For Beginners

That is the title of a song by M. Ward, who Stephen just recently introduced me to. It’s a really great song, and the words and the title makes me think of this week, actually. This past week was Beach Camp week. Beach Camp is the week long retreat that the youth group at First Baptist Gaffney takes every summer to Garden City Chapel. The week of my birthday, every year. 8 years ago, going into the 10th grade, my best friend Laura talked my Mom into making me go to beach camp (Mom payed for me without me knowing. Thanks Mom!) and I walked right up in there with my King James Bible in hand, not having a clue what I was about to get into. I came back knowing and loving Jesus and wanting more of all that that week had to offer me. It sounds cheesy I know, but when something like that changes you the way it did me, those certain places and people just stick with you. Through several beach camps through the high school and college years, I learned how to worship, how to have alone time with God, and what fellowship looked like. The coolest thing about this story to me is that I remember clearly what it was like to not belong to Jesus. That version of me sucked and I never want it back. When I think back to that particular summer, I think about how different I was when I came back. I acted differently, I talked differently, I played sports differently, I treated people differently. I liked being a beginner. Someone who had just been transformed eternally.

Jason Mraz has a tattoo on his arm with the word “beginner” that he got when he started surfing. He noticed in surfing how beginners have more fun because they can never tell whether or not the waves are good or bad that day. He says beginners love regardless of condition. Beginners are humble and just enjoy being wet. They love UNCONDITIONALLY. And all that’s just cool. Every year during this time, still, I think about how the Lord saved me. I think about what that felt like initially because I remember it so well. Everything was so new and different and I wanted to share that with anyone who was breathing the same air as me. What all this means for me 8 years later is that I want to always have that beginner attitude. For my relationship with Jesus to be about learning MORE. Learning more of the Bible, more of how Jesus acted and thought and taught others. hmmm.

I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted

When something crazy happens in your life, you have to blog about it right? Otherwise, what good is this thing if not to entertain others with your stories of adventure? So. The long awaited Jason Mraz concert rolled around last night and I'm pretty sure it was against God's will that we attended. Monday night Britt and I realized we hadn't actually purchased the tickets, even though our facebook status told the world that we did about 2 weeks ago. Luckily the 4 we needed were still available. He was playing at this new place in Charlotte called the Music Factory and it was really really cool. The only problem was that it was an ampitheater which almost always means that the night of a concert it MUST rain. And oh boy did it rain on us! The heavens opened up, lightning struck, and about 3,000 people were up under the metal roof of the concession stand. This stretch of standing lasted for about 2 hours until G. Love and Jason decided they would move the concert inside and do an acoustic show for people who wanted to wait it out by getting even more wet and forego their refund. We then stood in yet another line with the millions of biting fire ants while the second round of storms came through. By the time we finally got into the building, they apparently had only let 1800 people inside. The music finally all started at 11:00pm. I'll just get to the good parts though: Jason Mraz is fantastic in conert. His voice is even better live than it is on any album. So smooth and wonderful that Erica fell asleep standing up. I also realized last night that I actually do have a favorite song! Not just a favorite song of Jason's, but a favorite song in my world. And that song is "I'm Yours." I would be lying if I told you I wasn't getting a little tired of it after a while thanks to the radio. But I've decided that it is in fact my favorite song. And what better person to receive such a pointless honor than him. Happy Birthday to me, thanks Mr. A-Z!

Dear Friends

Please stop getting married right now. I just can't go to another wedding. The Culotta wedding this weekend made my 6th wedding of these summer months and number 7 is the weekend after next. I've realized over the past few months that I really do enjoy weddings. Most people would prefer funerals, but I really like weddings. Free food and cake and lots of dancing and getting all pretty to get your picture taken a lot. invite me. But right now after a weekend traveling to Chapel Hill, a long week at work, and then a weekend traveling to Florence, my body just physically hurts. If you want to get married in my living room, I'll be there. But other than that, I just can't do it. I want to sleep late in my own bed and I want to spend a weekend in shorts.

On the exhausted topic, I took care of 9 dogs this week. 7 puppies, one monster dog, and one dog that is small and annoying and wouldnt go to the bathroom when I needed it to. It was completely adorable but I would be lying if I told you it was fun. Don't think I'll ever sign up for that again. I'll leave you with a picture of one. Notice the way your heart will swell up and enjoy that feeling.

