tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18742927092687368632024-03-05T02:31:35.340-08:00Every Step"Every step you take, you go somewhere."Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-47934660345886634252013-01-12T01:31:00.002-08:002013-01-12T01:31:24.735-08:00Puddle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A relatively uneventful, yet welcomed calm Friday evening led me to bed around 10:30 pm. And typically I have no issues sleeping the night through - but woke up around 2 am from a weird dream and am now wide awake. I come across a good blog idea today actually and decided it is far past due that I post something. Even if no one follows this much anymore - that's fine. I still enjoy putting up my ramblings :)<br />
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So first off - HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am now settled into the great state of Texas in my adorable house and feel like I'm doing well with the new job so far. These past couple of weeks with the holidays and all have made me realized how incredibly blessed I am even if I'm still in a transition period in my life.<br />
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And now my somewhat meaningful topic I would like to talk about - please enjoy this adorable <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-MjUC4f9k">YouTube video</a> and don't forget to come back after viewing and finish reading :).<br />
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Three things that warmed my heart about this:<br />
1 - The little boy not letting the moment by. As in - granted he is just a baby and typically babies aren't stressed out with a job, family and friend drama or worried about money, politics or current world issues, but he still stops, recognizes an opportunity to enjoy one of the small/simple things in life and takes advantage of it.<br />
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2 - The dog. Obviously the love, patience and loyalty shown by this animal to this boy is amazing. I mean, who is really taking who for a walk in this situation? That dog is a great babysitter! The animal/human connection and relationship is such a blessing to us all!<br />
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3 - Pace in life. So this piggy-backs off of #1, but did you notice how slow and thoughtfully the boy laid down the leash? No doubt about it - he was going to go back and check out that puddle! Lesson there: Whatever pace of life you live - make it a point to stop and thoroughly enjoy whatever you are doing.<br />
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So - that's my story for the night and I'm sticking to it!<br />
Good night/ morning y'all!<br />
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Britt<br />
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Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-50112848756506267172012-09-01T18:00:00.000-07:002012-09-01T18:00:02.176-07:00Gypsy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a picture that my mom sent me of my horse this evening. There are times I really wish he was with me, but when I see him in a big, green pasture like this - how can I take him away from that? He is a happy, old man and he will finish out his days in that pasture. </div>
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I think I miss him for more of a time in my life that he represents. People may not understand this unless they have had a horse as a young child, but he was seriously my best friend. He might have acted like he didn't care about me, or didn't show affection - but he always kept giving that extra effort and put up with me messing/primping him those long nights before shows. My mom would remind me that Chip was a "boy" after all as I spent hours bathing him, banding his mane and clipping him. </div>
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He was a huge responsibility to take care of and challenge to work with and to get those blue ribbons - but I LOVED IT ALL! My perfectionism reared its ugly head early and I credit a lot of my work ethic to my show days. </div>
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But.... that was almost 7 years ago. I enjoy reminiscing, but Chip is enjoying retirement and I have grown up a bit sense then. Maybe not literally, still pretty darn short, but my life has taken me places I could have never dreamed about! </div>
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So to the title of this post, "Gypsy." I'm about to make the move number 15 in the last 6 years for my new job in the Dallas area. Everywhere I've been has been such a great experience and most so much so, I didn't want to leave. Goodbyes do not get easier with practice. But with each new move, I realize I have made great friends and have thoroughly enjoyed my time/life wherever I was. So I'm taking that same attitude as a piece of insurance that everything will work out just fine with this move.</div>
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Don't get me wrong - there will be tears when I drive away from Georgia in just over a week. I have been blessed with family and friends in my life (both human and non) that have formed a huge support structure for me. I have learned from them, leaned on them for advice and encouragement and shared several laughs with them along the way. So I'm trying to stay optimistic and embrace this next chapter in my life as I look fondly back in the past to those experiences that have shaped me into who I am today.</div>
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Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-47646514121259145472012-03-18T18:56:00.000-07:002012-03-18T18:56:28.252-07:00March Madness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So I'm watching the Purdue and Kansas game right now and thought the title was appropriate not just because of basketball (believe it or not I haven't really been following college basketball this year) but also because things have just been crazy! Work is super busy with a big dealer training event happening right now on top of what our daily duties are. Then also the joys of growing up continue to add stress in my life.<br />
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But please don't get me wrong, life is great! I've been trying to run as much as possible and I've been upping my miles. So far I've gotten up to 7.5 miles! I ran two 5K's with some really good times: 26.16 and 26.35! the second one was WAY hilly, so I'm proud of that time :) But I've been having fun spending the money to get the gear - good shoes, GPS watch and cool clothes :)<br />
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Even caught some pool time this weekend and by running outside, I'm enjoying this Georgia sun :) What is annoying about Georgia though is the pine pollen! It is like bright, yellow chalk dust that just covers all the cars, the railings in the stairwells and just everything! I'll wash Tex and the next morning he looks horrible again. Oh the joys of a black truck.<br />
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Hmm.... So life lesson to make this post actually somewhat meaningful. For this training event, I've been in charge of all of the logistics for it all and it has been a huge learning experience for sure. These shows/ events take a lot of behind the scenes work to pull them off. Someone jumped in and helped me take out the trash and I was so grateful for his help. I expressed that to him and he said in return, "If you're too big to do the small things, then you're too small to do the big things." I've been rolling with this moto at those moments when someone needs to step in and do the small things and it keeps me rolling through and the show keep going!<br />
