house hunting

This weekend we spent our Saturday driving around with our realtor looking at houses and townhomes. The entire process of looking to buy a house has been very educational; I never realized how much paperwork, searching and planning goes in to owning your own home. I had really been anticipating getting out and seeing some places we were interested in.

The first lesson of the day was learned when we visited a house that I had found doing my own searching. From what we could see online, this place was awesome and I was probably the most excited about seeing it...then we drove up. The house needed some siding work, the chain-smoking owners were home and had not considered picking up before showing their house...needless to say, it was a bust. Never trust the pictures online or the descriptions the seller's realtor has written...such as "almost fully updated...." if that means a chunk of the ceiling has fallen in, the floors are ripped up and the places is un-livable at the moment, then yea, it's "almost fully updated..." (yes, this was the case at 1 place we looked at...as our realtor reminded us constantly, you have to get out and look at places becasue you never know what you'll find).

At the end of the day we did see several places that were possibilities...we'll continue to look throghout July when we will need to decide if we're going to buy something or find another place to rent.

Decisions, decisions...we're not really sure what we want to do. It's exciting and intimidating. It's been fun so far and we'll keep you posted.

happy birthday love

Today is my husband's 26th birthday. I hope (and think) that it has been special for him. Sometimes it can be difficult to do something for Ryan that adequately expresses my great appreciation, respect and love for him. If you are reading this and know him, you know what I'm talking about. For some reason God has chosen to give me a husband that lives his life in such a way that it inspires me, and others, to love God more; it really is an amazing thing and I know that I am fortunate to have friends who have experienced this same thing with their spouses. So happy day Ryan, I love you :-)

sunday fun

We enjoyed an afternoon at the Botanic Gardens, eating low-point treats (hehe) and doing some fun shopping...

disturbed

So you might be looking at these pictures and be wondering what is going on... this looks like me, but strangely not like me at the same time. Here's the story: my darling husband asked to take my picture last night and wouldn't tell me why...30 min. later he is laughing while he worked on the computer and eventually showed me what he had been doing; testing to see which side of my face is my "best side." Isn't that nice of him... if you'll notice, the left side of my face is apparently slimmer and more defined in my cheek and jaw than my right. The top photo is 2 of my left-sides put together and the 2nd photo is 2 of my right-side put together...below is the real picture.

All day today I have been paranoid that I am un-even. I am officially un-even.

help found

I have found an awesome intern for my new internship program at work! I cannot express how ecstatic that I am about this! The student that came to interview today will be a perfect fit in our department and has plenty of skills to help lighten the work load, and I think he could be an excellent candidate to make a full-time employee when he graduates next May.

Our CEO is also very excited that I have started an internship program and today he asked me why I have been so diligent in setting it up, and for me it is a no-brainier. The sole reason I have my job that I do today is because I was given an outstanding internship opportunity that allowed me to gain a wealth of experience for an entire year before I graduated. Now that I am in a management position and have the freedom to develop this program, I hope to give many students that same opportunity. Yea for interns!

tuesdays with kim e.

Here's a quick run down on what we've been up to lately...a surprise weekend getaway to Orlando/Disney World (thanks wonderful husband)...Memorial Day Weekend cookout/wiffle-ball...helping out with Switch (youth group)...a really fun visit from Grandpa & Georiga...trying to be good on my WeightWatchers program (I have lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks!)

For your viewing pleasure, above is a pic from Disney (Downtown Celebration) along with a great photo of me & Grandpa at the top of Jupiter Lighthouse.

Hurricane season officially started last Friday and we're not so sure what to think about it all. The state of Florida has "tax-free" hurricane supplies for the next couple of weeks...generators (under $1,000, of course); "items sold as artifical ice" (under $10); visqueen (under $50...um, what is that???); and a bunch of other items you can see here.

Basically, we have no idea what we've gotten ourselves in to. People at work keep laughing and joking about the last round of "real" hurricanes from a couple of years ago and they can't wait for this year's "hurricane parties." (Which I have been told are block parties people have when their electricity goes out...they quickly BBQ their meat with neighbors and have a big party outside before the storms hit and their meat goes bad)...

I've also been notified that since I work at a hospital I have 12 hours to report to work once the hurricane warning is posted. I then have to wear a bright orange vest until the event has cleared out...I am allowed to bring immediate family members and pets, but I have to supply food and water for any family or pets I bring in. I don't know, this just isn't sounding like anything I would laugh or joke about, or a party ocassion that I would look forward to. Why wasn't this part of my interview and orientation....

I guess I'm just not a Florida girl yet.

mental

Lately I find myself filled with much gratitude and thankfulness for the work that God has done in our life (Ryan and I), allowing us unique opportunities to share His love with others and experiencing the many blessings of rich friendships and relationships that He has lavished upon us. In my moments of reflection I think I am most thankful for the amazing people that God has allowed me to know at different stages of my life, and I am encouraged and rejoice over the work that I see Him doing in their lives and how He is growing them in new life stages, ministries, vocations, etc.

One person that God has used to influence and mentor my life is my high school youth pastor, Jol, and his wife, Sherri. Shortly before I moved to college Jol gave me and a few of my friends each an old business card of his that had a Scripture verse tapped to the back of it... he had used the cards to help him memorize God's word and he hopped they would be a blessing for us. Jol is a man of purpose, so I have to believe that it is no cosidence that my card read,

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conciet, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3

The passage in Philippians 2 goes on to say "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men." The Greek word for 'attitude' in this passage is the word 'phroneo,' which means to be mentally decided. God used Jol and the old business card with Scripture to transform my heart and mind to be mentally decided to serve others.

I have been confronted with this truth in quiet moments the past couple of days. Am I currently living my life mentally decided to serve others, or am I mentally decided about serving myself and my own needs and desires?

skip the sign-in

I got this information from my latest REAL SIMPLE magazine (compliments of my darling mother-in-law) and thought it would be great to share...

