Winter Retreat 2011

RUF Winter Retreat this year was in Branson, Missouri. It was warmer and less snowy than Colorado, but still a great location to nap, play games, watch movies, and enjoy each other's company. 23 people came. Here are some highlights:

Poker Tournament

White Shirts, Wings and WaPoker night in our cabin.

Laura and I in our white shirts!

Playing a favorite RUF game, Power Grid!

The 2010 List

Being at home for Christmas has had me thinking about what I have done in 2010.

My one official New Year's Resolution was to watch all of the movies that John Williams composed music for. That went really well, until May. Here are my thoughts on the movies I did make it through:

- Sugarland Express: Quirky movie about Texas outlaws.

- Jaws: Scary.

- Indiana Jones Trilogy: Fantastic.

- E.T.: I'll be honest, I was asleep after 10 minutes.

- Schindler's List: Horrific and amazing all at the same time. I have been to Anne Frank's house in the Netherlands, as well as the Holocaust Museum in D.C. I think that this movie was more moving than either of those things, which I had been very struck by as well.

- Harry Potter Movies: How can you not love the John Williams music from these movies?

- Minority Report: Eh.

- Star Wars (the first one): Darth Vader still scares me.

Other Notable Things about 2010:

- Travelled to Peru. This means that I have now been to 4 continents!!!

- First full year of working a job out of college.

- Burned the first pot roast I ever made.

- Watched the entire series of the West Wing.

- Taught Anna Serven to ride my horse.

- Made a lot of Pioneer Woman recipes. YUM!

- The first flowers I ever planted (tulips) bloomed in the spring!

- Met Pioneer Woman.

- Saw world class horse back riders at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Considered change in life calling briefly after this.

- Drank a lot of coffee (now considering teeth whitening) and had amazing conversations about Jesus.

- Drove thousands and thousands of miles to visit family and friends (JAX, Atlanta, Huntsville, Lakeland, Houston, Houston, Houston).

- Listened to Harry Potter 3,4,5, and 6 on audiobook.

- Improved my very, very primitive sewing skills, thanks to my mom and Kirsten Spears. I am half-way through a slipcover for a big armchair!!!

New Years Resolutions for 2011? So far all I have thought of is to master a recipe for Pad Thai. Suggestions?

Greetings from Chi-Town!

Greetings, Readers!

Well, at 7:00 AM this morning I boarded a plane in Atlanta, GA. I have been in Atlanta this week for RUF Staff Training. I expected to have a short layover in Chicago, and then be in Oklahoma City by lunch time. Hardly! I am writing to you from the Barnes and Noble of DePaul University in downtown Chicago. I will hopefully be on my way back to the Sooner State tonight (in time for RUF Large Group) but while I am stuck here, I am making the most of it! Here are some things that have happened so far:

- Got asked for directions 2 seconds after getting off the L Train in downtown. I am not sure what made me look like an all-knowing native. I think it was the large embroidered Vera Bradley duffle bag that I am lugging around.

- Heard a jogger talk about the lack of highly enriched uranium. I would have liked to hear the rest of that conversation!

- Saw a man yell obscenities in the middle of a busy street, and then raise his cane and shake it at the offender.

- And, finally...I am off to complete the one thing I have always wanted to come to Chicago for: the Original American Girl Store. Laugh if you want, but it is my childhood dream and I will accomplish it!!!!

Adios from the Windy City!

Goosebumps!!!

Does anyone remember the Goosebumps book series from the 90's? That is not what this blogpost is about. It is about the physical reaction one (one being me) gets when one (again, me) watches another 1990's icon: The West Wing. You can read about this experience from another perspective here: Sally's take on four months of our life.

The president knocking on his desk and asking "What's next?" Charlie, the personal aid to the President, fearlessly pursuing the woman he loves. Josh Lyman, deputy Chief of Staff, standing up for what he believes in. Senior staff advocating for tax deductible college tuition for wages under $150,00, because everyone should have a chance to go to the school they want. Toby Zeigler, White House Communications Director, trying to solve Social Security in one night. The President invoking the 25th Amendment while his daughter is missing. Sesame Street's Big Bird making an appearance next to the tall CJ Craig...for these reasons and oh-so-many more, is why I get goosebumps when I watch the West Wing. The dry humor gets me every time.

