done.

I love the feeling of sending off that last seminar paper. You all know what I'm talking about.. you finally write the conclusion. you check every citation. twice. you read through it one last time. Then, you type a "thank you" to the professor, hold your breath, and hit SEND.

And sometimes tears well up in your eyes because of sheer relief, because the months of work are over, but also because it hurts to hand it over. Now it's in the hands of someone else, someone who holds your blood, sweat, and tears lightly... someone with the background and knowledge to say how original and thoughtful your research actually is...

But still, it's done... done.

And that feels good.

the Daily Dozen

I woke up this morning to a very fun surprise. My magnolia picture has been chosen as one of the National Geographic Daily Dozen!

2 photos each month are chosen for publication in National Geographic by popular vote and editors choice, so please go vote if you have a chance. I say that realizing how boring a seed pod is compared to cool people and places. So, the little white flower will definitely need all the help it can get!

You can see the daily dozen at the "daily dozen" link below. And, in order to vote, click on the "voting machine" tab (or the link below); then you only have one chance to vote on the set of 12 pictures.

National Geographic Daily Dozen for April 25th
Vote here: Voting Machine

3191

Recently I found two little gems: photo blogs by two friends who live 3191 miles apart but document their lives with pictures of the little things. Basically, they post one "everyday" picture every day for a year.

What a neat concept, taking pictures of the daily routines, the dirty tables, the early morning sun.

I tried such a photo this morning, but it was really hard. Everything I saw around me seemed boring: empty oatmeal bowls, sleepy dogs, an unmade bed, emails, tea, dirty clothes...

But, then I thought, isn't that the point?

If you have a chance, I'd love to see a "boring" picture of your mornings or evenings.

A Year of Mornings (now a book)
A Year of Evenings (still a blog)

random facts...

I've been tagged once again by Amanda, and in order to waste a few minutes, I gladly took the challenge! :)


Ten years ago I was...

Sixteen years old, just learning to drive, probably flying down Washington Ave. on my way to some practice for which I was 5 minutes late.


5 things on my to-do list...

1. finish 2 papers and 1 exam
2. bake 2 desserts for 2 department parties
3. run participants
4. try to be kind and calm instead of annoyed and grumpy
5. somewhere between numbers 1-4, lie in the sun, clean the house, exercise, snuggle with the dogs, spend time with Brad, and see friends


Snacks I enjoy...

1. Popcorn
2. Fruit
3. Sour Patch Kids
4. Chips and salsa
5. Triscits and cheese


5 things I would do if I were a billionaire...

1. Support full-time missionaries and go work with them as often as possible
2. Travel
3. If I didn't work, I'd breed dogs of all shapes and sizes
4. Adopt internationally and help others do the same
5. Buy a condo in Boston or La Jolla (or both, for that matter)


5 bad habits...

1. biting my nails
2. "looking around" in Target - this is disastrous
3. snacking all the time
4. bringing up big conversations after Brad and I get in bed (he's not a fan)
5. saying I'll do something and then not not writing it down somewhere


5 places I've lived

1. Family + lakes + growing up = Eustis, FL
2. College + girls + fun + a little class = Auburn, AL
3. Trains + class + homecooked French meals = Angers, France
4. Cheap houses + newly married = Opelika, Al
5. Sunny skies + diversity + strip malls = Gainesville, Fl


5 jobs I've had

1. Pooper scooper extraordinaire at my parents' clinic
2. Publix cashier (yes, I wore the green vest)
3. Kitchie and counselor at Kanakuk
4. Village Market girl
5. In the words of Tom Collins from RENT, "you teach? yeah I teach, computer age philosophy, but my students would rather watch TV. America. America!"
(Of course, I don't teach computer age philosophy, but I do teach, and I do feel like this sometimes!)



I will tag...

My Melissas because I always love to hear from them, Scott Moore because his posts are always very entertaining, and Shannon because she's been neglecting her blog! And, I'll follow in LB's footsteps and tag Krisan so maybe she'll feel inspired and start a blog!

Little Things

The past week I have been covered over in bla-ness: sound files, numbers, spectrograms, p values, etc. There is little creativity, little inspiration, little fun going on...

My blogger buddies have interesting topics: home renovations, great books, vacations, adorable children. But, when I open my "create post" box, I literally sit in front of a blank screen; I can't think of anything worth writing about!

So, in lieu of real updates, here's one little thing that happened each day this week:

- My sweet dad came to see us for dinner on Monday!
- I ran 2 participants for my thesis experiment on Tuesday.
- Brad made me brinner (breakfast for dinner) on Wednesday, and it was amazing.
- Turk was violated by a complete doggy stranger in the field today (and I saw this squirrel with a full mouth!).
- I don't have to go to campus tomorrow!

How about you? What's one little thing that happened this week?

A Quick Fix

My quick-fix for exam week woes = the village market, a very large chocolate waffle ice cream cone, and a cup of afternoon coffee.

