Wow….two posts in one day…arent you all lucky!?!? 🙂 I have fallen in love with the new show Men in Trees. Has anyone else seen it? I think I like the show because of the way relationships etc are portrayed. It makes me dream about the day Ill find my Mr Right etc. I love the show! I also like Studio 60 a lot too but there is just something about Men in Trees. Gives an interesting perspective on relationships, men etc. But enough about that, anyone catch Celebrity Duets last night? Alfonso won!! YAY!!! Not much happening in my life. I am going to try and find a scrapbooking group or something to get involved with. I havent found many people my age yet which makes it lonely at times but I know some of you, no probably a lot of you, have been there before too. Well check out Men in Trees. Its on on Friday nights!

1. Tell us about any group(s) you currently belong to. (e.g. book club, knitting circle, walking buddies, etc.) Currently I dont belong to many groups. I go to a local text study with pastors and other rostered leaders in the church. And that is about it. Since I’m new to town, I havent found many groups yet to be a part of. At seminary, I was in a scrapbooking group which was sooo much fun!

2. Do you feel energized or drained by being in a group situation? If the answer is “it depends,” on what does it depend? It depends. If Im with a group of people I love being around, then Im energized. But when Im new to the group and dont know very many people, it is usually draining for me.

3. Is there a role you naturally find yourself playing in group situations? That is, do you naturally fall into the leader role, or the one who always makes sure the new person feels welcome, or the quiet one who sits back and lets others shine, or the host? Usually I sit back but I am often the pleaser in the group. I try to make everyone happy etc. However if put into a situation where I need to become a leader, I will..most of the time.

4. Handshakes vs. hugs: discuss. Absolutely hugs! Im a hugger. I think it comes from working a Bible camp for six summers. As a staff, we were always offering hugs etc. Hugs just make me feel good.

5. Ice breakers: a playful way to build community in a lighthearted manner, or a complete and utter hell of forced fun and awkwardness?Bonus: If you answered “playful and lighthearted,” share your favorite ice breaker. I have to say both here. Since I worked at camp, I know that sometimes ice breakers are a fun way to get to know new people etc. My fave icebreaker is probably the name train. You form a circle with one person in the middle. The person in the middle walks up to someone in the group and introduces themself. For example, Hi my name is George. Whats your name? The person responds Suzy. Then you repeat… Suzy asks someone else. At that point, Suzy yells back that persons name to George and they respond with the persons name….Freddie, Freddie, Freddie, oooo aaa, the name train! And you keep going until everyone in the circle has been introduced and you have a huge name train!

I think I might have gotten myself into trouble tonight. My intentions were good and I didnt mean to offend the individual that I think I offended. I was nearly reaching out a hand saying Ive been there, I know what its like. Im sorry! My intentions are good but sometimes I say something or comment on a blog or something before really thinking about how it might affect the other person. They may not be as open as I am so again Im sorry if I ever offended anyone. I just cant help but want to help when someones hurting, etc. So Im sorry!!!! Im one of those individuals that cant stand having people mad at her etc. Im not good with conflict at all and it is definetely a growing edge for me. I am really trying to work on it. Words are powerful and sometimes I think I forget what an impact they will have! Im sorry if I offended or upset anyone! And on that note, Im going to call it a night before I do any more damage!

Have you ever had one of those nights where your brain just wouldnt shut off and you couldnt fall asleep because of it? Well I had one of those nights last night. I havent had one of those nights in a really long time but for some reason, my mind just kept wandering. Im not even sure really what I was thinking about. I tried to fall asleep but just couldnt do it so I got up and got a glass of water. Then I headed back to bed and that still didnt work so I turned on the tv but wasnt much on so I proceeded back to my bedroom where I tossed and turned some more. Im not sure when I finally fell asleep but I finally did at some point. Anyone got any sure fire ways to get to sleep when your brain wont shut off? I think part of it is Ive been thinking about my mom. At seminary, I had friends I could talk to about how she was doing etc. I still could talk to those friends but I think part of me doesnt want to burden them with stuff because most of them are pastors or leaders in the church and are dealing with their own stuff. Mom’s mind seems to be really foggy and mixed up these days. Im sure its just a part of the dementia that comes with mental illness and age but it is a little bothersome. It hasnt happened for awhile now but there for awhile, she would call people thinking they were someone else and then she would realize it wasnt the person she was trying to call. One time she called me, five minutes later called me again but she didnt want to call me she wanted to call my sister. Those are only a few of the examples. I know she’s fine and in a safe place, but because of my caring nature and the fact that I am her legal guardian along with my younger sister, I cant help but worry a little. Well thanks for listening. Its been a good day but Im beat so off to bed now!

