Friday, June 29, 2007

"I've Always Been Like This"

At what point in your life do you begin to use this as an excuse?

As I have been listening, even some of the wisest people in my life have said "Well, I'm ____ years old...I'm not going to change now."

Are there those who seek change and those who run from it?
Is the reaction dependent on how big the change is?

I have been in a period of self-reflection in the last 10 to 12 weeks...I am finding so many characteristics in myself that I want to grow and nurture--and equally as many that I am trying to squelch. I am always watching, always listening to hear the reactions and interactions of others to, hopefully, pick up ways to be more like those that I admire.

What is one characteristic about yourself that you love?

What is one that you know you could/should do without?

New Staff = New Blogs

In the last few months we have had about 5 people join the Student Ministries team in various capacities...

Of these five, two have blogger accounts, but have yet to commit to the blog...two are completely oblivious to the blog world...and one, yes, one strong rookie joined the ranks this afternoon!

Kylee Dobbs

Read her blog so she will continue to write!

Just Another Night at the Witts: Eating Hot Dogs, Playing Wii and Taking Pictures

















Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

No Turning Back

Have you ever had one of those moments when something comes out of your mouth and you know, instantly, that you shouldn't have said it? You pray with everything in you to suddenly realize you know the math to make time travel possible and you can create a machine to go back and shut your face this time?

Oh, I've had those moments...I've had multiple in the last few hours.

Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.

Soap preference:

3. Bar Soap
2. Foam Soap
1. Liquid Soap

Monday, June 25, 2007

Cuckoo's Nest

I feel like I've used this phrase about 300 times in the last month...

I was wondering though, what makes someone cuckoo? Is craziness a subjective thing?

What is the line that marks the switch from "cute quirk" to "annoying eccentricity"?
Does this line vary from person to person? If so, which person does the variety: the quirky person or the friend of the quirky person?

Maybe this doesn't make sense. Let's use a for instance: Let's say Jane has a habit of popping her gum...but you love Jane...so it doesn't bother you...Now, Judy also pops her gum...but since you have a difficult time with Judy, it drives you crazy. So you must be the variable...right?

Well, how about this...Jack belches loudly and a lot. He does so in front of his closest friends...for the most part, they don't seem to mind. He would never do this in front of his new girlfriend--so he is the variable...right?

Do you hide your crazy until you know someone truly loves you or do you let your crazy out and hope they adore you more for it?

Maybe this post is me putting my crazy out for the whole world to read?!

What crazy quirk do you reserve for best friends?

Palm Springs

I'm in Palm Springs this week with the Student Ministries staff.

We are back on Wednesday...

Allison bought internet in our room, so I should be able to post each night...we'll see.

REALLY FUN SO FAR!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Oh, Freshman!

This afternoon, on our way to the roller rink, I actually heard a student say:

You mean we're using skates? Like two wheels here (hand gesture to signify side-by-side) and two wheels here? (same hand gesture just a few inches behind the first) Wow, I've only ever used the four-in-a-row skates.

Good Cops, Bad Cop

BAD COP: After dinner, we were trying to get to The Pond (Honda Center). Allison tried to make a right turn and the policeman in the middle of the intersection came up to her car and said, "When I tell you to go left, you go left. It is not your decision" Rude.

GOOD COPS: We made it to the Honda Center (after a scolded right turn). The Police were amazing. I love concerts that make you say "Oh, I love this song" over and over. I actually squealed when they started "Roxanne"...and I got a little misty-eyed during a few songs thinking about how many of my childhood memories are set to a Police soundtrack.

After the scolding...


Lovely...


Pre-Concert Traffic...




Sweet, Simple Stage Set-Up...


Sting, effortless singing...


Ryanne's favorite part of the night...Dinosaur skeletons on the screen during "Walking in Your Footsteps"...


For some reason, seeing the name on the kick-drum was so exciting...


Three girls at a concert together...we have to buy a shirt, right? How about 3? Of the same shirt? It's not as though we work together and everyone will know we all bought the same shirts...


What a great show!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

I love Text Messaging

Within minutes, this morning, I could text the entire JH staff...and hear back from most of them. And I didn't have to risk waking them up (well, they probably woke up to text alert noises)...

I love technology...

Harry and Sally

Can men and women be friends without one of them liking the other "like that"?

I think it is totally possible...I think that I have friendships that are proof...

It's a question that has been asked for years...I would love to hear what you think...

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

I am a Germaphobe*

So sue me.

