Today was a VERY interesting day !!!

This morning, around 9:05, the fire alarm went off. We were all very surprised because there wasn't a scheduled fire drill that we were aware of. So we QUICKLY loaded all the kids into their chairs, gathered the other students and headed outside. We had no idea what was going on. I was especially confused when some teachers started running back inside!! Apparently, a water sprinkler pipe in our wing of the school popped! It was between floors, so in one class, it was coming up from the floor and down from the other. The upstairs class is an art class, and the downstairs class is the media tech room!! Needless to say, the teachers running back inside were going to try to save ALL the electrical equipment and computers in that classroom. They probably saved the district hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Since the pipe burst was in the same wing we are in, there was water everywhere in the hallways. We had to bust out some blankets from our cabinets to put under the doors so no water could get in. Other teachers did the same. There was an approximated 2 inches of water on the floors and at one point, it was flowing down the hall ! Needless to say, we couldn't enter our classroom, possibly for the rest of the day. So, Dawn, the head teacher, made the call and decided to send the students home. My co-workers and I were so pumped !! We were so excited that we were going to get to go home early.

Yeah, right. You seriously think that would happen? No.. We got the kids on buses and sent them home. But we were asked to help get students' things from the flooded classrooms and to help that process. So we stuck around til about 2ish and then I went to soccer to help put away equipment.

Tonight, the Lady Ags are playing vs China at the Soccer Complex at 7pm. Come out! (it's FREE!) I'll be there... so you already know it's gonna be awesome. ;o)

Love you all -

relevant

This is an article from a Relevant email I received.. I like it :o)

Laugh Monkey by Mark Steele

Have you ever had that dream where you are alone on stage and everyone in the audience is expecting you to answer a question you didn't actually hear? And also, it's church. And also, you're naked.

That's what performing comedy is like.

I have spent the last 15 years doing, among other things, improv and stand-up comedy. This has perpetuated two consistent identifiers of my life: an unending sense of anxiety and a flaring rash when others ask me to "do something funny."

Do something funny.

Jesse Carey, the RELEVANT staffer whom I have known since he was a fetus last spring, asked me to write an 850 piece on this very statement: "Do something funny." Evidently, there was a message board thread of some sort on the subject. So, I am obliging to Jesse's strong-arming kind command request to compose an essay. For this purpose and this purpose only, I am agreeing to attempt to be funny on demand, even though today, I feel quite relevant serious.

I'm not complaining. I appreciate the God-given gift to bring others joy. But I don't always feel like turning it on. As a matter of fact, there are moments I know that I cannot turn it on - that I will fall flat on my face during the attempt and that the already-awkward moment will end with the cursed comment, "well—he was funny last time."

I am not alone in this anxiety. We all have that one talent that some find amazing and others find annoying. The refined or sometimes-unhoned detail of our existence that God seems to find a way to use even when we resist its label. The difference is: Most of us are not called upon to perform our skill at parties on a moment's notice.

· "Jason, do that quantum physics thing for Mandy."
· "Teresa, act like you're doing a price check on my ham sandwich."
· "Now you get over here and show your grandmother how you won that wrestling title."

But NO, comedy comes with obligation. I am required to do it—and do it justice, even when I feel like doing the opposite. I don't want to joke on my bad days and I don't want to bandy about witty repartee while I'm having my gums scraped by the dental hygienist. LOOK AT ME! I'M THE LAUGH MONKEY! My life-calling has been reduced to the equivalent of throwing my feces at my pile of banana peels in the corner for applause. I don't want to be the "do something funny" guy! I just want to be a human being who gets to be THE OPPOSITE OF FUNNY except for the moments where IT WORKS BEST FOR ME!

And I quickly see that I follow Christ in the same way.

Where He would quicken me to walk in His path especially in the moments I most want to stray or stop and rest, I would prefer to obey Him when it is most rewarding or impressive. Unfortunately, those moments are the exception. God's rule sounds more like this:

Hey, Mark: right now, in your bad mood when you don't particularly know or like or appreciate the smell of the other person asking you to be like Jesus—yeah, right now. Be like Jesus. Use what I've given you to work with and do something impressive. Impress an image of how Jesus can work through you when you're not really in that great of a mood.

