Church today was about What God has called us each to do. It was about the passion that is stirred in our heart each day by God - the things he lays on our hearts and where he expects us to take that passion. Pastor John made the statement that if we are doing something in life for ourselves then we are acting out of lust, not passion. Our passions should be something that benefits those around us.
This of course got me wondering what it is that I do for those around me. What i'm passionate about. I know that God is calling me to go to Vet school, and while I do not know why - I know that's where he's leading me. However, I cannot say I feel passionate - as if I were born to do this. That being said, I love animals and the relationships we have with them as well as the roles they conduct in our lives.
I also considered that making people smile or happy was my passion. I get ridiculously giddy when I can make someones day or get them to laugh. My drug is hearing someone call me with a problem and telling me thank you because I have in some way helped - even if a little. I don't know if that's what God is searching for - because you can't make a living making peoples days - however, you can make a life :)
John ended service by having us hold our hands over our hearts and feel them beat. He then states that one day this heart would stop beating and what would we do with that heart while we were alive. This moment in the a.m led me to the moments leading up to the p.m - Lauren's memorial service.
I wore my big pink tutu and walked into the funeral alone. I sat stood there as her grandmother and aunt told me how wonderful my tutu was and that Lauren would have loved it! As I sat in the seats staring at the slideshow I remembered Pastor John talking about how one day our hearts will stop beating, and what did we do that that time here - how did we shine a light for others? Lauren shone a light for so many with her sobriety and love for God - it was apparent by the hundreds present that Lauren made peoples lives special.
Being confronted with death makes you wonder how people would talk about you after you were gone, what they would say and how they would feel. Would our passions be apparent? Were we living for God and letting people see the beautiful side of that relationship? Essentially - how was the dash between the dates? These things have been on my mind all day - i'm not sure what my passions are or what people would say when I am gone - all I can do is pray.
It was beautiful watching Lauren's lantern float away, lighting up the sky - just as Lauren has done in life and will do in death.
So I am done. I have been done for a good two weeks at this point. I am done with my road trip. I have been so busy with Sarah's wedding and other such shenanigans that I haven't had the time to blog about all that I have seen and loved and finished. So here is goes.
This summer has gone by so quickly that I hardly remember the time. I swear it's as if I blinked and obtained three months worth of memories and no days, weeks, or months to account for in between, however we know this is not true and I have in fact been gone for three months.
A few of my firsts this summer: I took a mail boat around Lake Geneva. Saw Amish people till their land in Pennsylvania. I walked the skyline in New York, went to the MET, Attended the street fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I meandered my way through Boston while on the Freedom Tour, fished in the ocean in Cape Cod, went qouhogging, descaled a fish. I took the train from Maryland to D.C twice, I went on a boat ride in D.C, saw Jackie O's grave. I stayed in our very first state, Delaware. I went cliff jumping, water skiing, kayaking, and fly fishing with the Venture Crew in Tennessee, all of which I had always wanted to do. I even got tricked into Snipe hunting ;) I stood on the porch of the house Elvis was born in, ate purple hull peas [yum], and painted my very first cabinets. Danced in Nashville.
Saw the Country Music Hall of Fame. Ate 10 smore's in one day. I walked Bourbon St. I took a swamp tour and held a baby alligator. Saw Louisiana. Porch honky. I went into a batting cage and hit 7 balls! Went swimming in a waterfall in the USA - in Oklahoma. Went horseback riding to the point of near death.
Saw the countries largest prairie dog - at a prairie dog museum. I learned that Wyoming, although bigger than Minnesota, has only 200,000 more people than Minneapolis! I saw Mount Rushmore. I drove for over 5,000 miles by myself and stayed in 13 wonderful states.
I wish I could put into tangible words how much I took from this trip and how much I learned about the people I love. I don't know if I've gone through any profound personal change but I feel different than the girl I was when I left on this journey. I feel more at ease with myself, more ready for life, and maybe - just maybe - a little less restless, we'll see how long that lasts. Oh yes, and I confirmed that I LOVE Minnesota.
