happy things that start with "G"

I am happy tonight. Here's why:

* the nerf assassins GAME is en fuego. Did I mention we are in the midst of this year's nerf assassin game? It's been epic so far. I got killed when one of my students hid in the trunk of my car and killed me when I opened it. HEART ATTACK. I was so scared when I opened the trunk and saw him there, I tried to slam the trunk closed and nearly chopped his head off.


* GOOD reading. I bought "Love Wins" by Rob Bell and it is freakin' blowing my mind.


* the San Francisco GIANTS won again tonight! They are on a roll. We are now only half a game from 1st place in the NL West! I know it's early in the season, but I'm still so happy. Watch the boys celebrate tonight's win here.

* GLEE was awesome. Quick unofficial glee-cap:

It was prom night. I enjoyed Jacob ben Israel asking Puck where Lauren keeps his balls (Sorry to offend anyone who didn't watch the episode, but it was so amazingly written and spoken). Jesse St. James should never wear a scarf again. I loved Sam, Rachel, and Mercedes doing prom-on-a-budget. I loved when the girl at prom walked by Santana wearing the same dress and Santana just shook her head over and over.

"Jar of Hearts" by Rachel was my favorite song from the episode. But I know my sister was ecstatic the glee club sang "Friday" by Rebecca Black. (Question - why did they sing "Friday" when prom was on a Saturday?)


More questions from the ep: Why was there a high school boy slow dancing with a bluetooth in his ear? Has anyone heard the song Blaine sang? Finn + Jesse = Shove Match 2011? Kurt winning PQ? Quinn slap-happy? What the?

Loved Santana and Mercedes ending with "Dancing Queen". Those two need to sing together more. I still have fond memories of their "River Deep Mountain High" duet earlier in the season.

* Last "G" of the blog - G'night.

Judah day

Guess who I got to spend the day with?

The nephew.

Amongst many highlights of the day, I wanted to catch this one on film. He saw my deodorant and not only did he know what it was, he knew how to apply it. (Pardon the hair, he had just gotten up from a nap)



God, I love this kid.

the perfect work-out mix

Who loves to work out? Some do. I don't. Unless it's a dancing workout (hip-hop, zumba, etc). However, I know other work-outs are good for me to work other muscles, get the heart rate up, get some good cardio, etc.

So I thought I'd share my favorite work-out mix. I call it the "Pump You Up!" mix because the point of it is to pump you up and get you excited about running or riding your bike or being in a smelly gym.

Make sure if you buy any of these songs on itunes, you get the "clean" version.

SARAH'S PUMP YOU UP MIX

1) "Written In The Stars" by Tinie Tempah (feat. Eric Turner) - I am currently obsessed with this song. Eric Turner's hook is AMAZING!

2) "Till The World Ends" by Britney Spears (get the one with just Britney, NOT the Ke$ha/Nicki Minaj one)

3) "More" by Usher (RedOne Jimmy Joker remix)

4) "Club Can't Handle Me" by Flo Rida (feat. David Guetta)

5) "Hit The Lights" by Jay Sean

6) "Stereo Love" by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina (Molella remix)

7) "Shut It Down" by Pitbull (feat. Akon)

8) "Animal" by Neon Trees or the GLEE a cappella version

9) "Waiting For The End" by Linkin Park

10) "Return The Favor" by Keri Hilson and Timbaland - I'm also very obsessed with this one.

11) "Never Say Never" by Justin Bieber. Yes, I just put in a Bieb song.

12) "Raise Your Glass" by Pink

13) "Love Like Woe" by The Ready Set

14) "Just A Dream" by Nelly

15) "On The Floor" by Jennifer Lopez (feat. Pitbull)

You can also throw in some Michael Jackson, Gaga, Beyonce, or any other groups that make you want to MOVE.

Turn the volume way up and have a good workout!!

Osama bin Laden is dead

I'm sure you, like the rest of the world, have heard the news - Osama bin Laden is dead.

Osama bin Laden was the mastermind behind the 9/11 terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans.

And tonight he was killed by a helicopter raid in Pakistan which was carried out by CIA paramilitaries along with some Navy SEALs.

I watched President Obama's address to the nation with my roomates tonight. He said "Justice has been done."

The news showed thousands of people outside the White House waving American flags and chanting "U-S-A!!" They were so happy. And at Ground Zero in New York, there were tons of others rejoicing that this man was finally dead after almost 10 years of hunting him down.

My first reaction was that I was happy, too. Not elated, but relieved that this wicked man was gone and could no longer hurt people.

But the more I thought about it (and the more I watched the people cheering and celebrating around the US), I got a yucky feeling in my stomach. Why did I feel this way?

I jumped on facebook and saw a status update my friend Kevin posted: "What do you desire more: revenge or repentance?"

Hmmmm. And then I read the responses to his update.

- "Justice. Whether or not God hears one's words of repent is of no relevance to me. But a man must accountable for his disgressions against man." (Marvin)

- "We all want justice. We just don't want it to be dispensed towards us." (Kevin)

- "It isn't revenge, its criminal justice amidst war...that is separate from his personal choice of faith/repentance. I hope he did repent, but his death is justified and a consequence of his personal choices." (J.T.)

- " '10 years, 2 wars, 919,967 deaths, and $1,188,263,000,000 later, we managed to supposedly kill one person. Worth it?' I saw this on someone's site and it's fitting for this post, I think." (Kaycee)

- "I can't cheer for death, no matter the circumstances. And I'm not qualified to cast the first stone." (Kevin)

- "I too find it a little unnerving to celebrate death. Reflection is more appropriate and supporting those who has lost a loved one." (Sue)

- "I'm wondering if we want to see people reformed more than we want to see them punished. Because it's easy to forget that, by God's justice, we also deserve death. Doesn't God desire mercy?" (Kevin)

And then a friend posted this blog about bin Laden's death and what the Christian reaction should be, and I loved it. Go read it and then tell me what you think.

testimonies

Last night at the college group, I shared my testimony with the students.

It was an extremely hard, extremely emotional night for me.

Sharing my testimony means going back 6 and a half years ago to the hardest time of my life. I have to remember the darkness, the pain, the despair, the feeling of hopelessness in the midst of a crippling battle with anxiety and depression.

I hate remembering those days.

After I shared my testimony, I walked into the parking lot and bawled my eyes out. I cried out to God. Oh Lord, you know I hate opening up these scars and remembering that pain. But use it, God. As hard as it was, use it in my life.

And He will.

Just like He will use your story.

He is risen!

What a wonderful Easter. I went to church and celebrated Jesus' resurrection with my church family. Then I drove to my parents' house and enjoyed the day with my immediate family (and some friends). Intern Scott was far away from his fam, so I invited him over and he got to meet everyone. My highlight of the day was of course spending time with my nephew, Judah. I luff him.

I should seriously rename my blog

I know the title of my blog is "Laugh long. Laugh hard" because laughter is my favorite thing in the world. But I should seriously consider re-naming it to "The Bullet-Point Blog". First because bullet points are awesome. And second because I seem to be blogging in bullet points a lot lately.

* Hello readers and friends!

* It's April 21. Holy crap. Why is time going by so fast?

* One of my housemates grew up on a farm. A couple weeks ago he came back with hundreds of oranges from his parents' place. I have begun a tradition of making fresh-squeezed orange juice every night before I go to bed. Every night. My body is so full of vitamin C. I will never be sick again.

* I saw the new Jane Eyre movie. Beautiful. Gorgeous.

"Do you think because I am poor, plain, obscure, and little that I have no heart? That I am without soul? I have as much heart as you and as much soul. And if God had given me some beauty and wealth, I would make it as hard for you to leave me as it is now for me to leave you." -Jane to Mr. Rochester

I think I was born in the wrong century.

