Make New Friends...

Hellooo!! Wow long time, no blog eh? Remedy that? I think so!

So here are a few things Mandy has learned in the past few weeks:

• Sometimes the best thing you can do for a friend is to leave them.
• People that make you really mad are probably there to teach you something.
• "Church" boys are sometimes 10 times worse than "non-church" boys.
• I like adventurous relationships. If it's too normal, simple or boring, count me out.
• Your best friends are the ones that know who you are.

Other than that, here's a rundown of my life for the past few weeks:

CABB is rockin my face off, as usual. For awhile there, I was a little concerned by the lack of actual Bible we were getting as a group but we've recently remedied that and I couldn't be more thrilled. We spend a lot of time in the Word as a group and I believe it will only help to improve our relationships. We'll also be starting up Spring league Softball and Volleyball. I can't wait!

The youth group is also going really well these days. We finally hired a full-time youth minister that will start in June and I couldn't be more excited about him. My boys really need a good role model. We've been blessed to have a good interim for awhile now but it's nice to know that when he leaves, things won't go down hill. Prayers are being answered.

About a month ago I learned that my dear cousin (and one of my best friends) Phil is going back to Iraq in December. Boo? I think so. But not to him. He is, of course, very happy. If he had his way, he never would've left in the first place. After I found that out, I went into Operation Mandy mode and have spent the last few weeks attempting to lift the spirits of some of the guys over there. The CABB group will be putting together packages next month for the guys representing OP. Whether you agree with the war or not has nothing to do with it. I really feel like we're starting to forget that there are still men fighting over there.

I started with this CABB project for the 9 guys that we have from church over there (none of whom I know) and then made some attempts at more personal connection (Facebook, email, etc.) but have only been able to really connect with one so far. He seems to be very thankful to have a new friend back home though. He'll be coming home next month for a 20-day leave and I'm very much looking forward to meeting him.

I also found an old friend from high school that happens to be over there too and seems to be having a harder time than Phil ever did or any of the other guys I've conversed with. I think that might have to do with the fact that he's quite lacking in Faith so I'm trying to exude a lot of hope in his direction. Guess we'll see.

Please keep Chris, Matthew, Phil and all the other men and women in your prayers. Don't forget them.

Kristy McKinney and I have started talking Camp agenda and I'm starting to get those Camp jitters already. It looks like we're going to have to wait another year to get out to Tallgrass (boo) but we'll work with what we've got as we usually do. We're trying to make some much-needed counseling changes (including training and finally saying no to certain people) and I'm praying hardcore we are able to do so without much friction.

Other than that, work is still good. Busy most days but nothing I can't handle. I'm overly blessed here and am afraid they're going to realize it any day. I don't think I've mentioned this yet but I got a list the other day of all the Executive Assistants in the company (everyone who works for a President, VP, the CEO, etc.). There are 28 of us in all. I'm the youngest by 6 years. Wow? I think so.

February is almost over! Wow! On the calendar for March:

March 1: Superchick concert with Audra and some of my girls from the youth group! Also, my best friend Mandy will be here just long enough for me to take her and her boyfriend to the airport.

March 2: CABB sponsored luncheon (put on by yours truly) for the Widows and Widowers at OP.

March 6: Mandy becomes official member of KC Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

March 8: Best friend returns from DC and spends the weekend with me. Hurray!

March 15-20: Ski trip to Breckenridge!! Woot woot!

March 23: Easter and Chris home from Iraq.

March ??: Tax refund check arrives (hopefully). Hello new computer!! =)


Coming in April:
2 retreats and 4 important birthdays! Yee-haw!

Be cool my babies!
M-Shizzle ><>

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

-1 Corinthians 15:57

Crack is Whack

Hoo-wee! What an enjoyable weekend Mandy had! Wanna hear about it? Too bad!

Thursday:
Ah, Valentines Day. I don't care what anyone says, I still love that holiday. In a relationship or not, V-day (like everyday) is what you make it. My evening included the Cheesecake Factory with the 'rents, some friends and my beautiful Grandmother who was visiting for a few weeks while Jimmy was in China. Afterwards, because it's illegal to see sappy movies on V-day if you're single, I went to see Jumper (*vomitting noises*) with some very good friends. Should've tried a sappy one but we had a good time.

Friday:
Yeah...not ready to post that information yet. But know I had a good day. =)

Saturday:
Hurray for Saturday! My current favorite brother came up to visit me for the day and we went to see Step Up 2 (much better movie! Ye-ah!). Happened to catch Chelsea trying to see the movie by herself so we all enjoyed it together. Afterwards, I had a babysitting gig I got roped into for the evening at the church. There were 15 kids but I actually think I was there more to babysit the youth minister and 2 high school boys that were helping out too.

After the babysitting, the 4 of us hung out for awhile trying to decide on something to do so as not to waste a perfectly good Saturday evening. When it became appparent we weren't going to agree on a course of action, the boys took it upon themselves to create their own entertainment: they decided to create a faux-date for myself and the youth minister in the youth room. They turned down the lights, made us dance a little (I know! In the church! *Gasp!*) and put on Disney music in an attempt to try and set the mood. The highlight of the evening was when one of them got the little disco ball down that hangs from the ceiling, hid behind the couch, held it above our heads and said, “Pretend like I’m not here.” It was hilarious. Finally at one point, Zach leaned over and hid the proof just well enough to convince them that we kissed. It was hilarious. They both just sat there with this look of sheer shock on their faces for a good 5 minutes.

