We're All In This Together

I'm channeling High School Musical.

No, really. I experienced two things today that really made me think about this thing we call "the world" and what humanity really is.

The first...

The large certified can of Whoop-Yo-Butt Mississippi State put on Ole Miss today to bring that sweet little (ahem...big) golden egg back home to Starkville. Y'all, work in athletics and I work game days which means I don't get to cheer a lot so in a way, I've sort of become desensitized to the yelling and screaming of it all because well, I'm forbidden to do all the yelling and screaming because I'm expected to be an unbiased professional at the "workplace".

However, when I get home, away from all the professionalism, and close to my rowdy fan of a mother, I tend to get rowdy myself. And today, I'm pretty sure I shredded my vocal chords on that last pick-six by Corey Broomfield. That sweet kid played three quarters with a separated shoulder, y'all. All to bring me that Golden Egg.

Anyway, this is why it's good to be a college football fan. You end up celebrating with complete strangers. After the game, you're at Lowe's. You get out of the car and are greeted by other State fans, yelling, "Go Dawgs!" You're at the movies. A lady notices the shirt you're wearing and asks who won. You give her the news and what does she say? "That's just like Ole Miss to lose." Ha.

The second...

I went to see 2012 at the movies with the parental units this afternoon after the Egg Bowl. I was afraid of how this movie would turn out. I was hoping it would be a little more than ohmygoodnesstheworldisending. And I should've known that these kinds of movies always have a moral to the story.

To paraphrase what one of the characters said towards the end of the movie, humanity isn't sacrificing others lives for the sake of our own. It's caring for each other in this thing we called life.

So, what is the big epiphany that I came away with today?

It is this.

In triumph or tribulation, we, humankind, come together at the end of the day. That's why it's called humankind. Human. Kind. Kind. Human. We care for each other. We share this thing called life. Together. Whether we like it or not.

Because we are human. We can't help but care for each other.

Ain't that just like God to make us care for each other and stuff.

Thankful

DVR. Gummy Bears. Grapes. Cheese Pringles. These are things I'm thankful for.

Chips and rotel at Bulldog Deli/Pepper's. The hilarity of Amanda Bynes. So You Think You Can Dance. The music of Switchfoot, Hillsong, Dave Barnes, Green Day, Dave Matthews, Brandon Heath and so many more.

I'm thankful for...

...the family I have. A mom. A dad. Still together after 32 years. Loving each other unconditionally. And teaching me how to love everyday.

...A sister who always has my back. Who completely uses her God-given gift as her ministry. Who gave me the coolest nephew ever.

...A brother-in-law who has seemed more like a real brother than an in law. Who serves the Lord in the church and out and has no less made me a secondary LSU fan.

...Friends. Young and old. Friends whom I seek out for wisdom and friends who seek me for wisdom. Growing together in the love of the Lord. Spurring each other on and keeping each other in check.

I'm thankful for...

...the job I have. That it meshes my three of my passions together into one cool gig.

...A Heavenly Father whose mercies are new every morning. Who gives me a reason to live everyday along with the breath and sustenance to live that day. Who saved me from myself so I could serve him and glorify Him. Who has completely changed my heart to align with His desires for my life.

I'm thankful for...

...the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. The only thing that can get me up early on a holiday at my age. The Rocketts. The Broadway showcase. The balloons and floats and marching bands.

...Extended family who seem more precious every time I see them.

...Mississippi State football and the Egg Bowl. GO DAWGS!

...Mississippi State basketball and Jarvis Varnado.

...Football on holidays. Period.

I'm thankful for the ability to express myself through the written word. On this blog. For the whole world to see.

What are you thankful for?

I'm profoundly apologetic that my NaBloPoMo efforts have been less than desirable. November has turned out to be both an incredibly busy month and an incredibly uncreative one in my brain. I'm sorry to say that I don't think I'll make it to 30 posts this month. I have failed. Here's to hoping I don't try to do this again.

The 5,000 Question Survey (Part 2)

101. What does happiness/joy feel like physically?To me, I feel fulfilled. I feel like I have no worries or fears. Sometimes I feel invincible.

102. List five people you love starting with the one you love the absolute most.
Ok because I don’t love these people more or less than either, I’ll just list them randomly.
A. My daddy
B. My mom
C. My sister
D. My brother-in-law
E. My nephew

103. How many movies have you gone to see this month?Zero. I really don’t get to the movies much anymore now. I’m hoping to go see one over Thanksgiving.

104. If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for yourself, what would you wish for?
1. For good health for my dad.
2. For clean water and food for every person that needs it.
3. For everyone to know the love that I have known in my life from my family and God.

105. In what ways do you relax and de-stress when you are really tense?
I used to love to play the piano to relax but I don’t have one right now. Painting really calms me and helps me put my thoughts together. So does doing puzzles but I haven’t done that in a while. Laying on the couch and watching TV always is relaxing but listening to music always de-stresses me.

106. How much money would it take to get you to drive to school naked in the springtime and get out of the car?
No amount of money would convince me to do that.

107. Have you ever killed an animal?
I ran over a squirrel once.

108. Have you ever lost someone close to you?
Yes, several people. Three grandparents, my best friend’s mom and a close childhood friend.

109. What do you think of cloning?
I think when you really get down to the nitty-gritty of it, you really aren’t accomplishing anything because it’s still just a copy, not the original.

110. Do you read or watch TV more often?
I watch TV. I wish I would make more time to read but that Bravo channel is so enticing.

111. With all this talk of terrorism going around are you willing to sacrifice rights and freedoms for increased safety?
I don’t really understand this question because if people were really doing their job I wouldn’t have to sacrifice rights and freedoms for increased safety. That is no jab to the armed forces though because they are the ones that sacrifice their lives for my safety. I just think there is a lot that we civilians don’t know and if we did, things would be a lot different.

