Last Thursday I was eating with a friend in Dallas....
We sat down at our table and began to look at our menu. To my left, a man was taking a picture and smiling. I noticed the flash and glanced up. Right at that moment, his little boy got up and the lady who he'd had a picture with turned around. When I saw her face my heart started beating, I was in shock, and I wasn't sure what to do! It was Laura Bush!!
Now at this part in the story a lot of my friends start laughing. I'm not sure if there's another person out there as much a Laura Bush fan as myself. In 7th grade I did a biography on her, then in 9th grade I did a huge project on her: complete with her recipe of Laura Bush's Country Cookies and I dressed in a navy trenchcoat and heels. She remained such a lady of dignity and grace throughout her entire stay in the White House, and I just admire her so very much.
Mrs. Bush's shoulder was probably about 15 inches from my friend's shoulder who was sitting right in front of me. Because of that, I could hardly say her name to tell my friend. My eyes got really big and I told my friend to slowly look behind her. At this point we are just bursting our buttons, sitting by the First Lady in real life!
Throughout the meal we had the same waiter; he would collect their chip bowl for refills, then he would collect our chip bowl for refills. Needless to say, with such an important person taking his time, we didn't really see our waiter very much that night.
Unfortunately, we couldn't talk to her, or leave a little note that I wrote on a little business card I had in my wallet....so we left the restaurant having sat beside her for an hour and a half...but her never knowing who we were.
I only wish she could know how much I admire her!
What an exciting night it was to run into her in real life- just eating with her friends at a restaurant!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Home
I'm realizing more and more what a wonderful place home is. Of course, it is always special and comforting, but lately I am so refreshed by a good time at home. In college, the home-cooked meals, time with brothers and sisters, and good long talks with parents are rare. This Spring Break I had a really great time being home sweet home.
This morning in Matthew I read about the parable of the pearl. A man finds a pearl of great price and sells allllll he has to go purchase the pearl. Do we do that in our day-to-day life? Live as if we've recieved a pearl of great price and continually submit to the Lord? Give all our possessions to Him and treat the ones we have like they are His?
Back home, one of my best friends and I were talking about where we were in life and how our lives had both changed in the past year. We both realized that, though far away from each other, we were both exactly in the spot that the Lord wanted us. And we both agreed that spot was just the most wonderful in the whole world. If you're where the Lord wants you, and you feel that confirmed in your heart, it doesn't matter if the rains come or the storms rage, HE is in charge and has you in the palm of His hand.
I made a list this morning of things I was thankful for over the past week and a half....opportunities that had come, people that the Lord had blessed me with and let me see when I went home, special moments, and I was absolutely overwhelmed. It reminded me of James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
He's here with us...whether we're home or away. Near or far.
Seek Him with your entire heart....He is truly a pearl worth giving all we have for.
This morning in Matthew I read about the parable of the pearl. A man finds a pearl of great price and sells allllll he has to go purchase the pearl. Do we do that in our day-to-day life? Live as if we've recieved a pearl of great price and continually submit to the Lord? Give all our possessions to Him and treat the ones we have like they are His?
Back home, one of my best friends and I were talking about where we were in life and how our lives had both changed in the past year. We both realized that, though far away from each other, we were both exactly in the spot that the Lord wanted us. And we both agreed that spot was just the most wonderful in the whole world. If you're where the Lord wants you, and you feel that confirmed in your heart, it doesn't matter if the rains come or the storms rage, HE is in charge and has you in the palm of His hand.
I made a list this morning of things I was thankful for over the past week and a half....opportunities that had come, people that the Lord had blessed me with and let me see when I went home, special moments, and I was absolutely overwhelmed. It reminded me of James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
He's here with us...whether we're home or away. Near or far.
Seek Him with your entire heart....He is truly a pearl worth giving all we have for.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Good Books
This weekend my dad and sister are speaking at a Daddy/Daughter Conference...and I get to be there too....via Skype! Skype is one of my new favorites things and allows me to see sweet people's faces and not feel like I'm hours away from them!
At the conference, my dad asked me to talk about some of the best books I read growing up. And I thought this would be an appropriate place to write about them.
