Details of a Boring Weekend (You Know You Wanna Read It)

Things you should know about my weekend...

I watched way more tv than any person should in a 48 hour setting (but I am caught up on everything from the week before). I am seriously going to have to break it off with some of these shows. I swear I love my boring life but not enough to watch that much tv. Drop Dead Diva is over next week, but now Amazing Race is back and so I lose one but gain one. So what should go (I'm kinda thinking Heroes, but that's just a start)?

And speaking of Drop Dead Diva I am so very excited that the guy who played Roy on The Office is now playing a nice guy who is a love interest for Jane. Because he is all kinds of cute in my book (and I like my cute guys to not play jerks).

My parents made pork roast for lunch yesterday. I love going out after church with friends but on lazy weekends, I love when my dad cooks a roast and we go home and get to eat it's deliciousness. Yum. And it means today we have stew. Double yum. Those are the best kind of leftovers.

I saw I Can Do Bad All By Myself (yes, inbetween catching up on 8 hours of television I went to the movies, and yes I know how sad that is). I love Tyler Perry movies. And popcorn and coke. The music was fantastic and the scene where Madea describes the "discipline" Peter walking on the water was priceless. If Tyler Perry movies are your thing you must go see it. If they're not, then never mind. I also want to see Fame but one friend of mine on Facebook just thought it was okay. This makes me sad.

I got caught up on 2-3 weeks of laundry. I was at the bottom of the barrel and I had no choice. It did give me a break from the tv watching though.

So that was my lovely weekend. I promise you didn't miss anything.

Happy Monday.

Caffeinated Randomness: First Week of Fall

I am not fooled by you first week of fall. You're coming off all cool and rainy and cloudy like you will behave like you're supposed to but I'm not so easily duped. This is Oklahoma weather we're talking about. I totally know you're going to bust out the 90 degrees and sunny and humid in a couple of days and I'll think it's summer again. Basically you're a big old tease. A delightful tease, but nonetheless; I'm not packing away my summer clothes just yet. Whew, glad I got that out of the way (so not a confrontational person, even with the weather).

Moving right along.

I am really looking forward to this weekend. You wanna know why? Because there is not one stinkin' commitment on the old social calendar. No obligations to be met. No have-to's. Not really any want-to's, if I'm being honest. It makes my boring life loving heart sing. I'm thinking I will see a movie and catch up on all the shows I've dvr'd this week (Heroes, Drop Dead Diva, Grey's Anatomy, and Flash Forward are all waiting). A friend of mine on Facebook noticed I hadn't been around lately and noted it was probably because it was premiere week. Funny that it never once occurred to her that I have a life. Because I really don't. I'm okay with that.



However in life like news, last night I went to a Sanctus Real-Phil Wickham-Jason Gray concert. I love live music. I like a couple of Sanctus Real songs, a couple of Phil Wickham songs too, but I had never really heard anything from Jason Gray. Until about three hours before the concert. I like to research my concert performers, because I am oh so hip. Is it wrong to say that my absolute favorite part of the concert was the fifteen or so minutes Jason Gray was on the stage (and please know I still really liked the whole concert but this should just let you know I really really liked Jason Gray)? Because I liked him oh so much. He has a relatively new album out called Everything Sad is Coming Untrue. Go to iTunes. Check it out. You. Will. Not. Be. Disappointed. That is a Kara with a K promise. Pay special attention to More Like Falling in Love and the title track (part 1 and part 2). So very very good. In an acoustic guitar playing, awesome, earnest songwriter kind of way. And because I read liner notes and whatnot I have to say I am super impressed with some of his co-writers: Andy Osenga, Randall Goodgame, Andy Gullahorn and Joel Hanson (whom I will always love because of my high school PFR loving days). If you are a fan of any of those guys I know you will love Jason Gray.


Have I filled your caffeinated cup enough? Need more? Go on over to Andrea's Under Grace and Over Coffee. Drink up, it's not quite the weekend!