Happy Sunday everyone! I have a lot of stuff Im thinking about today. Mostly reminiscing about life at seminary and the friends I made there. Just got done reading a post about my good friend Mark’s ordination yesterday. I even got to see some pictures which brought tears to my eyes. I so wish I could have been there but am glad that it was so well attended. I believe that is a true testament of who you are as a person! Congratulations Pastor Mark! THe post also got me thinking about how frustrating and difficult the call process can be. I remember how frustrated I was waiting to find a call etc and it is hard to see friends in that same position. I know I can tell them things etc but that isnt always reassuring. I have to agree with Mark though when he said that the amount of time it takes to receive a call is not characteristic of the quality of that persons gifts etc…something along those lines. That is so true! SKDO, you are such a dear friend and have so many awesome gifts for ministry. I know that in due time, you will get a wonderful call and will be such a blessing to the people of the congregation you serve. Sometimes I just wish I could speed up the process for you! You all have been such a blessing to me and I want you to know that I hold these friendships closely and dearly to my heart. Guess thats it for now. Congrats again Mark and please forgive me for not being able to make it there.

1) Are you a baby about small injuries? nope

2) What’s the silliest way you have ever hurt yourself? hmm thats a good question. I would probably say labor day weekend when I was helping my dad paint. I tripped over some stubble of a tree my dad cut down and scraped underneath my big toe. Took off a big chunk of skin. I thought I was fine and started painting but a couple minutes later when I looked down there was blood on my sandle.

3) Who took care of your boo-boos when you were a child? My mom and dad and sometimes grandparents especially when mom was sick.

4) Are you a good nurse when others have boo-boos? I think so but not really sure

5) What’s the worst accidental injury you’ve suffered? Did it require a trip to the Emergency Room? I would say when I was two years old. My dad and I were outside on a nice summer day. I was playing around on the lawnchair and the next thing my dad knew I had tumbled off and cut my head open on the sharp part of the lawnchair. Dad didnt have any shoes on. However he grabbed me and took me to the hospital where I got three stitches on my forehead. I still have the scar to this day. My sister also had quite the mishap when she was in junior high school. She was at a friends playing and tripped over a culvert. She cut her leg open on the sharp part of the culvert and had to have 50 stitches—25 in and 25 out. When they came to get my mom, they were like your daughters hurt and mom thought oh it cant be that bad until she got out to the car. Ill never forget it because my sister had to keep it covered pretty well and she got tired of telling people what happened so she would say go ask my sister and I had to tell the story.

You know I think I finally get what my friend Heather means about reading her friends blogs that makes her feel connected even though she is in Japan. Tonight I found myself reading friend’s blogs and thinking about them. Reading their blogs definetely makes me feel connected but I sure miss them all. I am disappointed in myself. I really was hoping to go to Mark’s ordination this weekend but then there was the possibility of my dad and his gf coming to visit so I told Mark I couldnt promise anything. Now it turns out my dad and his gf arent coming and I really would like to be there on Saturday. However I dont want to drive alone. I know I could but for some reason, I just hate driving long distances by myself. Maybe I just got so sick of it when I was driving from ND to IA while I was in seminary. I could have probably caught a ride with CG and his wife which would have been awesome. But its probably too late now and secondly, I probably should save some money. I need to become a better budgeter of my money now that I am responsible for myself etc. I guess Im just feeling kind of sad because it would have been so great to share in this blessed occassion and to see dear friends from seminary that I havent seen in a really long time. I love my new job but it has been next to impossible to meet people my age here. Im sure in time I will. Sorry guys didnt mean to get so weepy and/or reflective. Guess Im just feeling that way tonight. Congratulations Mark and know that even though Im not there physically. I am definetely there in spirit! Safe travels to all who are traveling to MN for the big day! I love you all! Take care! God bless!!