Amazing.

What's your favorite "quick-fix?"

Day of Reckoning

Have yourselves a little laugh. The more times I watch it, the funnier it becomes...

Things worth checking out...

Because I have nothing to say today, I'll just link to some interesting things other people have said that I think you all might enjoy!

Let the randomness begin...


Bill Walsh's ongoing series, 9 reasons I'm a photographer.

A hilarious article about race in America

Some thoughts on being discerning about music

A quick story about and interview with Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, from Once.

Starbucks is in the process of making some changes...

Information about Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken's Ampersand EP


What's something interesting you read today? Post it in your blog or leave a comment!

The big 2-6

Thanks everyone for the sweet birthday calls, cards, facebook messages, and comments! I am very blessed to have you all.

Sweet LB asked for a birthday update, and though at first thought, 26 seems very boring - somewhere in the nowhere-land between "still cool and young" and "grown-up and 30", this birthday has actually been a very good one.

It's been good because of events and things - a friend surprised me with a delicious cake at community group on Thursday night, Brad took me to our favorite restaurant this weekend, my parents are coming for breakfast on Wednesday, and I am using birthday moolas to buy some new photo editing software that I've been researching and wanting for some time.

But, besides the events and things, this birthday has mostly been good because looking back and looking ahead, there is much to be thankful for.

For me, this past year has been one of acclimating to a new place and of finally feeling at home, and this coming year will be one filled with good things - with weddings, with friends, with travel, with family, with sun, with dogs, with anniversaries, with new goals and ideas, with deepening community, and certainly with trials and lessons that will help me grow up in personality and in faith.

And so, this year, instead of thinking of the big 2-6 as a little boring and somewhere in between "young" and "grown-up", I'm thinking of it as a good place where much has happened but where there's still much room to grow. And, I'm very excited about all that's to come before the big 2-7.

Joy and Peace

Happy Sunday everyone... I hope your day has been filled with worship and relaxation. This day has been full of little blessings for me - communion at church, a cranberry scone and afternoon coffee at the Village Market, and a workout with Brad.

Now as Monday approaches, I pray for joy and peace in the everyday.

What's coming up this week for all of you?

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in HOPE." Romans 15:13

My 100

(Hit refresh if the page is messy, and it should clear up. I'm working on this...)

I'm excited! I have been tagged by Amanda and LB to make a 100-things-about-me list. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading LB's, Scott's, and Amanda's, and I have loved learning little things about good friends that I never knew before!

So, here it goes...