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Welp - Boilers are up by 6, 36-30 at the half and Hummel is lighting it up - BOILER UP!!!!</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-32844982830536300632012-01-29T11:42:00.001-08:002012-01-29T11:42:47.957-08:00Tex<p><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Z9zQ4FhmumlxK-z_CaDmARi4JNy2mKOydf3TwFe9PrUxiXgIu4Gy12_dER3KWJj2IMp5ORhg_wNe3mRXHKy4tOzB1jXkHJHNhrEWNCYYU2TcEdJE6T0fDIUtsQpxug0o15vuxW2pn4A/s0/IMAG0415.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Z9zQ4FhmumlxK-z_CaDmARi4JNy2mKOydf3TwFe9PrUxiXgIu4Gy12_dER3KWJj2IMp5ORhg_wNe3mRXHKy4tOzB1jXkHJHNhrEWNCYYU2TcEdJE6T0fDIUtsQpxug0o15vuxW2pn4A/s400/IMAG0415.jpg' /></a></p><p>Another picture of my truck! Obsessive? Yes! But I don't care. I love it! I spent a couple of hours yesterday washing it and drying it off and by-golley, I almost needed a step ladder to get the job done. I'll probably need one or get a friend to help at least when I wax it. <br> <br/> So as you can see by the title, I've decided to name him TEX!!!!!! My friends Sarah J and Shiney both suggested it and it only took me just over 1,000 miles of driving to decide that it fit! I hope everyone had a great weekend and wish y'all the best for this coming week! I'm heading down south a few hours for a customer research event that will last the week. </p> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-933162093670317662012-01-21T12:43:00.000-08:002012-01-21T12:43:08.225-08:00I Made It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As most would assume, I made it safe and sound this go down to Georgia. My truck ran like a dream and I'm LOVING IT!!!!! Again, I do not recommend crashing your car if you are thinking about buying a new one. Still taking suggestions for names though. I'm still thinking a boy's name and now the options are down to Bruce, Brutus and Baxter. It is just a hard decision to make - I want it to be a tough name, but still unique and classy at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So far I've been trying to stay out of trouble. There is a pretty good group of younger employees down here so I've been out with some of them already and went to a hockey game with some of the product support people. I also have enjoyed running around my complex and just exploring. I LOVE my apartment. The shopping part of it was frustrating, but it is a gorgous complex and I have lots of space. My furniture looks great in it and I've had fun decorating it. Still need to go curtain shopping, but it definitely feels like home :) I have also made the decision to not get cable or internet in my apartment. You calling me crazy? Maybe I am. Here is my reasoning:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1- Save some money (especially since I'm making truck payments and also higher insurance).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 - I have a smart phone so I can some basic internet tasks on there and the clubhouse to my complex has free WiFi and I can get into there 24/7 if need be. Also, with the smartphone - I've been listening to a lot of Pandora for background noise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3 - I have plenty of books and craft materials to keep me busy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 - It is just peaceful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5 - I wanted to make my college roommate, Kathleen Paola, proud of me :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6 - If I want to watch a game or something, it forces me to be more social</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've definitely hit the ground running with my job. It has been a lot to learn, really fast! I'm so grateful for my previous Deere knowledge and experiences or I would be totally lost. I like the challenge and the fast-pace work style at a factory though or at least that is the way it is down here. The team is super supportive and I can't complain when a morning is spent learning how to drive tractors in order to get them ready for shipping to a show or something. Yes, I'm still learning how to drive lol! The smaller ones are super easy, but as they get bigger, they become a lot more complicated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, that's my update for now - I'll work on some pics and all coming up. I'm checking out a church in the morning so I'm hoping to meet some new friends :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh and since my sister-in-law gave me a shout out the other day - I want to do the same for her. Check out her really cute blog </span><a href="http://theartisticallychallengedcrafter.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://theartisticallychallengedcrafter.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have a wonderful Saturday (its pouring here, but at least it isn't snow)!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Britt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ps - the font I'm going to blog in while I'm down here is "Georgia." Seems appropiate? :)</span></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-55014314760023422882012-01-04T19:38:00.000-08:002012-01-04T19:38:32.480-08:00RIP Gerdy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So in order to tell everyone what happened, I figured I'd post the story up here instead of retelling it over and over again. I would love to put this behind me and focus on the positives that came out of the situation which would be my AMAZING NEW TRUCK!!!!!!<div><br />
</div><div>Disclaimer - Miraculously, everyone walked away without a scratch. Tuesday morning, I was about two hours south of Lexington after staying the night in Wilmore, KY with my bro and sister-in-law when the wreck happened. As most of you know, I was heading down to Augusta, GA for my new job with Deere. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The actual wreck is pretty much a blur to me because when my car started going out of control, I closed my eyes and was just bracing for some sort of impact. I was traveling about 75 mph on Interstate 75 when I braked to slow down because I was approaching a car in the far left-hand lane. 75 was three lanes where I was at. As best as I can remember, my back end felt like it slipped from underneath me to the right and I tried to swerve back and started over-correcting, which is totally easy to do even if you are a Nascar driver. At that point I starting spinning towards the right. Again, I was in the left-hand lane and crossed two lanes while spinning. There was a thud somewhere in there and I could tell when I hit the ditch and then a second or so later, my car finally came to a stop. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I opened my eyes and I was facing towards the northwest with the back of my car down in the ditch. I looked across to what I thought was the bottom of a semi but the semi turned out to be the bottom of a 5th-wheel camper. The truck that was pulling it was facing north and the only thing that kept it from flipping is that it was up against a guardrail. In the process of me spinning across traffic, I hit them somehow just back behind their driver side back wheel, which basically jack-knifed them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The other couple GOT OUT of their truck and were WALKING too. I couldn't believe it! I kept myself calm to the point that the cop couldn't believe that this was my first accident. The best thing that the cop could come up with was that my back left tire blew and that is why it started acting all "squirelly" (that was his word) on me.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So not only did I figure out how to manage all the insurance information and figure out the rental for a few days and just what to do - I had all the moving stuff to deal with as well. Nothing really broke inside my car besides a couple of vases and my house plants were all toppled over. A body shop guy came over to the impound and told me it was pretty much totaled which was reaffirmed by the insurance guy today as I was sitting in the Dodge dealership buying my new TRUCK!!!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I wasn't too far away from Lexington, so Ben and Eva came and got me so I could recover a bit and get things ironed out and I was out truck shopping less than 10 hours after I totaled Gerdy. It was a lot to process, but I wanted to get some closure to all this and be done with it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I have been researching trucks for awhile and was going to buy one in about 6 months when I could save up for a bit longer. This truck had all the features I wanted and the dealership gave me a great deal! I was willing to settle on some of my wants, but I found pretty much what I wanted with the basics being black and lots of chrome! My favorite color really is chrome :) So, I'm going to try this again, and head out down to Augusta in the morning :) Wish me luck!</div><div><br />
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</div><div>I also had damage on the back right door by the wheel and a big crack in my back bumper on the left side. The tow-truck guy thought that my back wheels were bent and then also I'm pretty sure my radiator got busted too because I remember a hissing noise when I got out of the seat and there was some steam rolling off of my right front tire when it was being pulled up on the truck.</div><div><br />
