Life is expensive! (imported from Myspace)

Argh. Work all the time and then you have to spend all the time. Long story made short, had to buy new cell phones for both me and Andy. So we did the research and checked the promotions and decided to go with Alltel. Let's just say that the salesman, Trey, had a good sales night off us. But we both got the new Razr phones and covers. They are cool. But we do have new numbers, so if anyone has the old number - ask for our new ones because the old ones will be turned off by Monday.
Otherwise, we have spent on tires, clothes, travel, cars and everything else imaginable lately. But I get my new camcorder on Tuesday! I am SO excited. Had to order it now, so that I would have it before camp AND have time to learn how to use it.
Hope everyone is doing well.

Mini Beach Vacation (imported from Myspace)

I had an AWESOME weekend. I have been needing to get away for quite some time now. Getting very tired and constantly stressed. Well, my mother in her sweet concern decided that we would go to the beach for the weekend. So we both took Monday off and went last weekend while Andy was gone on tour with the Male Chorale.
The weather was beautiful. On Saturday it stormed early, which was so cool on the beach. But it cleared up well in time for us to have all day to go to the beach and lay out. Otherwise, it was clear as a bell and there was a wonderful breeze.
We did a little shopping, watched a movie on television and really just bummed around. It was great. I haven't had that much down time in forever. I would like to do it more often. Definitely helps the morale.
We did eat at this neat little place on the water named "Harpoon Harry's". Just a little seaside cafe, but it was cool. Mom got some Chili-Cheese Nachos and the serving was enough for about three people.
I posted a couple of pictures. The sunset was awesome. I was really surprised to get as good of a picture as we did. (I love mom's new camera.)
Oh, by the way - today is "Administrative Assistant's Day" and we are going to Longhorn on the guys' bill! Yeah! I get dessert! (So much for the diet that was inspired by the weekend bathing suit shopping!)

Weekly update (imported from Myspace)

Just feel the need to blog. Not a lot going on.
I haven't been able to talk hardly any this week, which is a good exercise for me. I tend to talk to make myself comfortable in a group. I like to converse - but listening is a habit I need to work on. We can always improve in this area. Having laryngitis has reminded me how much I enjoy talking and singing (however badly). I would seriously miss being able to do either.
Had a busy week at work. I have such a great boss. He has been in an extra-good mood the past two days, which makes it fun. He uses different accents when reading through things (i.e, if he is reading a case where the blueblood lawyers are talking, he will use an old Southern gentleman's drawl--it can get hilarious!). Plus, he talks with his eyes and mannerisms a lot - you just have to know Pat. Andy can testify - he was shocked the first time he met him, he noticed that Pat will be telling a story at normal volume and THEN HE WILL START YELLING AT THE IMPORTANT POINT and then he will be quiet again. This can shock the listener if they aren't accustomed to it, but if you are, then it is great! I am very thankful to work with him. I just wish I could do a better job in some areas.
Andy is getting ready for tour. His voice still isn't back like I would hope, but he is improving every day.
I love our youth. We had a great time at Six Flags. Andy and I ended up with no kids in our group, so it felt like we were dating again. They did really well overall. I heard a couple of things that I was unhappy about, but as a whole, it was great. I think they enjoyed it. I have to admit, even though I hate theme parks (ESPECIALLY on Saturday), I had a good time too. (Which, that flash pass REALLY helped - I am TOO old to stand in three hour lines!) They really are great kids.
However, Sunday night, we went out to dinner with a few of the youth and I had almost as much of a blast there as I did at Six Flags! Best memory of the week: Imagine this, the pickiest eater in the world (Dustin!) is chowing down on something friend at Red Lobster. I don't know what he thought it was, but I can guarantee that he didn't think Calamari is what Calamari is! Of course, Andy and I let him eat it until it was all gone until we informed him that it was fried squid! Classic moment. Wouldn't trade it for the world! :) I mean, this is the guy that wouldn't eat buffalo wings until we explained to him that it was really CHICKEN! :) So funny.

Murphy's Law... (imported from Myspace)

