I like this song

Mountain Biking

I felt outdoorsy yesterday. It's not often I feel this way, but I always welcome it. I feel more like an Ashevillian when I do stuff like mountain biking, camping, hiking, etc.
I spent the weekend hanging with my brother, Blake, who is 15 (almost 16). 16 is how old I was when my parents adopted Blake. That is wild.
Anyway, my folks are in Ireland on vacation with the Hamiltons and so various folks are helping with watching over my brother and to make sure he is safe and sound. Instead of staying up at my parents' house all weekend, I decided to bring him back to Charlotte. So, Saturday, we ventured back down this way. The highlight of the day for me was taking him to the US National Whitewater Center which is just a few minutes down I-85! It is definitely worth the trip if you haven't been there. Here's the link. We rented our bikes and hit the trail. I suggest not renting bikes unless you don't have one. It's a bit pricey. I didn't mind doing it this time because it was a special outing, but I plan on getting my Gary Fisher tuned up for the next time around. Anyway, we hit the Main Trail which is several miles around. I thought the trail would be fairly easy, but wow, it was challenging. I think I'm in pretty good shape, but this tested my limits. I had to get off of my bike a few times and walk it up the hill. My heart rate was definitely up there for awhile. Anyway, my brother did awesome and was having a good time. He didn't like it when people whizzed by though. I guess he felt that he was too good to be passed. Ha! Anyway, it was a good time and definitely has inspired me to get back out there. I'd also like to do the ropes course, the climbing wall and actually go Whitewater rafting at the center. The restaurant there has also gotten great reviews. It's a great way to spend a day -- especially when the weather is as nice as it was yesterday (high 60's).

church

Today, my brother Blake and I met up with Andy D. and went here

Several comments about today's experience:

1. We received "back stage passes" to enter the service;
2. We were herded to our seats;
3. The music was LOUD -- so loud that i couldn't hear anyone singing except for the band;
4. The pastor, Steven *who is 27 almost 28), is excited about the Lord Jesus Christ and wants to reach Charlotte for him;
5. The band is LOUD (did i mention that?);
6. My brother liked it; and
7. People are impacted by this church gathering.

Cha Cha Slide a la Micky D's

This commercial cracked me up.....

Monograms

I saw something yesterday morning that I never have seen before: monogrammed initials on the back window of an SUV. Yep, this is the South.

Like this, but Scripty in font -- much more preppy.


monogram decal

Without further adieu....

Single. 31.

So, I've been out of a relationship for about 4 months now. I have been blessed to meet some really cool people lately. And yes, there are several guys in the mix. I've read some books lately that have gotten me to thinking about this guy/girl thing -- one of them being Passion & Purity. Now, ladies, you know how it is when you meet that guy that you think is the bee's knees (why that means great, i really don't know) and your heart is so full and you just feel the need to tell him. Well, this flies in the face of anything Elizabeth Elliot would say. She says to keep it to yourself. Do NOT put it out on the table. Do not force the guy to act/react.

Don't you think that's difficult? I think that, as a result of the fall, we women like to be in control of certain things. (i'm putting a new spin on that verse in Genesis. I think my interpretation is "and her desire will always be for her POTENTIAL husband. hahaha). Well, maybe we don't really like that about ourselves, but we lean that way. I know that I've done this a couple of times. Most recently, I voiced to a guy friend of mine that I sometimes wondered about "us". I got shot down in a blaze of glory. No, it really wasn't that dramatic, (I should note that I did this BEFORE I read the wise words of Elizabeth Elliot.), but he just isn't into me. The funny thing is that this is the 2nd time it had happened to me with this guy. I don't really know what I was thinking and what I thought I would gain from "putting it out there" again, but I did. The one positive thing is that I do feel free from that situation.

One of the biggest revelations that I've had recently is that God is in charge. No really. He is. In matters of the heart, it is the Lord that puts a desire for a person in another person's heart. It's not up to me to "make" a guy love me. It's not my looks, my wit, my jokes, my awesome driving record, my cooking skills or anything like that. The Lord sparks that desire. This takes a lot of pressure off of me. For a long time, I have felt that it's in my control. Not true. And really, thank God. If things were in my control, my life would have taken some possibly strange turns. Anyhooo....

But what does that mean for me? Single, 31, wanting to be a wife and a mom someday. Right now, in this moment, it means that I have the freedom to get to know amazing people and continue to invest in some already deeply rooted friendships. I get to be Auntie Steph to precious Vivian Fink. I get to spend time in groups talking to really cool guys. Maybe one of them will be into me. Maybe not. Not every guy I dig is going to dig me. I know, it's hard to believe. ;)

Another nugget of wisdom that I've heard lately: it only takes one.

So, I'm going to keep on living my life, pouring myself into my friendships and my small group and my family.

Single and 31. It's not over yet. I still have hope!!! And the truth is, I'm kind of excited.

New post coming...promise!

Friends,
I'm sure you've just about given up on me ever posting anything new, original or thought provoking. Well, don't give up yet. I am going to post soon on the topic of guy/girl friendships -- what I've learned and what I'm learning. Okay, hope that is a nice little teaser for you.
Love you, miss you and all that good stuff!