</div><div>RIP Gerdy - you've been a great car.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Hello ___________ I'm taking suggestions on a new name for this bad boy!!!!</div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've always wanted to take a pic like this :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn - 5.7L Hemi - Quad Cab</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-42200357886755703502012-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:002012-01-01T21:11:57.453-08:00Next Chapter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">And I'm off again on yet another adventure! A southern adventure this time though y'all! <div>Daddy helped me load the car tonight and tomorrow morning I'll be on my way to Augusta, GA for my next rotation with John Deere working mainly with the 5000 series, but also doing some other projects with the smaller tractors.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So I realize it has been two months since I last posted anything. My bad. Here's a quick recap:</div><div>- I left straight from homecoming to Sarasota, Florida for three weeks where I worked a training event and had a BLAST!!!</div><div>- Spent two weeks in Mannheim, Germany for a customer fly-in for 6000 series customers. This was obviously a phenomenal experience, especially right before Christmas with all the decorations :)</div><div>- My cousin Jonathan married my KC friend Miss Alina. I was so happy for them and the wedding was beautiful in a refurbished barn.</div><div>- Did my final report out for my last rotation and it went super awesome - I even juggled as an illustration. I guess I'll do anything for an applause?!?!</div><div>- Enjoyed some downtime around the holidays and spending it with the family back in Indiana and had an epic New Years as it served as a Purdue friend reunion in Chicago!!! </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHaaILoQlRh7T-SM0YocwMne1W3x0c4V5HVq1Vip6cyL74MhmaCrsGFBqsGrq7ViE-Hi28wJvaXYAaGz9mYIytVtTvkJlZpe4vbwbj-rsoFeiQlFG7Jy-CGUNZL77ORMEleBDaJixOKM/s1600/102_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHaaILoQlRh7T-SM0YocwMne1W3x0c4V5HVq1Vip6cyL74MhmaCrsGFBqsGrq7ViE-Hi28wJvaXYAaGz9mYIytVtTvkJlZpe4vbwbj-rsoFeiQlFG7Jy-CGUNZL77ORMEleBDaJixOKM/s320/102_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0uDAtt_e_RVYXCUPPd1nb_dFRADAMpwGrClY4WYwZw4MFsYtF3yBODhsUkUKYTUoUPElhLJ0QG_vQQO8Ovvv53NDZVupU3CAvqqWuWTSX_WycDW8OLGNi89PKIUSIOgcfpY2vCGojDA/s1600/102_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0uDAtt_e_RVYXCUPPd1nb_dFRADAMpwGrClY4WYwZw4MFsYtF3yBODhsUkUKYTUoUPElhLJ0QG_vQQO8Ovvv53NDZVupU3CAvqqWuWTSX_WycDW8OLGNi89PKIUSIOgcfpY2vCGojDA/s320/102_0024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-XbKZ9QSNQdTDswHM5irglZFlykPNMN7iaZsaiOTYURo8v4SFp8DLQTghG0WQb1aJZZcfryIMO1_EBCTMKFdz77_NVfuRINfmBZAtXzWwASNimYATUDaSeXn05riex-SSeva8cziyVc/s1600/102_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-XbKZ9QSNQdTDswHM5irglZFlykPNMN7iaZsaiOTYURo8v4SFp8DLQTghG0WQb1aJZZcfryIMO1_EBCTMKFdz77_NVfuRINfmBZAtXzWwASNimYATUDaSeXn05riex-SSeva8cziyVc/s320/102_0180.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9p0y89klADBasB-uZPIFcv5QuIWIFYZIL-Ws6u8Zi3pDx3-x6NkIOPQ7O0lY3br-GT7LSaKB8q3MwdxWuKIvlBK3lkcSzeN8TAjVqqw00RGGkEt6UgTbh8djG1lWT8itN8jRLdaB5LQ/s1600/100_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9p0y89klADBasB-uZPIFcv5QuIWIFYZIL-Ws6u8Zi3pDx3-x6NkIOPQ7O0lY3br-GT7LSaKB8q3MwdxWuKIvlBK3lkcSzeN8TAjVqqw00RGGkEt6UgTbh8djG1lWT8itN8jRLdaB5LQ/s320/100_0354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>Yep, that's about the just of what's been up with me! Pretty boring actually :P</div></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-49809694581934141582011-10-23T08:08:00.001-07:002011-10-23T08:08:35.694-07:00Boys can be nice - if they want<p><object width='425' height='355'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/aXqHzwYaEf4&rel=1'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/aXqHzwYaEf4&rel=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='425' height='355'></embed></object></p>So I got to go home (Purdue home), as an alumni this time, for homecoming and had quite the experience. Saw lots of great friends, went to an incredible Lee Brice and Luke Bryan concert that was extremely entertaining (with some unexpected twists), had great seats to watch my Boilers upset a ranked team and went to a Women of Wesley event that got crashed by the boys. <br/> Now the story behind this is due to FaceBook always switching things up, my friend Erica had to make the event off of the general Wesley Foundation group page which accidently invited all the boys as well. This obviously couldn't happen because this movie night had some business to it as the women began planning for their WOW holiday dinner which is always top secret from the boys. So they were uninvited and I guess some feelings got hurt. Since the location and time had been disclosed, we were an easy target for this ambush. But we were all pleasantly surprised when it came in this fashion rather than a silly, immature prank. I love it and miss it when these boys go just a little bit out of their way to make us girls feel special! Well done boys, well done!<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-33388148105679772772011-10-19T21:25:00.000-07:002011-10-19T21:25:09.940-07:00Blue Like Jazz<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfR7y9Gb7TUdQJcEm_mxnXGarY0xnE2pOFnbpmcP7fIX8BYn_nap_pyMqWYS-JlrWBEZZMgDbIjwZUMHpoWg4ORR-xkmz_it6oN_mrUNS4uJ-KnBashXNHZLfazlHVCzYSmBsppAZObg/s1600/60261413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfR7y9Gb7TUdQJcEm_mxnXGarY0xnE2pOFnbpmcP7fIX8BYn_nap_pyMqWYS-JlrWBEZZMgDbIjwZUMHpoWg4ORR-xkmz_it6oN_mrUNS4uJ-KnBashXNHZLfazlHVCzYSmBsppAZObg/s1600/60261413.jpg" /></a>So I borrowed the book <u>Blue Like Jazz</u> by Donald Miller from Purdue's Wesley Foundation at the end of the semester last year and I will be returning it this weekend after finally reading it. I actually have two chapters left that I have to get read on the plane tomorrow night on my way back to Purdue for homecoming this weekend.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is a really, really good book that I think anybody who claims to be a Christain should at least take a peek at. It basically focuses on what Christian spirituality looks like compared to organized religion in a very funny, non-judgemental, witty and personal way through the author's life. My mom picked it up when she was out here this last weekend and was almost half way through it before they left for Indiana again.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It can make you uncomfortable as he tackels the major issues of worship, love, romance, community and money. How do these different areas reflect in a spiritual context and what has 'the church' morphed them into? And I don't mean like morphed in a bad context, just how have our human interpretations of the Bible or religious traditions made them to be today? He never points fingers or says one way is the right way, just that you have to find what clicks for you. Which is something I have always thought and said about individuals claiming one demonination over another is that you have to do what is right for your own faith journey, walk, path, relationship or whatever you want to call it with God while not judging others. Overall searching and seeking a pure truth.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ok - that's my plug for this book. I'm eager to read the last few chapters and see how he wraps it up :) But go borrow, check-out, buy or download it! Definitely a great book - an entertaining and thought-provoking read!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">PS - I googled it to find a picture of the book and apparently it has been made into a movie! Huh? Looks like I'll have to add that to my list of movies to see :)</div><br />
Night y'all!<br />
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</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-60363177482198101832011-10-02T09:16:00.000-07:002011-10-02T09:24:53.116-07:00"Little Bit of Life"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Who doesn't love some Craig Morgan? Well, since it has been forever since I've blogged, I thought I'd catch everyone up in small installments and try to go in sequential order.<br />
<br />
As many of you know, my grandmother wasn't doing well and passed away August 24th. Her last three weeks were spent either in ICU or hospice and were not very pretty. My mom and dad were visiting her up to three times a day during that time. She was ready to go and it was a relief that she finally passed peacefully.<br />
<br />
Death is a part of life, but it still hurts as our "human" side misses the loss. My brother, Ben, actually officiated the service and his whole theme was explaining why we mourn so much because death wasn't part of God's original plan. I was so proud of him that he used this difficult moment to minister and teach to our family and friends. I couldn't believe what a great job he did! Grandma asked specifically for Ben to officiate the service and I know she was very proud!<br />
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Thanks for everything Grandma, I love you and will miss you!<br />
