I know.. it's been awhile, huh?

I saw this song performed on Dancing with the Stars, and even though it's kind of .. not my style? .. I really like the lyrics. I'll explain why after you read the lyrics :o)

People always comin' up to me and askin'
"Dolly, what's your secret?
With all you do, your attitude
Just seems to be so good
How do you keep it?"
Well I'm not the Dalai Lama, but I'll try
To offer up a few words of advice

Chorus:
You better get to livin', givin'
Don't forget to throw in a little forgivin'
And lovin' on the way
You better get to knowin', showin'
A little bit more concerned about where you're goin'
Just a word unto the wise
You better get to livin'

A girlfriend came to my house
Started cryin' on my shoulder Sunday evening
She was spinnin' such a sad tale
I could not believe the yarn that she was weavin'
So negative the words she had to say
I said if I had a violin I'd play

I said you'd better get to livin', givin'
Be willing and forgivin'
Cause all healing has to start with you
You better stop whining, pining
Get your dreams in line
And then just shine, design, refine
Until they come true
And you better get to livin'

Your life's a wreck, your house is mess
And your wardrobe way outdated
All your plans just keep on falling through
Overweight and under paid, under appreciated
I'm no guru, but I'll tell you
This I know is true

You better get to livin', givin'
A little more thought about bein'
A little more willin' to make a better way
Don't sweat the small stuff
Keep your chin up
Just hang tough
And if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray
And do that everyday
Then you'll get to livin'

The day we're born we start to die
Don't waste one minute of this life
Get to livin'
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter

Better start carin'
Better start sharin'
Better start tryin'
Better start smiling
And you better get to livin'

Okay, so if you didn't figure it out, it's a new song by Dolly Parton. And even though she doesn't come right out and say it, and she tries not to step on toes, but I know she's trying to put forth the Message! And she, as a musician and actress, has put herself on the line by offering these potentially-if differently worded-harmful-to-her-career-image lyrics to the public. I applaud that and respect her for that brave attempt.

Also, the song, though I don't think myself a hermit too often, reminds me of how I should be living my life - to the fullest!! And sharing the joy and love that I receive with others.

Receive the joy I have !!

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

-Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11



Gin & I with LA in the background!! (it was really bright outside)

Happy 4th of July!

"There was only one night game a year. On the fourth of July the whole sky would brighten up with fireworks, giving us just enough light for a game. We played our best that night, because I guess we all felt like the "big leaguers" under the lights of some great stadium. Benny felt like that all the time. We all knew he was gonna go on to bigger and better games, because every time we stopped to watch the sky on those nights, like regular kids, he was there to call us back. Ya see, for us, baseball was a game. But for Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez, baseball was life." -The Sandlot

for jen . . .

I have really really slowed down at blogging over the past year or so. I don't know why.. I just haven't. So.. here's a new one :o)

But as I was perusing the internet this afternoon, I came across an article that furthers my belief that Facebook is better than myspace.

Before you get offended or start leaving me mean comments, let me explain (and also remind you that I do have a myspace page).

I like Facebook better because it's not often that you receive some creepy stranger's request to be your friend. I don't know how many times that has happened to me on myspace, but it's gross and creepy and weird. Also, Facebook (so far) doesn't have hackers that log onto your profile and send out messages all about porno and how to get the newest Coach purse or iPod. I do like Facebook because it is clean. Literally: there are no backgrounds to upload, videos to add, music to express your latest mood, etc. (of course, this is not completely true with all of the latest applications that Facebook has offered. I'm pretty much boycotting these as much as possible. . . I did, however, sign up for the song one... I just like music) :o)

Facebook is also pretty dang honest. I'm not saying there aren't predators out there on Facebook, but you don't usually turn on MSNBC to watch the latest How to Catch a Predator and find that he or she had been chatting up some 13 year old on Facebook.. It's almost always myspace, which just supports my thoughts that myspace is dirty.

But, I guess one thing I do like about myspace is the variety of musical artists and bands and the simplicity available to them to share their music. If myspace was all about music, I'd definitely still be a fan.

Yeah, so .. there are some thoughts for you about that article. Enjoy.. or don't. Your call :o)

almost there...

After an awesome weekend spent with friends (yay for Michael, Ginger, Karen, Thomas, James and more), a second win for the Spurs on Sunday, and a well spent birthday (it was sweet), the Spurs have made my Tuesday. :)

Tonight, the Spurs won in game 3 over the Cavs and I am hoping (although others are doubting) that the Spurs will win again on Thursday for a 4-0 sweep of the Finals this year.