I am so grateful for the people who welcomed me into their homes and hearts. Those people whom I had hours of talks with and learned so much about where they've been and what they've seen. I was treated so nicely by everyone I encountered. People were friendly and welcoming - they wanted to know me and to show me their world. For that I am ever thankful. I did in three months what most people take years to do, if they do it at all - and i'll tell you, it has been an overwhelming fast paced ride. But one I would recommend to anyone. Turns out quitting your jobs isn't such a risk after all, I found a job within two days of coming home!
So, If you have the opportunity to fly down the free way, freedom style. To let the wind in your sails to nowhere. If you get the chance to take off and learn to love life and this beautiful country we live in - I suggest taking it. Take that chance and run, bike, fly, drive with it. because you only live once.
My beautiful sister is getting married. That's right, her moment in time has come. Greg couldn't be a better fit for our family if he tried and I am beyond happy for them - but before they get to the them, we had to celebrate her. Sarah as a bachelorette. What better way to do so than with a bachelorette party!
Andrea and I had been keeping Sarah out of the loop for a good month about the party - everything was a total surprise to her. When she arrived at the house she was visibly anxious, awaiting the days activities. She would ask questions like "Where we're going will I need . . ." and "Will we be coming back here?" Everybody knows I absolutely love surprises, even when they're not for me, so I was giddy with secrets.
Of course, when you get 7 women together someone is bound to blurt something out and when Andrea did, thank God Sarah didn't hear. The second time, however, we didn't get so lucky and one of the girls exclaimed, while standing right next to Sarah, "So are we all getting pedis??" and Sarah shot us a look and grinned. Said person felt horrible but Sarah was excited, and we all laughed because she had just spent the morning painting her fingers and toes - making her late. So it was off to Tootsies Nails in Denver, where you can drink champagne and bring appetizers if you please, our choice was watermelon. Being the MOH I got to sit next to Sarah which made me more excited than I bet she realizes. I often do not force myself next to someone but I wanted to be right by her, so when she asked me to go with her I beamed ha!
Once nails were complete we headed back to the house to wait for our next surprise. An hour and a half of games and mingling, appetizer eating and wine drinking, went by before the people arrived for Bottle and Bottega. This time it was a complete surprise and when they arrived at the door Sarah looked worried, she thought we had gotten a noise complaint haha! Once they began bringing in there paint supplies she looked confused and then when the canvases and easels popped up she got excited. So excited in fact that later she drank her paint water. Don't worry, they warned us before hand that it wasn't toxic and happened quite frequently. We all swarmed around our creations and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I would HIGHLY recommend doing this at any kind of party.
After bottle and bottega it was time for dinner - as we were boarding the light rail Andrea let it slip that we were going to Osteria Marco for dinner - Sarah's eyes lit up because she had never been there. We arrived and gorged ourselves on olives, salads, pizza, and chocolate torte. We also feasted our eyes on the Magic Mike waiter when Andrea tried to take his shirt off - no big deal! Once we were finished stripping the waiter and eating our fair share we went out to celebrate on the town.
We went from bar to bar playing trivia games and completing punishments for those who got their trivia wrong. My favorite was when Sarah had to sing and act out "I'm a little teapot" while standing on a chair! She owned it! She also had to take pictures with random men who fit her "Scavenger Hunk" throughout the night. We never completed it but Sarah was determined to find the exact guys not just ones who looked like them.
The night ended with a final lightrail ride home, complete with a drunken dumb guy who tried to sit with Andrea and Sarah - causing Sarah to chew him out and give him a lesson in manners. He told us he wasn't getting married because he wanted to travel and she said "Oh THATS not why you're not married" hahaha!! I love her.
The next morning I woke up early to drink coffee before making delicious french toast and bacon for the bachelorette brunch. We added strawberries and whipped cream and viola! It was delicious. I would call the bachelorette party and brunch a huge success! Now I look forward to celebrating their marriage in Cape Cod this coming week!
