Geography 101...

So...my friend Sarah and I always try and play the "name all 50 states" game when we are on long road trips together...sounds easy right? well, i must have slept through geography in elementary school because i always forget some of the more "random" states. Needless to say, this game stumped me the first time i did it...couldn't remember 3 states (Nebraska, Maryland, Connecticut)...seriously, i was embarrassed! I tried to redeem myself by trying it again and was awarded the following certificate as proof that i am not an idiot! awesome...

In 3m 19s

Click here to Play

I am a Blog Post stealer!

So, i saw this on someone else's blog and had to steal it b/c i thought it looked fun and i'm not really sure if anyone reads my blog and would tag me on this!

10 years ago:
February 1998, I was a senior in high school. We had a sadie hawkins dance on valentines day and my 2 good friends Brooke and Ashley and I took our 3 dates in a decorated van to all of our houses to eat different kinds of food from around the world and then went to the dance. Afterwards, a big group of us went to my parents lakehouse for the night...it was one of my favorite memories from high school! :)

Things on my To Do List today:
-Call some students' parents back - done
-Lots of other work stuff - somewhat done
-Go to Zumba workout class at the Y - done
-Make tacos with guacamole for dinner - done and yummy!
-update my blog - in process
-Waste 30 minutes on Facebook - done
-Watch American Idol - in process
-Get to bed at a decent hour -

What would i do if i became a billionaire?
-Buy a house, buy a lakehouse and boat in NC, travel to Europe, give lots of it away anonymously to people and organizations, build a bunch of wells in Africa!

3 of my bad habits:

-biting my nails
-being late
-saying the word "like" more than i should in conversation

5 Jobs i have had:

-Youth Pastor
-Christian Counselor and file sorter
-Kamp Kounselor (Kanakuk...love it)
-Gymnastics Camp Coach
-Full Time Student for a stinkin long time!

5 things people don't know about me:

1. I spend a ridiculous amount of money on getting my haircut and colored...and I can't stop!

2. I am officially an Ordained Pastor.

3. I have lived in NC for 2 1/2 years and still have Texas License plates...yikes, i am always avoiding the cops!

4. I have a pet bunny now named Sawyer who one of my students gave me b/c she didn't want him anymore! i love him!

5. I am writing a book right now...

So, i will try and tag some of my friends whose pages i frequent: Kerri, Hillary and Kristine.

I am Passionate about Passion!

Here is all I have to say: Go buy this album today!!!!!
Here are 6 Reasons:
Chris Tomlin
David Crowder
Kristian Stanfill
Steve Fee
Christy Knockles
Charlie Hall

Did i mention there are 4 Chris Tomlin songs out of 14 songs? One word: Awesomeness!

I'm only at 11 Dresses...there's still hope!

I am in love with this movie that i saw today! So cute...and a little bit like my life!!!

P.S. if anyone knows a single guy that looks like James Marsden in this movie...please introduce him to me! :)

2007 Highlights (those i can remember...)

So 2007 was a big year for me...i did alot of traveling, i was in a lot of weddings and i had a lot of fun things happen in my life...so here is a little recap for you (but it's really more for me! :)

One side effect i have realized that comes with being 28 is that i am losing my memory....rapidly...so i must make notes here in this blog about 2007, b/c otherwise, i might not be able to remember any of it at this rate i am going...

January - spent new years in austin, tx with friends; decided to go to Africa on a mission trip this year

me, ali and leighton on new years eve 2006!

February - seriously...i have no idea what i did this month...

March - Spent 2 1/2 weeks in Ethiopia...life changing trip for me! Also, went home to Texas for my Cousin Matt's wedding

my favorite picture from the trip!

April - Spent Easter in Hilton Head with my roommate Cori and her family; reminded everyone in Charlotte that i was a high school cheerleader at our LockOUT; found out my best friend, Ali was prego with her first baby! :)

the roomie and I on the beach!


I've still got it! :)

me and Ali's signature pose for pictures during her pregnancy!

May - Said goodbye to my sweet senior girls on Senior Sunday at Forest Hill; spent mother's day with mom in Asheville, NC seeing the incredibly beautiful Biltmore Estate

the Amazing Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

some of our seniors in Nashville recording a CD in a studio! :)

June - Went to Pittsburgh for the 3rd time with the High School group; also, came home to be in Hilary and Brian's wedding

Kristin, Rebecca and I with Mrs. Barnette our sweet homeowner in Pittsburgh

Marisa Hilary and I at her Bridesmaid Luncheon

July - went to Brazil for 2 amazing weeks that changed my heart for that country and its people forever!

Our group and some Brazilians at VBS in Recife!

August - celebrated Brookie's bachelorette weekend in Port Aransas, Texas and then went to Colorado for a week with my parents to live it up on the golf course and relax!

September - spent a weekend at the beach with high school students...love the carolina shores! learned how to surf...got up on the board the first time i tried! :) wish i had a picture to document it...:(

October - Went to Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA and had the epiphany to write my book (more on that later); went back to Texas to be in Brookie and Jim G's wedding in Fort Worth!

Good friends at Brookie and Jim's awesome reception!

November - Spent a weekend in Boone, NC with my Life Group...Went to NYC with my family for the first time!...spent Thanksgiving with friends and family in Texas

cool pic i took in the mountains.

in the limo going to see a Broadway show with sister and brother's girlfriend, Ashley!

December - had an amazing weekend called Refuel with my 9th grade Life Group girls; turned another year older; celebrated Kennedy Smith Wood's birth; spent a few days skiing in Colorado with the family; celebrated my friends' Bethany and Ryan's wedding in Charlotte and rang in the year 2008 here in Charlotte!

my 9th grade girls at Refuel!

out for New Years Eve with Mandy, Cori and Erica

Random thoughts of an almost 28 year old!

Well, tomorrow i turn 28 years old...it just sounds so much older than 27. Last year, i had the debate with my friends whether 27 is late or mid twenties...i maintained my firm belief it was mid b/c it is closer to 25 than 30....but there is no negotiating room for this year...i am officially in my late 20's...some other random things in my world right now:

-I finally had to get an NC driver's license...2 1/2 years later than the law says i should and i almost cried when i had to turn in my texas one with my number that i have had memorized since i got my permit at 15...sad, i know!

-It is december in Charlotte and we are 2 hours from the mountains and it is in the mid 70's (73-77) based on my earlier definition of mid-something...anyway, i wore flip flops today...in december...and in Texas, 14 hours from the mountains, it is 30 degrees and freezing....what in the world is happening? is this what they call global warming?

-this year, i visited 2 countries outside the US, made about 20 trips to texas, have racked up some serious advantage miles...and can't figure out what to do with all the pictures i have from these trips...

-alright...now my mind is blank on random thoughts...must be a sign of aging...just great!

I'll post again when i am actually a year older.....

Mountains...Fall....Carolina...love it!

My girls Life Group went up to the mountains this past weekend for a little "away" time from the city! :) There was delicious food which included smores roasted by the fire, well...in the microwave...we couldn't figure out the gas fireplace! There was some serious competition playing CatchPhrase and Apples to Apples...we hiked up about 3 miles to the top of a beautiful mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway! Gorgeous! I was reminded of God's amazing creativity in creation! We also spent some time in a cute little town called Blowing Rock...for lunch and ice cream...delicious...my favorite ice cream place Kilwin's toasted coconut! Great weekend with great friends...now I am getting ready for New York with the family this thursday-saturday! :) promise to take lots of pictures!


This picture turned out so fun!

some of my life group girls (me, hannah, and erin)

Our life group at the top of the mountain!

this picture does not do the view justice!

another great view of the leaves changing!