l'avenir vert

I was listening to the radio the other day while traveling back from the beach. It wasn't regular radio, though. It was XM, which we collegeish-age folk don't normally have the moolah to pay for. We were tired of listening to music, so we turned it to one of those stations that just tells you to stories. I am pretty sure we caught some big idea convention somewhere on the West Coast.

Of the many compilation of stories that were told, one caught my imagination and took me back to a dream I had for a while back when I was younger.

A man with a very energetic and adventurous voice began his speech on how to get kids excited about a Green Future. Seeing as that is the most obvious marketing trend, this man talked about how to continue to further the green initiative, we have to get kids excited.

This was his idea. He said, the most energy efficient modes of transportation (to move people) are....roller coasters and zip lines. (Yes, you can now get really excited along with me). Then he said, just tell kids that in the green future you can go to school on a roller coaster or a zip line.

That was pretty much his speech, but it took me back to when I was little and dreamed of hooking my backpack on the power lines and riding it to school. I realize that power lines aren't really that safe, but I didn't realize that then. I was just envisioning the future.

Here's to the future He has planned!

Love,

Le mariage: une coversation avec mes triplés

I babysit triplets, 4.5 years old, two girls (K & R), one boy (J). Two weekends ago they were in a wedding. Ever since it is all we've talked about. I'd like to share their interpretation of the ceremony.

K came to me this morning to tell me that Muno & Toodee and Plex & Foofa were going to be married. Brobee, however could not get married because there was not another girl member of the Gabba Gang. I suggested that Brobee should be the pastor. She asked what a pastor was. I told her that the pastor was the person who stood with the bride and groom and got to say, "You may now kiss the bride." She clearly remembered that part because she then divulged that at the wedding she was in, the bride and groom 'fancy kissed'. I found out later that if you are ever dipped while being kissed, you are being 'fancy kissed'. Brobee became the pastor.

We gathered up several Disney princesses, Jesse from Toy Story, and a Playmobile Sheriff to be in the audience. J, the boy, was the announcer and K and R commented on what was going on.

First, the Ring Barrel goes down with the pillow with the flower girls.

Next they drink the blood of Jesus when he died.

Then they eat the bread.

Then the Pastor (Brobee) says, "You may now kiss the bride."

Then they 'fancy kiss'.

We had several ceremonies this morning. Each couple that got married were extremely patient and attended the others' ceremonies. Well, all except Polly Pocket Ariel, who simply would not wear the same dress to two weddings in a row.

As cute as this was, I think it was amazing what elements of the wedding they remembered. The Rings, signs of commitment; Communion, the first act as a married couple together remembering the sacrifice, work and great love of Jesus Christ; and The Kiss, an outward expression of love.

On a side note, but still to do with weddings, yesterday I met a sweet 7-year-old.

She asked how old I was. I told her 22.

She said, "And you're not married yet????"

Then she told me I was beautiful.

"Thank you," I replied.

"You have big ears," she said next.

"Maybe that's why I'm not married," I thought.

What an eventful, humbling, and sweet past two days.

Love,

projets d'été.

I wouldn't normally say that I'm a huge goal setter or dreamer, but mid-summer I had two ideas that I really wanted to see through: I wanted to cut the legs off the bed in my room that stood at about 4 feet and I wanted to sew my own quilt.

Project 1: Baissez le lit. (Lower the bed.)

I live in a small room. (8'x10'') My granddad made a bed for my little sister when we moved to West Tennessee. It is an oversized twin frame that is solid wood. My mattress just sits on it and there is about a foot of space that is a built in shelf for a lamp, books, phone, etc.

First, I slept where you would sleep, on top of the bed. However, it was a hassle to climb up and study. Especially since I study late, with coffee, and coffee makes me pee. Climbing up and down late just didn't work. Also, I tended to fall asleep whenever I would try and study in bed. So then I just opted to work 100% of the time in the living room.

Then, this past Spring, I had a revelation: I'd just sleep underneath my bed and use the top to study. Well I slept well because it was darker under there, but the whole studying thing on top of the happened exactly once because it was still just a hassle to get on and off. (either that or I just didn't study much this past Spring).

So heading into next semester, I wanted to be able to get in an out of bed like a normal person. I wanted to be able to sit on my bed and hang out. I had really only been using my room to sleep and change clothes...

...But now...I feel like I have a whole new room! My sweet friend A.D.R.'s stepdad came over after I moved everything, which wasn't much, out of my room. He had all the tools and it took like 45 minutes start to finish to get the job done. I wish I had a camera, because I'd show you how fun it is to have a normal bed! I also have this awesome poster that I surrounded with scenery pictures from when I was abroad. I love it!

Project 2: Le couvre-lit (The Quilt)

I went home a few weeks ago and found this book at my little sister's sewing desk.

