This post will only make sense to those of you who went to college or HFBC with me, but I have ALWAYS thought Ben Cooper looked liked Jon Heder. This video clenchs it. They even dance similarly! At least I think so. Thoughts?
I did not grow up watching Christmas movies. I have seen a few here or there, but what most of my friends consider to be the quintessential Christmas movies... I have either never seen or have only seen in my 20's because my friends have been outraged enough to make me watch them.
I saw White Christmas for the first time in college and my roommates almost disowned me because I was not in love with the movie. I mean it was good enough but the dancer's legs are way too skinny. It is distracting.
I also saw A Christmas Story in college because it is my best friend Erin's childhood favorite. I think had I seen it as a child, I would also love it... But as an adult... not so much. It was funny enough but I don't plan to watch it every year or anything.
The only Christmas movies I saw as a child were National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and Home Alone. I love both of these movies with a fondness that my friends seem to possess for all movies Christmas. I am left wondering if my passion can grow for other Christmas movies or if I am destine to live in Christmas movie isolation...
This year I plan to watch It's A Wonderful Life and the old version of Miracle on 34th Street. I have never seen either movie (I know... ridiculous... but you read the post so you knew that was coming). Hopefully seeing two of the best Christmas movies made will jump start my Christmas movie zeal.
Please let me know if you have any other Christmas movie recommendations! Clearly I need help.
I have had a cold for the past week (I must have caught it at Pine Cove). It is finally fleeing, but my cough will not go away. Coughing this much is painful. I decided to put the NyQuil/DayQuil away and pull out the cough suppressant. It's amazing how I forget all about Buckley's until I need it. It tastes like death... I mean it's completely wretched but it works wonders. You would think I would remember tasting something so gross, but I block the memory until I am about to take it again and then the disgusting taste comes rushing back. I just took it so hopefully my cough will be a distant memory soon. Otherwise I am going to be very upset I choked down that teaspoon!
I took two of my girls home after small group tonight and they were both very excited about my car. They said it was very clean and pretty and asked if it was new. I laughed as I said no and was about to tell them "it is a '96" when it dawned on me... They were born in '97. My car is older than my girls!!! Crazy!
I went to Starbucks this morning and a flood of emotions overcame me. I was overjoyed to see RED cups and yet at the same time a little disgusted because it is barely November and they already have the red cups out! The cup then sent me into a panic because I have not purchased ANY christmas presents.
I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. I love that people are more willing to talk about spiritual matters. I love that the birth of my Savior is celebrated. I love the weather. I love being able to wear scarfs and coats and drink hot chocolate. I love that my entire family is together in the same place. I love that people are more giving around the holidays. It all makes me giddy.
But I really hate the way commercialism has dwarfed Christmas. I hate that I thought "oh no... presents" this morning instead of "Praise you Jesus!". My thought process reminded me of somenting I read on The Rose's blog a few weeks ago: Advent Conspiracy. They posted a video and it really got me thining. Hopefully it will get you thinking too. Check it out at the website linked above.
Because I am one! I PASSED THE BAR!!!! WOOHOO!!!!
I am still in shock. When I found out I ran screaming at the top of my lungs out of my room and downstairs to tell my father. I then checked my phone as the text messages and phone calls came in... CLEARLY I was NOT the only one checking the site every 2 seconds.
I started to draft an email to my friends and managed to delete the recipients twice. I then deleted the entire email because my hands would not stop shaking. I finally regained motor function and emailed 60 of my closest friends to tell them the great news. Lastly, I am blogging to let everyone in blogsville know. I am an ATTORNEY!!!
I love Elaine's post. Pretty much says it all. Today is the day we all find out if we passed the bar exam. I am anxious when I really let myself think about it. I have met several people in the last few weeks that did not pass the bar exam the first time. My fear is the Lord is allowing me to meet these people so I will know I am not alone if I fail. It is a scary thought but I am prepared either way.
Our results will post at some point today on the Texas Board of Law Examiners website. So I am glued to my computer pushing the refresh button every few minutes and waiting for something to change. I am also watching as the ticker increases by thousands every time I hit refresh (Clearly I am not the only one!).
Please be praying for everyone who took the bar exam in July. It is a truly nerve-racking day for all of us.
The theme of the Watermark Youth Retreat this year was trick or treat. A fitting theme since it was over Halloween weekend.
Day 1: We got to Pine Cove around 10:00pm on Friday night and changed into our Halloween costumes. We had our first "club" which consisted of upbeat worship music and a crazy rules video that David and Bode came up with. Afterwards we played a "trick or treat" game which resembled capture the flag but instead of a flag the kids had to make it to a leader on the opposite side and ask us "trick or treat". We had to alternate "trick" and "treat". "Treat" consisted of a ticket that they had to turn in for points and "trick" consisted of flour, shaving cream, silly string or whipped cream being sprayed/thrown on them.
Wesleigh (fairy), Faith (elf), Sarah (Sarah Palin), Me (rainbow), Izzy (Izzy bottle), Lauren (Izzy bottle), Cali (Hershey Kiss), Melissa (lightning), Sydney (vampire)
The Storm: Lightning, Pot of Gold, Rainbow, Sun, Rain, Rain, Thunder
Me and Melissa getting ready for the trick or treat game... Game face ON.
Katie, Me, Sarah... After the game.
Day 2: We had 2 Club sessions on Saturday that were both amazing. The first one talked through Genesis 3:1-9. David talked about how Satan tricks us into sinning and how sin draws us away from the Lord through shame and guilt. He ended on the truth that God always seeks us (Gen 3:9) despite our sin.
The second club consisted of two leader testimonies, communion and an open mic for the students. Around 50 students got up and shared what the Lord was doing in their lives during the weekend, or the struggles/trials they have endured in the past. It was a very powerful evening that I will not soon forget.
During free time two of our girls wanted to do the zip line so Melissa and I each got to zip with a girl. I was pretty scared from the top of the zip line but it was over soon enough and totally worth it!
Sydney and Melissa 
Me and Wesleigh
Zip on!
Saturday night we played Recon, which is quite possibly the best game ever. The kids had to make it through the woods in the dark to the tower where they would change their Cheerio for a Fruit Loop or the secret bunker where they would get a Frosted Flake. The leaders were all in the forest to stop the kids. When we would see a kid trying to pass we would tell them to freeze and either crush their Cheerio or make them do something to regain it. At first we were all crushing but as the game progresses we were supposed to let them earn back their Cheerio. It was great fun. I had kids doing interpretive dance while singing "I'm a little teapot" or "twinkle twinkle little star". Amazingly entertaining, though I am not quite sure the kids liked it as much.
Day 3: The last Club used Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (the quest for the Holy Grail) to teach the kids three challenges related to the three challenges Indy faced to find the grail: (1) Only the Penitent man will pass (2) Walking on the Word of God (3) Leap from the Lion's Head - leap of faith. The final challenge to the kids was that they must choose wisely meaning they should drink from the cup of life (Christ) instead of the other cups that lead to death (sin). It was a great analogy that will hopefully stick with the kids for a long time.
We had some great bonding time and I got to know these precious girls even better over the three days. I can't wait to see where the Lord brings them in the next few years.
This weekend was the Watermark Junior High Pine Cove Retreat! My girls stole my camera while Melissa (my co-leader) and I were getting ready for bed one night and this is what ensued. The videos are a little long but I am positive they will be useful for blackmail in the future! The joy of having these girls through their senior year in high school! Haha!
The retreat was great fun. I will post pictures and details tomorrow.
