The error is corrected...

Yay--I defeated the computer...here are the promised pics of Wilbert post-surgery and my trip to Austin. Josh's best friend from high school, Matt, happened to come in town too so Josh & Amy showed both of us the best Austin had to offer!

As promised, a pic of Wilbert the conehead!

Me & Amy

(Yay for spring weather!)

Not sure what would've happened if the UT security had found me at this moment...

We heart our limes!

(I'm not sure why I look scared...)

Josh & Amy enjoy drinks at Shady Grove

Amy found $100 bill at UT-dinner was on her!

Lunch @ the Hula Hut on Lake Travis

L-R: Josh, Matt, Amy, me

Amy & I keep Austin wierd w/Hula Hut shirts while Matt acts cool
Josh & the UT Ex "Hook 'Em"

Stay tuned...

I tried to blog yesterday, but couldn't get the pics to upload. While I'm working on this error, I wanted to give you a taste of what is to come...

Keep Austin Wierd: Part Deux (check August 2006 for Part One)--I went to Austin for a work conference and spent some time with Josh & Amy again...good times and fun photos!

Wilbert the Conehead--my little bug woke up yesterday with a nasty nasty purple welt on his backside that was oozing stuff, which turned out to be a "ruptured oil gland cyst"...8 hours, 1 surgery, 3 stitches and a big plastic cone later, Wilbert is recovering nicely. You will NOT want to miss those photos!

Back soon...

Kari, Shayne, and the 1st time I've "gone commando"

For some of you, this post will get to be WAY more than you wanted to know. I will warn you when that part is coming so you may safely link to another site before cringing and shouting, "MY EYES! MY EYES!" like Phoebe did when she found out Monica and Chandler were dating.

But before that happens, a 2-day late shoutout to my girl Kari! Last year, I was totally on top of things and put together this fabulous tribute to K (see Feb. 24th 2006 entry, but you have to go there yourself b/c I haven't figured out how to make a link that clicks to it for you). This year, I managed to get a package on its way to France but didn't make it to the blog in time.

What you really need to know is that Kari and I met in November 2002 when we moved to Senegal within 24 hours of each other. Things to know about us:
1. Kari is the cook/I am the dishwasher.
2. Kari likes the "a face only a mother could love" orphanage babies while I am a snob and go for the truly beautiful ones.
3. Kari pulls off a nose ring and the IMB says nothing--truly a feat worthy of praise!/I date someone while missionaries constantly encourage it and then get chastised.
4. Kari gives herself pedicures in Africa where you get dirty after a shower in approximately 2.2 seconds/I had trouble making myself match clothes, b/c really, we were in Africa and who cared?
5. Kari, knowing I'm allergic to cats, decides that it's more important to save a little African stray cat she named Mere Bud (or rather just Bud); however, she slightly redeemed herself by naming the cat after me (Bud P. Marley--guess what the P stands for?)/I, in turn, do not kill Bud P. when I find him repeatedly having sneaked into MY room and sleeping soundly on my pillow.
6. Kari & I have lived in the same hemisphere for about 7 months of our 4.5 year friendship. Now that's a bond.

Much love, K! Sorry I'm late!

On to Shayne...February has been "The Month of Shayne"....Shayne is one of my HG girls. She was in the hospital for her heart murmur a few weeks ago, then got in a car accident and was injured, then has been in the process of joining our church and asked me to be the one who baptized her! So on Saturday, I had the honor of performing my first baptism. I am so blessed by this girl!

This is where you need to stop reading if you think I may give you TMI. About the baptism...Shayne forgot to tell me to bring a change of clothes so I'd have something to wear. So after our celebration dinner, Cookie & I made an emergency run to TJ Maxx for a t-shirt and shorts. Later, as we were in line to go up to the baptismal, I realized, "I only have the underwear I have on." For the love.

So my very first commando experience was...at church. Yes. Now, it's not a mouse in a robe like Marcy, but it was unpleasant for me just the same. Cookie is in trouble for being too busy trying on jeans to think of undies and Shayne is in far bigger trouble for forgetting to tell me about needing them.

Something to say...

I'd love to say that I have something to say. I have been trying to figure this paradox out. Last summer when I was new to Denton, my life was far less busy than it is now. But I blogged like it was going out of style. I found stories to tell about Wilbert, snakes and squirrels. People weren't even necessary to make a hilarious blog post. Now, Wilbert is still here but for the most part the snakes & squirrels have left the building. I have people in my life. Wonderful people. And no stories to tell. How did that happen? Maybe people aren't as colorful as snakes and squirrels...and of course, Wilbert. Well, I refuse, REFUSE, to believe that. So here's a tribute to my Denton-ites:

Sara: who answered my last straw email before I ditched the Village and headed for greener pastures (slight pun on Psalm 23); now my home group (HG) coach who meets with me for dinner every Monday at 6pm, location TBA. Sara is one of those people where whoever you are, you can be you.

