and I'm out

So tomorrow I'm off to Tulsa. Like most long anticipated vacations, I am sure it will fly by, but I know it will be nice.

Please pardon the brief entry but packing awaits -- that's what happens when you wait until the last minute to get in for a hair appointment. (At least my laundry was done ahead of time!) I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures and stories to share.

Big shout out to my friend Dan who blogged the link that I am now passing on to you. Click here to see a German sneak preview of the Narnia Supertrailer.

Stay tuned. I'll be back on Monday night.

ringtones schmingtones

I got a new cell phone this week. This was both exhilarating and daunting.

I am a die-hard Nokia fan, so the 6101 has added a new dimension to my already sincere love of the model. Click here to see a cool 3D picture of the phone. I upgraded to a flip phone, and can now send and receive pictures. Because I'm preparing to be roaming for 2 months straight, I thought it was a good time to change plans, thus forcing me to make the leap to a newer model cell. When I marched into the store the other day I really only had one piece of criteria for the phone I would leave with.

MUST DOWNLOAD RINGTONES.

The last phone I had, although stellar, did not allow for the downloading of mp3s. In its defense, however, it did offer several great polyphonic ringtones to choose from. But it has now been given a proper burial, so let's not talk further about the dead. As expected, with a new plan, comes a new bill. And by new, I mean, much more expensive. It's a small price to pay when you can customize your ringtone though, right? (Priorities people!)

Anyway, so I go in, deliberate over a plethora of plans, sign another 2 year contract, and walk out into the snowy world with a bag full of goodies and a new phone. This is the daunting part... you're walking to the car thinking, 'Did I just get swindled? Should I have shopped around? The saleswoman was sweet, but was she so reassuring because she KNEW she was taking advantage of me?'

I get home, lay in bed entering all my numbers, check email and commence to download a ringtone or two... only to discover this on the Cellular One webpage: "Downloadable ring tones, games and graphics are not available for the Nokia 6101 phone. Please check back."

'What!?' I thought, 'I just spent 2 hours typing in all of my numbers!' I was ticked.

The good news is that when I went in the next day (ready to throttle someone), I found out that the lack of availability for new ringtones is simply because my phone is too new. So, we tricked the system... and I was much happier (and hipper) when I left.

Don't be a victim like I was... sure, buy this phone, (You can't resist the full color screen, video capabilities and wireless internet connectivity), just be sure and tell your computer you have a Nokia 6230 when you try and download.

It may be the newest thing in cellular phone technology... But I'm still smarter.

So there.

Happy Thanksgiving back

Holidays tend to feel different as you get older.

This Thanksgiving I've had that realization more than ever before. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that I am going through a lot of life changes right now, but I couldn't help forcing myself to talk around a large lump in my throat this morning. Holidays can be like transitions... You anticipate them for months and they are filled with celebration, but sometimes they make you realize you had unrealistic expectations or that you're going to be away from the people you love the most.

This is the first holiday we've spent without Olivia. She had a good day out in California, with a full meal just like at home (all except egg noodles, which apparently isn't a common part of the Thanksgiving Day meal, but we have them every year. What? You don't either? You're really missing out!). Both times we talked with her she seemed happy, settled, and kept mentioning that it's a mere 22 days until she's home for Christmas. It helped my emotions to know that she was okay with it all.

It's funny how family just 'gets' you. It might be that we are all just warped the same way, but we get a kick out of each other. On my phone conversation with Lacey (they didn't join us today, she's doing the extended family dinner with us at my Grandparents' on Saturday) we recited the brief exchange from when Meg Ryan ('Kathleen Kelly') is at the cash-only line in You've Got Mail.
Her items are all rung up and she's supposed to pay, when she realizes she has no cash. The checkout lady is giving her a hard time when Tom Hanks comes up behind to 'rescue' Meg (against her will) by convincing the checker to 'Zip Zip' her card through the machine. The conversation goes like this...

JOE (Tom Hanks): Oh, hello.
KATHLEEN (Meg Ryan): Hello.
JOE: Do you need some money?
KATHLEEN: No, I don't need any money. Thank you very much.
CASHIER: Get on another line.
JOE: Hi. (off her nametag, big smile) Rose. Great name. Rose, this is Kathleen, I'm Joe, and this is a credit card machine. Happy Thanksgiving.
(Rose just stares at him).
JOE (cont'd): Now it's your turn to say happy Thanksgiving back.
ROSE: Happy Thanksgiving back.
Joe looks at her, winks.