* Speaking of movies, you all should go see Water For Elephants this weekend. My youngest sister Emily is living down in LA trying to break into the "biz" and spent most of last summer as an extra in this movie. I'll be looking for her in the big-crowds-in-the-circus-tent scenes. She said the costumes are awesome because it takes place in the early 1930's.

* I went to a beach bonfire with some friends the other night. Saw the most amazing sunset ever.

* We've been doing the "Sex Series" in the college group. Last week I spoke about God's design for sex. Last night we had a guest speaker (a guy I work with at church) and he shared this crazy statistic: If you are between the ages of 18-24 and are not a Christian, 72% of you are having sex. If you are a Christian, it is 78%. Whoa.

* I don't think I'm going to do glee-caps anymore. Sorry if that's what kept you coming back to this blog. I mean, let's face it - Glee isn't giving me much to work with. I only had 2 highlights from Tuesday's episode. 1) the song "Turning Tables" by Hollie Holiday (originally by Adele) and 2) Dustin Goolsby hitting on Ms. Holiday by saying, "Admit it. I'm handsome, I'm good looking, and I'm easy on the eyes. Also, I'm gorgeous."

* I miss my nephew. A lot. I get to see him Sunday for Easter. (squee!!)

* I went to a Zumba class for the first time this week. I LOVED IT! It's like Latin dance (shake those hips, baby!) plus hip-hop. Um, yes please. I signed up for a month of Zumba classes to start. I'm already looking forward to my next class.

* Intern Scott continues to rock.

* This is the last bullet point for today's blog post.

NYC update

I'll be in New York in a month and a half! Woot. Quick update: we found a place to stay. We'll be on the upper west side, right next to central park. Like literally across the street. Yeah! Between the 3 of us, we're only paying about 50 bucks a night, each. So cheap for the city!!

Can I be there now??

i have a new intern

May I introduce you to my new college ministry partner - Intern Scott!


Intern Scott arrived last Saturday night. This past week has been super busy. I've been showing him around town, introducing him to church staff and all the crazy college students, going over what his job looks like and how the group runs, etc. It's been such a good week. Here are some things he's said:

* "Sarah, I heard two students say 'gnarly' in a sentence. Is that a normal word to use in conversation around here?"

* "I LOVE that you guys don't have a Wal-Mart. I can't stand Wal-Mart! They are EVERYWHERE in the midwest and south. They come into towns and drive all other businesses away. And then people become dependent on them, because it's the only place in town where you can get anything and it's cheap. And then people just become lazy shoppers..."

* "I LOVE that you guys are so health-conscious in California. Back home, if I asked for 'grass-fed beef', they looked at me like a lunatic."

* "Do I want to try surfing? Well, there's not too many things in life I DON'T want to try. Although you might want to take back your offer once you get in the water with me. Because I have a feeling I'm going to be really bad."

Wednesday night was his first official night at the college group and he was awesome. I didn't have to babysit him or hold his hand. He just went up to students and started talking and hanging out with them. He can totally hold his own. I love it! We put him on the "hot seat" where students could ask him any question, and he answered them with ease and humor.

And then there's the cool fact that he and I already have a good rapport with each other. That's super important because I work with my intern pretty closely so I need someone I get along with. When we interviewed him, I could tell we would get along. So far we have discovered we both love:

-pop culture
-much of the same music
-The Office, 30 Rock, and Community
-Harry Potter (He's already been to the theme park in Orlando. Jealous!)
-talking about/dissecting the bible
-church ministry
-as mentioned before, a distaste for big chain companies
-quoting movies (we've written a million Tommy Boy quotes on my door at work)
-reading (we're going to recommend and exchange books)
-Disneyland/Disneyworld

This is just a huge answer to prayer. I have been leading the group by myself for 15 months (since my last intern left). It's been hard. I've been way too busy. I hadn't been able to find anyone. And now finally someone is here. And even though it's only been a week, I am so thankful the Lord brought Scott to us.

Off to sleep for 14 hours straight. It's been a long week.

confession

I don't want to keep this secret inside anymore. It's time to put it out in the open.

I have a crush on Joel McHale.

He plays Jeff Winger on Community. My intern Scott (I'll be blogging about him soon) let me borrow season 1 and my crush on Mr. McHale became real.

Here's a quick video from my favorite season 1 episode "Modern Warfare". The community college has an all-out paintball war around campus. It is AMAZING. Netflix it.

opposites

I am realizing things about myself as I get older. Here's what I've learned lately. Many of the things I like (or characteristics that I have) are different. Opposite.

For example:

I am an extrovert. I am an introvert. Equally.

I love dressing in grubby clothes and getting dirty on a long hike through the redwood forest. And then I love turning around and being girly and getting a mani/pedi.

I love big blockbuster movies. But I also love small indie movies.

I am huge supporter of local businesses and I dislike big chains. But I freaking love Starbucks. (the worst big corporation of all!)

I am a big fan of deep conversations that make me think deeply and stir something in my heart. But I am also a huge fan of silly conversations about pop culture or just finding someone to trade witty banter with.

I can simultaneously read the 1,463 page "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo and then take a break and read some Harry Potter.

I am a liberal conservative. Or a conservative liberal. Whichever you like.

Sometimes I feel so strong. I can take on the world. I am woman, hear me ROAR. Other times I feel so weak. This crazy world is too much for me to handle and I just want to cry.

Have you noticed any opposites in your life?

busy bee

Hi friends. I haven't blogged all week because things have been super busy. Two main reasons.

1) This week was spring break for my college students so we helped out at an after-school program about 30 minutes away. We tutored middle schoolers and high schoolers with their math, science, whatevah. These kids don't live in the greatest neighborhoods and many get involved in gangs, so it's so cool to see there is a safe place for them to get help with their homework and play games outside when they're done. (For the high schoolers, they're building a coffeehouse)

2) My intern will be here TOMORROW! Holy crap, after 15 months of not having an intern...we finally have one. And he will be here in 24 hours. He's driving out from Kansas. Although he's originally from Ohio. But lived the past 7 years in Nashville, Tennessee. It's complicated. But anyways, hooray! So when I haven't been tutoring kiddos, I've been getting Intern Scott's office space and room in the intern house ready. It was taking way longer that I planned, but oh well.

I hope you all had a great week! Enjoy your lovely weekend.

things that made me smile

I went away for a one-day retreat this weekend. A whole day with no computers or cell phones. It was lovely. I need to do that once in awhile. Lots of little things have been making me happy lately, so I thought I'd share some with you:

Sparkle shoes. Seriously, I am in love with them. I'm not a big shoe person. I mean shoes are fun, great, whatever. But I was in Target and something sparkly caught my eye. Glitter ballet flats. They had my size. Before I knew it, they were in my basket. I wore them today for the first time and I kept doing kicks to show people my fun new shoes. "Hey guys! Look what I just bought!" *high kick* And I would walk backwards outside to watch the sunlight on them and everyone was making fun of me. I think I'm too old to wear something like sparkly shoes, but I don't care. I luff them.


My car, Johnny , turns 5 this month. And he is officially paid off!! Woohoo!

Baseball season has begun again!!!

Got my taxes done and got a sweet refund. Thank you, Uncle Sam.

After much thought, I have decided to tackle a book I kept putting off because of its size. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I am flying down to see my BFF in July and we have tickets to see the musical (it's my fav). I figured this was the time to read it, if any. It's huge. 1463 pages, unabridged. And I'm LOVING it. Hugo spends 70 pages just describing the bishop. We haven't even met Jean Valjean yet. I am enjoying reading all the backstory and getting to know the characters in a deeper way. Have any of you seen the musical? Have any of you read the book?

