Music

Ok so I am not musically talented at all... I don't really play anything and have never played anything well. Not that I wouldn't want to try something again, like pick up the violin and give it a go... However, I am definitely encouraged, changed, moved... just about any word you can put to it, music changes my life. I listen to it constantly-- in the car, at work, in my house. I even pay money to listen to music as in I have an XM radio subscription. So, all of this to say, certain songs really get stuck in my head. Right now I am completely in love with this song by Newton Faulkner, "dream catch me". Here are the lyrics:

Every time
I close my eyes
It's you
And I know now
Who I am

There's a place I go
When I'm alone
Do anything I want
Be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I can't believe I'm fallin
That's where I'm goin
Where are you goin
Hold it close won't let this go

Dream catch me, yea
Dream catch me when I fall
Or else I won't come back at all

You do so much
That you don't know
It's true
And I know now
Who I am

Yea yea yea
And I know now

There's a place I go
When I'm alone
Do anything I want
Be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm fallin
That's where I'm goin
Where are you goin
Hold it close won't let this go

Dream catch me, yea
Dream catch me when I fall
Or else I won't come back at all

See you as a mountain
A fountain of God
See you as as a descant soul
in the setting sun
You as the sound
Just as silent as none
I'm young

There's a place I go
When I'm alone
Do anything I want
Be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm fallin

There's a place I go
When I'm alone
Do anything I want
Be anyone I wanna be
But it is us I see
And I cannot believe I'm fallin
That's where I'm goin
Where are you goin
Hold it close won't let this go

Dream catch me, yea
Dream catch me when I fall
Or else I won't come back at al

Naples... Florida, not Italy...

So Mom and I decided last minute to head to Naples, Florida (no, not Italy) and relax on the beach for a few days. Why Naples, well because we have been there a lot, it is pretty, not commercial like the Destin, Fl area and you can plan a last minute trip there. We went for walks, played tennis, hung out by the "big" pool and ate. There really is nothing else to do but shop and we did a little bit of that. So, let's go back quickly to Naples, Italy. I have been there and it is a sketchy place! It is very close to a not sketchy town called Sorrento and it is very close to the Isle of Capri which is completely fabulous and fancy (thanks Janet!). But no, we are not the type of people to plan a last minute trip across "the pond". My mom is not about to travel abroad without my daddy and well, we would be hard pressed to attain that!

Naples was fun and relaxing and a well timed outing! Naples is supposedly in the most highly concentrated Republican county in the country. This was only confirmed by the pair of linen loafers I found at one store emblazoned with the republican party elephant. I cannot believe that I did not take a picture of them. Or buy them as a joke for someone... except they were like $30... on sale from $150! I even tried to find a picture online of these to no avail. Besides being very "republican" it is also a very Lilly place. I enjoyed pointing out the Lilly on the beach, at the pool, and when we were out to my mom. I think I have a disease...

We did not spend all of our week in Naples but headed back towards Miami and the airport (we flew into Fort Lauderdale) to see my family that lives in Miami. We had a great time with them on their boat, playing on the sand bar in Key Biscayne, and just spending time with them. It was great to see how well they were doing-- it has only been four months since Natalie died.

Well, getting back was fine, even my plantains made the trip! It is nice to be back but I am still adjusting to this 10-hour work day! I do love my Fridays off though!

Junebug...

I can't believe it is June already. The month of May flew by full of engagements, parties, wedding activities, work, and a lot of fun. The month culminated with the sweet wedding of my good friend Kristi Hindman James (almost like we are related now). Her nuptials were quite the event and proved to be the best wedding I have been a part of yet. It was nice to be a low-key bridal attendant and be able to run as much of the behind the scenes as were possible-- thus only enhancing my desire to be a full-time wedding planner. So, now while the new Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Duffy James are off to St. Lucia, the rest of us are melting here in the 100 degree heat in Columbia.

June, as per its usual, is another month of weddings. Nan and Chris tie the knot this weekend and there is a wedding shower of course for Tom and Kim! Followed by several to come and lots of parties. I am about wedding'ed out but will persevere...I am looking forward to my newest project of painting the guest bathroom and guest bedroom... soon to be Kathryn's bedroom.

Hopefully, June or early July will bring a trip to the beach and maybe a jaunt out to San Fran to visit my best friend from college, Laura. Work should be easy as I have transitioned into working 37.5 hours (the mandated government schedule) in 4 days with Fridays off. Nice for the summer and hopefully leading to some trips to Charleston.

Not too much else is going on... not that that is not a lot. Trying to catch up with people before work gets hectic and our next leadership class starts in late August. Well... I better get moving. Tomorrow will be a short day at work but I am hoping to make some headway on the bathroom.

Sleep tight!
HAJ

Strep Sickness

So last week I didn't get a chance to write. I came down with strep throat as soon as my mom and brother were heading back to Memphis after their visit and just as I was beginning my weekend house-sitting/temporary gaurdianship of 3 wonderful kids from my youth group.

The weekend proved to be more fun than any other house-sitting I have done--even better than with older kids! Mary Margaret, Stephen and Robert kept me throughly entertained from our Saturday morning Guitar Hero play off to our impromptu scream-fest in the car. I really enjoyed myself, even as bad as I felt. I was also amazed that after 4 days, I was not tired of them at all.

I am ready for this week to be over. I am heading to DeBordieu with the senior high girls from church to have a retreat. It looks like it is going to be a wonderful weekend!

Well, I better head for now-- Biggest Loser is on and I want to see who wins!

Lesson #1 of the day

So every day this week I have been late for work. I have been blaming it on the lack of sleep attained last weekend while in Aiken to be a part of Allie's wedding-- the life of a bridesmaid is quite hectic at times! Well, I only got about 4.5-5 hours a night of sleep so I was tired upon arriving back in Columbia. Ok, back to my story... so, I have been blaming my tardiness on Allie's wedding. Yes, it has been hard to drag myself out of the bed each morning but I have been letting myself "hit the snooze button" (which really means I get out of bed, turn of the alarm, turn on the tv, and get back in bed)-- not a good idea. After Anne Curry has done her morning round on the news highlights of the morning I am thinking, "It is time to get in the shower or I am going to be late!" The next thing I know Al Roker is doing his spiel on the weather but it is not the first time, NO, it is the second one!! Meaning that it is after 7:30! OK, so I may be fast but showering, drying my mass of hair, selecting an outfit, and getting my things together can NOT be done in 20 minutes. Alas, I have been late to work every day this week thinking, "Well _____ (my boss) won't be in till at least 8:30 so I should be fine." Oh no, EVERY day this week she has been early. I mean what is that?? Why change her habits now-- and this week of all weeks! So, I decided that today I am going to be early, or at least on time. Well, today she was late, like super later. I don't think she waltzed in until around 9. So, I rushed this morning for nothing. Well, I started thinking about it and something that someone said in Bible study a few weeks ago (you know that Beth Moore, she is full of good nuggets!) about how we should not approach our jobs as working for someone else, but as we are working for God! I mean how could I have missed that-- the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. How am I glorifying Him by being late for work and my lateness-- although, it sometimes can be attributed to being tired from busy weekends-- is mostly linked to my desire to not be at this job. I may not like this job but as long as He has me here, I need to seek to glorify Him!