The past few years, my circle of friends have gone through the marriage thing. To say that I "run the wedding circuit" is an understatement. But Since 2006 it hasn't just been old friends from high school...my very own girls and guys have been getting married. It has been a great experience and I've learned so much, but that does NOT prepare you for the baby phase!! It is a whole new wave of terms and deadlines (also known as due-dates) and smells. :) There was recently an article in Cosmo that discussed changes in friendships when your buddies have babies, so this has inspired my own list of thoughts for friends with and without babies.
To the new Mom's & Dad's
1. DON'T apologize for being a mom and dad. Yes things are different and it will take you a little longer to load everything in or out of car, but your baby-less friends understand. It's ok.
2. DO understand that your baby is more exciting and beautiful and perfect to you than anyone else and pictures are a GREAT way to capture this, BUT you should have an edited slideshow for friends and a lengthier one for grandma or whoever else wants to see you RIGHT after you delivered. A "friend" at church brought her entire birthing collection to show EVRYONE - wrong. Steph quickly flipped through similar shots to show the super cute ones - right. By the way check out her blog to see pics (not too many :) ) of Addison Grace.
3. DO NOT let everyone touch your child! This has nothing to do with friendship really, I just work for the health department and it must be said. You are the mom/dad and it is ok to say "I think they are resting right now" or "would you mind washing your hands first".
Non-baby havers...
1. Babies are not aliens and it can be very offensive to look or talk about your friend's baby as such. No, their bodily fluids won't kill you. Yes they cry, but that is good. Helen Keller didn't cry as a baby...enough said.
2. Your friends still want to be your friends. Yes they are caring for a life, but they still care about your life. Be respectful of their late nights & such, but sending a text or email or PRAYER is a great way to let them know you haven't written them off.
3. Get used to the boob. Breastfeeding is a normal, healthy thing. I believe that there is a level of disccretion mom's should use, but if you're around a new mom enough...you're gonna see it. Don't stare, but don't FREAK out either. Continue what you're doing, or if you're uncomfortable, it is a great opporunity to look at more pictures of the baby, go to the bathroom, or make a phone call.
The End. :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ok, Ok...so I'll post some new pictures!
I was recently busted by a friend of mine (Cough Lauren Cough) for not having very many updated pictures on my blog. So here are some random thoughts and shots from the past year.
Last Spring Ian and I went and saw Wicked - the Musical in Ft. Lauderdale. AWESOME TRIP!
The view from the hotel window! I miss South Florida!!
This is why I DON'T believe in GPS systems. We were supposed to go to this seafood shack on the water and we eneded up here...in an alley!
The theatre is right on the intercoastal waterway. So after we stalked the cast the afternoon before the show, we walked along the water. Great day!
Our only picture from the night of the show. I think we were too excited to care about pics of us. we had seats right by the pit (the cut out below the stage where the orchestra sits). Priorities!!
LETS SEE WHAT ELSE...
I sang for a wedding over the summer (one of many) and made a new little friend. She wants to be a singer when she grows up. Sweet girl!
Same wedding! Me in a Maclean Sandwich! I think Drew, Marc and I attended at least 5 of the same weddings this past year. Crazy!
OK...WHAT ELSE!
This summer, Stephanie and Kristen Successfully surprised me with a birthday party...I don't know how it happened! :) Thank you, ladies! Good times.
Also, big props to Tim for my cake! Not that you made it, but you did apprehend it. means just as much! :)
LAST but not LEAST its time for family!
If you don't know the Righteous Boys...well shame on you! My younger brother's started a rap group with their church in DeLand. God has used them to minister to tons of people who wouldn't hear the gospel otherwise. Do we get crunk? Yes. Do we sell out God's word for hype and ridiculousness? No. Check them out on MySpace. Anyway...Here are pics from a concert where Courtney and I sang as well!
More from the concert! :)
Finally we took family protraits with my mom's side of the family...all 99 thousand of us. I'll post more of those in the future.
Last Spring Ian and I went and saw Wicked - the Musical in Ft. Lauderdale. AWESOME TRIP!
The view from the hotel window! I miss South Florida!!
