September Already?!?

My life is packed these days, and I haven't even had Saturday classes in the last 6 weeks! That ends next Saturday, so I am going to try to recap some recent events in honor of my last free Saturday.

Back in August, I had the amazing opportunity to go to a Sugarland concert with Cofer, Sam, and Krista. I have never sweat so much, but it was completely worth it to see them live! We ran into Martha and I got two awesome videos:

MTR represent at MCHS!

Our dear friends, the Curriers, followed God's calling to California a few weeks ago. So we had a  party for them before they left:

(Photo by Amanda Hill)

Labor Day weekend I got to make a trip to Fayetteville.It was so fun to see Martha having a blast and loving a place I love so much! We tried out a new pizza place with Brian:

And we got to pet a dog just like Hershey! We miss our Hershey pup!

I had the privilege of going to the Arkansas v Tennessee Tech football game while I was in town.

There were two very special things about this game. 1. My MTR friend Brittany's boyfriend is #52 for TTU, so we got to sit on the second row of the TTU section to enjoy the game! 2. The Covingtons moved back from Bulgaria just four days before the game, so not only did I get to see them, but they came to the game with me and represented the Hogs in the TTU section!

Arkansas won 44-3 and even the Blue Man Group was calling the hogs!

And last weekend I made a quick day trip to see this dear friend:

We had a fun weekend of shopping and grading papers:) Yes, I recruit friends to grade papers. Let me know if you are interested in being on the paper grading team!

Lexington

While visiting Cofer we did venture into Lexington a few times where there is much more to see!

Like bicycle racks made from bicycles and beautiful stone buildings:

and the Kentucky theater where Cofer's church meets:

And we had pizza at Joe Bologna's, which was originally a Presbyterian Church and then a Jewish Temple, but now is re-purposed as a restaurant. The jury is out on whether or not the raised seating was an addition or  a part of the church. I think it was completely an addition - any thoughts?

And I have share my inspiration for my blue table:

However, there was one part of Lexington that I did not enjoy so much - spotting Calipari. As a true Memphian, he just disgusts me!

Wilmore

Also, affectionately known as Thrillmore because there is not much to do but look at beautiful scenery:

Go to college (or seminary):

Eat a sandwich named after your favorite Theologian:

Drink Ale 8 in honor of Frase:

And, craft, which I'm particularly fond of!

Travelling the South

I've had some time between working and moving in the last two weeks to relax and visit some friends. I have made trips to ARKANSAS:

And KENTUCKY:

-Lots of good fellowship and food with dear friends during my trips! 

2009 in Review

I was looking through photos from this year for a collage on Facebook, and I really enjoyed remembering all my adventures, so I'm sharing them here in a little more detail.

New Year's 2009: New Orleans

This time last year, I was on a mission trip to New Orleans. December is a great time for mission trips because the reason for the season is so real for me when I'm serving directly. We did it right by going over New Year's. We even got to see Blues Traveler for free on New Year's Day!

New Orleans Mission Trip #5

Last December I actually spent two weeks in New Orleans rebuilding. This photo represents the other extreme of mission trips: safety gear.

January: Northwest Arkansas Ice Storm

The ice storm was historic. Days of classes canceled:4. Days without power in our apartment:7. We went to the movies just to have a warm place to be for a few hours one afternoon, and then we just left town.

February: Valentine's Day Basketball Game

Amy and I were the most excited to wear shirts with our "boyfriend's" names on them. We made sure we got to sit on the front row, and saw the team pointing at us multiple times.

May: Graduation

After 5 years of Architecture School, these are the only girls left in a graduating class of about 30. It is such a relief to be finished with that accomplishment. I still don't think it has really sunk in.

May: Train and Sister Hazel Concert

Martha was my date to the Botanical Gardens for a Sister Hazel and Train concert this summer. It was a life experience to see a live performance of "Meet Virginia."

June: 2 Weddings

Neither of these friends got married, but two girls who were in the Bible Study I led for 3 years got married in June. Thankfully not the same weekend, but reasons for me to go back to Arkansas and visit!

