Sunshine

Yesterday it was SO SUNNY.
Or maybe it's just been dark and rainy for the past like 2 weeks and I forgot what it was like to feel it on my face.
It was healing, almost.
Hope it doesn't go away.

Reminds me of a song we used to sing when I was little...

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy,
When skies are grey.
You'll never know dear,
How much I love you.
Please dont take my sunshine away.

That was an overall lame post, but I'll make it up to you.

So Big

There are some NEW guitar heros in town...

Amy and the boys are in town this weekend.
They're getting SO BIG!
Asa can get like 40% already the easy level.
There's pretty much nothing they can't do... it's true!
If you dont believe me, hand the boys a golf club or soccer ball, or any ball at all and they will prove to you otherwise.
Yeah, I'm pretty crazy about them.

So Good

Annie, H and I went to see Dave Barnes last night. He's SO GOOD and if you don't own at least one of his cd's... well, you should! Gabe Dixon opened up for him and he's really good too. Matt Wertz is also another Nashvillian (?) that's friends with all those guys. Kevin and Mandy have been to his house. These are more reasons I want to go back to Nashville...
Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes also played at the Passion Conference in Atlanta at the beginging of January (see Passion07 post). I love their mushy lyrics and love songs creativity and they're Christians, too.
If you ever can't find me, look for a puddle in front of the stage that they're on.

So Cute

Have you ever seen anyone cuter?

I'm so glad I know this person.
She's so much fun!
Her mom's pretty cool too... :)

My favorite thing about Isaiah is her belly laugh.
It's pretty much the greatest...
Good work Bekah & JM!

Nashville

What a cool city!
It was fun and refreshing to be spontanious and jump in the car and head to Tennessee with moma. I'm not a spontanious person, but with prompting and a little force I'm never sorry I was... It wasn't all fun though, our hearts were heavy as we road through the prettiest country from Georgia to Tennessee. (reference from 'days go by' by Keith Urban - who we listened to the ENTIRE way and back) We were surrounded on all four sides by 18-wheelers. One semi had a spray-paintned picture of 'Plankton' (from SpongeBob Square Pants) on the back... that was funny. (picture at bottom) We also saw snow flakes Saturday morning. A definite hilight for me, I LOVE snow. Wish it would snow here in lame ole' Georgia.
It was sooo good to see the Arnolds. They came to see us several weeks ago but Katherine has grown too sick to travel. We've been keeping up daily with her blog and emails, but this week was especially hard for them and we wanted to lay eyes on her ourselves! Sharliss (K's mom) and Katherine have made that hospital room their home. They are giving her a week or so to "rest" before they start more chemo. She has a feeding tube they take in and out as needed. But this morning she drank a vanilla latte and bananna bread we brought from Starbucks with no nausia. That was a good sign. She's gained a little weight this week which is also great.
Her brother Will was in town from Athens. She loves it when her brothers come in town. Will took me to lunch in downtown Nashville and I got to see some of the city, but I would def. LOVE to go back there someday and stay longer. It'd be fun to go stay with a local (Kev & Mandy!) and let them show you all the cool places to eat and hear live music. It's a really old, charming city. Big beautiful old churches on every corner. Gorgeous HUGE houses on every hill and farms everywhere. Really cool. I didn't see anyone famous but David (K's dad) said he's seen Nicole Kidman-Urban walking into the movie theatre before... wow. I love her husband. Mom and I decided he could sing "poop on a stick" and we would still love him.
ANYWAY :)
Keep Katherine Jane in your prayers as she fights and wins this battle of cancer. And read her story if you have a second and need some perspective. Makes you realize what's really important and to value your family and friends.
(http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=katherinearnold01)

P-R-A-Y

Mom and I are headin' to Nashville in about an hour.
Our lifelong friends the Arnolds moved there late summer '06 and after a few weeks of settling in, their daughter Katherine was diagnosed with Leukemia. She's been in and out of the hospital since then on several medications and chemo's.
Details on their blog.
(The link is on the right side under 'favorite bloggers-Katherine Arnold')
She has had a bad allergic reaction and has taken a turn for the worse today.
Keep her in your prayers and us while we travel.
We'll be back tomorrow night.
Love.

