I made a New Years resolution to make my bed everyday.

Silly resolution? Sure for those of you who make their bed all the time. I dont remember growing up with strict household of bed makers. My parents bed seems to always be made, and I know I was told to make mine. As an adult I didnt binge on eating junk food three meals a day, I just simply didnt make my bed.

And so I havnt been completely faithful to making my bed every single day, but its pretty often. Its nice since I dont have a desk anymore, my bed is my desk. Many a days Cheswick is in the center of my brown comforter circled by my day planner, check book, bills and receipts. Ive learned to have my own little home in one room for a while now. Though I cant wait for the day when I have a small house (why would I want a big one? Im not cleaning a big one. Small is just fine.) that separates my household activities a little more.

For now, Im happy with my new defined space.

Here are a few new things that have recently come into my possession that Id like to share:
BOOTS! Yes! I got boots. Not only did I get boots but I got these boots for $8.74. Target and their clearance prices crack me up. Why $8.74? I would of willing handed over the extra 25 cents. I thought of asking for cowboy boots for Christmas or my birthday but once I saw how pricey they were, I wasnt so sure. So I put it off and off and didnt get some for those holidays. Then Target had this lovely random sale, allowing me to get my very first pair of boots! I wore them today with a jean shirt and felt very, well Rory Gilmore. My pastor thought my boots were great too, which means ether the boots are awesome or my pastor is.

I know. Who would of thought that I would get this album? I thought I was done with Caedmon’s, but the used bookstore had it for cheap and why not complete the collection, no? Im only three songs into it, (which were a Derek then Cliff then Danielle songs) but Im surprisingly enjoying it. Before I bought it, I did check to see how many songs were written by Josh Moore. None! Thats was the selling point for me. Still surprised at this purchase.

Few weeks ago I got this pretty, shinny, iPhone. Well, Jason and I both got one. A year ago, I didnt see the need for an iPhone. I had a perfectly good phone and iPod. After both have let me down within the past year, the iPhone became more and more appealing. Jason of course has wanted one since MacWorld of last year when he was there listening to the Key Notes speech. Im pretty happy with it, other than most of the folks I talk to are on Verizon (who I do not miss one bit. Verizon, not my friends). Im being scarce with my minutes this month so they roll over to the next so I wont have to be as careful. So, this is letting all of you Verizon people know, your daytime minutes will be charges, but please still call!

For those of you who didnt hear, The Office won the SAG award for Best Comedy Ensemble. Yay The Office! (I have a new coworker who just got into The Office and she keeps talking about parts she has just seen. I love being excited with her over it too. She thinks Im getting sick of talking about it. Ha!) Heres the deal, I love Jenna Fisher for a lot of reason that I will not go into right now. But I will say that I really loved her dress that she wore to the SAGs. I can totally see it being trashed by the fashion police, but I love it so very much. Usually I dont say that about Hollywood dresses, but its different.

Just look at it (okay boys you are more than welcome to check out at this point, I understand. Then again surely there are many of you who have a crush on Jenna. So maybe I wont lose your readership). Its vintage looking. Its got some shiny silver at the top but not annoying at all. The straps, OH THE STRAPS. They are different than a formal dress normally has, and I love how its cut. I cant tell what the color is, ether a navy or a greenish blueish color, but both are great. Just think its so formal yet vintage fun, which Id love in a formal dress (if I ever had a need for one). Wonder if she’d let me borrow it? You know, to wear to youth group one night?

I took some photos of a cute little boy named Elias today.

You may view a handful of the many I took on my flickr. Enjoy.

Yesterday was a very long day. Check that, this week has been very long, full of very long days. Yesterday though I over booked myself. But the end of my day was my favorite. My friends asked me if I would watch their 6 month old daughter, who is also my favorite baby, Emma for a couple of hours. I jumped on the chance and loved spending time with her and feeding her. During our time together I, like most any human being had to use the restroom. I look at Emma and ask her “Emma, what do your parents do with you when they have to go the bathroom?” She smiles and squeals at me for an answer. What do I do? I bring her with me into the bathroom. I put her down on the bathroom mat with a toy. She was fine the whole time, but I did confess what I did to Emma’s parents when they returned home. They kinda laughed at me and said I could of left her alone for a couple minutes since she isn’t mobile yet. This is not something you think to ask when the parents are going over the baby-sitter stuff before they leave. But next time Im asking “What do you do with the baby when you have to go to the bathroom?”

Its very clear that I am such a Southern California girl at heart when it gets cold. Im not here to complain, Im here to go on and on about silly things about the cold that only a girl not from here would go on and on about. I left my soda from Chick-fli-a (Ive been there more times in the past three months than I have since I met Chick-fli-a in 2003. A lot of my high schoolers work there, I like to visit them. I dont really care for chicken, I go for the kids.) in the car over night and it was hard as a rock the next morning when I got in. Now Ive frozen many of things over my lifetime, but never in my car. Im not used to using my car as a freezer. And the snow is still on the ground! Two days later! People who I work with at the church mock my delight over this little piles of “snow” since they are from up state New York. Well, I am not from there, Im from a beach! This new and so exchanging to me! Even when its 18 degrees outside when I have to go to work. Im happy to be enjoying the winter weather, though a little snow in this cold would be really nice. And I could live if a place where once a week we get a good snow and it sticks around for a little while and not mess up the roads. So please winter, stick around a little bit. I will love you even more if you bring nonthreatening snow around more often.

