1/30: Sic 'Em

I think a perfect way to start of the month is talking about my Baylor Bears.  Because, for now, we are sitting atop the Big Twelve South and ranked number 21 in the BCS Poll.  Now, as a true Baylor fan, I have a healthy amount of skepticism about how long it will last.  But I can at least be hopeful.  And a little excited.  It's quite fun to be a Baylor fan these days.  This weekend, even though I was at the retreat and didn't get to watch Baylor beat Texas, I enjoyed checking my iPhone and seeing the score and wearing my Baylor gear proudly.  Sic 'em bears!!!

Me & Brittnye - proud to be Baylor alum!

NaBloPoMo 2010

I can't believe I'm even typing this post.  But I think I'm going to do it again this year.  I'm committing to a post a day for the month of November. I've done it the last two years and have enjoyed myself...so I guess I'm going to go at it again. I am also going to try and post a picture every day.  One that I've taken.  Ideally on my camera, not my phone, because I want to practice more.  I want to become a better photographer, and I'm pretty sure practice is the best way to get there.  I'll be back Monday ready to go!

NaBloPoMo

New Tunes

I bought two new albums this week.  Is it weird that I wanted to type CD's there? I would have, but that would be a lie, since I tangibly did not buy a CD.  Anyway...I'm thoroughly enjoying both of them and thought I would share in case you're missing out. 

Now, don't judge, but the first is Taylor Swift's Speak Now.  I know, I know. But really, people, how can you work with high schoolers and not have a little Taylor Swift on your iPod?!  Ignore the fact that there are now three Taylor albums on mine.  No one needs to know that.  It can be our secret.  We'll call it a guilty pleasure.

And can someone please get me this dress...or at least one that color.  It's quite lovely. Moving on to why I enjoy it.  It's catchy teeny bopper music at it's best.  I listened to it the first time through on a run, and I have to admit I laughed out loud at some of the lyrics.  Cheese at its best.  But I like the cheese...obviously.  See above remark about working with high schoolers.

The second album (still, want to say CD) is Shane & Shane's Dare to Share: Unending Worship.  Honestly, this could be a new favorite. 

Okay, Shane & Shane's worship albums CD's back in the day were pretty much the soundtrack of my college years.  I loved them.  I wore them out I listened to them so much.  But since then I haven't just loved anything they've come out with.  Enjoyed, yes, but over the top loved? No way.  But this.  It's a ton of the worship songs we sing at church right now and some new ones I had never heard...all sung by Shane & Shane.  Bonus in my book.  I love every single song.  I can't stop listening.  Buy it.  Now.

I'm spending the weekend with the aforementioned high schoolers...I'm sure there will be plenty of Taylor Swift jamming in our cabin.  Pictures to come!  And my roommate introduced me to one of the funniest blogs ever this week.  I love witty people.  It's a style blog, but with humor, you should check it out if those kind of things interest you!

Nike Women's Half Marathon

We did it!  A couple of weekends ago, my sister Rebekah and I finished the Nike Women's Half Marathon.  The trip to San Francisco was most definitely a fun one.  The parents came along and Deborah was working the race for Team in Training, so it was really a full family affair.  We had a great couple of days in the city before the race.  It was fun to shop, do a little sight seeing, eat great food and take in a new city. 

Family pic after dinner Friday night.

Deborah and her friend Natalie in the giant chair in our hotel lobby.

Saturday morning at the Embarcadero.

Foggy view of the Golden Gate bridge.

The run itself was awesome.  Hard, but awesome.  You can read Rebekah's race recap here.  She totally rocked it.  A great time and I know she felt good about it.  My time wasn't anything to be impressed with (never is, I'm slow and proud of it), but I finished, and that's what I set out to do.  I felt great for the first 6 miles (from Union Square, down to the water, through Fishermans Wharf and toward the Golden Gate bridge).  There were a few small hills, but it was mostly flat.  When you hit mile 6, it was like a whole different race course.  A solid mile of steep up hill, then a significant downhill (which was awesome), and it pretty much went on in the same up and down fashion until close to mile 10, where it levelled out for the most part.  I saw Deborah at mile 10.5.  I was feeling rough (some lovely stomach cramps), and I'm quite sure I looked it as well.  Apparently the sister has a picture from this time, but I haven't seen it yet.  Another mile and I started feeling a little better and finished the race strong after passing through the Ghirardelli mile at the 12 mile marker.  It really was a great race.  It was super scenic and there was always something going on all through the course.  I would definitely do it again if given the chance.

Rough morning before the race pictures.

The massive amount of people lined up that morning.  It took me 30 minutes to actually get to cross the starting line after the race started.

Me & Dad at the finish.

Me & Rebekah at the finish...I was cold...it was raining.

After the race I wasn't feeling so hot, but once I got some food in me I was MUCH better.  We walked around a good bit in the afternoon, and then had a wonderful dinner at a Greek restaurant.  It was a wonderful celebratory dinner!  We spent a couple of hours at the top of the Marriott soaking up our last views of San Francisco. (Deborah has pictures of that night as well, I believe.)  After a great breakfast, we headed back to the airport. (By the way...all the restaurants we went to while we were there...awesome...I highly recommend them all!)

I am so thankful for a fun family to travel with and parents who cheered us on. (Although, I think my dad will be running next time...he wasn't as much of a fan of the cheering as he is the running).Thanks Beks for wanting to do a half marathon...so glad to have number two under my belt.  Here comes White Rock in about a month for the third.  Yikes...I better get to running!

Dancing the Night Away

Our student ministries event The Draw was last Sunday. I love The Draw. Who wouldn't love getting to do some country line dancing and attempting to teach some kids (and perhaps some friends) how to two step?!  I actually had such a blast just dancing and singing fun, old country songs with friends. 

 Me & Laura - I love that we're at student ministries events again now that her girls are in high school!

 One of the girls friends, Amanda, Rachel & Tori.

 Karley, me & Maddie.

 Laura & Spencer - right after my attempt at two-stepping lessons.  Let's just say it was a bit less than successful!

 I just love when they throw in a random techno song...it seems to elicit the most response from the kids.

 Madeleine, Tori, Rachel, & Maddie.

Julie, KJ (our wonderful new student ministries intern),  & me.