Alright, FINE!

I've been avoiding this post at all cost...
But it's time for me to own up.
So here goes nothin'.

I stink at loosing.
I mean, I'm a really bad sport... it's true.
If you're Annie Downs, you know this full well.
I talked trash long enough, it was time.
Friday night, January 19th, 2007 - mark it down in the history books - Katie B. was beat at Guitar Hero. I think it's what I wanted though. I mean, it was getting ridiculous... :)

Hah, ok, I'm done.

Here are some pictures of the champ and everyone else in shock and amazement.













You know what they say...
"Good at Guitar Hero, good at life"










Oh, and then Ash, Em and I went to Walmart at like 11:30 and tried on these wicked awesome hats...

Top 5 things that annoy me the most

I think get annoyed really easily. Or maybe things are just annoying me more these past few days because it’s 'that time' when you just a little more suseptible and easily annoyed at little things. Reguardless, I sat down and started thinking about the things people do that are annoying as crap. Needless to say, it didn’t take me very long to come up with five. Here they are in no particular order:

#1 – Close Stander
When you’re in line say, at Target for example… and the person behind you is right on top of you and you can feel their breath on your neck. Gross. A stranger in your personal space bubble. Seriously. Have some respect for mankind and the space we require. The only thing you can do is step backwards and pretend you didn’t know they were there, or like I do, and re-adjust and swing your purse backwards, sometimes nailing them in the chest. Then you act real sorry. Works like a charm.

#2 - Drive-thru Stopper
Ok, so the person in front of you in the drive through has just gotten their food and they pull up just enough for you to barely reach the window, and then they STOP. They sit there and go through their food and pull everything out of the bag and by the time you have gotten your food and are ready to pull off, they’re STLL THERE! Do you honk? You cant get by them without hitting them or going over the curb. Oh geez…
And worse is when the sit AT the window and go through their bag, pulling everything out. I mean, I can understand the 'quick check' to make sure it looks like it's all there. But c'mon!

#3 – Back Patter
Ok, my poor moma, I bite her head off every time she pats me on the back. It’s in her job description to be affectionate and caring. But seriously, it’s so demeaning to me when people pat me on the back. Like, oh poor Katie. I know you mean well, but I’m warning you, I cant guarantee you wont get a roundhouse kick to the face if you pat me one more time.

#4 - Mature Talking Parent
We were in some beauty salon the other day and there was this mom who’s little boy was running around like crazy. She kept yelling things like “Maximus! Don’t touch, that’s a look only!”. Ok first of all, this two year old is named Maximus. There’s your first mistake. Your next one is that he doesn’t care a one bit about you or your mature adult advice as to what’s a “don’t touch” or a “look only”. Discipline words with no action = Maximus still running around like crazy.

And last, but NOT least...

#5 - When people try to talk to me when I’m playing guitar hero.

Enough

I loved David’s talk on Sunday. Genesis 1:1-2. “In the beginning God…” That’s it. He’s the only Necessary thing. Every good thing falls in place AFTER him. Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” He doesn’t find his purpose and fulfillment in me... I find my purpose and fulfillment in Him. We don’t ask Him into our lives, we ask to be a part of His. What a relief! It certainly takes the pressure off to try and be perfect. Which is stupid anyway, cause we’re never going to be.

I think that’s important to our (?) generation these days. Sometimes I wonder, ‘where did the humility go?’ We get so wrapped up in asking him for more and more, which is great and all, because he always has more for us, but we forget that he has ALREADY given us the greatest gift. His only Son. So next time I catch myself asking for more, or whining because things aren’t going my own stupid way, I just remember to be thankful for the greatest love story ever…

He is enough. Or in Chris Tomlin’s words, MORE than enough.
More than all I want
More than all I need
More than all I know (STILL more awesome than I know… wow)
More than all I can see
You are more than enough for me

Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Cake walk.