Last week I finally got a new cell phone. My old one was...old. Falling apart. I've had it for 3 or 4 years and was due for an upgrade. So I hit the Verizon store and picked out a new one...fer free! I don't want a smartphone, just calls and texting. So I picked a basic one, but it's a bright blue color. And then I looked online and found a fun cover for it.

I cleaned my room and bathroom. It took forever. But a clean room/bathroom makes me smile. It's the little things.

My day retreat away from the craziness of work and life.

This weather! I wore shorts and flip flops last Thursday and was in heaven.

The twin babies talking with their hand gestures...and everyone's subtitles of what they think they're saying. So awesome!!

thank you, sun!

Oh my lord, I feel alive again.

What is it about the sun that brings me joy? I love the feel of it on my face. I like the brightness it adds to daytime. I like seeing flowers and trees twist their way towards its rays. I love the heat it brings. I love how everyone's moods seem better when it's sunny. Life doesn't seem as dreary or blue.

If you live in this area, you've no doubt experienced the crazy rain storms lately. On top of all the rain, I live in the mountains so we've had 2 weeks of flooding, trees falling, power outages, closed roads (and closed freeways), landslides (and rockslides), and more.

But today...the sun came out.

Bliss.

I went for a walk after work with three friends. We walked by the ocean for an hour and a half. We soaked in the sun. We had a spring in our step. We felt the sun on us and the wind blowing through our hair. We grinned like idiots the entire time. We laughed and talked freely about anything, everything, and nothing. We saw dogs, cyclists, joggers, rollerskaters, skateboarders, surfers, boogie boarders, birds, seals, families, kids. It was like the whole town came out from under a damp, dark rock and wanted to be in the light. To enjoy the sun, fresh air, and beauty around us.

I love you, sun. I also loved watching you set behind the ocean this evening. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. Do I really live here?

my first march

This past weekend I had the opportunity to be part of my first ever march-for-a-cause. Have you guys heard of IJM? (International Justice Mission). It's a human rights organization that goes around the world rescuing kids from human trafficking and sex slavery. One of the colleges in this area decided to do a "Freedom Walk" for IJM. Their goal was to get 300 people to walk 3 miles and donate $10 each. That $3000 would rescue 3 girls from slavery.

A few of my college students were doing it so I wanted to walk with them. It was a really cool experience. When I got to the starting point of the walk, I didn't realize it was going to be a full-on march. Like people were wearing IJM T-shirts and holding banners and posterboards. We got into teams of 20 and set off. Luckily the rain held off the whole time we walked.

At first, I was weirded out by everyone looking at us. I realized I'm always the one looking at marches or people holding signs. I've never been on the other side of it. But there I was with a ton of other people, walking downtown, with cars and pedestrians squinting to read what our banners said.

The only two strange experiences were one guy driving by and yelling out his window, "Go Satan!" I guess he realized we were a Christian group and wanted to ruffle some feathers. And then toward the end of the 3 miles, there was a homeless man dancing in the middle of the street. He was smiling with his eyes closed, smoking, dancing, listening to some headphones, and clearly in his own world. When he saw us, he beamed even more, turned around and showed us his G-string underwear. A bunch of people gasped, but I laughed. Was that wrong? My town is so weird, I guess I'm just used to it.

The "freedom walk" was really awesome. We got lots of "What are you guys marching for?" questions. We got a few "woohoos". We got many honks and waves of support from people in cars. I don't know how much money was raised, but I'll find out soon and let you know. It felt good to be part of something that is making a difference in this world.

hi

I am so tired. Sorry I haven't been blogging much. Things get pretty crazy this time of year. We are half way through the semester and I'm tired.

* It's been raining a lot.

* I have discovered the show Community on NBC and am a big fan.

*One of my housemates (Travis) turned 34 yesterday so we took him out to ice cream.

* I keep buying books. I need to finish the 5 by my bed before I buy more. But I can't help it. There are too many good books in this world.

*My hip hop class starts up again next week. (It's been on hiatus while they change locations)

* Speaking of dancing, I learned how to "Dougie". At the Ladies Sleepover last weekend, we played Jenga. And if the tower fell at your turn (you lose), you had to do a Truth or Dare. I lost the third game and I chose dare. The girls said I had to learn the "Dougie" dance and perform it at college group in front of everyone (It's almost as ridiculous as that Soulja Boy dance that came out a few years ago).

trampolines, sleepovers, and pranks

Hi all. I had a fun Friday night I wanted to tell you about. It was a college night out. We started the evening with 20 people jumping on trampolines at Sky High. There are these warehouses filled with trampolines and you can pay $10 and jump around for an hour. SO MUCH FUN. They even have a foam pit you can jump into and a dodgeball court.




Here's a video of us all jumping. (Please enjoy the two girls falling at the very beginning of the video - bottom right corner).



After jumping, we hit a nearby In-N-Out. Yum!!


Then it was time to split up into genders. The ladies went to one house for a sleepover and the guys went to another house for a "Manover". At our sleepover, we made cookies and brownies, sang karaoke, played truth-or-dare Jenga, and danced. Around 2 in the morning, we decided to go prank the boys house. We bought 9 rolls of saran wrap and drove over there.

It was quite eventful. We started saran wrapping their cars and then we heard the front door open so we all hid. One of the guys was leaving to drive home and saw his car, "What the *expletive*!?!" We all tried not to laugh from our hiding places as he unwrapped his car. And then we realized we had blocked the driveway with our cars so he couldn't get out. So sadly he saw a couple of us run to our cars and back out.

He left and then we got back to our wrapping. We kept thinking we heard voices or that the guys saw us. All part of the excitement, right? I realized I left my camera in my car so I ran down the driveway to get it. But then I accidentally set my car alarm on. Of all the times you DON'T want your alarm to go off!!! I freaked out and turned it off as quickly as I could. I guess the ladies up at the house dove for the bushes and thought we were going to get caught.

Luckily, the boys were inside playing video games and didn't hear us (or they're just deaf) because no one came out. It was around 3 a.m. at this point. I snuck back up to the cars and the girls gathered around it for a picture. I told them to run right after it flashed. The problem was the flash blinded them so they were running all over the place, trying to find our 2 getaway cars.


My car made it out first. But then we got to the street and noticed the other car wasn't behind us. Uh-oh. They finally drove up with their windows down and said, "Skye (one of the college boys) caught us!! He ran out of the house without his shirt on and grabbed the car window. 'Did you ladies REALLY just saran wrap my car?!?' We played dumb and drove away before he could say anything else. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!!!"

We drove back to the house and congratulated ourselves for being so awesome. We all went to bed around 4 or 4:30. Around 10, I woke up and went downstairs. The girls said, "Sarah...go look at your car." This is what I saw:


The boys had apparently come to the girls' house at 4 in the morning and let all the air out of my tires. They left a note that said:


And on the side of my car was a bicycle pump. Really, guys? You left me a bike pump to inflate my tires? Yes they did. We laughed and went inside where I called Triple AAA. We ate breakfast and the guy was there in 40 minutes. As he worked he said, "You ladies are the happiest people I've seen with a car that has 4 flat tires."


Such a great night. And then I spent all day Saturday and Sunday recovering from the fun (aka: sleeping and napping as much as possible). Yeah for making memories!

GLEE-cap #16

Whoa, so much happened in Tuesday night's episode. FINALLY we got back to some ol' fashioned songs and dances that make this show so entertaining. It's time for Regionals y'all!!!