She ends up zipping the card through, and even cracks a sweet smile at him, much to the chagrin of Kathleen who is angry that he's putting her out of business. So why go into all of this? Because that is what a Miller girl does. She recites this 'Happy Thanksgiving' interaction to her sisters every November... whether it's when Lacey calls to wish us happy day, or in the text message I got from Olivia this morning. No one else said it like that to me all day... just the girls.

I guess it's not that holidays ever change. It has much more to do with my perspective. Granted, I most likely will not be laying awake this year listening for Santa on Christmas Eve, but that doesn't mean that I won't be having trouble sleeping because of the excitement of watching Ella open her gifts the next morning. Times change, we change, but with each holiday, with each transition, we're given an opportunity. We can make the most of the day, living in the appreciation of family, renewed perspective for the future, and an earmarked page to compare to our life a year ago.

Take a second to pause and think about how your life has changed since this day last year. We have plenty to be thankful for. And plenty to look forward to.

What a difference a year can make.

Going public

Well, I have mentioned twice over the past few weeks that I have some new things to share. I am one of those people who would rather wait until something is completely solid before sharing it with the whole world just in case it doesn't turn out exactly as planned (this was the catalyst for MANY arguments between my ex and I, but that's not go down that ghetto alley off of memory lane). It's not that I expect every new opportunity to turn out like the maiden voyage of the Titanic or anything, it's just that I don't want to announce anything before its time. That's why I am going to share one item with you now, and keep the other one thinly veiled.

There may be a rumor floating around that this site is preparing to undergo some big changes... Namely being located at an original domain with no 'blogspot action' in the title. And it may or may not be true that the new site could have some original artwork, and fun swag that you can make your very own. Some rumors about this site do tend to be true, so I'd stay tuned if I were you.

(That was the thinly veiled part. What's next is the big news that you get to know in its entirety, although it's a little unnerving for me to put it out there!!)

About 3 months ago (ish) I was leaving work late, around 6 pm and got a phone call from a long distance number that I did not recognize. I answered and a man on the other end of the phone explained that he was calling from a management company in Nashville and had gotten my phone number from ZOEgirl. This was bizarre for several reasons.

1. My cell phone barely EVER rings.
2. When it does, it's more often than not a wrong number.
3. I get horrible reception and it was lucky that he caught me before I got in the car. (I have a friend who not-so-affectionately calls my receptivity the 'Underwater Tunnel.' It's THAT clear).
4. ZOEgirl is 3 great young ladies who make up a contemporary Christian singing group (that I didn't even know had held on to my phone number).

But I'm getting ahead of myself...

At my former place of employment in Tulsa, we coordinated a yearly mission trip for these girls. They would spend the whole year recruiting at their concerts, and then everyone who signed up and raised the necessary funds could literally travel overseas with the girls for 2 weeks doing ministry, outreach, and getting to know them. (For those of you who may be interested in checking out the ZG trip for yourself, go here, and tell them 'Berz sent you'). I spent some time briefly with them on a trip to Ecuador a few summers ago, then last year my former boss called, to offer me an opportunity to get out of town for the weekend and do a little promoting of the trip at 2 of their shows. I met up with a couple of Big World people for a show in Phoenix, and then did a show in Las Vegas as well. It was cool to spend the day getting to know them a little better and shopping on the strip. We actually spent a good hour+ in Sephora, so you know I was loving that. Anyway, we had a lot of fun, but I didn't really maintain a relationship with them other than a couple of email exchanges within the past year. So you can imagine my surprise when he called.

Anyway, the conversation went something like this,

'Hey Amber this is *** from ***(henceforth referred to as the Man), and I'm calling because I'm the tour manager for ZOEgirl and we're starting to put together the details for a tour beginning in January of 2006. I realize I'm planning quite a bit in advance, but the girls mentioned you as an option for going on tour to handle the merchandising. Is this something you'd be interested in?'