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<h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 3.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 0.9em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url entry-title" href="http://heraldbulletin.com/obituaries/x2134984118/Martha-L-Cassiday" rel="bookmark" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: 33px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Martha L. Cassiday</a></h3><h4 class="subhead" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dec. 25, 1918 - Aug. 24, 2011</h4><div class="story_meta" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="author vcard" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="source-org vcard story_source" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://heraldbulletin.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></span></div><div class="entry-content" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ANDERSON, Ind. — Martha L. Cassiday, 92, of Anderson, passed away Aug. 24, 2011, at Saint John’s Medical Center in Anderson. <br />
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She was born Dec. 25, 1918, to the late William and Elizabeth Reeves in Rush County.<br />
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She retired from the Farmers Home Administration of Henry County and was active in NARFE and the Southdale Tower Cabinet. She was a member of Wilkinson Church of Christ and more recently attended First United Methodist Church of Anderson.<br />
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Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Anne (Curt) Pittinger of Richmond; a son, Richard (Dorinda) Cassiday of Anderson; grandchildren, Timothy Pittinger, Tina Landis, Benjamin (Eva) Cassiday and Brittania Cassiday; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Ruth Strain and Dorcus Canary; and several nieces and nephews.<br />
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She was preceded in death by her husband, James Raymond Cassiday; and sister, Katherine Bombaugh.<br />
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Services officiated by Benjamin Cassiday will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Condo and Son Funeral Home, Wilkinson. Burial will follow in Center Cemetery near Mays in Rush County.<br />
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Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.</div></div></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-70295017869572353972011-08-20T09:48:00.000-07:002011-08-20T09:48:54.353-07:00100th Post for Matt Doyle!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Just over two years ago - I set out on the adventure of a life-time. Well, actually the adventure of 2009. I decided I would take some time and journal/write about it on here and have attempted to keep up with it since.<br />
<br />
With my recent venture to PA, I spent a few days working at a dealership to get a feel for what it would be like to be one of our dealers. Specifically, I was supposed to be working with parts, but I did a little bit of everything while I was there.<br />
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The parts and service manager, Matt Doyle, was super nice and friendly and put up with all of my questions. He was such a nice guy and I figured I would use what little awareness I have on here to help promote his art. He is just 24 years-old, a few months older than me, went to fine arts school and I'm sure would love to take his passion further to make it a career.<br />
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So check out his stuff - I'm going to order a print or two so you should too! I'm sure he would work with you as well if you would like something done as an original.<br />
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Thanks for all of your help Matt and best of luck!<br />
<a href="http://www.mattdoylefineart.com/">http://www.mattdoylefineart.com/</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6JQNG8RxiDF8AbeRZvfPGgR9pf32z7slhj-nSevja4R4t5IvZVnWmJ8xXmHmrfVYoJ5WQ9smxK52XPo0z11e-fZK6n2EkAimIBziJnhXHLNc5Tq_t8BK1l2HFKKRkd9SI71FicLfCrE/s1600/thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6JQNG8RxiDF8AbeRZvfPGgR9pf32z7slhj-nSevja4R4t5IvZVnWmJ8xXmHmrfVYoJ5WQ9smxK52XPo0z11e-fZK6n2EkAimIBziJnhXHLNc5Tq_t8BK1l2HFKKRkd9SI71FicLfCrE/s1600/thumb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dancing in the Moonlight" </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqQUQmE1CcXUtgqQRM1ff8ByxHi4F6xGAlCvtBhvcSpVKLz4XtyiA_cMBpINKSFKHPsRI0TY49P0RWBpGgnH1Rq2QMvGSEPzog2yzSquemF07jaVUXl-fcEudnaFr8c280OFCeLqBdzQ/s1600/thumb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqQUQmE1CcXUtgqQRM1ff8ByxHi4F6xGAlCvtBhvcSpVKLz4XtyiA_cMBpINKSFKHPsRI0TY49P0RWBpGgnH1Rq2QMvGSEPzog2yzSquemF07jaVUXl-fcEudnaFr8c280OFCeLqBdzQ/s1600/thumb1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"On the Prowl"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8s0p8urRWoo873LUHLLJ1fSybqiBxUCMTNzhJmI0fZECeSOMY-1IbvdxNeLnWRcV0vrT6rkzdAAKNyOCDffN81xtdP4WUlAc3OejkWhyphenhyphenkXJZdHdWdUjoA5zOsfayWP2Qn8s7mBXrgSE/s1600/thumb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8s0p8urRWoo873LUHLLJ1fSybqiBxUCMTNzhJmI0fZECeSOMY-1IbvdxNeLnWRcV0vrT6rkzdAAKNyOCDffN81xtdP4WUlAc3OejkWhyphenhyphenkXJZdHdWdUjoA5zOsfayWP2Qn8s7mBXrgSE/s1600/thumb2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Canadian Collection"</td></tr>
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</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-89404650524394423872011-08-18T18:27:00.000-07:002011-08-18T18:31:33.908-07:00"Beautiful Things"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I would much rather muse about my past few weeks and sit outside on my patio and enjoy the sunset than do my laundry or dishes. Life is just such a beautiful thing! God's creation is such a beautiful piece of art! And where life takes you - well that's the trip.<br />
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This past week I spent in Pennsylvania. PA is a state that I have only driven through just barely going out to DC, so I believe that makes my count on states visited 41/50! Sorry dad, that isn't a fraction that will reduce. (He is a math teacher fyi.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_98V_CH134c6f7ZQiBnKMQ-OiflRXZEPkmryTR7vnDSlgNuH9RHMzHU1VlWlRXqw63TNBotfYkjTnH8Z1JC1fbmvXvvUWkYlNCX-VUSPLOaXWM3yYY2EsKjSwYRFyWhzcaIQ4x0DQt0Y/s1600/107_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_98V_CH134c6f7ZQiBnKMQ-OiflRXZEPkmryTR7vnDSlgNuH9RHMzHU1VlWlRXqw63TNBotfYkjTnH8Z1JC1fbmvXvvUWkYlNCX-VUSPLOaXWM3yYY2EsKjSwYRFyWhzcaIQ4x0DQt0Y/s320/107_0772.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>Sunset at the Park where the ATV event was at that I worke</b>d</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was able to see some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. Driving through actual mountains covered with trees and alongside small creeks with old homesteads scattered throughout the land, was truly a breathtaking experience. Not to mention the deer, the fields that were about ready to harvest and the sky is gorgeous wherever you go. Even back here in Kansas as you can see from my shot from my balcony.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQNjcrne_fbDzR4mQrUZHJGIbsbuuVv0qP12xqa-jepZjWtEkKlKDkNSinQN1l1RZ4YI21kN9qYw9gINwoJl-7bugFWt3qtko2fP09sxn3X3T47VGGs5Gm4txmyS5L6VBAL8UoIanpgo/s1600/IMAG0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQNjcrne_fbDzR4mQrUZHJGIbsbuuVv0qP12xqa-jepZjWtEkKlKDkNSinQN1l1RZ4YI21kN9qYw9gINwoJl-7bugFWt3qtko2fP09sxn3X3T47VGGs5Gm4txmyS5L6VBAL8UoIanpgo/s320/IMAG0113.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>KC sunset from my balcony</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>My grandmother is currently in hospice, but holding stable to the point where they might move her into a nursing home hospice situation. It is at times like this that make you sit and re-evaluate your life and determine or re-determine what is important to you. What makes your life beautiful?<br />
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I have made a point to spend the last 5 or so New Year's Eves with her. Our big night would include some card games and puzzles and of course watching the ball drop! It always took me back to when I was younger and she would babysit for my brother and me while my parents got one of their few date nights a year with their best friends. She has always been such a great role model - lived a simple, yet content life. I will always look up to her for that. Her favorite prayer was "Grant me peace and contentment." With all the big dreams that I have going through my head at one time, remembering that helps to keep me grounded.<br />