1. I was born in Eustis, Florida - in Lake County
2. I am one of two girls
3. My sister Krisan is younger than me
4. Mom and dad decided to give her the smarts and the eyebrows
5. and they decided to give me the love of all things furry and the bad ankles
6. We both love our parents very much though.
7. My dad wanted me to be a boy, and he wanted to name me Scott. I think his wish paid off, as I was a bit of a tomboy growing up.
8. I got in trouble in middle school for chasing the new preacher's daughter around with a snake. The principle called my mom about it.
9. I am still a bit of a tomboy, but I don't chase people with snakes.
10. but when I started dating my husband, he had a snake, and I fed it big white rats with red eyes.
11. Enough about snakes. Let's talk about dogs. I love dogs.
12. My family dogs growing up were Happy and Reba
13. Happy was the grumpiest dog ever. Amanda can attest to this.
14. My dad didn't have any boys, but he loved camping, so he forced his girls to go
15. and we loved it. Those are some of my best memories growing up
16. I went to Eustis High School, where I spent most of my time goofing off, making mediocre grades, and playing sports
17. My highschool was very diverse
18. In fact, I was one of three whiteys (so we were called) on my highschool basketball team,
19. Thus the beginning of my interest in different cultures
20. during my quest to find myself (aka growing up), I went through some awkward stages
21. I went through a "surfer-girl" stage, where I wore board-shorts (remember those?) and carried a roxy backpack
22. then I went through a "country" stage, where I listened to Garth Brooks and wore wranglers
23. then I went through a rapper stage where I listened to Master P on big speakers in my car
24. Now, those are two genres of music that I just can't appreciate. at all.
25. I can't play musical instruments or sing, but I love good music. Some of my favorite movies are also musicals or use music in creative ways. Some that immediately come to mind are Mystic River, Rent, Moulin Rouge, Once, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
26. Lake County has approximately 1400 lakes, and we grew up on Lake Joanna
27. My most embarrassing moment was when I skiied into a dock showing off for a boy
28. My mom cried. she thought I was dead or at least badly maimed.
29. My mom probably also cried when I got four (yes, four) speeding tickets on the same road in Eustis.
30. My parents took away my car.
31. My friend Jimmy picked me up every day for school
32. and I made him an egg sandwich every morning to pay him back
33. In college, my sister stole the road sign from that road
34. it's now in her closet, and that makes me smile.
35. My favorite foods are Thai and Korean
36. as are some of my favorite people.
37. Just this weekend, though, I had to pick some purple octopus tentacles out of my Korean dinner.
38. So sometimes I just stick with a good ole' steak
39. I used to have an unusual fear of spiders
40. but Brad likes to catch them and plant them on our front porch, where they build huge webs and we feed them baby lizards and moths for entertainment
41. and we name them and bury them when they die
42. so now I'm getting over my fear of spiders.
43. Brad has an unusual sense of humor
44. he likes to play food jokes
45. one time he put corned beef in my vanilla yogurt
46. I haven't been able to eat corned beef or vanilla yogurt ever since
47. I met Brad at Auburn
48. this summer is our five-year anniversary!
49. We have no children
50. but we have two dogs and one cat - Tuco, Turk, and Sport
51. Tuco is named after "the ugly" character from the movie the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
52. Turk is named after Chris Turk from Scrubs. My friend Caroline calls him Brown Bear.
53. Brad wanted to name sport "roach" because she is black but I put my foot down and we went with gender-neutral "sport"
54. I've had many faux-pas with hair dyings, piercings, etc. Many of you remember my purple hair and our night at the tattoo parlor.
55. I've always wanted a Soli Deo Gloria tattoo or a small star tattoo and still plan to get one one day.
56. Don't worry parents, it will be inconspicuous
57. I love Auburn University
58. My favorite year was my freshman year, when I lived in the dorm and took part in many shenanigans
59. We enjoyed Sani Freeze, we sang ghetto-cowboy, we took pictures in front of the Sanford Christmas Tree
60. and Amanda almost punched me out
61. Brad and I left Auburn 2 years ago, and now we live in Gainesville, FL
62. People wear very short shorts here.
63. I'm studying linguistics and working in UF's Brain and Language Lab.
64. I work with really great people (who wear normal-length shorts) and we study how the brain processes language.
65. I had my brain scanned as part of a study last semester.
66. I learned that I get very very sleepy in MRI machines. I was worried that I might have fallen asleep and actually ruined the study.
67. I grow a mustache when I go in the sun (not a real one, people, a sunspot one).
68. So now I always have to wear hats at the beach.
69. I found out it also happens to pregnant people. But I'm not pregnant.
70. In fact, I don't ever want to be pregnant or to have a baby,
71. but I want a big family,
72. so that's a problem.
73. I have a big extended family, including 7 little cousins or nephews - Jonah, Baylen, Macy, Madie, Collin, Brooklyn, and Noah
74. I really love creative kid names, and I think of new ones all the time. In fact, I have a list on my computer right now that I've been keeping for a long time.
75. Brad thinks that's weird, considering I have no kids
76. Brad and I disagree about things like that, though
77. We also disagree about silly things like whether modern country music singers actually have any talent at all, but that's another story entirely
78. we agree on the fact that Florida is an excellent place to live from October-June but it's the worst place on earth during the month of August. The other months are still up for debate.
79. Brad truly is my best friend. We have many hobbies we enjoy doing together - we cook, we work out, we run, we puddle chase, we search for good films, we have breakfast together...
80. and we realized early in our marriage the power of praying together. That's one "hobby" we try to keep up on a nightly basis.
81. I just finished taking tennis lessons with a friend.
82. I asked her to play with me because I hate playing tennis with Brad. He likes to hit and spin the ball in obnoxious ways that keep the volley from continuing.
83. I always tell him that I want to play tennis together but only after he grows up.
84. The women in Brad's family are all under the height of 5.4. Our first meeting was very scary, because Brad told me that his grandmother would be watching my manners, and then, while standing in the kitchen with the beautiful, small, petite Chappell women, I was asked if I played basketball in highschool. My worst nightmare came to pass - I was the giant in the room.
85. After that scary meeting, I learned that I absolutely adore the Chappell women, and that they adore tall people.
86. Because I often feel tall in groups of people, I will hunch down in pictures to fit in. When the picture comes out, though, I'm often sticking out my rear. It's awful.
87. I love taking pictures, and I'm trying to get better so I can take pictures of my kids and animals, and I'd like to take pictures of other peoples' kids and animals eventually
88. I'd like to one day have a place with a big yard so I could have, like, 6 dogs.
89. This summer I cat-sat and dog-sat for people in Haile Plantation, the area where we live.
90. We live in this great little community in West Gainesville with 10 miles of running trails, adorable shops, and great restaurants. It's very dog-friendly, and so we take our dogs with us everywhere - to walk, to eat, to shop.
91. I worked in a bakery and restaurant in downtown Haile this summer, and I loved it. I rode my bike to work.
92. I think that's when I got into cooking and baking more seriously.
93. I make killer cinnamon-raisin bread and vegan banana bread. It's a favorite at department get-togethers!
94. My mom makes a killer german chocolate cake. I'd like to learn that one next.
95. My personality is lion-otter. This means I get energy from people but I also like to boss them around.
96. This drives my husband crazy. (He's a beaver-lion.)
97. But it works out well for teaching. And, I'm very excited because this summer I'm teaching my first "non-core" class for linguistics majors at UF.
98. My favorite clothing store is Urban Outfitters. My favorite everything store is Target.
99. I struggle with managing my time wisely, and I have a massive planner with everything I need to do written down and highlighted 14 times. My mom used to say I'd lose my head if it wasn't tied down.
100. I used to be a night owl, but now I'm a morning person. So, folks, it's time for bed!


