The weekend in review

1. Kayla's Middle School Play.
This is the cutest 14 year old you've ever seen. We cheered on she and Anna in one of the most depressing plays I have ever seen. Haha. However, the kids were fabulous. I was impressed with their acting skills. I realized that one of the reasons the play was so distressing was because the middle schoolers did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. You really felt their pain.

2. Old School Field Day.
The latest aXcess event. I'm waiting for the pictures. Some of them were absolutely hilarious. And then, there is the picture of Lance & I taming the squirrels. They must of heard the park ranger say, "Don't feed the squirrels", because these little guys had no problem helping themselves with us standing right there. They were stealing grapes and strawberries, tearing into the hotdog bun packages, and taking off with the custard tarts.

3. Band on the lawn at Nantucket Grill.
I tried to get tickets to High School Musical since Kayla & Anna loved the seats Kate gave them. However, the weekend was completely sold out so Lance & I went to Nantucket for dinner instead. They have started the Courtyard Music Series with Bocci Italian so this is an even better reason to go on the weekends. Beautiful weather, great food, the sounds of the fountain and chill live music.

4. Jonesey's Surprise Birthday Party.
3,000 chicken wings and friends from college and KPIC. Check out Nate's fabulous photo documentary skills covering the party. There are some great pictures. It was great to see his new house. Unfortunately, it took Jaimie and I almost two hours to get home. We got stuck in I-40 construction traffic.

5. Pedicure at Andrea's Salon.
I love spending time at Color. Of course, you know that you'll see Andrea and Jeff and it is always fun to see who else comes in. Last time, it was Adrianne and this time it was Julie and then Deonni getting ready for her trip to help Renee move to NYC. The new nail artist does a great job and told me about her family's story of life in Vietnam after the war. Her father was imprisoned for five years by the Communist government because he helped the Americans. Their move to the US was one of the most interesting stories I have heard for a long time.

6. Sunday Lunch at the Food Court

I am always surprised by how much I enjoy it when we go to the food court at Southpoint Mall. No matter how many times we do it, my initial reaction is to think, "Groan" because Foster's Market is normally the closest I get to fast food but then when we go it is great. Where else can you take 20 to 30 people, all sit together, and actually be done in under two hours? It is fabulous to let everyone choose what they want to eat, not have to deal with a server, and you can get up and move around with no fear of messing up the tab.

A Year Ago, Today

I woke up at Brittany's house filled with excitement and anticipation. After nine months of homesickness, FINALLY, I was meeting the movers at my new apartment in Durham.

Haha. Coming home wasn't what I expected.
Not in the least.

I didn't think I'd fall in love with Charleston before I left, never dreamt I would meet and then have to leave a guy I'd take seriously, had no clue that on days that the weather is just right and the breeze is cool I'd feel a physical longing to stand on the Battery overlooking Charleston Harbor or walk along the beach at the Isle of Palms.
I definitely never thought I'd meet some of my closest friends there. And, let's just take a moment to talk about how crazy it is that Angela moved into Mt. Pleasant as I was moving out!

Charleston is a place I could live again. I think I learned to appreciate my life while I was there. I began to really value and treasure the people I loved because when you are seperated it makes the time you do get so much more special. I also learned to enjoy the life I had.

However, Durham welcomed me back with open arms and has been full of surprises. For now, I am still glad to be home.
For every one thing I miss in the Lowcountry there were a hundred things that I missed here.

Random movie nights in front of one big screen or the other, dressing up Sarah's cats, knowing every exit number on I-40, Alisha, the Dean Dome and everyone else right down the street...my parents less than two hours away...Moving home has been nothing like I thought it would be but I think, in the end, I'll like God's story of my life better than I would have chosen for myself. I just need to keep believing...

Bye, Brendan! Thanks for one ACC win...

1. Our favorite freshman left us for the NBA.

Jason is reminding us to rejoice with those who rejoice.

2. The African Children's Choir will be on American Idol tonight with Bono. All us proud "aunts and uncles" will be watching on the big screen at my place after prayer. (Come on over!)