This Week

This week

.... I am enjoying the fall weather. It was 55 degrees this morning when I woke up.

....I am going to a Sanctus Real/Phil Wickham concert tonight. I hear Phil Wickham is awesome live.

....I am enjoying the David Crowder*Band album. And I just typed it David Crowder*Band awesome instead of album. Because it is.

....I ate a chicken pot pie for dinner last night. Which means fall is actually really here.

....I finished my homework for my bible study today. And the last answer I gave? "I'm not there yet." That seems to be my answer to a lot of things lately.

....I have had about 201 headaches this week. Probably because of the weather changes. Or allergies. Or 50 other reasons. I hate headaches.

....I read this article from Annie, and smiled that kind of smile that has a little bit of heartache behind it, knowing that someone else feels exactly like I do and why do we have to feel this way and go through this?

So how is your week going?

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Sometime around 3:00 pm today it will official be Autumn. We even got a cool front last night in honor of the occasion. I know, very festive. How could you not delight in a season such as this? Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this time of year? Even the quizzes say so.

Your Soul Is Connected to the Fall

You are a somewhat sensitive soul with a tough exterior. You are street smart and wise about the world. You have the heart of a poet, but you're not too eager to let anyone else see it. You are very creative and deeply talented. You are still looking for the perfect outlet for your expression. You embrace change and think the cycles of life are beautiful. You don't shrink away from the darker elements of life.

What Season is Your Soul Connected To?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Funny How Time Flies

Last week was a weird one. After Tuesday, every morning I had an early appointment of some kind and every evening I had something going on (even if that something going on was watching the premiere of The Office, ahem). So all my normal posting hours of the day were filled. I used the only time for writing to finish up an article for Exemplify (and by the way there are some super awesome changes coming to Exemplify next month, so stay tuned) and that's why you haven't heard from me since Tuesday. I didn't even turn my computer on yesterday, which is a feat in and of itself.

But I missed you. Really I did.

Here's the desperately important stuff you missed. It rained. A lot. I went to the eye doctor and even though my childhood optometrist told me my eyes would get progressively worse (I am nearsighted with astigmatism) apparently my left eye keeps getting better. That's kinda cool, right? The Office premiered. It was good. Community premiered. It had it's moments and will hopefully get better because I really like Joel McHale. My fingernails have welcomed autumn with a new OPI nail polish that is a shade somewhere between brown and plum which probably makes no sense but I swear it is awesome.

I started a new bible study with a couple ladies from work last week too. It's a Precept study called Sweeter than Chocolate and it is over Psalm 119. I am so glad to be back in a group bible study. I haven't done a precept study in 8 or 9 years so it's a nice change of pace from doing Beth Moore (which, don't get me wrong, is fabulous, fabulous, fabulous). It's also only a 6 week study (but we have two weeks off and so it will actually take 8 weeks) so we will be done well before the hustle and bustle of the holidays takes over.

Yesterday my mom and a couple of friends and I went shopping and to a movie and to dinner, a little fun excursion after a busy week. It was Clinique Bonus Time at Dillards and I also found a super cute cardigan that was about 850% off and was very pleased that my mom wanted to buy it for me. I also got stocked up on my favorite perfume at Sephora, Amazing Grace. Oh how I love that stuff. It was a good day.

Back to the drawing board though. It's another busy week, but I will not fail you dear readers. I will try to post a little more faithfully this week (and when did September start acting like a crazy busy month like November or December?).

Weekend Delights and Week Ahead Joys

Bless all that is delightfully unhealthy and misprioritized (spellcheck would like you to know that misprioritized is a word that does not exist and therefore has no reasonable suggestion for a replacement, hence, I will keep it in my, yes I just made that word up file) in my life, I am so glad fall tv is starting up again. I missed The Office so much it's not even funny. I've even missed the kick my lazy self in the butt for not being healthy while eating ice cream as I watch The Biggest Loser. And I already feel like I'm going to love Community. Like we were always meant to be friends. These shows make me feel like the four + months I have to wait for the arrival of the final season of LOST is bearable. Almost.