July: Family in town

My cousin Christy and I have seen each other a bunch this year. There is more to come for 2010 because she is getting married in April and I will be accompanying my grandmother to her wedding.

July: Adventures in Arkansas and Sending Off Kidd

Frase, Kidd, and I made a little Road Trip to Eureka Springs before Kidd moved to Bulgaria this fall. We are enjoying Rocky Road treats in this photo, which I have learned to make this fall. Maybe I'll make some to send to them as a memory of this trip.

July: Road Trip to Brett(&Ashley's) house in Bartlett

One thing that I am so thankful for in moving back home is that I still have all these wonderful high school friends who I see regularly. This particular get-together included a few fun rounds of American Idol Karaoke.

October: Florida Trip

October brought a fun trip to Florida to see my sister's school and her play softball, and also go to the Florida and Arkansas game at the Swamp. More about that trip in this post.

October: Castle Creation

This photo represents two things. 1. An opportunity to fuel my creative side and make the castle. 2. The awesome opportunity I have to be around for all the excitement of Martha's Senior year.

November: Martha's official visit to Fayetteville

This picture is evidence that I had some fun of my own while accompanying Martha to visit the University of Arkansas. It was fun to visit Fayetteville without school hanging over my head and get to hang out with everyone is still there. Martha has not made an official decision, but my money is on her going to Arkansas!

November: Neighborhood Christian Center Chicken Strut

My parents were such good sports to go with me to walk the 5K Chicken Strut and then pose with the chicken. I am glad to have the opportunity to spend some more time with them since I moved back home too.

Since July: Neighborhood Church

It has been such a blessing that God has led me to Neighborhood Church this year. I have been amazed with all that he has done this year and I'm excited for what God has in store for 2010.

December: Family Christmas Traditions

Our Christmas cards are just on of our wonderful traditions. We re-vamped another tradition this year: my sisters and I used to sleep in the same bed on Christmas Eve and Easter Eve, but our double beds just haven't cut it in a long time for three of us, so this year we rushed to my parents king size bed when we got home from the 11:00 Christmas Eve Service.

Happy New Year!

Cofer and the Chicken Strut

This morning my parents and I drove downtown to strut our stuff in the Chicken Strut, a fundraiser for the Neighborhood Christian Center.

We hung out with the NCC Chicken and friends from Neighborhood Church:


In other news, Coferface came to see me Thursday evening. It was so good for me to see her, even just for a few hours. I don't think we had seen each other since May! That's WAY too long!

I think she approves of the Cofer function on my camera....

Above Louisiana below the state of Missouri...

right of Oklahoma brotha left of Tennessee: ARKANSAS

It was good for my soul to be back in Arkansas this weekend. I'm also excited by the prospect that my sister might become a Razorback:)

We hung out Friday night at the Wesley chapel. Fun-filled times with friends and breaking-in the new Wesley Apples to Apples: I was so glad to see Benedetti and Tara
and Sydlicious

The screen on my camera can flip to face the same direction as the lens, making self-photos perfect every time. I call it my Cofer function after her love of self-photos. And I had to get it approved by Little Cofer:)

Saturday we browsed the Farmer's Market before enjoying Tim's Pizza. Not only was the pizza awesome like always, but there were some Fayetteville celebrities at the table next to ours: Arkansas basketball players Michael Sanchez and Rotnei Clarke.

Tail-gating and car-parking at Wesley before the game.

Martha looks good in her Razorback gear. Our tickets were for seats 7 rows from the top of the stadium. Martha only fell a few rows when she leaned forward! We found some seats a little closer for the second half and the Hogs had a big win against Troy that made them bowl eligible... possibly for the Liberty Bowl which just happens to be in Memphis.

Here is proof Bump-Its should not exist:

And a vest every Razorback fan should envy!

Sunday night we had great Fellowship at the Samaritan House and eating ice cream at Braum's:Terry, you can't take him anywhere!