Shocked, I thought for 0.00689458 seconds before telling him I was definitely interested. My cell phone beeped because OF COURSE it was dying, so I quickly got his email address to connect and ask him the questions that were already brewing in my head. I hung up feeling a little guilty because I was AT WORK having this conversation, but thrilled at the prospect. We communicated through a couple of emails and it basically fell into a 'Well, we'll let you know for sure when we get closer' sort of thing. The next couple of months went by with me doing quite a bit of wondering and having little to no contact with him at all. I didn't approach my boss with the news since it was more likely going to melt away than snowball into something significant.

Then came yesterday.

For some reason the choosing of the correct fortune cookie after eating at the Chinese restaurant has turned into an almost hallowed event. My co-worker Mark waves his hand over them, struggling to make the correct choice, as if the paper contents of the crunchy confection may actually determine how his life will turn out. I am not a superstitious person, but after nearly 3 years, I too get caught up into the pressure of the moment. Whenever he cracks one open that talks about how good fortune is smiling on him, he ALWAYS jokes about going to buy a lottery ticket, and for some reason I ALWAYS laugh like it's the first time I've ever heard it. So we go through the ritual, Matt grabbing first, then Mark who tells me 'Yeah, that one's yours, I feel it,' and then me. (Ladies last). Mine says, "Your luck will change today." 'Hmmm,' I think, 'This would be a great day to hear from ZOEgirl.'

And it was.

Around 3:30 pm I'm sitting at my desk when I receive an email from the Man. He explains that they've made their decision and they are ready to commit to me for the tour, closing the email with 'I'm really looking forward to working with you.' I sit, stunned, then respond with an email telling him that I'll call after work for the details.

Now, I haven't mentioned it a whole lot in my blogging over the past couple of months, but I have been living with the sense that one chapter is nearing a close for me, and looking to begin writing on a fresh page. Changes are always bittersweet, so I have been keeping my ears open, but promising myself that if I were to leave home again, it would have to be big enough (and 'right enough') to warrant such a move. I spent no time letting the inner conflict begin to eat at me. I marched right into my boss' office and told her the news. I used tact of course, and shared from my heart, but I didn't waste any time. She was generous with the news, letting me know that she would miss me, and that I would be difficult to replace, but that she believed God was opening a door for me. I was so grateful for her understanding heart that I went into my conversation with him, expecting to settle right into the idea.

Upon calling him, I found out that my responsibilities would be even greater than first discussed months ago. This excited me because I know I'll be learning a ton along the way. I mean, who wouldn't like to be roadie at least ONCE in their life right? (Okay, maybe not all of you, but this is a dream come true for me!!)

So here's the deal. It's the Winter Jam Tour. Artists include NewSong, Newsboys, tobyMac, ZOEgirl, Hawk Nelson, Krystal Meyers and Sphere of Fear... and we're coming to a city near you! Click here for tour dates. I'll be finishing out the year at my current job, and then ON THE ROAD I go, until the end of March. Come out and see me?

I know this will be a big adjustment and a big adventure... But I say, Bring it on!

grateful

With so many things happening in my life over the past couple of weeks I wanted to consciously make an effort to sit for a moment, reflect, and write a bit about thankfulness. (I'm sure if you navigated away from this site - Don't! - and did a blog search of all the people writing lists of things they are thankful for this week I am sure there would be thousands. So I guess I am merely adding my voice to the throng).

I'm most thankful for the forgiveness of Christ, and the fact that we've been given another chance to live life to its fullest. I'm also grateful for my family who has grows more dear to me with each year... I love how my parents have let me grow and change, and how they've been just as much friends in my life as they have been authority figures. I'm also thrilled for the way my relationships with my sweet sisters have developed and changed as the three of us have grown into young women. I am so proud of you both.

As a little girl I had this idealistic way of how my life would be, even lamenting from time to time the day that I would have to leave my daddy's house and get married. (Little did I know, I would be back!) :) It's nice to know that life can turn out better than we ever imagined, and that our relationships can be deeply forged. I'm also thankful for friendships that I've carried all throughout my life, and those who have become dear to me even through just the past few years. Isn't that what makes our life so special anyway? The people who make each day full of learning, encouragement, intrigue and fun? Iron sharpens iron, my friends.

Finally (after giving a nod to discount shopping, Sephora, iTunes, Arrested Development and Chai to name a few), I am thankful for the new opportunities that each day can bring. It's amazing how you can go to bed feeling like you're ready for some areas of your life to change, and the next day can offer a new beginning you thought may never come.

