Life & Love

After years of only having writing samples that were classified or proprietary (and therefore can’t share), I can finally claim ownership of my very own published magazine article!

Just booked my trip to Playa del Carmen to serve as a bridesmaid in my friend Amanda’s wedding in September! I was realizing earlier this week how much I miss being in a big city, where travel plans are so much easier to deal with (tiny airports are such a pain in the tushy!) but I figured it out and now I feel so much relief to have it pretty much squared away and official.

I’ve only been to Playa once, on a cruise-stop, so 3 days will be so much better. I’m sad Chuck can’t come, but two of my close girl friends will be there, plus the bride of course – so I’m looking forward to a fun Labor Day getaway 🙂

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I can’t decide…

…if I want to go to my high school reunion in DC or not (ugh, has it really been 10 years?!) High school wasn’t the happiest time for me, so a part of me really doesn’t want to revisit anything about it.

On the other hand, there is another part of me that is curious and perhaps seeking some sort of redemption from those days. I’m not sure redemption is the right word… but I’m just a different person now. Perhaps I can assume all my classmates are, too? I can’t pretend I didn’t learn anything during those years – academically, socially, and personally.

Could give me something to do at least! And there is a handful of girls I wouldn’t mind seeing again.

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Dance Class Fail

I’ve been trying since I moved here to find any kind of dance class that is fun, gives a good workout, and fits somewhat into my schedule. Most of the studios I’ve found are almost exclusively for children, and if they do offer adult classes, it’s like once a week at 8:30. I’m not inclined to hang around Wilmington for over 3 hours after work before a 45 minute drive home…

I thought I struck gold when I found a pole dancing studio nearby, but after trying 3 classes, it’s nothing short of a big joke. Overly simple, boring, and poorly organized. You know it’s bad when the other students are asking me how to do things and complimenting MY muscles (they don’t really exist…LOL.)

I’m going to give it one more shot (a more “advanced” class) before making a final decision and committing to a series, but I think I just may have to wait till we move to start dancing again. I sure do miss it though! Here’s to continuing the dance party in my own living room. Gotta love iPod shuffle 🙂

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Anddd I Found a Winner!

…In churches, that is. Chuck and I tried a few last year, and being the picky and critical little Christians that we are, we remained vastly displeased and gave up altogether.

Yesterday I tried one that I’d had a positive hunch about for a while – just a middle sized Methodist church near the beach. As soon as the pastor started talking about how life isn’t sunshine and roses just because you are a Christian, I was hooked. One of my biggest issues with churches these days is the false sense of security they’re giving people. I’m tired of all the “look to the Lord and He will fix your problems because we are special” bull crap. Umm, no. Doesn’t quite work that way, Reverend. Not even for the original Christians who were actually good at it.

Anyway, the service was Biblical, relateable, and even-keeled. I learned something from it. The community was not too big or too small. People actually noticed I was new and came to say hi. The congregation was mixed with the old, the young, and children. There were plenty of embedded support and mission focuses that I liked – hunger, children, military families (that’s me!)

Definitely beats the hokey rock star churches Chuck and I tried last fall, so I think I’ll just stick with this one. I hope it continues to please! I’m really just looking for a supportive community and an engaging approach to Biblical study. I would love to get some sort of intellectual connection with the pastor. I have so many questions and am fascinated by many religious/theological topics! I just have a hard time discussing it with the 100% spiritually focused… so I am encouraged by what I’ve seen so far.

Maybe now I won’t be such a lazy heathen anymore 🙂

Happy Valentines’s Day to all those who are taken, almost taken, taken for granted, waiting to be taken, assumed to be taken, and those who are not taken seriously. XOXO ♥