Don't waste time typing your personal details into a Web site that you just want to browse. Find an already registered user name and password on www.bugmenot.com to access free content at more than 150,000 sites that require registration.

can i get some more points over here?

On Friday I officially started Weight Watchers at Work. I refuse to call this a diet--I'm trying to embrace calling, and making it, a lifestyle change. The WW@W program is huge where I work, so I decided to take the opportunity to improve my eating habits and build deeper relationships with my co-workers. Just 3 days in to it, I am doing okay and am staying under my daily, alotted points (21) and overall, I don't feel like I've been missing out on anything...there have only been a few times that I wish I had more points to spare :-) I look forward to reporting my progress along the way and I thought that posting on here would only increase my accountability and incentives (along with the superskinny lady who weighs us in every Friday). Oh, and did I mention that the folks who gain weight during the week have to stand on the other side of the room...pray that won't be me!

...and this is the longest day of my life

Ok, so that's a lie. Today is just one of the longest days of my life -- the quote, which was taken from Season 1 of 24 ("Right now, terrorists are plotting to assassinate a presidential candidate. My wife and daughter have been targeted. And people i work with may be involved in both. I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer and this is the longest day of my life.")

I'll come back to 24 later, but as for today...

Work has literally been insane for the past 3 weeks. I feel the need to apologize to the world for returning very few calls from friends and family and any nutty stressed-out behavior that I have exhibited. No excuses, I have been pretty lame lately. Oh, and my blog has gotten totally lame, too. Let's just say that there is a national news story that took place where I work this week and I have dealt with escalated national media folks at length for the past 2 days. I am happy to say that things should be calming down after tomorrow and I had the pleasure of telling someone they were escalated today. What a wonderful adjective. Almost as wonderful as the word fabulous.

Yesterday I was a stressed out crazy-woman, but thanks to Jesus, my wonderfully calming/patient husband and an elliptical machine, today I was able to be calm. I have to say that I am so thankful that I can walk through tough days without fear, knowing that

my God has already saved the day through salvation in His son, and that's really all that matters in life. What I do to earn a paycheck is frankly insignificant (as much as I would sometimes like to think that it is very important to the world turning correctly...). The only meaningful part of my job is that I have an opportunity to share love and grace with the people I come into contact with, and I am not even faithful with fulfilling that purpose at times.

The lyrics to a Hillsong United song, Salvation, played in the back of my mind all day.. for I know my God saved the day, and I know His word never fails and I know my God made a way for me.... It's gonna' be alright :-)

Back to 24. What can I say, I love Jack Bauer. I love the suspense. Season 5 rocked and I am dying to run down to Blockbuster and watch the first 4 episodes of Season 6 on DVD. The best TV show ever...

things i prayed for

God Weeps Too

Words and Music By Eli

This is for the man, who never learned to read or write
He worked two jobs instead of going to school
I know it hurt you as a child, please remember all the while
That God weeps too

This is for the widow, who now must sleep alone
When the memory of a kiss will have to do
Every night when she lays down, you can almost hear the sound
When God weeps too

God weeps too, God weeps too
Though we question Him for all that we go through
Still it helps me believe and my pain it does relieve
When I think that, God weeps too

And for every survivor of the wickedness of man
Whether you're a black man or a Jew
Some people kill in Jesus' name, He is not the one to blame
'Cause even God weeps too

And I never really thought about
that much about it, but God weeps too

"I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them." -- Isaiah 57: 17-19

vacation days with family

We enjoyed a fantastic visit from Mom & Dad E. this past week/end. Here are some highlights from our explorations in Palm Beach.

Here we are on Palm Beach . . . our 2nd attempt to have someone take our photo together :-)

Ryan's steller "self-portriat" skills to get the 4 of us in a pic together

Ryan and Dad E. on a boat tour of Peanut Island

Mom E. and I enjoying our coffee at Sailfish Marina

This picture does not do this scene justice. This 70-something couple were creating their own sensual version of "dancing with the stars" in downtown WPB on Friday night.

Downtown City Place in WPB

Mom E. and I at Legal's Seafood

A picture with the lobster bib :-)

Ryan with his parents downtown

sandy on Easter

Today Ryan and I enjoyed a quiet Easter together. After much built anticipation over the choice of song for LifeChurch's first MixTape07 sermon on Easter (okay, so maybe we were the only ones wondering which song would be the first on the "MixTape"), we were totally off on our guess as it was U2's "Window in the Skies." You can read Ryan's re-cap here.

After eating our "Easter lunch" that we made together, we hit Palm Beach and enjoyed reading, playing in the ocean and catching some sun. It was a very relaxing day, even though I lost to Ryan at the game of LIFE tonight...which, I had totally forgotten that the winner is the one with the most money when you land on the retirement space...and some how I went the whole game having no kids, which is probably b/c I was an accountant. If you think about it, LIFE is really a funny little game that really reflects the fact that it came out in the '60s.

i'm a fool

This April Fool's came and went without me falling for a prank, or so I thought until a little bit ago.

On Sunday I was checking my gmail account when I read their announcement "re-introducing" Gmail Paper... I read it and thought it was a little odd that Gmail was offering to print and mail you hard copies of your e-mails and attachments (including color photos), in as large of a quantity as you wanted. I just felt like Gmail had outstanding service.

But tonight Ryan informed me that Gmail Paper was Google's April Fool's joke and I felt a little taken, but extremely foolish...

Anyone else fall for the joke?

Everyone loves Gmail. But not everyone loves email, or the digital era. What ever happened to stamps, filing cabinets, and the mailman? Well, you asked for it, and it’s here. We’re bringing it back.

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?