I had a wonderful time this weekend in Austin. Except for the pretty much non-stop downpour, that is. My sister took us to what will heretofore be referred to as the Mecca of Grilled Cheese, Chedd's. You need to know that my family kind of has a love affair with cheese. Or at least my sister and I do. And when you're given over 30 different kinds of cheeses to choose from, well, let's just call that the best thing this side of food heaven (a place I imagine is filled with Rachael Rays and Paula Deens and Neely Familys galore, and they all want to cook for me, at my whim, and when they get tired, Chick-fil-a is always opened, and the heavenly bonus is you never gain weight, because when it comes to heaven I dream big). I had a sandwich called The French Kiss and it had like three kinds of cheeses and pizza sauce and sundried tomato spread and was our whole table's favorite sandwich. Because I am that good at ordering. It happens every time.

We got to spend some time with my cousins and my uncle as well. My cousin and her husband have helped start a new church in a suburb of Austin and we all came down to see it launch. My dad who helps run the projector at our church came home full of ideas for how he wants to update our system. Then he went and volunteered me to do the updating since I know oh so much about computers and whatnot. My plea for a Mac in order to better do the job has been met with a sound so similar to the chirping of crickets you'd think I'd found a country field on a summer night in the middle of nowhere. Because it's deafening. Oh well.

My sister purchased a tv with her birthday money (plus what she made selling her washer and dryer) and we enjoyed for the first time as a family, Dim Sum, for her birthday lunch. I re-ignited my love for dumplings. So all was good.

Why do all my trips to Austin revolve around food? Perhaps that is why I took a hit at Weight Watchers with a gain I shall not mention. Right now I'd just like to console myself with sweet memories of the best grilled cheese ever and the hopes of food heaven, with a side of dumplings, while watching The Office. Amen.

They Say It's Your Birthday (Jenna)

I was an only child for sixteen months. My mom loves to tell the story that when my parents introduced me to my younger sister in the hospital I christened her "Kitty, kitty". She has always been a cat person. Coincidence? I think not. When she was a baby I liked to put her in this little blue wagon and pull her around and then "accidentally" dump her out. So obviously I'm a protective older sister. When she was finishing college her plans were to head out to Hollywood and become a famous actress. This did not please my mother at all. After having lunch with a friend of mine who had a student who was moving to Austin to pursue acting I suggested my sister do the same. From the beginning Austin has been a perfect fit for my sister (any city whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird" is good my sister's book). Even though my mom doesn't like the 5 hour drive, I know she prefers it to a road trip to California. I am just grateful she lives there so I get to enjoy the awesomeness that is Austin a couple times a year.

Jenna is the night to my day, the vibrant hue to my khaki life. She makes everything more fun, interesting and ultimately memorable. I learn more about her every time I'm with her even though I've known her all my life. I admire her independent, courageous, fly by the seat of her pants attitude because it's so different from mine. I'm so glad I'm not an only child.

2 years ago on my sister's birthday I presented her with a list of "29 reasons why my sister is awesome", and because I am such a great sister, I forgot to do it last year. But this year, on #31, I am publishing the list, along with two more reasons. But trust me there are millions of reasons why.