Friday morning I woke up early to get ready to depart to Colorado. While packing I loaded my computer and signed in to Yahoo. Of course the first this I saw is the news of the movie theater shootings that took place just hours ago, while I slept. I instantly began crying. The emotion that ripples through ones soul after reading of such a senseless tragedy is breath taking. To imagine being in the moment, in that space, while something so horrendous falls around you in slow motion is heart wrenching and unimaginable. I cannot imagine the pain of those who lost someone on that day in Colorado. I cannot imagine the grieving process of not only those with lost loved ones but of those there to witness the movie-turned-war-zone. My heart and prayers go out to them a hundred times over and I can only hope that solice is coming as the days pass by.
I continued to think of Aurora, Colorado as I loaded my car and found my way to a cracker barrel for breakfast and as I drove the 11 hour trip to Denver. I passed gorgeous landscapes, and boring ones [buck up Kansas]. I heard beautiful songs and listened to testimonies of those at the movie theater and who had lost loves ones flooding through my speakers. At one point as I entered a new highway my GPS registered how many miles till my next turn - my next turn wasn't until Aurora. Each time I looked at the screen I winced. And even so I wondered how something so far removed could effect me so.
In all reality I don't know if its the deaths or the realization of the unexpected. Although I find the deaths to be unmistakably and unshakably tragic I also find the simplicity of it all the scariest. I think what ripped through me more than anything was the thought of enjoying something so simple - a movie with family or friends - only to have the moment and your life ripped from you so easily in a matter of minutes. Death is sad, but death is normal - eventually we will all die and the way it happens may not be as we pictured, but when you are robbed of that life in the middle of a moment - it is exponentially more sad, more grave. So, although I has no connections and no loss - I ache when I think of the smiling faces, waiting for a new scene in the movie, only to awaken to a new life.
The sadness continued as I arrived in Denver and met my sister. While a happy moment commenced with cooking and preparing for the bachelorette party, we could help bringing up the topic over and over throughout the day and evening. I am so blessed to have my family still in my life - and to know that everything will be okay. I can only pray that those effected by what happened in that Aurora movie theater will also know that it will be alright, someday.
Thursday I woke up and hour past my alarm - at 8:30! That day I was going horseback riding with my friend Gus.
I met Gus on a cruise five years ago. I was with Kassie and her family and one day - I don't remember when or where - we met these guys Gus and Anthony. Since Kassie and I each had boyfriends our relationships with them stayed plutonic and we all had a blast hanging out the whole week on the boat. At the time Gus and Kassie paired up, and Anthony and I paired up; funny how no matter what people seem to gravitate toward twos. Obviously Kassie was not on my road trip and Anthony was busy with life - so Gus and I decided we would have our own little reunion!
Gus warned me before I arrived that I was in for some serious a serious redneck rodeo - he figured I may need to prepare myself. Little did he know that we have plenty of rednecks running around Minnesota. When I got to his house we hugged and mused at how shocked we were to meet again, five years later! I got to see the chickens Gus raises and his puppies, which were adorable beyond all means and I would totally have taken if I could. After we finished touring his little piece of heaven he took me out to lunch at the finest little gas station chicken place the worlds ever seen - Champs Chicken! Specializing in fried chicken and - choke - livers and gizzards [so gross]. We then found our way to his friends house - where we ate our food and talked about all sorts of the most redneck stuff - chickens, bars, airsoft guns, and other unmentionable things! ;) Later we went to another mans house to grab Gus' saddle before heading off to go horseback riding.
Back at his parents place we took time to chill out from the 104 degree weather. I convinced him and horseback riding was a grand idea despite the heat and we went out in the pasture to wrangle some horses. After saddling up and drinking plenty of water we went out and rode around in the pecan trees. It was ungodly hot. Like the ridiculous kind of heat where realize heat stroke is a real possibility. After only 30 minutes my legs began to shake and I started to get dizzy, and not from blood sugar issues. We returned as quickly as possible and went inside before I passed out. Gus took the most ridiculous picture of me I have ever seen - and probably the most dangerous. I was so red and so sweaty that my head was throbbing and no amount of water - the entire day - made my headache go away.