TOP TEN QUOTES/MOMENTS FROM "ORIGINAL SONG"

10) Way to start off the episode right away with a Warblers number! Seriously can Darren Criss and those a cappella boys come sing me to sleep every night? I have loved every song they've sang on this show. I liked "Misery" and my fav part was when they pounded on the tables. And then I loved Kurt telling Blaine he gets all the solos. I'm not complaining because I love me some D.C. but I also get his point. It's time to share the love.

9) Rachel giving Finn a box of Kleenex for the "Only Child" song she wrote. "The only Berry on my family treeeeeeeeee". Classic Rachel.

8) Let's talk about the Warbler's council meeting. Blaine is suggesting a different color lining for their jackets at Regionals, Warblers are yelling "This is a kangaroo court!" and the gavel is repeatedly being banged on the table. Then Kurt bursts in wearing all black (because of Pavarotti's death). I laughed. But then I got all somber because his "Blackbird" song was sad and beautiful. And then, came Blaine's lightbulb moment. More on Kurt and Blaine later.

7) "Well well, if it isn't Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle Fake-Boobs." -Sue to Brittany and Santana

6) "Trouty Mouth" song by the sultry Santana. AmAzing. Poor Sam.

And Puck, I'm sorry but HOW is Big-Ass Heart any better than Fat-Bottom Girls?

5) "Hell to the No". It's been awhile since Mercedes has had a solo. I love her, her voice, and her sassiness. And then after her song Santana says, "Mr. Schue? I wrote another verse of 'Trouty Mouth' and Sam holds up his "Hell No" sign with a frown. "Guys, just think about it. What's your favorite song of all time?" Mr. Schuester asked. Brittany quickly responds "My Headband". YES.

4) The Quinn and Rachel scene at the piano in the auditorium was actually an unexpected highlight for me. I liked their honesty with one another, even though it hurt. And what Quinn said got me thinking. Rachel IS so talented and will go to Broadway. Finn will probably stay in Lima, Ohio and take over Kurt's dad's tire business. "You don't belong here, Rachel. And you can't hate me for helping to send you on your way."

3) Aural Intensity's "Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine". (Have you seen the cheesy video of this song? It's like a 70's nightmare.) The best part was the Star of David they made at the end.

2) Sorry Warblers, I didn't care for your first song ("Candles") at Regionals. I mean, it was ok. But nothing spectacular. However I liked your second song ("Raise Your Glass") a lot!

1) And then it's time for New Directions. Both Rachel's song "Get It Right" and the group number "Loser Like Me" were awesome. (I liked Sue's expression when she realized they were talking about her during Loser Like Me.) And then the drunk lieutenant governor's wife giving first place to the glee kids was a great finale.


Questions/thoughts from the episode:

* Kurt recorded Blackbird on a cassette tape?? Do those even exist anymore? And then I was even more shocked to see that the Warblers had a tape deck in the study. I have not seen a tape deck in 10 years. I was confused. Did we rewind back to 1988?

* When did Tina learn to play piano? And when did she and Santana become friends?

* Who told the New Directions ladies that it was okay to wear those blue dresses with bedazzled necklines, black tights, and Doc Martens? It hurt my eyes.

* One of my guilty pleasures is Kathy Griffin. I've seen her twice in concert and she is hilarious. But she crosses the line a lot, so I usually don't share with people how much I love her. Anyway, I was looking forward to seeing her as a judge for Regionals. But she was not funny. Neither was Loretta Devine's nun character.

* Um, WHERE was Vocal Adrenaline? They beat New Directions last year at Regionals. Where were they this year?

* And finally...Kurt and Blaine. Um, I reeeeally don't want to see two boys kissing each other on TV. That scene was hard for me to watch. The show makes you root for these two (just like it made you root for Will and Emma to get together last season, even though he was still married to Terri) so our impulse is to be excited that Blaine finally realized he loved Kurt and kissed him. But I just can't get excited. Instead I just feel uncomfortable.

What are your thoughts on the episode?

weekend

My weekend was spent praying for the people in Japan, donating money to Red Cross, buying two new books, catching up with some old friends, losing an hour of sleep for daylight savings, swimming laps at our local pool for the first time in months, studying the book of Daniel, and being scared about my health issue. How was your weekend?

praying for Japan

By now all of you have heard about Japan's huge 8.9 earthquake and the tsunami that swept into northeast Japan and destroyed farmland, boats, and homes and took the lives of thousands.

These natural disasters are so devastating. I just don't understand. I could not sleep last night, thinking about it. At times like this I feel so helpless. I want to help. What can I do?

Something practical we can do is donate to the Red Cross. Anything you donate (even if it's just $10) supports their disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Click here to link directly to their donation page. Or if it's easier, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.

And let's keep praying for Japan and the people there.

To end, I just want to share a picture I saw today of a school in India. This picture reminds me that even though we are a big world, we are connected.

my appendix is okay

I had a little scare last night. I felt a lot of pain in my lower right abdomen. I went to the doctor today and got some blood drawn and then had a lovely ultrasound. (Yeah for heated gel!) The results came back negative for appendicitis. Soooo, Imma go back to the doctor tomorrow and see what tests we should do next. I wonder what's causing the pain?

GLEE-cap #15

Tonight we were treated to the return of Holly Holiday (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Dr. Carl/Uncle Jesse/John Stamos, the man who is ageless and looks the same if not better than his Full House days.

If you read my last glee-cap about the alcohol episode, I'm sure you'll have figured out I felt the same way about this episode about sex. I was joking with my sister that next week they should do an episode about the glee kids doing drugs and then they'd have all the bases covered.

I'll save my rant for the end of this blog. Let's jump into the things that were good about this one.


TOP TEN QUOTES/MOMENTS FROM "SEXY"

10) "I have to say, I am very inspired that both of you are showing how celibacy is a viable option for teens who simply aren't ready for intimacy. And for those who are older and are terrified of the hose monster." -Emma at the Celibacy Club meeting

9) Brittany thinking she was pregnant because a stork was building a nest on top of her garage. Oh. My. Ga.

8) Favorite song of the night: "Animal" by Kurt, Blaine, and the Dalton Warblers. Ahhh! Loved everything about it. The girls screaming, Kurt's attempt at sexy faces (and sexy moves), Blaine's expressions watching him try, the vocals, the harmonies, the breakdancing in the foam, the acappella-ness of it all. Amazing.

7) Mr. Schuester singing and dancing the tango? Yes, please.

6) "I'm sorry if I'm over-stepping." -Blaine after telling Burt he should talk to Kurt about sex.

"You are." -Burt assures him

5) "Landslide" was very beautiful. The ladies' voices sounds really good together. I was surprised to see Santana getting all teary.

4) Best part of the whole episode: Artie's face during "Afternoon Delight". I belly-laughed. Thank you, Artie!

3) Kurt and Burt and THE TALK. I will echo what everyone else says: I love this father-son relationship. Love it. It seems real and authentic. On a show that is so unrealistic, it's a small anchor back to reality. I love when Burt gets uncomfortable because he doesn't know what to do or say about Kurt's homosexuality. But he STILL talks with him, spends time with him, and loves his son unconditionally.

2) "We're cuddle monsters." -Dr. Carl (about him and Emma)

1) "I like you, Lauren. I like wooing you. Next to dropping my afternoon deuce, it's my favorite part of the day." -Puck


Ok, now it's time for my rant. Again, Glee tells us that all high schoolers are having sex. Just like ALL high schoolers drink alcohol. I'm not naive; I know some high schoolers drink and have sex. But I don't like the slant Glee takes when it comes to these episodes. It's never two-sided.