1. She isn’t afraid to try new things
2. She remembers the most random line from a movie and makes it the funniest line
3. She isn’t afraid to embrace the fiesta
4. She wears the goofy paper hat from krispy kreme with pride (and she’s gonna eat the whole thing!)
5. She has great discipline and perseverance in order to lose weight
6. She has great taste in movies-- well most of the time
7. She used to go up to the counter at Burger King and ask for more ketchup, because I was to shy to do it myself
8. She was all about playing the game of life, even when we adjusted the rules to make more money and have more children (although i am sure the more children was my idea)
9. No matter how many times she has messed up in life, she always turns to God.
10. She read through the entire bible, one chapter at a time.
11. She always fills out her friends goofy get to know you surveys/memes and she always sends them to me, even though I almost never send them back
12. She actually makes those question thingy’s funny, which is hard to do
13. She is a neat freak, the first one in this family!
14. She likes Steven delopoulos and Derek Webb. which in itself is completely awesome
15. Growing up she couldn't go to bed without confessing to mom any wrong thing she did that day, she has a repentant heart.
16. She sends sweet notes to dad when she mails her car payment
17. She used to keep a journal of what she wore to school to avoid repeating an outfit in the same month (maybe longer, no one is sure to this day)
18. She is convinced it was a crying out loud bar, not a klondike bar, oh and it’s shake and bake and I have!
19. She thinks she came up with the chicken fried steak song
20. She sings awesome songs on our answering machine
21. She pretended to be “yo this is g” on my cell phone after I had been on a jury that sent a dude to jail for selling drugs, and it was still funny.
22. She wants to talk to me when she has a spiritual question.
23. She has an artistic side, making her great at things like sewing, painting, putting great outfits together and decorating. oh, and she’s also pretty good at a little thing called acting.
24. She saw similarities between herself and Elle Woods and thought that was an great thing
25. One of her spiritual gifts is having fun, and she is better at it than anyone i know
26. She is a great cook and an awesome hostess
27. She has mad skillz for running down a downtown Ft. Worth street barefoot in a pretty white skirt. Broken shoes won’t get in her way. She has great perseverance.
28. She is a cat lover, and tends to own cats that only love her.
29. She is a prayer warrior and has great faith in god to do anything.
30. She has been the biggest supporter of this blog, and her comments always make my day.
31. Her presence makes me feel cooler, dorkier, funnier, quirkier and more me than when she's not around.


Happy Birthday Jenna, you are the queen of the day!!!!

It's ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The iPod, that is.

Just thought you would all like to know (but the discman did serve me well on the drive down to Austin).

Caffeinated Randomness In Which I Prepare to Rock This Roadtrip Like It's 1999

*Disclaimer: I never said I wasn't a crybaby or that I don't have misguided priorities. Please take this cup of caffeinated randomness with such foreknowledge. It will help it go down easier.

My iPod wakes me up every morning. Truth be told it's the last thing I hear before I go to sleep and the first thing I hear when I wake up, so we are obviously very close. Intimate if you will. So this morning at 6:30 am I hear a lovely little ditty, but of course I am not quite ready to join the day so I hit the snooze and the music goes off, I roll over and don't notice this until seven minutes later instead of the same lovely song coming on I hear the annoying buzz of the alarm. No music. I hit the on button on my little iPod dock thingy and still no music, but the iPod is all lit up. This does not make me happy. I think that somehow my iPod was loose during the night from the dock or something and now it's dead but not dead and somehow frozen so I decide to sync it up to my computer. Again nothing. I pray. Because now this is serious. People, I'm about to make a five hour road trip with my parents. My dad will be in charge of the radio which means country music. For five hours. And I can't take that for more than five minutes. So of course this calls for some serious intercession.

At some point after almost two hours of fiddling with it and downloading version 9 of iTunes I get this message that my iPod is corrupt. Corrupt. Like some evil government dictatorship. This is so not cool on today of all days. I scramble for a cd walkman. Oh yes. A cd walkman. Which would also necessitate cds. Of which most of my favorite newer music does not exist on. I have like 20 minutes to make up a couple of playlists and burn them for this trip and then I'll need about a jillion double a batteries to keep it alive for the five hour trip. It beats listening to Rascal Flatts and Miranda Lambert though, let me tell you (as if my dad listens to new country, he so doesn't listen to new country, but I can't really disgrace George Strait on this blog, my dad would never forgive me).

Burned cds aside I will be listening to Needtobreathe's The Outsiders, Switchfoot's Oh Gravity, and U2's The Joshua Tree. So there's not a lot of variety, but I am not discouraged. As long as come Sunday I can get my iPod back to normal. I don't think I can wake up the same without it.