Linda: waltzed into my fledgling new HG and became an instant friend; now my accountability/prayer partner, we have lunch on Sundays...it used to be at Panera and then suddenly, Linda is anti-Panera so we've been trying other things. no matter, Sunday lunch is still a highlight. Linda is one of those people where you go way DEEP in friendship.

Shayne: ha, Shayne makes me LAUGH and DANCE. Not everyone can do this. Lovely Shayne. We've had adventures...the disappearing keys that caused a major tiff w/the blasted roadside assistance people who couldn't figure out that the place we were at was across the street from the place they thought we were at. CROSS THE STREET. For the love. Shayne is one of those people who is just plain positive. Warning: you WILL have fun.

Jordan: ah, Jordan--my hairstylist/friend extraordinaire. I was nervous to let a friend cut my hair...you know, if it came out looking like Dudley Moore instead of Demi Moore (ref. Friends, Season 2), how would we remain friends? It's very tricky, you see. Fortunately, Jordan proved her mad skills and gave me a sweeping 'do that I adore. She is the perfect friend to read magazines and sip a Starbucks with at Barnes & Noble.

Cookie: it took me awhile to bring myself to call Colleen Cookie. I was waiting for that moment when I'd earned "nickname" status as her friend. Thanks to Cookie's personality, getting to that point doesn't take long. I love this girl. When I came back from Corpus once, I immediately went to dinner w/Jordan & Cookie and was ROLLING and CRYING from laughter. I knew Denton had become home, and it was b/c of the Cookie-meister (not to be confused w/Cookie Monster).

Kelsey: I met Kels the first time at B&N...there was a click. This gal holds no grudges, even when I've inadvertently placed her and her good friend squarely in danger of a psycho. Kelsey is one of those people you just instantly feel comfortable with.

Rikki Tai: or shall I say Regina Philange (ref. Friends, seasons 5, 8, 9, 10)? This is my Friends-quote friend. And she has a bottomless desire to serve other people. She is ALWAYS looking for ways to give, give, and give. However, her postal skills seem to be lacking b/c I still haven't received a package she "sent" about 3 weeks ago.

Kari: this girl is getting me in shape for my visit to Seattle next month! I am all about going granola, and she's going to get me there...Kari is laid-back and ever-cheerful, always wearing The North Face or Columbia. We're going to REI soon so I can stock up on GranolaWear (yes, I coined that).

Uyen: wow, was I ever glad to meet Uyen (after calling her "Lynn" for 2 days!)...Uyen is like me! She loves higher ed and college students, and is working on her PhD. I've been able to glean wisdom from this gal b/c "she has much knowledge" (ref. Gilmore Girls ref. some other show); Uyen is my bosom buddy, if I may use that outdated term.

Abby, Juliana and Kat have also made HG a fabulous experience--I'm going to have an addendum after we've had the chance to share some adventures!

No hanky? No problem!

Kari got me a subscription to Health magazine for Christmas (thanks, K!) which I have been enjoying thoroughly. As most of you know, I enjoy working out and running. So, I tried to go running the other day when it was, oh, about 35 degrees outside. Well, the most annoying thing happened...my nose was running much faster than I was and I had no way of containing the damage. THEN, oh but THEN, I ran into this recent "must-buy" I saw in Health magazine. The product is called Snot Spot, and it is a "superabsorbent fleece cuff that fits over your hand for quick efficient wiping. Available in 3 styles (for bare hands, gloves, and mittens), the reversible Snot Spot is machine-washable."

Thank goodness! What WILL they think of next??

The perks of living "way up north"...

SNOW DAYS!!!

No work today. :) I could get used to this!

The way we were

When I first moved to Denton in May, I began attending a home group of girls through what is now my church, The Village Church. The group swelled in size (if we'd all come on the same night, there would've been around 30 of us) and there was a wide age range (19-28), including college & young professionals, that nebulous modern term for those of us who have graduated but it still seems that society doesn't want to call us "adults."

Anyway, it was decided that the group needed to split so I approached the leader about starting one just for the post-college girls. She agreed, and in mid-October, I found myself leading a home group of about six.

Well, as most of you know, Denton is a "college town" and thus, all the home groups for single women were college. Our group exploded! By mid-December, there were 19 who had either become members or visited regularly. We needed to split again.

Bianca was eager to lead and I was eager to let her. So our Christmas party on December 18th was the last time we were all together.