After our little break Gus, his father, and I went to pick up his mom from work. His parents are hilarious. They're so full of life and hilarious jokes - the family dynamic is comical. Gus is a typical child, even at 22, out to agonize his parents until they're on the edge of beating him, while he slyly laughs as if he's gotten away with something. Their accents are also priceless - I love how they formed their sentences and the phrases they came up with that I had to ask them to repeat on several occasions.
Needless to say I had a fantastic time hangin in a tiny town east of Tulsa, mingling with the rednecks and having heat stroke :)
Can I just say - Oklahoma is gorgeous. Driving through this state has startled me and brought on a whole new appreciation for this little chunk of the country. I'd always imagined it to be like Nebraska or Kansas - little did I know that rolling hills and lush green trees would greet me as I drove head first into cattle country. My appreciation grew even more yesterday, while Alex and I drove to Turner Falls.
Turner Falls is a water-park-esque area with swimming holes and water slides, and of course, water falls all naturally made. Well - not the water slides - but if not for the dams the whole place was carved out of the Earth by erosion decades ago - leaving perfect summer time fun in it's path. We arrived and made our way to the water slides and diving board. I braced myself for the plunge of around 30 feet and watched as Alex went first - letting out a minor scream before careening into the water butt first. I am so happy I brought a water camera because I got to take pictures of us the whole time we entertained ourselves in the water.
We found our way over to the little water falls and swam under them, all the while I anticipated when we would go to the larger one. Finally, after about an hour, we decided to pick up our things and walk the half mile up the road to the larger water fall. Sadly, when we got there, we found that you are no longer allowed to swim in the waterfalls - apparently there have been deaths related to swimming in the falls and jumping from the rocks. No matter, we made our own fun swimming and laughing as Alex pushed the limits more and more. Eventually we made our way up the side of the hill, barefoot, to climb the side of this little cliff into a cave that sat to the right and above the waterfalls. Getting there was not scary for me, but terrified Alex - climbing up the rock face into the cave was a breeze for her and I was shaking and imagined myself slipping and falling over the falls several times - terrified I asked Alex to help me into the cave. The view was magnificent and well worth the near death experiences we both shared.
Later on, after we had gorged ourselves on fruit cups we watched as three or four people began swimming past the no swimming signs and climb onto the rocks. Slowly we made our way past the no swimming signs and frolicked beneath the waterfalls as we took pictures and tried doing rock-waterfall-yoga haha!
After an hour of this water hole we made our way back down the hill and took two more slips down the slide before succumbing to exhaustion and loading up the car. During the hour long car ride back I fell asleep, leaving Alex to sing to herself while I checked out - sorry!! We made it back just in time to shower and for Alex to make salmon - YUM! At this point it was time for me to go so we picked up our now developed pictures and I was on my way to Tulsa.
Well, I was supposed to make it to Tulsa by 7 for church and as I got on the highway I realized that it takes 2.5 hours to get there, not 1 as my blonde self had previously calculated. So needless to say, I missed church and made it into Tulsa around 9pm. Maggie greeted me with a smile and a hug and I remembered why I liked this girl so much!! After talking for a good two hours we called it quits and went to sleep!
I had such a wonderful time catching up with such a dear friend to me - Thank you for having me stay with you Alex and I cannot wait to see you again! I will post pictures once I have the CD with me :)
Tuesday Linnzie and I had breakfast to bid me farewell. I was on my way to Oklahoma to see my friend Alex. Alex and I became best friends in 1st grade, when I approached her and asked if she wanted to be my friend. We remained friends until I moved away in 4th grade. We kept in touch until we were ten and then lost each others numbers. Somehow, 5 years later, Alex contacted me and we both lived in Virginia again! So we met up, only once, before I moved back to Minnesota.
Now, 7 years later I am visiting Alex again - but this time I found her, on facebook - only two months ago! When I got here I laughed at how Alex now is so much like Alex then - she even has the same laugh! We talked for a good two hours before dinner - she made bay scallop spaghetti, it was so delicious! Afterward we decided on ice skating, which is really just hilarious because she knows what shes doing and shes from Oklahoma and I was so ridiculous, that only being my fifth time on the ice [yes yes I know i'm from Minnesota ha!].