For example, if we look at tonight's ep, if you don't have sex as a high schooler, you're a "crazy Pope lady". What's wrong with you!? When Rachel says some of them are choosing to be celibate, Holly basically says in a condescending tone, "I respect your decision. I think you're a naive, frigid prude. But I still respect your decision."

NO YOU DON'T!! You don't respect her or anyone else's decision to not have sex. You put down their choices and make them feel foolish in front of their peers.

(*pant pant*) Breathe, Sarah, breathe.

Why do I get to so worked up about a silly TV show? Because these issues are personal for me. I really struggle with my college girls feeling like they're freaks because they've decided to save sex for marriage. The attitude that Glee portrays only feeds society's negative view on virgins. I want to my college girls to be proud of their decision. But they get so much flack for it in today's world. It upsets me.


QUESTIONS:

* Why were Holly's jazzercise people all dressed in 80's leotards and sweatbands?

* Why did Holly decide to seduce the whole glee club during her "Do You Wanna Touch Me" song? Keep your jacket zipped, H.H. That goes for all you glee ladies too! Keep the twins hidden, mmmmkay?

* Why does Brittany not want to break up with Artie but she'll keep cheating on him by making out with Santana? Because that's "different".

* Lauren and Puck wanted to make a sex tape? Ew.


Next week's Regionals episode better be stellar to redeem this show.

Aural Intensity led by Sue Sylvester
vs.
Dalton Warblers with Blaine and Kurt
vs.
Vocal Adrenaline with their new coach (Dustin Goolsby) and the return of Sunshine Corazon
vs.
New Directions with original songs!!

dancing with Jose

Myself and two friends (Laurel and Julia) have been itching to go dancing lately. Our favorite is swing dancing and then salsa. Julia found out a swingy jazz band was playing about an hour away and we thought there'd be swing dancing. So we got all dolled up last night and drove over. We walked in and were greeted to the back of 100 white-haired heads. Everyone there was 80. And they were SITTING and listening to the band. What??

So we laughed at ourselves a bit and then went and asked a young person working the event if he knew of any dancing around town. He said there was a Mexican restaurant that had salsa dancing on Saturday nights. Sweet! So we found the place and sat down for dinner before the dancing.

There was a live band and they were awesome. But no one was dancing. So Julia went over to the bar and asked a guy to dance. He brought over his 2 friends to dance with Laurel and I. And that is when I met Jose.

Jose was probably late 40's and I was taller than him. And weighed more than him. He was very nice, trying to teach me merengue, and asking questions. I then realized Jose didn't speak English. Luckily I know some Spanish so we talked a bit while we danced. At first it was innocent stuff like what was my name, where do I live, what do I do, what is my favorite type of dance. I asked him the same things and at the favorite-dance question he said, "Salsa, cumbia, merengue..." and then he smiled all seductively, "...romantica."

Uh-oh.

Jose and I danced a couple songs and then I started getting sweaty and needed a break. He asked if he could buy me a drink. No, gracias. He asked me to dance a few other times during the night. At first I did and it was fun. He's a good leader. But then he started asking me "Tiene un novio?" Do I have a boyfriend. Oh crap.

I told him I sort of did. And then he smiled and pointed to himself. Noooooo. From that moment on, I pretended like I completely forgot how to speak Spanish. He was telling me how beautiful I was and I kept looking at him weird and making it seem like I couldn't understand. No comprendo.

We were getting sleepy around 11. Jose came to ask me to dance one more time and I told him I was super tired (I was). But Julia wanted to dance some more so I motioned at her. He danced with her but the best part was everytime he spun her on the dance floor, he would look up at me with raised eyebrows as if saying, "See what you're missing?" Laurel and I were giggling like fiends. We could NOT pull it together.

a new experiment

I have been trying out a new experiment. It's something fun I've been doing the past few weeks. It's called "How's Your Day Going?"

I'm noticing there is not enough human face-to-face communication going on in this world. And human contact and communication are vital. So I decided I was going to start intentionally asking people (strangers) about their day.

The grocer, scanning items.
The Starbucks barista.
The guy behind the counter at the post office.
The lady in front of me in line at the bank.
The guy behind my car pumping gas into his car.
The waitress who comes to take our order.
Whoever.

Oh my gosh, you guys. I love it. I'm never gonna stop. It has been so cool. I love seeing people's expressions when I ask them "How's your day going?" with a smile. Usually their first look is surprise. No one does that sort of thing. At least strangers don't. Their second look is usually pleased. Someone they don't even know wants to know how they're doing. Their third look is usually thoughtful. Like, "How AM I actually doing today??" And then they answer.

"Ya know, it's actually been a good day so far!"
"Ehhh, it's going ok. Kind of crazy but oh well. Those days happen."
"Pretty good. How about you?"
"I'm super tired but nothing a little coffee can't help." *laugh*

Sometimes a conversation continues from that point, other times it's left at that and we go our separate ways. But dude, I dig it. I want to start a "How's Your Day Going?" revolution.

You should try it and see what reactions you get. Let me know.

beware

refreshing

In the past few years of working with college students I've seen many relationships begin (and most end). Many of the relationships are unhealthy. Much of that can be attributed to immaturity, humankind's selfish nature, or no older examples of healthy, holy, committed relationships in their lives.

If I know the students in the relationships well, I always try and talk with them. They already know what is wise. They know what the bible says. And they still make poor choices, for whatever reason. It can be discouraging to see the choices they make and then heart-breaking to see them go through so much hurt.

There's been so many situations. Couples who don't know how to communicate with each other. Or couples who date solely for physical reasons. Some have trust issues. Some don't spend enough time together and they feel neglected. Some spend time only with each other and no one else. Or maybe one half of the couple is into drinking or drugs. And in extreme cases, I've seen cheating, abuse, pregnancy, and abortions.

So today was very refreshing.

There are two college students that have been friends for awhile, and on our snow trip last month I noticed they were spending more time together. They asked if they could come talk to me today. Once we sat down, the guy looked at the girl, and then turned to me and said:

"So Sarah, I'm sure you've noticed she and I have been hanging out a lot. And you've probably guessed that we have feelings for each other. We do. And we want to pursue this. But we want to be focused on God. We really really do. We want him to be the center of this. And we want to go slow. We want to keep building on our friendship before we take things further. But we need help. We need advice. How do we stay focused on the Lord when we begin dating? How can we be encouraging each other in our faith? Where do I learn to be a spiritual leader in this relationship?"

I was shocked.

And so impressed with them.

You'd hope that this would be the norm for Christian college kids, but again, for whatever reason, it's not.

And you guys, it was SO refreshing! They want their relationship focused on God! I almost didn't even know what to say.

still sick

Yup, I've been sick all week. Boo. I was luckily feeling ok enough to go to work on Wednesday but other than that, I've been at home and in bed. I should have been using this down-time to read (I'm in the middle of 5 books) but instead I've been wasting my time away on the interwebs. Here are some things I discovered this week:

* Charlie Sheen is crazy.

* College boys are funny. (These guys are from University of Arkansas)



* I found a new favorite quote from twitter:

"Legalism says do so that you can become. Grace says you already are, so act like it." -Lauren Lankford

* 30 Rock continues to make me laugh week after week (after week).

* It might snow tonight at sea level. That's where I live. Everyone is freaking out. I have a feeling if it doesn't, people are going to be severely disappointed.

* Glee just released the two original songs they will be singing at Regionals. The first is called "Loser Like Me" and is upbeat and fun. The second is a Rachel ballad called "Get It Right". I once again just have to say Lea Michele's voice is flawless.

* The Academy Awards are this Sunday at 5 pm. You gonna watch?

GLEE-cap #14

Things I never want to see again: Brittany stripping, Mr. Schuester in a cowboy hat riding a mechanical bull, Rachel's party dress (if we can really call it that), and purple puke.