Aw man. I wrote everyday since the first of the year and yesterday, my full packed day, I missed a day. Not that any of you probably noticed I was trying to blog something each day. Oh wells, onto this wonderfully snowy day we are having! I could live through winter no problem if its snowy like this all the time. Im waiting for it to stick, but its fun to catch snowflakes on tongues.

Oh and Im enjoying a mojito right now. What? Yeah yeah its a summer drink but I feel warm on the inside! Thats all that matters.

Google has been showing me a picture of a tree with some hanging ice from it for a couple days now. I dont ever know to believe it or not. But today, Google must of taken that photo in this town today becasue there was ice from every tree:


Ive heard of and seen pretty photos of trees covered in ice. But theres nothing like driving down a street in your neighborhood where the trees lean over covering the street when its glazed with ice. I probably should be thinking of the dangers that at any moment the ice will become to heavy for the tree and snap down onto my car or a power line. No, Im too enchanted by the way the trees sparkle with their new icey outfits.

I enjoyed some tasty Chiplote tacos today. And tonight I pray for snow and NOT ice for the morning. I can work from home and watch the snow fall. And run outside every once and a while when I need a brake. I mention the tacos becasue I think its funny, let alone not really cold weather food, to be eating. But I love Mexican food as a good southern California girl does, it is my comfort food. So what do you like to eat when its cold outside?

Some friends of mine out of state said they were ordering their Girl Scout cookies. Ive always gotten mine from when I worked with middle schoolers. I wasnt sure where Id be getting my fix for this year from. Beginning of my week I send out a facebook message to the youth groups facebook group with the weeks announcements. At the end of it, I asked if anyone happened to have a sister selling girl scout cookies. I got a handful of responses. My roommate and I just checked out the cookies online to refresh our memory for when we were in Girl Scouts and to see what was new this year (just some low fat cookies, why would I even bother getting Girl Scout cookies in low fat?!). We placed our order through a message on facebook for the cookies and I will get them a week before February. I never knew when I signed up for facebook that it be a gateway to Girl Scout cookies. Oh how I love the internet.

Some photos of the kids I get the pleasure of working with at least twice a week.

This last photo is of Seth. Seth and I work closely together in “the cage” on Sunday nights. He asked me right after I snapped his photo why I take photos. I thought for a moment, becasue I knew he was after more than “Ive just always liked taking photos.” Instead I answered that Im a visual person. It helps me capture my life in a way I relate the most. Along with how differently someone can take away from looking a photo. Its art in so many forms, which makes it new and exciting every time I snap a photo. He gave me a pleased smile, or so I think.

Spent some time in the kitchen this afternoon. I remembered bookmarking some homemade Mac ‘n Cheese via Tom and Alissa I believe. Now, I might of missed the point of this recipe since calls for organic milk and butter and totally used non organic butter and might of thrown in a 1/2 cup of half and half for the past part of the milk. It was non-fat half and half at least! I loved having the tomatoes on top of the Mac ‘n Cheese. Only thing Id change is the amount of bread crumbs. It calls for a whole cup, but I think half of a cup or less would of done the job of a crispy top.

I was a little hungry when I started fixing the Mac ‘n Cheese and it takes 40 minutes to cook so I made myself a little appetizers to hold me over. This might be the best fancy sounding but so easy to make thing ever. Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes . I only made about five slices of this yummy treat, but I could of consumed the full 4 servings the recipes makes no problem. I had a hard time saving the last two for Jason. If you like Italian food and easy things to fix, this is the snack for you. I might be on a tomato kick for a while now.

This me at one of my birthday parties many years ago. Check out those cute cubby checks (which I believe as an adult its called a round face). That yummy blue slurpee drink. And that cute purple tank top. Ah yes, the joys of southern California Januarys, you can be found drinking an ice beverage while sporting a tank top.

Today is my 26th birthday. Well, I turn 26th at 11:51pm tonight. Every year before this, I had no problem shouting out my new year. This year, no matter how many times people tell me Im still in my midtwentys, 26 just seems older. My parents told me today they didnt feel old when they turned 50, but having a 26 year old daughter makes them feel old. Thanks Mom and Dad! Heres to being old with you!

He turns 30 today. We wont talk about that too much!

Hope you have a wonderful day filled with ice cream cakes and good guys night!

