I heart community

Community is a word we throw around a lot at Watermark. I've been hearing about the wonder of it since I started going to church there over four years ago, but only in about the last year has it become something that I really understand. I am a part of an awesome group of girls composed of Sarah, Jen, Karla, Katie, Caroline (up until she got married this month), myself, and led by sweet Caryn. These girls have really become community to me. A group of girls who truly know me. They know my struggles, they know my hurts, they know my victories. They help me make decisions. They are wise counsel in my life. They tell me when I'm headed the wrong direction with my thinking. I am so thankful for them and everything that they are in my life. I love you girls - You have made me believers in this thing we call community!

Me & Sarah at Caroline's wedding.

Caryn, Jen, & Karla at Caroline's wedding.

Katie, Jen, Karla & me at D T0wn.

Jen, Sarah, Karla & me waiting in line for ICE!

Reminder

I'm so quick to forget that despite the fact that I screw up and live my life to the contrary, I have a God who loves me with a love I don't understand and a God who is faithful regardless of the circumstances. I found out Monday that I didn't pass my last test. I have to take it again. Since then all I seem to be able to focus on is how I mess things up for myself and how I just don't quite measure up. But God is so faithful to remind me that His love for me is far greater than a love that is dependent on whether or not I am a CPA. Thank goodness!!!

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. Psalm 117

Travel Adventures - D.C. Edition

**I am VERY bitter right now. I just typed up an entire blog about my trip to D.C. and Blogger promptly deleted it all. SO, if you'd like to see any details of the trip, you can see Erin's blog, with her wonderfully detailed post about our time together!

The highlights of the trip included the Hirshhorn Museum which houses contemporary and modern art including an exhibit called Strange Bodies. The National Gallery of Art. A couple of lazy mornings at Erin's apartment. Some wonderful pizza. When Harry Met Sally. Chips & queso. Artomatic - a wonderful local art show full of crazy exhibits, including on made completely of Peeps. Lot's of quality time with Erin. Some time in Georgetown (I would move there tomorrow if I could - it's so cute). And riding the Metro - I heart public transportation that actually works!

Artomatic - Clue: Peeps style.

Artomatic: Art is Math. Math is Art.

Georgetown - love it!

Hirshhorn: Art made completely of butterfly wings.

"I think this map should have a You Are Here arrow!"

I love you friend and had a great time! Can't wait until you're here in a couple of weeks!

*If you'd like to see more pictures, you can find them here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sarah.d.welch/DCJune2009#

Temptation

I know everyone is posting this right now, but I just couldn't help myself. They showed this video at church on Sunday for our series on temptation, and I laughed through the whole thing. Steve makes good videos!

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Happy Father's Day!

So many things I could say about my dad today. For starters, he put up with a lot with three girls running around the house when we were young. He worked so hard to provide for us, but did it in a way where he was still home every night for dinner and had plenty of time for us. He showed me what it looks like for a man to love his wife the way Christ loves the church with the way he has loved my mom. In high school he taught me to play golf so that I could be on the golf team. He patiently spent hours with me at the empty field by our church with a pitching wedge and a bucket of golf balls. He taught me how to drive a standard - I know for a fact that I tested his patience during that! My dad has always loved the three of us so selflessly.

The way that he loves our family is not the only reason I respect my dad. The way that he has always followed after God and sought to use his gifts to teach others. He also has such a heart for people who haven't had the same opportunities that we have. When I was in college he & a friend started International Crisis Aid which has provided feeding programs for children in Ethiopia, helped rescue girls in sex trafficking and so much more.

Dad, I love you so much! Happy Father's Day!

Crazy Eights

My friend Kristie tagged me. I don't often actually do these things, but I decided it could be fun!

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To...

1. Several movies I want to see in the next month or so (Harry Potter, My Sister's Keeper, The Proposal, Up)
   
2. My parents coming to visit in July.
   
3. Getting my last CPA exam results (hopefully very soon!)
   
4. Cabo with the sister in October.
   
5. GAFIA in Waco with the college roomies Labor day weekend!
   
6. Dinner with the community group at Pattrizio's on Thursday.
   
7. Rebekah moving back to Texas (especially exciting because it's Dallas!)
   
8. The compound. If you understand this - I'll see you there, if not, you can just ignore this one.

8 Things I Did Yesterday...

1. Ate wonderful french toast that Erin made for breakfast.
2. Watched When Harry Met Sally (and noticed some wonderful quotes I had never noticed before).
3. Went to Georgetown.
   
4. Shopped at H&M - Oh how I love it!
   
5. Ate wonderful coffee & oreo icecream.
   
6. Saw adorable row homes in Georgetown that made me desparately want to live in a big city.
   
7. Ate Tex-Mex outside of Texas. Not quite the same, in case you're wondering.
8. Went to Artomatic.

(Note: I wrote this Sunday, but didn't publish until Monday, so these events happened on Saturday, if you care.)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do...

1. Dance  (I have dance envy when I'm around Natalie & Julie)
   
2. Live somewhere where public transportation was a real option for getting around.
   
3. See my family more often.
   
4. Speak another language.  Sadly, the college spanish didn't stick! If you saw my grades you would understand.
5. Open my own bakery.
6. Take a photography class (which I know I can do, I just wish I could find time!)
   
7. Take more vacations.
   
8. Write. I totally wish I was better with words.

8 Shows I Watch...

1. The Office
   
2. 30 Rock
   
3. Lost (As much as I hate to admit it.  Although, I'm only on season 2)
   
4. Gossip Girl (This one is shameful, I know)
   
5. Brothers & Sisters
   
6. Chuck
   
7. Kings
   
8. Glee (New this Fall, the Pilot is out, I am going to be a huge fan I feel)

8 People I Tag...

Oh blah...do it if you want to!

Four years down, three to go!

We finished out the girls freshman year with a little fiesta on my back deck. Five of the girls have birthdays in the last month of the school year, so we used the end of year party to celebrate those as well! I can't believe they are done with their first year of high school. It's so unbelievable to me that they are getting this old. I feel like I'm going to blink my eyes and they will be graduating. Anyway - I set out the ipod speakers and the party turned into a dance party on the deck. It's amazing how easy they are to entertain. There are really no words to explain what happens when they get hold of the ipod, but here are some pictures to give you an idea!