For more well thought out non-iPod ranting caffeinated randomness goodness check out Andrea's Over Grace and Under Coffee.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Roadtrip Edition!

Tomorrow we are going to see my sister in Austin to celebrate her birthday, my uncle's birthday and the start of a new church my sister and my cousin's family are a part of. It's going to be a BIG weekend. Next week I'll recap and perhaps devote my favorite things post to the trip, but today I wanted to share a few of my favorite things about travel.

1. Music. I am never without it. Never. I always feel a little cooler when I'm traveling to Austin, so I want my music to fit the feel of that quirky, awesome place. I always feel the need for some Indie stuff like Sufjan Stevens and Joe Purdy and Steven Delopoulos (mostly because my sister and I share a love for Steven).

2.Food. I love getting to eat stuff I never get to eat just hanging around my hometown. Stuff like Chick-fil-a (so bummed I couldn't proudly wear my Oklahoma State t-shirt and get a free sandwich on Labor Day, since there isn't a Chick-fil-a in my hometown, insert frowny face here). Here's hoping that's where my dad stops tomorrow.

3.Staring out the window without any obligations at all. Unless of course you're the driver, in which case you need to pay attention to the road. My dad is usually the driver. I am usually in the backseat listening to awesome and my mom is asleep. So I stare out the window. Giving thanks to God for music and trips and my family. Oh, and sometimes when I feel ambitious I read. But I find it difficult to enjoy the music I'm listening to and get into a book. I'm a read in silence kind of person myself. Just thought you'd like to know that about me.

4. Finally making it to your awesome destination. That's the important thing, right? Especially when you are going to see your favorite person of all people (that means you, Jenna)!

You can read more Favorite Things at Amy's Filled With Praise.

Angels in Disguise Apparently Frequent The Garage Sale Scene

I just finished up a three day weekend where I did nothing much past my Saturday. So all those ambitious goals of finishing my room and painting did not happen. I'm okay with that, except for the fact that the completion of it is now out there in an undefinable future. Maybe by the end of September? Who knows.



The garage sale went well for me and my friend. Not so well for my parents, but we are not disillusioned. The plans are to have another one next month (my dad isn't exactly on board with this plan, but my mom, friends and I are, so we'll see), and after that everything that doesn't sell is going to charity. I made enough money to take care of a couple things I needed to so I was excited about that. I have to tell you I do not really enjoy the bargaining that goes on at garage sales. I'm no good at it. Not good at sales at all, really. That's why in the retail store I work in, I am best suited to all things behind the scenes. I worked this garage sale with one of the best retail people of all time so she got me through. Because I may or may not have gotten ticked off at this woman who felt $1 was not worth a necklace made from Swarovski crystals. And I may or may not have told her so. A little. Anyways.



I only slept 2 hours the night before the garage sale, and my friend Gina didn't sleep at all. We were a joy by early afternoon, let me tell you. No amount of caffeine could keep me perky and alert. A lot of it is still a blur. The last customers of the day made it all worthwhile. Inez and Theresa showed up and I didn't think much of them. Just two more strange people in a barrage of strange characters that filtered through the day. You've heard of angels in disguise? These women might possibly have been, but they were wearing the best disguises ever. Nonetheless, they literally stole our hearts away. They were sweet, funny and delightful. They joked with each other in a way that only friends that have been friends for a lifetime can. They visited with us and told us they felt like they had known us forever. They shared a piece of their lives with us and told us they would pray for us as they left. This they said after Inez shared with Gina and I about losing both her husband and her son in the last month. Yet in the face of such tragedy she had more joy than most people I know. It made me feel pretty shallow about being miffed at the necklace bargain lady and my moodiness over the lack of sleep. Later, on Facebook, Gina mentioned that these ladies must have been angels. True or not, I can say with certainty they had ministered to us. We were better for having met them.