I don't want to touch the dirty carts at Target.
I put napkins in the seat before I put my purse down in that cart.
I would never touch anything at our Wal-Mart.
I use paper towels to open doors.
I will not use silverware that touched the table.
The face-up side of the napkin (or the inside) is acceptable for use.
The thought of tables being cleaned by the same rag all day makes me gag.
Don't even get me started on sponges!
I can hardly use the towel to dry my hands in someone's bathroom.
I am considering stocking my home bathroom with paper towels...expensive, but cleanly.
I watched, in horror, as the Coldstone girl touched her hair (twice) and then sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand and then made ice cream for the man in front of me--no hand wash!...as I thanked the Lord that I had only come in to buy gift cards and was helped by the other Coldstone girl (who appeared clean, but wore no make-up)

Spare me the lectures about how you need to have some germs to keep your antibodies strong...blah, blah, blah. I'm pretty dang well (I refuse to use the word healthy, because I would not consider myself a healthy young woman--I hate salads too, but that's a different blog).

What I don't need is someone's gross pee-hands touching a counter-top that I then place my hands on and touch my face or my eyes or food that goes in my mouth. Oh...yeeks. So sickening! Cart handles, escalator hand-rails, ATM pin-pad buttons, gas station pumps...a few of the many, many things that are not regularly cleaned.

*Mom, please read this title as "I am a Jitterbug"*

Monday, June 18, 2007

New Additions

Tonight at Target, I bought the first of many items for my new house...

6 ice cream dishes (glass, like at an ice cream parlor)

and a creamer shaped like a cow

Honestly, my home is shaping-up to be amazing.

I also purchased a set of diving sticks (shaped like an eel and a deep-sea diver) and Little Shop of Horrors on DVD...but those really won't add any value to the house.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

I Love Christmas

I just finished watching The O.C. Season 2 Chrismukkah episode.

I wish it were Christmastime.

I want to wear a sweater, and come downstairs to a Christmas tree.

I want to sit by the fire and watch "It's a Wonderful Life".

I want to see creepy Santas at the mall.

I love, love, love Christmas...with my whole heart.

Love.

Nana Keeks

Today we celebrated 3 birthdays, a graduation and Father's Day in one fell swoop.
During dinner (which I spilled all over my pink shirt forcing me to change clothes) we started talking about what my mom would like to be called when she becomes a grandmother (which is still a long-time off).

She mentioned "Juju" to which I responded that she will have some Grandma connotation in the title she receives from my kids. My aunt Gina said she won't be called Grandma either...she'll be Kiki.

I offered the suggestion of "Nana Keeks"...and she went nuts...her response made it even funnier to me and the rest of the family...so we kept it up all afternoon.

I was told "Get out of my house" at least four times.
I was dis-invited to the next family gathering.
I was locked out on the back porch.
I changed the name on her birthday card and she threw it across the room.

Then she almost started crying...and said it wasn't funny at all and she doesn't like and could I please stop.

Hilarious.
You're a good sport Keeks!

Saturday, June 16, 2007

OCD: Target Style

Every week I shop for supplies and prizes at Target. For a while it was every Thursday on the way to work, then I fell out of that habit...now it is just sometime during the week.

When it was every Thursday, they knew me...they knew that I worked for the church and they knew I was always buying a lot of ridiculous stuff to turn in to fun.

Now that I have no pattern, I am stuck with people who don't know me. They look at all of the items I have on the conveyor belt and, I'm convinced, they think I have OCD. I buy everything in fours (since we have four services). Always five or six different items, four of each...and a few obscure items for luck.

This week:
4 items from the $1 section
4 badminton sets
4 twin-super soaker sets
4 Remote Control Tarantulas (which I'm hoping to open and play with if one is unclaimed at the end of the weekend)
40 composition notebooks
4 packs of gum
2 packs of altoids
a package of hot dogs
a jar of peanut butter
paper plates
baby wipes



As of this week I will only need 3 of everything. I wonder how long it will take me to snap out of buying 4? I wonder if any Target employees will notice the switch and think I lost a child or something?

Yesterday's Adventures

I came home last night physically exhausted. I laid down to blog and couldn't do it.

Yesterday, Griff and I (with various friends throughout the day) shot a series of seven videos for the PDYM Student Leadership Conference.

Here's a recap:
* Allison Murray drank a bottle of hot sauce
* Griff ate In-n-Out (I know, he should have switched Allison)
* Leigh mapped Australia
* Danny counted change
* I found some bees
* Bella taught us some phrases
* Griff and I dropped a computer off the top of the worship center


Okay, the computer drop was the last video we shot, and the best part of the day! Knowing I would blog about it, we took some photos...

There are TWO ladders to climb to get to the roof of the worship center. We had a giant computer to take with us (tower, LCD screen, keyboard and mouse). The boys McGyvered a blue bucket with a rope and pulled it up the ladder.