Not a fan of this episode. I keep hearing my dad's voice in the back of my head. "That show has horrible values!" Dad, lighten up! It's just a fun show. It's got great song/dance numbers and funny one-liners. And I love the characters.

But I can try and justify it all I want. It will not change the fact that Glee really does have horrible values. And this episode is a perfect example of that. So many cringe-worthy lines and sub-plots. I'll save those for the end of the blog. For now, it's time for the

TOP TEN QUOTES/MOMENTS FROM "BLAME IT ON THE ALCOHOL"

10) "There are new alcoholic beverages targeted to kids, Will. Just listen to the radio. Pop music now glorifies binge drinking. Just listen to any hit by pop sensation 'Ke-dollar-sign-ha'." -Principal Figgins

"...You mean Ke$ha?" -Mr. Schuester

9) Sue to Will: "I suggest you pre-emptively check into rehab, as you are a future alcoholic. I mean, come on, look where you are. You're coaching a glee club that can only beat choirs of old people. You're re-hashing the details of your failed marriage with the very lemur who rejected the bestial horror of your craven sexual advances. And when MY glee club crushes you at regionals, well, the last ounce of meaning will drain from your life and you will turn to drink." (I love Will mimicking Sue while she was talking)

8) "Did you hear?" -Brittany (about Rachel's party)

"Yes. Mercedes just told me." -Artie

"Tell them I'll go if they go." -Mercedes

"Tell 'em yourself. I ain't no pony express." -thug Artie

7) "It tastes like pink. It tastes like PINK!" -Rachel drinking a wine cooler at her party

6) "Don't You Want Me Baby" by Rachel and Blaine. Darren Criss singing an 80's tune? Yes please. It was fun seeing Rachel and Blaine sing. I never really thought they'd sing together because they go to different schools. (Btw, WHAT was Rachel wearing?? I think my grandmother owned that exact dress. And wore it in the evenings because it was her NIGHTGOWN.)

5) All the glee kids at school on Monday with hangovers and sunglasses.

"How 'bout some Bloody Marys, y'all." -Artie

"Are you kidding me? That last thing I want to do is drink." -Mercedes

"It'll help your hangover. That's what bloody marys are for. Hair of the dog that done bit...yo...ass." -thug Artie again. And then he proceeds to bang his wheelchair into walls and say "EH" to Cheerios as they walk by. Blame it on the alcohol, Artie.

4) "Yeahhhh happy face," -Mr. Schue drunk-grading, giving everyone A+'s. "That was a valiant effort." *burp* "You get an A+. That's how I roll." (slurring his words) "I don't even know who you ARE."

3) "Unfortunately Kitty Dukakis could not be here because of disinterest." -Principal Figgins at the school assembly.

2) Oh my gosh, my favorite scene was when Sue played Will's drunk-dial on the intercom. I could not stop laughing.

"Heyyyyy there, sexy lady. There's something I really really want to say to you. I love how you eat your lunch with your little plastic gloves and they crinkle and make the cutest sound I've ever heard in my life. Why don't you pick up some wine coolers and come over here and it'll be just one night of us just getting crazy, just get CRAZY. *mumble mumble* Roll around in the hay...I was just in some hay earlier tonight. Hey and I rode a bull and I was thinking of YOU."

Becky's face. Emma's face. Will's face. All the glee kids' faces. Classic. (Oh and I loved the shout-out to Grease with the xylophone opener and closer)

1) "There's a fair amount of the pot calling the kettle black right now." -Quinn

"That is so racist." -Brittany


Didn't Like:

* Rachel's party. Maybe I'm just super sensitive to stuff like this right now because some of my college students are into this scene and it really bums me out. I didn't like seeing the kids going crazy and being dumb.

* Mr. Schuester being all, "Who am I to tell them not to drink. I drank and blacked out when I was their age." Ummm, you can tell them not to drink because you're an adult and a teacher and a mentor and their glee leader. Oh and why don't you be a good example during Alcohol Awareness Week and go get drunk with the Beiste at a honky tonk bar? Awesome, Schue.

* The glee kids getting congratulations and fro-yo coupons after the assembly. Where's the discipline?! Are there no consequences for their actions?

* Blaine checking out if he likes girls. Glee writers, what is going on!?!

Some people said they LOVED this episode. One of their favorites this season. Am I just way off? What did you think?

time for a quiz

I was trying really hard NOT to get sick this winter.

I almost made it.

So yes, I'm battling a cold and quarantined to my room and bed. I'm in between naps and blowing my nose and thought I'd kill some time by doing one of those get-to-know-you quizzes. Aaaaaand begin:


Are you a morning or night person? definitely a night owl (I dislike mornings immensely)
Which do you prefer, sweet or salty foods? sweet (desserts are a weakness)
What was your favorite childhood television program? tied between Alvin and the Chipmunks, Square One (on PBS), and The Cosby Show
Are you a collector of anything? I love pictures, so I guess you could say I take and save lots of photographs.
If you could be any animal, what would you be? bird
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? ability to fly (which is why I'd love to be a bird)
What is usually your first thought when you wake up? "Shut up, stupid alarm..."
What do you usually think about right before falling asleep? What happened during the day, tomorrow, things coming up, people God puts on my heart to pray for.
What's your favorite color? light purple (especially in sunsets)
What's your favorite animal? sloth (I got to pet one in Costa Rica and my heart melted)
Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)? Video games are dumb (personal opinion). However, when I was young, I LOVED playing Oregon Trail (Mmmmm buffalo meat) and Carmen Sandiego on the family computer.
You're given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on? A house, dog, travel, and retirement. Boo yah.
Have any bad habits? cracking my knuckles and ankles. It's horrible for my body and I know no one likes the sound. Sorry!
Have any celebrity crushes? Yep. Let's see. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), Jim from The Office (John Krasinski), and my current celebrity crushes are Zachary Levi (Chuck on NBC) and Matthew Morrison (Mr. Schuester on Glee). I might have a little crush on Jake Gyllenhall, too.
Any tattoos or piercings? A hole in each ear.
What's the first thing you notice in the opposite sex? their smile
What personality traits do you look for in a partner? loving, kind, others-focused, funny
What personality traits do you dislike in other people? cockiness, arrogance, sonmeone who tears others down.
Are you mostly a clean or messy person? Clean for the most part, but I have my messy days. Especially after coming back from a trip. My suitcase and clothes will just sit there forever.
Do you see yourself getting married in the next 5 years? Yes please.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? I love where I live. I could live here forever.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? New Zealand
Name 1 regret you have: teaching first grade
Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid: less worries and daily naptimes
Name 1 thing you love about being an adult: independence
What's your favorite song of all time? "C.S. Lewis Song" by Brooke Fraser. (all the lyrics in this song are from C.S. Lewis)
What's your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night? Something with friends - dinner or game night or downtown or a movie.
What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? sleep or take the neighbor's dogs for a walk
Have any hidden talents? Hmmm...I can't think of anything out of the ordinary. I can hip-hop dance, but that's not really hidden.
You're about to walk the green mile, what do you have as your last meal? Steak, mashed potatoes, strawberries, and a huge piece of chocolate cake.
What would be your dream job? an actress on stage (plays or musicals)
Which would you rather have, 100 million dollars or true love? True love. Money is lame.
Name 1 thing not many people know about you: I have become more of an introvert as I've gotten older. And I love it.

If you want to do this quiz on your blog, copy and paste and have fun. I'd love to learn more about you!