Caffeinated Randomness: Friday Before Labor Day Edition

Is there anything more delightful than a three day weekend? Except maybe for a four day weekend, but let's not get greedy. I have bills to pay after all. We are having a garage sale tomorrow. As my parents and I have gone through all the stuff (read: junk) that we've accumulated over the years, I wonder why we didn't do this 3 or 10 years ago. Last night as my mom was struggling with the do-we-keep-it-or-do-we-sell it I told her I was going to put her on Hoarders if she didn't throw it in the sell pile. But then I found a box of old books (from my pre-teen days) and scooped them up like a prize. Pot meet kettle.

Mostly my mom struggles with the price at which these things will go for. I don't want to give it away! she says. I try to tell her that she hasn't needed it or used it in 3 years or more (since we moved) and that a couple of dollars is better than taking up space. We haven't quite seen eye to eye on that yet. But my dad, he's another story. I'm pretty sure he'd be getting rid of a lot more stuff if we don't keep an eye on him. I hope he doesn't find that box of old books.

After the garage sale is over I hope to complete my organization of my room and then I might start on the painting of the room. Last weekend I bought a couple paint samples because my goodness there are a lot of shades of beige. And now the three I picked seem almost indistinguishable. Not only that but now I'm afraid it's not going to look good with the carpet. These are the things that keep me up at night. That and searching Youtube for concert footage of Needtobreathe. Because I am that addicted.

Speaking of Needtobreathe, my best friend and I decided to forgo the David Crowder Band concert at $40 a ticket (which breaks my heart, but fear not, I will see them live one day) and go see Needtobreathe instead. At $12 a ticket. Because we are frugal with our concert spending money. I am so excited about this show. I hear (and have seen from youtube) that they are stinkin' awesome live. I cannot wait. Even so come October.

You can find a bunch more caffeinated randomness delight at Andrea's. So what are you waiting for?

A Few of My Favorite Things: This Week

First things first, I have to say I am loving the new Favorite Things button, it is cute isn't it?

I love how God amazes us in small and big ways. All week long I've seen glimpses of the different facets of Him. I guess when I'm really looking it's always that way.

When I was the worship leader it was hard not to manipulate the song list to reflect how I was feeling at the time. Now that I'm just one of the singers I don't have that conflict of interests but sometimes God still surprises me with songs that are custom fit for me. We sang a song that addressed weariness, a song that mentioned going through hard times and good times with God and a song about waiting for God. All things I've been dealing with over the last couple of weeks. Our worship leader also introduced a (new to me) song that reminded me that God still pursues me. A song that clarified what I have been feeling in my heart and it was as if God sent me a personal invitation to let go of past regrets and move forward with Him. I even ended up leading the bridge that repeated over and over how God makes all things new. I needed that like nothing else God could have given me, the promise of Him making all things new. Even me.

We celebrated my boss Sue's birthday on Tuesday. There is nothing like fellowship with people you love and food that is good. And I love that because we were all sisters in Christ, it was but a reflection of a big huge wedding feast that God has in the works for us One Day.

One of my boss's (is it bosses or boss's, sometimes I stink at grammar) friends purchased a candle for her birthday that had scents of aloe, myrrh and cassia. Somewhere in Psalms (I forget the exact passage) it talks about Jesus' robes being scented with these aromas. I have to tell you when I took a whiff and thought about Jesus it just had to make me smile. The kind of smile that reaches down to your toes. It made me think, One Day. One Day He's coming back. And apparently He will smell really really good.

I went for a walk yesterday morning. After typing up my If it Doesn't Change Me post I decided to do something about at least one of those things I mentioned. So I got up early. I walked. It was the most delightful walk ever. We are experiencing unseasonably mild weather this week. It was breezy and cool and very un-summery. I listened to Needtobreathe (because for some reason I cannot get The Outsiders off my brain), Enter the Worship Circle and other acoustic goodness. And I didn't talk a whole lot to God but I felt His divine presence. He made the morning, the sunrise and the breeze. He was in every last bit of the joy that was that walk.