Okay, now I get to do the tagging!! I tag Shannon, a friend from Creekside who has a blog about adopting her sweet son Asher. I also tag both of my Melissas- my sweet ADPi friend and my sister-in-law! Finally, I just made a new blog friend, Ashley Gentry, so I'll tag her so I can learn more about her.

Turkleton.

Exciting news... Turk was featured as "the daily click" on Shutter Sisters last week!

He was so proud.

Today's Quiddity

One of my favorite sections from one of my favorite books is called "The Man Who Taught Me to See." I just read it again recently and wanted to share the goodness here:

"Someone introduced me to [C.S.] Lewis my freshman year...for the next five or six years I was almost never without a Lewis book at hand. I think that without his influence I would not have lived my life with as much joy or usefulness as I have. There are reasons for this...

Lewis gave me an intense sense of the "realness" of things. The preciousness of this is hard to communicate. To wake up in the morning and be aware of the firmness of the mattress, the warmth of the sun's rays, the sound of the clock ticking, the sheer being of things ("quiddity" as he calls it). He helped me become alive to life ... he made me more alive to beauty (19). "
-Dr. John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

Isn't that great?

Today I thought about the quiddity of things as I was at school, outside, and at home... and I was thankful for Lewis, and for Piper, and for the awareness of "things that, if we didn't have, we would pay a million dollars to have, but having them, ignore (20).

So, here's the "quiddity" that made me close my eyes and give thanks today...


- community

- unexpected conversations

- a sunny afternoon, worn-in running shoes, and panting dogs on leashes.

- thoughtful, inspiring Art - in particular, Once (thanks, LB!)

- The smell of dinner on the grill


What's yours been today?

a good nap

Turk's idea of a good nap = soft carpet, warm sun, a little drool...

My idea of a good nap = curling up next to said dog, soft carpet, warm sun, a little drool...

Contentment.

Can any of you relate to this quote?

"What controls your heart controls your behavior. Once that treasure is in possession of your heart, it will set the agenda for your words and decisions, for your actions, reactions, and responses. . . ."

I certainly can, and I share it here because I'm sure that everyone can relate in some way. I also share it because I have been reminded recently of how true this principle really is, and I've been challenged to examine my "treasures".


Brad and I just completed some updates to our house, things that we have been wanting to do since we moved in a year and a half ago. It's very nice to have some new things, but we've realized through the process that one new thing often leads to wanting another new thing.

I realized my unfortunate agenda yesterday when Brad and I received an unexpected check in the mail, to which my first reaction was "oh, now we can get ..."!

After a minute or two of talking about prices, Brad and I both just looked at each other, like "what are we thinking?!"

I wasn't even thankful. I just wanted more.

Have you found that sometimes buying just leads to more discontentment? What are your ways for remaining content?

Here are some things I've found to be helpful. Yesterday I was definitely doing a few of these things, and I was left feeling sad about my attitude and thankful for all the ways in which we're already very blessed.


- reminding myself of what the Lord thinks of greed (Col 3:5), and praying for a healthy perspective.

- talking to and trusting the judgment of the hubby, who is very reasonable about "things"

- surrounding myself with people who don't focus on material things. Not that they don't have nice things, but it's not the focus of conversation or of time together. I am very grateful to our church and to academics for friends like this.

- limiting time spent in stores, on websites, and around people who I know from experience will leave me feeling unhappy and wanting more.

- waiting before buying. It's much more rewarding to save up for something than to buy it on impulse and regret it later. I've learned this the hard way.

- purposefully enjoying something free! a good run, a book already on my shelf, time with friends, my dogs, etc.



I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this...

a free day

Today I had a big deadline at 12:30. I'd been working long hours in preparation, and now it's over. Done. Fini.

As I was walking away at 12:30, all I could think about is I wanted to do the rest of the day: clean, exercise, pray, read, feel the sun on my face.

If you had a totally "free" day all to yourself (no work, no kids, no responsibilities, no meetings, no schedule), what would you do?

p.s. I posted this picture because it reminds me of summer. We're almost there, I keep telling myself.

Making Biscuits

This week the hubby is in California, and the dogs are with grandma and grandpa. So, us girls have been holding down the fort.

Sport is a different cat with the dogs gone. She rolls around in the middle of the floor; she lounges on the couch; she purrs for no reason; and she makes biscuits constantly.