112. What is the punishment you would come up with for Osama Bin Laden if you caught him alive?
I’d make him come watch a softball game. He’d want to commit suicide after that.

113. Have you ever named an individual part of your body?
Uh, no.

114. Have you ever been on the radio or on TV?
I’ve been on TV. Nothing big. Just the news.

115. Have you ever won a lottery, or sweepstakes?
Nope. I never win anything like that. Unless you count that one time I won that book from Annie Downs.

116. Have you ever won a contest or competition?
See above. I also win at bingo a lot. And trivia games. I’m really good at Catchphrase.

117. Do you like to watch The Joy of Painting show with Bob Ross?
Not really.

118. Do you know what your grandparents and your great grand parents did for a living?
My dad’s dad was a bus driver for Trailways. He drove over a million miles and was honored for it. My dad’s mom was a cafeteria worker. I used to love when she would sub in at my school after retirement. My mom’s dad worked for Puckett Machinery. My mom’s mom was a housewife. I never knew any of my great grandparents.

119. Is there anything really interesting in your family history?
My mom’s dad and my dad played football at MSU. My great uncle played basketball there too. I think that’s pretty interesting. My mom’s dad was also a charter member of the Kappa Sigs at MSU. MSU blood runs thick in my family. Oh, and my dad claims to know Tarzan or something like that.

120. Is there anyone you trust completely?
I usually completely trust all of my friends. If I don’t by now, you’ve been cut off. I completely trust anything my parents or my sister and BIL say too.

121. Have you ever lost someone without having the chance to say goodbye?
When my friend Brad died, I hadn’t seen him in probably a year or two. My grandfather died about a month after the last time I saw him and I always prepared myself that it would probably be the last time. My grandmother died about a week after the last time I saw her. I had no idea that would be the last time I saw her.

122. How do you feel about women in politics?
I think it’s great. How am I supposed to feel? As long as they can get the job done and do it with the right motives, I think there is no difference between a man and woman in politics.

123. Would you rather have an indoor Jacuzzi or an outdoor pool?
Outdoor pool.

124. What things are you interested in that you study or read about on your own?
Anything involving religion or sports. Also African aid and World War II really intrigue me, as does the British Royal Family.

125. Would you consider yourself to be intelligent?
Yes.

126. Would you consider yourself to be wise?
In certain subjects, but very few. And only because of experience. I’d say I’m wiser than I was before about some things.

127. Have you ever given or received a lap dance?
Uh, no sir.

128. Have you ever spoken to a homeless person?
Yes. Several.

129. Would you ever creep into the subway tunnels to go exploring?
If I had someone with me.

130. If you could add 70 years to your life but only by making some random person die 70 years sooner would you?
Nope. When my time is done, my time is done. It’s not worth sacrificing someone else’s life for more time.

131. Can you finish any of the following lyrics?

A: Nothing to kill or die for...
I’m drawing a blank.

B: Late comings with the late comin' stretcher...
This one too.

C: I could make a film and make you my star...
Still nothing.

132. Were you ever with someone while they died?
Can’t say that I have.

133. Would you rather be a world political leader or a rock star?
Rock star. Politics make my head hurt.

134. Have you ever given someone a love letter that you wrote?
Yep.

135. Have you ever sent someone a surprise though the mail?
Yep. Bethany and I send each other surprises all the time.

136. Are you looking forward to any concerts right now?
If I can get tickets and find someone to go with me to see John Mayer in Birmingham in February, I’ll much be looking forward to that one.

137. Of all animated movies, which is the best one you've ever seen?
Lady and the Tramp. It’s my favorite.

138. What are the best bands or songs to listen to while driving?
Anything, really, to me. My favorites are Switchfoot, Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz, Marc Broussard and Sean Kingston.

139. What do you think is the most amazing thing that anyone has ever accomplished?
That’s hard to say. I think anyone who can overcome a bad situation and rise above it to make something out of themselves is an accomplishment in itself.

140. What could a member of the opposite sex do to impress you?
Pray for/with me.

141. About how many emails do you get a day?
Who knows in my Samford account, probably 50ish. My Yahoo and Gmail is probably about 12-15 at day.

How many of those emails are junk mail?
Yahoo, all but about two a day are junk. Gmail is pretty much all Facebook notifications and AirfareWatchdog.com notifications. Samford is a good mix.

How many of them are forwards?
Very few.

142. What's your favorite thing to do online besides write in your diary and hang out at this site?
Ok, A) I don’t write in a diary, I write on my blog. B) I don’t hang out at “this” site. Whatever that means. And C) I really do like writing on my blog.

143. Do you believe Kurt Cobain killed himself or was it a conspiracy?
Anyone who dabbles in drugs like he did, well...

144. Have you ever thought about hitchhiking across the country?
No.

145. Who would you bring with you on this kind of a road trip?
Definitely Bethany. And a box of Trivial Pursuit cards.

146. Of the following, which word best describes you: accurate, bold,
charming, dependable.
Dependable

147. If you are single, at about what age do you think you will be ready to settle down and get married? If you are married, how old were you at the time?
I’m ready right now. Gotta find Mr. Right.

148. Do you often wonder, when you say goodbye to people, if it is the last time you will ever see them?
I try not to think that.

149. What movie are you most looking forward to seeing when it comes out?
The Blindside

150. What is your quest?
To try to live life like Christ did.

151. What is louder and more annoying: 200 adults talking or one four-year-old screaming?
One four-year-old screaming.

152. Do you believe the stories about planes, boats and people mysteriously disappearing into the Bermuda triangle?
Sure.