GO SPURS, GO!!

Jesus loves the Spurs :)

Spurs win game 1 vs the Cavs. These women of God are awesome. ;o)

I started baking this cake tonight because I was afraid the mix would go bad on me.

Its delicious strawberry goodness turned out slightly ... lopsided somehow, but maybe because it was predicting something..

I'm thinkin' that my cake knew the Spurs would beat the Utah Jazz in lopsided Game 5 of the series (109-84!!!)to win the series 4-1 and move on to the NBA Finals!!!!!

GO SPURS, GO!

Well, it's been a long while since I last posted. Almost a month! I can't say that I've been overly busy, just normally busy.

Since I last wrote, friends have graduated and moved away, they've gone off to start summer internships or summer camp-ships, or just have gotten married. It's funny how in college, May, August and December are times of change for every student. New class loads, new jobs, new lives. And when you graduate, you just kind of assume that will end for a while and you'll become part of the working world where nothing really has a definite end. There are no mid-semester breaks, holiday breaks, or summer breaks - it's all just a plain calendar with every work day reserved as .. a work day. Of course, unless you join back into the school system and that stays part of your life. (I swear, I'm not complaining about my summer break!)

I guess I just assumed that things would stay the same for a while. Wrong!!

I attended a wedding this last weekend with a bunch of people I knew from highschool. Now, I won't pretend that I have ever really been "friends" with these people, but I did hang out with them in the large group setting and at church and what not, but they didn't really know me and still don't (which I'm okay with). But, while at the wedding, when I looked out at the dance floor or around the room, I became jealous a little. Certainly not because my friend got married, I'm only miniscule-ly (?) jealous of that. But more so because they were with their friends and they were having a great time. I couldn't help but think about what the day will look like when one of my really good friends gets married and we all get to meet up and celebrate and have an awesome time together reminiscing and just hanging out again.

Basically, this weekend made me .. yearn for my summer.

I can't wait to hang out with all of my friends, even though we'll never all be together at once. Ginger and Wendy are coming to visit and I'm sure I'll get a chance to see Menges and Kat this summer and probably even go see Patrice!!

All of this makes it sound like I have no friends around here, which is not true. I get to see Karen and Thomas and Cheryl and probably even Lauren on a pretty regular basis.

Anywho, sorry if that was sallow or sad, but it was on my mind this weekend, and that is what a blog is for. :)

I'm already blessed to have the friends that I do.

Off to soccer camp!!

Happy 19th Birthday, Lauren B-Dev!! :o)

I have heard this song THREE times today!! Every time I have gotten in the car, it's been Tree63... this morning, at lunch, and tonight after church!!

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Oh, There's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to stay
Well Blessed be your name

I have had a great week so far. Great times with friends, wonderful stuff at work and a lot to look forward to!

And I guess after hearing this song three times in one day, I have to recognize where my blessings come from!!

God sent a wonderful message that I need to continue to recognize who He is and why I am.

Hugs to you all.. I love you!

only 8 more days...

... until I can play this game . . .

Lately, over the past few days, I have really wanted to play on my PlayStation ... I have done so well with not even wanting to play it because I guess I have been busy reading or doing soccer stuff or spring-break-ing. But now, it's so weird. I have heard songs on the radio that are featured on GH2, and then I start trying to remember how to play them on the PS2 and I get this weird.. hunger .. to play and rock out like this:

yes, just like that.

praise god..

It's finally Spring break. Praise God.

I have been waiting on this break since Christmas! No, it hasn't been that bad, really. It just seems like I have been waiting for this break for so long!! And now it is finally here! :o)

The first Spring Break weekend has been nice. Yesterday I slept in; it was so nice. Then I did just about nothing for most of the day. I finally left the casa to go and do a little shopping for my dad's birthday. (happy 60th, dad!)

Today was nice too!! Went to church, had a nice lunch at Rosa's with Cheryl, then came home and did a little laundry, went to dinner with dad and the bros at Johnny C's and rented some movies to last me the week.

And that brings me to my topic du jour.

Tonight I watched a movie called Mozart and the Whale which stars Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell as his love interest. I'm not a huge fan of Hartnett, but I was intrigued at hastings when I read the back cover and it told me that this was a story about two people with Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's is a form of autism, and me being the special ed person I am, I wanted to watch it and see if I could learn more about the mystery that lies behind the autism curtain. (ooo that sounds eerie and mysterious!)