Books I Loved From Age 5-19
1. Anne of Green Gables Series: Yes, all eight of them. Anne Shirley, the spunky redhead, became like a best friend of mine as I read these. Her adventures and disappointments, friends and crushes became like mine! The setting, Canada's Prince Edward Island in the late nineteenth century, is picturesque. From book 1 to 8, Anne's life is followed from age 16 to age 53. (The last few books are focused on her children, but include Anne as a major charater as well.) These are classic books with amazing life lessons.
2. The Boxcar Children Series: I read every single one my library had. Weekly Saturday morning trips to the library resulted in my checking out the maximum my dad would allow. : ) Four orphaned children live with their grandfather and solve mysteries that seem to just plop in their laps! Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny love each other dearly and each play an integral role in capturing the thief and putting the last piece in the puzzle.
3. The Babysitter's Club: Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey, Dawn, Claudia, Jessi, and Mallory are seven middle-schoolers who start a Babysitting Club. They meet twice a week as parent's call and request babysitters. Each book contains a few adventures and a few babysitting jobs. The friends all have strengths and weaknesses and their interaction just fascinated me as a little girl. In the books they are thirteen, and I probably read them as an eight-year-old, so I looked up to these girls in a big way! I just couldn't wait for the day I could become a babysitter. Maybe that's why I love it so much to this day....
4. The Left Behind Series: In eighth grade, I read the adult Left Behind Series because they were a lot of Accelerated Reader points, but I soon became addicted to them. Corresponding with the book of Revelation, they contain fictional characters living in truly foretold end times. These books are fast-paced, John-Grisham-ish, and thoroughly difficult to put down. Absolutely loved them.
5. Boy Meets Girl- by Joshua Harris: I read half of this book at Barnes and Noble, and the other half at my house that night. In one day. Because of that rapid reading, I had forgotten some of it and reread it a few years ago. Although its written to an audience of people nearing marriage-age and marriage-maturity, I gained valuable information from it as a seventh-grader. It gave a unique viewpoint of dating, which he calls courting, and recommends only when the person is actually prepared to be married. My favorite part of the book was all the sweet stories of couples committing their relationships to the Lord, and He rewarded their honoring Him. Reading this book before ever thinking about dating was a great time to read it, as I had no bias or other opinions. Today, I might feel differently about it, but it was neat to have a bold foundation from Joshua Harris.
6. John Grisham Books: In high school, I had a random John Grisham phase. Knowing nothing at all about lawyers or the corrupt businessmen world, I impressed myself by actually understanding these books. They were high energy, people died, and each book had about seven twists. (Maybe wouldn't seem high energy for a guy...but for a girl, yes.) ....I realize I'm probably straying, and won't recommend these books at the Daddy/Daughter Conference..haha..but these would have to be included in a favorites list.
7. Just Like Jesus- Max Lucado
8. A Woman's Journey to the Heart of God- Cynthia Heald
9. Intimacy with God- Cynthia Heald
10. Becoming a Woman of ...(series)- Cynthia Heald
11. George MacDonald- C.S. Lewis (my favorite book in the entire world.)
12. Ordering Your Private World- Gordon McDonald
13. And the Bride Wore White- Dannah Gresh
14. When God Writes Your Love Story- Eric and Leslie Ludy
15. How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie (my dad had me read this in 5th grade. Maybe don't do that to your kids....but in junior high for sure.)
16. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living- Dale Carnegie
17. This is Earl Nightingale- Earl Nightingale (pure gold)
18. My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers (I read this everyday)
19. The Tipping Point- Malcolm Gladwell
20. Blink- Malcolm Gladwell
This list covered a lot of my life....very good books that have shaped who I am today. My dad always said, "Show me the books you read and who your friends are, and I'll show you where you'll be in ten years." I didn't realize how true that was until I just wrote this list. These books have truly made a difference in my life: established my faith, encouraged my walk with the Lord, given me new perspectives, helped me organize thoughts, let me understand people...wow.
Readers are leaders.