153. Who are you the most jealous of?
No one.

154. What is the happiest way you can start your day?
Not waking up to an alarm.

155. Do you ever have moments where you feel like everything is all right in the world?
Yep.

156. Who thinks that you are offensive?
No one really.

157. If you had to teach a class in something, what would you be able to teach people?
Something in sports media.

158. Have you ever had a spiritual experience (an experience that cannot be explained by science)?
Yes.

159. Do you believe that this experience was truly mystical or do you think there is some scientific explanation for it, only you don't know what it is?
Truly spiritual.

160. Do you get offended easily?
Not really.

161. Would you still love and stay with your significant other if he or she had to have a breast or testicle removed?
Of course.

162. Do you believe in fate or free will?
A little bit of both. In my belief, free will only takes you so far because your free will cannot trump God’s ultimate plan.

163. Do you believe that only boring people get bored?
No. I’m a fun person and I get bored sometimes.

164. Can life change or are we all stuck in vain?
Life can change. You just have to make it change.

165. What changes are you afraid of?
None that I can think of right now. Actually a change might give me a little boost right now.

166. Are you a day person or nocturnal?
Nocturnal.

167. What one CD could you listen to for an entire week (no mixed CD’s, it must be an album)?
I do this all the time. I have a feeling that I’m going to be listening to Dave Barnes new CD for weeks to come when it comes out.

168. Which is worse, working in retail, food service, or an office?
I absolutely could not handle food service. I wouldn’t be nice enough to get good tips.

169. What's the coolest job you ever had?
Sno Biz. It was pretty cold in there. Ha. I would say the job I have now is pretty awesome.

170. What is one central idea that your thoughts seem to come back to?
God

171. Have you ever wanted to be an actor/tress?
Of course.

172. If you had the power to control one person and make this person do anything you wanted for a whole day, who would you pick and what would they do?
That would take a lot of thought. I just don’t know.

173. What star sign are you and what is your sign like?
I guess what you are asking is that I’m a Leo and Leos like attention.

174. Did the Blair Witch Project scare you?
No.

175. Are you in constant fear of death?
No.

176. Does fear of death keep you from building a life?
No.

177. Do you like all your movies to be in wide-screen?
Yeah, who wouldn’t?

178. Are you a fan of any comic books?
Not really.

179. At what age did you attend your first funeral?
I was five when my friend Billy Puckett died but I think I only went to his memorial service at my kindergarten. I guess I was seven and it was my mom’s dad.

180. What do you smell like (lotion, cologne, sweat)?
I smell like spaghetti.

181. What are your greatest sources for wisdom?
The Bible, my parents, especially my dad and my sister

182. When you were little, where did your parents tell you babies come from?
I don’t think I ever asked that.

183. What is your favorite band?
Switchfoot or Needtobreathe

184. What's the best cheesy 80's song?
Does Love Shack count?

185. What's the best kind of movie to see on a date?
Action/Adventure

186. Do you like to sit in the front, middle or back of the Movie Theater?
Middle

187. Have you ever been inside an abandoned building?
Yep.

188. Under what circumstances would you agree to work for free?
If I knew I was changing someone’s life.

189. Candles or strobe lights?
Candles. Strobe lights give me headaches.

190. Do you think the Lord of the Rings movies are true to the books or did Hollywood change the story too much?
I never got through the first one and I didn’t read the books so I wouldn’t know.

191. When you see a stranger on the street does your first reaction lean towards thinking of this person as a potential friend or as a potential threat?
Neither.

192. Is it natural for human beings to fear and distrust each other, or is it cultural?
Natural. It’s result of The Fall.

193. What do you really want to buy?
A flat screen TV.

194. You have to choose. Would you be happier marrying someone rich for their money or living in the streets and subway tunnels with someone you love?
Love trumps money every time.

195. If someone wanted to understand you what book could they read that would help?
Either The Dreamgiver or The Shack. They don’t explain me but they explain what I believe in.

196. Do you think it’s odd that Americans have freedom of religion and yet call themselves 'one nation under god'?
No. Because this nation was founded under God by a group of people who were tired how they worshipped being regulated.

197. In what sense are you a minority?
I believe Christians are a minority in a world sense, seeing that 2/3 of the world is unchurched. Also I’m a female in the sports industry. That speaks for itself.

198. Are you anti social?
I can be. But I try not to be.

199. Do you photograph well?
Sometimes.

200. Do you think that human beings would survive through a nuclear winter?
Sure.

A Good Sunday

I would like to list for you the components that made up one of the best Sundays I've had in a long while.

1. My church. Amazing praise and worship. And even better it was "choir day". (We don't have one of those "every Sunday choirs". We don't even have a choir loft.) And then my pastor continues to challenge us to live out what the bible teaches us about the new testament church living life together and bringing glory to God through making disciples and multiplying the global church and taking care of his people.

2. Lunch at Panera. Chicken salad on a croissant and sweet tea with three lemons. And great friends. Doesn't get better.

3. An afternoon on the couch catching up on my DVR.

4. An evening with Francesca Battistelli, Leeland and Brandon Heath. The Follow You Tour was at Samford's Wright Center tonight so I headed out catch some good music and praise the Lord a little bit. Or a lot bit.

Here's some photographic evidence of the night.

Leeland, Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli opening the show.

Francesca doin' her thing. This girl can wail!

And precious Brandon Heath. His lyrics are somethin' fierce.

So how was your Sunday?

I Made Up My Mind...I Think

Well, folks. This is it. I think.

I had several votes to keep it the same and several for this one. So since I wasn't fully satisfied with this one, I went for the second option. And I have to say, I'm pretty pleased.

It looks like this is going to be my post for the day. Sorry, NaBloPoMo. But hey, I could've just not posted.

Anyway, I'm off for a weekend full of volleyball. Let's hope I bring home a trophy. Or at least my team brings one home since I am no help whatsoever to the winning of the matches. I'm just there to report the facts and well, eat free food.