The Christmas Party



Bianca, Jordan, me, Lisa

The "new" groups met last Monday and it's obvious God's hand was in the timing. There would have been 26 girls if we'd met as one group! Please pray for Bianca as she starts leading this new group.

On a totally unrelated subject, we are having our second major freeze/ice storm/maybe snow this weekend. No snow yet, but Wilbert and I did slide down the stairs yesterday going out for his walk. His long body wound around the side of the stairs...pretty funny, I've got to say.

Here's a pic of us from the last time:

Googling myself

I just googled myself. You should google yourself if you haven't. Or google a friend. Anyway, several links came up...an article Kari wrote about me, some articles I wrote when I was in West Africa, some strange directory called "Zoom" where I see 3 other Itschners (perhaps distant cousins?), The Village home groups list, and then I saw a link through my blog...it said, "I love this woman..." I thought WHAT?! So I click on it. If you scroll through it (which most readers won't, I assume), I wrote a post and put a pic of me & Grandma up with the caption "I love this woman." However, this is NOT the one sentence from my blog I was hoping Google search would pick up. Not sure what I can do about it...but in case you had decided to google me and found that particular link, I wanted to set your mind at ease. I heart men. Period.

Evil friend...

So, I have this problem. I love running outside, but I'm extremely picky about the weather conditions in which I will do so. Basically, it must be 72.6 degrees with no wind whatsoever. The problem, of course, is that there are pretty much 2.3 days per year in which my weather specifications will allow me to enjoy a good outdoor run.

Last year, it was during the summer when triple digits were the norm, that I went to Academy and bought a jump rope. Budget-friendly at $5.00, weather-friendly as an indoor activity thanks to the high ceilings in my apartment, and boredom-friendly as I could jump to a Friends or Gilmore Girls episode (or Grey's Anatomy, which was my newest poison of choice), the jump rope was my friend.

This year, I have a couple of new friends. Last Thursday, I ventured to Sport Authority (the Academy-version in Denton) where I purchased one of those little round trampolines, a Pilates DVD, and a Pilates mat. I've heard wonderful (and painful) stories about Pilates and how it "really, really works" from numerous people. Supposedly, the trampoline is a very good workout as well. These new friends are only budget-friendly for those who consider the CPU (cost per use, which makes the item relatively cheap if it's good quality), but both are weather-friendly and the tramp(oline) is boredom-friendly.

Last night, one of my new friends transformed into a violent weapon of mass destruction. I was ready for bed, so I turned off the living room light switch, which is strategically placed next to the front door and opposite my bedroom. I have the tramp(oline) set up behind my couch for easy Gilmore or Friends viewing whilst I jump. I forgot about this nifty set-up when I turned off the living room light to go to bed. In crossing my living room, my right ankle nailed the tramp(oline)--owie #1--and sent me flying forward. My right knee squarely hit the hardest metal of the tramp(oline)--owie #2. Thankfully, my instincts kicked in and my hands kept me from hitting my face on anything dangerous--owie #3. Today my left foot (how did the left foot get hurt?) is scraped and my right knee is swelling and killing me slowly.

I am deciding on the best punishment for my friend-turned-weapon. Throw the tramp(oline) in the dumpster to show it can't win and remind it that I have a Pilates DVD that loves me and would never try to kill me? Should I just jump really hard on the tramp(oline) in an attempt to beat the evil out?

Killing lots of birds with one blog...

I've been lazy with posting lately, so this is going to make up some lost time...enjoy!


Look out, Kari & Amy! Since you like to cook so much, I may decide to get you one of these oh-so-fashionable turkey aprons from Cracker Barrel for Christmas! (Specifically, note the turkey legs dangling...totally makes it worth the $14.95.)

God has graciously blessed me with great community since I moved to Denton. I have been given the opportunity to lead a home group through my church, The Village. These girls are amazing!

My home group girls--Top L-R: Linda, Michelle, Kelsey, Bianca, Jordan & Sara; Bottom L-R: Me, Kristen, Robin, Colleen, & Rikki (Never mind the fact that this is 2 weeks old and completely outdated--God is growing our group each week!)

My community from home--it was so good to see them again when I was home for Thanksgiving!

Traditional dinner at Chili's with the girls; L-R: Amy, me, Chrissy, Christine & Caryn

First Annual Wilbert Goes to Work/College Day

My co-worker, Nancy, LOVES Wilbert and said I should bring him to work one day. After getting the ok from Marian, my supervisor, Wilbert was cleared for college. So, you will be able to 1) Meet my co-workers, 2) See my office (finally!), and 3) See more cute pics of Wilbert...am I efficient or what?