This is why I DON'T believe in GPS systems. We were supposed to go to this seafood shack on the water and we eneded up here...in an alley!
The theatre is right on the intercoastal waterway. So after we stalked the cast the afternoon before the show, we walked along the water. Great day!
Our only picture from the night of the show. I think we were too excited to care about pics of us. we had seats right by the pit (the cut out below the stage where the orchestra sits). Priorities!!
LETS SEE WHAT ELSE...
I sang for a wedding over the summer (one of many) and made a new little friend. She wants to be a singer when she grows up. Sweet girl!
Same wedding! Me in a Maclean Sandwich! I think Drew, Marc and I attended at least 5 of the same weddings this past year. Crazy!
OK...WHAT ELSE!
This summer, Stephanie and Kristen Successfully surprised me with a birthday party...I don't know how it happened! :) Thank you, ladies! Good times.
Also, big props to Tim for my cake! Not that you made it, but you did apprehend it. means just as much! :)
LAST but not LEAST its time for family!
If you don't know the Righteous Boys...well shame on you! My younger brother's started a rap group with their church in DeLand. God has used them to minister to tons of people who wouldn't hear the gospel otherwise. Do we get crunk? Yes. Do we sell out God's word for hype and ridiculousness? No. Check them out on MySpace. Anyway...Here are pics from a concert where Courtney and I sang as well!
More from the concert! :)
Finally we took family protraits with my mom's side of the family...all 99 thousand of us. I'll post more of those in the future.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
25 Thoughts...
1. I am horrible at those pictures you take of yourself. Like when you and 3 friends hug, but you’re on the end so you have to hold the camera. I always end up taking a picture of the ceiling.
2. I like for things to be color coordinated. Everything I have filed at work has a color.
3. If I had to lose one of my senses, I would choose sight.
4. One of my favorite moments in life – I went home to visit the family and we participated in a back-to-school outreach concert in this park. My sister and I were singing back up to a song my brothers were rapping. We were doing it a capella then all of a sudden this awesome Praise and Worship group from another church (who just happened to be Spanish :)) started backing us up on the instruments. They didn’t know the music or anything. They just picked it up…it was AMAZING!
5. I love forensic and crime investigative shows. I think sub-consciously I want to be one of those kick-butt chick cops. Think Sandra Bullock in Murder By Numbers.
6. I’m not a pet person, but I think I can change (stole that From my brother, but it holds true for me too)
7. I’ve improved on telling people how I feel…and I feel better about myself. Which is ironic because I always thought I was helping someone by with-holding certain things. No, not so much.
8. I lead praise and worship at my church and it is one of the most wonderful privileges in my life.
9. I would really like to be a counselor at a summer camp this year. I do that in Jamaica, but I would like to do one in States.
10. I have to wipe excess water off of the sink after I use it. Any sink.
11. I won 12 dollars during the Super Bowl…wasn’t expecting that.
12. in 9th grade , my sister was driving home and at a stop light i saw a lady to my right balling her eyes out. it was raining. she had a green '01 civic. i wanted to follow her and find out what was wrong and i still really want to find her even though that was like 7 years ago. it was a emotionally draining thing to watch. < Again Wendell’s answer, but I was the one driving. I remember that day like it was today.
13. I don’t find it complimentary when older women say “Oh wow, you’re 23? You look like a baby! You’ll appreciate it when you’re 40.” That is NOT a compliment.
14. Since Barack Obama cares about the advancement of colored people…I would love for him to come observe my abstinence class so he can advance me by not yanking abstinence funding. Is there someone I can write about that :)
15. If I could get Diagnosis Murder (which is an old TV show w/Dick Van Dyke in it) the complete series on DVD…I would be SO happy.!
16. I am currently dating a wonderful man who makes me feel smart and pretty and funny. I don’t think he knows how much he adds to my life.
17. If you had told me a year ago that I would write number 16, I would have laughed hysterically in your presence.
18. I have observed that men can say in one sentence what it takes women a paragraph to convey.
19. My siblings say that I was the most violent of all 4 of us growing up. This is only funny because now, the ONLY reason I would be violent is if someone did something to hurt my siblings.
20. Some days I feel unattractive which is weird because it’s not like I have a different body part all of a sudden…I don’t know.
