I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVVVEEE....
ALBERT PUJOLS!!!!!!

If you could see me now, I'm actually doing a little victory dance in celebration of Albert's 3-run homer in the bottom of the 8th! WHOO HOO!!! We're back! (And YES, I DO need to use exclamation points after every sentence, because I'm oozing over with excitement right now!!!)

And God,
Since I know You love baseball the way I love baseball, PLEEEEASE let this 7 game losing streak be over for my beloved Cards. For good.
Amen.

It's official...

I'm going back to CA...very soon! Like in the next 6 weeks "soon"!

I received word today and it's funny, because although this is what I've been waiting and hoping for for what seems like an eternity, I suddenly feel a bit nervous and overwhelmed with the reality of it.

It's either that, or the Cardinals losing their last 6 games that has my stomach all in knots!!!! Come on PEOPLE!!!

They are praying.

Are you?

Ramadan (the holy month of fasting for Muslims) began today. You can go to this website: www.30-days.net to dowload great resources to help you pray with insight during this powerful month. Let's ask God to do amazing things!!!

I can't believe it's been over a week since I last posted. It's been a bit of a rough one, which would explain my blogging hiatus. It's funny because I believe that a lot of people write more when they are wrestling with something or there's stuff going on in life. I think I must be just the opposite. I'd rather shut down and hide from the world for awhile until I get things figured out. Hmmm.

Well, enough introspection for the night. Did anyone else watch "Grey's Anatomy?" I was excited to hear Mat Kearney's song on there. (Yes Trix, that's one of THE "Matt's".)

And did you watch the Cards vs. Astros game? Geez, those fans could have been a little more obnoxious at the end, don't ya think?! Poor Cards. I still love you!

I did have a "There's no crying in baseball" moment this past weekend...

On Saturday, my sis informed me that I could have their tickets for Sunday's Cards game. And even though this was last minute and I had to attend a meeting after church which would make me late for the game, I was going regardless. It would probably be my last chance to attend a game for the next year or possibly even two.

My mom went with me this time and she may have been more excited than myself. Of course on our drive over, she kept pointing out how dark the sky looked over by StL and I tried to reassure her that the game would be played and the rain would be part of the fun.

I was wrong...on both accounts.

We waited for 2 hours with rain delay (even after arriving late) and at 3:45pm they finally announced they were cancelling the game. Now, they say there's no crying in baseball, but I was pretty close.

For a consolation prize, we thought we'd go sit in the Starbucks across the street from the Stadium for a bit just to chill and not make our drive a complete waste. And lo and behold, just when we went up to the door, they were closing. 4pm in the afternoon! What?


I'm pretty sure the world was against me.
Except for the fact that we somehow managed to park for free.

Confessional:

#1. Trickie gave me a $1 to download Justin Timberlake's new song, "Sexy Back."

#2. I may or may not have listened to it on repeat while coordinating my own dance routine, reminiscent of So You Think You Can Dance.

Matthew 5:4~Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.


September 11th.

I'm sure none of us will forget where we were when it happened. The news that changed our nation. Our lives. The world.

I wonder how long it will take before the wounds no longer feel fresh? The memories so vivid?

My heart joins with the masses today as we remember the tragedy that took place on that day 5 years ago. But I'm not gonna lie. My heart also mourns with the people of Afghanistan... Iraq... Pakistan... Iran...Sudan...Indonesia...etc. Every life lost is of highest importance--no matter their geography. As Shane Claiborne reminds us, "The lives of the thirty thousand children who die of starvation each day is like six September 11ths every single day, a silent tsunami that happens every week."

I am grateful to serve a God who brings beauty from ashes. It's sometimes the only thing that gives me hope as I look around the world today.

And when I really think about it, I know that He used the ashes of those buildings in New York to break our hearts for those who are hurting...to hear the cries of the world (even the hard-to-reach places)...to begin to weep with those who weep...and for some people, like myself, this event even led us to the other side of the world to love on the people whose lives are affected by terrorism on a daily basis.

HE's doing it, my friends. Even as we grieve on this day, God is bringing about His purposes. He's bringing beauty from ashes....gladness from mourning....praise from despair. He's binding up the brokenhearted. He's proclaiming freedom for the captives. He's comforting those who mourn.

Be encouraged & take heart. He has overcome the world.

It's 2am and we just returned from the Sox/Indians game. Obviously I should head straight to bed, but unfortunately my mind doesn't slow down that easily. So instead I thought I'd post a few thoughts from the evening.


Randoms:
1. While the Cardinals will forever be my favorite team, the White Sox sure do know how to throw a good party. (Probably because they are "south siders." ;)

You may recall that a few weeks ago at US Cingular Field, it was "Elvis Night." Then yesterday it was "Half Way to St. Patrick's Day" where everyone dressed in green, they gave out green hats, etc. (Side Note: I love it that the Chi-town crew has such an affinity for the Irish!) You'd think that they'd have had enough of the festivities, but the fun didn't stop there. Tonight the crowd was rewarded with popsicles upon entering the park (thus adding to my "Anything & Everything Summer" cross off list) and concluding the event with a superb display of fireworks set to a medley of today's pop music. The finale boomed louder than Bon Jovi's "Have a Nice Day" playing in the background and it was all just pretty much amazing!

2. The Sox have these fun "Grinder Ball Rules" posted everywhere. My favorite is this...

" Grinder Ball Rule #315--Be realistic. Expect a miracle."

There's obviously a lot more to this than baseball and it's got me thinking. Too bad I'm too tired to really dive into that pool right now.

3. I consumed waaaayyy too much sugar. The cotton candy about did me in.
...I wouldn't have had it any other way.

4. There was a guy wearing a t-shirt that said, "I *heart* hot moms." WHAT??


Thanks Girls for another fun & memorable evening at the ballpark! Here's to a "55 Series!"

