Flying

Isn't it funny how a post can turn out in a way that you never would have pictured.  I don't entirely know where my wording for yesterday's post came from, but I totally forgot to tell you about this part:

I call it my "Fall-tastrophe".  I'm sifting through last year's photos to pick the ones for my frames and I hear a loud crash.  I go into my laundry room (as indicated by my dining room chairs, keeping it real folks) and my adorable little pumpkin and acorn candle holders are done.  My bag of popcorn kernels for my vases, broken.  I didn't find that out though until I picked it up and dropped popcorn everywhere.

Looking at the bright side, I was able to downsize. (403) It was better than anyone getting hurt and this time my children were not at all involved.

Back to the point:

This whole fall thing got started this weekend when I flew to Georgia.

I posted on my 6Tag (Instagram) account that I was off to find some Autumn.  Even though I was only there for 2 days of "Autumn" I am still going to count it.

Here's a funny thing though, (and this is the point of this here post).  I flew on an airplane by myself and while doing so, I realized that I had never done that before.  That's no big deal for most people, and I didn't think it was for me either, but apparently it was.

I had flown by myself with Cameron before, but never all alone.  For some reason, this made me very nervous.  I didn't have to keep it all together for a different person.  At first was all "woo hoo, I'm going to read a book, take a nap, drink a coke, play on my phone, write a novel (j/k)" and then I realized I was only in air for 1 hour.  Womp womp.

September 29th (ish) 2010- 2 months old.  No he didn't sit like this in flight. 404

You never really know who you're going to end up next to.  However, both trips, I was blessed to sit by two different very enjoyable people who talked with me the entire time. (405-406) Not in an annoying way by all means, but a really pleasant way.  The kicker here is also that I didn't instigate conversation either time, which is weird for me.  This makes me think that perhaps our seats were meant to be.  Both parties wanted to sit by someone friendly and it worked out.

Both of these individuals also completely calmed my nerves.  I wasn't going to scream or anything, but they both distracted me and made me feel much better.  Maybe without even knowing it.  The gentleman on the way home even gave me his phone because he was so enthusiastic about a book recommendation and wanted me to read it.  (The Survivor's Club, in case you're wondering).

Here's my favorite part though:  both times, in a totally natural way, I was able to talk about my church/faith. (407)  On the way up, I was able to share with my neighbor about the Unglued book that I am reading in my women's bible study. (408)  As it turns out, she works for a Christian College in Greenville and her husband is a missions professor.

On the way back, I was able to have a discussion about local churches after my neighbor had mentioned a recent flight on a mission trip to Guatemala.

Our pastor always says that testimony sharing is simply sharing your story.  It doesn't have to be a formal sit down with a diagram and an immediate conversion at the table.  I was so thankful to be able to speak really about myself and my life with Bridgepoint and church in general being as natural of a conversation piece as "where I work" or "how many kids I have."

I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend a short amount of time (1 hour, haha) with people that I likely won't see again, and in that time I was able to easily talk about what I believe in.  I did something that scared me and was so pleased to find that it paid off.

Thank you Paul and Carrie!  I don't even know if that's how you spell your names, I also don't recall sharing my name with you at all (and that's fine), but when you mentioned them in brief conversation, I noticed.  

THE Message

Happy Easter to you!

My personal Facebook status reads this today:

"His story changed History."

His story is about sacrifice.

His story is about rescue.

His story does matter.

His story can will change your story.

All of these poignant thoughts came straight from our message at Bridgepoint Church today.  If you want to hear it (in a few days when the video is up) then go here.  It's filled with a lot of factual information about Jesus.

At least we're all looking!

If you would like to see what our previous Easters have looked like you can go here or here

A Message

Not to be confused with THE message that is usually featured on a Sunday.

Unfortunately these 2 guys are Sick with a capital S.  The younger, gooey-er one has bronchiolitis, the older more verbal one has been running fevers since Friday night.  He has a REAL talent for getting sick on the weekend.