I tell you - when you think things can't get worse.....they sure do. I was beyond emotionally drained last week from the death of that young man from Ashford. So I looked forward to a nice relaxing weekend. Well, Friday night we planned to go try out a new restaurant in the area with several friends from church. Had a good time visiting with everyone, but the food was pitiful. I could've grilled a better steak (which isn't saying much - I can't grill worth a flip). But we had a nice time, but Andy consistently said that he was feeling bad. He thought he had over-sang at his Messiah concert the night before. By Saturday he was still hurting, though he was able to handle the youth car wash. By Saturday night he needed to go to the doctor and, of course, everyone was closed. So off we go to the emergency room. Determined that it was probably acid reflux and that he had "burnt" his esophagus. We of course, stayed there forever and then the doctor says he is going to give him a "shake" to relieve the pain. But when the nurse comes back she only gives us a prescription for Lidocaine. Off to Walgreens across town we go (only 24 hour pharmacy in Dothan) to fill the prescription and when we get it the instructions say "swish and spit". Well, he's hurting deep in his throat, almost to his chest for crying out loud!!! What good is swishing going to do. It did no good. So all that was wasted. The money, the trip to the emergency room, the trip to the pharmacy. All wasted for nothing. Sunday he can't talk or sing, so he asks someone to lead worship for him at church. I called his family doctor and spoke with the doctor on call who prescribed something else that didn't do anything either. Another wasted trip to CVS and money for the prescription. Thank the Lord some friends of ours had some prescription pain medicine and sleeping medicine. (Yes, I know that counts as unlawful possesssion of a controlled substance! haha) That medicine is the only thing that has given him any relief whatsoever. He slept last night, thank the Lord. He spoke with Dr. Moon at the school and she gave him some advice, so I am hoping that it will all clear up within a couple of days. Especially since he can't get an appointment with a Gastroenterologist until tomorrow afternoon. But what has hurt my heart is the griping from a few of the church folks. I know people are people and they don't mean to hurt you, but boy, if they would've called to check on him, it sure would've made me feel a lot better. Especially after they were informed that he was really hurting. You know, this is exactly why the youth ministry is so much more rewarding than the music side. There are a lot of great people at our church (including some of the people who were griping), but for the most part, the adults in our church have never been as loving and supporting as those kids. The kids appreciate just about everything that you do for them. Which makes a grand circle and makes you WANT to do MORE for them. Opposite effect with the adults. They gripe, which makes you want to be with them less. But, really, I could handle the griping a little better if it was coupled wiht concern for Andy's well-being. We went to lunch with two of our three closest "couple-friends". Then the third called after church to check on him. Other than those folks, nobody called to check on him. Which really wouldn't have bothered me at all if they hadn't griped so badly. And finally, don't complain about us behind our backs. Not like we asked for this. I would much rather have the money in my pocket and been at church yesterday. So much for others knowing us "by our love one for another" as they say. We have so far to go in knowing how to care for each other.And while I am rambling, let me say, two of our friends, have gone over and above the call of duty and have showed me anew what true friendship looks like. They called Saturday to check on him after he was hurting on Friday, insisted on going with us to the emergency room to be company for us, asked about him at church, took us to lunch, encouraged Andy to eat, brought us prescription medicine (), handled choir practice, discipleship training and getting someone to lead music Sunday night, came to our house to check on Andy again, and then called this morning. Whew! What concern they have shown and how appreciated it has been. When you live away from home, you recognize how hard it is to make those really close friends. It's easy to be friends with folks you went to school with your whole life. It's much more difficult to build those relationship as an adult. At least for me. Which, I have always been a close friend kind of girl. Rather have five close, true friends than one hundred acquaintances. But, I know that God only gives you as much as you can handle - so I know he will see me through this difficulty the same as he has any other. But it sure does make me want to run away and tuck my tail. If it weren't for those sweet kids, I don't know if I could deal with it all sometimes. Anyway, this blog was really more for me than for anyone else. If you have suffered through this - I am sorry for the rambling.

Tough week... (imported from Myspace)

What a week. I haven't blogged because blogging would require me to rehash events that I already wish would just move on into the past. Nothing awful - just day to day doldrums combined with a higher than usual stress level. However, last night during our girls bible study, we got news that two boys from a nearby school were in a bad car accident. One of the boys had actually attended our church for a while when we first came. The other was a friend of his. But the wreck was awful and while one boy came out okay, just beat-up, the other passed away this morning. The kids have taken it really hard, as is expected. I am thrilled that hear that both boys are Christian young men, so that gives us eternal hope as far as Corey (the boy who passed) is concerned. What a reminder of the brevity of life. We have no idea how much time we have left. Because I am so committed to the idea of God's sovereignty, I feel confident that God knows and numbers my days and that nobody can touch me until I am "done" with my work here. So, I believe that God took Corey to be with Him and that this was Corey's "time." Doesn't change the fact that it hurts and we don't understand. Especially in one so young. But I guess that's part of the problem with youth - the idea that we are invincible. I know that one of our youth was able to have some very serious spiritual discussions with at least three kids at the hospital-so, praise the Lord, some good has come from this. But my heart breaks for Corey's family and friends---they are the ones who are suffering - NOT Corey. Tonight will be hard in youth, even though the shock has worn off, the kids will be more tender than usual. I am praying that our group will support each other and act like the family that they want so badly to be. I have confidence that they will. What a bummer. But, even though I have dreaded writing anything at all on this subject, I feel better after having "typed through it." Please remember the family of Corey Vann in your prayers.