baby's first christmas

Quote Board

For those of you who did not have the privilege of living on the Loft, you may never have experienced the joy of a "quote board." We had one and it was a blast. We (and by we i mean jessica and sometimes lael) would put quotes on a board and people would have to guess what movie the quote was from.
A few of us were gathered last weekend and we were lamenting the loss of our quote board, so i thought i would get a post going to start it back up.

Now I will give you a hint for this first one, it is a tv show.

" Stretchy pants, why those are the greatest things in the world. If i were you i would wear them every day, every day!"

One more... this time a movie.

"The human head weighs 8 pounds."


any guesses?

65 kids, 3 houses, lots of food

There is nothing like planning and executing a progressive dinner for a junior high youth group to bring stress into your life, but it is so much fun.
I didn't know much about the concept of progressive dinners before this job, but now i would say i've learned a thing or two.
Thankfully we have several families with houses big enough to host about 90 people, and lots of parents who are willing to make dishes and serve at homes.
The parents here are amazingly supportive and helpful.

Anyway we ate, played games, ate, heard a great talk from robbie, ate some more.
All in all it was a pretty succesful venture, one i am glad does not have to be repeated for an entire year. Now it's off to write thank you notes for the tons of people who helped make this happen for us
I have done the progressive dinner
I have seen the Nutcracker ballet
I have had a small group Christmas party
and I have already finished my first shopping for christmas presents adventure...
Christmas is coming. I love december.

A conversation that defines my life...

Lorelai: "What should we have for dinner tonight?"
Rory: "Probably something healthy since we ate junk all weekend."
Lorelai: "that's not true. We had lettuce on our burgers last night."
Rory: "But we took it off."
Lorelai: "it left it's essence."
Rory: "There was lettuce essence on our burgers? and that satisfies our vegetable requirement?"
Lorelai: "For the month."

UGH!!!!!!!!! The evolution of abortion terminology ticks me off

Remember when we were called "pro-life" or "pro-choice"?
Then instead of pro-life it became "anti-abortion". and people who support abortion are now "abortion rights activists."
Instead of "unborn child" it became "fetus"
Instead of the argument being about the life of the child in the womb, it became the "woman's choice" for "her life"
Or abortion should be legal across the board for that one in a million pregnant woman whose life is threatened by her pregnancy.
Today I was reading an article about the Supreme Court case on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
The term "partial birth abortion" is actually used in the law they are debating aout and the author of the article says things like "so-called partial birth abortion" or "the medical procedure that opponents call partial birth abortion" or "late term abortions."
I say Bullshit. Abortion activists spend time thinking up names and terms that make what they are doing seem noble and right. Or at least cushion the horror of the actual procedure so people think it is okay.

As someone who believes in the sanctity of human life, and that life begins at conception my anger burns toward the whole situation. These are children we are talking about here. Infants, babies. They are not "unpersons"
or "prepersons." In Rome they used to leave children out for wild animals to get if they didn't want them. Here we just try to get it done before the child is born so we don't have to face the child whose life is being taken.
I know that the people who are reading this are going to agree with me, so i'm not really doing any good, but i needed a place to vent my anger and frustration.

Thinking about my niece, it makes me sick that so many women in america never get the chance to know their child because of abortion, and they suffer the guilt and the consequences of buying into the lie that abortion is a "woman's choice for her body" and not the murder of an unborn child.

Weighing in at 7pounds 10 ounces, 20 and a half inches long...

is Avery Elisabeth. She was born Saturday, Oct. 28 @ 5:34 pm.
It was a long, hard day for mother, baby, and dad who was a good coach. But she is finally here and she is soooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure there will be many pictures to come so look out for them.

I am now officially an aunt. It's pretty much the best job in the world. Can't wait to bore you all with hundreds of pictures. She is the first grandbaby on both sides so she is bound to be spoiled.
i will hopefully be going back to the hospital to see her soon...

Congratulations to Matt and Shannon, who are a little busy and incredibly tired at the moment. They are so blessed to have a healthy, happy (for the most part so far) baby.