Judah day

I got to spend the whole day with my 2 year old nephew. *bliss* It was a day full of play-doh, puzzles, books (he loves it when I do voices), splashing in big puddles in the rain, eating, playing with a kazoo and auto harp (my mom's), drawing, going for a walk, and more. But our FAVORITE part of the day was watching "Make 'Em Laugh" from the movie Singing in the Rain.

Judah LOVES Singing in the Rain. He can sing the theme song and imitate the dance moves Gene Kelly does in the movie (Give him an umbrella and he will entertain himself for five minutes). Well, today we had on "Singing in the Rain" and I asked him if he wanted to watch the song "Make 'Em Laugh". We watched it at least 10 times throughout the day. We were both dying laughing. It didn't matter that we had seen it a million times before.

Sometimes Judah would just watch and laugh. Other times he would slide onto the floor and try to imitate whatever Donald O'Connor was doing in the movie.



As I was watching this video, it sort of hit me how old and mobile he is. I looked back on old blog posts when he was just months old. He was kind of a blob (a cute blob). He couldn't walk or talk or do much. And now two years later, he is a BOY. And growing up more and more every day.

GLEE-cap #13

Dang you, Sam Evans. You and your pretty voice and your pretty face. I will overlook the fact that you can't dance (sorry!) and just acknowledge that I really liked you in tonight's episode. You even made me like a Justin Bieber song. Now I don't know much about the Biebs. Probably because I am over the age of 12. Here's what I do know:

* His video for the song "Baby" has almost 500,000,000 views on youtube. Not 500 thousand. 500 MILLION. That video has the most views of ANY video on youtube. What. The. Crap.

* His movie "Never Say Never" just made 30 million at the box office this weekend.

* His hair looks like a comb-over, but from the back. A backwards comb-over? A forwards comb-over? Whatever. His hair is silly-looking.

* His followers/fans call themselves "Beliebers". And they will cut you. Seriously, don't mess with the Beliebers. They have made death threats against Selena Gomez (a young Disney teen star) because she and the Biebs are supposedly dating. The Beliebers are scary. Like PETA, but with ponytails and braces.

Ok, so back to Sam Evans. Sweet sweet gullible Sam. You believed Quinn saved Finn's life when he choked on a gumball? Presh. And you thought channeling J Beeb would win back her affections? Double presh.

I feel like I'm getting ahead of this week's Top 10, so let's jump in.


TOP TEN QUOTES/MOMENTS FROM "COMEBACK"

10) "Hey Will, Esme. So sorry for not being sorry for interrupting. But would you mind if I borrowed one of your rafters so I can hang myself? I did a test run back in my office and you know what? There's asbestos up there. And that can kill a person." -Sue

9) "You're lucky I left my blow gun at home, Air Bags, because I've got a clear shot at your nonnies." -Sue to Santana in glee club

8) I loved when the boys walked slow-mo into the choir room dressed as Justin Bieber. "Sweet Jesus, who bought tickets to Crazy Town?" -Mercedes. Everyone's expressions were awesome. Tina's and Lauren's were my fav. And Puck flicking his bangs to the side with the twist of his head...just perfect.

"Hey everyone. We're the new and improved 'The Justin Bieber Experience'. And we think this song is an anthem because everything Bieber does is epic." -Sam

"Truth!" -Artie (gangsta)

7) The song/performance to "Somebody To Love". When I first saw that GLEE was going to sing this song, I was like, "Wait, they already sang this." (the Queen song) But no, this time it was the Biebs. And I liked it. Good ol' sugary pop music. The ladies were going c-r-a-z-y during the performance which was funny.

6) "Listen, Zizes. I'm dying here. You got me every which way, and we both know I'm not the brightest. So, please! What do I have to do to getwitcho?" -Puck to Lauren

5) "Do dudes ever get erections when they wrestle with you?" -Puck to Lauren (Inappropriate quote but way too funny not to mention. Sorry.)

4) "Take Me Or Leave Me" by Mercedes and Rachel. True to form, these divas BROUGHT IT. I loved this song already, and I thought they did a great cover of it. Rachel must love Idina Menzel because in her first Diva-Off with Kurt, they sang "Defying Gravity" from Wicked and in this Diva-Off, their song was an Idina song from RENT. Oh wait, of COURSE Rachel loves Idina - Idina is her mom (on the show)! Pardon me, I just nerded out. Moving on...

3) The underwear scene. Lauren was trying to imagine the glee kids in their underwear while she sang and I was dying! First of all, Mr. Schue was wearing boxers and a vest. A VEST. I was giddy. Next was Sue in a black leather dominatrix outfit, mask, and sneakers. Then I see Finn in boxers and a Power Rangers T-shirt. And finally Puck wearing rock n' roll briefs. xoxo

2) Sam's James Earl Jones impression had me in stitches!! "This morning I woke up and decided to swallow the sun!" Ahhhhh! Loved it, loved it, loved it.

"First of all, that is offensive. He shot Martin Luther King." -Santana

"Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father!" -Sam, still doing the impression

1) Original songs for Regionals?! Yes please!


Final thoughts from the episode:

* It has been confirmed: Rachel shops at Kids R Us.

* Why did Finn look like a lumberjack during the "Sing" song?

* I miss Kurt, Blaine, and the Warblers.

* I miss John Stamos.

* I'm glad Sam broke it off with Quinn. Not so stoked he's with Santana, but whatevs. And I couldn't stand "cocky Finn" last week. So I'm glad he got knocked down a few pegs this week.

Now it's your turn, gleeks. What did you think of this week's episode?

Big Apple bound...again!

June of 2009, I had the opportunity to visit New York City (for the first time) with my dear friend, Amy. It was one of the best trips of my life. And ever since I left that magical city, I have wanted to go back. And friends, it's official. I'm going back!

Two years later, June 2011, I will be heading back to the Big Apple with Amy and our friend Jenn. We just bought our plane tickets today. I am still in shock: we found round-trip tickets for $299. WHAT!?!? Flying across the country for 300 bones? Holy cow, it's like a sign. We are meant to go back.

give us the pretty red bow!

We started a new series at the college group this week. We're calling it Controversies of the Christian Faith. We're going to talk about four controversies that are facing Christians (or the church) today. But we are going to do it non-biasedly. Whoever speaks that night will present both sides without bias. Then the students will choose the side they most resonate with and move to that side of the room. And then they will receive some "devil's advocate" questions. Those will help them figure out how to defend what they believe.

It was so fun to see their heads explode on Wednesday night. Well, it was fun for me. They were beyond frustrated. "Sarah, just tell us what to believe!" Nope. "Sarah, tell us which side you would go to!" No way. It struck me that they have not been in situations like this before at church. Their whole life, they've been spoken to, preached at, and told what to believe. To suddenly have both sides of a big issue shown to them and they have to choose what they believe (and not only that, but how to defend their beliefs)...well, let's just say their eyes were rolling back into the heads.

Wednesday's topic? Absolute truth vs. Relative truth. Is there absolute truth for everyone? Or is all truth relative to each individual person, their life, and their experiences?

At the end of the night I said, "You guys are in college. You are intellectually challenged every day in your classes. Why can't we do that spiritually? This series is going to be eye-opening, infuriating, and growing. You are going to take a stand for something. You are going to hear and respect the other side's views. We are going to learn from each other. And at the end of each teaching night, I'm not going to wrap up the talk with a pretty red bow. I want you guys to go home and continue wrestling with what you hear and talk about tonight. Talk to God, be honest with him, allow yourself to struggle."

"Sarah, give us the pretty red bow!"

"No. This is good for you."

*college students grumbling*

GLEE-cap #12

Love is in the air at McKinley High. Or is it? It seemed that for a Valentine's Day episode, there should have been a lot more relationship lovin' and not so much relationship drama. I didn't love this ep, but I found 10 things I could share that were good.

