I stand corrected

So apparently my pity party worked...Olson moved the deadline for the paper to Friday.

This is unheard of in my school life saga...

I'm still a bit in shock...

Hopefully I'll take advantage of these extra two days and get this paper done early so I'm not cramming on Thursday night.  Funny thing is my final is on Friday as well...so perhaps I should get this paper done by tomorrow night.

It would be quite an understatement to say how excited I am about the weekend.
-CELEBRATION of one less summer school class
-Spending the weekend with Steven's ridiculously large extended family (as in Steven often says "we're related but I'm not sure how")
-fireworks
-good food all weekend

Friday at 5, you can't get here soon enough

Because I know I'll laugh about this later...

I'm going to take a total of no more than 5 minutes to write this post because I need to vent so that I will get back to my research paper that is due Wednesday...that I haven't even started...

Except for Christmas breaks, the summer after graduating from undergrad, and a month after I was married I have been in school non-stop since my freshman year of college.  That's six years of higher education with only 9 months off combined...blah.

Needless to say I'm a bit burned out right about now and really need to have a pity party (again no more than 5 minutes long)

I know years from now when I'm knee high in a job, children, a mortgage etc. I'll look back fondly on the simpler times when Steven and I were merely knee high in text books and research papers...but for tonight that just isn't cutting it.

Instead I look at my computer screen like a crazed woman waiting for the motivation to come to just write this paper so it will be over with

Ok thanks for listening...being my overly-logical self I am completely convinced that throwing a pity-party is in no way productive, and in the grand scheme of things my life is pretty amazing...but nonetheless sometimes throwing a 5 minute self-centered pity-party makes me get over myself, buckle down, and hit the books...

Ranch Breaded Tilapia Fillets

And the tilapia saga continues...

I'm quickly falling in love with fish.  It's so simple and quick to make, and the light taste is perfect for hot summer evenings.  It's at times like these I wish I had a patio Steven and I could go eat our dinner on surrounded by citronella candles...ah Texas summers.

I got the recipe for this dish off of Allrecipes...big surprise I know.  But let's be honest, it hasn't let me down yet!  Click here to see the recipe.

Theological musings...

Let it be known that doing a class presentation on a theologian you disagree with is exhausting intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

Let it also be known that reading a primary source of the theologian you disagree with will take at least 3 times as long because you have to stop every other paragraph to argue with said theologian in your head.

Let it also be known that presenting on a theologian you disagree with, while exhausting and frustrating, has a strong capability of strengthening your faith.

It's at times like these I'm truly grateful Truett doesn't tell me what to believe and doesn't only present me with the ideas held by my professors and denomination.  I'm encouraged to wrestle with my faith and read very convincing arguments from theologians throughout history that don't support the views I have of God, salvation, Church, society...the list goes on and on.  While it's exhausting now, I know this struggle will only make me a better minister and only help me understand better the diversity of the Christian faith.

While we certainly don't all agree on everything it is comforting to know that through the centuries we have wrestled with the Scriptures and with each other all in order to try to understand better our mighty God.  We don't have all the answers, and God is certainly bigger than our human minds can ever comprehend; and yet, I rest assured that at the end of the day I am spiritually intertwined with a group of struggling believers (the church ecumenical) serves a loving Savior.  Praise be to God!

Things they don't teach you in seminary...

This might be the cutest thing I have ever seen in a church pew...apparently this doodle pad is only for the young and reformed.

Precious moments

The Blue Blazer and I hit a milestone today.

70000 miles and still going strong.  wohoo!

I will now immediately go and knock on wood so as not to jinx myself...

The one where La and Alec got hitched...

My la, la di da, loodle, (aka Lauren) got married this weekend.  It was perfect, beautiful, worshipful, and just down right fun to see so many amazing friends.  It was also great to see so many of my friends' parents...I don't think I often realize how much I miss them as well as my friends.  I was so lucky to grow up in the same place starting in preschool and have had many of my friends for as long as I can remember and thus their parents played equally important roles in my childhood.

Lauren and I have been friends since the third grade, and I cherish so much having lifelong friends like her.  We went to the same elementary, middle, high school and college where we were roommates for 2 years.  She is the sole reason I have to have a noisemaker now when I go to bed, which Steven has thankfully adopted as well (hopefully Alec will too...)  We have had so many great conversations, adventures and bear trail walks around campus.  I even remember the first time Alec came into our apartment the summer before junior year when he had convinced her to go running with him at 5 in the afternoon in the ridiculous texas summer heat...I guess La was pretty smitten for him!

Here are a few pictures from the amazing weekend!

Rehearsal Dinner

La and Megan (Maid of Honor).  Friends since they were 5, and amazing friends of mine.  Megan and I used to play Rainbow Bright at her house when we were in early elementary school.

The Murray and Burgess Couples

"Princess Lauren"

Me and my bestie, the beautiful Mrs. Caroline Smiley

My dear dear Rachel

Lexi Musta - My one and only (I called her that long before Steven was even in the picture...thus the name has remained :)

The last one of the night

What an amazing weekend!  I am so happy for La and Alec!  They are an amazing couple and amazing followers of God.  I know they will have a lifetime of happiness together!  Love you both!