My office--The Mocha Coffee Shop


Another view of The Mocha


Wilbert & Debbie, one of the other advisors


Wilbert & Nancy, another advisor & also his caretaker when I have to be out of town


Wilbert & Lynne, our administrative assistant (and general lifesaver!)


Wilbert & Lana, our secretary...we are constantly laughing at each other (I think the student in this pic probably thought we were all crazy.)


Wilbert & Marla, one of our student workers...she's from the Valley, just south of Corpus Christi, so we've bonded nicely


Wilbert & Susanne, the other advisor


My little advisor


Wilbert & my dad…they’ve bonded; I know it doesn’t fit with the Office theme, but it does fit with the Wilbert theme

Wintry Mix

Yesterday at this time, I was wearing a 3/4 sleeve button-up in the 77 degree sunny weather. At about 5pm yesterday, I left the dry cleaners thinking how warm it was. When I got out of my car at 5:30pm, the "wintry mix" that had been forecasted arrived. By 7pm, it was 35 degrees. That's right, the temperature dropped nearly 50 degrees in 2 hours. At 10 am the next day, it's now 28 degrees and falling. It's sleeting outside and should be snowing noon-5pm. :)

I love winter, probably because having spent 25 of 28 years in either South TX or Africa, winter is a fairy tale phenomenon in my head. I love cold weather. The scarves, the coats, the fire going, the Christmas decor, good movies or music playing, and hot cocoa. Love it.


Wilbert's winter wardrobe...I said I'd never do it. Wilbert is a dog and I have a firm belief he should be treated as such. However, he does have to go outside to take care of business, and I decided he can have one sweater when we walk in the below freezing temperatures. He's done okay with it so far. He hasn't tried to take it off at all, which is pretty amazing. However, he walks and then sits. Walks and then sits. Walks and then sits. He's never done that before so I'm not sure if it correlates with the new sweater or not. At any rate, he's once again dang cute.


My coche iced down

More than you ever wanted to know...

I've been getting harassed for not posting in awhile, so here will be more than enough to satisfy those who just can't get enough of Pegs. :) Awhile back, Kari sent me a "20 Questions" that I could use as a blog post, so here goes:

1. What is your job and what are your responsibilities?

I am an academic advisor in the School of Visual Arts at the University of North Texas. This means, I see on average 6-7 students per day across all 13 art programs. Some are just in to schedule classes, some need GPA help, some are just plain confused about life, and some are graduating (these may be and are often likely the same ones who are confused about life). I also process degree plans and represent SOVA at recruiting events. Other things I've found myself doing include being on a search committee for a new position and serving as staff advisor for a student organization.

2. What are your goals/dream job?

I'm still working on figuring this out. I have more than contemplated pursuing a doctorate in higher education because the field just fascinates me. I would like to work in admissions at some point, and am also interested in writing about educational issues.

3. How did you feel about moving to Denton?

I have been in Denton for six months now. I was excited about a new location and a new job opportunity. I knew I wanted to work in a large, public research university and the job at UNT has given me that needed experience. I also love North Texas--there is always something to do here! I love being near DFW and all the Metroplex offers.

4. What writing projects do you have going?

I was working on The Broken Road, which chronicles my experiences with the opposite sex. That is pretty much finished. Well, not finished...it won't be finished until/if I am married, I suppose. But it's "caught up." Email me if you are curious.

The other project I've been working on is Memoir d'Afrique, which follows my two-year journey in Africa. It is just in the beginning stages so don't expect this one out on shelves anytime soon...although I do dream of having it published. May be a pipe dream, but it's a dream all the same. There are several travel essays that follow expat Americans in other countries and Peace Corps workers, but I've yet to see one published by a journeyman/missionary.

5. When did you become a Christian?

I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was 14 years old at a youth camp. Not a "bad kid" to begin with, there wasn't much to change externally (i.e. sneaking out, drugs & drinking, etc) but there was an internal 180. My life is devoted to Christ and following Him.

6. Tell us about your famous muffins, and can we have the recipe?

I have no famous muffins. I do not know why Kari wanted me to post this question. She could be referring to one of two things here: 1) I used to make muffins for the students at the school I worked at in Corpus each Thursday. These are not mine and they are not famous...they are Betty Crocker. 2) I used to go to a little place called "My Favorite Muffin" each Tues & Thurs. This started with my friend Jessica and when she moved, I picked it up with Beth & Katy, 2 of the best mentors a girl struggling through life in her 20s could ask for. Again, these are not mine and not quite "famous"...though they should be.