21. I think God allows us to fall in love with others here on Earth so we can have a better, undeniable, first hand example of how He loves us. If we think that someone love us SO much that they would do anything for us…Jesus already has.
22. I am filling this out right now instead of doing important work.
23. I enjoy going to parks. I always have. My mom used to take us on nature walks when we were home-schooled. Great, unforgettable quality Time
24. I am a night person
25. After a long…treacherous run of broken vehicles. I finally have a new(er) one that works. If it is any indicator of the power of “waiting for the right one” then I am good with this whole abstinence thing :)
2. I like for things to be color coordinated. Everything I have filed at work has a color.
3. If I had to lose one of my senses, I would choose sight.
4. One of my favorite moments in life – I went home to visit the family and we participated in a back-to-school outreach concert in this park. My sister and I were singing back up to a song my brothers were rapping. We were doing it a capella then all of a sudden this awesome Praise and Worship group from another church (who just happened to be Spanish :)) started backing us up on the instruments. They didn’t know the music or anything. They just picked it up…it was AMAZING!
5. I love forensic and crime investigative shows. I think sub-consciously I want to be one of those kick-butt chick cops. Think Sandra Bullock in Murder By Numbers.
6. I’m not a pet person, but I think I can change (stole that From my brother, but it holds true for me too)
7. I’ve improved on telling people how I feel…and I feel better about myself. Which is ironic because I always thought I was helping someone by with-holding certain things. No, not so much.
8. I lead praise and worship at my church and it is one of the most wonderful privileges in my life.
9. I would really like to be a counselor at a summer camp this year. I do that in Jamaica, but I would like to do one in States.
10. I have to wipe excess water off of the sink after I use it. Any sink.
11. I won 12 dollars during the Super Bowl…wasn’t expecting that.
12. in 9th grade , my sister was driving home and at a stop light i saw a lady to my right balling her eyes out. it was raining. she had a green '01 civic. i wanted to follow her and find out what was wrong and i still really want to find her even though that was like 7 years ago. it was a emotionally draining thing to watch. < Again Wendell’s answer, but I was the one driving. I remember that day like it was today.
13. I don’t find it complimentary when older women say “Oh wow, you’re 23? You look like a baby! You’ll appreciate it when you’re 40.” That is NOT a compliment.
14. Since Barack Obama cares about the advancement of colored people…I would love for him to come observe my abstinence class so he can advance me by not yanking abstinence funding. Is there someone I can write about that :)
15. If I could get Diagnosis Murder (which is an old TV show w/Dick Van Dyke in it) the complete series on DVD…I would be SO happy.!
16. I am currently dating a wonderful man who makes me feel smart and pretty and funny. I don’t think he knows how much he adds to my life.
17. If you had told me a year ago that I would write number 16, I would have laughed hysterically in your presence.
18. I have observed that men can say in one sentence what it takes women a paragraph to convey.
19. My siblings say that I was the most violent of all 4 of us growing up. This is only funny because now, the ONLY reason I would be violent is if someone did something to hurt my siblings.
20. Some days I feel unattractive which is weird because it’s not like I have a different body part all of a sudden…I don’t know.
21. I think God allows us to fall in love with others here on Earth so we can have a better, undeniable, first hand example of how He loves us. If we think that someone love us SO much that they would do anything for us…Jesus already has.
22. I am filling this out right now instead of doing important work.
23. I enjoy going to parks. I always have. My mom used to take us on nature walks when we were home-schooled. Great, unforgettable quality Time
24. I am a night person
25. After a long…treacherous run of broken vehicles. I finally have a new(er) one that works. If it is any indicator of the power of “waiting for the right one” then I am good with this whole abstinence thing :)
It's About Time
It has literally been almost one year to the day since my last post. I have so much to say. :) I will do my best to keep this updated especially for all of my out of town friends. Expect a full update tomorrow.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Crapentine's Day
So I admit it. I am one of those anti-Valentine's day people. If I'm not wearing my traditional all black, you can count on me wearing a shirt that says "black is the new love" or something of the sort...
