Why I love my job...

Well, there's lots of reasons, really, which I won't go in to at this time. But one reason that I love my job is that you just never know what the day may hold around here. For example, yesterday I spent 3 hours in a very interesting lecture on some pressing theological issues, followed by participating in a photo shoot which was intended to mimic the Beatles Abbey Road album, and then put together a powerpoint slide of pictures of people hoarding Pop Rocks and fart putty. Like I said... you just never know.

Speaking of Pop Rocks, that has got to be one of the weirdest inventions in modern culture. Seriously, I don't think we gave whoever invented those got nearly enough credit. You think he's rich? Still alive? I have a vague memory of Christina getting a Pop Rock in her eye in junior high. Did that really happen? I also remember her getting a blood vessel sucked out of her eye at the dentist by those sucking tubes they stick in the back of your mouth. Sorry if that grosses anyone out. It looks grosser in print than when you just say it. I don't know how this post has ended up on this subject.

The Anti-Melanie

So, I made a momumental discovery last night. I have found her. The person who is my exact opposite- the person who I could NOT be more different from in the way we think, talk, communicate, process, and basically exist. She is an amazing woman- the kind of person I love to have around because she loves to do the things I hate to do. She actually finds great JOY in the intricate details and administrative tasks that send me into fits of yawns. This amazing discovery hit me last night as she requested to have a meeting with me about a meeting. And meet we did. And no detail was left untouched. I tend to overlook details because I get bored or distracted.

It's funny how seeing differences in others can shed light on things about yourself. I love comparing communication and personality styles. The Myers-Brigg is one of my favorite tools in counseling because it's one of the most fun tools and people always get a kick out of looking at how differently individuals think and process. Most of you have probably taken some version of this. Do you know your letters? I'd be interested to know.

Remember...

Seems like a loaded word to me at the moment: REMEMBER. Hundreds of times a day we tell ourselves to "remember something," from remembering to take the sheets out of the dryer or set the Tivo. REMEMBER to smile. REMEMBER to go to the bank. REMEMBER to call your mom. I send these little reminders to remember to myself constantly. (And yet still manage to lose more of those mental sticky notes than I seem to retain.)

I did a lot of remembering this last weekend. I remembered what it felt like to be 18 and going off on my college adventure. I remembered the emotional connection I felt with the stretch of sidewalk between the campus center and Moody Colliseum. I remembered that stupid grin you give "the GATA next to ya" when you sing about why all the girls on campus are guy-less. But mostly, I remembered the role so many people have played in my so-sweetly blessed life.

So, in no certain order, here are a few highlights I "remember" from my wonderful weekend of remembering.

1. Summer tearing up when she came into breakfast.
2. Seeing the Bible Building and tower outline in the skyline as we drove into town.
3. Seeing Titus and Korben together in matching pj's. So cute.
4. Christina still taking up the whole bed- even tho it was a king size. Ha ha.
5. Titus smiling so big at me that his eyes disappear.
6. Summer tearing up at The Lord Bless You and Keep You.
7. Eating at Rosa's with so many old friends!! It was so great to see everyone. And Rosas rocks.
8. Singing around the fountain.
9. Remembering Olive Garden dinners and late-night Sonic runs.
10. Summer tearing up when we said goodbye. (Precious every time, Summer.)

In the middle of all this remembering, I thought about how we struggle sometimes to really remember just what Christ did for us. A strong sense of "remembrance" includes more than just a mental picture- it's encompassing of all your senses to your very soul. And I think that's one reason we all feel such a strong "soul connection" with ACU and the people there: Because Christ moved in all our lives so evidently in those years, and that is one of the sweetest memories a person could have.

Another year and countless more blessings...

Thanks for all the birthday highlights, everyone. In looking back over the years, some of my best birthdays were spent with you guys. Surprise parties in the lobby of Sikes, chicken dinners in La Casa, and our frequent visits to Olive Garden. Does anyone ever eat there anymore?

Breaking news in my world: I am embarking on a very exciting new endeavor these last few days- which I attribute in part to my increasing "adult-ness" with another year gone by. I am looking into BUYING A HOUSE. How insane is that? Here's the latest one I've found that I'm putting an offer on today. I am finding that since I'm not in a hurry, I can put down offers on whatever I want and just wait and see if anyone accepts. Kind of like a fun, really expensive game. I selected the pic from the backyard to post because I like the latice and the green children's toy on the left seems very happy to live here. If I do end up getting a house, you better believe you'll all be invited to a crazy-exciting party. For those of you home-owners, any advise from your wealth of knowledge? And those of you, who, like me, are blissful in your renting worlds- does this idea sound as scary and huge to you as it does to me?

Anybody remember what it was like to be in seventh grade? What a time that was. I remember spending a good part of that year giggling and making up songs with Christina (we were quite the composers in those days- brilliant and under-appreciated masterpieces about smelly feet and volleyball games.)

I went to a seventh grade girls' volleyball game last night. I had a funny, "too-bad-that-wasn't-on-film" moment: Arriving after the game had started, I made my way into the stands filled with enthusiatic parents. I recongized one of my kiddos serving- I didn't know she was on the team and watched her serve two rockets in a row (did we serve like that overhand at 13?!) Impressed with her awesome-ness, I proceeded to yell, much too loudly (as any good fan does), "GO, MEGAN!!!!" right before the ref was about to blow the "go-ahead-and-serve" whistle. Her head snapped over to the crowd and her look of complete shock and confusion was priceless. I guess no one ever cheers for this girl. Her mom is sweet, but very quiet. As the whistle blew, she completely WHIFFED the serve. The entire half of the stands in my line of sight then turned and glared at me as if I had just run out there and punched her in the head. One guy's expression as he made eye contact with me said "You idiot. If I could throw my Sonic smoothie at you right now, you'd better believe I would." I got a big kick out of this (guess I didn't totally grow out of the giggling phase), but I did apologize to Megan after the game and offer to go tell her coach it was my fault.

Do you guys remember what you were like at that age?