We made our way to Brick Town OKC and sat at a little bar, laughing at all the crazies. I must say, though, Oklahoma has it's share of attractive men! Non of which I would talk to of course, because I am only 4 days into my year long commitment - way to be strong!!
We found that we couldn't last long because we were both exhausted and went home around 10:30.
Today we are going to Turner Falls to swim among the water falls! I am beyond ecstatic!!!
Monday came and Linnzie and I decided a walk would be a good idea. After lunch of course. We went out for lunch at this nice restaurant that I don't know the name of. I got fish and chips but got my fish grilled instead of battered - I wish more people knew you could order it that way because it is beyond amazing!!! After lunch we decided to walk into the shops and such before heading to Home Depot for some home improvement shenanigans.
Once at Home Depot we quickly realized that we would not get our needs met and left. Linnzie had wanted more life size models depicting the options for her new home but they just couldn't cut it. We stopped at this famous barbecue place and picked up dinner before heading to marble slab to celebrate National Ice Cream day - a day late. I got coconut ice cream with almonds and chocolate - it was beyond amazing. I left it in Houston when I left so I hope Linnzie enjoyed the rest of it!!
We made it home just in the nick of time, it began violently thunder storming and raining within five minutes of us getting in the door. This was our opportunity for a movie! After perusing the listings we decided on Mirror Mirror.
Neither of us realized how hilarious this movie was! Filled with banter and odd twists of comedy we laughed our way all the way to the end. I would highly recommend seeing this to anyone - and I would also like to get a taste for the Huntsman [no pun intended!], but have yet to see it.
Linnzie and I then moved on the Extreme Makeover: Weightloss Edition and watched as Nyla shed the pounds - then hankered down for The Bachelorette!!! Ahhh reality TV ridiculousness. I loved seeing Sean on the reunion show - being so sure and ready to start life, lets just say I would love to watch him as the bachelor!!
We finished our reality TV madness with Hells Kitchen before going to sleep. I would say we had a successful visit :) I always love seeing Linnzie and I look forward to seeing Kyle, her, and baby peanut next time i'm in town!! I'm so happy for the marriage Linnzie and Kyle have found - and the new blessing brought into their life!!
Sunday brought church and lunch with my favorite teacher from high school. She was my Spanish teacher and had a way to get through to us as high-schoolers that other teachers lacked. Now i'm not saying we all got straight A's but I am saying that I distinctly remember her having a talk with us about the work it takes to learn a language. Most of us scoffed and thought "I do not want to spend everyday on one subject" but non the less I have taken that with me into other classes during college.
Church service was about marriage [ Is there some theme going on here God??] and what marriage is. Marriage is meant to represent the relationship between God and the Church [ the Church being the body, not the location and the bricks, that make up a congregation]. Marriage is meant to represent how God loves and sacrifices himself for the Church the same way that the Church should sacrifice themselves. The pastor said an interesting thing - he stated that marriage is not for us, marriage is not meant to provide something in our lives. He kept saying "What does this person do for me? How do they do this or that in my life?" - he said that we have it all wrong. Marriage is supposed to be the outward expression of God and his relationship with the Church. When he got into the vows part of a wedding he stressed the fact that for better or for worse meant for better or for worse. I laughed when he said "Well, you might say, I didn't realize it would be this much worser" ha! Stating once again that marriage is not for us, it's not to make our lives better or to make them easier - it's again a union for God. He also says that there are reasons for divorce, reasons in the Bible that are justifiable for divorce - however, he asks if we need to end it just because it isn't going well, just because "we're not us" anymore or "it's not making me happy." One couple he used as an example are on the edge of divorce but the woman says she isn't sure what to do - because although her husband did something worth them divorcing over she wants to make sure she's doing right by God - stating that she'd rather be unhappy in her marriage than disobey God. Now - I must admit this whole sermon is a little hard for me, because I don't understand why God would want us unhappy, but I found some of the message very meaningful and worth taking into a marriage. Amen. out
After Church we took her [adorable beyond all reason] kids to Chuys for lunch. After talking for the first fifteen minutes and never opening our menus I decided to concentrate. Apparently she gets the same thing every time so after a few minutes I told her what I was getting and it was the same thing!! After an hour or so of talking and eating, well I was eating - Poor Jaclyn could hardly get a bite in because her children were dominating her existence, we went back to her house and I set out on my way to Linnzie's. I loved catching up with Jaclyn and meeting her newest little man. It feels good knowing that I have kept in touch with someone who I loved going to class with every day in high school - and it feels even better being able to tell my story and be proud of where I'm at in life, because God knows my teachers in high school prayed for me.