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So enjoy every beautiful thing. From the human life of the new person you just met, to the beauty that nature beholds for us to the opportunities that we are blessed with everyday - remember it is all BEAUTIFUL!<br />
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Great song to ponder to:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7VOKQ0xJY">"Beautiful Things" - Gungor</a></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-31219993574281446432011-08-07T20:31:00.001-07:002011-08-07T20:33:31.970-07:00Too Good Not to Share<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UrFxLBNowTc-fbOk_A-VfykNA6pqsaDS6uNC3ftfyQnsXd3Wqy2-GCU7xHFScfEjmrrF82lD8vawJCN2iZYYVy8J31Lkqf5qMfAYIKvO2uWEFLmlGGdxtcgRIyXaJg_pMX-yMzuGrjw/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UrFxLBNowTc-fbOk_A-VfykNA6pqsaDS6uNC3ftfyQnsXd3Wqy2-GCU7xHFScfEjmrrF82lD8vawJCN2iZYYVy8J31Lkqf5qMfAYIKvO2uWEFLmlGGdxtcgRIyXaJg_pMX-yMzuGrjw/s400/2011-08-079516-48-4895491.jpg" /></a><br />
My mom sent me this picture after a storm blew through this afternoon and after a weekend that didn't go quite as planned, it brought a smile to my face. I miss him a lot, but I know this is a time of growth for me and I know God is with me every step of the way. I've been seeing my yellow and black butterfly recently which has been another added reassurance. Soon my dog Chloe will be out here with me so she'll help keep me company.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-50581187963646586422011-07-30T14:35:00.000-07:002011-07-30T14:35:47.713-07:00Epic Trip Follow-Up!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So I knew going into this trip, it was going to be of epic proportions! Well it was! I got upgraded with my rental (still don't know why) to a 2012 Mustang! That thing was sweet! You know, I've always thought a sports car was not very practical; gas milage isn't that great and there isn't much room in them. Well, I stand corrected on one part - I got great milage in that thing! Like almost averaging 28 mpg! Being a small person, there was plenty of room for me - so while I'm still living alone, a sports car is totally practical :) Gerdie, my Buick, will have to do in the mean time though because I understand I do need to be somewhat practical about it and not go into debt when I still have a working car. You know, be grateful for what you have.<br />
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I saw a bunch of good friends from high school, college and 4-H. Which was great because I haven't really had the chance to make too many out here yet besides through work. As great as it is to go back, it makes me miss it soooooo much! School and showing! But I have a couple of good leads on some different barns around the area, so I'm hoping one of those will work out.<br />
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My dealer visits went great and so far the feedback I've given back has been well received and I really think this project is going to turn out pretty well! I also got a couple of movies in, Harry Potter VII part II for the second time and Captain America. Both were great!<br />
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At least I won't be alone this week - I have two little new best friends! Sterling and Madison! they are two little Yorkies that I'm dog-sitting for a friend who is on vacation :) I'm pretty excited about it. They are pretty cute :) </div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-60057055537520295462011-07-19T21:56:00.001-07:002011-07-19T21:56:51.943-07:00Super PumpedTomorrow morning I will embark upon an epic week composed of dealer visits, some Purdue time, Henry County Fair and catching up with friends all along the way! Phew! <br/> <br/> Life is good! Super busy, but good. Still working on making new friends through a couple different venues but I enjoy living by myself - so much freedom! <br/> <br/> One of my favorite quotes from the new Harry Potter movie. <br/> Harry: "Is this all made up on my head?" <br/> Dumbledore: "Of course this is all in your head Harry. But that doesn't mean it isn't real!" <br/> <br/> So dream away my friends. Afterall, everything has to be 'made-up' to begin with from someone. ;) <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-81796751949915890302011-07-01T21:11:00.000-07:002011-07-01T21:11:37.625-07:00Baby You're a Firework!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have Katy Pery rattling around in my head, can you tell? I can hear fireworks, but I can't see them from my apartment :( But.... I'm sure I'll be seeing plenty of fireworks over the weekend! I'm heading down to Wichita to see some of my family and to see the newest edition to the clan!<br />
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Just a quick catch-up from this last week. Work is going just swell. Today was my first pay-day and it is a 3-day weekend, so I'm doing pretty well! The marketing rep that has been cross-training me had her last day on Thursday, so I'm a little baby bird kicked out of the nest and forced to fly! Ok, maybe not that dramatic, but she has been wonderful and I'm very appreciative.<br />
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A few notables:<br />
Monday - I went to a new young adult small group bible study. It went really well and I think I might have found a good church to start going to.<br />
Tuesday - I went wake-boarding for the first time with my co-workers. I'm still sore 3/4 days later! It was wicked fun though!<br />
Wednesday - I did absolutely nothing! I attempted to recover and stayed on my couch most of the night.<br />
Thursday - "Hot Summer Nights,"is a concert series that goes on downtown KC and I headed down there with the other reps, interns and a few other co-workers. And it was hot! Literally! But still fun. Band Perry was playing and they were a lot of fun.<br />
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Well, thanks for checking in. Here are some Youtube videos that sum up my week as well:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24En0r-lXg">"I Lift My Hands" Chris Tomlin</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOTHOdlsDyM&NR=1">Wake-boarding wipeouts</a> (None of those were me, although I probably looked like a few of those.)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM">"If I Die Young" Band Perry</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm5BTBGEqVo">"Firework" Glee/Katy Perry</a> (I like the Glee version, especially after seeing them live!)<br />
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</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-63401178087924227772011-06-26T20:29:00.000-07:002011-06-26T20:29:37.541-07:00A Whole New World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This title is appropriate for all sorts of reasons.<br />
1 - The obvious one of me graduating, moving three states away and getting my first job.<br />
2 - I'm making a new little home, even cooking for myself. I promise pictures of the apartment soon to come.<br />
3 - That was the sermon title of the sermon I listened to this morning.<br />
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The Church of the Resurrection is a huge United Methodist Church with a couple different locations around southern and western KC. While I got up in plenty of time to go to church in person, time has this funny trick of disappearing and I didn't want to show up late, so I "tuned-in" online. I was really impressed with the live-stream and even more impressed with the sermon itself.<br />
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Rev. Adam Hamilton, pulled out three main points from the movie <u>Aladdin</u> and showed how the gospel can be seen through them.<br />
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1 - The first point he talked about was how God sees us for the "diamond in the roughs" that we are. Obviously Aladdin went from a "street-rat" to a prince, inside and out. God chose the most unlikely people throughout the Bible to carry out his works. Moses, Samuel's youngest son, the woman at the well and even the rag-tag team of disciples that Jesus chose are just a few of the examples.<br />
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2- The second point was living your life in a balance of piety and outward signs of living for Christ. BE YOURSELF. Be true to who you are and more importantly who God has made you to be. Aladdin was posing as a pompous prince, while Jasmine fell in love with the real Aladdin, not "Prince Al." He expanded and talked about how we should not do what we do as a Christian to impress anyone, but to impact others. So make an impact people!<br />