At the conference, my dad asked me to talk about some of the best books I read growing up. And I thought this would be an appropriate place to write about them.
Books I Loved From Age 5-19
1. Anne of Green Gables Series: Yes, all eight of them. Anne Shirley, the spunky redhead, became like a best friend of mine as I read these. Her adventures and disappointments, friends and crushes became like mine! The setting, Canada's Prince Edward Island in the late nineteenth century, is picturesque. From book 1 to 8, Anne's life is followed from age 16 to age 53. (The last few books are focused on her children, but include Anne as a major charater as well.) These are classic books with amazing life lessons.
2. The Boxcar Children Series: I read every single one my library had. Weekly Saturday morning trips to the library resulted in my checking out the maximum my dad would allow. : ) Four orphaned children live with their grandfather and solve mysteries that seem to just plop in their laps! Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny love each other dearly and each play an integral role in capturing the thief and putting the last piece in the puzzle.
3. The Babysitter's Club: Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey, Dawn, Claudia, Jessi, and Mallory are seven middle-schoolers who start a Babysitting Club. They meet twice a week as parent's call and request babysitters. Each book contains a few adventures and a few babysitting jobs. The friends all have strengths and weaknesses and their interaction just fascinated me as a little girl. In the books they are thirteen, and I probably read them as an eight-year-old, so I looked up to these girls in a big way! I just couldn't wait for the day I could become a babysitter. Maybe that's why I love it so much to this day....
4. The Left Behind Series: In eighth grade, I read the adult Left Behind Series because they were a lot of Accelerated Reader points, but I soon became addicted to them. Corresponding with the book of Revelation, they contain fictional characters living in truly foretold end times. These books are fast-paced, John-Grisham-ish, and thoroughly difficult to put down. Absolutely loved them.
5. Boy Meets Girl- by Joshua Harris: I read half of this book at Barnes and Noble, and the other half at my house that night. In one day. Because of that rapid reading, I had forgotten some of it and reread it a few years ago. Although its written to an audience of people nearing marriage-age and marriage-maturity, I gained valuable information from it as a seventh-grader. It gave a unique viewpoint of dating, which he calls courting, and recommends only when the person is actually prepared to be married. My favorite part of the book was all the sweet stories of couples committing their relationships to the Lord, and He rewarded their honoring Him. Reading this book before ever thinking about dating was a great time to read it, as I had no bias or other opinions. Today, I might feel differently about it, but it was neat to have a bold foundation from Joshua Harris.
6. John Grisham Books: In high school, I had a random John Grisham phase. Knowing nothing at all about lawyers or the corrupt businessmen world, I impressed myself by actually understanding these books. They were high energy, people died, and each book had about seven twists. (Maybe wouldn't seem high energy for a guy...but for a girl, yes.) ....I realize I'm probably straying, and won't recommend these books at the Daddy/Daughter Conference..haha..but these would have to be included in a favorites list.
7. Just Like Jesus- Max Lucado
8. A Woman's Journey to the Heart of God- Cynthia Heald
9. Intimacy with God- Cynthia Heald
10. Becoming a Woman of ...(series)- Cynthia Heald
11. George MacDonald- C.S. Lewis (my favorite book in the entire world.)
12. Ordering Your Private World- Gordon McDonald
13. And the Bride Wore White- Dannah Gresh
14. When God Writes Your Love Story- Eric and Leslie Ludy
15. How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie (my dad had me read this in 5th grade. Maybe don't do that to your kids....but in junior high for sure.)
16. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living- Dale Carnegie
17. This is Earl Nightingale- Earl Nightingale (pure gold)
18. My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers (I read this everyday)
19. The Tipping Point- Malcolm Gladwell
20. Blink- Malcolm Gladwell
This list covered a lot of my life....very good books that have shaped who I am today. My dad always said, "Show me the books you read and who your friends are, and I'll show you where you'll be in ten years." I didn't realize how true that was until I just wrote this list. These books have truly made a difference in my life: established my faith, encouraged my walk with the Lord, given me new perspectives, helped me organize thoughts, let me understand people...wow.
Readers are leaders.
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