It's why it's called a calling. Because even when we're wandering far away from home, the Voice beckons us back.

Every day, I have opportunities to destroy someone else's perception of Christ by giving in to my own comforts while calling my path His. The true miracle is that if I take the complicated choice and actually deny myself, revealing Jesus when all around expect a more human response, there is no chance that they will see me. They will see Jesus instead and one will not be confused with the Other.

The truth is, "doing something funny" isn't done for the benefit of the doer. It's done for the benefit of the one who needs the laugh. To that end, it doesn't really matter how the doer feels about the matter. It only matters that he does the "something funny" anyway. Who knows? In the process, the doer may just burst into laughter himself.

Mark Steele is author of Flashbang (RELEVANT Books) and the president and executive creative of Steelehouse Productions. He is also a really funny guy (seriously).

Hey! Come out and see the last home game of the season! JV at 5pm, Varsity at 7pm. Tigerland Stadium. Come on!! :o)

Oh my goodness, if you missed the varsity girls' soccer game tonight (which I assume ... all ... of you did) you missed a freaking great game. Basically the outright district championship was on the line. If Consol beat Belton, we would have been co-champs. If Belton had won, they would have been outright champs.

Well, we tied. Even with 20 minutes of overtime. It was one of the best games that I have seen this group of girls play. It was just ... dang. A good game. We were down 2-0 at halftime, Pryor gave a good talk in the field house, the girls went back out and Ky scored from outside the 18 yd box (because their goalie wasn't too great). Belton put up a hard fight with two goals called back because they were offsides. Then we were granted a direct kick about 22 yds outside the goal, off to the left. Baker took the kick and just put it in to the right back corner. The whole team was so excited.

Oy. Next/Last home game of th 06 season is next Friday, against Copperas Cove. Come watch me coach! :o) 5pm for JV and 7pm for varsity. Whut whut!

Today has been a relatively good day! I got up ... pretty late and decided to actually go out and get some sun. So I loaded up some food, some stuff to read, got dressed for the occasion and headed out to a secluded spot. I spread out my blanket, put on some sun screen, got my magazine out and settled down for a while. I read for what seemed like a really long time, but somehow I didn't get very far into the 'zine. After a little while, a family showed up to play on the playground on the other side of the pavillion. Didn't bother me too much because I really couldn't see them, and they couldn't see me. However, after a little while longer, some other people showed up and came within 20 feet of me. I decided it was time to go, as I just wasn't very comfortable with them cooking out and me being so close to their party. So I left and went to wash my car. I didn't get it very clean, but I did get most of the dirt off and most of the glass chalk off the back window which was left by the soccer girls.

I came home and later decided to go to the grocery store since I was very very low on food. Of course I totally forgot my list, so I resorted to walking every aisle. This has its ups and downs because you get to see all the food and remember what was on the list, but also you just start picking food off the shelf ... So now I have a lot of food. :o)

After putting away the groceries, I watched NCIS and then put in LOTR: Return of the King. Being my luck, Katharine owns the extended version. And I think by extended, they mean, an extra hour of footage. Wow that thing was 250 minutes long!! And if you do good math, then that's a little over 4 hours long!! What a great story. I probably finished a little early because I fast forwarded through the spider parts. (shudder)

The last 15 minutes of the movie was wonderful. Gandalf returns to the Shire to take the four Hobbitses and Bilbo to Rivendale. They are taking Bilbo to board the last ship to leave Middle Earth. It's a great part of the movie, very moving. There is a twist, however; Frodo is going too. His friends do not know this, and they are visibly torn by his departure. Frodo says some words about how the intention of their adventure was to save the Shire, which they had accomplished. He adds that the Shire is not his anymore, but Sam's. As Frodo says goodbye to his friends, there are hugs and tears shared by all. He turns toward the ship and boards. End movie.