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3. I've been working in Greenville, NC for the past few days. This show was a first because I actually had to cook some of the display presentations for the restaurant owners to view. This party was a first because they had TWO live bands and we actually discussed going out on the dance floor. (It has to be really good for people to feel like dancing in front of co-workers or customers and after 16 shows I haven't yet.)

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4. Watched Blood Diamond with Ceeece.

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5. Found out my co-worker could be prohetic. That would explain why we are so "birds of a feather".

Meet my summer tour guide, John Michael. (Also known as my younger brother.)

We're going to Europe for two weeks this June/July and I am SO looking forward to it.

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Alisha is doing a semester in Florence so we're taking a family vacation over to see her and then travel to some neighboring countries. John, Kate, and their friends were there one summer so he'll be the one with he experience.

I wish I was turning 27 in Italy (my 25th birthday in Brazil was MEMORABLE) but I'll miss it by a few days. One of our dearest family friends is getting married the weekend before so we'll all be coming home for that.

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Pictured: Kate, John, & Taryn

Ridgecrest

This weekend was the annual women's retreat for the church and it was so good. I got the opportunity to spend time with some great bellas.

There were some really deep things that happened in my heart this weekend. I also had some really fabulous conversations that cemented what God was speaking to me.

Last week was really busy with work. My creative posting was at an all time low!

I found wireless internet in the mountains!

The Carolina Ballet is performing Swan Lake this weekend so six of us went Thursday night. Mary drove us in the $80,000 Lexus she was driving which was a cool experience in itself. It was a fun night out but I feel like both events weren't things I really need in my every day life. I'm actually happy with my car that doesn't have the ability to park itself and ballet is BEAUTIFUL yet not something I need to see on a weekly basis. Isn't it great to love your life?

I'm in the process of updating the aXcess blog to reflect the cruise. What do you think of the Bahamaventions?

Isaiah 52

1 Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.
2 Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.
3 For this is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed."
4 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
5 "And now what do I have here?" declares the LORD. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock, [a] " declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I."
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
12 But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant 13 See, my servant will act wisely [b] ; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [c]— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so will he sprinkle many nations, [d] and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

"You need more funk and less Shirley Temple"

1. John Michael came for a surprise visit on Sunday 2. Went to the African Children's Choir Concert at the church Saturday night with my parents, grandmother, great aunt, and Alisha 3. Met Ceeece for lunch at Yancy's 4. Had dinner with Margarette & Mandy at NANTUCKET on Friday 5. Went to Foster's Market this morning for breakfast 6. Watched The Guardian with John, Charleigh, and Sarah in the movie theater downstairs Sunday night 7. Mom was craving NANTUCKET so I had dinner Saturday night there with the family 8. I was thrilled to discover a piano studio just opened downstairs so I can practice here instead of driving all the way to UNC 9. Sunday lunch at Maggiano's with the family 10. Kim & Amy's Birthday dinner Sunday night at Biaggi's where I only had coffee since I was so sick of eating 11. Hip Hop gets easier and harder with every class 12. Hung out at Champp's after the concert. 13. FINALLY cleaned my house and I can see the floor in my dining room 14. I watch 24 with Ceeece, Sarah & Jason every Monday night 15. Bought a great dress at the Saturday White House/Black Market sale and another at Bannana 16. Fell in love with Trader Joe's tonight 17. Got a letter in the mail from someone I adore 18. Got four phone calls regarding the Duke Lacrosse players on Friday 19. My Great Aunt Ruthie toured the chicken plant 20. Jason told me many Gamecock alumni think Steve Spurrier spit in their eye when he told the world that they shouldn't fly the Confederate flag over the SC capital

Triangle Jewel

I went to visit for the first time yesterday after coming back from Andrea's fabulous new salon. I was stuck in rush hour on Morrisville Carpenter and I looked and saw the sign for Lake Crabtree!

It is BEAUTIFUL! I can't believe that I have been just driving by it all of these years. I have really missed Palmetto Park in Charleston where I could run by the water.

This isn't boardwalks over the marsh but it also is mosquito-free so it is worth the trade off!

The trails are along the banks of the lake and there is a fishing pier, gazebos right on the water, and benchs all around. They also have boat rentals by the hour which would be a fun afternoon.