I have some special news that came about today, but I need another day or two before it goes public on this site. I promise I won't leave you hanging.

You can be thankful for that!

Moments matter

I've been reading this book called Seizing Your Divine Moment by Erwin Raphael McManus, and it has really gotten me thinking. I've had some very strange things happening in my life lately (things I can't really go into here, but quite literally, stuff you couldn't even make up if you tried!). I have experienced more bittersweet moments this past week than I have in any other single week of my entire life.

In his book, McManus concludes that unique opportunity-filled moments are happening all around us, all of the time. These 'Divine Moments' are affording us the chance to make something of the dreams we have, to pursue the unlived adventures that continually call to us, and to positively impact the lives of people around us. The issue is not that God isn't presenting these opportunities, it's just that sometime we are not tuned in to actually recognize them. I'll be the first to admit that I can get quite overwhelmed with situations I'm facing, while simultaneously trying to keep everything in perspective... (And I have plenty of friends who would attest to the truth of this). I can be so wrapped up in the bad things I am dealing with, that I don't see the good that is also happening.

"When we stand on the sideline side of a divine moment," he says, "that moment can elude us because of its simplicity. It can seem so average, so mundane. Everything extraordinary about it may be imperceptible from where we stand. And because of that, when we miss those divine moments, we may not think we've missed anything at all. We may just assume that life is nothing more than humdrum, that there wasn't anything there to seize. That is the greatest tragedy of all."

When I read that paragraph the other night in bed, something snapped awake in me. I made a conscious decision to literally start looking for these outreach, and dream pursuit divine moments. But how do we actually do this? McManus suggests, "Whenever we take on a God-sized challenge, self sufficiency is no longer an option." I decided to ask God to help make me aware of opportunities and to have the wisdom to make the most of them.

This morning as I walked into work, the phone was already ringing. I sat down at my desk, wiggled the mouse to bring my computer screen alive and promptly answered the phone. The person on the other end of the line turned out to be a former employee of a company we do business with, who only recently lost his job due to downsizing. He explained that he was calling to see if we knew of anyone who was hiring in his field. His tone quickly turned more desperate as he went on to tell me his wife of eleven years recently filed for divorce as well, because she's been seeing someone else. In short, he was devastated.

I listened intently to what he was saying, all the while hearing a voice in the back of my head (or heart if you prefer) shouting 'Divine moment! Divine moment! Don't miss it!' Once he finished talking I said, 'You know, I myself went through a divorce not two years ago.'

'Really?' He replied, 'Then you are exactly who I should be talking to right now.'

We spent the next half hour sharing tidbits of compassion, venting about the loneliness he's living in, the 'what to expects,' how this is affecting his kids, and my attempts at not only consoling him, but offering him something that would encourage his heart. Ultimately it came to this...

'Do you mind if I ask you a question?' I asked.
'Sure, anything.'
'Do you go to church anywhere?'
'Actually yes, I'm Jewish.'
'Wow, that's great, I'm sure you can find some consolation in that, right? I mean, if I'm really honest with myself, I'll admit that there's no way I could have made it through the situation and kept a tender heart without the hand of God in my life.'
'Well, I hope to experience that.'
'I'm going to take a leap here and ask another question...'
'Sure...?'
'I know we believe a little differently, but do you mind if we pray?'
Without hesitation he responded, 'No, that would be great.'

And so, sitting there at my office desk, heart pounding in my chest, I offered an honest and desperate prayer for him, for friends to come into his life, for his kids, for a job, for God to open doors, and for healing to come into his shattered heart. Upon the amen, he immediately thanked me, and asked me to keep his cell phone number nearby because anytime I got the urge to call, he was sure he could use the conversation.

I sat there, not proud of myself for doing him this great service, but feeling humbled that God had not only opened a door to his heart, but had given me the boldness to say something. What else did I really have to give him? No one knows his situation better than God.

I never would have expected to have that conversation this morning... not on my cell phone, let alone get it at work, but just like McManus says, "When God intervenes and there is really no human explanation, your life points to God and His hand is undeniable... One of the wonderful things about living in the realm of uncertainty is that you find the journey with God is full of surprises."