It's Friday night.

It's September.

I'm feeling antsy.

LIFE'S TOO SHORT....

Confessional: I LOVE to watch the Ellen DeGeneres show. I know some of you are sighing or growling or whatever...but I don't care. I think the lady is stinkin hilarious and every time I see her show she makes me laugh. Quite frankly, that's enough--regardless of sexual preference.

SO, with that said, Ellen has committed this season to making a "Life List." Meaning, she's making a list of all the things she wants to do or accomplish before she dies and she's working towards crossing them off. Ellen has obviously made hers and now she's asking for others to do the same. You can even send it in with the possibility that she might help you in making those things happen.

I don't know about the whole "sending it in" thing, but I actually began a list like this in college and have been adding to it (and crossing some things off) ever since. Of course, all this talk has got me thinking about it again and so I thought I'd share a few of them here.

Please Note: This in no way means that I've forgotten what an amazing and rich life I have already lived. I truly believe that, should I leave this world before another one of the following things gets crossed off, I will have lived exceedingly and abundantly beyond what most could only imagine. (Thank YOU, Father.)

So in no particular order, here's a sampling of what's on my very own
"LIFE LIST":

*Visit every continent.
*Own & drive a motorcyle.
*Learn to fly a plane.
*Get my scuba diving license.
*Write a book.
*Live in NYC and/or LA.
*Take a photography class & own the equipment needed
*Take a tour of the US by way of visiting every major league baseball stadium
*See Game 7 of the World Series when the Cardinals play!
*Learn to surf.
*Hang out with the current president--discussing life, war, etc. ;)
*Etc., etc., etc.....

So I'm curious, WHAT'S ON YOUR LIFE LIST????

Top 10 Reasons Why I Loved Today...


1. Waking up to the roaring thunderstorm ...enjoying the sunshine and blue skies of the afternoon...and then later enjoying an evening rain.

2. The smell of my sweet cinnamon pumpkin candle.

3. Cooler temperatures--Even if Tricks is in denial, SUMMER IS ON ITS WAY OUT!!

4. Scrapbooking inspiration (complete with the company & help of Krista)




5. Washing my laundry in Tide's new "Simple Pleasures" detergent. --I've found myself with my shirt over my nose on numerous occasions since. Not to mention the joy to be found tonight in my newly cleaned sheets!

6. My beloved Cardinals won against the Nationals--continuing to secure their place in the playoffs.

7. Drinking coffee and hot chocolate (not at the same time).

8. Quiet time with our Father.

9. Having naturally curly hair.--Most days I hate it, but today I enjoyed the blessings of low humidity (meaning--no chia head) and low maintenence.

10. Wearing my favorite hoody indoors...with no A.C....and still being chilly. :)

In case you were not aware, Derek Webb is allowing you to download his latest cd entitled, "Mockingbird," for free. Just go to www.freederekwebb.com. It's not a gimmeck. Most of his songs tackle issues such as poverty, war, etc. and he wants them to be conversation starters.

The following are the lyrics to the last song on the album...


Love Is Not Against The Law
(vs. 1)
politics or love
can make you blind or make you see
make you a slave or make you free
but only one does it all

and it’s giving up your life
for the ones you hate the most
it’s giving them your gown
when they’ve taken your clothes

it’s learning to admit
when you’ve had a hand in setting them up
in knocking them down

(chorus)
love is not against the law
love is not against the law

(vs. 2)
are we defending life
when we just pick and choose
lives acceptable to lose
and which ones to defend

‘cause you cannot choose your friends
but you choose your enemies
and what if they were one
one and the same

could you find a way
to love them both the same
to give them your name

(chorus)

Love our enemies. It's a command.

I don't often talk about the deeper things running through my mind on this blog. I try to keep it light and funny. But tonight I feel compelled, as this song is playing on repeat and my heart is overwhelmed with its implications.

This song summarizes so much of what I wish to say...so much of what I wish to live.

My mind is full of faces right now who, by many, would be deemed our "enemy."
Tonight in those places there are thousands willing to kill in the name of their government, but very few willing to die in the name of love. What will it take? Who will go for Him?

The harvest is plentiful...the workers are few. I'm asking YOU tonight, Father. Raise up more workers willing to die for the sake of LOVE...willing to die for You.

It was the perfect weather (in my opinion) as a group of us joined with hundreds this evening to hear the Illinois Symphony perform a preview concert in the Park. From the babies to the grandparents, the music seemed to be a hit with all ages. It wasn't too long or too serious and I really coudn't think of a better way to unofficially end the summer season. (Not to mention that it was one more thing that I could now cross off from my ANYTHING & EVERYTHING SUMMER list!)

Sunday afternoon + You've Got Mail + Coffee = Happiness

I don't know what it is about this movie. I've seen it a million times...or at least enough to recite most lines from memory, and it never gets old.

Upon every viewing, the following thoughts inevitably cross my mind...

*I want my hair cut like Meg's.
*I should move to NYC.
*I would love to own my own children's bookstore someday.
*Starbucks sounds great right about now.
*Oh how I love Fall.
*Daisies are the friendliest flowers.

The Lunch Gang...Can you decide who's who?

A. "I CHI everyday."

B. "I like this picture because it looks like I have big biceps."

C. I'll have a half of sandwich and two pieces of lettuce please.

D. The new face of Olan Mills.

THE CONCLUSION to yesterday's post:
WHAT HAPPENEED TO "TINA?"

ANSWER: We don't know. We never answered the door....

Until Cliff arrived to the rescue.
He was definitely the superhero of the century. Even though no one was outside when he arrived, we still needed the peace of mind that came with a man calming our imaginations that had run wild.

Cliff, Here's to YOU!! Our hero...both now and forever.