Hasta luego!

Help Me Rhonda!

I need your help. I'm not absolutely satisfied with my blog look right now. I like it and it definitely speaks, "Katie's Life...Or Something Like it", but I'm just not 100% right now.

And that's where you come in. I need to you help me make up my mind.

Listed below are some ideas I have found and I want you to vote on what you think says "Katie's Life...Or Something Like It" most.

Click on the link to see the full page demo of the template and then leave a comment with your favorite.

1. Leave it the way it is.

2. Glassical

3. Life College

4. Simple Life

5. Presents

6. Memoriqu

7. Dandy Dandilion

*All templates are from btemplates.com.

The 5,000 Question Survey (Part 1)

1. Who are you?

Hi, my name is Katie. Welcome to Walmart.

2. What are the three most important things everyone should know about you?
One: My faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing to me. No one can ever take it away from me. If you have questions, please ask. Two: My family is the second most important thing to me. They always, always come first. Third: I love sports. Amen.


3. When you aren't filling out 5,000 question surveys like this one, what are you doing?
I should be working. I also watch recorded TV (because anything that is live is just not worth the commercials) and I love to sing, dance, and paint. But I'm usually watching a sport. See 2.


4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time).
Choir with my mom, AP English with Mr. Avalon, 10th grade World History with Coach Rob, Art with Mrs. Gibson, Algebra I with Mrs. T, 11th grade English with Mrs. Holcomb. The least favorites are not worth mentioning.


5. What is your biggest goal for this year?
To find something I absolutely enjoy doing.


6. Where do you want to be in five years?
Still living within driving distance of my family. Hopefully married. And working for a charity.


7. What stage of life are you in right now?
The "I want to do more" stage.


8. Are you more child-like or childish?
I'd say child-like. I think that's why I love babysitting and babysitting loves me. I never get tired of playing hide-and-seek.


9. What is the last thing you said out loud?
"Um, nope. I think I'm good."


10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now?
That's hard but it's probably something by Hillsong.


11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes?
Nope but there is no end to the attempts by my dad to get me to.


12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same?
Better. The more I get to know my God, the better it all becomes.


13. Does time really heal all wounds?
I don't think time does. I think maturity, understanding and forgiveness do.


14. How do you handle a rainy day?
I'd love to just stay in bed every time it rains but I usually get up and go to work.


15. Which is worse: losing you luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights?
Definitely losing your luggage. The only thing you lose with tangled lights is your mind, and maybe a finger. When you lose your luggage, you lose clothes. I mean, come on.


16. How is your relationship with your parents?
My parents are my most favorite people on the earth.


17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?
Yes, most of the time. I'm pretty observant and I don't think people realize that.


18. What is the truest thing that you know?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ


19. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Lots of things: a teacher, a veterinarian, a playground architect, a doctor, an orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist, a journalist, a sportscaster, a rock star.

20. Have you ever been given a second chance?
I'm given a second chance every day.


21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?

I'd like to say giver.


22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind?
Most of the time.


23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?
Hmm, I busted my finger open playing skeeball one time. That was pretty painful. Other than that, I sprained my knee in cheerleading practice when I was a sophomore. That was pretty gruesome.


24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you?
There are several. Of course, everyone has one of "those" breakups. Then I'd say, losing a friend to death and almost losing my dad.


25. What have you hugged today?
Gosh, I haven't hugged one person.


26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
God woke me up. My coworkers invited me to lunch.


27. Do you have a lot to learn?
Yessir.


28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not be working, what would they be?
A. Sewing
B. Surfing
C. Flying


29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
You know that old saying; it's definitely how other people make you feel.


30. What are the key ingredients to haveing a good relationships?
Honesty, humor, a love for each other


31. What three things do you want to do before you die?
I have a list of many so I'll just pick three randoms: surf, go to Australia, parasail


32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?
This is a weird questions and can't say that I can answer. I'll willing to try everything once before dying.


33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
I believe in helping the helpless, feeding the hungry, educating the uneducated and saving the lost.


34. What does each decade make you think of:
20's - The Great Gatsby
30's - The Great Depression
40's - World War II and The Holocaust
50's - Poodle skirts and Grease
60's - Hippies and Civil Rights
70's - Disco
80's - Old Cosby episodes
90's - Slap bracelets and NKOTB
2000's (so far) - confusion
2010's - uncertainty


35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
I guess the 90's because it's when I grew up


36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?
Inspiration by Chicago


37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of the country?
The United State of America and Barack Obama is the president.


If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country, what would it be?
I think it would take me a whole year to narrow that down.


38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
There are no channels I like to watch in the middle of the night because it's all infomercials. That's why I have a DVD player.


39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
That's insulting. I'm not like any of those villains.


40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
Nope.


41. If you were traveling to another continent, would you rather fly or take a boat?
Fly. I love flying.


42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
Because there is no sun at night. And that's the way God intended it.


43. What does you name mean?
Katherine means purity I think.


44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
The ocean.


45. Word association: What is the firs word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: Plane
Meat: Ball
Different: Strokes
Pink: Panther
Deserve: Win
White: Black
Elvis: Presley
Magic: Wand
Heart: Breaker
Clash: Of the Titans
Pulp: Fiction


46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead, who would you want it to be?
I actually was talking about this with some athletes last week and we all said that it would be interesting to get into Hitler's mind. To ask him some questions.


47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
We all know this: Michael Phelps or Tim Tebow


48. Is there a movie that you love so much that you could watch it every day?
I have several of these but The Wizard of Oz is definitely one of them.


49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?
A puzzle.


50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
I've saved a couple of flailing kids in a pool.