I can't say that I would totally have missed the opportunity to share my thoughts and time with him if I hadn't said that prayer of willingness the other day, but I know I would have had a bit more trepidation in asking if I could pray. The big lesson of living in this 'realm of uncertainty' is that it shouldn't be an area we fear to tread into, it should be a place that we learn to exercise our faith... and trust God to make our attempts into an answer of someone else's prayers. People around us are just waiting for us to obey His call to reach out.

Michigan & me, the ultimate love/hate relationship

It's 5:20 pm. There was no snow this morning. Reports say 2 feet will be on the ground by morning.

Where do I live?!

Honey Bunny

Every little girl needs a pair of bunny slippers, right? Lacey and I picked these up last night. I am in love.



(I'm bound to be questioned later about it, so I'll tell you right off the bat what that practically faceless, contortionistic doll is doing in the background. That is 'The Bag Lady,' and her legacy will live on in the Miller household for the rest of our lives. I'm not sure where she came from, but she sits on the kitchen countertop with that big skirt full of plastic grocery bags. If we choose paper, she [as my dad says] goes on a diet. When he first pulled her out to entertain and absolutely frighten Ella, she always thought she'd like to get close, but couldn't get over the fingerless hands and red yarn hair. I think the odd crinkling sound of her skirt was also a little more than Ella could handle too. But now that Ella is a little older, she and The Bag Lady have become friends. The best part of this new found friendship is that when a white plastic bag comes loose and it sticking out from under her dress, Ella refers to it as her 'diaper.' Because of my extremely mature sense of humor, I find this hilarious).

Brainchild

My sister Lacey gets monthly email updates from The Baby Center about child development. They tell her what concepts and foods she should introduce to her baby, and what growth she should expect to see. The Baby Center says that children Ella's age should know between 10 and 50 words.

One day last week Lacey's in-laws conducted an experiment while watching Ella over a 4 hour span. Their goal was not to simply get her to repeat words, but to have her tell them items/words/phrases that she knew on her own. In that period they counted 314 words.

She takes after her aunt, I'm sure.

a lesson in foreshadowing

The whole thing is actually quite ironic.

I'm driving home from work yesterday talking to my friend John on the phone, and he mentions that he'd read something online about how Michigan has the highest number of deer/car accidents of all the states. We debated how this could be true, and then settled the matter.

"It's probably because Michigan has the dumbest drivers," I said. To which he replied, "And the smartest deer."

Fast forward 2 hours.

I'd gotten home, changed my clothes for aerobics and was hurrying to pick my friend Laura up for class. I remember the thought crossing my mind that I wished I had remembered to wear my glasses, but since I hadn't, I would be especially careful driving. Moments later I see 2 deer jut out from the corner of my eye, running full force toward the road. I slam on my brakes, narrowly missing the first one, and CRASH hit the second one, or rather, she smashes into me. The first hit was between my driver's side front headlight and tire. Long dent. Then her body spins around and hits me again, this time against my door, leaving another deep dent, and knocking my side mirror completely loose. (These pictures taken at night just don't do the damage justice!)



Through the thick smell of burned rubber, I pull over to the side of the road and survey the damage. (Notice, not to check if she was still around whimpering, twitching, and savagely preparing to attack me, nope. Just to check out my car). I see the dents, what's left of the mirror, and several scratches all over the door... which later turned out to be deer hairs. Sick.





I continued on to Laura's, we hopped in her car, went to aerobics and back. I got back in my car (carefully) rushing home so as not to miss the OC, and called 9-1-1 when I got in front of the TV (even during emergencies it's important to keep your priorities in order). My lovely scandal-filled hour of Fox television was pre-empted though when a policeman came out to make a report.

After a refreshing night's sleep, I had better perspective about the whole thing, meaning, I had actually forgotten it even happened. Reality quickly returned when I saw those disgusting hairy dents... And the fact that it didn't start up was a good indication, too. Maybe there is more trouble than meets the eye? Tomorrow it's back to the shop.

And so the story goes...

I blame John.

changed forever

I was 15 when it happened the first time.