A tribute to Christian entertainment for children (or at least the good stuff)

I was reading my friend Megan's post yesterday about the Wee Sing songs from when she was a kid and it reminded me of how much i love Judy Rogers.
Anyone remember her? She is pretty much the best. One of my favorite songs is
Isabelle the pig
"Isabelle is a pig with a ring in her snout. You can dress Izzie up but you can't take her out. She will jump in the middle of a big mud puddle cause Isabelle is a pig"
And "Go to the Ant" and "Alligator Shoes" and all kinds of fun songs that i miss singing.
Another thing i still love is Psalty the singing song (i can't remember if it's song or psalm) book. I mean who doesn't love a song book that speaks, teaches kids lessons, and helps them learn to praise Jesus? My favorite, that i listen to occasionally would be Charity Churchmouse. You know, the one where the Charity thinks she is bound to be a gospel singing star but can't play the songmobile because she isn't actually praising Jesus with her heart.
Ah, good times.
I know i'm rambling but can i just say how much better this is for kids than kidbop or kidbop praise songs? i don't know if you've seen the commercials for kidbop--where they take current popular songs and have kids sing them, take out the bad words, and sell it to kids. Well, now they've done it with praise songs---they've made them all like technobeat, or faster rhythms and the kids are dancing around and singing on the commercials.
You just can't beat Psalty, Judy, G.T and the Halo Express, and Veggie Tales. Why would you even try?

Life is Fragile

Jeremiah 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own, it is not for man to direct his steps."
Luke 12:22-23
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or about your body, what you will wear. life is more than food and the body more than clothes... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?


The word "life" appears more than a few times in the Bible. Many times it is referring to eternal life, or life in Christ, or Christ as the life.
The reason i mention it now is because we, as humans, easily forget how fragile human life truly is. I am probably the most guilty of believing that i won't really die. Death is unreal to me, even though i have lost more than a couple family members.

Yesterday there was a twelve car pile up in my hometown. One of the guys who died in that accident was a couple years behind me in high school and we had participated in several musicals together in our early teen days. We were not close, but we were acquaintances. I think he was 20 or 21 years old. He was engaged to be married. So he left behind a fiance and his parents and many others who knew and loved him i am sure. I know there were at least two other deaths and possibly three from that accident. As if that wasn't disturbing enough, i found out yesterday that the lady who has been training one of the horses i take care of died in a car accident over the weekend. She was 31. The last conversation i had with her was when we were both at the gas station grabbing snacks. I still have her business card. My heart aches for their families and friends.

What these kind of deaths, these untimely, tragic deaths make me do is face where my trust really is. Am I trusting Christ in my life, for my life? Or does the way i live my life suggest that my trust is in something else, maybe myself, maybe the safety ratings of my car. Maybe i lull myself into a false sense of security by lying to myself---ignoring the reality that many young people die in all kinds of ways. I don't have forever to live for Christ on earth. I have the days he has given me and i have no idea when those run out. I hide behind my "shyness," and use it as an excuse not to be bold for Him. My days are numbered by Him, but i have no idea how long i will be here and if he took me today would i be able to say that i had redeemed the time. That i had used the time He gave me to show Him to others?
I don't think so. Can you?

4000 Women, starbucks coffee, and crowded food courts...

That's about what my weekend was. Can you imagine 4000 women in the same building, let alone in the same room for an entire weekend. I mean we didn't stay in that room the whole time but we sure spent a lot of time there.
The PCA Women in the Church conference was this past weekend in Atlanta. Let me just tell you, it was great.
Let's see what words i can come up with to describe it...

Overwhelming: people i hadn't seen in 13 years, great speakers but way too much challenging information to take in in less than 48 hours, did i mention 4000 women?

Fun: i mean who can't have fun with all those wonderful Demop ladies?

Exhausting: not so much sleep, 7 hour and a half sessions from friday night to sunday morning, getting lost in atlanta on the way there, getting almost killed in atlanta on the way home (not really but i always feel like i could die any minute when i am in heavy traffic moving at high speeds).

Awesome: Indelible Grace-Kevin Twit. Let's just say the worship was amazing. Wade Williams did a great job as well. And i am officially a fan of Ginny Owens.
And don't even get me started on Paige Benton Brown. The first thing i did when i got to my computer monday was google her name to see what other talks might be available. i haven't found anything yet but i am still looking...

I think that about sums up my weekend. So how was everyone else's???

