Tag I'm It.

So, I've been tagged and this tag brought along with it the triple-dog-dare to name 6 or 7? odd/interesting things about myself (ok, no one triple-dog dared me, but it makes it sound better,ok?).  Thanks to my friend who tagged me (you know who you are)- I like to end the week with a reminder that I am interesting- if thats what you call it.

1. I HATE TRANS FAT!!!!!  Yeah, about 3 months ago I read this article about trans fat and it stirred emotions deep within me.  I go to all lengths to try and NOT eat it.  I don't fall privvy to the lie that if the lable says 0 trans fat it is safe.  No, if the ingredients say that there is anything hydrogenated, its got a plan to harden some arteries, so don't fall for it.  Manufactuers do not have to list any fats that are under.5 grams a serving.  Here is the weird part: I have no problem eating sugar, saturated fat or caffeine.  Why in the world have I gotten obsessed with trans fat?  Oh, yeah, because I am interesting (I think it is also an excuse to feel like there is at least on area in my life where I allow no unhealthy shenanigans). 

2. I really like historical markers.  Luckily, I have found a few friends who are fans, too, but I am not sure the majority of the population would slam on the brakes while going 75 miles an hour just to see what battle was fought here, who lived on the stretch of land 100 years ago, or who is buried 60 miles south of where you're standing.  But, I love it and have spent whole days driving around soley for this purpose.  Best places to do this (in my experience so far) are Rt. 66 and Rt. 182 in TX.  And a note for those of you who might decide to join in on this habit: Architectural historical markers are boring.  Don't settle for these.

3. I am a germiphobe (not that I can spell it).  I wholeheartedly admit it.  I go to all lengths to try to avoid germs.  I rinse my toothbrush in steaming water every time I use it, I keep clorox clean-up wipes in business, I only use anti-bacterial soap, and I am probably slowly mutating from the amount of handsanitizer I use in a week.  Yet somehow I manage to not be phased by a kid who slobbers on me or sneezes in her hand and then grabs mine.  Go figure.

4. I have a routine for opening and closing my contacts case that I have never veered away from.  I always take off both lids (R & then L) before inserting either contact and then when I take them out I do the same.  It has crossed my mind to take off the right lid and then take out or put in my right contact and then start the whole process over again with my left contact. But as soon as I realized that I had been subconciously doing things in a particular order, I decided to keep the routine alive for fun.  Yeah, I realize I have a problem if that is my idea of fun.

I am not sure if this blog is supposed to make me question how fun of a person I really am, but...after these first 4 I am questioning my ability to keep anyone interested... 

5. I don't eat the foods on my plate all at the same time.  I eat them all individually, starting with which ever one will taste the worst if it loses its best serving temperature. For instance, if there are fries involved, I will eat them first because who likes cold fries?  But you better believe that if I have started with the fries, there will be no consumption of any other products until my plate is fry free.  Along with this interesting tid-bit is that I always leave the last bite on my plate.  Philip pointed this out to me about 3 years ago.  Whatever the last thing is that I am eating- I leave one bite of it and then declare that I am done.  I never noticed this before he pointed it out.  I really do this with out thinking about it and I have no idea why.

6. I like to abbreviate things or say things backwards.  I automatically do it in my head and then it is fun to say outloud.  For instance, I am in the middle of writing a MSB or a golB ecapSyM.  I am not completely alone in this, I have a friend who can abbreviate better than me and always keeps me guessing at what he is trying to say.  Camp was a TOTSAD camp.

7. I love to drink out of a styrofoam cup with a straw.  I always ask for to-go cups at restuarants if I know the cup is styrofoam and I keep a long-term supply of straws and Styrofoam cups at home.  Hey, I like it to stay cold.  Philip reminds me that they are bad for the environment but at home I use them over and over so I feel I am doing a little good while enjoying my chilled beverage.  Unless of course it is bottled water which I only drink at room temp.  That way I can chug it with no brain freeze. 

Somehow in my mind all of the above things have a logic to them.  I realize they may sound weird, but I embrace it.  So now I tag Carissa, Ben, Emily, & Scott.  Or anyone else that wishes to share.  PO (tuo ecaep).

Currently Listening Super Strong God By Hillsong Kids see related

a suggestion...

Hey, check it out... I'm actually writing something!

So, how about summer?  I feel like I have had hardly anytime to sleep this summer, let alone write due to camp, camp, and more camp (which is my favorite way to spend the summer), VBS, tubing trips, writing all the services for children's camps, making up moves to kid's songs, transforming the inside of the church into a Fiesta Village, driving down TX 281 (otherwise known as the mini Rt. 66), trying to STILL unpack and decorate, travelling to Nashville & then Indiana to surprise my parents for their anniversary, then going to a wedding in Indiana,  etc., etc., etc...  Now that VBS is almost over we are getting ready to leave for my brother-in-laws wedding next week.  It's non-stop around here.  This is usually when someone at church who is at least 10 years older than me looks at me and says with no sympathy, "You can handle it- you're young."  I then wonder yeah, I guess I am young and no, I have no children yet, either...but what happens when I start to not be so young and have children?  I think my two options are to lose all sanity or slow down... and there I go talking about my children that yet to exist yet...thanks Ben, for pointing that out.  Speaking of Ben, here's a pic...