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3 - Lastly he asked us how we would spend our third wish. Aladdin stayed true to a promise he made to the Genie and set him free while he thought he was giving up his chance to have his "happily ever after." What a sacrifice! Hm? Sound familiar? Enough said for point number three.<br />
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So, needless to say, I totally dug this guy and I'm looking forward to visiting in person next week as the Disney preaching series continues. Here is the link to the sermon online, I noticed it wasn't up yet, but hopefully it will be soon. <a href="http://www.cor.org/worship-sermons/sermon-archives/show/sermons/Aladdin/">Aladdin sermon</a>!<br />
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I'd also like to thank Joyce Hooker from Knightstown, Indiana for her submission to "The Taste of Home Cookbook." I used her recipe for Broccoli Chicken Roll-Ups for inspiration and made my own little twist on probable the closet to gourmet meal I have ever made!<br />
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</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-7051509082398572692011-06-22T19:49:00.000-07:002011-06-22T19:53:35.321-07:00What Not to Say to Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I promise to get some pictures up soon of the new place. It is so cute and I love everything about it now! Plus, this "clean-freak" stage might not stay too long ;)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tonight after work I had the chance to venture a little deeper into the complex and check out the basketball court. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it has all of the needed components :) There were two boys and their dad shooting around a bit and I asked if I could join. I was hardly hitting anything it seemed, but that was ok, it was just nice to get out.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The father then went into this spiel telling his boys, "If anyone ever tries to tell you playing sports is not about winning, then they're wrong." He continued on saying, "Why would you practice and train so hard if it wasn't to win? Don't let anyone ever tell you different." "Pain goes away. If you get hurt and you're not dead or have a concussion, then keep playing. Physical pain goes away, but the emotional pain of losing doesn't."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ea9999;">My heart just sank</span> as the two boys ate up every word and agreed with him and started to repeat back what their dad had said to them, "That's right Papa!" I wish I had the courage to go against him to his face, but I just ignored him and then had some time with the kids later.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Later I was just playing with the kids after the dad had left and learned that they were just 6 and 7-years-old. They were so sweet and then their little brother who had to be like 2 introduced himself with a handshake and we played for awhile after that. I just wanted to tell them that their dad he was so wrong. Sports are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5a6bd;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">GAMES</span></span>! They should be for fun! Organized sports can teach you discipline, teamwork and dedication, but it is still a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5a6bd;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">GAME</span></span>! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wondered what my good friend Mr. Tony Dungy had to say on this matter, so I acquired a few quotes:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1393893306"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">God’s definition of success</span></span></a></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><a href="http://briandoddonleadership.com/2010/08/07/44-leadership-quotes-from-tony-dungy/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">is really one of significance – the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others."</span></a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1393893310"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1393893310"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Football is a vocation</span></span></a></strong><a href="http://briandoddonleadership.com/2010/08/07/44-leadership-quotes-from-tony-dungy/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d9ead3;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">and an opportunity for ministry. But it’s not a life."</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So then I stumbled across this great quote that actually goes exactly along with a conversation I had last night at the Kansas City Royal's baseball game</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.quotegarden.com/sports.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Winning is overrated. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war." Al McGuire. </span></a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I literally just had this conversation with a friend while watching the game. We enjoy sports, but they are not life and death like our troops are facing right now or the miracles that doctors perform everyday for people's loved ones.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok, I have ranted long enough! While my little time out on the playground angered me, the boys were so sweet and innocent and I hope my positive outlook and just playing with them made some small impact. I think I did because as they were leaving the boy yelled goodbye across the yard to me :)</span></span></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-39087021257988976772011-06-18T08:52:00.000-07:002011-06-18T08:52:14.637-07:00Disney World to the Real World!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This past month has been CraZy! From walking across the stage in Elliot Hall to receive my degree, to meeting Mickey Mouse and venturing through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to starting my first, full-time job! Phew! So I don't think everything has fully sunk in yet, but it has sure been fun along the way.<br />
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This is my first weekend in Kansas and since I'm just taking it easy and trying to "decompress" as one of my co-workers suggested to do this weekend, I figured I'd post a few pictures and memories of the past month!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsy8zAKz6ZHN2rBRXSTRgF1IPtl2nxSeAkcy3xVKvRQ-JmTw41HoXMegIHEdOqV7plALLJ59KV1YXLXGUXqHtWr3xX754fIzrHHKOdk2KDecEnkPL5LFC33BBa9oibGaFhsq2PjYv0RI/s1600/107_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsy8zAKz6ZHN2rBRXSTRgF1IPtl2nxSeAkcy3xVKvRQ-JmTw41HoXMegIHEdOqV7plALLJ59KV1YXLXGUXqHtWr3xX754fIzrHHKOdk2KDecEnkPL5LFC33BBa9oibGaFhsq2PjYv0RI/s320/107_0259.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"><b>After 5 years of walking around the bell tower and never going under it, graduation was finally the day to walk under it for the first time!</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic_QmUz9AflZK5N8xMIp4VawtoM9HKpL2bYGbpUs3zrZK6o_U5itevgV0aAoVmNyqMLWUdYVBXCJ777tmdwWSA3MxR7fKXrocPEwRWL5YIr45_dJV-XL0xwRjhz2bXmesXl3l19kF-Z0/s1600/107_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic_QmUz9AflZK5N8xMIp4VawtoM9HKpL2bYGbpUs3zrZK6o_U5itevgV0aAoVmNyqMLWUdYVBXCJ777tmdwWSA3MxR7fKXrocPEwRWL5YIr45_dJV-XL0xwRjhz2bXmesXl3l19kF-Z0/s320/107_0539.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc;">M-I-C. K-E-Y. M-O-U-S-E!!!!!! And Minnie :)</span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLApoevrDWuRcGz5Qq44Gd4r4_CrIvNLzBEnGpV59obZnQIEzkc6mJmOHST03SzHwgtIuuK9B4xMgqaOjiDs2RwGomcDuYldpo4Mn9b7kE4_HqeR8faF-9nByI2QgpcBx9U1Gwpir1zs/s1600/107_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLApoevrDWuRcGz5Qq44Gd4r4_CrIvNLzBEnGpV59obZnQIEzkc6mJmOHST03SzHwgtIuuK9B4xMgqaOjiDs2RwGomcDuYldpo4Mn9b7kE4_HqeR8faF-9nByI2QgpcBx9U1Gwpir1zs/s320/107_0359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #93c47d;">Hogwarts Castle! No words to describe how excited I was to be in Harry Potter World!</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-6775190687532676632011-05-11T18:43:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:35:00.280-07:00"There will be a Day"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Jeremy Camp song, "There will be a Day," but just as I was sitting down to blog about today, that is what popped in my head.<br />
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I spent the day up North, past Ft. Wayne for a really good college friend's mom's funeral. She passed away Friday evening after a hard battle with cancer. It was truly a celebration of her life and I overall witnessed passed the human sorrow of losing a loved one, an atmosphere that was light and energetic as we remembered this remarkable woman.<br />
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I still cried like a baby through parts of the service for different reasons:<br />