Chasing The Wind

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when i surveyed all that my hands had done
and what i had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Just a reminder to myself that i am not here for my own pleasure and accomplishments. I think it is something i tend to forget often, which leads to not being content in who, what and where i am.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing i desire besides you.
Psalm 73:25
How do you go about making this statement true in your life? I know i have desires for earthly things, and the problem is that a lot of times i allow them to overcome my desire for my Savior. How do you fight back when you've allowed the desires of the sinful nature to invade?

Wide Right? Not This Time...

I must admit i was a little skeptical as we headed in to the "orange bowl" Monday evening. I am a pessimistic football fan. My theory is, if i expect them to do bad then i won't be disappointed when they do. And let's face it, the Florida State football team has given us fans much cause for heartache and disappointment over the last few years. But, this is the second year in a row we have beat the Miami Hurricanes in the first game of the season by three points.
I was not impressed with the team that played the first half of the game, but i certainly think they stepped up to the plate and got the job done in the second half.
Now, if you're like me, you're probably a little worried that we aren't going to make it out of our streak of losing 4 (5 last year) games a year.
But my goal is to turn into an optimistic football fan.
I mean Drew Weatherford has a whole year of experience under his belt to help steady his nerves this year. Buster Davis is pretty much all over the place---I mean if i had been choosing player of the game he would have been it for sure. De'Cody Fagg wasn't so bad himself.Our kickers did a pretty decent job. Now if we could just do something about our lack of creativity on offense...

OK, i'll get over it. I do want to say one last thing...
GO NOLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Matt...

As i am stuck upside down in a child's tube (you know the kind that has leg holes--like wearing underwear with a big tube attached to it) in the deep end of a friend's pool, Kicking my legs as hard as i can to try to turn over this is my brother's attempt to save my life...
Matt in a very calm, nonchalant manner sits down next to mom and says, "Mama, Erin's drowning. Mama, Erin's drowning. Mama, Mama, Mama, Erin's drowning...
"Mama, Mama..."

"What Matthew? i'm talking!" Mama exclaims frustratedly.
"Mama, Erin's drowning."
Splash. My mom, after i had held my breath for about 5 minutes (that may be a slight exaggeration) jumps into the water fully clothed to save my life.
To think without Matt's extreme concern i might not be here today to wish him a happy birthday.
( i know that story is much funnier in person but i hope you found it amusing).

MY favorite Matt story, however is from when he was about three or four years old (correct me if i'm wrong on that).
He was mad at Mom about something and if memory serves correctly it was that He didn't clean his room as he was told so Mom wouldn't let him watch Woody the Woodpecker. And the story begins...
"I'm going to tell Daddy!"Matt informs Mom indignantly.
"Go right ahead,"Mom answered thinking he meant he would do so when dad got home. So mom proceeds to check on me, cause i was a baby at the time (In case you were wondering I don't actually remember this event, but i do love hearing the story).
Anyway.
When Mom returns from my room she realizes Matt is missing. So she, being the good mother that she is, looks everywhere for him and then it dawns on her... He is on his way to tell dad that she won't let him watch Woody Woodpecker.
Immediately she calls daddy and tells him what's going on. He jumps in the car and starts to drive home from the church. Now there is a pretty major road between our house and the church and dad caught Matt right before he got to it.
Now imagine a little boy, 3 or 4, on a mission to "tell on his mom" getting caught in midflight by his dad.
Dad leans out the window and says "Whatcha doin?"
And Matt, looks in the backseat of dad's car, sees his raincoat and answers, "lookin for my raincoat."
I mean we always knew he was a bright one, especially when he started talking in full sentences at the ripe old age of 8months, but this just takes the cake. I didn't know little kids could think that fast.

Matt, i hope you have enjoyed the walk down memory lane. I love you very much and am so proud of the son, brother, husband and soon to be father that you are.
I thank the Lord for you, and for the relationship we now have. I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Celebrate it--spend time with Shannon and Avery.
I love you.
love your one and only sister who you are stuck with for life,
erin

Sidda Lee

I am now the proud owner of a 7 month old black lab. Her name is Sidda Lee. I do not have any pictures yet but i am sure i will soon (sorry mom i know you are disappointed). She is adjusting rather well to her new home, but she does not like to be left alone in the house.This morning she was pacing back and forth with her stuffed animal in her mouth whining because she knew i was leaving. I am planning on taking her to a soccer game this afternoon to show her off. She is beautiful.
I am not someone who likes to refer to their animals as members of the family, but i must say that having a dog so young is kind of like being her mom. She sleeps in my bed, she has stuffed animals, she likes to test you, she is learning new things every day. SHe is quite fun. I hope you all get to meet her one day.
She makes my apartment much less scary.
I am sure i will be posting tomorrow since it is a certain family member's special day...

