a matter of seconds, just like James Frey, the window was in a million little pieces.

here is my new rock collection from those I gathered from the front seat:


Now I pulled into a driveway after the gravel road so I could turn around and try to catch the truck that had long since gone down the gravel road. I didn't catch the plates or anything. I ended up going back to the driveway of a house of a 76 year old man for whom I am very thankful. From his driveway I proceeded to call GT and Lynn Laughlin to ask what to do, called 911 to report it, and talked to the old man who lived there.

By the time I walked back to the car, pieces of the window had fallen in (as I presumed would happen from the sound of the window's snapping, crackling, and popping). So the old man helped me push all of the glass into a towel so I could drive the rest of my way back to Lincoln with a lesser chance of glass flying further into the car at me. Needless to say, it was a little windy, but much safer.

So I'm okay, and the Camry will be...however, she took quite the gravel attack. I was pretty shaken up for the time being, even though it wasn't my fault. It was the weirdest thing...but I know the Lord sure protected me. Even in the littlest things, I'm thankful...like the way that I happened to have the front window down about 4 inches so that window didn't shatter into the front seat...and the way the old man who lived right there was super nice and helpful and even let me use his bathroom because I had to pee so bad...and the way Lynn and Greg were understanding and willing to help me...and the way I didn't get cut or hurt in any way, except for a minor cut on my elbow from a piece of glass that landed on the arm rest.

I was planning on coming back and posting about all of my nostalgia from CIY days at SIU, but that one's going to have to wait until a later date...

Balancing the World

Balancing the World
Eliot Morris

Well everything is a dream and it’s moving fast
Oh it’s hard to hand the present over to the past
So I don’t know where to start cause I fear the end
And all this transition into ‘remember when’

Every day sailin’ by drinks you dry
But you’re balancing the world
It never fails, you’re last in line by design
So you’re balancing the world

Sometimes it’s hard to see when our cheeks are wet
And the storms inside our hearts won’t let our heads forget
This is part of life, a chapter in the book
And I swear one day we’ll sit back down and take a look

Every day sailin’ by drinks you dry
But you’re balancing the world
It never fails you’re last in line by design
Cause you’re balancing the world alone
All alone
all alone
all alone
all alone

Oh, but you are not alone
You are not alone, no no
You are not alone, no no
Oh no, where to now
When your life’s turned upside down
it stings
You’re standing in between
the world and everything it brings

yeah yeah yeah
You are not alone
You are not alone
You are not alone
You are not alone


Check out Eliot's myspace and listen to this song. It's like my theme song right now in life. And speaking of him, I'm sad I won't be seeing him open for the Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls at the State Fair on the 19th due to freshman move-in day here. Grr. That day is only the culmination of all I do at Lincoln.