Anyway, here are some pictures from girls week. As of tomorrow, our place will once again be overrun with loud, rough, slobbery boys.

My prayer.

The beach was wonderful - the friends, the sun, the food, and the rest.

But, now we are back to work and I feel the pressure of all that is ahead. Tonight as I was driving home, my shoulders were aching and my head pounding from stress. But I felt a whisper, a subtle reminder to refocus on what's important and to be thankful.

Just to be thankful.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" Col 3:15

This is my prayer tonight.

Sand, Hamburgers, and Seagulls

Today we're headed off to Little Talbot Island with some friends to go camping.

I can already feel the sand between my toes, smell the hamburgers, and hear the seagulls.

What's your favorite place for getting away? And, what do you smell or hear when you think of that place?

Pick-a-little-Talk-a-little

I need bigger earphones, or another table. Two unhappy middle-aged women to my left are screeching, squawking on about some friend's son's wife's sister.

"kids these days" one just said.

pick-a-little-talk-a-little-pick-a-little-talk-a-little.

Why are some women so prone to talk talk talk, to degrade “friends” and to encourage each other to hate their enemies?

Please lord let us be people who aim to “guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride” by clearing our minds and holding our tongues.

Now they're talking politics. Really... somebody shoot me.

A Florida Sunset

An extra hour of sun. Ribs on the grill. A chill in the air. Sweatpants. Furry playmates.

A Florida sunset.

Good day.

Today has been a good day.

The rain finally broke.
The sun came out.
The puddles were bigger than ever.
A new friend joined us.

header help

I'm trying to give my blog a facelift, and I need your advice. Which header picture do you like better? I realize that both of them are a little up-close-and-personal, but until I can find something better, what do you think...?

blog change...

As you can see, I'm changing my blog around a little today. One of the main things I enjoy about blogs is seeing pictures of people and their lives; however, the pictures are always so small on blogger.

So, I've changed things around so the pictures can be bigger and the writing can be smaller!

I really like this picture of a seagull about to fly away. I took it at the beach a few weeks ago, when I spent the weekend with my sweet mama. Notice the birds in the background, too... one is looking at me, and one is looking at his friend.

Arrested ...

This picture makes me laugh inside.

For those Arrested Development fans who read this blog, I'd like to know if something (or someone?) strikes you as unusual in this picture.




Which actor do you think contributes the most to this show? Brad and I just had this discussion and had a hard time coming up with an answer...

Panting in the Sun

My little boy, enjoying the clear blue spring skies.

Spring.

Today is a sunny 73-degree Sunday in Gainesville, and the college students are all walking around in flip flops and tank tops, with swimsuit ties showing at the neckline.

Three days ago we were wearing wool sweaters and closed-toed shoes, heaven forbid. So, this weather is very welcomed.

The sunny beginning of Spring always reminds me of Aprils in Auburn, when we used to lay in the quad or in the white house yard all day, running off to a class five minutes before it started, and running back to lay out as soon as it was over.

What's your best memory of spring? Is it spring yet where you are?

Lewis and Tolkien

For everyone who loves C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, you'll enjoy this article about their relationship and their writing/reading group, the Inklings.

Lewis, Tolkien, and the Inklings


If you're a Tolkien fan, here's another bit of interesting news:

The Hobbit!


What's your favorite C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien book?

Puddle Chasing

It rained today, so we went puddle-chasing with the dogs (they love puddles more than anything). Because of lack of light, most of the pictures weren't great. However, we got a few interesting ones.

Brad took this fuzzy picture with focus on the faces:



I took these of Turk on the move, with only the face in focus:






I'm still trying to figure out the best type of weather for pictures. It was a little dark today, so the details weren't clear. Does anyone have any suggestions about the best time of day or weather for pictures?


Here's one I took of Brad. I love the look on his face.

oh my.

Oh my.




I found Yael Naim from the commercial, and I love her video... especially the goldfish bowl. Adorable.

YMCA.

funny story.

I am sitting at Barnies coffee, and a dad and his young sons are sitting next to me. Well, the YMCA song just started playing over the radio, and the dad just started performing the YMCA dance for his sons (and for the rest of the store).

These poor little boys are mortified. "Dad please stop!" they are crying.

My dad used to always say that his job was to embarrass us, and he most effectively accomplished this when he pulled up to our elementary school car line in his old, loud, and oh-so-orange cougar.

Did your parents embarrass you as a kid? What's your worst memory of this?

poo.

For you animal-owners out there, do you ever smell something (that you are sure came out of your beloved furry friend), only you can't find the source of the smell?

I smell poo.

Who done it?

Turk is giving me an innocent look; Tuco is chewing his food bowl, and Sport is nowhere to be found.

Animals!

Pictures

They're in love.





We did it! It was an fun and exciting weekend full of friends, pasta, mickey, and sore muscles!

