Today was designated “house shoe” day at work. Of course, I was the only one who participated, but I still felt ok about it. Add in a few unreliable people, a crazy Creative Director, and the scrapping of our $5,000+ photo shoot from last week… and it was a typical day at the office. I did however get to step outside the dungeon for 3.5 minutes (long enough to inspect a kitchen sink of a co-worker who is remodeling his house) and was greeted with BRIGHT sunshine and warm temps. Just beautiful outside!

Plans are in full swing for the WR Kickball Game benefitting Mercy Project. Can. Not. Wait! 3 weeks and counting… The roomies and I are hosting a little fundraising dinner, a Mexican Feast of sorts, at our place on Saturday night. Hope it’s a hit.

I’ve had this uncanny feeling lately that I shouldn’t waste a second of time. Normally I bounce from one thing to the next and am incredibly deadline driven – certainly have to be in my line of work. But I like to have chill time too and the chance to relax, read a book, cheer on the cowboys in Amazing Race. But for some reason this week, I’ve just had this anxiousness, like time is running out, like I need to really seize the spare moments of time that I do have. Weird.

Running again! It’s been awhile, but I feel like I’m “back in the saddle” on the workout front. Trying to ease into things still, but feeling good about the gradual buildup. I think the time off was warranted and probably my body telling me to slow it down. I’m learning to build overall muscle strength as I go too (that's right, David B.!). Tends to keep things from breaking, I hear... But, the weather is getting warmer, and I’m aching to hit the road. First on the list, the 3P Challenge next weekend. Time for a camp-out and some canoe/run/bike time. This year, the girls are taking on the 6-man team challenge. Promises to be adventurous, since we’re all terribly out of shape. Me, I’m just hoping for no snow this year.

In the process of camera researching/hunting/purchasing. Let me know if you have any suggestions, but I’m starting to narrow down my selections. Woohoo! I’ve been looking forward to this since my old film SLR died 4 years ago. It’s about time, and I refuse to go to Ghana without a “real” camera. :)

Anyway, much of the same here, yet lots of excitement planned in the weeks coming up. I’ll try to get some pictures up in the next few posts. Much more interesting than my rambling...

Well, I'm marking March 10th down as a day in which (as Kathleen and I used to say) I loved my job. Those come rare, so when they do occur, I feel like they should be documented. This is not to say that I hate what I'm doing, but usually the days consist of staring at a computer for 8-10 hours. Not much to report there. But today, today was stellar.

The day began with a mad dash getting ready. Had to be at work at 8:30 instead of 9. Rough, I know. (While I would like to say that I get up early and workout before leaving the house, reality is, I don't. I like to sleep.) So I arrived on time and the next 9 straight hours were spent on set in the photo studio. Woohoo! Without going into a great deal of detail, we spent yesterday doing model fittings for apparel (sorta like a dress rehearsal). Then today was the actual shoot with 6 models, full outfits and accessories. Learned a lot, got to work with some awesome people, and LOVED every minute of it. Totally in my element. A sesame seed chicken lunch was thrown in the mix at some point. I sure didn't order the broccoli that arrived with the chicken and rice, but ya know, I branched out. I gave it a shot. (Cheering from Mom in the background.) And it was disgusting. But I tried it. So I then proceeded to crack open a fortune cookie and read: Avoid unchallenging occupations – they will waste your great talents. Ha! What does one make of that?! Anyway, throw in a hail storm and a putting contest, and it was an awesome "day at the office".

Wrapped things up around 6, too late to make it out to Rowlett for our CC time. :( But, I did make a run to the store for fruit and salad fixins. Quaker Oatmeal Squares were on sale, 2 for $4. They're my fav. Sweet. Made it home around 7, checked email. Doorbell rang. Our 9-year-old downstairs neighbor Jordan would like to know if Amber is home. Sorry, she's not. "Well... would you come play with my friend and me?" Granted I was the second choice, but who can pass up Candyland? So the next hour was spent hanging out with Jordan and her friend Roquena, who is from Iraq. Very cool. I was always better at Chutes -N- Ladders, so didn't fare too well in the game, but I felt like I held my own in the 3-man Duck-Duck-Goose game. I at least learned that there is such a thing as a "Double Duck", although I'm not sure what that means...!