"There's something deeply satisfying about eating piles of junk food while watching other people exercise." -Loralie Gilmore

So Marie Claire and I decided to be good on our day off and get up semi-early and go walking at the mountain. We met at Grace community church and walked all along Kennesaw Avenue and to the Guest Center and back... pretty good trek if you ask me. I was proud.
So when we're done we get in the car and have some time to kill before we have to meet mom at the Tea shop. We decide to go back to my house to get some water. Upon entering the kitchen, there sits on the counter 4 slices of chocolate cake just waiting to be consumed. Are you kidding? Did we care about our efforts to get up and excercise and be healthy? Of course not! We happily sat on the deck and enjoyed the attempt. All calories burnt came back double.
I loved it... so good.
Now I'm gonna go eat the other 2 slices. :)

Very Cool Cousins.

I have some... Nathan and Sam.
They're both in bands.
Sam plays base guitar in "love takes flight" and Nate plays guitar in the "chris orr band". I think they're really great and I'm really proud of them.

I went to Vineyard Community Church tonight to see Sam play. It was really fun.
The rest of the band was cool too.
Here are some pictures.





Right before the show
at the "merch" table...










Sam's friend Stephen 'skates'.
Always looks like he's up to something...












Sam bein' awesome.



And a few weeks ago I went to Macon to see Nathan and the Chris Orr band play for Y.E.C. Nate was so good. I even got to hear him sing a little. I didn't know you could do that cuz!
I can't find where I saved those stinkin pictures though.
I'll keep looking...

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip -
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm -
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

New favorite CD

I copied the new Chris Tomlin CD off my mom's iPod onto mine today. It's SO GOOD. You should definately go purchase it on iTunes or at Target RIGHT NOW. I heard most of the songs live at Passion (a little bit bragging) and they are so good.
The first one on the CD is called "How can I keep from singing?" When Chris played it at Passion it sounded so familiar and I remembered I heard moma singing it in the next room listening to her new iPod riding her new excersize bike. (Who's the brat now?! Still dad's fault. He spoils us pretty bad...)
Anyways, the lyrics are:

How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And I fall down again

I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

SO GOOD.
Every song on the CD is good.

Wide Open Spaces

Why even is there so much empty space at Super Target?
I don't have a one idea, but Annie and Emma had their way with it...
Fun to watch. Makes you want to go there and run around in it doesn't it?

Conspiracy Theory?

Poor Annie... her right ear still hasn't popped since she stepped off the airplane from Ghana.
You know that annoying feeling like you have water in your ear and it shifts around and drives you NUTS. Well, we made her our little experiament today. Dad got these ear candles for Christmas from Jeanne (who else?) and we thought we would try and see if it would help Annies clog problem. Experts say, you light the end, and it draws the wax out of your ear. It acts like a chimney. Other experts and non-believers say, it's all CRAP. Which is it? Seriously, if you know anything about it let us know because we had a fight about it.
But here are some pic's of sweet Annie letting us put something on fire in her ear...






















"Did it work?", you ask...
Well, no. Nor did the rubbing alcohol.
But it made for some great pic's! :)
Love you Annie. May your ears be healed tonight while you are sleeping, in the mighty healing name of Jesus!

My Girls...

You know how you have that group of friends that you've known since... well, since you can remember you had friends? Well I have some of those and these are they:
They're pretty great, I mean, I'm pretty crazy about them...
We all got together at Lauren's house tonight for one last big hoopla before they all leave me agian and go back to college. We've been at the Passion conference this week and had an awesome time. God did some cool things this week...
When we get together after not seeing eachother for a while, it's like we hadn't even skipped a minute apart. Really fun... wouldn't
trade 'em for anything! (In order L to R - top right picture) Lauren Wells (she's the one that keeps us all in line. She's at UGA and I LOVE to go play with her in Athens. One day when she's gonna have some really important position in the government and look back at all the goofy pictures we have of eachother and laugh out loud.) Then there is Leah. (There is nothing she isn't good at. Except I beat her at guitar hero prior to these pictures being taken. Don't tell her I told you.) Then me. Then there's Katie Fleming (I've known her the longest since fourth grade. Mr. Scardino's class... she's the most polite person on the planet earth. And one of the funniest. I will fight you if you disagree.) Lastly, Brittany Funk. (Brittany loves to laugh - and participate! in all the stupid things we do and photograph just about all of them. We hope and pray she doesn't decide to use them as blackmail one day...)
Well that's them.
I LOOOOOVE you guys and am thinking and praying for you always.

Some more pics...