Long time gone...

As the summer draws to a close i am resuming my position as church secretary for 15 hours a week (the other 25 is spent with junior high kids). So, that leaves me with a little bit of time to post on my blog.
I have had many complaints from a few select family members about my nonposting status, but i truly have been too busy and my computer has been broken and i couldn't justify using my boss's work computer just to post.
So, What's going on in my life? well i am moving out of the Erickson's. Today is moving day!!! On the one hand it is incredibly sad because i love that family soooo much, but on the other hand it's great because i am finally going to be out on my own. It is so weird. My parents are coming up today to help me move. I have no furniture, except for my bed and dresser and an old chair in the living room. But i am still so excited.
I hope all of you can visit me at one point or another. Don't expect anything too fancy because i do live above a barn and am responsible for the four horses in the barn.
I think what i am most excited about is the dog i haven't gotten yet.
ANy suggestions on what breed? i am leaning towards a lab.
well that's really all for now. Just wanted to let everyone know i am still alive and around.

Oops...

So when i posted that last time i completely forgot that the entire covenant college alumni community could access my blog now. Oh well.

So, i think i can officially announce this, since matt and shanny have already emailed all their family and friends but they are moving. And the best part is that they will only be about 30 minutes from me. I am so excited. I haven't ever lived this close to my sister-n-law (also one of my best friends). We've always been at least 4 hours away from each other (and a lot more than that this last year).
so i am completely pumped. Oh, and i'm excited about being that close to matt too. now all we need to do is find a job for jenise in the area...
that's about all i had to say. i am actually procrastinating since i have to teach sunday school and no brilliant ideas have come to me yet. i've been working on it since monday. anyway. i'm off to work on it some more.

I have changed my name to "single"

OK, there is a definite theme developing in my life. A few weeks ago i was hanging out with my friend and co-worker, Lydia. She was telling me that there is this song that makes her think of me when she hears it. It's by Leann Rhimes and it is called "something's gotta give" here are some of the lyrics "Jenny's got a job, a cat named Jake, 31 candles on her birthday cake--next year. thought by now she'd have a man, two car seats and a minivan. but it still ain't here...something's gotta give me butterflies, something gotta make me feel alive," etc...
Now i realize i am only 23 and i have plenty of time, but i kind of agreed that this is a song i identify with. So i went with it and downloaded it from itunes and then proceeded to make it the song i listen to when i am frustrated with my single status.

Well Monday i was hanging out with two of my girls and they were telling me about this other song that reminds them of me. It is called "Single." SO they made a cd of it and gave it to me. I've only listened to it once but it's about not needing to be on someone's arm to be important and whatnot.

I am starting to worry. I think my singleness is like my defining factor now. Pretty soon i think people are going to start introducing me like this: "This is erin.she's single" Part of it may be that when my junior high girls suggest guys i should date i always have excuses like "he's too short" "he's too tall" "he's too attractive" "he's not athletic" "i don't like his facial hair." (i don't actually base my decision not to date guys on these things but it is easier to make it light hearted with girls than to take their suggestions seriously).

It's all very amusing. And in the midst of it i realize that except for a couple of months two summers ago, i have always been single. I don't know how to be "with someone" and it is kind of scary. I already did the thing where i dated someone because i convinced myself i liked them, only to realize later that it was because i was tired of being single and i don't want to do that again.

So i guess what i am saying is that it is kind of funny and kind of depressing that i bear that label. but until God drops the guy in my lap i am working to be content in my singleness (and i think i will be much better at it when i move out of the Erickson's and finally get a dog.--marc won't let me have one while i'm in their house).

My life as a hostage negotiator...