And another thing

This has no relevance to you and your life so I'm sorry but I HATE thunderstorms. And I don't hate them in the way you're supposed to. The way that you say you hate something but inwardly realize that hate is a strong word so you use the strongly dislike term. No, I HATE thunderstorms. A lot of white people like thunderstorms. I've met several who say "Oh I could sit out on my front porch and watch a thunderstorm all day!" I mean, what? Is your front porch the place where you would choose to die? That's essentially what you are saying. Last night a storm rolled in, with it being the second night in my entire life I chose to go to bed before 11. It was a bad one, too. I was one nuclear bomb sound away from crawling into Brittany's twin bed with her. If I thought she was awake I would have. Thunderstorms just ruin everything. The thunder is loud, the lightning is bright, they take out your power and reset your alarm clock, they take down trees, they scare your dogs, they scare your kids (in my parents case, you're 23 year old), they ruin your afternoon picnics and concerts. Maybe I'm dumb for being scared of them. But if they aren't scary then why do all the horror parts of horror movies happen with storms in the background? I'll be brave and say that 98% of humans are scared of spiders. Don't tell me you are scared of something that usually doesn't bite and crawls around in your ceiling corners in order to avoid you, but you sit outside in the lightning for fun? I would call you an idiot behind your back. One major thing I love in this life is sleep. And frequently, thunderstorms prevent sleep because they always come at completely inconvenient times. I've also learned that thunderstorms in no way discourage my crazy neighbors. They were still outside in the midst of it, yelling at each other in the street as usual.

quote of the day

In church this morning.

Pastor Ken: "I'm using Harry Potter as an example because Harry Potter is all over the news and facebook right now."

Ktb:"Harry Potter is on Facebook!?!? ADD ME!"

Choose the Tude

Its been a bad week and its Wednesday. I'm sleepy and grumpy and work is long and I always have 60 million things to do when I get home. But instead of whining about it, as is my usual routine, I'm going to think about good things. You can actually choose this. The things I'm thankful for are plenty and much better to focus on. Now sit back while I bore you with my list:

1. my big red sunglasses
2. chic-fil-a chicken strips and the cravings that they bring
3. a big hug from Tara, one of my youths I haven't seen in a while
4. getting to hang out at Critter Camp today. awesome
5. The rolled down window riding music of Jason Reeves
6. A new washer and dryer and the attractive maintenance man who installed both
7. Blogging because I have a lot to say
8. The brilliant writing of J.K. Rowling
9. Jesus and his reminder that I'm not as cool as I think I am
10. The thought of the day on our bathroom mirror


and especially for the quote of the day:
"Rock Hill isn't Narnia. We have to grow up." -Ktb

The World Above

I hate it when you can't get enough sleep and not even winning the lottery will make you happy until you do. I've been in a wretched mood for the last 24 hours, partly because I had to leave New York and partly because planes add to the tiredness of not sleeping good for 3 days. Incase you've been biting your toenails in anticipation, I'll give a little update on our trip. The highlight for me was the Little Mermaid on Broadway because it was magical. The whole show was splendid and we got to meet Drew Seely who plays Prince Eric. A little background on Drew Seely since you probably don't know who he is: He is the main character of "Another Cinderalla Story" (that abc family movie) and he co-wrote "Getcha Head in the Game" for high school musical AND played Troy in HSM the concert that toured the US a while back. So he's talented. More importantly, he's adorable and I love a man who can sing and dance. Another highlight was the food. Another highlight was Yankee Stadium. Obviously we didnt get to go to a game, they are at the Angels now, but my friends were kind enough to make the trek to the Bronx for me and it was wonderful! We did way more walking than my feet would have liked and it was a slam packed 3 days, but it was just as enjoyable as the last time I visited. Sure all the sites looked the same, but I just like traveling in general with people that I like. I love the city. Would I ever live there? Maybe if a kick awesome job required it. But I don't think I was made for big cities such as that. Some people are. Laura is. We saw someone we knew from Gaffney in China town. The airport guy checking our luggage at Laguardia was from Spartanburg, and two guys beside us at our cute lunch spot was talking about the serail killer! So I really didn't feel too far away given those activities. I also got to have dinner with Bickell and have lunch with Brandon and Ansley who live there now and who I rarely see. That was swell.

Getting back to the "real world" after a trip is really really hard. Especially on a small amount of sleep and when your legs still ache pretty badly. Tonight will be another late night, as I am going to see Harry Potter at midnight and I simply cannot wait. And after 2 weekends off, the summer marriage tour picks back up again Friday. All for now.

City with a capital c

I went to New York City once. I was young, it was 2 years ago. My stay was 6 days and 5 nights and I didn't get to see half of the wonderful things it had to offer me. The first draft of my "list" of things to do got much larger as the week went on. I don't have a list for this weekend(!!) but I do feel like it will be a more enjoyable experience because I've seen a few things already. I can just kinda catch up, ya know? Gaffney friends in New York for 3 days. Updates to follow this.

quote of the day

Laura: "Just passed a hitch hiker in front of the nursing home. I'm glad Gaffney is back to normal!"