It's off to see Linnzie, the wonderful Linnzie of love! Linnzie, as most of you know, was my roommate in Colorado. When we all moved in together Sarah was worried that we wouldn't get along. She could not have been more wrong. Through laughter and morning dance parties we each found a special place in our hearts and she is definitely one of my best friends. Once I got to her house we decided to go shopping for a while. We made it to the Galleria just fine and found ourselves in the maternity store, where Linnzie picked out clothes and I strapped a fake baby belly on to see what it would be like. It was so funny, that we decided a picture was in order! Soon enough Linnzie and I were walking around the mall like 70 year old women, complaining of aches and pains, sitting down - and even both letting out a sigh at the same time when we got on the escalator! My pain was due to my back and a lack of medical care - hers of course was 7 months of pregnancy. We called it quits and drove home, exhausted but laughing our butts off about being the youngest old people there. Kyle greeted us with a delicious Chicken Alfredo [ I was forced to capitilize that?? ] dinner, yum! Sleep came quickly after that!!
Saturday was my day with Reignie and Charlie. I woke up at 7 and typed up my blog, watched a sermon, and stalked people on facebook [confessions of a serial creeper]. Once they woke up we decided to head to lunch - we settled on Five Guys Burgers and Fries!! I had never ever been there but it was amazingly deliciously awesome! I must admit, my double cheese burger with sauteed onions, mayo, ketchup, and mustard was ridiculous. My mouth is now watering.
We decided that we'd all enjoy bowling so we set out to the nearest Target to get socks for our little toes - only to find out that they provide socks there. We spent an hour bowling our cares away haha! Really, we bowled two games and took joy in seeing how fast our ball could go [flying] down the lane (into the gutter) until our money had been all spent. It was time for something new.
Driving down the road we found ourselves at a mini golf place. We decided that would be fun and purchased tickets. I think we were the most uncoordinated golfers there. Reignie's ball ended up in the water four times, mine one, and Charlie joined in the swimming as well! Not only that but we were laughing so hard at our various photo shoots that we had to allow three guys to pass us - who ended up being really slow and inconsiderate players as they goofed off even with a line behind them!! We eventually found our way back to the ticket station - Charlie won with a wopping 27 points, Reignie came in third at 47, and I came in second with 35. Seeing as we had so much fun and weren't quite ready to go home, we decided it was time for the batting cages.
I have never been in a batting cage - and anyone who knows me know that I am terrified of baseballs. I always think they're going to knock me out or give me a black eye or some other painful unforeseen injury. So as I took picture of Reignie and Charlie in the cage I mentally prepared myself for what was to come. When I had my helmet on and bat in hand I plopped the quarters into the softball side of the machine. I know the sign said slow pitch but I could have sworn those balls were flying at me at 100mph! The first few whizzed past me and a few even bounced off the mat and hit me on the back but eventually I found my place. After that I hit 7 in a row!! One after the other I hit them and then watched in amazement as if that couldn't have been me hitting them. When I walked out I was so excited - the picture actually makes me laugh out loud!!
Once we were finished we went home to change and go out to dinner - we chose a nice little sushi place. Well the first place we chose was not nice, the atmosphere felt all wrong. However the second place was perfect, a nice atmosphere and quick service. We scarfed our faces with sushi and headed over to a little ice-cream place for Charlie and Reignie :)
The night ended with comic hour and the Jhanke household. We laughed hysterically through Kat Williams Pimp Chronicles,a couple guys I can't remember the name of, and Whitney Cummings, all of which are not recommended for children or the easily offended but I was nearly crying the whole time I was laughing so hard!!
