ABC, Easy as 1, 2, 3

A - Age: 25

B - Bed size: Full...though I'm craving a larger one

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the kitchen floor

D - Dog's name: None

E - Essential start your day item:  The Bible and breakfast

F - Favorite color(s): Green and orange

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5'1"-ish

I - Instruments you play: My vocal chords :0)

J - Job title: Mommy! Also aspiring artist and musician

K - Kid(s): 1 little man, Javen

L - Living arrangements: With hubby and son

M - Mom's name: Joleen

N - Nicknames: Manda, Mandy (when I was young)

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Never

P - Pet Peeve: When someone says they can't find something and they have already looked. Then I go look in the same spot and find it right away.

Q - Quote from a movie: "It's not a graduation, he is passing from the 4th grade to the 5th grade. We keep finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity!" -The Incredibles :0)

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 2 brothers, Joel, Colton. And 1 sis, Karlee

T - Time you wake up: 8-ish

U - Underwear: Wouldn't you like to know... ;0)

V - Vegetable you dislike: Beets

W - Workout style: Some cardio and light lifting

X - X-rays you've had: Only 1 I can remember, for a sprained ankle in 6th grade.

Y - Yesterday's best moment: Visiting Evergreen art supplies store...and drooling as I walked through the aisles.

Z - Zoo favorite: Giraffes, Lions

Would you Rather?....

So, it's been a while since my last blog-post!

Here is a little "Would You Rather" entry for the day.

Vacation season is right around the corner, so...would you rather spend your relaxation time on the beach, or in a cozy cabin in the mountains?

I want to know!

FL

Hopefully there aren't any storms like this while we are in Florida, but I just thought this was a pretty gnarly photo.

In approximately 24 hours, we will be in Florida. Let's take a moment to breathe out a big, relaxing, Ahhhhhhh.

This will be a quick trip, but hopefully just enough time to soak up some sun and recharge a little bit.

The reason for this trip is to attend the wedding of two of our good friends, Jen and Brandon. So that means that a bunch of our other friends and relatives will also be down there to celebrate, it's always a good time when we are all together.

Fort Myers Beach, I can't wait to sink my toes into your soft white sand. :0)

Oh boy, Oh boy...

So, there's this little event called the "Wonder Worshipping Arts Conference" coming up this summer. I am so beyond excited right now that I can hardly type! Here's what's happening at this conference: 

3 days of totally creative, inspiring, vision-planting sessions, all focused on the worship and artistic elements of a church.

There are dozens of sessions to choose from every day, from: improving vocal skills, leading praise and worship, graphic design, stage lighting, how to incorporate choreography/drama into a service, and sooooo much more!

Oh, did I mention that Darlene Czech with be speaking, and Hillsong UNITED is leading late night worship?!

I am praying that God will open doors for Justin and I, and hopefully several other members of Rock Church,  to attend this conference.

I am pumped!!! I have never experienced anything like this.

I think that God is wanting to take me to the next level in my ministry and abilities, and this conference could be the launching pad! Yeah baby.....

Laziness...

This week I have been, lazy. And now that it's Friday, I feel incredibly unaccomplished and sluggish. I feel kind of like that Thousand-Pound woman you see on the Discovery channel...yep, I'm sure this is what she feels like. Since Tuesday I have only left the house twice, I haven't cooked a single meal, I haven't done my hair or makeup, I haven't been to the gym, and I have watched plenty of mindless, pointless TV. I am pathetic... however, I have also been very sick, so I have a little bit of an excuse. But man, I hate doing nothing! Especially when there is housework to be done, a baby to entertain, and rehearsals to go to. People kinda need me!

Here's the sicky-update: 

-I have gone through an entire large box of tissues in 3 days. I have abundant snot.

-My abs are actually sore from coughing so hard (sooo...does that count as my workout for the week???)

-The GOOD news is: I woke up this morning feeling much less congested. I am trusting that my throat will get better throughout the day as well so that I can sing this weekend. I am going to try and limit my speaking to only whispering.

Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement!

Hopefully after today I will be back to my old self again, and officially un-lazy!

Valentine's Day

Ahhhh yes, Valentine's Day.

Let's reminisce for a moment...

Think back to around 2nd grade. 

First, you got to make your own valentine box, where all of those top-secret cards, notes, and candies would be deposited. Even at the tender age of 8, I always stressed about this part. My box had to be beautiful and perfect. If I messed up, I would get a brand new box and start over. I could never comprehend how some kids could just scribble on their boxes and allow the world to see them that way. This is your valentine's day box people, you only get one a year so let's put a little effort into it.

Then, your mom would take you to the store to choose which valentine cards and candy you wanted to hand out to your classmates. Maybe you chose your favorite Disney movie or cartoon character as a theme. Or, if you had an especially artsy mom, you would hand-craft your valentine cards.

Then came time to address the envelopes and carefully place the card and candy inside. If you were handing out "Sweet-Heart" candies in your valentines, this became a very delicate process. You had to make sure that all of the "Best Friends" and "Hug Me" hearts went to your girlfriends. Then maybe the "You're Cool" and "Awesome" hearts would go to the boys in your class. And finally, there were the sacred hearts reserved for your crush. The ones that made such bold statements as "You're Mine" and "Kiss Me". If you received one of these types of hearts, it was a sign of destiny! 

And, what was even more exciting was if someone left a valentine in your box, and didn't sign their name! You had a mystery crush! You and all of your friends would brainstorm at recess to try and figure out who this mystery person could be, but in reality, you would probably never speak to that person even if you did figure out who it was. 

For the sake of teenage girls everywhere who hate Valentine's Day...I wish it could all be as simple as 2nd grade.

Who do you look like?

This blog is in response to Mrs. Olivia Ryans most recent blog post. Have you ever been told you look like someone famous? I can't tell you how many times I have been told I look like Sandra Bullock. Even complete strangers have told me! Maybe the brown eyes, but other than that, I don't really see it. What do you think? 

What about you? Who do you look like?