I want to post some of my favorite dialogue, but as I read through it I giggle at everything. It is too hard to choose something that resembles the show perfectly. I think you should watch it. If you can't watch it all, watch my favorite 5 episodes:

5. "Shutdown": Season 5. The President refuses to be manipulated by the Republican Congress. Sally says I was "one big goosebump" during this episode.

4. "Game On": Season 4. The President debates his opponent during his reelection campaign. Brilliant.

3. "Institutional Memory": Season 7. Second to last episode. I bawled. Best friends make plans for their new lives.

2. "Twenty Five": Season 4. The President's youngest daughter is kidnapped.

1. "Noel": Season 2. Josh Lyman is suffering from PTSD. My favorite dialogue of the entire show is delivered :

"This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out.A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"

Ultimate Banana, Pineapple, Gourd, Tomato etc.

Ultimate Frisbee, anyone? Well, ok...the rules of ultimate with a twist. Instead of throwing a aerodynamic disc around, why don't we lob fruit into the air that may or may not be conducive to flying? That is exactly what RUF did this weekend! We tossed everything from bananas to cabbage. The gourd was much more sturdy than you would think, and the cabbage began to unravel almost immediately! I feared the pineapple, but it wasn't too bad. The stalk came off mid-throw and sprayed pineapple juice over everyone!

We played on the north end of campus, right across from campus corner. What would you think if you saw people playing frisbee, but with a tomato?!?
The girls- going after a banana!
Anna Serven and me. Ultimate Banana was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Indelible Grace

Have you heard of Indelible Grace? I had not before I started going to RUF my freshman year. It is a music ministry that has primarily grown out of RUF at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. They have taken old hymns and put them to new tunes. They are wonderful. The reason for this blog post is to say that Matthew Smith, a founding member, and Indelible Grace are coming to Norman next Tuesday! Woohoo!! I could keep telling you how wonderful they are, or I could point you to their music here: http://www.igracemusic.com/ig5/

Here are the lyrics to my most favorite hymn, Isaiah 43:

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you,

And the waves will not

Overcome you.

Do not fear,

For I have redeemed you,

I have called you by name,

You are Mine.

For I am the Lord your God
(I am the Lord your God),
I am the Lord your God (I am)
The Holy One of Israel
Your Savior
For I am the Lord your God
(I am the Lord your God),
I am the Lord your God (I am)
The Holy One of Israel
Your Savior
I am the Lord (do not fear)
I am the Lord (do not fear)
I am the Lord (do not fear)
I am the Lord (do not fear)

When you walk through the fire
You’ll not be burned,
And the flames will not
Consume you.
Do not fear,
For I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name,
You are Mine.

Football Season is HERE!!!

It is killing me to write this blog with no pictures, but blogger has been slow about uploading for days now and I wanted to post!

Football season is here! The Sooners, along with most other schools in the country, played their first game on Saturday. The beginning of the football season at UF would have meant that my eyes would be pealed for anything orange and blue to wear to games. An orange and blue paisley belt currently hanging in my closet is one such find. Family members and friends admit to not being able to shop anymore without hearing my voice saying, "It's orange and blue- my alma mater's colors- perfect for football!" Alas, if I were to wear orange and blue in Norman on game day...I am not sure what would happen, but it would not be pretty.

Crimson and creme are great colors (yes, I said that!) and there is not a lack of them here these days! We have three football games in a row this month. This weekend the Sooners will take on Florida State- the arch nemesis of Florida football!!! I for one cannot wait to don crimson and creme on Saturday and (hopefully) watch FSU get the snot beat out of them by OU. Boomer Sooner!

Our third large group meeting is tonight at 9. We were going to attempt for a third meeting outside, but the rain in Norman today looks like we will be in Dale 103, per usual.

Bible studies started this week! Our freshman Bible study met yesterday, and this group is going to be great! Tons of personality and spunk!

Ok, I need to beat it to the Union now for lunch with a student. Hopefully this non-photo post did not bore you! Boomer Sooner!!!