Surrounded by a group of young missionaries like myself, I had climbed to the top of a mountain where an indigenous community of El Salvadorians lived. It was one of the most remote areas I had ever seen, let alone visited. (The sights and feelings are still as vivid to me today as they were when I was actually standing there). On a mountaintop above the clouds, we played with shoeless children, and shared the Love we knew as best we could, with hugs and an interpreter. It was the group of teenage boys that did it to me. They were very interested in what we ‘students from the United States’ had to say. I told them about Christ and his redemptive work, and our own personal need to be forgiven. I told them how the Christian life isn’t easy or magical, but how in a moment we can change forever if we choose Him.

They were mesmerized and wanted to pray right away. I remember thinking they truly had the faith of a child. They didn’t care to debate theology, and they weren’t just agreeing because I had blonde hair and blue eyes like others I had met in the month I was there… These guys were serious.

We said a prayer together, my heart swelled, and I handed them some pamphlets with scripture verses to get them started in understanding their new lives. They eagerly took what I offered and began flipping through the booklets, hunger in their eyes. My breath caught in my throat when I noticed that one guy in particular was holding his pamphlet upside-down, although nodding interestedly as if he understood what he saw. He couldn’t read, I realized. That’s when it happened.

My heart broke.

There is a huge difference between having a broken heart and feeling your heart break. It’s the element of compassion. What makes someone decide to give their life for a greater cause? It’s a deep seated conviction and tenderness toward others that says, ‘I have been forgiven of so much, how can I not reach out?’ And once you get a good taste of it, you’ll never be the same.

6 years later, it happened again right before my eyes.

Having spent several summers overseas after that first experience in El Salvador, I had grown from just traveling to actually leading large groups on short-term trips. The purpose of my life had become quite real to me after that first trip. I never thought I’d be a full-time missionary, but I knew that I would take mission trips throughout the rest of my life. This trip was to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and I was co-leading a team of teenagers. I had heard of the ministry of ‘Life to the Dump,’ from trip planners who had gone ahead of us, but I was in no way prepared to see what was just over that last hill.

When the bus stopped on the side of the road, I couldn’t see the landfill yet, but I could smell it and see the hundreds of birds circling overhead. The translator asked us to be especially careful not to cover our noses, because it would be insulting to the people who lived there. I knew I was setting an example, so I would be sure not to.

I will never forget the moment I saw it… saw them. As far as the eye could see, the canvas was covered with mountains of trash, some pigs and cows laying in the piles, small children playing and chasing each other and a sea of women with handkerchiefs on their heads scouring the mounds for treasures. I was shocked. Speechless. Heartsick. I remember calculating each step, doing my best to avoid muddy spots, and holding my breath so I wouldn’t gag. I avoided eye contact with the others on my team for a long time, simply because I didn’t want to share a glance of horror with anyone. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. ‘This is their life,’ I thought. It was about that time that I looked up to see one of the younger girls in our group, looking blankly and yet horrified at the landscape. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and her shoulders sank as she dropped her face into her hands, shaking her head slowly. I watched her heart break.

Unless you have a heart of steel, it is in these moments that compassion can overwhelm you. To me the word compassion rings with an air of tenderness and humility. While this is true, compassion is also full of strength. It is literally ‘a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.’ One ounce of compassion has the strength to actually move you into action.

Several of the girls had to be carried back to the bus that day because they actually gave the shoes off their feet. We were powerless to change the conditions of the people in the dump, but we could give what we had, and do our best to touch their hearts. At least we could represent the Hope available to them.

If we are tender to the needs of others and allow our hearts to be broken over the things that hurt the heart of God, we will not only enable ourselves to be moved into a place of action, but we might just stumble onto discovering God’s will for our lives.

I discovered a quote sometime ago and taped it to my computer as a constant reminder to think beyond myself...

“Give until it stops hurting.”

Of Moroccan food and marvelous women

Before I spend an unnecessary amount of energy and time describing the tasty mashed potatoes I am currently eating (Autumn, my aerobics instructor will not be thrilled), I'll address the more pressing matter of the morning.

I did not meet Kip, or Pedro for that matter. I did not even attempt to drive anywhere near the stadium where they were. So sorry to disappoint.

After numerous hours of female family blather at Olive Garden, and subsequent fitting room discouragement yesterday (after all, who really does just order the soup/salad combination there? Oh yeah, Autumn), I was way too tired to even consider the (presumably) LONG lines I would have to wait in. So we just skipped it.