We climbed up after--it was about 94 degrees outside...


The church from the roof


The solar panels on the roof


Darren climbed up the second ladder with one hand, carrying the heavy computer in the other...without him, I doubt we would have made it all the way up.


A small crowd gathered, anxious to see the destruction


I can't give it away, in case any conference-attendees read this post, but here is the computer after the drop...(the post-it note says MONITOR NOT WORKING)


I'll be sure to post these videos after they run at the conference!

Happy Anniversary to My Blog

Thursday was Flag Day.
Flag Day 2006 is the day I began my blog...
Happy Birthday Blog. I love you.

Here is my first post...

Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Flag day... Known also as "Make Yourself a Blog Day"

Today at work it seemed as though everyone was building themselves a blog. I decided to jump on the blogwagon and make myself one as well.

The way I see it, if my coworkers can post their thoughts thinking other people are interested, then so can I.

I quite enjoy blogs, by the way.

Be prepared. My blog will be the best.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

My New House

I'm moving out. I'm renting a place from my uncle, a few miles from where I live now.
This week it's almost all I can think about:
* What do I need?
* Can I really do this?
* Will people want to come over and hang out?

Apart from living in London, I have never lived on my own...

Here's my list of what I think a house needs:
(I am struggling with calling this a needs list because let's all be honest, I could survive just fine without most of this)--(those in italics would be what I already have)

FURNITURE:
* couch(es)
* dining room table
* coffee table
* chairs

APPLIANCES/ELECTRONICS:
* microwave
* refrigerator
* washer/dryer
* blender
* toaster
* mixer
* vacuum
* wireless internet
* TV
* Tivo
* DVD player

LINENS-ISH:
* sheets
* towels
* pool/beach towels
* dishtowels
* blankets
* bathmat
* hand towels/washcloths

BASIC HOUSE WARE SUPPLIES:

* dishes
* silverware
* trashcan
* cups
* mugs
* Tupperware products
* pots and pans
* cookie sheets
* wooden spoons/spatulas
* colander
* Measuring spoons/cups
* cookie cutters

CLEANING PRODUCTS (for body and home):

* toilet paper
* paper towels
* dish soap
* laundry detergent
* dryer sheets
* trash bags
* cleaning products (sadly, I have not really ever cleaned a house. So I am pretty much completely unaware of which products I would actually need...and what tools I would need to use them)
I am nervous about the first time I will have to:
--clean a toilet
--dust
--mop(?) the kitchen floor
--garden (or something) my back patio/yard


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:
* A Christmas tree
* Frames--wall art
* Plunger
* Fly Swatter
* Tools (screwdriver, hammer, duct tape, staple gun)

Am I missing anything? Anyone care to attend a "House-Warming Party"!?

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Acc-periment

If I chose to speak in nothing but a British accent all day, would that be fun or annoying?

I would love to experiment with this (now do you get the title? ACCent and exPERIMENT), since I love British accents, I just get nervous that everyone would be crazy mad at the end of the day...

Music of My Heart

I've had a few conversations in the past few days about music...

Why is it that I (I'd like to say 'we' as in everyone feels this way, but it's probably just me) feel like approval of my musical choices ultimately equates to an approval of me? If you dislike my music, I feel you may end up disliking me...

I know this seems silly, but I think I react similarly to others.

If you were to tell me that your favorite all-time album is something by Carman, or Blink-182, I would probably judge. I would think, oh...I guess we don't have much in common...too bad.

I think I have good taste in music--doesn't everyone think this about themselves? (oh, "good music" is such a subjective term). So when I say "you should listen to this" and someone nods and walks away, I'm heart-broken...somehow they have just shattered my hope for a great musical connection.

Okay, to be completely honest, I would only de-friend based on musical taste if one were to say that he/she hates Queen...That's an unforgivable opinion.

My Grandma Rules

This is my Grandma. We call her Bum.



It was her birthday on Monday and she called to invite me out to dinner at Lucille's.
The waiter, as slow as he was, caught on to the fact that it was her birthday and brought her a sundae...

She smiled for a few pictures and then faked surprise. This surprise photo is reason enough to prove that my Grandma is way better than yours.

If I Go Deaf, Blame Fergie

My favorite thing to do on my way to work is listen to Fergie...
London Bridge, Fergalicious, Barracuda

I listen to it at full volume...and dance as if I were in the music video (though that music video would be awful!)

I get out of the car and in to the office each day with ringing in my ears. I know I speak much louder in the morning than the rest of the day once my drums adjust.