Imagine having the confidence to walk into a situation where you will most likely end up shot, and yet not wearing a bullet proof vest, or carrying a gun. Imagine sitting down on the floor near a very emotionally unstable man, who is dying of cancer, has dynamite strapped to his chest, a gun in his hand and a vendetta against the bank he has invaded. Then imagine making small talk with the man for five hours until you finally decide he will not be talked into a peaceful conclusion so you have to very discreetly signal your team to blow the front doors while you concentrate on reaching the trigger in the man's hand so he doesn't blow up an entire block (and you with it).
That's what Kate O'Malley does. If you have ever read the O'malley series by Dee Henderson, aren't they great? If you haven't well you are missing exciting stuff. I remember the first time i read the book wanting to be her so badly. Yet i couldn't imagine living with the constant danger she was facing.
I started rereading this book last night and i was struck by the risks she takes. The funny thing is that she does it confidently, knowing she might lose her life and she does not believe in God. I want that kind of confidence. Some might call it foolishness, but imagine if we truly feared nothing what our impact on this world might be for the Gospel. Yet most of the time i live in fear, not even being bold with kids who have grown up in the church and heard the Gospel all their lives.
I think my prayer is that i would love boldly, and loving Christ involves risking/giving away our earthly lives to His purposes.
I don't know, just some thoughts.

Did you Know

- coconuts kill more people in the world than sharks do. Approximately 150 people are killed each year by coconuts.

- in 1969 it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts
-you are about one centimeter taller in the morning than in the evening
-the Bible is the most shop-lifted book in the world
-a toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans
-females learn to talk earlier, use sentences earlier and read more quickly than males (the exception to this rule being my brother who apparently talked in paragraphs at 8 months)
-80% of millionares drive used cars
-a giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue

I am teaching sunday school, was looking up some interesting trivia to share with them and couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it with you as well.
I am sure you thoroughly enjoyed it.
Since i haven't posted in a long while i figured it was about time. There's not much to say except my parents are coming up today and i am excited. we are going fishing tomorrow (Lord willing) which i haven't done in ages. I'll let you know how it goes...
I believe the last time i went fishing with my daddy it was on his boat(Uncle Jim's old one) and he accidentally busted my lip with his lure. ah, fun times.

The new love of my life...

There are only two children in my family, my brother and me. My brother and sister-in-law have been in seminary for almost a year. A few weeks ago i got a call that made me pretty much the happiest woman on earth. I am going to be an aunt!!!!!!!!! Shanny, my beloved friend, is two months pregnant with their first child. I absolutely cannot wait. I don't think November will get here fast enough. Now those of you who know me and how much i love children can probably imagine how unbelievably excited i am and how ridiculously spoiled this child is going to be. Imagine being the first grandbaby on both sides. THis child will probably never learn to walk because we'll just want to carry him around and play with him all the time. I don't think there is a child on earth who is loved more. So congratulations to Matt and Shannon. And to mom and dad who get to be grandparents (don't you feel old?). And to me, because i just get to be the cool, fun aunt who dotes on her niece or nephew. ok, i'll stop rambling now. YEA! What do you think of "Aunt Rin"?

I love the Beach...

Now i am not one for laying out. And though most of my extended family lives within 20 or 30 minutes of the beach i don't spend much time on the beach. So, i was a little worried about a whole week of staying directly on the beach with 8th grade girls. BUt i must say it was a blast! We had great weather most of the time. It was warm but not hot so we could lay out in the sun and read or sleep without sweating to death. The water was too cold to swim. My bathing suit only got wet once! We played our share of frisbee although the wind and our lack of talent sometimes made this difficult. I attempted skim boarding and have a nasty bruise/scratch from the very graceful fall i took.(although now i am determined to learn how to skim board) We ate ice cream pretty much every day. We played DDR (dance dance revolution) a lot. I read a lot, much to the dismay of several girls who claim that they "never read, unless it's magazines or school work."
And i have come to the conclusion that i need a condo on the beach. It was so relaxing. Even if it had rained everyday i would have been content to sit inside and stare at the ocean, or go out on the verandah and breath in the scents.
Ok. enough bragging about the beach.
Oh, but we did kind of get stalked by two guys who were staying in our condo, and the lady who killed her pastor husband was found in Gulf Shores which is where we were.
NOt to mention that all of us but two dyed our hair, and several of us got tattoos (henna of course).
It was a walk on the wild side for me.
So that's what last week was like. this week was much more business as usual.
HOpe everyone's doing well.
Tune in soon for some very exciting news...