"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

I Can't Wait

CSI premieres tomorrow night.  FINALLY!

Here's a sneak peek at what I am so thrilled about.

My Hero

This is my cat, Isabella.  No one knows her by that name, she doesn't even recognize that name because over the years, her name morphed from Isabella to Pootie.  Weird huh?  Let me break it down.... When I got her back in '98, I named her Isabella, but when I would talk to her I would call her "pretty girl" and pretty girl turned into "pretty" and then pretty just kinda evolved into "pootie", so that explains her name. 

Last night I got home at around 11 p.m. and as I  walked to the door, I noticed that Pootie was leaning over chewing on something.  I thought it was a bird.  She tends to bring dead birds to my doorstep.  I've read that this is some sort of offering demonstrating their token of love.  Well, last night she had a big 'ol mouse that she was chompin' on right at the door.  She must really love me!  Gross!  I don't know where it came from or how she managed to catch it, but when i got home she had already devoured half of it, so I was witnessing her dine on the lower portion of the mouse.

As much as that grossed me out, I was relieved that she caught the mouse before it made it inside.  I have this fear of mice and the thought of one being in my house scares me to no end.  I guess that is why I have 7 cats around me.  Pootie is my hero.  She saved me from having to wonder if there would be a mouse in my house.  Of course, I was left wondering that if there is one mouse, that means there are others.  Hopefully, all of my cats will take their cue from Pootie Girl and remember that their mama hates mice.

Say Cheese!

I've taken up a new hobby....photography.  I am intrigued at just how well a camera can capture certain things in everyday life.  I also love that you can freeze a moment with the click of a button.  Pictures can remind us of a certain time, take us back to the moment that we were experiencing, and fill us with nostalgia.

I discovered the beauty of photography through some friends and I fell in love with it and now I can get started as I was blessed with a very nice camera for my b-day.  Thank you, Cesar.  My biggest task is getting a little more creative with my subjects.  I am a very structured thinker in how I view things.  For some reason, I like things straight and uniformed.  I am learning to combat this through my sister.  She is giving me some great ideas.

I know that I am just starting so my pictures look very basic, but in time I hope to become more knowledgeable and incorporate all the different aspects that go into taking a fantastic picture.

I am excited about this new hobby and I can't wait for the moments that will be captured.

I should just cut my leg off....

About 3 weeks ago, I took a real nice spill outside our church offices.  I was hurriedly walking to our worship center with some frames in hand when my foot decided to turn and before I knew it, I was plastered on the concrete with my knee bleeding and the frames scattered about me.  Thankfully, nothing happened to the frames as they were going to be presented.  It was quite comical and just a few days ago, my scab had already healed.   Well today, I was outside spending some time with my dogs and there are some boards that my dad has fashioned together to act as a small fence.  Well, I thought I could lean on the dumb thing and when I came back up from leaning the whole fence came down and scraped down my already healed knee and slammed on top of my foot.  So now, I am bleeding from my knee again and I have a huge bruise on my foot that looks like a small mountain on my foot.  I guess I have to put my feet up and lie down and watch some CSI. :)

Kids Video Shoot

I am really excited about tonight.  We are doing a video shoot with several of our kids from our ministry.  It is awesome to know that our kids are such a priority in our church.  It is great to know that I work with a staff who values this trait, but most all, that I have a Pastor who supports the children's ministry and the vision behind it.  I can't wait for tonight.  I always have a great time with our kids.  I'm always left with a splendid memory when it comes to my kids.

Back Again

I feel as though I have been gone for so long from the blogosphere.  It isn't that I haven't wanted to blog, but rather it's finding the time to sit down and actually do it.  Since my last blog, I still have yet to find out what kind of bug it was that was patrolling around in my room.  However, that bug has now decomposed somewhere in the great outdoors.  So many things going on right about now and it is very exciting.  God is truly amazing and I am in awe of Him each and every day.  From the stillness of the morning, to the sweet smile of my nephew, there isn't anything that I don't encounter that leaves me in total amazement.  Here are a few things on my mind as of late.

1.   Church is really exciting.  We are seeing new faces each week and making great connections.  Our pastor, Loui, is knocking it out of the park with our current series...Create the Future  Our series is based on the book of Nehemiah.  It is truly one of the most powerful series we have ever taken on.  Why?  This is going to be the series that is the catalyst for what lies ahead at the Stone.  We are making history.  We started a building campaign and the excitement is electric!  Can't wait to see how God moves.

2.    I am surrounded by great people.  The staff I work with at the Stone is awesome.  It's great to hang out with them and learn from them.  The team I am fortunate enough to lead inspires me.  I am blessed beyond measure by the amazing group of talented, committed, and humble leaders that God has blessed our church with.

3.   I am looking forward to the Holiday season and we are just entering my favorite season, Fall.  I love the Fall.  The scents, the atmosphere...and that is cause here in the Valley, the Fall experience is very much like Summer...HOT!  However, I have stores like Target to whisk me away with all of their fall ensembles and scented candles.  It is very sweet.

4.  I can't believe the Texans are winning.  Yes, I went there.  I am not a Texans fan, but I am very happy that Loui's team has some victories under their belts and that the team actually looks pretty good. 

5.   I love Children's Ministry.  The ideas, the relationships that are formed and the fun that takes place are irreplacable.  The best part is witnessing the life-change in our little ones and knowing that they love Jesus just as He wants us to...whole-heartedly and with such fervor-it's contagious.

6.   I can't wait till CSI premieres.  The premiere is set for Thursday, Sept. 27th.  It is going to be awesome.  I will record it and then watch it.  DVR has me so spoiled that I don't even watch live TV anymore.  It is so great to be able to watch my favorite show without commercials.  Yes!

7.   I'm thinking about becoming vegetarian again.  I was talking to my sister and I was sharing with her how much I love animals and I want to get more involved in the plight of our furry friends and as I am saying all this, I'm thinking, "here I am trying to save animals and yet I keep eating them."  Doesn't make sense. 

8.   Talked to an old friend today.  Funny how life moves us in different directions and how circumstances change us.  I never thought this person would allow certain things, but she called me cause she said she needed something-prayer.  Whatever it takes!

9.   If I could be any animal, I would be a cat.  Specifically, my cats.  They are so spoiled and everytime I turn around they are fast asleep on my couch, cool and comfortable.  How nice.

10.   I want to be used by God and I want for Him to be proclaimed through me.  I want to do whatever He wants me to do.  I just want everything to glorify Him.