I'm not sure how I feel about her as a person, but as a musician...I'm sold.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Laughing in the Bathroom

We had dinner at Lucille's tonight...I took a trip to the bathroom between dinner and dessert...

As I sat in the bathroom, I thought of a funny conversation I had yesterday...

Then I laughed. Out loud. By myself. In the bathroom.

I assumed that the other ladies thought I was crazy...which made me laugh again.

If you were in the bathroom and now you are reading this, I am not cuckoo's nest...I just like to laugh.

In My Backseat Pt. 2

So, I spent the last hour or so cleaning out the backseat and trunk of my car...
Here are some of the discoveries:

* 2 Boxes of knick-knacks from my desk in the old office (we moved in October)
* 2 Operation board games
* 4 cans of expired Spaghetti O's (they have about a two-year shelf-life)
* 3 magazines from January 2006 (all three covers featured some spin on the Brad-Jen split)
* The O.C. board game
* An Entertainment magazine with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst on the cover--from Spiderman TWO.
* My text book, notebook and every paper from my final semester of college
* About 14 empty Aquafina water bottles
* A cake pan
* A soccer ball
* A giant bag of pretzels
* 3 empty Anthropologie bags
* A red dress, black tank top, gray pajama pants and a sweatshirt that belonged to one of my C-Group girls from two years ago.
* A Pigeon-language Bible
* A Wildside video camera
* 3 un-given wrapped Christmas gifts
* 6 Message Bibles
* Notebook from PDYM 2005
* A green-and-red striped candy cane
* My Disneyland pass
* Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing

Honestly, I should clean out my car more often...

In My Backseat

Allison McCroskey posted about this once...but my car is such a mess right now that it's time for a part two.

I'm heading outside in a bit to clean out my car...and to make a list of the gold that I will find back there...

Saturday, June 09, 2007

I Fahren-heart Ray Bradbury

I had a delicious Saturday morning breakfast at Disney's Grand Californian hotel...complete with Mickey-shaped waffles.

As we finished our food, my friend looked over and saw Ray Bradbury sitting at a nearby table.

I think I was simultaneously impressed that my friend could recognize Ray Bradbury and excited at the thought of seeing such an amazing author.

I love Fahrenheit 451. I love good literature, in general, really.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Puke Pals

You know you have a life-long friend when they come in to the bathroom to check on you while you're puking...and then bring you water...and then hand you paper towels to wipe your face...

The past few days I've been thinking about how friendships change and grow...

I am so thankful for the great, great friends I have in my life right now...

God is so good.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The Creepiest Thing Ever

I have a site meter on my blog that allows me to see locations of blog readers, how many pages they've viewed and how they got to my blog...

Last night, I noticed a reader in L.A. that did not come to my blog through Josh Griffin's. The site meter does not give names of readers, but it does give longitude and latitude coordinates. I thought I'd do some investigative work to see if I could find the street name, or at least the location...Maybe I know them.

So...I looked them up. The location? Smack in the middle of a cemetery.

Apparently those dead people can't get enough of my blog...they check it about five times a day.

I'm thinking about planning a road trip up to L.A. to take a photo with my reader...hopefully we can get him to stick his hand out of his grave and give a thumbs-up!

Here's proof: (Just call me Veronica Mars!)

The Site meter


The Map View


The Actual Dude

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Wednesday Morning Staff Meeting



On a typical staff-meeting-Wednesday, I have a hard time sitting in the chair for two hours and not thinking of other ways I should be spending my time; I bring a pad of paper and make to do lists...last time I brought my laptop and worked on slides and the bulletin the entire time.

Today was different. Our staff meeting, this morning, was about the history of Saddleback. Rick sat and walked us through the last 25+ years: struggles, lessons learned, values, etc.

I loved this staff meeting. I loved remembering many of the moments he shared about. I had tears in my eyes a few times through the meeting as he shared memories of walking from Trabuco Hills High School to our current property, singing "Time to Build" and "The Road to Recovery", the icy tent...

In the last few minutes of the meeting, Rick read "The Saddleback Vision" from 1980. It was amazing to see the way that this couple (Rick and Kay) had trusted God to work in BIG ways...and how God has been clearly present in every step of the journey.

I loved my job when I woke up this morning...if it's possible, I love it even more as I go to sleep tonight. I can't wait to see how much BIGGER God can be in the next 25+ years.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Apparently I look 17...and 65

When the pizza boy brought our delicious cheese pizza he told me that he really isn't supposed to take checks from people under the age of 18.

My response? "Uh, yeah, you're nice, but I am definitely over 18."

