Re-living Jr. high days

Last night the roomates and I (minus one) went to a "Jr. High Dance" party. You had to show up wearing a typical outfit from junior high. *shriek!* Oh, the horror!! We had to go back and look at BAD pictures of ourselves to get costume ideas. I can't believe we thought we looked so cool! And yet there we are in our acid washed jeans, hair pulled up and to the side with a big clip or scrunchie, blue eyeshadow and pink frosty lip gloss, double (different colored) socks, LA gear hightops with spandex, bright neon/flourescent colored shirts pulled to the side with a ruberband or clip...oh man. And yet those styles were popular. You wanted to fit in, so you dressed that way. I wonder what we wear now that 15 years from now will make us cringe?

After the party, we went downtown to El Palomar (mexican restaurant) and got lots of fun stares from people. We talked about fun memories from Jr. high. I realized I was in Jr. high from 1989-1991. My days were filled with New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer, and Vanilla Ice. I am OLD.

I'm my own worst critic

I was kind of in a funk all day yesterday. Especially when I went to work around 3. I was feeling all weirded out and attacked spiritually. I was calling people asking for prayer. Then, around 5 I was thinking, "Oh my gosh, Sarah. Think about what you are talking about tonight!"

Evangelism.

Of COURSE Satan doesn't want me to share about that. After that, my boss and I prayed, I prayed with the student leaders (we meet before the college group), I prayed alone.

Looking back on the talk...I dunno. I think it went all right? I honestly think I am my own worst critic. I was hoping that what I was saying made sense. Was it resonating in the students' hearts? Was I going too fast? Was I not going fast enough? We had some new people there last night...did they feel uncomfortable? I didn't feel as prepared as I had my first time. Did that come through in the talk?

I was looking around about 15 minutes into it, and some students had that "glazed-over" look on their faces. Ack!! Am I boring?!?! But then I realized I have the same look on my face when I hear other people speak. It doesn't mean I'm not listening or I'm bored. I just sort of get in the zone as I'm listening and I'm sure I get that expression on my face, too.

Oh well. However funky I felt beforehand and however bad I scruntinized myself afterwards...hopefully the Lord will use it.

** A praise! I went to the doctor yesterday and got some antibiotics, cough syrup pills, and an inhaler. I was coughing like crazy all day and even up until the student leader meeting. We prayed that the coughing would subside until after my talk and IT DID! I didn't cough AT ALL during my talk, but as soon as I finished and Charlie (my boss) started playing a worship song, I had to run to the bathroom and I proceeded to have a 10 minute cough attack. How amazing is that!? The timing couldn't have been better. In between my crazy coughing, I was like, "Thank you, God! Thank you, God!" If that attack had come up during my talk, I wouldn't have been able to continue. I love stuff like that.

Speaking tonight

Tonight marks my second time speaking at the college group. (My first time was back in October) My boss, Charlie, and I are doing a 2 week series on "New Years Resolutions". Last week Charlie spoke on "I resolve to be a better follower of Christ". Tonight is "I resolve to share my faith with others". I am bit nervous, but not as much as my first time. =) I'll let you know how it goes!

Oh, and I'm fighting some lame chest cold or something, so I might be hitting the doctor's office today. Yeah for antibiotics!

A very full weekend

On Friday I went and saw the movie Tristan and Isolde. I had such high hopes. Bummer. Long, quite dull, it didn't really flow. James Franco, although very easy on the eye, tried desperately throughout the entire movie to have an English accent. (And I emphasize tried) And plus, I felt every scene he was in, he was crying. After about 247 scenes with him tearing up, I was about ready to throw popcorn at the screen. And I didn't even have popcorn. I'd give the movie a C.

On Saturday I got to spend time with a good friend I haven't seen in a long time. Her name is Jessica and we are in the pix standing under the lovely Old Navy sign (Solid Tees-2 for $12!) Love her.