Music ideas...

Ashley's recent post was asking about some good music to download (specifically workout music), which got me thinking about my current favorites and wondering about what everyone else loved this year!

What are your all-time favorites, and what new music have you been loving?


My all-time favorites are oldies such as the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Simon and Garfunkle, etc. And, those are GREAT for working out! But, here's some more recent ideas, too!


Band of Horses (Cease to Begin) - A young(ish) indie alternative band with a fantastic sound. This is absolutely one of my favorites.

The Shins (Wincing the Night Away) - I've always loved the shins, and though this album is different than their past ones, I have enjoyed it better overall. I'm not sure why; maybe it's a little more subdued?

Shane and Shane (Pages) - I LOVE this album. Once again, Shane and Shane created a masterpiece, in my opinion - the writing is creative and different from much on Christian radio, but the songs are Jesus-centered and always leave me in a spirit of worship. I play it over and over and over...

Over the Rhine (the Trumpet Child, Snow Angels)- I downloaded their Christmas album this December and loved them so much that I got the Trumpet Child too!

Tegan and Sara (the Con) - This is a GREAT album for working out. It's peppy and fun, even funny.

Derek Webb (The Ringing Bell) - creative, thoughtful, convicting. I love it.

Kate Tucker and the sons of Sweden (self titled album). Great guitar solos with a beautiful voice and jazzy/indie pop tracks.

Arcade Fire (Funeral, Neon Bible) - I love the thought-provoking lyrics and the rich sound of both albums. Some tracks are good for exercise, too.

Beirut (The Flying Club Cup) - This album is chill and creative, and I love the unique music and French scattered throughout.

Pan's Labyrinth Soundtrack - Besides Chicago and Moulin Rouge, I think this is my favorite movie soundtrack. Amazing.


So, there are some ideas. What did you love this year?

Movies

What are the best movies you saw this year?

When I was thinking about this question, two movies immediately came to mind. Brad and I rarely make it to the movie theater, but we netflix, and there were some great ones this year.

Here are my two favorites:



Number two: The Lives of Others



The Lives of Others is set in the 1980s in East Germany, and it's the story of a playwright whose apartment is tapped by the Stasi, and it also ends up being the story of the man who taps the apartment.

Brad watched this movie before I did, and when I came out and asked him how it was, he was simply in a daze. After watching it, I understand why. This movie was intelligent and thoughtful, and the plot was rich. I think one of the reasons that this movie is so gripping is that characters are developed to behave out of character. It's fascinating, and I think it's such an amazing picture of true human nature. Another reason I love this movie is the ending. Just when you think the story can't be resolved, everything is pulled together in a truly brilliant way, and you'll be left dazed, as we both were.

Be mindful that the movie's plot is based on a high-ranking official's attraction to the playwright's girlfriend, so there is some sexuality that is unnecessary; however, the attraction is not the focus of this film: the humanity and unpredictability of everyone involved is.

If you've seen it, let me know, what did you think?



My favorite movie of the year: Pan's Labyrinth



Pan's Labyrinth is the story of a young girl, Ofelia, who moves with her mother to live with Captain Vidal, the captain of a troop of Spanish soldiers warring against a small group of resistors in the forest. In the middle of terrifying circumstances, Ofelia finds another world, a world that for her becomes a way out of the nightmare.

Without hesitation, I can say that this is the best movie I've seen in a long, long time. From the first scene to the very last, this movie is breathtaking. The characters are mysterious; the scene is dark; the whole story is so believable and profound that it brings tears to your eyes. The movie is set in warring Spain, and the captain is cruel, so there certainly are violent scenes that are hard to sit through. However, this violence is, I think, a necessary part of the movie, for you have to truly feel Ofelia's fear in order to escape with her; you have to feel her fear in order to believe in the power of her imagination.

And, it's worth mentioning that the soundtrack is just (well, almost) as powerful as the movie.

If you have seen the movie, let me know your thoughts. In Ofelia's second task, why does she open the left door instead of the middle one, like the book and fairies tell her? I have a theory, but I'm curious what others think!


Here are the trailers for both movies. Enjoy!

The Lives of Others


Pan's Labyrinth



What are the best movies you saw this year and why? What do you think will be the best of 2008?

Updates

Well it's been a little while since I've been playing online, but I'm glad to be back! Here are some updates from Chappell world...


1. Time in Eustis was fun and relaxing. We got spend time with the Porters, the Claytons, Ray, Jenna, Bryce, James and Jenny and the kids, Britt and Marie and the kids, the (4) grandmas, and the newly engaged Krisan and Casey. It was a truly relaxing and refreshing time. Some exciting news: Britt's Chick-fil-A store is set to open on March 13th! Here's a cute picture daddy Ray took of me, Collin, and Britt while they were in town:



2. Turk had surgery on his nose and throat over the break, and he is now sporting a very large lampshade. Until this month, Turk has had trouble breathing, and therefore hasn't been able to sleep through the night or to cool off easily from exercise. Well, he had a few snip-snips over the break, and now he's breathing easily and NOT keeping us awake with his snoring! It's amazing!