I loved everything in this book, but the Playing Along Quilt caught my eye the most! It looks like this:

(Anna Maria Horner has a blog, too: http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/)

I took a trip out west to Gina's Bernina and spent some moola on 6 fabrics. I started with a gray fabric with lots of colorful flowers, added a blue with white polka dots, yellow with white diamonds, green flowers, one with red couches and and white with swirly gray bicycles on it. I thought it would take a long time, but two days later I have finished cutting the pieces for the front! Now I just have to go home for a sewing machine and get to stitching! I realized that this quilt will be HUGE and not so cheap, but a good skill to learn, and something, if I do it well, that I will use for the rest of my life.

All this to say, I've realized that I have an old soul, but I'm okay with that!

Love,

ma ville

this past weekend my whole family spent the weekend in the mini van/minivan (two words/one word?) on a trip down to attend the wedding of my cousin, N.M.S., in Mobile, Alabama.

We headed south on 75, continued on 85 down through where my cousin had grown up in Hogansville in order to visit the tiny, lovable main street (home of one of the best antique stores around) and the graveside of my uncle. It was great to simply make a memory as we headed to celebrate at the wedding of my uncle's only son. So we headed down through AL on 65 and had a great time meeting is then fiance, now wife, E.S., at their God-centered wedding ceremony.

Then we turned right back around and headed north on 65, 85, 75 back home. Father's day at church was great. We got my dad a real soft Eddie Bauer loose fitting, especially around the bottom slate gray henley style shirt. He also received an honorary membership to a golf club in town. I am pretty sure the membership beat the shirt on the excite-o-meter.

Later on I drove into Chattanooga. If you have never been to Chattanooga, please visit. I love this city. It is weird though, because when I am not there I don't think about it much. I am where I am. However, when I drive away from it, I always always have an overwhelming feeling of love, good memories of THE BEST childhood, and thankfulness to my great God for the life that He's given me.

My Sunday in Chattanooga started at my second home on Missionary Ridge. I took my friend S.S. up to relax and destress. as we sat on the sun porch drinking diet cokes and looking over the Chattanooga Valley. Then I drove up the mountain where I lived for the first 14 years of my life to visit with another sweet friend. We just chatted, laughed, tried to figure a thing or two out about life, contemplated me just spending the night, decided to not, and drove on back up to Knoxvegas. It was just sweet time in my city with my sweet friends.

Off to work, discover new places in town, surprise friends at their houses, and simply move because I am able to.

Love,

un aperçu de la vie nous étions destinés à vivre

a couple weeks ago I got to get really really messy having good, clean fun. GHS, where I am a Young Life leader, joined up with CHS for the end-of-the-year Ice Cream Olympics. It is literally one of my favorite nights of the entire year. I laid a blanket in the back seat of my car and put bottom-sheets on the two front seats in preparation for the night ahead. 7:30 p.m. we started with wheel-barrow races to fish swedish fish out of whipped cream ( I haaate whipped cream, but it was worth it), then an over/under block of ice cream race, then a 'make it dissappear' race,

then it was CHAOS.

but it was pure chaos.

not simply chaos. I mean pure in that there was no defilement.

this was a night of adventure. pure adventure.

we laughed because it was pure fun.

my friends experienced a glimpse of the life we were meant to live.

my sweet girls

GHS YL!

love these two!

and these three

afterwards at McDonalds

my wonderful team

so we started at 7:30 and I got back to my apt around 10:30, still covered in dried ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and strawberry syrup to take a looong shower. I smelled interesting for days to say the least.

hope you can have a adventure soon!

love,

je prends une pause.

okaaaay. so it is finals week. everyone should clasp their hands together and shake them gallantly on either side of their head. its here...the week where all they ask of us is to study and come in and take a test for a maximum of two hours...oh wait except for Capstone French 44o, where today I frantically ravaged my brain for ideas to make 10 pages of material come from this topic:

La conversation, des éléments du discours et le discernement:

Les outils du langage pour montrer le bon goût

translations: conversations, elements of discourse and discernment: tools of language to show good taste.

well, at least I hope. please don't correct me if that is wrong. I slapped that title on as I printed in out in a far too crowded major state university library.

so basically, I used two 17th century works to prove all that, and I now want to forget it all. The beauty of how ridiculously arbitrary it was is that I can. So I am taking a break from sitting with the computer on my lap--i seriously think i the imprint stayed on my leg all day.

I still have 3 exams to go, including one tomorrow in the a.m. so i'm off to study! well maybe i'll watch the Castle episode that I missed. Please tell me you love the show Castle. If you haven't watched, its not too late, and it is wonderful!

peace,

pour dimanche

"always do the next right thing."

-my dad