So that's just a taste of my week with God. He is forever moving me with outpourings of His grace, mercy, and extravagant love. So I could go on. But I won't. For more A Few of My Favorite Things check out Filled With Praise.

If It Doesn't Change Me

I am a woman of misplaced priorities.



I read post like this, while eating donut holes, in an air-conditioned room, and I tear up but I do nothing.



I watch Confessions of a Shopaholic and when my mom asks me if it makes me want to get all my debts paid off I tell her that it makes me want to color my hair a vibrant red and use my curlers more often.



I hit the snooze button for a half an hour then get on my computer and take quizzes on Facebook instead of having a nice long quiet time and then go for a walk and getting some much needed exercise.



I sing songs of worship while my mind drifts to what I'm going to be doing later on that afternoon.



I squirm in church when my pastor preaches on dying to self. I try to come up with scriptures about living life to the fullest and deny that both are of God.



I type all this up thinking somehow it will provoke a change in you, when really I need it to change me.



This lyric has pierced my soul this week and I think, if only my heart could reflect what Jesus' did: "Let the songs I sing bring joy to you, let the words I say profess my love, Let the notes I choose be your favorite tune, Father let my heart be after you.".



Perhaps then I wouldn't just read, I would go

I wouldn't just sing, I would worship

I wouldn't just squirm, I would obey

I wouldn't just preach, I would practice what I preach



Father let my heart be after you.

This Means I Better Not Forget to Tribute My Sister on Her Birthday or She'll Kill Me

I haven't had a lot of variety in my work experiences. In fact, I'm pretty much limited to three jobs: Hallmark clerk, tirebuilder at Michelin (summer job in college, great money, hard work, long hours, inspiration to finish my college degree!), and my current place of employment. I've been there just over ten years now. I can already tell that this post is going to seem a little kiss up-ish, but I hope to assure you it's not. Believe me if you will.

Today is my bosses birthday. I think she would proudly tell you her age, but I won't here. Let's just say that next year is one of those BIG birthdays and if one of my co-workers has her way we'd all be going to Greece to celebrate it. Since this is a birthday that ends in a 9 and not a 0, we'll just be going out for dinner tonight.

Having worked for Sue for ten years I've gotten to know a lot about her. I'd say our employer-employee relationship is a bit unconventional. Which is just the way I like most relationships. We've been on several roadtrips together, I've been her house-sitter, and helped her babysit her grandkids. We're friends and we have a business relationship. I think that's pretty cool.

I love that my boss is a christian. I love that she has us pray together as a staff every Friday morning (and sometimes invites customers to join us, if they want to!). I love that we play and sell christian music, and that she loves a good concert as much as I do. I love that she supports local ministries like Fellowship of Christian Athletes (which she's been involved in since her daughter was in school), and YWait (an abstinence program) and Pregnancy Resource Center. And there are little things she does for her church family that no one would know she does, but the little birdie/office manager sees them.

I love that she loves her family deeply and selflessly. She is devoted to her two grown children and prays and talks and listens to them constantly. I love when her son calls down to the store and always asks, "What are you doing, mom?". This he asks to a woman who works 45+ hours a week. But she always takes time for her family. Sue has the four most adorable grandchildren this side of my bff's daughter. I kid you not they all need to be in Gap Kids ads. And they are as much a part of the store as any employee. This summer her granddaughter Addie spent a few days working with us. She's only 10 but she's going on 27. I love that working for Sue feels like you're part of her family. Everyone around here calls her mom our mom. We won't go so far as to call her dad Popsie like she does, but still.

I love her love for animals. She has three labrador retrievers. Three. Brave, Max and Nestle. That live in her small house and sleep with her every night. Brave, her oldest lab, is our store mascot. He is going to be thirteen this year and doesn't get to come to the store as often as he used to, but he is as much a fixture there as Sue herself. I think she'd have a dozen dogs at home if it were allowed; without a kennel license.

So Happy Birthday Sue, it is my privilege to get to work for you! (And I swear I'm not trying to get a raise or more vacation time, even if that would rock, *wink wink*).