In his new outfit, clearly thrilled. If you look closely you can see the purple stitches.


When he gets the collar off, it's an amazing toy.


3. The race is this weekend! I can't believe it's here. Brad and I have been sick for the past few weeks and haven't been able to run, but we're looking forward to spending the weekend with friends at Disney and going as far as our legs will carry us. Since I'm not planning on breaking any world records, I'm thinking about taking a little camera and shooting some pictures along the way. hmm... I'll have to look at the race rules.

Anyway, that's all the news I can think of around here. We feel very full and blessed after our break, and we are once again thankful to be home and back in the normal routine.

Seattle

Brad and I are back in sunny Florida, exhausted from our trip but happy about fun memories made! Here are some of the highlights for me:

Family Bonding. All seven of us stayed in Alan and Melissa's house - in beds, on floors, on couches... So, there was plenty of family togetherness, and it was great. We talked a lot, ate a lot, and played a lot. And, we got to meet little Noah!

Endless games of Settlers of Catan. This will go down in my memory as the "Christmas of settlers" because we played so many games over the week. This is a fun game that Brad and I play with friends from church, and we thought that the family might enjoy it, too. It was fun - a nice break from the traditional games of Uno!

Downtown Seattle. I loved Seattle, in particular the fish market and the first Starbucks!

Seeing caramel corn being made at Snoqualmie Falls Candy Factory and then buying/eating more of it than I should ever buy or eat.

A snow moment. I went for a run Christmas afternoon, and after a few minutes, big white flakes started falling hard all around me. It hadn't snowed on Christmas in Seattle in years, and it was our only snow all week. As it stuck to my hair and clothes, and as my ears became numb, I just ran and smiled, thanking the Lord for that little gift.

Thanks Chappells for our fun time together. I can't wait until the next time!

Our little monsters...

I think we've created three little monsters.

Last week, Brad let the dogs sleep with him while I stayed up late working, and when I came to bed, I was too tired to care, so I just pushed them over and let them stay. That was 4 nights ago.

Last night, I tried to get Turk out of the "big" bed and into his crate, and he literally put on his little doggy brakes and would not be coaxed (or pulled) out of the room. He just looked at me like, "daddy lets me stay!" and even gave a little *play* growl. (that update is for you, mama :)

Oh boy.

This situation would not be a problem if our dogs were smaller or if our bed was bigger. When you add together the weight of the two dogs (100 lbs), the weight of me and Brad (300 lbs), the size of our bed (queen) and the combined space and body heat, you'll find a crowded mess.

Also, I'm pretty sure Sport is feeling left out of all this fun, so she is also driving me crazy. She used to sleep on top of me (yes, on top of me - and she's no small cat, folks) most nights, but since 2 large drooly dogs are filling up the bed, she has resorted to sleeping under the Christmas tree. Since she doesn't get her full dose of kitty-lovin' during the night, she follows me around the house all day looking pitiful.

In order to give Sport ample playing time, I'm giving you her newest glamour-shot (note the very lady-like pose), along with one of me and my study-buddy. We just love that little dog...

More Sweeney Todd

Here's some background information about Stephen Sondheim's original Broadway play, Sweeney Todd, and how Tim Burton adapted it for the movie version. Great stuff.

The Beach

Brad and I are at the beach with KK, Larry, Memama and Papa! It's been wonderful to see family, eat seafood, and play Uno! And, I love the beach in December, sans tourists with their smelly sunscreen and boogie boards.

I have been writing (with a little internet surfing and blog/email writing mixed in) at Panera bread, and in the evenings I play with the fam. How do I have time to go to the beach and play online in the middle of finals week? Let me put it this way: I do well under pressure. When I have 2 days until the deadline, I tend to be stressed but yet unmotivated. However, when I have 6 hours left and 10 pages to write, I can birth the child in record time.

In other news, Brad and I did our long run this morning on the beach road. The air was salty and muggy, but the view was beautiful! I learned a few things about my husband, though. First of all, he prefers a 8-minute mile pace; I prefer a 20-minute mile pace. I kept saying "um, sweetie, can we go back to snail pace, please?" He very sweetly slowed to what for him was a near-walk. Secondly, he is a very anticlimactic running buddy. When the girls and I finish a long run, we have a little celebration right in the middle of the road (or sidewalk - wherever we may be). We high-five and dance around a little (just a little). I tried to get excited when we finished, but Brad muttered, "yeah, good job. Let's go back." I don't understand it, but I love him still the same.

Anyway, what is everyone else doing this weekend? What are your Christmas plans? Please post in your blogs so I'll have another way to waste a few precious minutes.