51. Make up a definition for the following silly words:
Fruitgoogle: A connoisseur of fruits and vegetables.
Ambytime: The technical term for counting the offbeat in music.
Asscactus: A severe medical condition.


52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands?
A grilled cheese.


53. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Either legos or Marble Works.


54. How many TV's are in your house?
Just two.


55. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
Swim or watch baseball.


56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow?
Forgiven.


57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true?
Yes.


58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader?
No.


59. What is your idea of paradise?
Hawaii.


60. Do you believe in God and if so what is he/she/it like?
Indescrible, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim.
You are amazing God.


61. Do you believe in Hell?
Yes.


62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't?
I went to Honduras for a week. Most people I know haven't been to Honduras.


63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done?
I'm not one to gloat about kindness.


64. Are you a patient person?
For the most part. Maybe not as much on the road.


65. What holiday should exist but doesn't?
Katie Day!


66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does?
I'm pretty sure all holidays have a good reason for existance.


67. What's the best joke you ever heard?
I don't know.


68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been?
There's this place called DisneyWorld. And it's kind of a big deal.


69. Is your hair natural or dyed?
Natural.


70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front?
I'm pretty much up front.


71. What is under you bed right now?
Boxes and duffle bags.


72. If you were in the Land of Oz, would you want to live there or go home?
If my family was with me, then I'm pretty sure staying would be a must. But if not, Oz would be a good vacation spot.


73. If you drive, do you frequently speed.
Yes, I'd say I frequently speed.


74. What is the world's be song to dance to?
Come On Ride That Train. It takes me back to 8th grade. Every. Time.


75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone?
Wow. It's been way to long that I don't even remember.


76. Do yo prefer Disney or Warner Brothers?
Disney


77. What is the first animal you would run to see if you went to the zoo?
The kangaroos.


78. Would you consider yourself to be romantic?
Hopeless.


79. If the earth stopped rotating would we all fly off?
Yep.


80. What is the one thing that you love to do so much that you would make sacrifices to be able to do it?
Sing and be with my family.


81. If you (and everyone) had to lose one right or freedom, but you could choose which one everyone had to lose, what would you pick?
The right to bear arms. Then no one would have guns.


82. If you had to choose, would you live on the equator or at the North Pole?
The Equator


83. Would you rather give up listeing to music or watching television?
Watching television.


84. What do you think makes someone a hero?
Risking their life to save someone else's and/or making an impact on someone's life enough to rock their whole world.


85. What cartoon would you like to be a character in?
The Powerpuff Girls


86. Name on thing that turns your stomach.
Mayonnaise.


87. What was the last thing you paid for?
Bread.


88. Are you a coupon clipper?

I try to be.


89. Get anything good in the mail recently?
The December Southern Living. Woohoo!


90. Which would you rather take in gym class: dancing, sailing, karate or bowling?
Dancing.


91. In Star Trek people "beam" back and forth between different places. What this means is they stand in a little tube and their molecules are deconstructed and sent to another tube somewhere else where they are reassembled. The only problem is when the molecules are deconstructed the person is dead. When they are put back together, it is only a clone that has all the dead person's memories. So...Is the person who gets beamed the same person on both ends?
No way.


92. What insects are you afrain of?
Spiders and scorpions.


93. If you could print any phrase on a t-shirt, what would it say?
Poo. It'll make people laugh.


94. What's the most eccentric thing you have ever worn?
A leather skirt. But I wore it for a Biker Swap in college.


95. If you could pick one food that you could eat all you wanted but it would have no effect on how much you weigh, what food would it be?
I'd say any manner of chips and dip.


96. What are your parents interested in?
Seriously, what kind of question is this? My parents are interested in a lot of different things.


97. Have you ever caught an insect and kept it as a pet?
Um, no.


Have you ever caught and tamed a wild animal?
Um, no.


98. What is more helpful to you, wishes or plans?
Neither. Wishes don't always come true and plans usually fall through.


99. When do you feel your life energy the strongest?
When I'm completely immersed in God.


100. You are spending the night alone in the woods and may bring only three items with you. What do you bring?
Toilet paper, a flashlight and a tent.

The One In Which I Lose All Readers

I've been contemplating doing this for a while now. I saw it on Holly's (she's from New Zealand) blog and thought, "Hmm, that's a killer. And could potentially make people run far, far away from my blog if I were to do that." But it's fun and could save me on a lot of days when I just. can't. be creative enough to think of something clever to put here. And really, you only live once right?

What it is?

The 5,000 Question Survey.

Yes, you read that right. 5,000. Five thousand. That's five with THREE ZEROS.

For all you non-math majors out there, in technical terms, that's a whole bunch.

I've thought long and hard about how to really go about doing this. Should I do it in increments of 50? 100? 1,000? But seriously, 50 would literally take 100 posts to do. And I think I would shoot myself if I were trying to read, much less answer, 1,000 questions in a post. Not to mention, that would be one hellaciously long post.

So 100 it is. I think I'll start tomorrow. I don't know how many I'll do a week. I'm shooting for at least once a week. The one I found online via Holly takes 51 posts. Which means if I did one a week, it would take me just under a year to do the whole thing.

We'll see how it goes.

Get ready to be bored (or entertained) by more information than you ever wanted to know about me.

Highway Patrol: Seeing Beyond The Negative

Up until Saturday, I saw all Highway Patrol as the enemy. The ones who are out to make my life a living hell. The ones who prey on young single girls who just happen to like to drive a little faster than the law deems necessary. The people who have issued me three of the seven speeding tickets that I have received since I got my license at age 16.

Well, Saturday, I gained a new-found appreciation for our men in blue. Or black. Or whatever color they wear these days.


Why, you ask?


