re-cap from the past week

The weather in So. Florida has been so incredible in the past few weeks that I've been soaking up the sun and not blogging or e-mailing much. Everyone at work has had "spring fever" and left early to enjoy being outside before, what we're told, will be a miserably hot summer.

Tonight Ryan and I were part of the first LifeChurch - Wellington membership class. I was very excited to enter in a covenant community that we can serve in. While I never would have pictured us being a part of LifeChurch, God has clearly shown us that this is where He would have us to serve. An aspect of LifeChurch that I really appreciate is their focused mission; To lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. I love it. It is a focused vision, accomplished through the ministry of it's covenant members, focused on Christ. Our membership covenant requires a commitment that we would be involved in LifeGroups (small group Bible study), that we would tithe, serve an a church ministry and also participate in 1 mission experience each year. We're actively praying about which ministry we should be serving in and I am def. looking forward to see what God is going to do!

On a side note, I'm not sure if the PR/Communications folks @ LifeChurch sent out a press release, but kudos for getting the church in the Palm Beach Post. As a marketing person I can def. appreciate the media/message value.

At work...I have had an increasing number of folks wander in my office and ask for "blessings from the Sister." You might ask why this is happening...I acutally have a plaque on my office door that dedicates the office to a nun who was formally a CEO at my place of work. In the past week alone more than 6 people asked me to either pray for them, christen their child or to bless them with holy water.

a wonderfully failed spring break story

3 years and 2 days ago my Mom put me on a plane from El Paso to Fort Worth after a failed attempt of myself, Marissa and Merica driving to Las Vegas/San Diego for Spring Break. Looking back we were pretty stupid in our trip planning; we left Fort Worth at about 5:30 p.m. 2 days before spring break actually started (we planned to drive 18 hours through the night) in a '92 Ford Escort (Marissa and I had pretty new, reliable cars, but oh no, we chose to take Merica's...). Just a short 10 hours in to our trip, the Escort started acting up; basically it stopped running about 3 miles outside of El Paso, near the boarder of Mexico at 3:30 a.m. If you have seen the movie Babel there is a scene where they are going through boarder patrol in the middle of the night; that was pretty much our situation. Praise God that Merica was intelligent enough to bring a credit card on the trip so we could get a hotel room once the Hwy. patrol man dropped us off at a Microtel. . . On Day 2 of our trip the mechanic told us that the Escort's clutch had gone out; Merica and Marissa had decided they would take the Grey Hound bus on to Cali, but my Mom was not about to "okay" that.

Even though I was only along for 2 days of the adventure, we really did have a good time and in the end I have my Mom to thank for not letting me go on a Grey Hound bus with my friends so that I could be flown back to Fort Worth, have Ryan feel sorry for my failed and lonley Spring Break, which motivated him to take me to dinner at Tacos Ernestos. And that was how we ended up on our "first un-official date" on March 15, 2004...Mexican Food Day. So, Happy Mexican Food Day to the best husband a girl could wish and hope for!

fun in the florida sun

This weekend we enjoyed a visit from my Dad, step-Mom, Michelle, and my Step-Sister, Lauren. Ryan and I had a really great time getting to show the family around Palm Beach and it also allowed us an excuse to explore where we recently moved to even more. Below are some picures that highlight the last 3 days.

On Saturday night we enjoyed a wonderful dinner on the water at the Old Key Lime House in Lantana.

Here is Ryan and I on the pier at the Old Key Lime House.

On Sunday we headed out to Singer Island and enjoyed watching the boats at the pier.

Our tax dollars hard at work... please tell me what Homeland Security is doing at the Palm Beach dock at Singer Island? Hum...

Lauren and I sporting some of our favorite hats at a shop on the island.

My cutie husband on Palm Beach. Even Ryan enjoyed playing in the ocean (!!)

Michelle and Dad couldn't stop laughing while we ate dinner at the Belliago Resturant in downtown West Palm Beach.

I felt like I got an awesome pic of the Atlanta Braves pitcher warming up at Roger Dean Stadium for a spring training game vs. the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

The end :-)

selling out on strangeculture

Tonight I was being a good wife and reading Ryan's latest blog post. While reading I noticed his Google ad post...

"Gay friendly autos...does your ride reflect your pride?" hum...

And I have to ask myself, and Mr. Strangeculture... is it really worth it to have these random Google ads popping up on your blog? What makes a car "gay-friendly?" How would I know if my ride was "reflecting" my pride?

Just some food for thought on a Thursday night.

thief

I can't expect people who don't know Jesus to act like they do.

Last weekend I was at a nice golf venue for work and someone swiped the camera from our table. Initially I was really upset that someone would do that -- let alone someone who could afford to buy a much nicer camera and who had paid at least $75/ticket to be at the event we were at. When I told my boss about what happened she said that she couldn't believe that someone would do that, and I concurred. But then I got to thinking about it some more... I guess I should expect someone to do that; humans are always battling their sin, and I have no idea if our camera theif even thought twice about what they were doing.

I often forget to consider what the Holy Spirit's convictions keep me from, and without Christ's work in my life who knows what I would do. It also with the same convictions that I have forgiven our little camera theif and hope that they are putting it to good use.

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." - I Thessalonians 1: 4-5

pepsi & coca-cola "sparkle"

I read a pretty interesting story today in the New York Times (and no, not in Starbucks) about some new drinks by Pepsi & Coca-Cola that are fortified with vitamins and minerals. They're calling these drinks "sparkling beverages." Basically... pop on vitamins.

I have a feeling like these will tank like Pepsi Clear... anyone remember Pepsi Clear?

true confessions

I went to Starbucks 18 times this past month.

Um, being that there were 20 week days in the month of February, I guess I kinda went to Starbucks nearly every day. I was clearly out of control and didn't even realize it until Ryan and I were looking at last month's credit card statement. I just felt like I needed to confess to my blog audience that I significantly exceeded my New Year's goal of 2 Starbucks treats per month.

All that said, I have really gotten to know the staff at our local 'bucks that is just a few blocks from our house. They are really wonderful folks and I enjoy talking with them when I wait for my beverage. Get my coffee, talk to Sam, Jenn or Stan in the morning crew .... read the NY Times headlines........ah, what a wonderful way to start my morning commute.

For March, I think I will really try to stick to my New Year's plan of just 2 Starbucks visits. I've already used 1 of them, so I will keep you posted on how I do. Thanks for reading my confession.