Passion Conference 2007

What a fantabulous week I spent with 25,000 (!!!) 18-25 year olds in Atlanta at the Passion Conference. I don't even know where to BEGIN! Maybe with the first day?
Ok, so Monday, registration and the first "main session" at Phillips Arena. They couldn't even fit us all in so they also streamed the talk to the Georgia World Congress Center where the remaining 6,000 were. Each venue had their own live worship leader. Among them... Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Steve Fee, Charlie Hall, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Redman, Tim Hughes. Not a bad line-up, huh?
Well the first night Louie Giglio spoke. Great message. To sum up - A price was paid (Isa 53:10) and a rescue was made (Col. 1:10-14). Then we went to our "Community groups". Each community group was made of about 1,000 kids so there were quite a few groups... bout 20. Each with their OWN speaker and worship leader. I was in the "orange community group" and our speaker was John McGowan (thegatheringonline.blogspot.com) and our worship leader was Matt Maher (www.mattmahermusic.com). They were really great. We then split up into groups of eight and that was our "family group" for the week. All made up of people from all around the US. Well, the world, really. We would come together a few times a day and discuss what God was specifically working at in us. Then, at about 11:15 there was "late nite" and you could pick from about 12 different concerts around the Congress Center and Phillips. I, of course, made a B-line to Dave Barnes and Matt Wertz. LOVE LOVE them...
Ok, day two. Beth Moore did the morning main session. She spoke on humility. KICKED MY BUTT. This was my focus the rest of the week. A whole separate blog in itself. Then in the afternoon after lunch we could choose from about 15 "breakout groups" we could attend. I went to one with Charlie Hall (whom I ADORE) and Tim Hughes (who has written more songs than I prob even know... he's 29). They talked about their ministries and how they came to be worship leaders and song writers. It was really a session for people that want to become those things, but I went anyways. :) It was awesome.
Ok, then at the night session this guy named Francis Chan spoke. He was unbelievable. I was so busy listening to his message that I didn't take a one note. All I did was title my page, "Tuesday Night - main session (some guy I've never heard of)". I will have to buy a copy of that and re-listen cause it was awesome. He's a pastor in California. Anyway, then I came home and played guitar hero with Marie and Ashley and Emily. What a day!
Day Three, Wednesday. I woke up and didn't feel good and couldn't make myself get out of bed. But I eventually did and made it for the last half of John Piper's message. He has some great things to say. So wise and straight-forward. I already purchased his message so I could go back and listen to the part I missed. The breakout group I went to Wednesday was Beth Moore's. It was a 'girls only' thing. Teaching women is her passion. And she's so good at it! I absolutely love her. Her two daughters were there and they participated with her during question and answer time. She spoke about insecurity since that's the problem that pretty much all girls struggle with. Though, her talks could apply to anyone. She has such a great perspective on things. So refreshing. Really good.
That night Louie spoke again. He talked about God's calling on our life. The whole week was kind of centered around the book of Colossians. I don't know if that was planned or not, I'm sure it was, but each speaker kind of reiterated what the prior speaker said and added so much to it. Several thousand people were called to some kind of long-term missions work.
Well, after community groups that night we were asked to leave in silence and head outside. They gave us all a little white candle. When we got outside there was this huge stage set up on the lawn. All 25,000 of us outside in the streets of Atlanta with a lit candle worshiping. An amazing sight and time of corporate worship. In fact, all week was. There is nothing like worshipping with thousands and thousands of people. It's overwhelming. What a blessing to be a part of it. Charlie Hall said corporate worship is like adding a big fat exclamation point to then end of your own personal shout of truth and worship. Worship is realizing what God has done for you, even though he is still so mysterious, but you sense redemption and help and closeness to Him. We can rejoice in the fact that he is closer than our troubles. Hallelujah!
I am anxiously awaiting my 'audio cd set' that I pre-ordered today that has all the sermons on it so I can go through them more slowly and digest all that was taught. My head is spinning right now. I feel like I didn't do the week justice in my lamo blog, but it was awesome for me. God knows that and that's all that matters.

Here are some pictures...










Beth doin' her thing...










My sweet family group.










Louie man!










Crowder man!

It's 2007!

Happy
New
Year!!!