Because, Saturday, this happened:

On my way to Tuscaloosa, Alabama (my most favorite place in the world **ahem** **sarcasm**), for the NCAA Cross Country South Regional, I was literally five miles from where I needed to be, when this happened to my tire. I had a bad feeling that this was going to happen considering my tire/wheel woes from the past week (but that's a whole 'nother blog post).

Now, flat tires don't really bother me. I mean they are an inconvenience, to say the least, but my dad made me learn how to change a flat tire before I could drive so I know what I'm doing. I've changed a flat before; I've even changed a flat while a good guy friend stood there and watched me because he couldn't do it. (Girl power!) However, I've never had a flat tire on the interstate and well, the whole cars-and-mack-trucks-flying-by-at-exceeding-speeds thing really freaks me out, not to mention I was a little upset that I wasn't going to make it to something work-related because of a busted tire. Plus, I don't have a roadside service.

I called the parents but got no answer at home or on the cell phones so I called the next best thing - my sister and brother-in-law. My sister, being the take-charge person that she is, told me to not worry about it, to tell her where I was (which I was proud to say that I was because I could drive 20-59 South with my eyes closed and know exactly where I was considering the millions of times I've driven that stretch in the past four years), and she and Bubba (my name for the BIL) would call someone. Then, being the brilliant pair that they are, they told me to call the highway patrol.

So, I did.

Within 10 minutes of when I told the nice lady on the phone where I was, HP dude came to save the day. He even brought his own fancy-shmancy jack. In 15 minutes, the busted tire was off, the spare tire was on and I was good to go. He even followed me to a service station because my spare tire was a little low. There I got free air and began my search for a new tire (FYI, don't search for a new tire in Tuscaloosa on a Saturday. No. Help. What. So. Ever.)

Anyhoo, all this to say, my disdain for the Highway Patrol has been decreased significantly.

So the next time you are stuck on the side of the interstate in Alabama, and you don't have roadside service, *HP is the way to go.

Their motto is "Courtesy, Service and Protection since 1935".

I'd say they delivered.

That Song From The Brady Bunch Movie

Well, it's time to change. It's time to rearrange.

I've done it. I've finally gotten tired of the ol' blog look. I wanted it to reflect me more and I wanted it to look more grown up. I've definitely upgrade and I'm working with some stuff that I've never really worked with before. So a bunch of stuff is missing and a bunch of stuff won't ever be back again.

Bear with me.

It's going to be great when it's done.

I hope.

A Letter To Ole Miss

Dear Ole Miss,

Thanks, again, for letting the world see what "Mississippi's finest" is all about.

The lengths you go to to show the nation that Mississippi is indeed one of the least racist states in the country continue to amaze me. (end sarcasm)

To those who continue to live in an era before the 1950s, just a few opinions:

1. The South will never "rise again" because the north and the south are one nation now. Red and yellow, black and white. We are all one nation, under God. If you don't like it, move to Russia.

2. The Ku Klux Klan should be disbanned for life. The values that they stand on go against any and all that the "Bible Belt" should be proud to uphold. If you want to continue to gather, may I again say, move to Russia. I don't care what the First Amendment says. To me, you are no better than the terrorists who claim to do things in the name of Allah.

3. To the students of the University of Mississippi...as children of the 20th century and Generation X, Y, Z or whatever generation it is -- one of the most tolerant generations ever -- you should be ashamed that you are affiliated with a university that would allow the Ku Klux Klan to march on its campus in support of a stupid song. For the love of all that is right with college football, IT. IS. A. SONG. I'm sure it they took "Who Let The Dogs Out" or "Bad To The Bone" away from Mississippi State, the students wouldn't stage a protest, sitting in blazers and ties behind the goal posts. They would find a new song to create a new tradition. One that doesn't offend an entire people group. And I know what you are thinking: No, my cowbell doesn't offend cows.

Get over yourselves and become human beings.

God Is Like Whoa

Ok, sorry for that title but after what I just read, that is the only word that comes to my mind.

Remember yesterday when I told you that Jon Acuff at Stuff Christians Like was trying to raise $30,000 to build a kindergarten in Vietnam.

Wanna know what God did?

He raised that $30,000 in 18 hours. 18 HOURS!

God is like WHOA!

Now, Jon has talked to the people at Samaritan's Purse and they said that there are two more kindergartens that need to be built. If you wanted to donated but didn't get to, or forgot to, or didn't think you should and you slept on it and now you think you should, donations are now being taken to build another kindergarten. And when the money is raised for that, I'm sure they will start raising for the third.

So, go. Donate now.

Live out James 1:27.

(P.S. I didn't plan on posting twice today. I know some of you are thinking that I've gone a little overboard with this NaBloPoMo overachieving thing. But, oh, just wait. There shall come another day or two or 10 that I'll forget to post.)

Blog-Linkity Goodness 11.16.09

1. This guy has the right idea. Who knew you could make $83,000 a year just by selling the shirt off your back.

2. This post by Katie over at The Journey broke my heart and made it smile all at the same time. If only I could have the faith to abandon myself to God's call like she has.

3. How observant are you?



I did okay. I think I got about 10 out of the 21.

4. And if you haven't checked out the Mocha Club Experience, go do it now. These guys are giving up holidays with their families to go to seven countries in Africa for three months and visit some of the projects that Mocha Club is supporting. Why? So that they can show us first hand what our money is helping do in Africa. If you are a supporter and feel the tug to do so, click here and find a project that hits home for you. And then donate. It's just $7 a month.

5. And finally, click here to see how much money has been raised for the kindergartens in Vietnam. After raising $30,000 in 18 hours for one, so many people have joined Jon in raising $60,000 for two more kindergartens. As of today, $44,614 has been raised. So if I calculated that right, that leaves $15,386 that still needs to be raised. Will you give?

