Happy Little Trees

I ran 3 miles yesterday. All I can say today is: ow.

I was going to try to shave off time, but I think I'll be happy to just finish the race.

It's so crazy how running can wear you out so much faster than walking. Would skipping be the happy medium? Too bad nobody really caught on to the skipping phenomenon. I bet people would be a lot happier if they skipped more. But if they skipped, they need to be careful not to hop, because only bunnies and tiggers can be happy hopping. It just makes everybody else mad.

"Like Katrina with no FEMA.
Like Martin with no Gina."

I bought a NOW Music 27 CD, and that's one of the lyrics I’ve learned in my musi-cation of current music.

The more you hang with teenagers, the more you realize how much you’ve changed since that age, but at the same time, how very much the same you still are. It’s a bizarre feeling.

My favorite songs on my CD are “No One” by Alicia Keys (even if I can’t hit the keys with her), “Clumsy” by Fergie, “Love Song” by Sara Barielles, and “Love Like This” by Natasha Bedingfield.

The best compliment was when one of my Young Life kids wanted to borrow my CD to burn it. I think I moved up on the music cool scale by getting that CD and liking it. They never mentioned that when I played them my ipod tunes with “Brown-Eyed Girl” and the Carpenters.

I made a grill for my teeth on Wednesday night at Young Life out of aluminum foil. I've kind of been missing it. The kids liked it. I might wear it this weekend around town. It's comforting like my retainer, but so much cooler.

Today is Miss Fergie's b-day. She is 33--just like me! We are only five days apart in age. (We even share the same middle name--and I don't mean "licious"). That kind of makes me feel better about being 33. It makes me feel like I still have a chance at nice abs, a record deal, and learning hip-hop moves without pulling a muscle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FERGIE!

Have I crammed too much into my schedule again? Today I said no to two activities. I’ve heard of people that had “yes” months in which if they were invited on an activity (usually a date), no matter whom the person, they would say yes. I think that is a good way to practice having near-death experiences (especially for bus riders and singles group church attenders).

I decided to make April “The Month of No.” That means, I’m not going to any baby showers, wedding showers, birthday parties, or extra group activities. It’s not that these things are bad to be invited to, it’s actually quite an honor, but I’ve been so overloaded, I’m exhausted. When I am exhausted, my normally easy-going personality can either become witchy or weepy. No wonder the Hollywood circuit has to go on drugs to attend all their parties! I’m not into those substances, so I’ll have to just practice saying no.

And, Mr. Wonderful, if you are reading this, I’m sorry, I cannot go on a date with you during the month of April. So, put our date money in a savings account to earn interest, because by May, I’ll need a seriously good date which includes dinner (somewhere which requires reservations) and a movie.

I've been in a long-distance friendship with my college friend, Leslee, for a very long time, and it's pretty successful thanks to Nextel/Sprint and Cingular/AT&T phone plans. I wish you all could know her (and her fabulous family) if you don't already. She makes me laugh very hard on a regular basis.

Two important things about Leslee:

1) Leslee likes to talk to me on the phone into the wee hours of the night.

2) Never underestimate Leslee's ability to generate a creative Halloween costume.

It happened. I hit 33. At 33, Jesus was dying for our sins, and rising again on the third day. I just went to the rodeo.

First, I had my favorite cupcakes courtesy of my friend, Lisa.


Then I went to the rodeo and fell in love with a Longhorn (sorry, Aggies).

I ran into some other peeps that shared a birthday with me.


And then, I got back to my KY farming roots.

We headed over to the big stadium and I got to see some of my favorite things at the rodeo.


Then, since the concert ended early, we were able to squeeze in some sushi, and some Empire Cafe cake.


Thanks so much, Lisa!

I don't know if you're 33, but I've been thinking, what have I done in 33 years? And what did Jesus do in 33 years? Hmmmm. I love Jesus.

Easter is here.

BEFORE

AFTER

And it's just the beginning...