Yesterday morning started an hour earlier than planned when Lacey and I awoke to hear a 19 month old voice from the other room repeatedly saying, "Aw done sweepin, aw done sweepin!"

We got ready, took Ella to Lacey's in-laws, got gas, and got on the road.


We arrived in Grand Rapids just moments before 11, the scheduled lunch time. We over-ate, laughed uncontrollably and celebrated our femi-familyhood. One of my favorite moments was when my Aunt Penny (my mom's sister) recalled having tendonitis and then cortisone shots in both elbows at once and had to call her (then 11 or 12) year old son in to help her pull up her pants. "It was hideous! ...Poor thing," she said slowly shaking her head. I think she fears Chase is scarred for life. So funny. Before we left (don't think we didn't share desserts first!), the waiter took this picture of us.



Then it was over to the mall. We shopped for hours and I experienced only limited success. Late in the afternoon I came across a pair of jeans that I liked. They turned out to be just $11 (which I really liked)! I didn't even know they could come that cheap! Definitely the best buy of the last few months. Lacey wanted to stop at KB Toys to look for some Ella Christmas gifts. I waited outside and thoroughly enjoyed watching this mom and 5 year old son singing "Sweet Home Alabama" to the karaoke machine facing out into the mall.



Around 6:15 we parted ways, and Lacey decided to join me for the bachelorette-extravaganza. This turned out to be a great idea, because I was not feeling too swell (tired, and sore throat) and had already made up my mind not to stay over night. Now I wouldn't have to drive home alone. (Pardon the red eyes in these pictures, still working out my digital-kinks). We met at Rachel's apartment, freshened up, waited for the other girls to arrive and then headed to a restaurant called San Chez. Once we arrived, we discovered over an hour wait time, but the adjoining eatery next door was under the same ownership and we could wait there, if we liked. We walked over and quickly decided that the Moroccan food, live music, dramatic lighting and rich colored, swaggy-material covered walls were precisely where we wanted to be.

The nine of us caught up on Rachel's wedding plans, shared (non)dating stories, gave each other updates about work, and people we know from high school.

The group included Sarah and Keisha (who I spent some time with awhile back in Lansing), my good friend Laura, Rachel's cousin Katie, Rachel, Jen - a girl that Rachel's fiance works with, Laura's sister Karin, Lacey and I. We ended up ordering multiple small dishes (cheese, bread, salmon, chicken, veggie) and sharing them. There is always a sense of closeness when a Lazy Susan joins the meal.
It was a really good time visiting and celebrating with Rachel. Lacey and I left once the meal was finished (the night was just beginning for the rest of the group :), and headed home. I was so thankful when I crawled into bed about 1 am... It was a lovely evening, and I managed to keep us on the road while driving home in a torrential downpour.

So, as for today, I didn't end up going to church at Mars Hill. In fact, I didn't end up going to church at all. I slept in, woke up to the delicious smell of Sunday dinner being prepared upstairs, and now, here I sit. Happy tummy, messy hair.

As for the potatoes... The wife of a man that my mom works with had knee surgery this week. Although intensive, it went successfully, and now as she heals those around have been preparing meals for them. Her loss is my gain today because my mom cooked the most delicious meal. With that in mind, I ask this question... If the squash and green beans are full of real butter, do they still constitute as a serving of veggies?

I'm going with yes.

Skipping town. Meeting Kip?

Wow, it's Friday evening already.

You'd think I would have had a chance to sit down and write before now, but no such luck. You know how 'those weeks' are... One day rolls into the next and you rewrite today's tasks on to the calendar for tomorrow. I'll never understand how you can work solidly through an afternoon, accomplishing so many things, and yet still leave work with a full to-do list. Amazing. (It's better than staring at the clock and twiddling your thumbs, right?)

At any rate, here I am writing a post to explain why I will be absent at least another 2 days from posting. (It's like calling to tell someone that you can't talk right now, ironically I do that too). Tomorrow is the annual Pollington Girl Christmas shopping Outing in Grand Rapids. We all leave Northern Michigan, head south 2 hours, meet up at the Olive Garden for lunch and then spend the day (and our money) at the mall. Coincidently, it turned out to be the same weekend as the bachelorette extravaganza of a childhood friend, the lovely Miss Rachel. At 7 pm I'll be meeting up with several girls from high school for dinner and frivolity, staying overnight, attending Mars Hill Church on Sunday morning, and then driving back home. (I am sure stories will abound).