(Lake Crabtree Pictures)

Looking for other things to do?
I found these Fabulous Raleigh Discounts.

Shooter

Sarah and I went to a late night showing of Shooter last night.
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I was thinking it would be some B-list movie but it was great.
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It really was a nice surprise. If not for Sarah, I would have never gone to see it.
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The opening scene made me want to go to Ethiopia. BEAUTIFUL. I had no idea that the mountains meet the water down there.
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WARNING: Amy, this may not be your type of movie, however, since the body count was well over 100 by the time the movie ended! That was rough by the end but it was well done. On the violence scale I'd say it was more than The Departed but less than 300. It was definitely less graphic than both. (I still cannot believe that I escaped seeing 300 on IMAX. John wanted our whole family to go and my mom and I had no idea what it was about. IMAX was sold out so we went into the movie theater part of it down in Tampa. OH MY WORD. Some things, you don't need to see on a screen six stories high, much less, to have all the blood splattering on you in 3D.)

First

I went to Richmond for the first time yesterday! As we drove around the town I was thinking, "This is a place I need to spend more time in." I forget that it is one of THE Southern cities.
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I definitely got the tour of the rough parts of town and didn't even get a chance to see the pretty parts. I'm excited to go back in a few weeks. Especially since my trip to Birmingham has been canceled! (SO SAD.)

This morning I'll be working in Reba's hometown, Rolesville. If you haven't been reading her blog, you totally should. I laugh out loud all the time!

Seventh Inning Stretch

Durham Bulls Last Night. .

MVP Tickets by first base..

SO MUCH FUN! .

Totally love Dtwn Durham.


(Baseball is great bc you can have plenty of time for conversation at least twice every inning! We lost by one which is a HUGE improvement from the last game I saw two years ago! )

Let's Go to Atlanta!

Charlotte has an Urban Prayer Room which is supposed to be close to Uptown. Erin, they even have a local justice project. I found the site while trying to find the song, The Dream of the Father's Heart, which may be one of the best songs I've ever heard yet is almost impossible to find online. Lucinda played it for me first but it looks like I'm going to have to buy the CD to get the track, unfortunately.



I am VERY excited about the Onething Conference in Atlanta this summer. I really think we should go to this one. It is put on by IHOP (not the pancakes, people) and is supposed to be an amazing weekend. Seacoast always sent their leadership teams down. This is for all of you who were wishing that there was something directed towards young adults that is hip AND spiritually powerful.

The crazy thing is that the conference is free. I'm already registered although I won't go down until Friday. There is a Homewood Suites right down the road from the conference that has a 2 bedroom apartment with a king, two doubles, and a sleeper sofa. Fun times at less than $20 a night per person... Come on Grace Girls...

Formerly Spinning

Do you equate songs with certain periods of life?
I do ALL the time. I love music. But I want purposeful music. It is rare that I would just turn the radio on to listen to any old song. Music affects me and reinforces things in my life. I burned this CD off the first couple of songs I pulled together for the first relationship seminar at the end of January. This playlist has just reinforced Christ's love in my heart over the past few months. I'm putting together something new to run to so I thought I'd post the former list.

1. Made to Love Toby Mac
2. Black, White, Tan Nicole C. Mullen
3. L-O-V-E Nat King Cole
4. Blessed Be Your Name Tree 63
5. I Need You to Love Me BarlowGirl
6. Draw Me Close Michael W. Smith
7. Family Man Andrew Peterson
8. Your Grace Is Enough Chris Tomlin
9. What the World Needs Now is Love Dionne Warwick 4th Floor Manly Lip Sync

Charity

This picture is for Eddie:

I really enjoyed the creativity of the graphic designers who put these Easter cards together for Charity: Water.
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I'm at home with my family and my grandmother and great aunt are in town. Today has been a nice Easter...complete with bunny slippers from the Easter Bunny.
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(I just kept thinking about the movie where there was a bag mix-up and someone pulls out these bunny slippers and says, "Poor thing, she's single.")
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However, I could probably take comfort in knowing that I have FLip Hops... "The embroidered bunny face features a coy little wink of an eye and the poufy tail provides a sassy farewell as you sashay about."
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Haha! Nothing like "a sassy farwewell as you sashay about" to keep you trendy chic. haha!