They are pretty pitiful.  With a lot of love, snuggles, water, and medicine we are nursing them back to health.
 
In finding the joy, this weekend at home has been relaxing and good for our little family.  Minus the diseases, we've had a great time with each other.

Thursday (pre-sickness) I got to go out with some favorites to Flemings (Y-U-M, 190) followed by a second row viewing of Wicked (third time and it's still amazing!  191).  Tate stood himself up (holding onto a chair)192.  I got in a 9 mile run in less than an hour and a half 193.  We all got to take a nap at some point 194.  Tonight we get to watch Downton Abbey again 195. It wasn't all sickness.

This means no church for us today, however, I will be viewing in via the online messages just like you this week!  If you want to join me, you can!  Just go here

Fridays

Fridays we usually go grocery shopping.  (134)  We go as an entire family.  It's a very special way to take something that we have to do and bond over it.  Cameron and I eat our way through the store via free bakery cookies and samples (mmm 135).  We stop to look at the lobsters every.single.week and we yell when one of them moves (136).  Best of all, the brothers get to drive around in this super cool rocket ship.  (137)

The Weekend: The Doozie of a Weekend

I told you it was going to be a doozie!  So, thank you for being patient with me on Friday.  Hubby and I had an ALL day date day!  (101)

He was presenting at the Florida FCR-STEM Teacher conference and I got to go as a teacher attending the conference. (102)  My teacher partner graciously traded Monday for Friday with me so that I could go (103).

Because he was a presenter and most presenters weren't from here, there was a discount on the hotel rooms (104).  We decided to make an entire day out of it and have a much needed "stay-cation".  We haven't slept an entire night of sleep in over 7 months so we were so ready!

We went to the conference, got all dressed up (105), and had dinner at a SUPER yummy restaurant (106).  Seriously, every bite I put into my mouth was the best thing I had ever eaten!  This dinner was paid for in deposited loose change that you can read about here.

                                   

We woke up the next morning and did a 6 mile run downtown.  (107) This is my favorite running place in the entire world.  Well, that I've run at.  We see the Dali Museum, the Pier, lots of water, lots of runners, just lots of pretty!  There was another scheduled run downtown that morning, but I really wanted to sleep in and just have a morning on my own time schedule.

Coincidentally (maybe), our watch beeped 6 miles right at our favorite post-run bakery! (108)  So naturally, we stopped for Almond Croissants! (109)

                                     

By this time, we were missing our guys.  So we went home to spend the day with them.  (110)  Our besties came over and took our Christmas Card pictures in cute outfits. (111)  I promise you can see later!

Then it was off to one of our favorite Christmas traditions, the Boat Parade Party!! (112)  We see great friends, eat great food, and watch decorated boats go by while listening to a trombone group playing Christmas Carols from the veranda.  It's the life!

Sunday we went here for church.  Here's what I mainly got out of it this week, but first a disclaimer:

This is much better said from the speaker's words and this is a message that I feel can very easily be misconstrued out of context, so I will do my best, but before getting offended, listen to how he says it so that it can make more sense in context.  You can hear/watch it here.

1.  You try the things of the world, you don't try Jesus.  In other words, you go all in with Jesus.

2.  Just like Yoda says, "Do or do not.  There is no try."  and yes, Yoda was actually quoted in the sermon.  Pretty awesome stuff.

3.  He made a really good example of the point talking about falling off of a cliff and having a hand reaching out to save you.  You don't keep grabbing around or trying other things, you LEAP for that hand and hold on tight.  But again, listen to how he says it!

We wrapped the weekend up with our sweet friend's 1 year old birthday party.  The whole family had a good time.  (113)

So what did you do this weekend?  Did you take an entire day off from all of your responsibilities?  Did you hear anything particularly insightful from a speaker?  Any Christmas parties or traditions?  Any out of control yummy food?  I would love to hear about it!  Really.