Safer than a Known Way

So... I decided to sneak into my professor's CCDA class on his new book (When Helping Hurts). I came 15 mintues late from lunch. (And well, two of my professors wrote the book; Steve Corbett was teaching a session at the conference.) My big boss - Bob Lupton (who is famous in this world) - was sitting on the floor in the back of the room with his wife Peggy. It was a large room packed full. I sat down on the floor in the back next to Bob. I'm sitting there for 15-20 minutes listening when Steve goes to talking about the principal of looking at the neighborhood's assets first and not it's needs... and suddenly I'm hearing "christy norwood" and him talking about my job with Bob Lupton and how I do that. It was a surreal experience. Well... 10 minutes later I decide I need to stand, so I get up and lean up against the wall and all of the lights go out (though thankful Steve is using a powerpoint and so it doesn't disrupt him). And I of course try panic inside wondering if the lights going off are me or not. It was me. It was a weird sort of small 4 little buttons that I had pushed when I leaned back. You know... I just don't think it's nice to turn the lights off on some someone who just gave you a shout-out. Opps!!!

On an exciting note... The CCDA is going to be doing little Saturday institute sessions for $25 for the whole day! They plan on doing one in Chattanooga in 2010! So excited!!! I was thinking at the beginning of this session about how strange it was that this conference that plays such a central part of my year is not known by those in my life outside of those with whom I work. Hoping to get people from my church and maybe even Shannon & whoever else can join me in Chattanooga for the day!!!

... I wasn't really sure what to title this entry. Actually, I generally struggle with that decision. I am just not that creative when it comes to the world of titles. I'm sitting in a rocking chair at the Starr household. I am giving Caleb and Ashlee Starr a much deserved 'date night.' Ashlee's sister is getting married this week. She's been a bit high maintenance and self-absorbed with the whole thing, so I decided I'd try and help give them something nice to start out the wedding weekend. Carrie and I cleaned up the massive amount of dirty dishes that were in the kitchen and tidied up the rest of the kitchen. Ashlee is queen of hospitality and at making everyone feel welcomed, but sometimes at the cost of housekeeping. It's just not her forteit, but that's okay as it enables me and Carrie to feel like we earn our keep around here. :) I really do feel like God's permitting me to experience what it's like to live in an Acts 2 sort of community. I LOVE IT! The little girls are all tucked in bed and now I am getting some internet time before heading off to the CCDA conference. Not sure how frequently that will happen. I just tried to click onto the Sher's and Mom & Dad's blogs, but vox for some reason won't let me do that right now. Hope I don' have to wait all week for that. Didn't realize my fair pictures would be so popular. :) If I ever wondered if folks read my blog I suppose I won't have to wonder anymore. :) So what do you think? I'll answer any questions you have, Mom, just might not be much to answer right now.

It's been awhile since we've done one of these, so I thought I'd pass one of the Vox Question of the Days around the circle to hear what everyone says. I think I know the answers, but we'll see. I have a feeling I'll be in the minority on this one. :)

... right now has been on 'being still.'

A wide angle lense... AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D - Compact and lightweight ultra-wide-angle lens ideal for landscapes, interiors, architecture, weddings, events and more. It's going to be awhile though... this one is a little more pricey than my new 50mm portrait lense.

Okay... that one is my dream splurge rooted in reality. The price of a new one is somewhere in the $200's. My DREAM DREAM splurge wide-angle lens starts in the $2,000's. Yeah... ain't going to happen. I'd be to scared to use it... plus, feel to guilty and probably would think of all the other ways I could have used the money including paying off my car note a little bit earlier.

I took Ava up and through the play set many times. Whew - it was claustrophic with multiple other children skirming and screaming their way through it. Many tantrums, but also many smiles! I love these 3 little girls!

I have a LONG drive ahead of me today... Valdosta, GA. Thankfully, I'm not doing the driving or at least I don't think I am. I'm going to visitation with another girl. We'll be taking Rosie - Lisa's dog with us, so hopefully since Michelle didn't ask if it's okay for a dog to be in my car that means we're taking her car. It's not that I wouldn't mind... just don't want to be doing the driving.

We'll be driving WAY LONGER than we'll be down there, but it's worth it.

One of my friends emailed me this morning. The heading of her email - why I sometimes hate facebook. A 24 year old girl from her church just got engaged. She & her fiance have been out of college a year. That's not what upset her. What upset her was the girl's facebook status - yay for J getting engaged last night!!! so happy for all my happy friends. we are truly blessed women!

Hmmm... maybe just maybe she didn't mean it's not supposed to signify happy/blessed = engaged/married, but that is the general belief held by a lot of young women that I talk with. Hmmm... last time I just checked I was quite happy. I don't feel cheated. My friend has worked with different youth groups and said that she's heard so many talks and sermons that back up this girl's beliefs more than naught. I think those messages are a huge disserve to the young folks in church.

I haven't been doing well with keeping up with my voxing blogs. It comes and goes with me I guess. :) I'm counting down the days until WSS!!! Woo-hoo... not counting today I hit the road for WSS in 9 days! I originally planned on leaving late on Thursday, but want to spend some time with the family in Johnson City, so will leave here around 9:30/10 am Thursday - hopefully after the madness of rush hour. I LOVE WSS!!!!! And I love spending time with our Johnson City family, so really this trip can't get much better. I think that's one of the hardest parts about saying goodbye to the house in Chattanooga (other than it being our one consistent house that felt like home over the years) is not having those weekends with everyone in Chattanooga. I really enjoyed those. I love the whole entire Norwood clan and can't get enough time with all of us together in one place.

Finished pupping sitting on Friday. Went home to unpack, do laundry, clean... and get my pack started for WSS... no, I'm not such a control freak that I started packing for me. I just don't want to forget the things I have for the Shads and Mom, so I went ahead and put all of that stuff in the bag.

I went grocery shopping and cooked up some curry salad and asian salad for this week.

Have a goodbye party for a friend tomorrow who is leaving Wednesday morning to start traveling the world for 6 months.

... was spent at home a sweaty mess from a fever. It's not fun having a 101 temperature in the middle of a summer. I couldn't eat anything without my stomach having PAINS. Blah. Not a fun day. Slept a lot. Watched Friends. Slept some more. That was my day.

Happy belated Anniversary to the Shads & Dannys!