And so, March 10th. Fantastic. Check. Here's to a good night of ZZZZZZZZ's....

Well, I'm a week overdue, but here are a few shots from Emme's party this last weekend. Teddy bears were the theme, and it sure was a hit. Pa and G.T. once again provided an amazing cake... Pa crafted the bear topper, and G.T. created masterpiece cupcakes. I hear she's going into the cake business, but not sure how reliable my source is on that. ;) The afternoon included teddy bear coloring, stuffing bears, and Going on a Bear Hunt (read by our own Katy Reid, master storyteller). Fun afternoon, and we are so grateful to be able to celebrate a year of blessings with Emme Kate.

Kickin' It 4 Captives: 50 hours. 40 players. 1 epic game of kickball.

7 weeks from now, on April 9-11, Mercy Project supporters are taking on a challenge of World Record proportions. We'll be setting the Guiness World Record for the longest running game of kickball. Woohoo! Starting at noon on that Friday and lasting until 2 PM on Sunday, a team of 40 players will take the field to raise money for the Mercy Project. Each player is responsible for bringing at least $200 to the game, all going towards our friends on Lake Volta. We have teammates coming in from all over Texas and even a few from out of state to play. It's gonna be... well, amazing. Planning is in full swing; I sent the shirts to the printer today, $15 if you'd like to order one. (Click on the above image for a close-up.) So pumped! Please be in prayer as the plans evolve further over the next 2 months. Let me know if you'd like to be apart of the epic-ness is any way. Yes, epic-ness is a word.

There's just something about snowfall – in Dallas, nonetheless! – that makes me feel like a little kid on Christmas morning. Never heard an exact count, but we got close to a foot dumped on us last Thursday. All I know is, I came straight home from work, threw my snow boots on and headed out with Rachel. We joined about 50-60 other people in snowman-making out on the athletic fields across the street. So fun; it was like a holiday greeting card scene.




(please disregard the crazy hair... had to take one for the team and put my toboggan on our faceless snowman!)



Of course now, the snow is mostly melted away. The snowman field looks like a battleground of melted parts and pieces. Trees are everywhere and have wreeked some serious havok on carports and fences in our neighborhood. But... it sure was fun!

It's been an interesting week. One of those in which things keep coming up that you really didn't expect. Not always a bad thing, but feeling a slight sense of 'derailment' lately. Funny thing is, I'm not sure where the train was headed in the first place, so I guess it doesn't really matter! Now ceasing bad analogies...

Enjoyed out discussion time on Wednesday night this week. We've been digging into the lives of Ron Hall and Denver Moore even more in What Difference Do It Make?, and it's been a blessing. Here are some thoughts from Denver that I've been wanting to share:

"What people needs is people. And needy people don't need no perfect people neither. When Jesus sent His disciples out, He sent Peter right along, knowin Peter had a bad temper and a potty mouth and was gon' deny Him three times. He sent John and James even though they was full a' pride and fightin over the best seat at the table. He even sent Judas, knowin Judas was gon' betray Him. Even though Jesus knowed all a' their sin and weakness, He sent 'em anyway... If you is waitin to clean up your own life before you get out and help somebody else, you may as well take off your shoes and crawl back in the bed 'cause it ain't never gon' happen. Jesus don't need no help from no perfect saints. If He did, He wouldn't a' gone up yonder and left us down here in charge."

"I ain't got no way to read the mind a' God, but I 'xpect part a' His business is makin it Christmas for somebody ever day. If all the Christians – I mean all of 'em – got outta the pews on Sundays and into the streets, we'd shut the city down. We'd shut down hunger. We'd shut down loneliness. We'd shut down the notion that there is any such of a thing as a person that don't deserve a kind word and a second chance."

Stay tuned for posts on record snow... and a World Record attempt coming up in April!