Where The Air Is Sweet

When I was little, my favorite TV character -- hands down -- was Big Bird from Sesame Street. A close second was ALF but that's a whole 'nother story.

I even had a stuffed Big Bird doll that pretty much went everywhere with me. He slept with me every night and when I went to the hospital with the worst case of chicken pox the doctors had ever seen on a four-year-old, Big Bird was right there with me. I even think they gave him an IV just so I wouldn't be so scared.

Big Bird was my best friend. I cried when he turned blue in Follow That Bird because well, Big Bird is supposed to be yellow.

So, imagine my delight when I was flipping through the channels last night and Jimmy Kimmel announced that Big Bird would be his next guest. He was coming on to promote Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary, which just happens to be today. I couldn't help but stop and watch. It truly made my night. He killed. He was so funny. Take a look.





Then I changed the channel over to Jimmy Fallon and Elmo and Rosita were on with Lawrence Fishbourne. Now, this was funny. Elmo was slightly A.D.D. which I'm sure we all know is a fact and he wouldn't let Jimmy talk at all. He kept making fun of him. So funny. It made me miss my nephew. William loves Elmo.



This totally took me back about 20 years. Sesame Street was truly one of my favorite shows, as I'm sure it was for many kids. And still is. It's crazy to think how much we all learned from this show.

Call Me An Overachiever

So three posts in a day. Do you think this makes up for my NaBloPoMo slackerness?

These are just a few things that I couldn't help but share with you.

1. This post at NCAA Fanhouse had me crying from laughing so hard. I really do hope Mike Slive reads this.

2. Scare fail.

And last but not least...

These are real notes written by parents in the Memphis school district. Spellings have been left intact.
1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today Please execute him.

2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.

3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.

4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.

5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.

8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday. She had diahre dyrea direathe the shits.

12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.

14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because i don't know what size she wear.

16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday. We thought it was sunday.

17. Sally won't be in school a week from friday. We have to attend her funeral.

18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the marines.

19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.

20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.

21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.

22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.

23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sore throat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.

Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.

This Is Why I Blog...

And read blogs.

I love that there is a blog community out there that cares about living out James 1:27.

I love that there are people out there period that has committed themselves to living out this "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless."

Jon Acuff, over at Stuff Christians Like, has committed himself and his family to doing just this. And he's asked the blog world to join him.

There's a need for a six-room kindergarten building in Hoang Then village in the Phong Tho district of Vietnam. It costs $30,000. And he wants to raise it by December 31, 2009. (And I just clicked over to the giving page and the total raised so far is $21.272.00. How about that? Click here if you want to give.)

Now, I don't have a lot of money but I do have enough to afford the internet connection that I'm using to write this blog post. (I would say my computer but I didn't exactly pay for it.)

I know it's the Christmas season now and stuff, or at least the retail world thinks so (because America never remembers that Thanksgiving and the Macy's Parade preceed Christmas), but my pastor has challenged us again this year to spend at least the same amount of money on living out James 1:27 as we would on Christmas gifts. I haven't done so well on this for the past couple of years, so I'm trying really hard this year.

Will you commit to that too?

My Purpose

Being around college students, I hear one question/statement over and over and over again.

It's one that I've asked/said so many times before, especially in the past five years.

"What is my purpose in life?/I just want to figure out what I'm here on earth for."

Wanna know the answer?

Look up Ephesians 2. Specifically verses 8-10.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Did you get that?

We are created to do good works. That is our purpose.

I've struggled the past several years with the whole faith/works issue. How does it all play together? Paul and James seem to contradict each other. But this little part of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus clarifies it for me. It hit me like a ton of bricks on Thursday night and somehow just seemed to click like never before.

We know that we are saved by faith. If we believe with all of our hearts that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised on the third day and if we confess with our mouth that he is Lord over everything, including our lives, we receive salvation. By no merit of our own. We don't deserve it. We are filthy, nasty human beings drowning in our own sin. But God showed us mercy (def: not getting the punishment we deserve) and poured his grace (def: an undeserved gift) out on us so that we could be saved from that sin. So that we could be free to live in Him. We don't have to do anything to get that salvation. It's a free gift.

That's the faith part.

Verses 9 and 10 clarify the works part. "Not by works, so that no man can baost." Therefore, we have no right to "boast" in our salvation. It's all because of God. Verse 10 says that we are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works". That is our purpose clause. Because we are alive in Christ now, we are to do good works. Good works are a result of our salvation. Let me say that again -- good works are a RESULT of our salvation, not the MEANS to our salvation. Therefore, I cannot earn my salvation through doing good things. But I can complete my salvation.

You know the story about the tree and the fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. That means that if we are completely immersed in the purpose that God has made us for, we can do nothing but good deeds. It's just an overflow of his love in us outward.

I don't know why I felt the need to post this today. I went to bed at 8 p.m. last night which is very out of the ordinary for me. I woke up at 2:30 a.m. just thinking about these verses and this concept that I have finally grasped. My dad always tells me that if you wake up like that, that God has as reason for it.

Well, he definitely did this time.

I'm really bad at this.

Wow. I am really failing at the NaBloPoMo thing. Would you mind it if I blamed it on work?

I was at work from noon until 10:30 last night and then again from noon until 5:30 today. It's really zapped my creative juices and given me a migraine to boot.

It was a successful weekend though.

My Samford Bulldogs won their Homecoming game over Georgia Southern, 31-10.

My volleyball Bulldogs won both of their matches this weekend and clinched a share of the division title. Let's all pray we can win next weekend and take that baby for our own.

My Mississippi State Bulldogs didn't lose this weekend. They didn't play this weekend but they didn't lose.

And the Mississippi State basketball team looks like it's going to give me something to smile about this year.

I'm off to eat some Moe's and watch The Amazing Race. Go Flight Time and Big Easy!