7. Where is your favorite place in the world?

This is hard. Capetown, South Africa is hands-down the most beautiful place in the world. I absolutely loved it and would love to go back. I have a romantic attachment to New York City...the city has its own culture. I also love Senegal, where I lived for just 10 months, thought it seems like so much longer. The Senegalese people are unique and lovely.

8. What made you decide to get Wilbert?

I had lived alone for 3 years. I wanted a pet that I could snuggle with and keep me company and I'm deathly allergic to cats. When I decided to move to Denton, I started dog-hunting. I wanted a Westie, but found out they are ridiculously expensive and you have to get on a waiting list. So I went to the Humane Society. One look at Wilbert and I was done.

9. How did you wind up in Africa?

Kari, honestly...this post is going to be too long. I was on my way to seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theol in Fort Worth back in 2001 to do counseling. Then, my roommate and living situation fell through just a week before I was to move. I got a letter from the IMB accepting my application to the journeyman program and the rest is history. I'd gone to Africa twice in college (Namibia, South Africa and Uganda, East Africa) and when jobs were not available in those areas at matching conference, I took a position in West Africa. My heart has always been for Africa.

10. Whom are you named after?

My dad's favorite aunt, Peggy. She died of polio in her mid-30s. Though you should know...I was VERY close to being named Lisa by my mom...then my dad walked in the room. Do you think I look like a Lisa?

11. Tell us about your House Group.

Home group is what they call them. I go to a church called The Village (www.thevillagechurch.net). It's an amazing place. God has changed my life since being here. After completing grad school, I began to pray for an opportunity to serve since I had all this new free time. My first home group became too big and needed to split. There was obviously a need for a group for post-college (since Denton has 2 colleges, it's swarming with groups for college students) single women. We started about 6 weeks ago and have grown from 5-14! I'd say it's meeting a need.

12. In what ways to do you want to be like your mom?

My mom was a fighter. When she wanted something, she went after it. I hope I don't ever settle. She was also extremely loyal.

13. What movie character do you identify with most?

Interesting. In Senegal, Kari, Kate & I said we were like Charlie's Angels (the movie) with me being like Drew Barrymore's character. Full of "fayda" as they say in Senegal...which means independent, takes care of herself, etc. Some days I feel like I really identify with Bridget Jones though. :)

14. When have you seen GOD move?

When I look at my life, it's obvious He's been orchestrating it all along. Each thing that comes along just fits like a puzzle piece. It makes me love Him more and more. Something that sticks out is all the car accidents I've had...there is no way I should not have been seriously injured/killed by now. God's hand.

15. What is the most memorable conversation you've had with your Grandma?

Not really a conversation, but I will always remember her 84th birthday (2005). I bought her flowers, brought her favorite "caldo" from Kiko's Mexican restaurant, made the muffins she loves, and took her to a CC Hooks baseball game. You know, old people can get away with anything and everyone just smiles. While at the game, we were sitting between a middle-aged couple and a couple of guys about my age. I'd bought a funnel cake for us to share, which was covered with powdered sugar of course. Well, if you know the Corpus Christi wind, you can imagine what happened with the powdered sugar. It blew ALL over the man next to Grandma. She smiled sweetly up at him and apologized and the couple just laughed. Incidentally, her hearing is slightly altered (though still doing remarkably well) and she shouted to me about how cute the guy next to me was...oh.my.word. I did think I might die there on the spot. I don't know if he heard b/c I definitely did NOT look at him, but I don't know how he wouldn't have heard her! Still, I love my Aama.

16. What's the best meal you've ever had?

There is no way to answer this...I love food too much. :) My mom used to make this amazing spaghetti. She'd cook the sauce all day in the crockpot and it had this unbelievable cheesy flavor. I think that was my favorite.

17. Which authors inspire you most?

I love Donald Miller. He's so honest and says things I was always afraid to say as a Christian. I also really like Philip Yancey. Lately, Alexandra Robbins is my favorite. See www.alexandrarobbins.com for more.

18. What do you appreciate most about where you are in life?

Independence. I complain frequently about being single, but if I'd married straight out of college like I wanted to, I wouldn't have been able to experience Africa, which changed my life. I wouldn't be able to up & travel anytime I want (like last Christmas to France or this Christmas to New Orleans). I enjoy knowing that I can make it on my own.

19. What have you learned in the past year?

Last year at this time, I was frustrated with my job and living situation. I was a pretty miserable person to be around and didn't understand why God wouldn't just answer my prayers and uproot me out of there. I was also just coming out of a time where I didn't know if I believed in God at all. Sooooooo...this year, I have learned that I do believe in God very much. I believe that the Father created the world, the Son came down and died for my sins and rose again so that I could live with Him forever, and that the Spirit abides in me eternally. Because I believe those things, I also know that His timing was perfect in uprooting me from Corpus at just the right time. I have a more broad (some say liberal) view of God's will now...that it's not just about making a right or wrong decision (do I go to Seattle for a doctorate or go to Denton and work?) but a decision to honor God with the opportunities He gives me.