It's not thatI'm anti-love, I just think it's a ploy of the government to make more money! I mean I've received nice things on Valentine's Day...but that didn't make me love anyone more of less. I think it's that I'm a practical gift person. Duct Tape, Socks, Dictionaries,-my kind of stuff! What the heck am I going to do with a 6 foot, pink gorilla?? The following are random acts of kindness (only one done on V-Day) that were PRICELESS!!
1. A couple weekends ago, Jessica came and hung out with me. We went to Wal Mart and bought a ladder and some energy-efficient lightbulbs. She helped me change all of the lightbulbs in my 14 foot ceilings. 5' me appreciated that so much! :)
2. The last few weeks have been crazy at work! We're starting a new grant and I've been getting to work at like 6:45-7:00 (which is SO not me). One day I came in and my boss had cinnamon rolls from McDonalds on my desk. That was a good day.
3. On this o so dreary day, I came to work (after being sick this week) and had the prettiest flowers from Steph and Lauren...I just wish I could have smelled them :/
(I wanted to add a picture, but my computer is crazy...sorry)
All of this...so much better than a stuffed animal :)
It's not thatI'm anti-love, I just think it's a ploy of the government to make more money! I mean I've received nice things on Valentine's Day...but that didn't make me love anyone more of less. I think it's that I'm a practical gift person. Duct Tape, Socks, Dictionaries,-my kind of stuff! What the heck am I going to do with a 6 foot, pink gorilla?? The following are random acts of kindness (only one done on V-Day) that were PRICELESS!!
1. A couple weekends ago, Jessica came and hung out with me. We went to Wal Mart and bought a ladder and some energy-efficient lightbulbs. She helped me change all of the lightbulbs in my 14 foot ceilings. 5' me appreciated that so much! :)
2. The last few weeks have been crazy at work! We're starting a new grant and I've been getting to work at like 6:45-7:00 (which is SO not me). One day I came in and my boss had cinnamon rolls from McDonalds on my desk. That was a good day.
3. On this o so dreary day, I came to work (after being sick this week) and had the prettiest flowers from Steph and Lauren...I just wish I could have smelled them :/
(I wanted to add a picture, but my computer is crazy...sorry)
All of this...so much better than a stuffed animal :)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Purposeful
I am SO not a fan of those emails that middle-aged moms send that usually go like this
---------
To: Person
From: Mom
Subject: Fw: Fw: Fw: Fw: national best friends forever day
Message:
You're my angel with no wings!
If I had to pick 3 things in this life to never give up, it would be love, chocolate and you!
Sometimes life gets you down, but you bring me up
Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend!
Send this message to 10 people in 10 seconds and you will get a big blessing from God! Send it back to me and you will have good luck and ice cream and lots of money.
And if you don't...the devil will eat your soul!!!!!!!
---------
Just kidding...but seriously its ridiculous. Recently I received a truly inspiring email. So much so, that i didn't foward it to anyone, I just took a minute to soak it in and made a committment to try to live it out. There is a girl I work with who is so sincere in her love for Jesus. She's been a Christian forever, but she has such a zeal...the way newly saved people do. I envy it at times. Anyway she sent me a thought she had about being a purposeful witness. She (and a lot of us) have become passivists in thinking that our Christian T-shirts, P & W music in the car or cross around our neck is enough. But personally I think I owe the true friend who laid his life down :) more than that. Its a good thing He didn't casually stroll by Jerusalem hoping someone would go, "yeah he looks like the messiah-type". He made a point to talk to people one on one. He looked them in the eye. He took every opportunity to share an undeniable truth with every person. He is Christ and He loves them. That is what I want to do. I want to look for people that I can pray with or share a story of my faith with. Not bash them with a bible, but overwhelm them with the presence of the Holy Spirit in me. Not by accident, but on purpose.
---------
To: Person
From: Mom
Subject: Fw: Fw: Fw: Fw: national best friends forever day
Message:
You're my angel with no wings!
If I had to pick 3 things in this life to never give up, it would be love, chocolate and you!
Sometimes life gets you down, but you bring me up
Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend!
Send this message to 10 people in 10 seconds and you will get a big blessing from God! Send it back to me and you will have good luck and ice cream and lots of money.
And if you don't...the devil will eat your soul!!!!!!!