Well, while I enjoyed Hartnett's character (very realistic), as I met Mitchell's character, Isabelle, I saw less autism and more ... psychosis. Is that the right word for what I'm trying to say? I don't know. But her character was very eccentric. And although I don't claim to be an expert on the subject of autism, most of the students I have met who are diagnosed as such, are not as eccentric as Isabelle. Her character made it very hard for me to keep my attention on the story line.

I guess it was just hard to watch and understand because most of the kids I work with.. are kids!! And they have not 1) gained an understanding of their diagnosis, 2) do not have such elaborate personalities, and 3) still live with their parents. :o)

It was a nice story overall, but like I said, hard to understand even for a special ed-er (?)... haha...

As for the rest of my evening, I am one-fourth of the way through picking my NCAA March Madness bracket. As with most people I am in a pool with (I say most, I really have no clue), I don't care who wins, it's just the fun of the game to see if your research and pick makes it!!

Spring Break 2007, whut whut! ;)

I haven't blogged in over a month.

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth.

No, I didn't give it up for Lent. (I gave up playing Playstation alone instead)
I just have not had a whole heck of a lot to say.

Yeah right, we all know that's so true. Ha! Let's see what I can jabber about tonight...

February FLEW by. I still can't believe it's March already. With the soccer season really getting into swing in Feb, my weeks just seemed like Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays!! Soccer season is going well though! We are in the second half of district with 4 games left. As of this moment, we are in second place in district. We've played all our hard games and we actually broke our biggest opponent's record! For the rest of the regular season, we have two games this week that we sure as heck better win and then two after Spring Break (whut whut!!) that there is no doubt we will win. We are expected to go into the playoffs, but I'm not 100% sure how far. It all depends on how the bracket is laid out. After soccer, I don't know what I'm going to do with all my time. Hopefully get rested up and stay sane.

What else.. what else... Oh -- For Mardi Gras this year, we had the traditional party. It wasn't as extravagant as in the past years, but we still had a good time and the traditional food was present; boudain, red beans and rice, sausage, king cake, cornbread (and chips n salsa.. haha). We even revived the tradition of playing sardines!! Good times were had there...

Oh! Also this semester, I figured that instead of just coaching soccer, I'd get back in the game and play some, too! So I play with a bunch of women who are close to my age (did i just say women??) and we play some sweet soccer on Sundays. I forgot how much I missed really playing, and it's a great way to stay in moderate shape! Sometimes we kill and sometimes we get killed, but we have fun and the competition is always good too. I tried to quit the softball team for the season, but they aren't letting me get away with it that easily. I "guest play" softball so far this season and I'm sure I'll keep playing 'cause it's just so darn fun.

I joined a small group at the church for the latest church-wide Lenten study. Our group is not so small (we have 18 compared to a normal 9-10) BUT we had great discussion last week and hopefully that will continue.

Spring Break is next week and I opted out of traveling to Mexico again this year and also passed up a ski trip with the college/young adult group. Sunday is my Dad's 60th birthday so we're going to celebrate and then the first part of the week I am going to rest and relax. Then Thursday-Saturday, I'm roadtripping to Shreveport Louisiana to visit Ms Lauren Bedevian at her beautiful campus of Centenary! I'm excited to spend a lot of time with her as it always seems we don't get that when she is here in CS.

Summer is coming too!! I am so excited. I don't know why because it's not like there is a whole lot going on for me. I decided not to go to Camp Barnabas this year because I just can't afford the trip. It's a bummer, but when you don't have the money.. you don't have the money!! I am planning on working soccer camp the first week and then possibly the extended school year program with our district. I did that last summer and not only was the money good, I got to meet and interact with my (then) future students. In August, I get to go to Washington DC with my family and the church choir!! I am looking forward to that very much and can't wait to take another big trip!!

So, that's what I have for now.. If I left anything out, let me know. ;)

I haven't posted in a while simply because I haven't felt like it. :o) Haha.. I have been tired a lot lately from soccer tournaments, soccer games out of town, and soccer practice. Do I see a trend here? I think that this year I am so much more tired from my "extracurricular" activity than last year! It's so weird!!

Other than being really tired, I have recently gotten sick.. Argh. Yeah.. It's one of those "undercover-colds-turned-possible-upper-respiratory-deal" deals. All that to say that I cough so hard I get a headache and out of breath, a stuffy nose (of course), and low energy. It's wonderful. But I got some Day-quil today and some wonderful cough medicine and has helped so far. I hope I get better soon.. I really need the energy to clean my house. It's almost to the point where I would hire someone to come help me clean it... (you interested??) How pathetic.