I would say my little outing with Reignie and Charlie was perfect. It was wonderful to also see her brother Tayler and catch up with the whole crew. I really enjoyed my time and cannot wait to visit again!!
Yesterday brought a four hour drive from Baton Rouge to Houston. I didn't stop once and found myself ridiculously exhausted after waking up at 5:30 and driving through white out conditions to get to my destination. Now if only this rain were headed for Colorado!
One thing I have noticed on my trek across the Bible belt - the further you are from the belt, the fewer the Christian radio stations - and the closer you are to Texas the more Spanish stations you come across. By the time I got into Houston I was hitting Espanol every other station and found one crackling Christian station. In Tennessee the grocery stores and ice cream shops played Christian music - which is rare obviously but it was nice haha!
Reignie ended up having to work so I spent my day with Linnzie, feeling her baby kicks and feeding [our] constant cravings. I blame my cravings on being with a pregnant woman! ha! Needless to say we ate delicious Mexican food and headed to Ooh La La dessert bakery after lunch. I also got to see the beautiful house they're looking into purchasing. A gorgeous four bedroom in the heart of a nice community that boasts excellent schools. I am very happy for them :)
After my little rondevu with Linnzie I headed over to Reignie's to hang out with her husband and brother. I convinced them that watching Lonesome Dove was a good idea and them mused as we all quickly lost interest, them in their video games and me in the last episode of The Bachelorette. I would just like to say that Sean better be the new Bachelor because that man is dreamy. He's exactly how I like my tea - Strong, Sweet, and Southern ;) She has two wimps left.
I chose to watch the second part of the Love, Sex, and Dating series of sermons that I blogged about last week while waiting to pick up Rei from work. The second part is about men and how they should treat women. He outlines the role porn and music play in the way men view women - urging men to delete the words bitch and whore from their songs and language. Excuse the language. His reasonings for this seemed a little extreme to me, I agreed with his logic to an extent but also felt he failed to mention how God views porn. Either way - extremely educational and once again I would recommend this series not only for men, but for women as well! I will post the link at the end :)
At around midnight Charlie and I loaded up the car and drove to pick up his blushing bride! After loading into the car we headed to Denny's for dinner [?] where I opted for the Pancake Puppies haha!! They were okay, I probably wouldn't order them again though :) So far I am once again enjoying my time spending time with great people whom I love!!
Part 2: Gentleman's Club - Go to bottom of page and click [2]
Yesterday I failed to mention Front Porch Honky; also known as hangin out on your front porch drinking beer and taking in all that passes in front of your front porch. Now - I do not drink beer but I do watch all that goes on and I would love to tell you about the beautiful things that happen on any day in this Baton Rouge neighborhood.
While sitting in the swing on the porch several things took place - one of those things being a random man riding his bike with a huge pad of paper. While we're sitting there Robert calls out "Hey!! What do you draw? Come draw this girl!" These moments always make me shy, as I would prefer wave and let people be on their way, but instead the man came and drew my picture for twenty bucks! After that he told me about a little girl who likes to come up and pet their bunny statue - not even five minutes later that same little girl came walking up with her grandma to pet the bunny [whose name is Anna, as of tonight]. Some time later a woman passed by, walking her dog, and following faithfully behind - was her cat. That's right, her cat follows her on their walks lol! The night before, as I was hanging out there by myself I heard the faint sound of a harmonica and it gradually got louder - as a this harmonica player and a child spilled onto the porch in a fit of laughter. I listed, smiling, to the movie like moment; the harmonica playing in the still dark night, as a child dances around laughing giddily at the sound of the music. I could continue but I think you get it! A beautiful night.