1- I felt sorrow for my friend. He has been there for me through some of the toughest things I have faced in my young-life so far and he was losing his mother at such a young age.<br />
2- I was thinking, "What if that were my mom?" My mom and I have grown through the "parent-child" relationship and into the "best-friend" relationship and I couldn't imagine doing things in my future like planning a wedding someday without her.<br />
3 - I HATE CANCER! I have known too many people either personally or who have had loved ones been affected by this selfish disease.<br />
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Again, the service was about a celebration and Bonnie wanted it that way and told one of the ministers to use her funeral as an opportunity to teach to those attending so that they might grow deeper in their faiths. To have belief, and what one of the ministers referred to more adequately as trust, in the gracious gift God gave us through Jesus Christ - Eternal Life! Can I get a hallelujah?<br />
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So I think that is why the Jeremy Camp song popped into my head, for there will indeed be a day with no more tears, no more pain and no more fear! There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more and we'll see Jesus face to face. Thank you Bonnie for giving me such wonderful friend in your son. I know you are continuing to love your husband, children and family in a much better place and that indeed you have seen Jesus now face to face!</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-63173526539435069732011-05-02T17:55:00.000-07:002011-05-02T17:56:36.375-07:00Unrest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The recent world news had some great timing - right before finals! Thanks! Honestly, the world happenings concern/worry me more than my finals. While yes, Bin Laden led an extremist group, I can't help but worry about what fighting hate with hate will do. I appreciated the Facebook posts last night that expressed unease, those that would not celebrate in the death of someone and the various postings out of the book of Ezekiel:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"Say to them, 'As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways...'" Ezekiel 33:11</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:32</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"></span>Don't get me wrong - I love AMERICA! I love what it stands for and I am terribly grateful for those serving for my country - for me!<br />
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I suppose being on a huge campus with people from all over the world, and probably through the help of my friends who have some great worldly perspectives, my eyes have been opened to a bit more beyond these wonderful shores of ours. Yesterday at the <a href="http://www.wesleyfoundation.org/">Wesley Foundation</a> at Purdue, we dedicated a peace pole that sits outside our building. This pole has a message of peace written on it in all different languages. We have been recently reaching out to other religions and have had some great interactions with both Muslims and Jews. Yesterday was just the same. Someone offered a traditional Muslim prayer asking for peace and we ended the dedication singing a Jewish song for peace. Again, talk about timing?<br />
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The idea of peace has been resurfacing in my life a lot recently. My last post I talked about the words of my grandmother and how they impacted me during this time of transition for me - "Grant me Peace and Contentment," has been her daily prayer all her life. Also yesterday at the last Wesley service, Pastor Lana preached on peace while "Rethinking Evangelism." Evangelism is not always necessarily standing on the street corner holding signs or going out on trips to bring people to Christ. Lots of HORRIBLE things have been done in the name of Evangelism that I, as a Christian, disagree with.<br />
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"The Gospel in one word is Love," is a lyric from a song my dad used to sing when leading various worship services. "Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love. Love. Love." I wish the world would unite in singing this as a round together. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic or whatever - at least practice peace and love. While I personally believe it comes from God and the ultimate form of love was shown through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for anyone who will accept it, right now, I'd just settle for a little love.<br />
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</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-11273795714595410032011-04-24T21:22:00.000-07:002011-04-24T21:22:16.495-07:00Grant me Peace and Contentment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm sitting in my room, evening of Easter Sunday, 3 weeks before I graduate college and make the biggest transition ever in my life. I find it ironic that I'm surrounded by memorabilia of my youth right now.<br />
My accomplishments: Horse show rosettes, ribbons, plaques, certificates, belt buckles, high school letter jacket.<br />
Items of interest of mine: My English show saddle, my guitar and books.<br />
Sentimental items: Stuffed animals, portraits, pictures and poems.<br />
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These next few weeks I know are going to fly by so I just wanted to take a moment and reflect on life. When I went to my bookshelf to read a book for a bit before I went to sleep, I found a book that I gave to my Grandma when I graduated high school that was filled with "blank memories" for her to fill out and then give back to me. Right now my grandma is in a rehab facility since she was in the hospital for over a week last month. She is 92 and has a heart of a 40 year-old. Unfortunately, the rest of her body is 92.<br />
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Reading through it there are some cute stories about her parents and her life on the farm. I asked my parents as we were driving down to Lexington this weekend to see my brother and sister-in-law for Easter why I was so horse crazy? Mom replied, "It is in your genes." I realize now it was not only my mom who passed on what some may say "the disease," but apparently my grandma was quite fond of these four-legged creatures as well. She was born in 1918, and that is how she farmed when she was little. She said one of her favorite memories was delivering water to the workers in the field with her pony and cart :) I wish photography was as easy back then as it is now - that would have been adorable!<br />
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When asked what her favorite Bible verse or memory from church was she wrote down, "Grant me Peace and Contentment." That is indeed how she lived her live. Humble, ever since her farm background, clear until today. She took everything in life in stride, never doubted or pouted about her situation and moved on through. It makes complete sense why this simple little prayer meant so much to her in her life. She grew up on a farm - a very practical upbringing. My grandpa served 4 years, 4 months and 21 days (she kept track) in the United States Army during World War II. She then raised two children on a farm. She found happiness in life itself rather than in possessions or events. She described the happiest memory of her life was when Ray (my grandpa) got out of the service and they started farming together.<br />
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So while I'm embarking on this next step, and dreaming about what my life is going to be like and how I'm going to get there, I thank Grandma Martha for reminding me to humble myself a bit, relax, be practical and ask God for peace and contentment, because only then can I be truly satisfied.</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-79016614230197190512011-02-16T20:29:00.000-08:002011-02-16T20:29:20.101-08:00Bubbi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">BEAUTIFUL day! The sun was out, wind was calm and the temp was around 55! I had to get out and enjoy the day somehow. A student walking by with a Camp Tecumseh sweatshirt answered my prayers! He inspired me to take a quick afternoon trip out to camp and take a ride!<div><br />