Take me back...

Pig Picking, colored swirling lights on the dance floor, a DJ playing country music and four generations of friends I've know since I was five...

That was Michael & Stacey's engagement party last night at Maxwell Mill in Eastern NC.

First Wednesday

Isaiah 41
The Helper of Israel 1 "Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.
2 "Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.
4 Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD -with the first of them and with the last—I am he."
5 The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward;
6 each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!"
7 The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, "It is good." He nails down the idol so it will not topple.
8 "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15 "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.
16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
17 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
21 "Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King.
22 "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,
23 tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable.
25 "I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes— one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know, or beforehand, so we could say, 'He was right'? No one told of this, no one foretold it, no one heard any words from you.
27 I was the first to tell Zion, 'Look, here they are!' I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings.
28 I look but there is no one— no one among them to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.
29 See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion.

Durham Girl

I loved my hip hop class. The hour went by so quickly. I think that I will want to take more than one class a week. My body is COMPLETELY stretched. Apparently, hip hop takes a whole different posture from ballet. The instructor told me that I needed to be less prim and proper. It was intense and she moves through the routines very quickly. It is so much fun and definitely a new challenge. The funny thing is that now I want to run so I can get conditioned for dance class when the point of signing up was to push myself to the next level in my workout.

Your Regularly Scheduled Post

1. Kate & Kayla took me to Maple View Farms yesterday afternoon for icecream.

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Tina's family owns it and I've been buying the milk in glass bottles for years but I had NEVER actually been out to the country store before.

.The view from my rocking chair on the front porch was BEAUTIFUL.

.My flavor: Cookie Dough Mint Twist (in a waffle cone made right before my eyes)

2. I'm starting my first night of hip hop classes at a popular dance studio. I took 11 years of dance and now decided to return to what I love. This will be the first 100% hip hop class I've ever taken. I keep thinking, "I'm too old for dance" but now I realize that I'm only getting older and 26 is definitely not ancient!

3. That's also the number of times I went to Bean Trader's this weekend. I need to cut back from those triple shot, sugar-free vanilla, skim lattes. (Yeah, Jennifer, I'm one of THOSE people and I still get tongue-tied over the sugarless part of the order.)

4. I canceled my subscription to Netflix last night. This is becoming a pattern that I drop it in the spring. I think with the warmer weather I become newly motivated to read, clean, run, and frolic so the movies in my mailbox just become a tool to suck me into the black hole of entertainment.

5. That is how many nights last week I ate my dinner on the patio of some restaurant. Mt. Fuji, Nantucket (twice), & Foster's Market (twice).

I went to Whole Foods last night with the good intentions to buy groceries to cook and came home with prepared salads and lillies, instead.

Half Past Forever's CD Release (aka Chris Sigh's Band)

I just found out Chris Sligh has been voted off American Idol. (I forgot to watch last week.) However, it turns out that he and his band recorded an album before he went on the show and it released last week.

Isn't that a fabulous turn of events? Talk about a great way to promote your album on all of those morning television show interviews. Instead of giving them the gory details of how sad you are and how wronged you were by Simon, you pitch your new music venture. If he hadn't tried out for Idol at the last minute, you'd think that type of press strategy was planned!



This is 40 sec. text slide show presentation on Chris outselling Gwen Stefani. She gets a lot of credit for him not getting enough votes in the last show but so does Sanjaya.

Good Morning!

It is such a beautiful morning.

I wish it were Saturday, again! I spent most of yesterday organizing my apartment. (Somehow, organizing sounds much better than cleaning.) I had seriously considered finding an early Episcopal service for Palm Sunday but I didn't get up early enough. I'm planning to go to Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill for their evening service. Last year, I went to an evening service at St. Michael's which is one of the most beautiful old churches in Charleston.

I just love the liturgy and seriousness of the traditional services. I really like kneeling being a part of the service. Having grown up Charismatic, I never got to do any of that stuff. The liturgy for Ash Wednesday is so powerful. It reminds me that the people who wrote those words did have a passion for the Lord.