I woke at 5:30am in order to ride into New Orleans with Robert this morning. We arrived around 8 at the Whole Foods they're renovating and then went out for lunch at a little place called the Camelia Grille. A sweet little place with bar-stool seating and yummy food. Normally I can't handle the idea of watching someone cook my food but by keeping occupied I managed to eat most of it :) All of this while downing a whole bottle of yogurt smoothie that I got from Whole Foods to make my tummy feel better!
We decided I should ride the trolly to Canal St. in order to see all that New Orleans has to offer. I gladly accepted this suggestion and boarded the trolly, book in hand! While riding down the tracks I began to notice beads, lots and lots of beads, hanging from every tree and power line running along the road. I guess I expected to see this only on Bourbon St. - but I was wrong!
Sadly the trolly tracks were under construction so my view of the gorgeous homes lining the road was cut short and I was loaded onto a bus destined for Canal St. I exited the bus and headed toward Jackson Square, cutting through the French Quarter. While walking I began to notice a trend - nothing it open before 10am - and it was only 9. I found myself wandering down an ally into a little garden where I pleasantly came upon a bathroom!! I sat in the garden for an hour and read my book, slowly allowing my body to take on the heat that was rising up around me.
I eventually found my way into a bar - The Blacksmith Shop - and had two glasses of water. I was there all by myself for a good fifteen minutes and then all at once I was surrounded by a group on 12 men, followed by a few different couples and singles. I went from silent relaxation to party time in a matter of 3 minutes; such is New Orleans on Bourbon St!!
Eventually Robert came to my rescue and we ate dinner at Oceana before I got a 30 minute massage from some angry money monger Asians in a little corner store. My lunch was delicious and the massage only [almost] worth the money. I should have waited a while but my pain has been particularly ridiculous the past few days!
Once we had bid the Big Easy goodbye we decided to embark on a swamp tour!!! Can you say "HEATHER" any more than with a swamp tour??? I was ecstatic! I mean New Orleans was cool, Bourbon street great [no beads though aaaand I thought it was bigger??] but if you want to know the way to my heart, its through some outdoor adventure!!
We got there early and got to see baby alligators, huge turtles, and a muskrat thing that I cannot recall the name of. We boarded the boat a few minutes late and headed out into the canal. A canal is man-made where as the bayou is natural. A little learning! We saw four or five gators and the man even had one on his boat we got to hold! I learned that for ever inch between the eyes to the end of the snout is about how long a gator is. They can never go face first down into the water, they sink down with their snout up so as not to drown. Their hearts have four chambers ::gasp:: and they can stay under water four up to an hour and a half due to two large air pockets. Oh yes and they have two stomachs. Hmm I could continue on and on but i'll save it for my memory.
Our tour guide was nuts! They used to be able to feed the gators marshmallows to get them to do tricks and stuff but after the government bought their land they made a rule that they couldn't feed the gators. They are the only swamp tour company that cannot feed the gators. Needless to say they find other ways to get the alligators to do stuff. He actually laid on his stomach, slapping the water with a rag and throwing ice cubes in the water until they came up to the boat. He then angered them by tapping their snouts and slapping the rag in front of their faces - one even hissed at him, about 6 inches from his face!!! He complained that he wanted to show us more but I was beyond impressed and loved every minute of it!
After a ridiculously long day Robert and I headed back on the two hour drive home. Now I am here, I cannot feel my legs, and I am tired with elation at my wonderful trip to Louisiana! It's been a great two days and I am so appreciative of Robert and Anita for showing my a wonderful time in two wonderful cities. Time for sleep! Exhale.
I also considered that making people smile or happy was my passion. I get ridiculously giddy when I can make someones day or get them to laugh. My drug is hearing someone call me with a problem and telling me thank you because I have in some way helped - even if a little. I don't know if that's what God is searching for - because you can't make a living making peoples days - however, you can make a life :) 
Being confronted with death makes you wonder how people would talk about you after you were gone, what they would say and how they would feel. Would our passions be apparent? Were we living for God and letting people see the beautiful side of that relationship? Essentially - how was the dash between the dates? These things have been on my mind all day - i'm not sure what my passions are or what people would say when I am gone - all I can do is pray. 