Every Thursday afternoon we have a meeting with the student leaders. I look forward to this meeting especially now that Ive been there a few months. Sharing a conversation over a Gilmore Girl episode we both happened to watch. We learned we both like the Gilmore Girls along with just jumping into conversation without the formalities. More than his technical mind, I will miss working side by side this guy Sunday. Thankfully he came this afternoon and we chatted over not tech things. I know whats going on in their lives to ask about their senior projects. Or why their good friend who normally here is missing. We get down to business and they always think more than I ever expect of students to. They all have hearts for their youth group and others outside of it in very different ways. Some to the lost and some to the new. I am completely spoiled now to be working with high schoolers, and a fantastic group at that.

This morning I tired out some blueberry and almond oatmeal I picked up at Target. They have this food brand that every time I try something its good. This oatmeal was no expectation. I didn’t nearly bring enough for my brake this morning. Im packing extra in my purse for tomorrows early rise of an open shift.

Today I received a birthday package in the mail. As its been said, mail is a very dying art. Funny its turned into an art, isnt it? I love to send out notes and thank you cards to help keep that alive. I have a handful of new friends who birthdays are also in the month of January and Ive been running around finding gifts for them. I love celebrating birthday week, but knowing its been shared with friends makes it all the sweeter. Plus Id rather focus on them turning another year older than I turning 26.

You can now find heart covered items, Easter kitchen accessories and bathing suites at Target. I may or may not of tired a couple of those on. In January! I also may or not have checked out the Valentines stuff. I dont know, I dont really decorate or pass out Valentines anymore. Those cute little hearts just were calling my name or something. But wait, Christmas was there last week, wasnt it? Its almost my birthday so its appropriate for Christmas to be trickling away, but it seems to be swept away this year. Im glad to see a few tinkle lights still left up to enjoy in the evening.

The middle school has a couple of new folks coming on staff. I met one of them last week, and he saw this photo on my desktop at work. He asked if it was me and my husband. I giggled a little and said no, it that its Jim and Pam from the TV show, The Office. I take the compliment that he thought I looked like Pam though. Jason commented later when I told him the story that I wish I was married to Jim. But then where would that leave Pam? I love Pam too much to do that to her (and Jason). I keep my office at work decked out in Office fashion, just waiting for my beloved show to return. I found this great Office video on YouTube for you Office fans out there who miss it just as much as I do. Enjoy.

Been struggling this week with my season of church. It was such a hard decision to accept my job that I love knowing it meant I couldnt be at the church that I love on a weekly basis. Last week I cried durning the end of the service. I hadnt been there in a month and I deeply missed it. I know I see a lot of my church community outside of Sundays but it isnt the same. Im sure some people frown upon me not going to a Sunday morning service when I have the morning free to do so. The church I work at is massive and Id love to go to see how the chaos functions, but that really isnt the point of going now is it? The going to church part of my faith is about fellowships and worshiping with other believers. I feel as thought I do those things weekly it just looks completely different. I have to try harder, as in schedule in a time durning the week for an actual bible study. Its the only way I seem to make time for things I find important. So while my church life looks so different than it ever has before, I have the most peace in my life than Ive had in a long time. Its a sea of mixed feelings since I dont miss my church when Im in the mist of kids who I love being around. I missed the kids when I was on vacation for two weeks missing out on things like Christmas get together and last youth group night of 2007. Through it all, I know God has me here, otherwise I dont think Id feel this much peace about it all. Its reshaping my thoughts of church and what Ive known it to be.

“Just as I am, you rush in without a warning
I didn`t think that you would want to come to this place
and make it feel like a sunday morning. ”
-Sandra McCracken

What a long good day. My roommate and I ran a couple of errands exchanging unwanted Christmas gifts for store credit and lunch at Chick-fli-a were a lot of the kids from the youth group work. One of them comment that visiting them is turning into a Saturday ritual. Ive only been one time before this, but I love going in and seeing them. Kelly and I then went on to the ABC store. We dont have ABC stores in California, we carry liquor in the grocery stores. It was quite inconvenient when I found out that dont do that here. Can I just say, I have never seen so much alcohol in one place at one time?! Sorta a bazar experience for me, but now we are well stocked up for tasty drinks for a while now.

A photo shot with good friends that was a lot of fun and indoors. Its too cold and rather ugly out to be taking photos. I was a little nervous about it since I hate using a flash. Ive learned a lot about how to set my settings with the ISO and white balance to help that, but Im no where near close to coming out with an amazing indoor photos. Moved them towards windows with fun and cute placing hoping a handful turn out.

After that, Jace and I went to a floating party of our friend who got her masters in Library Science. It took place out in the country on a real live farm. Chickens and a barn cat followed us to the door. Its always interesting to me when friends from different parts of my life are together in the same place.

Straight from the party, we went to where our church is currently located to help do the finishing touches on the room that Jimmy and Jason had been working hard on all week. The room no longer feels like a sterile fellowship hall in an old Baptist church, but more so a theater mets living room feel. Its a huge step forward in making 514 feel like 514 despite the location we have been given for this season. I have my eye on this neat brick building downtown for sale.

A wonderfully full Saturday that Im thankful to call my own.