Ben is our super-fun intern that has been with us all summer and is about to leave next week to go back to TNU.  This makes me very sad.  He likes to do all kinds of fun stuff such as visit little Texas towns like Blanco and Hico where we all got Dublin Dr. Pepper (the only Dr. Pepper in the US made with real cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup).

Hico, TX is also where Billy the Kid died,or so they say.  His body is outlined on the sidewalk exactly where he died.  Yes, kids, there is nothing like small town TX roadtrips.  While on this road trip from one camp to our tubing trip, we stopped by the creation evidence museum.  Below depicts how we felt about the place.

Yes, that look is called confused, bored, and somewhat scared (by the way, the kid in the orange is another Ben, a way cool kid from our church).  And just for the fun of it, here is our team for the West Texas Camp and me on the zipline...

So right now I am basically realizing that this a very random blog- there is no order to it, yet the pictures make me happy.  That is a good way to describe this summer.  But, one thing that was a surprise from my wonderful husband that was much needed was my b-day weekend away on the 14th floor of my favorite hotel.

I hope that sometime soon I have time to spend with carissa so I can post fun pics with her...the fall is usually a little less hectic...usually.  Oh, and a lot of wonderful people came to my surprsie b-day party that Philip threw for me.  I REALLY love our kids.  They make the really crazy summer all worth it!!!!!

Maybe next time I write it will be a bit more eloquent.  But if you've read this far, you must not care anyway.  So, thanks for reading. 

Currently Listening Super Strong God Royalty (our theme song) see related

Yeah for Kid's Camp!

Woohoo!  In about an hour we leave for kids camp.  Our Journey Kids team here at the church is doing the services again for the third year.  It is my favorite time of year regarding the kids ministry.  I love leading the songs and worshiping with the kids through explosions, funny skits we made up and other random things that make learning about God fun.  Especially since I get to do it with  like 10 of my favorite people in the world and I love being with kids (500 of them!).  Have I mentioned that I love what God has called us to do?  I am especially enjoying it this year because I had a really big part in planning the services this year and I feel that God has taught me a lot through His Word.  When you are teaching, you somehow learn more than you teach sometimes.

For those of you who I am sure will read this while I am away (I am thinking Emily, Christie, and Carissa and then Ben in like a week, but you'll be with us), I love you all and am excited about the ministry you are doing!  Woo hoo for UK Ministries & Emmanuel Serengeti!

Please pray for us and the kids this week.  It is an amazing time.

I love my family and friends.  And yes, Nacho Libre was funny. No one can express emotion through song like Jack Black.

Hooray for funny people!

This is what our new house looked like before...

Here is our new house after Philip gave it a landscape makeover.  The new greenery additions are small but will grow.

Anyway...I was just thinking that I know a lot of funny people.  This makes life pretty darn enjoyable.  My husband is funny (to me it he is the funniest when he is funny by default rather than on purpose- I know this may sound bad, but it is meant with admiration and love...he cracks me up.  He is also very cute).  My best friend is funny in a way that is unparalled...she is sort of silly meets theology- very entertaining.  My siblings (sibling in-laws definately included) are incredibly funny in a way that makes me so thankful that God placed me in the home I grew up in and the marriage I've been blessed with (I laugh the hardest at my siblings- somehow whatever they say or do is 10 times funnier than everyone else in the world). Our kids at church give me great joy and the most recent was hearing Kayla call Ruth's husband Bozo instead of Boaz.  And the many other friends who I am priveledged to know bring laughter so often.  For instance, I just read my much missed friend, Derek Hutchinson's  blog.  Derek, I too, am rejoicing with you that your new hands are working fine. 

To all of you who make life so much fun, thanks.  I am so glad I am not one of those people surrounded by others who bring them down.  But if I were, my four year old friend, Emily, would give me the advice she gave her dad when he was down about his job a few weeks ago: He was tired after work and a bit discouraged.  She jumped in his lap and said, "Dad, you know what's got you down?! Gravity!!!"  Thanks to the Magic School Bus for sharing that knowledge with our youngsters.

14 hours in a car, 3 days in Nashville, and 14 hours in a car again...now we are home.  It was a great weekend filled with family and friends.  I finally got to see some friends that I miss dearly and still wished I could have spent more time with.  I am extremely proud of all my fam who graduated and especially proud of Dad Allred.  What a trooper and example.

I always have so much fun with family and Emily, my super sister and I (talk about funny people) like to celebrate our times together.  We decided to go out on a limb and give the new "Coke Blak" a try.  Here's the test...

And the verdict is in...