As this played out, I must admit, that I shared tears with the Hobbitses as well. I couldn't help but think about how, one day, I too will leave the Shire. The Shire belongs to someone else other than me, and there is a whole new adventure waiting outside of Middle Earth. Tears and hugs will be shared by friends and I will turn away and board my ship.

Gosh I pray for that day . . . but tomorrow I will wake up in the Shire and I will have my own adventures here at home.

I was really looking forward to Spring Break. And now it's here!

Here's the plan - I plan on cleaning house. I've done okay so far. Almost all of my clothes are clean and put away... almost. I really want to get out of the house tomorrow though. I fully plan on spending most of the day outside. I don't know what tomorrow will include. I need to wash my car, but the forecast has rain for the second half of the week. I want to get a little tan, I guess I could find somewhere to go and read. I have two books that I want to read this week, Captivating and catch up on Come Thirsty for church. So I guess I'll pack myself a lunch, some drinks, snackies, a magazine, my books, and oh yes, sunscreen. We'll see what happens. Haha.. I really want to do something active, like play tennis or soccer orrrrrr I don't know. Got any suggestions? Or offers? :o)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

We won against Bryan tonight! Yay! So much better than last week's JV game . . . oy.

I don't have anything awesome or inspiring or funny to tell you guys. .. Oh wait.. hah yes I do...

Kat has decided that she wants to perfect "specialty" dunks on her door basketball goal. Yes, I am talking about the kind that are about 5 inches tall, hang on the back of the door and come with little orange basketball. She claims to have already perfected one shot; essentially she hits it off the wall above the basket, then catches it and dunks it. Now, I haven't seen this yet, but I'm sure there will be more updates to come. :o) Makes for a loud evening that lasts about 30 minutes. Seems like a good workout . . .

Love you all! :o)

Tuesday night

HEY! The team is playing against Bryan this Tuesday!!

JV plays at 4pm, varsity at 5:30pm, and guys' varsity at 7:30pm.

Come out to Tigerland Stadium and watch some great rivalry!

I know this is corny -- but it is SO true.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. (or for you to offer the same FOR or to THEM). They may seem like a god send and they are.. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

THANK YOU for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

laissé les bons temps roule!

It's Fat Tuesday!!

Monday night was great. I .. ME.. Randi .. YES .. Me.. I cooked dinner. Not only was it dinner -- but it was red beans & rice and boudain. Oh yes.. that's right .. boudain. Uh huh.. and for those of you who don't know what boudain is - I won't tell you what it is other than it's really good eatin. And then you have to try it . . . THEN I'll tell you what it is. ;o)

Anyways. Kat and I had some people over for Fat Monday simply because I wouldn't be able to have people over tonight because I'll be in Harker Heights for soccer games. It was good! We had, as aforementioned, red beans & rice, boudain, cornbread, banana pudding and king cake. Oh yes, and Ryan brought over some kick butt cafe au lait. He said it was "king cake" flavored. It was good whatever flavor you wanna call it.

Other than having a good time and laughing and having everything feel like it used to, the best part of the night was when Ryan complimented me on dinner. From a guy who cooks and throws around words like creme and marinade and all these culinary terms, that was like the highlight.



I wish I could send you some Tony Chachere's red beans & rice and some HEB bought boudain and king cake. . . But I'll just pray that you "laissé les bons temps roule!"

As I was reading Ginger's blog today, in her comments, someone left a link to a speech that Bono recently gave at the National Prayer Day breakfast in Washington, DC. It is pretty flippin awesome.

And finally, it’s not about charity after all, is it? It’s about justice. Let me repeat that: It’s not about charity, it’s about justice. And that’s too bad. Because you’re good at charity. Americans, like the Irish, are good at it. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can’t afford it. But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.

He said, stop asking God to bless what you’re doing. Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed.

What Bono says is just amazing and convicting all at the same time. Makes ya think . . . and then really, really respect those who give all of their time, money, and effort to those who really need.

oh so funny

Marcus finds THE funniest stuff on the internet... have a sample of his latest discovery:

In order to survive a nuclear attack, you must remember to stop, drop, and be Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad Chuck Norris has never cried.

I am pretty sure these are derived from this website. If you want a laugh, and then cry . . . this is the place to go.