</div><div>I had a long day yesterday, intense Bible study and then a friend had some bad news about his mom's health so this ride was just what I needed! And Bubbi (a bay Arabian/Saddlebred cross) was just the ticket. He hadn't been ridden since the Fall, not used at all during trail rides and due to his breeding, is slightly ADD. But he's gorgeous and super friendly (he practically came to me in the pasture) and did really well. He's super fancy too in the ring and a really cute jumper and he's FOR SALE!!!! I'd be tempted myself, but I can't buy a horse right now. He'd make a great pet, has packed around campers since 2007 but deserves a chance to show his stuff. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Back to the ride - On this great snow-covered trail by the river, I saw a deer, flying swans overhead and plenty of squirrels and shared with Mary Anne who is always a pleasure to be around! Pretty much magical and worth staying up late to finish my grading and forcing me to get up early in the morning to finish things for the day.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Welp, that's it - I'm trying to blog more so hopefully y'all will be more entertained!</div></div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-5383892131486241332011-02-10T20:32:00.000-08:002011-02-10T20:49:49.213-08:00Book Idea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So - I know this is going to sound funny because I have been neglecting this blog so much, but I want to write a book. This is not a new idea for me. I don't really care about being on any sort of bestseller list or anything like that, but the accomplishment of telling a story would be something pretty sweet!<br />
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The first major problem though is deciding what to write about. Fiction? Non-Fiction? Romance? Comedy? Religious? Then, what kind of book? Novel? Diary? Collection of poems or random entries?<br />
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Well I thought about turning my college career and a lot of what I write in these blogs into a book, but didn't really like that idea because while I love the life I live, to me, it can be boring at times. I've been re-reading the Harry Potter books and am in awe of Rowling's ability to develop a whole new world and I just don't think my brain works like that.<br />
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I think what I am best at is telling stories that are real and have happened, and I think I'll be most passionate about topics that are near to me. So I would like to thank a fellow Mortar Board member for helping to inspire this idea I'm about to propose. He came into the meeting all dressed up and said that he was visiting the school where he'll be student teaching at. Then he talked about how cold it was today and relating back to the teaching theme, I told him that my parents had a two-hour delay today because of the cold. He was interested in the fact that my parents were teachers and then I got all mushy telling him how they have taught at the same small-town high school for over 30 years now together.<br />
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Eh? You see where I'm going with this? Seems simple - a midwestern couple, teaching at a small-town school, had two children and are active in a local church. But maybe being their daughter I can show how truly incredible those statements are?! Not only do they live together, they work together! There is not a whole lot of separation if they get on one another's nerves. And the cherry on top of it all - they are going to a marriage conference this weekend just because! How stinking cute?<br />
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Valentines Day can be something beautiful for people or can be extremely depressing. At the moment I'm playing Katy Perry's "Firework" on repeat while writing this to give myself a little morale boost! I got the idea from the latest episode of Glee where Rachel realizes she doesn't need Phin anymore. Now don't get worried, I'm not going to be a Valentines hater, down a six-pack on Monday in woe due to my misery of being single since like forever. I'm just boosting my ego a bit - a little 'mood-management.' I've learned in my communication class recently that it is a proven theory as people select what kind of music to listen to in order to alter their mood to a more favorable state. In the most humble way possible, I know I'm awesome but just need reminded of it from time to time. Thanks Katy!<br />
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Ok - rant on Valentines was to say I've been thinking a lot about love recently and what that little, yet oh so powerful word is and what it means. And I'm blessed to have been a close witness to a marriage filled with every sense of the word. So here's to you mom and dad! Hope you don't mind being putting on the spot but y'all mean a lot to me!</div>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874292709268736863.post-42384878914201798132010-12-14T14:00:00.000-08:002010-12-15T10:43:48.109-08:00Two Posts in a Day - What a Treat!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I'm spending as much time as possible working in the Animal Science Office these last two weeks of the semester to make a little extra cash. What is super sweet about this job is that if they don't have anything for me to do, then I can do whatever, well within reason. Like, I did a lot of my homework last week and studied for my final last night all day yesterday, while getting paid for it! Pretty sweet! Now to justify it a bit, I have to be able at a moment's notice be able to drop whatever I'm doing and help out wherever I can - sort mail, run some paperwork to another building, file some documents, make copies, answer phones, etc. So I have been helpful as well :)<br />
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But this afternoon has been rather slow, so y'all get treated with two posts! So I decided to write about something that is near and dear to my heart - Purdue and what it has meant to me. I suppose I'm getting melancholy as I have some close friends graduating in just a few days and I will be starting my last semester in January!<br />
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- Awesome spirit/pride! I know people get excited for their schools, but I was at a reception a few weeks ago and a lady sitting at my table told the entire group that she believes Purdue is on a whole new level than her former institution where she worked. All she had to say was "Hook 'em Horns," for us to realize she was talking about Texas University. I can't think of too many more enthusiastic and loyal fans as Texas probably has, but proud that she considers us Boilermakers in a league of our own!<br />
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- Friendships! "College is the best time in your life," so they say. I believe this is true. You are a grown-up, but yet still somewhat sheltered from the real world. Seriously - when working a full-time job you aren't going to decide to make a midnight Insomnia Cookies run with your friends because you wouldn't last through your 8 -hour work day! I have made the majority of my best friends here at Purdue.<br />
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- Possibilities! Meeting new people, travel opportunities, joining new clubs, professional opportunities, learning experiences inside and out of the classroom!<br />
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- Atmosphere! Campus is beautiful! I think the ideal day is a clear, warm, fall day when there is a home football game! The atmosphere is almost electric, yet serene and peaceful, if that makes sense?<br />
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- Growth! I have grown so much as a person. I have been through some of the worst times as well, but have been able to rise to the occasion through the help of my friends, whom I consider my Purdue Family. I have grown as a professional individual to go out into the Ag Industry, complete with a new hairdo :). I have grown so much in my faith to the point where I want to learn more and be able to share my passion for Christ and personal development. I have grown in academic learning and knowledge or at least that is what my transcript says.<br />
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So thank you all to my Purdue Family! I throughly bleed Black and Gold now! BOILER UP!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfilrpQn1BKJoUbCS9KeWOHjQlyhMzEuPGlyLZeXgKBllyiHjAuDHdPARYB0KWI1ZYSz9vVCzQuRhCNytLUZQaBoGwpZEVlOL-Fo_C5RXjOcqhtQKkYTkfw0EtWh5IJO_Iplm_-ihv1vw/s1600/DSCN2626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfilrpQn1BKJoUbCS9KeWOHjQlyhMzEuPGlyLZeXgKBllyiHjAuDHdPARYB0KWI1ZYSz9vVCzQuRhCNytLUZQaBoGwpZEVlOL-Fo_C5RXjOcqhtQKkYTkfw0EtWh5IJO_Iplm_-ihv1vw/s320/DSCN2626.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the Purdue Memorial Union - rocking out my senior chords :)</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1785552821"></span><span id="goog_1785552822"></span>Britthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01397161251392121761noreply@blogger.com0