---------
Just kidding...but seriously its ridiculous. Recently I received a truly inspiring email. So much so, that i didn't foward it to anyone, I just took a minute to soak it in and made a committment to try to live it out. There is a girl I work with who is so sincere in her love for Jesus. She's been a Christian forever, but she has such a zeal...the way newly saved people do. I envy it at times. Anyway she sent me a thought she had about being a purposeful witness. She (and a lot of us) have become passivists in thinking that our Christian T-shirts, P & W music in the car or cross around our neck is enough. But personally I think I owe the true friend who laid his life down :) more than that. Its a good thing He didn't casually stroll by Jerusalem hoping someone would go, "yeah he looks like the messiah-type". He made a point to talk to people one on one. He looked them in the eye. He took every opportunity to share an undeniable truth with every person. He is Christ and He loves them. That is what I want to do. I want to look for people that I can pray with or share a story of my faith with. Not bash them with a bible, but overwhelm them with the presence of the Holy Spirit in me. Not by accident, but on purpose.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Unattached...currently...surprising
So, I have incurred a feeling for the first time in awhile...I feel single. And I'm ok with it. For those of you who have always had a boyfriend or its been awhile since you've had to date, there are different ways to feel single. let me explain.
Happily Single- Content with who you are and where you're at in life. Not looking, but always open to whatever life brings
Restlessly Single- You seem happy, but secretly every time you walk into a store or restaurant you picture having a random conversation with the check out guy very much like the 1-word How to Lose a Guy convo.
"Hi"
"Hi"
"Andie Anderson"
"Benjamin Berry"
"Cute"
"Thank You"
"I meant your name"
" (laughs) Thank you two times"
Uncomfortably Single-you avoid social situations where couples will be gatehring because it makes you feellike a leper on the outskirts of the conversations about "his favorite tv show" "their last trip to the grocery store" And God forbid if they've had their first kid "Wanna see a picture of Tommy's poop?" NOOOOOO.
Desperately Single-you take EVERY chance to talk to a guy. Especially the weird ones who in most cases you would completely ignore or deem as "mediocre" or "not your type"
Miserably Single-you don't date...don't try...don't want to be set up or even think about it. You sit at home watching chick flicks and eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking something that will help you daydream about the celebrity of your choice knocking on your door in Chipley...like he would ever find it.
(My personal choice at the moment) Derek Hough. One of the professional Ballroom dancers from Season 5 Dancing W/the Stars. Its random, and I'm not huge on blondes, but he just gets me!
Happily Single- Content with who you are and where you're at in life. Not looking, but always open to whatever life brings
Restlessly Single- You seem happy, but secretly every time you walk into a store or restaurant you picture having a random conversation with the check out guy very much like the 1-word How to Lose a Guy convo.
"Hi"
"Hi"
"Andie Anderson"
"Benjamin Berry"
"Cute"
"Thank You"
"I meant your name"
" (laughs) Thank you two times"
Uncomfortably Single-you avoid social situations where couples will be gatehring because it makes you feellike a leper on the outskirts of the conversations about "his favorite tv show" "their last trip to the grocery store" And God forbid if they've had their first kid "Wanna see a picture of Tommy's poop?" NOOOOOO.
Desperately Single-you take EVERY chance to talk to a guy. Especially the weird ones who in most cases you would completely ignore or deem as "mediocre" or "not your type"
Miserably Single-you don't date...don't try...don't want to be set up or even think about it. You sit at home watching chick flicks and eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking something that will help you daydream about the celebrity of your choice knocking on your door in Chipley...like he would ever find it.
(My personal choice at the moment) Derek Hough. One of the professional Ballroom dancers from Season 5 Dancing W/the Stars. Its random, and I'm not huge on blondes, but he just gets me!
lol as I'm sure you've gathered, I've been in all of these positions and I must say it feels nice to be happy. :) I've always had best guy friends and so I've never felt like I was missing anything when I wasn't dating, but right now its Lauren, Steph and Kristen...and I'm ok! Sometimes you're surprised by your own strength, but you never see it until you're pushed there. I'm glad I got pushed. Oh! I gotta go...Derek just knocked on the door! :)
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