I don't have anything else to really say. . . Julie is really funny too. Here are some samples of her insanity from Tuesday night (procrastination can do this to you.. don't let it happen to you).

sometimes when i drink coke i like to put some in my mouth and violently shake my head left and right to get rid of the carbonation. it's like shaking a coke... in your mouth

sometimes when i eat chocolate i go into a dream-like state and see everying made out of chocolate. then i frolic around in place and start eating everything around me. it's heaven

sometimes when i'm hot i put as much of my body in laine's freezer at a time and then switch positions so the other parts can cool off

one time i had a dream that i was walking outside and i slipped on a cloud. and so i got up and i yelled at it. so then it started pushing me. so i got out my numchucks and started fighting with it. and then i conquered it so it let me ride on it. so i rode around campus on a cloud and pushed people down. and then while they were on the ground the cloud rained on them, and then i kept doing that until everyone was on the ground. and then the cloud turned into a pot of gold and bam, i was rich

one time at band camp, we reinacted that american pie scene. you know, the one where the people at camp are playing songs on a stage ... it was such a rush

sometimes i put on all my clothes and time myself so that way if the fire alarm goes off i can put on all my clothes and run out of the buliding and if it burns, i'll still have clothes

She's a special girl. Gotta love that Julie . . . (and now for the grand finale.. drum roll please!)

sometimes when i'm doing i don't even know what i make weird faces in the mirror. and one time i opened my mouth because i wanted to see that hanging ball thangy. well so i did and then it was really gaross because there was a ball of phlegm hanging from the hanging ball thang. so then i sang some christmas songs and took some drugs and went to bed. that's partially true.

Yeah.. so special... :o)

I hope you have enjoyed this fun filled post!! I love you and I miss you!

by sam brown www.explodingdog.com

I swear I haven't fallen off the face of the earth... I'm still here!!! :o)

I have discovered that I haven't been a very good friend. Let me explain ...

I've been mentally preoccupied lately with work, soccer and the future. As much as I need to focus on where I will be (or not be) next year, I need to remember what I have now. And what I did have. I have a few friends who have moved back to College Station over the past year and I have not spent time with them at all. I don't know why - and I don't have any acceptable reason to explain my actions.

I saw them tonight. I went to an event that I haven't attended in a long time and they were there too. (sounds like I used to attend AA huh.. haha) One of them seemed particularly hurt that I hadn't kept in touch with her and now I just hope that I haven't lost that friendship.

Sorry that this seems so dreary. It's not how I feel all the time - just something I was thinking about.

news to you ...

So, for whatever reason, I never told you guys about the Mormons who came to my door one night. Mormons came to my door one night. Haha.. I invited them and we talked for a long time and they brought up one verse that has stuck in my head. It was Ezekiel 37:15-23 essentially. Here's what it says:

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand. When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim's hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.' Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

I had never studied nor read this scripture, so when they asked me what I thought it meant, I really didn't have much to say, which really really frustrated me.

This has stuck in my head for all this time. Last night when we were driving home from Temple, I was thinking as the other two coaches were talking about some political things involving Israel and Palestine, etc. And as I listened to their conversation (it wasn't eavesdropping), I totally got it!

This week, our bible study was about the mystery that was made known to Paul (as in Ephesians 3:6).

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

One stick was the nation of Israel, and the other, the Gentiles. Not the Israelites of the Middle East and the "Israelites of the Americas."

It was a mystery to me - the prophecy of Ezekiel - but the mystery was solved a long time ago through Christ!!

Sorry if it doesn't make sense.. It's just been a good day :o)

Today has been mucho fun !