Very Exciting

Yes, I Wrote a Book

by Tim Keller

"How do you tell people something they probably want to know without playing into the great American hype machine? I've been getting so many questions about this I thought I would write a simple newsletter article to members and friends to let you know that, yes, I wrote a book.

I've been working for some time on a book for the ordinary (which means very sharp) spiritually skeptical New Yorker. Ever since I got to New York nearly two decades ago I've wished I had a volume to give people that not only answered objections to Christianity (what has been called 'apologetics') but also positively presented the basics of the gospel in an accessible yet substantial way. I had some books that did the one and some that did the other, but only one did both—Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. As you know, I think Lewis' book is peerless, and foolish would be the author who tried to replace him!

However, the issues in the public discourse around Christianity have become much more complex than they were in the mid and late 20th century. The questions are now not just philosophical (e.g. Is there evidence for God's existence?) They are also now cultural (Doesn't strong faith make a multicultural society impossible?), political (Doesn't orthodox religion undermine freedom?) and personal. Also fifty years ago, when C.S. Lewis was writing, there was general agreement that rational argument and empirical method were the best ways to discover truth. That consensus has vanished. Today there are deep disagreements over how we know things and how certain we can be about anything. Most of the older books presenting Christianity now are only persuasive and even comprehensible to a very narrow range of people.

All this means that there is a great need for new literature that speaks to our time and says, "Christianity makes sense." I know I'm only one of many who are trying to do this over the next few years. My contribution is slated to be released February 14, 2008, by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Books. Its title is The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. You can find a little more information about it on Amazon.com.

Even though the book is not addressing believers, I still hope it will be a help to the members and friends of Redeemer. It may make it easier to represent your heartfelt beliefs to people you love. That's my prayer."

taken from http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/

Matt Lauer calls Foy

This is too funny.

My sister-in-law Melissa just sent me an email about Matt Lauer's call to Foy Student Union, and I had to share it here in case someone hasn't seen it. It's so funny.

Remember: call eight-foy-foy-foy-two-foy-foy to have any of your questions answered!

The small things...

I'm taking a break from the books to write a "things I've been loving lately" list!


1. The Fresh Market

This is a new discovery, a new amazing discovery. They have apples the size of grapefruit. They have the best whole-wheat pasta I've ever tasted. The store is absolutely beautiful, especially at Christmas. It's an experience just to visit.


2. Erin Fetherston at Target

So cute. Really.


3. L.L. Bean's doggy tote

I wanted to order one for everyone I know. Unfortunately I can't afford to do so.


4. James Taylor at Christmas

It really doesn't get any better.


5. Kurt Halsey art.

so pretty and sad... his art always makes me want to hug someone.


6. Burts Bees Cuticle Cream

I have one in my backpack, one in my purse, and one by my bed. Amazing.



What have you been loving lately?

Fall in Florida

Now that it's December, the leaves have finally fallen in Florida. So, here are pictures of our fall boys...

6 weeks out...

Just to give you an update, our Disney Half-Marathon packets came in the mail! Exactly 6 weeks from now, we will be finished with the race and will be riding Space Mountain and eating churros. Here's the course route that came in the packet.




The full marathon course is much more impressive as it goes through all the parks. A few of the guys are bravely attempting this one.




So far, this experience has been fun and challenging.

It has been challenging because I never know what to expect from my body. Some days, I feel great and barely break a sweat. Other days, I feel like puking and collapsing in the road. Brad has had the same experience.

It has been fun because the good days feel great. And, we have gotten to train with friends from church and through the process have gotten to know them better. Today, the girls (Sarah, Betsy, Kendra) and I ran seven miles. We left Sarah's house, ran the trails up to Betsy's, grabbed water, and ran back. We ran slowly, but it felt great. I wouldn't have been able to do these runs without friends to push me.

Anyway, 6 weeks and counting... wish us luck!

iGoogle

I have something wonderful to tell everyone about. In case you don't already know, google has created yet another wonderful thing: igoogle.

If you have a google account, you can create a personalized homepage with mini gmail, google reader, google news, google calendar, etc... You can also put widgets from other companies such as games, youtube videos, recipes, etc.

I love it! I open the internet in the morning, and I can check my email, see who has updated blogs, play a little cinco, and read the news. I mean, come on! How better to waste just a little more time!

Also, what I enjoy most is the igoogle "theme." At the top of your page, you can choose a theme that changes according to time of day, weather, season, etc.

Right now, my little raccoons are raking autumn leaves. They also carve pumpkins and build a bonfire. I love watching them.

Here is a sample of my igoogle page. Try it out; I'm sure you'll be hooked.

Thanksgiving

Hello again!

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving break. We sure did. Let's just put it this way: we had 14 people, 6 dogs, 1 turkey, and lots of pie.

I really cherished the time with family. And, very exciting, I got to see Amanda in Orlando! (that was also a highlight!)

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend: