Saturday, August 30, 2008

Poker Night!





Now that I have a "big-boy job" and I don't live in the dorms hanging out every night, the weekends are very precious to me. One thing that I have made a habit of doing the past few weeks is playing some friendly poker on Saturday nights at a friend's house. We all pay $5 to get in the game, and just hang out and play poker. No big winners here, there's usually a win/loss of about 2 bucks with most people. Big winners win 5 bucks maybe. The main thing is that its fun and we hang together with a little friendly competition. I also like to dress for the occasion (below).



Here are some of the poker faces of the players, and a few other shots:
Kristen's poker face
Billy is always a character
Larry stacks his chips


Chris considers his hand...


Chris folds


Larry's normal face. It doubles as his poker face.


and one more picture to leave you with.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

A light break from a heavy world

Well the last post was pretty heavy. I have come to terms with the world, and then I became pleasantly distracted by this website that allowed me to see what I would look like if I went to highschool in the 90's, 80's, 70's, 60's even as far back as the 1950's. Here's what I would have looked like (sort of).




And I really couldn't resist this one!





Let me know which one is your favorite! I think mines the one with the bowtie, or all of the ones as a girl with my five o' clock shadow!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Tough times!

So it's been a few days since I posted, partly because of time constraints, and partly because I just didn't feel like it. I feel like this guy lately:
Life comes at you fast sometimes, and sometimes I don't feel like I catch a break. At the cusp of adult life, there is an optimism and a hopeful, bright outlook on the great potential one has in the years God chooses to grant him or her. This optimism is justified and should not be disregarded, but there is also a reality check that comes with the great responsibilities that accompany and characterize being an adult. I welcome these, but they are new, and some of my obligations are very hard to accomodate right now.
God has been gracious to me, though, and I trust He will continue to be (He doesn't change afterall). He reminds me that He uses these times to teach me and grow me. I trust Him, and I know He knows best, but man it gets rough sometimes.
These words give me much encouragement these days:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:26-28)
If you are reading this and you are in Christ, you can find encouragement from these words, if I were not in Christ, I would have no real encouragement at all.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Not again!

That's Sacha Kljestan as the wistle blew. I was in a similar position in my living room floor yesterday at 6:50am eastern time (most of China is 12 hours ahead of us).

If you know me at all, you know that I am a huge soccer (the real football) fan. One of the things I get the most excited about is international soccer. Players play their hearts out for the pride of their country. I am very pleased with the growth of our soccer program here in the USA, but I am continually disappointed with our results in the big tournaments.
The Olympics in Beijing are no exception. We started off strong with a win against Japan, a tie against the Netherlands (who are the favorites to win the tournament), and a heart breaking loss against Nigeria (above) that knocked us out at the group stage. We just can't seem to get passed the group stage!
I am in mourning with the team and coaches who represented us in China, and I really hope that at the 2010 World Cup I will have more than 3 games to cheer on my fellow countrymen. Come on South Africa!

p.s. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, that's ok. I know I care a lot more than most of you. But you should check out our national team, they have a lot more talent than most people give them credit. Dont' write them off like some, just because they aren't a perennial world powerhouse like USA has in basketball, football, baseball, hockey or a host of other individual sports. Try to cheer on your countrymen as theywork hard to be contenders in the world's sport!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Ryan and Becky's Pittsburgh Wedding teaser...

This past weekend one of my best friends, Ryan Johnson and Becky Johnson tied the knot. The ceremony was great, the whole weekend was fun hanging with Ryand and fam during the most stressful/joyful time of his life! I have to get up super early in the morning, so here's a teaser for now.








Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Crossroads

Whew, it's been a long week. After being a server for so long, this construction business can where me out! It's been fun and educational for me, and I'm grateful God provided a job ( He knows I need one). That's just what i do everyday, but there has been more going on this week. I find myself at a crossroads. The Merriam-webster dictionary defines a crossroads as "a crucial point especially where a decision must be made." I am at such a point, three months post graduation, where I must choose between opportunities for ministry. This is a difficult decision, and a trying one. I have changed my mind a couple times, but now I am just seeking God's wisdom and direction (I had not because I asked not). This decision pretty is pretty much what I am focusing on these days.
With this decision weighing on my heart and mind, I took a Sunday drive, just to have some quiet time with the Lord, and just some solitude for a while. I was going to take my own picture of a crossroad to put up here, but my battery ran out. But before it ran out, I was able to take these photos while I was musing...


I figured it was time to take a self portrait, so here it is...