20.How can we pray for you?

This is general, but lately, I have sensed God is working on me internally--changing my heart, making me moldable (I am the clay, not the Potter after all). So I have been praying for the fruit of the Spirit to take hold inwardly and in that, it will pour out...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I think the 3 key ones right now are love, patience and gentleness.

Quarterlife Crisis

I've started a book called Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis by Alexandra Robbins. She is my new favorite author and you can see more of her writings at www.alexandrarobbins.com.

So, the introduction states 6 indicators that one is going through a quarterlife crisis, defined as a response to the transition from young adulthood to adulthood where one is plagued by intense identity issues resulting in a range of reactions from self-doubt to serious bouts of depression, with the nagging question of "Is this all there is?"

The indicators of the quarterlife crisis are:
1. You don't know what you want.
2. Your 20s aren't what you expected.
3. You have a fear of failure.
4. You can't let go of childhood.
5. You waffle over decisions.
6. You constantly compare (yourself to peers and feel you come up short).

So, I'm guessing the fact that I struggle with all except #4 means that I'm in a quarterlife crisis. #5 & #6 are particularly evident in my life, and those who know me even halfway well aren't surprised to hear this.

Some questions the book tackles (the parentheses are my commentary):
--What if I don't know what I want? (The eternal question.)
--When do I let go of my dream? (After I answer question #1.)
--How do I know if I'm dating The One? (I love that she capitalizes it.)
--Why am I having trouble meeting people? (Seriously.)
--How do I weigh doing something I love vs. making money? (A girl's gotta eat.)
--What if I want to completely change direction in my career? (Oy, the time...the money...)
--Why is it so hard to live alone? (As great as Wilbert is, conversation tends to lag, and I'm getting more selfish by the hour.)
--How do I stop comparing myself to other people? (Another wedding, another baby shower, another housewarming...)
--When will I stop feeling afraid and start looking forward to growing older? (30 is approximately 1 year, 6 months, 1 week, and 23 hours away...approximately.)

I don't mean to make everyone wonder if I'm depressed. I'm not. I actually am quite okay with life right now, probably b/c I realize that my questions are normal. But I do ask these types of questions. So, I'm pretty excited about the rest of this book. I think God has some things to teach me. Anyone else in a quarterlife crisis?

Torrential Downpour...In My Car

It's been awhile since I've shared a good Wilbert story...well, this is only quasi-Wilbert, but he is in it, so...

I got back from Oklahoma last weekend at about 1:00 a.m. I unloaded my car in the drizzling rain and fell into bed. Torrential rain fell all night and the storms kept waking me up. The next morning a little before noon (11 hours later for you math geniuses), I went to my car so I could make the trip to Fort Worth to pick up Wilbert.

I walked toward my car and could not believe my eyes. My driver's side door was open. No, folks. Not the window. The DOOR.

I wondered if someone had tried to steal the car and had been unsuccessful. Since I have moved to Denton, I have received several notes from the apartment management about assaults and car theft (not to mention my laundry theft incident, which they did NOT report to the rest of the apartment community--I was miffed). So you can imagine my thoughts as I approached my car.

I'm not altogether sure, but I think this is what happened: 1) I went around to the passenger side to finish unloading the car. 2) I took the trash to the nearby dumpster. 3) I did NOT return to the driver's side to close the door.

Like I said, there were torrential downpours the entire night. My car was soaked. It now smells absolutely disgusting. I don't think Wilbert was very happy when I picked him up. He crinkled his nose and buried his face. Poor Wilbert. Here's my bone to pick: Little boys steal my laundry. But, when I leave my car door wide open, not one thing is missing from my car. Are you kidding me?

In other news...

Those of you who have known me for any amount of time know that I have had this awful nail biting habit since the womb.

I hope I'm not jinxing myself, but I think I have broken the 28 year old habit. I have had triumphant moments before where I thought I conquered this issue...only to find that "The Bourne Identity" or some nerve-wracking event destroyed me.

However, this time, I believe I have won. I have gorgeous nails that are all mine. This may be a little gross for those of you who have issues with touching your eyes, but the major sign of my victory is that my nails are long enough that I now have to slide my contacts out instead of simply pulling them. A strange way to measure success, granted...but it works!

The Greenwood-Miller Wedding

This weekend, I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid in Robin's wedding in Norman, OK. Here are some highlights:

For all you Project Runway fans out there, you will recognize Kayne in this picture. Kayne's business is in Norman, and he designed our bridemaid dresses (which you'll see in the pictures to follow).