Went to church, went to lunch at Schlotsky's. Then went home and chilled for awhile. Got ready for the youth football game. I wasn't planning on actually playing but I went out anyway. When I got there, I was having a good time just watching and taking pictures and talking and all that. The adults played dirty and the refs were too strict ! We have them out there to keep things "fair" but really, when you have 11 grown men against 6 highschoolers and 5 jr high kids is that really all that fair? Not so much. Soo... I got frustrated after the first half because of all this. It seemed like more time was taken figuring out how many people were on the field than actual playing of football. And everyone was arguing because Jay is really really good at heckling and getting people's frustration level up. About half way through the 2nd half, I got fed up with the way things were going so I grabbed a belt and got on the field. It was awesome - I ended up recovering a kick off, completed a 8yd catch with a 7 yd run, and totally "tackled" Jerry House. As Rachel B put it, "Randi was a hoss and juked like 5 guys." Hehehe.. I'm down with that :o)

After the game, I went out to the church and watched the big game with the youth and counselors. It was a good time - just some good football overall.

Now I'm gonna go watch a kick butt Grey's Anatomy w/ Kat and then hit the hay so I can start a brand new week! By the way, I am feeling a ton better than 2 days ago. My nose is getting clearer and feeling a lot better. Thanks for all of you who stuck up for me or just asked how I was. :o) I appreciate it!

If you live far away from me, I miss you and I love you so much!! Email me and let me know how you're doing!!

“ For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. ”- Psalm 33:4-5

It's been a few days since I've been here. Basically because I have felt like poo-poo for the past three days. I've pretty much figured out why...
Monday: At afterschool practice, I played with the girls because there was an odd number and I also worked out a little with them in the weight room. And then, later that night, I went up to the church and played some hardcore basketball with a whole mess of people. It was fun, but it sure wore me out.
Tuesday: A storm front came through, bringing all my friends; mold and all the other cool airborne allergens

So basically, Tuesday I was very tired - a mixture of the uber workout from the night before and the change in weather. Wednesday was worse. Not only was I tired, my sinuses and nose were killing me. I was majorly congested and it was just.. messy. So I skipped bible study :o( and tried to just relax with my sinus headache. Today I woke up and was feeling pretty good. I didn't have a headache but my stuffiness was still there. Throughout the day I haven't felt horrible because I was able to get some medicine to help me out. And I also had a Dr Pepper which makes almost anyone feel better. I'm pretty wiped out still but I'm surviving.

Tomorrow we have our first district home game of the season against Harker Heights. We'll see how it goes... We're not expecting to be wiped out but it will be a game!

Keep me in your prayers - I am starting a job hunt annndddd... So yeah, I'm enjoying my job but I need to move on! Haha..

Love you all!!

Oh I love this verse.. It's one of my favorites!! It was today's "Verse of the day"

"However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'— "
- 1 Corinthians 2:9

Well, I was just sitting here wondering what I had been thinking about this week. But I haven't been thinking much to be honest. I've just been sitting listening to others talk. Which is kind of annoying because I should be listening to God or at least thinking about things that are relevant to my life instead of just listening to the stories or gossip of others. I really can't think of anything that I have been pondering over the past 24 hours, which frustrates me. It makes me feel like I'm just going through my day; work, lunch, work, soccer, home. And then when I get home, I'm found in front of the tv or the computer screen. Or both.

But as I sat down to write on this, I went to find the verse of the day. I found this out of Mark.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." - Mark 9:35

This is the place where I have found myself once again. It's the place where I was at the end of May, on the ground, cleaning mold off siding. It's the place where I was mid-August when I got a job (hallelujah) as an aide in a school district. And it's the place where I am now, an assistant coach who does laundry for the team. It's not my favorite place to be. But I know that I have been in each of these positions for a reason. These places have found me low on the ladder, humbled.

God is teaching me something. I want to listen this week. I want to ponder what He is telling me. I want my days to be abnormal, unpredictable.

Hey - You probably didn't notice, but I've kind of updated my blog site. On the "sidebar," I have added a section that keeps you up to date on the soccer team's season. Also, I've added a link to my photo page, just in case you might be on there... :o) Have a wonderful day!!

How awesome and amazing to worship without electricity. This morning, the power went out in some areas of CS. When I got to church this morning, I was kind of excited when I figured out there were not going to be any lights! I knew that this morning's worship would be extraordinary. It was great to have a wrench thrown in our plans so that God would be our only focus this morning. I wish the power would go out every week.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker

Psalm 95:1-6