I think it's also interesting to note that my sister Lacey called me this afternoon with strange and exciting news. She breathlessly recounted to me how she'd heard on the radio that Kip and Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite are to make a cameo appearance/autograph signing before a sporting event in GR tomorrow night... Perhaps I'll have a picture to post? We shall see.

Enough blabbing. Enjoy your Saturday, Everyone. May you sleep late, enjoy quality time with family and friends, relax with a good book, or watch your favorite sporting team play to victory. I'll catch up with ya soon.

can't keep it to myself

Every 6 posts or so, it seems I include at least one about 'What I'm loving right now.' I am not sure what this means exactly, but I think it has something to do with being easily fascinated, and quite fascinating myself (insert sweet smile here). Plus I love to share what I've dug up. (Why am I even defending myself? Who is writing this anyway?)

If you are a blogger, you've probably experienced the mental shift from normal thinking patterns to [what I call] 'thinking in blog.' Nearly every day I see or think things that end up being mentally filed as blogworthy... some ending up torn out of a magazine and stashed on the nightstand until I have time to report my findings. With that, here they are...

So many great customizable hoodies... so little time. (I know a couple of marathon runners out there who should give their blogs a little shameless self promotion... Just throwing it out there, don't like it? Send it right back).

Ladies, check out this website that claims to carry all the 'hottest celebrity favorites' as seen in many popular magazines. This site is loaded with fun stuff to peruse, some pricey, some not so bad. Don't miss this vintage chiffon victorian blouse... One of my favorite looks right now.

I read an article recently in the Fashion section of Real Simple magazine about how there really is no industry-wide standard when it comes to clothing sizes. They ended up measuring a girl who would technically be considered a size 8 and sent her into multiple stores to try on pants that reflected her 'proper' sizing. They included a little guide of their findings(which I think is quite handy), and I'm going to replicate it here for you. Good to know.

This is the format that the list is written in. Store first, Size that actually fit and then the shopping rule for each store.

Ann Taylor, 6, Cut big. Drop down a size.
Banana Republic, 4, Cut really big. Drop down two sizes.
Club Monaco, 6, Cut big. Drop down a size.
Donna Karan, 6, Same.
Gap, 6, Same.
Giorgio Armani, 6, Same.
Gucci, 8, Perfect fit!
H&M, 10, Cut small. Go up a size. (Let me at 'em!)
J.Crew, 6, Cut big. Drop down a size.
LL Bean, 8, Perfect fit!
Ralph Lauren, 8, Perfect fit!

I have to throw one housewares item in here. I totally dig this Oleander Centerpiece Bowl from Crate & Barrel. It's a little pricey, but it would be so cool with the Black Forest dinnerware I mentioned a week or so ago.

Finally, I am going to throw in a couple of cool links I found in the Northern Express Weekly.

www.hermail.net
This site is designed to make the world a friendlier and safer place for females traveling alone, but also for girls traveling with friends or a significant other. Basically, you're headed to Venice? Hop online and they'll connect you with a girl there who can give you tips on great places to visit, and even meet you at the airport if you like. Plus, you register your destination, offering your services to help anyone traveling to your area. Very cool.

www.soyouwanna.com
This site is a wealth of knowledge for just about anything you might 'wanna.' From learning to dress better, to building a webpage, to working for the CIA, to lowering your cholesterol, this site will tell you how. Just name your wish.

And finally, we've all heard of Barnes and Noble booksellers, but I got a little education on a service their site offers. Follow this link to continuing education at 'Barnes & Noble University.' You can sign up to take a variety of free courses. You can choose from Money Management, Speaking with confidence or even Overture to Opera if you like. Plus, there are various writing courses, language classes and reading groups. Granted, some of the courses will require that you purchase a book to complete it (they ARE a bookstore after all, gotta make their money somehow), but you might find something you'd like to learn on the side, and this is a cool place to start.

Enough rambling for tonight. I'm going to let you in on a little 'A Life Extraordinary' secret. There are some changes about take place here that have me pretty excited. Stay tuned for more info on that later this week.