Then, when I went to Alyssa's 1st grade graduation ceremony, the kid next to me (who farted through the entire night) was talking to his friend who pointed at me and asked "Is that your Grandma?"

My response? [crinkled face and look at his father]...my thoughts [idiot kid, do you not know what a grandma looks like?!]

I'm not sure if this makes me want to wear this red-and-white-striped shirt all the time OR if it makes me never want to wear it again!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Pretty Amazing? I Think So.

It has been brought to my attention that if one were to google Funfetti cupcakes, my blog would be the eleventh result.

I'm not sure that I can fully express the joy that this brings me.

I am honored to be so closely linked with this delicious snack food.

I Am Special

This morning, Josh Treece's post about his childhood (with a terrible Michael Jackson song for a title) made me think...

Here are a few things that I'll bet you didn't know about me:

1) I know every song lyric in (almost) every major Disney animated movie pre-1997.
Once, in junior high, this theory was tested...and proven true. The only song I did not know enough words to was "In the Bank" from Mary Poppins (but, honestly, who knows that? They had to look it up online to even find a song to stump me!) Pre-1997 each movie had multiple musical numbers...I miss those days.

2) I can fit my entire fist in my mouth.
Seriously, I can. It's ridiculous, but true.

3) I remember the birthday and phone number of every friend I had in elementary school and junior high.
I have a difficult time remembering those of the friends I have made since then, but Rachel, Joey, Paul, Amy...check!

4) In each conversation in a day, I sing at least three songs in my head based on conversational topic and the words said.
I realize how annoying it would be if I sang every one aloud, so I choose to make only a few known...and if it isn't a song lyric, it's a line from a TV show or movie...I wonder if I would be a better person if three Bible verses popped in my head during each conversation?!

What makes you special?


**Oh, in case you are wondering, the title of this blog came from a kid's song "You are special, you're the only one--you're the only one of you, there isn't another in the whole wide world who can do the things you do! Oh you are special! Special! Everyone is special. Everyone in his or her own way!"**

Lullaby

Shawn Mullins, 1998.

"Everything's gonna be alright, rock-a-bye..."

Ordinarily, I am strongly opposed to songs that consist of verses that are spoken instead of sung...

I remember having an argument with one of my parents, getting in my car and driving to be fitted for my Choralistics (I was in show choir in high school) dress. I cried all the way there. As I pulled up to the light at El Toro and Muirlands, this song came on. And, being that I was 17 and crying, I found comfort in Shawn's spoken song. Since then, I have a special place in my heart for this song (silly, I know)

Tonight as I drove home, i-Pod on shuffle, this song came on. This time I remembered a different line.

"All her friends tell her she's so pretty/
She'd be a whole-lot prettier if she smiled once in a while."

I really like this lyric. I always have. I think that happiness (really, joy) is attractive. I think people are drawn to smiles and laughter. Not to the point of being constantly fake...but genuine smiles are intriguing. I don't mean solely boyfriend/girlfriend attraction either. I mean friendships, familial relationships, business partnerships...people want to surround themselves with those who will build them up, not bring them down...

Wow, Mr. Mullins, I bet you never thought you would be teaching me lessons ten years later...

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Latest Read

My journey to the bookstore ended with the purchase of this book:

DREAM WHEN YOU'RE FEELING BLUE by Elizabeth Berg.



How cute is this cover?

I'm about 15 pages in, it's pretty good so far...

Another Word I Dislike

This is becoming quite a list...

I am really bothered by the word weird.

It is okay to use weird in reference to a creepy movie or space aliens.

It is not okay to use the word in reference to someone or something that you don't understand...someone or something that is different from you...someone or something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

It is silly to travel to another country and say the culture (traditions, food, language, clothing, church styles, etc.) is weird. Weird is not the correct word here; use another word to express what you are actually feeling. Some suggestions: "This experience was __________" interesting, different, unexpected, intriguing, curious, upsetting, challenging, uncomfortable...

Also,

It is rude (and, please hear me, this is something I am trying to fix in my own head) to judge someone based solely on a handful of conversations you've had and then describe him or her as weird. He or she simply does not fit the description of what you would deem acceptable or normal. This is, in no way, meant to sound as though you have to get along with everyone and be best friends, but what I am saying is that your words can cause others to form a prejudice against that person; a person that they could learn to love, teach, learn from.

I know I'm on a soapbox...I have heard this word quite a few times recently and just wanted to voice my opinion.

Changing the World

This sounds so arrogant...That is not the way this is intended to sound.

I am supposed to change the world. I am. Me.

I don't know what that looks like. I don't know how I get there.
But, that's the plan.

I'm praying for the how and the when...feel free to pray alongside me.