Soccer is going well. We are through tournament season and have entered district games. I have a strong feeling my team, if we get our stuff together, will "win" district. In JV, that means, win all of our games. But we have a lot to work through. They are still learning to play together and to play well together. It's a learning process, but that makes sense, since it's school soccer..

Work is going well still. We are still adding kiddos to our schedule and we're not quite overwhelmed, but it's in the future if I continue to be paid for my current capacity. Hopefully, I will be approved for 3/4 time or even full time and that would alleviate some stress and time crunches. Special Olympics starts soon and I am pumped about that. We are hopefully going to have a relay team this year!! How cool!! Other than that, I am continuing to look forward to the weekends. I love my sleep and serious downtime!!

I love you! Stay well!!

Well the past few days have been fast and furious.

HA! Yeah, right.

The past few days have been absolutely wonderful. Texas and much of the southeast U.S. has (have?) been, according to the weather radar, covered with pink, green and white. It almost feels The Cat and the Hat-ish, original edition. The house has not been covered in pink stuff, but the outside has been covered in ice!! It's been crazy cold. Monday, Tuesday, and part of Wednesday, the temperature was not above 32 degrees. FREEEEZING!! Downright cold, I say!

Oh yeah, didn't I say it's been wonderful? Oh yes, that's right... Monday was MLK Jr Day, so we had a holiday. Tuesday, the roads were "icy" so school was cancelled! That's two days in a row!! Last night, the superintendent decided that we would not start school until 10am. Well that's a two hour delay! Whoop! Then tonight, again, he decided (out of the blue, I might add) that tomorrow we would delay the start of school! This week has basically been a big lounge fest!! SO LAZY!! But! .. I am NOT complaining.

I have been spending lots of time with good friends and making new ones! I have been cooking, (WHAT?!) laundry-ing, and nothing. Hahaha.. Good times have been had by all and almost everyone, scarily enough, is ready to go back to work and school.

This weekend the varsity has a tournament in Leander and we are all hoping for warmer temperatures and a decrease in the precip!!

Peace to you all!

"work it, girl . . . "

quotes from my fun, funny night....

"Work it, girl . . ." - Me

"Well I know you get compensation for that..." -Lauren B-DEV

"Lauren, are you a Centenary slut?" - Me

"No.. no... no...... Well, maybe just a little" - Lauren B-DEV AGAINNNN

Well, I was putting it off forever, but I will post :o)

Merry Christmas, y'all. I hope that your holiday is wonderful and perfect, just like our Savior.



For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. -Isaiah 9:6-7

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. -Isaiah 11:1-10

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. -Luke 2:8-11

in response to my last post...

So yes, I get to meet a Spur this Friday. I am so pumped!!!

See, I agreed to help drive the FFA to San Antonio for their annual Spurs game trip. In exchange for driving, I get a seat at the game, a drink, a hot dog, chips, a tshirt and a post game meet with a San Antonio Spur. Yes, a professional basketball player!!!!!

Earlier, I was surfing the Spurs' website and decided to rank which Spur I would want to meet the most. Here's a rough draft...

1. Tim Duncan
2. Manu Ginobili
3. Brent Barry
4. Tony Parker
5. Robert Horry
6. Beno Udrih
7. Bruce Bowen
8. Michael Finley
9. Fabricio Oberto
10. and five other guys I've never heard of... Williams, Vaughn, Elson, Butler, Bonner.

So there's my list. Who would be your top five?

GO SPURS GO!!!!

HOLY COW!!!

Next Friday, Dec 8th, I will get to meet him:

Well, now that's not entirely true. I'll get to meet A Spurs player. :-D

STILL!!!!

EXCITING!!!!!

AHHHH!!!!! If there were words to describe my excitement, they'd be here. Posted. For the world to see. :o)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for:

• you!
• my family
• somewhere to sleep
• food to eat
• my health; physical, emotional, and mental
• my friends
• my faith
• my church
• my job
• opportunities
• freedom to vote and worship how I choose
• technological advances that allow communication around the globe
• grace and mercy from a loving and compassionate God
• floods
• my students
• Bodacious Half-Reville Satterwhite (our dog who passed away this week)
• trials and tribulations that force me to make think and make decisions

It's quite a bit, I guess. And there's so much more that I take for granted every second of every day. We are blessed!! And I am blessed by you!!

Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you are!!

(i know it says 40th, but it's got your name on it... it's a give-and-take deal)

Happy Birthday best friend!! :o)

I love you!!!