This picture is a bit tangential from the wedding, but this is Sally, Heather's dog. Sally's tongue is too long to fit in her mouth so it constantly hangs out like this. Hands down, one of the funniest things I've ever seen.


Here's Kayne's dress...and me & Robin before the wedding.


For the 3rd time in a month, I've gotten to reunite with my West Africa friends. Here are Bill & Shirley Nolte, who served as the guesthouse coordinators on my team in Mali. (Yes, I borrowed a tux coat to stay warm in the below-strapless-dress weather we had.)


This is what the ladies do before the wedding!


I love this part...so classy!


Saying goodbye to Mr. & Mrs. Joel Miller...and when I say goodbye, I mean goodbye. Joel has a job out in California, so Robin is no longer a 2 hour drive away. :(


And for those who are curious about the bouquet toss, my least favorite part of the entire wedding process where it is tradition to make the single women feel very single and provoke a catfight, I will tell you that NONE of the women went for the bouquet. It landed squarely at my feet, so the consensus was that I "caught" the bouquet. I disagree. The photographer took a picture of the ladies' feet with the bouquet on the ground.

And finally, I could not have a post from Oklahoma without mocking the state in some way. Soooooo...what message is this combo automotive/liquor store in Chickasha, Oklahoma trying to convey? Drink & Drive?

Lately, I have been told that I am...

These aren't all exactly positive, but I thought it was interesting to mull over the impression I've left with various people lately:

fantastic
lovely
hilarious
too much (whatever that means)
punctual
a great friend
emotional
too romantic
a little wierd
talented
smart
quick (as in quick-witted...not so much with the running skills)
tall
not too tall (same person as "tall"...they were backpedaling)
a great conversationalist (I prefer the term "conversational wizard"; however, that wasn't the term used)
too organized
open
realistic
a little unrealistic
soft-hearted

So, what do you say?

I also found this pic of me and Aama from last Thanksgiving...it's my favorite pic of us ever. I love this woman.

the last couple of weeks...

West Africa Reunion--Tim & Kate visited DFW before going back to Senegal, so the Whipples (our neighbors in Senegal) and Jenn (another journeyman in Senegal) all had a reunion. Here we are...back row: Tim, Kate, Karley (littlest Whipple), Jenn, Denise; front row: Me, Dakotah (middle Whipple) & Noah (oldest Whipple); Not pictured: Seth, who is taking the picture


Me & Kate--3 years & 18 days after I left Africa, Kate and I were reunited. We were roommates and teammates in Senegal, working on the media team. Kate is about to go back to Senegal with her husband, Tim, to do discipleship ministry with Lebou believers.

The Dallas Mavericks, the 2006 NBA Western Division Champs, had their Pre-season Spring Training here at UNT last week. To thank the school, the Mavs had a scrimmage on Friday that was free for all current UNT faculty, staff, and students. Here are some pics:




Harris and one of the rookies, whose real name is JJ but he's from Puerto Rico so we started calling him "Rico"...when I say "we," I mean me & my friend, Jordan...10 minutes later, the other side of the crowd started cheering for Rico. So when he is called Rico next season, keep in mind that Jordan & I started that.


Diop, the Senegalese Maverick, taking a shot (really annoying--they pronounce it so it rhymes with "shop" when the correct Wolof should be pronounced to rhyme with "rope)


Dampier (25) & Terry (31)--Honestly, I have a crush on Jason Terry :)


Towards the end of the scrimmage, Terry tried to get the crowd going by running around with his shoe off, acting like he would throw it into the crowd. Obviously, this caused mayhem. At the end, Terry and Nowitski actually did throw their shoes into the crowd. I didn't get one. :(

I had a special treat today. :) Tiffany was a fellow journeyman in West Africa. She lived in a hut in Burkina Faso for 2 years, ministering to the Marense people. Tiff is one awesome girl. She's living in Mississippi now, but was in Dallas for a conference. I love living here--I'm seeing old friends I wouldn't have seen if I was still in Corpus. :)

Tiffany & Me

disappointment, hope and worship

I was disappointed this week. The cure for disappointment is hope in the eternal Father, Son and Spirit, for "hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Hope is manifested in worship.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -- Romans 15:13

Hope is manifested in worship.

Worship in song. Finding new harmonies. Praise.

Worship in nature. The sun breaking through a cloud formation.

Worship in written expression. Telling a story. Telling His story.

Worship in community. Authentic sharing of life.

Worship in missional living. Sharing Him with a co-worker.

Worship in service. Showing nursery babies love.

Worship in Scripture meditation. Allowing Truth to abide in me.