Improv Everywhere Does It Again

Here's your second post of the day.

Improv Everywhere just never disappoints.

My favorite lines from the video:

"Jeff, don't sing a song man."

"He does this every day."

NaBloPoMo Fail #1

So, it's only six days into NaBloPoMo and I've already failed. I know. I'm sorry.

However, I'll make up for it today with two posts and a free gift. Mkay?

Actually the free gift isn't from me. Because, well, I'm poor. And cheap. So there.

But I got Matt Wertz's new live album for free yesterday just for tweeting it and I'm listening to it today at work and I. am. in. love.

This is such a great album because it's not just Matt and Justin Rosolino singing a bunch of songs live. It includes all the funny banter in between the songs. Which, by the way, is pure gold. There are no three guys in the business that are better at inter-song banter than Dave Barnes, Matt Wertz and Justin Rosolino.

It's just good stuff.

So, go here, look at the top of the page and check out the ways that you can help Matt spread the word about his music and get the album for free at the same time.

It's totally worth it.

Blog-Linkity Goodness 11.4.09 and Random Dozen

Here are a few things I came across yesterday and today and I wanted to share the love. Also, as an added bonus, Lid's Random Dozen. As if you, didn't already know enough about me.

1. This video completely made my morning. My day was top-notch after viewing this. 252 yards of maroon and white goodness.



2. Boomama's post yesterday was one of my most favorite in a while. And she "wasn't even planning to write this post". Go read it now. It mentions Steven Curtis Chapman, if that helps at all.

3. Jon Acuff's post yesterday on Stuff Christians Like was all about "rooting for Tim Tebow". And if you know me, this is a cause I can get behind. Quarterback keep. Hut one. Hut two.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I used to do this all the time in Starkville. Well, not all the time. There was this one light though, between fraternity row and Bost Extension that never, EVER turned green late at night. Even when no one was coming the other way. I literally waited one night for 10 minutes for it to change in it never did, so I went. Sue me.

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would have gotten more work done yesterday.

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I usually go to the other person's blog to comment.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Toss-up. Mary Poppins, The Lion King or The Santa Clause movies.

5. Do you recycle?
I used to at the place I lived at before I moved but they don't come and pick up recycling where I live now. However, I will recycle if there is a receptical nearby.

6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Totally strategy. More opportunities to win. You can control stategy. You can't control chance. That's why I don't gamble. Plus I like to figure things out. I'm a puzzle nerd.

7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
I used to have a lot of them when I was little. There is one, though, now that tends to come back often. I'm at a water park. That's about all I can recall.

8. What did you learn from your first real job?
I learned how to make a mean sno-cone.

9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I like to buy because I like to write in my books.

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?

I don't think I've wore anything again that I have before. I will never where sturrip pants again, though. Or roll my jeans. I did cave on the leggings thing though.

11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
I pretty much Christmas shop all year round. If I see something that I know someone would like, I'll get it then. If I have the money. But usually I'm buying presents like two weeks before.

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
Yes. Most of them have had to do with the Mississippi State Bulldogs winning. You know, it's a big deal when we win these days in football. I do have to say that the most crazy I've ever gone after winning a game was after we beat Alabama at their place in 2004 to win the SEC outright.

A Boy And His Birthday

This little guy...

Turned two on Saturday...

Had big party...

With a really cool cake.

He got lots of cool presents including this...

This...

And this was the winner.

See...

He even gave his KK a ride.

Fun was had by all.

Happy Birthday Little Boo!

Home Sweet Home

No matter where I live for the remainder of my life, Jackson, Miss., will always be home to me. And not just Jackson, my parents house will always be home to me.

I won't be going to visit my parents. I'll be going home.

Because home is where you are who you are. All of the time.

Home is where you know you're loved, without even having to hear someone say it.

Home is where you're greeted at the door with a smile, a hug so tight it makes you dizzy and a wet, slobbery kiss from the dog that you swear is annoying one minute and is the cutest little puppy in the world the next.

Home is where every single member of your family is. It's where you mind is flooded with memories the minute you step in the door, no matter how far back they take you.

Anecdotes and stories are a staple in family conversation. And there's a song for each one of them too.

I remember when I first went off to college. Although I was only an hour and a half down the road, I cried every time I pulled out of the driveway to go back to school. Everytime. For the first year. A whole year.

Now, the crying seems to have subsided. I pull out of the driveway, of a completely different house no less, but I blow a kiss, smile real big and whisper to myself, "Man, I can't wait to come back home."

I think the main reason the tears have dried up over time is not because I'm older and more mature and wise in my years. I think it's because, everywhere I go, my family goes with me.

I take them with me.

They are in my heart.

Everyone I meet knows that my dad is the strongest (and wisest) man in the world. They know my mom's smile can light up a room and that she could coach the Mississippi State football team to a championship victory is they'd let her. They know that my sister is my best friend and that her voice puts even the most top-selling artists to shame in my book. They know that my brother-in-law is a coon-ass from 'Nawlins who uses the gift God has given him to lead everyone around him in glorifying the Father through song.

And they know, boy do they know, that my nephew rules my world.

I think I've just now figured out why I love The Wizard of Oz so much. It's such a representation of how home is where we are, not where we are.

To my favorite character,

"There's no place like home."

What month is it again?

Seriously? It's November already?

If you remember, last year I participated in something called NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Post Month. That's November.

I think I fared pretty well last year and I've been hesitant to do it again this year (and actually sign up) but I figure I like challenges (no I don't) and this might get my creative juices flowing (or kill me), so why not?

I know I'm already behind a day but will the excuse that I was in my car for half of the day yesterday suffice? No. Okay.

Then how about two posts today. Maybe? Okay.

Let the fun begin.