Sat. night I got to see my sister, Liz, in a stage production of Bye Bye Birdie. It was SO AWESOME! The cast was so lively and full of excitement. The Conrad Birdie/Elvis-type character was hilarious (pic above with ladies crowding around him), and I just LOVE seeing my sis up on stage singing and dancing her heart out. I am so proud of her.

And then today (Sunday) was my grandfather's memorial service. Gosh, what an emotional day. How do you put into words all you feel? Overall, I look back on it and say it was a wonderful time of celebrating his life here on earth and rejoicing because he is now in heaven. (**I had to include my favorite picture of the day. I got to my grandma's house and my mom came out in a nice dress, black tights...and socks. White socks. I flippin' LOVE my mom! "My feet were cold!!" she said. I just had to take a picture and share it with all of you)

I hope you had a nice weekend.

Oh deer

The other night I pulled into my driveway and I spotted three deer across the street, nibbling on our neighbor's lawn. I had my new nifty digital camera with me so I snuck out of my car and slowly started walking near them to get a shot. To my astonishment, they started walking towards me! I got my camera all set to snap a picture...and I went for it. *click* The flash FREAKED them out! They took off running in the other direction. After about two seconds, they started putting their legs together and hopping like antelope! They were pounding the ground! Oh my word, they are fast, strong, and powerful dudes! I had no idea. If they ran at me, I'd be dead. Now I can understand why cars get all messed up when deer run into the street. They've got power!

After all the excitement of watching them pound away into the darkness, I checked my camera and the picture didn't even turn out. Awhhh...snap. I need to figure out how to work the settings on this thing so I can take pictures at night.

Oh dear.

I am sad but I'll be ok

Two recent events have made me sad. The first being my dear friend, Lindsey and her husband Luke have moved to San Diego. Lins and I have been BFF's for over three years and almost two years of that we were roomates. Since college, I have had many, many roomates (sharing a room) but none was ever so easy to live with as Lindsey. It's so weird, I feel like I have known her for 10 years, not 3. We have both been through a lot and we have been there for one another and shared deeply. I had the honor of being her maid-of-honor two Augusts ago. Even after she and Luke got married, they were still only ten minutes away. But now they have left and I will miss her so much. Yes, we will still call and email, but it's not the same as being to see each other whenever we want. I am praying for them - that their transition will be smooth, they will make some fun new friends, and find a great new church down there.

The second event also happened this weekend and it was something I knew was coming. My dear grandfather (aka: Pop-Pop) passed away. I am so grateful the Lord took him quickly. I didn't want him to be in pain any longer. And now he gets to be with JESUS!!! That thought brings so much comfort. He is also with his parents, brothers, sisters and friends that passed before him. I am saddened by the news and I am going to miss him terribly. He was a very special part of my life. But I will be ok. I know where he is and who he is with - the king of kings!

Ice skating with college students is fun

We have officially started up again! The college group took a break for a month and last night was the kick-of for the Winter/Spring semester. It will be from now until the end of May without a break. Here we go!!

We went ice skating in San Jose at the same rink the Sharks practice at. It was great! We had a few falls, but that actually makes it more fun, right? This morning I saw some students and we were all complaining about how sore we were. I think we strained muscles we didn't even know we had.

(One of the "rink patrol" dudes came and informed me that we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the rink, but I luckily snuck these pixs in before he told me. Enjoy!)

Surf's up

Disclaimer: I'm not sure who that chick is surfing...I just liked her board.

I went surfing today with my roomate Jessica and we were so stoked! The rains have stopped (for now), the sun was shining, and the tide was excellent. A perfect day to bob on my board, listen to the sea lions barking, watch the pelicans dive-bomb for fish, and just basically enjoy the sun and the ocean.

I got WORKED!!!!

Man, oh man, the waves were crazy. Jessica and I both caught a wave or two but then after that...forget it! The sets would come in fast and furious, grops of 15 or more waves in a row. Which is great if you've caught a wave and are riding it in...not so great when you're trying to paddle back out and you keep getting pushed back again and again by all the waves.