Worship in prayer. Coming near to the throne of grace.

My hope in Him has been manifested in these offerings of worship this week.

Another list...but some pictures too :)

Due to the fact that I have no appointments today (are you kidding me? What is THAT about?), I decided to post about the non-stop weekend I just had. Also, at the request of someone (who will remain nameless) who likes my lists (or just likes mocking them), I will process the weekend in traditional Pegs form. I wasn't so swift at coming up with a list on the fly, so hopefully the time processed will produce a quality list. :) So, here's the latest list...as usual, in no particular order:

10. The waiter who thought he could sing but in fact could NOT...and the blessed birthday girl who also thought he could sing so she had him sing to her TWICE
9. Seeing one of my fellow bridesmaids in "Oliver" at the Sooner Community Theatre--Heather was excellent!
8. Being treated to dinner at someone's favorite restaurant--there's nothing that makes you feel special like being taken to a favorite (and Avocado Enchiladas-yum!)
7. Embarrassing the mess out of Robin at her "personal shower" :) Really, though, let's call a spade a spade-it was a lingerie shower
6. Feeling incredibly loved-I think I had about 20 voicemails on my phone over 2 days, and used about 1000 minutes--thank goodness for unlimited weekends!
5. Meeting people I've heard about for 5 years--Jenny & Jacob totally surpassed all expectations
4. Going to IHOP in the middle of the night--really, is there anything better?
3. Seeing (and definitely hearing) a girl run smack into a glass door at a really nice hotel--classic
2. Gas for $2.03--the best thing I've found in Oklahoma to date!
1. Living life--taking chances, meeting new people, and accepting God's blessings as they come!


The Bridesmaids (sans Rachel): Me, Heather, Robin (the bride) and Jenny (the MOH)


Congrats to Robin & Joel (excuse the glare, the front door was open)


Me & Robin


Jenny & Robin at the "personal shower"--Let the humiliation begin! :)

What I Love about North Texas...3 months later

Back on June 2nd, I wrote a top ten about what I love about Denton. I had lived here for about 2 weeks. Now that it's been about 3.5 months, I would like to slightly revise my list...I expanded it from Denton to North Texas, and you'll see why. In no particular order, except it came to my head:

10. The Village Church--I found a place to belong!
9. My home group from the church--lovely ladies
8. La Madeleine (still makes the list, best restaurant)
7. Location, location, location (All my bridesmaidly duties for Robin's wedding in Oklahoma are within a 2 hour drive instead of a 3 hour flight! Also a weekend trip to Austin to see Josh & Amy is totally do-able.)
6. The Greenhouse Restaurant (ah...love those sweet potato fries)
5. The Square (see my post from late July called A Little Piece of Home)
4. My office--has been painted and new artwork hung...I LOVE how it turned out. We call it "The Mocha Coffee Shop" b/c of the colors and the atmosphere I created (pics are forthcoming)
3. Recycled Books--wonderful old bookstore on the Square
2. The feeling of being far from home...but not really :)
1. It's exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Stolen laundry and Victoria's Secret

Two weekends ago (I'm running behind), I spent a lovely Saturday evening on a date with a fabulous man...just kidding. I spent the evening doing 2 very full loads of laundry. When I went to get them out of the dryer at the exact time they should have been finished, I found the dryers empty! Someone stole my laundry! (But kindly left my empty laundry basket.) Are you KIDDING me? First of all...gross. Second of all...I'm not one to talk, doing laundry on a Saturday night, but really...get a life.

My theory is as follows...when I had gone to change the loads from the washers to the dryers, there were these 2 little boys in there--about 8 & 10--just the right age to think stealing someone's laundry would be hilarious. Hmph. My theory is that those two kids stole it. For what reason, other than pure entertainment, I do not know.

Well, without getting TMI on you, I'll just say that pretty much every pair of undies I own was in one of those loads. Thus, a trip to Victoria's Secret was necessary the next day.

Those of you who know me well know that Vic's is not my favorite place, usually because you can find very uncomfortable men hanging out along the walls trying to be inconspicuous while their wives/girlfriends/sisters search the store. Have you ever noticed they usually put a "man's store" next to Vic's? For example, in Denton, Radioshack is within visual distance. My other theory from this weekend is that if the man isn't in the store specifically to buy something for that wonderful woman in his life, he needs to go to Radioshack.

Because, searching the piles of undies for my size and style whilst a man is standing against the wall two feet away (or maybe one foot) was the most awkward thing I've done in awhile. I almost asked the man, "Are you sure you don't need something from Radioshack?"

In fact, it only fueled my fire to be more ticked off that my laundry was stolen in the first place.