TOP TEN QUOTES/MOMENTS FROM "SILLY LOVE SONGS"

10) Puck watching Lauren eating the box of chocolates he gave her in "Geometry, or English, or something". After class is over, Lauren goes up to Puck.

"Stare at me again, and I'll break your nuts. Also, the candies you gave me? They sucked." -Lauren

"But you ate all of them." -Puck

"I had to make sure they all sucked." -Lauren

9) After Finn tells the glee club he is going to open a kissing booth and charge a dollar a smooch, Santana says, "I've kissed Finn and can I just say...not worth a buck. I would, however, pay a hundred dollars to jiggle one of his man-boobs." (This one was my favorite line of the episode!)

8) When Finn opens his kissing booth, and Becky steps up with her money and a big grin saying, "I want tongue."

7) Artie singing "PYT". Artie - you get TWO Michael songs in one week, brotha. That is awesome. (Brittany: "That's my man and his legs don't work!") And Mike Chang? Everytime you dance, I am mesmerized. You even rocked the moonwalk. I heart both you boys.

6) Finn giving Rachel the gold star necklace (even if it was from Christmas). Awhhhh...

5) "Look, you made your point. I'm sort of a b---h. But I'm willing to change. I won't tell Lauren to look out for poachers who might mistake her for the endangered white rhino." -Santana to Puck

4) "When I Get You Alone" - Blaine singing to Jeremiah, the GAP sweater-folder. The first time I heard this song, I was like, "meh". But I listened to it again and really liked it! The Warblers always sound so good. But I didn't really want to watch Blaine stalking/chasing a guy around the store. Weird!

3) Rachel singing "Firework" in the hallways, while everyone held sparklers. And she was singing into her hairbrush again, too! Even though I'm sad she and Finn are not together, I hope this means the diva-singing Rachel is back!

2) Kurt with his red microphone in Breadstix. "To all the singles out there...this is our year." PREACH.

1) "Silly Love Songs" by Blaine and the Warblers. A perfect choice of song to end the Valentine's Day episode. I loved when Blaine looked at Lauren and Puck and sang, "Love doesn't come in a minute" and then he looked at Santana and sang, "Sometimes it doesn't come at all." His face and her reaction are CLASSIC.


Now here are some things I didn't like in this episode:

* Finn and Quinn. Um, hello season 1, good to see you again? Actually, it's not. You two had your chance, move on. I hated that Finn wanted to get Quinn to kiss him, even though he knows she's dating Sam. And why can't she just break up with Sam instead of cheating on him and meeting Finn in the auditorium? (Which by the way is NOT a discreet place to play hide-and-kiss)

* the hallway smackdown between Satan, I mean Santana, and Lauren. Doesn't ANYBODY get suspended for fighting anymore? When Sam and Karofsky were punching each other in the boys locker room a few episodes back, neither of them got in trouble. And after this cat fight, Coach Beiste just tells Lauren to "knock it off and get going"? Where is the discipline, high schools of America?

* Tina breaking down during her song for Mike. WTH? I was so confused during that whole scene.

* Santana's candy striper outfit. Ew. Just ew. And giving Finn and Quinn mono? So mean!

* "Don't they (Harry and Sally) get together at the end?" -Blaine to Kurt, referencing they'll be like the characters from When Harry Met Sally. Thank you Glee writers for making it so obvious, when we already know what's going to happen. You don't have to spell it out for us.

What are your thoughts from the episode?

GLEE-cap #11

Well friends, it has been two long months since we've had a new episode of GLEE. But tonight after the Superbowl (good job, Packers) we were treated to a brand new one. Ahh, how I missed those gleeks and their beautiful voices and funny lines.


TOP TEN QUOTES/MOMENTS FROM "THE SUE SYLVESTER SHUFFLE"

10) The opening number got things started right away. While "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry played in the background, the Cheerios came out with bright blue wigs, bikini tops, and hula hoops made of fire. Amidst that chaos were some BMX dudes going to town with their bike tricks. And after the finale of megaphone bras that shot sparks, Sue got on her megaphone and said, "I'm BORED." I laughed heartily.

9) Sue's journal and inner monologue: "I am in crisis. Not even the 'can't-lose' combination of boobs and fire can get me anymore. Is it the raccoon hormones my new doctor gave me? Maybe. Here I am, 31..."

8) Rachel and Puck's duet "I Need You Now" was lovely. I don't think we've ever heard a song from just the two of them. I thought their voices blended really well. And I liked how Puck was staring the football players down while he sang. Oh and I also loved Rachel screaming and kicking her red tights at the football guys after they finished their song.

7) So many great Sue moments. Sue loses it in Figgins' office, starts throwing things around with dramatic music playing. Mr. Schuester is telling Coach Beiste, "I'm telling you. I wish you could have seen it..." when all of a sudden, the dramatic music begins again and Sue is in the boys locker room, throwing towels and balls all over the place.

6) "The Glee club together with the football team? It's like a double rainbow. A zombie double rainbow" -Brittany. And then Sue coming out of a stall and talking about her 2 pm ninja poops. Oh my ga.

5) Can we all agree that "Bills, Bills, Bills" was just an excuse to give us viewers some more Blaine lovin'? And I'm ALL for it. Side note: can I please have coffee with Rachel, Mercedes, Kurt, and Blaine? Thanks.

4) The girls joining the football team? Really? Once again, I have to send reality through the window with this show. I don't think there is a high school on earth that would allow girls to play TACKLE football with guys. However, I did like Rachel and Tina trying to speak around their huge mouthguards ("Who's Judy?") and Lauren telling the opposite team they're going to die.

3) "Thriller/Heads Will Roll" mash-up! Artie on main vocals, the zombie make-up and costumes, the dance moves, the marching band, and seeing my sister Emily in certain shots of the crowd (she was an extra for this scene) all added up to make this my favorite number of the episode. I'm actually glad they didn't do the Michael Jackson dance moves to this song. They took his classic song and gave it their own spin.

2) After the Cheerios lose regionals (after 6 straight wins), Katie Couric is kind enough to tell Sue she has been named "Loser of the Year". And here are the people she beat for that title: the economy, Mel Gibson, the housing market, Dina Lohan, Wall Street, Tiger Woods, the Dallas Cowboys, Brett Favre's cell phone, nine percent unemployment rate and Sparky Lohan (Dina Lohan's dog).

1) "I HATE YOU, DIANE SAWYER." -Sue

What did you guys think of the episode? And did you know we only have to wait 2 more days to see another new one? Woohoo! It's back every Tuesday starting this week.

beauty in the midst of chaos

Most of you know things are crazy in Egypt right now.

And yet, in the midst of all the horrific pictures and articles I am reading, I ran across this picture.


This is a picture of a team of Egyptian Christians forming a massive human shield to protect their Muslim countrymen as they prayed during the violent protests.

There are a million reasons why I love this picture.

If you want to see more example of this, click here and go to the bottom of the page.

I love the snow

I really do love the snow. I don't want to live in the snow. (Especially in the parts of the country where it is below freezing - sorry, friends!) But I love visiting it.

I'm back from 4 awesome days in Lake Tahoe with 18 college students. Imma be honest and say I wish I was still there. It snowed the second day we were there and we had fresh white powder to play in! We went sledding, made snowmen and snow angels, had snowball fights, and half our group went skiing/snowboarding at one of the nearby resorts.

It was a great trip, full of connecting with students and making memories with them. Two of my friends came up and cooked for us. YUM! And the last night, we had a Skit Night. It was so funny!

Great trip. Great snow. Great people.

Now please excuse me while I go sleep for 14 hours straight. Zzzzzz....