Im excited this is my 100 post! WOO HOO!!! But besides that I had my first league event tonight and it went swimmingly as my friend L would say. I was so pleased with but boy am I tired now. It was a lot of work because we did a mystery meal but it sure was lots of fun. I promised Abi I would post about how I was destined to become a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan so here it is. Besides I can barely keep my eyes open and this is a story I know by heart so wont take me long to tell it to all of you. When I was born, my dad and mom lived in Scottsbluff, NE where my moms family is from. She went into labor on a weekend (labor day weekend to be exact…kind of ironic huh) that the Huskers had just played. The doctor Doctor Frank was a dear friend of my grandparents etc. Well needless to see the whole time my mom was in labor with me, all Dr Frank, my dad and I think my grandpa could talk about was the Husker game so Ive always said that that was the first thing I heard when I came out so I was destined to be a Huskers fan. I grew up along with the Huskers. I grew up with “Dr.” Tom on the field coaching those Huskers to wins. I was given a stuffed Herbie by my best friend for graduation along with a Huskers quilt from my mom. So as you can see, it is only natural after all of this that I be a Huskers fan!

1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous. When I was interning for college, I was working as a reporter for a local newspaper. I had the opportunity to meet and interview country singer Chad Brock. It was pretty cool! I also met Kim Peek last summer. Kim is the real live person that Dustin Hoffman’s character is based on in Rain Man. Also when I was in seminary, my friends and I drove to Davenport IA to go shopping. We decided to stop at an Old Chicago to eat. As we were eating my friends Mark and Melissa noticed some guys across the table from us. They had been on MTV’s The Real World. Of course, my friend Liz and I didnt know who they were since we didnt watch the show. But when we got back, Mark had us watch an episode and sure enough it was them!

2. Tell us about a celebrity you’d like to meet. I would love to meet so many people…Noah Wylie, Jars of Clay, JK Rowling, Maya Angelou, etc. I also would love to meet retired Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne.

3. Tell us about someone great who’s *not* famous that you think everyone oughta have a chance to meet. Well my mom is a pretty amazing women. My friends are pretty amazing! But if I had to choose, I would have to say my campus ministry director at college, she is such an amazing and awe-inspiring woman. I wouldnt be where I am today without her!

4. Do you have any autographs of famous people? Well lets see..Rick Trevino, Jars of Clay, Sister Helen Prejean, Joseph Grizone. I think thats it for now!

5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for? This is easy. Ever since I was little, Ive loved to write so I would have to say an author. I do have some poetry published which is cool but I would love to write a childrens book or a novel.

Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago? Im going to have to agree with everyone else and say Paris Hilton. But there are others…the president, Britney, Lindsay, Nicky, Tom Cruise. (After Tom made the statement to Brooke Shields about not taking drugs, I became jaded. First of all, I couldnt believe he said it. Secondly, having a family member who lives with a mental illness, I know how important those meds are!)

Yes Im alive. Life has just been busy over the last week. I started teaching Confirmation, have been planning our first activity for league and also went to pastors conference Sun-Tues afternoon. It was good to see old friends and just relax for a few days. I also have a quick little story to share. Remember when I was to be set-up etc awhile back. Well this gentlemen was also at the conference this weekend. One morning I was walking to breakfast and he was coming out of his hotel room. Needless to say, we walked over to breakfast together and had a great conversation. He seems like a nice guy! It was just funny because when he introduced himself, I just had to chuckle to myself knowing that he was who I was suppose to be hooked up with. Just thought Id share that story. But guess thats it for now. Hope you all are well!