And then the waves started having major fun with me. I was being thrown off my board, my board would go flying over my head, I would be trapped UNDER my board, and one time I was under my board (after a crazy wave) and my leash was strangling me around my neck! What the heck? I have never surfed in water this nuts before. To cap everything off, I once again got flung from my board during a huge wave and my board flew and hit some guy right off his wave AND board. Ahh! I felt SO bad. He was super cool about it, but I still felt horrible.

I think I might wait till the waves get calmer and steadier before I go out again. These were a bit too wild for me.

SURF'S UP!! Big time.

This book is killin' me...

Today marks not the first but the SECOND time I have left a coffee shop in tears. And it's all because of this book I am reading: "Captivating" by John and Staci Eldredge. (John wrote "Wild At Heart" for men. "Captivating" is for women) There is only one other book in the world that has made me cry and it was a fictional story. I guess I just don't get very emotional in books. But this book is killin' me! I feel like its words go straight through me and pierce my heart! I feel so weird sitting in a coffeeshop surrounded by adults talking, kids playing, teenagers flirting - and then there's me reading and getting all choked up and teary. Who cries in a coffeeshop? Over a book? And I've done it twice over the same book.

Ladies, if you have not read this book yet, PLEASE do. It completely captures the heart of a woman and why God made us the way we are. Heck, GUYS, you should read it, too. Some guys complain that they don't understand women (and sometimes I complain that I don't understand guys...maybe I should read "Wild At Heart"...) but if you read this book, you would have a better understanding of us.

As of now, I am only half-way through it. I guess that means I have more tears to come. (Man, it's SO good, but kind of draining at the same time) The link to buy it off Amazon is under my "books" list on my blog. Enjoy it like I am. Just don't read it in a coffeeshop...

Tristan and Isolde

Yup, I'm a girl. And yup, I like movies like this. It comes out next weekend, so I'll let you know if it's any good. James Franco (Spiderman's BFF) plays Tristan, a knight from England. Isolde is a princess in Ireland and their countries are enemies. It looks like a Romeo & Juliet type scenario. If you want to check it out, here ya go: http://www.tristanandisoldemovie.com/

I LOVE being female!!!

Happy New Years!!!

I hope you all had a fabulous New Years! We did something new in my house this year for New Years Eve. We decided we would ALL get each other dates and go see a concert downtown. It became New Years Eve Extravaganza!!! because we invited a bunch o' friends and they all had to get dates and so it ended up being tons of people and TONS of fun.

I am adding some fun pics from that night. There's a picture of me and the roomates, The Devil Makes Three (one of the bands playing that night), my date Dan and I doing the "cheesy Prom pose", and the net of balloons right above us the whole night that dropped at midnight.

At one point during the concert, here were the fun people around me:

* behind me was "Sketchy Old Man" who kept smiling at me when I turned around and at one point put a New Years Eve headband on my head. When I said thank you, he said it wasn't him-it was the random girl next to him. Although 5 minutes earlier I had seen him wearing it. Ri-i-i-i-ght.

* To my left was the obligatory group of "Drunk College Guys" who thought it was hilarious to dance together, drink their beers, and freak the women around them. (Thank you, Dan, for bringing me to the other side of you!!)

* Right in front of me was "Make-Out Couple". It was a litle distracting when I was trying to watch The Devil Makes Three and they would knock right into me. Repeatedly. But we sure did laugh.

* To my front left and front right were the "Pot Smoking Friends". Random men who snuck in their doobies and decided to share the smell with the rest of us. And since they were on the left and right, it was like POT SMOKING - IN STEREO!!!! We were surrounded and clouded in their mist. Dan asked me whether or not we should ask them if they wouldn't mind blowing directly into our mouths. =)

The bands were great (the first band was The Chop Tops-rockabilly/punk/swing and The Devil Makes Three are bluegrassy), the friends were so much fun, and we had a blast dancing. At one point, there was a break so we went into this other room and there was hip-hop music so we all busted a move! Woohoo! It was the best New Years Eve I have ever had. Bring it on, 2006!!!