Sunday:
More snow = Booo!
Church and Lifegroup = Soooo good!

Monday:
That's right, my weekend included Monday! Hurray for days of Presidents! I spent my day off trying to catch up on sleep (ha!), doing laundry and cleaning the house. Felt really good. Then I went into Baldwin for the Lifegroup that meets at my 'rents place 'cause I was majorly craving a Jason hug. I got a few. :) I love my brothers!!

And now it's Tuesday and I'm back to work. I started the morning with 19 emails in my Inbox as proof that my boss decided not to use his weekend for leisure. Needless to say, I had them all straightened out by lunch. I'm just sayin...

Alright, what else? How about some laughs? I like to call this part of my blog:

"The Short Bus"

Blessings and Cookie Dough dreams to you, my babies!!

--Mandy--

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Current Date: February 14 + Current Temperature: 54° =

What a glorious, wonderful day!!

My Valentine's gift to you:

The 'One Semester of Spanish Love Song!!'

(Thanks LL!!)

Love you all!! *Muah!*

An Update

I'm a little sickly so I'm gonna give you the main points and let you fill in the rest. Or let me know which ones you want to know more about. And....GO!

Working lots.

It's freezing all the time.

I miss Heather, Aaron, Mandy, Cara & the boys, Jason, and Jeremy.

Bowling 173.

Waiting for tax refund.

Lots of new music.

Iraq.

Jesus is crazy about me. And you.

The End.

Mmhmm.

Picture of Things

Deep in the night

Far past the point of slumber

I was wrapped in a love

It was woven fine

And it pulled me under

And I, I didn't want to leave her

And I didn't want to treat her

Like the story of my life

Just like that night

Love was fading fast

Leaving me cold inside

And where is that part

That houses all my fear

And which is the road that I take from here

Where is this world, where is this world

Where is my seam to find the picture of things

Just down my road in that place

We quickly go by I found,

in a world of its own

A secret flower

And I didn't know why

But I, I didn't want to leave it

But I knew I couldn't keep it

Somewhere in this desert heart of mine

And miles away I'm out of breath

And I'm outta my mind

And where is that part

That houses all my fear

And which is the road that i take from here

And where is this world, where is this world

Where is my seam to find the picture of things

And I know that time will come

When all the words are said

And I know that time will be

When I consider my source instead of me

So pay no mind

No its just fear I guess

I'm just lonley

So i'm holding you agian

I'm just lonely

So i'm holding you again

Random Acts of Randomness

Self-Esteem Boost?

If you need one, read the name of the following site and then click: http://www.amiawesome.com/

Have you voted yet today?
Who did I vote for? I'll give you a hint. One of these:
Hillary? Obama? Huckabee? Romney? Paul?

Wouldn't you like to know.

I'm currently struggling quite a bit with the fact that it's becoming more and more evident that we as Christians (myself included) are simply not reading our Bibles. At least not as much as we should. I keep hearing more and more comments made in Sunday morning class and Lifegroup like "I read in this book that..." and "So-and-so spoke on this topic and he said..." This makes me sad. The Bible is NOT obsolete folks. It never will be. Read it. Read all of it. You might just learn something.

And, just in case you're bored, let's try a....

Music Quiz!
(Thanks for letting me gank your idea, Linz!)

The following are first (or so) lines from some of my favorite songs. How many can you name (without cheating)?

1. The first star I see may not be a star. We can't do a thing but wait so let's wait for one more.
2. I dig my toes into the sand. The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket.
3. When shadows fall, he'll close his eyes to hear the clocks unwind. Powerless to leash the hands of time.
4. When I can't see you, I know you're there. When I can't feel you, I will not fear.
5. I feel like I would like to be somewhere else doing something that matters.
6. Oh you know I did it, it's over and I feel fine. Nothing you could say is gonna change my mind.
7. Lately I'm alright. And lately I'm not scared. I've figured out that what you do to me feels like I'm floating on air.
8. This old heart's been left out on my sleeve and I have paid as it's been rent into pieces.
9. Hello there, the angel from my nightmare.
10. I got the message long before you said you knew there was no chance of us at all.
11. This time, what I want is you. There is no one else, who can take your place.
12. They come from every state to find some dreams were meant to be declined.
13. Another day gone by and again I ask myself why. I question my sanity. Why I believe what I believe.
14. I have a ringing in my head. And no one to help me answer it. Even with you close enough to kiss.
15. Hey, you give me no choice. I entertain by the silence that you created by noise.
16. Meet Me There. In The Blue. Where Words Are Not. Feeling Remains.
17. Can I get your hand to write on. Just a piece of leg to bite on.
18. Meet me in outer space. We could spend the night; watch the earth come up.
19. You got to leave me now, you got to go alone. You got to chase a dream, one that's all your own before it slips away.
20. We write to apologize. We ask to look past life as it goes by. I know you have sacrificed time, life, love, time to fly.
21. It's a muggy night in Houston and all the intersections are like full service stations. I'm on my way to a familiar place.
22. To see you when I wake up is a gift I didn't think could be real. To know that you feel the same as I do is a 3-fold utopian dream.
23. I’m on fire and now I think I’m ready to bust a move. Check it out I’m rocking steady, Go!
24. I can't be losing sleep over this no, I can't and now I cannot stop pacing. Give me a few hours, I'll have this all sorted out. If my mind would just stop racing.
25. Summer time and the wind is blowing outside in lower Chelsea and I don't know what I'm doing in this city. The sun is always in my eyes.