FALL WEATHER!!

so it's been a while since i last posted. my mom came in town last weekend and then my friend katie came! it was a perfect weekend...and now back to reality. and blogging.
my friend katie and i started a new blog called the joys of life: t-jol.blogspot.com. it is an ode to those moments that make you happy and make you say, "oh the joys of life!".
like this morning, when i walked outside my door---PERFECT weather...probably about 60ish degrees. it is definitely starting to feel like fall.
another reason i got excited about fall today was i glanced at the pioneer woman blog this morning and her post is CINNAMON BREAD. i could just smell the smell of fresh homemade bread as i scrolled down the page to read the recipe. yummy.
another reason for excitement: pumpkins. pumpkin everything---latte, candles, pie, cheesecake, etc. i love love love pumpkins. OH and pumpkin/choc chip bread. i'm sure someone before me has created this, but i like to take the credit for this special bread that is so yummy. so be looking forward to many blog posts to come filled with pumpkin.
this week has been pretty relaxed at work...our schedule hasn't been too full because of school starting back. not this weekend but the next weekend i will be going home! labor day weekend is going to be amazing---i am off of work friday AND monday, AMAZING. i can't wait. i'm not really sure the story behind labor day, but i'm thankful for whoever made it a holiday.

armor

http://www.prepaide.org/rbtbm/tga/Graphics/Armor.gif
ephesians 6:10-19 have hit me hard lately for several reasons...but i'm going to type them out and just think about the strong language and how we can apply these verses in our daily lives---work, school, friendships, etc.

- finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. in addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. and prayin the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. with this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. pray also for me, that whenever i open my mouth, words may be given me so that i will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which i am an ambassador in chains. pray that i may declare it fearlessly, as i should.-

kids say the darndest things...perfect job description for my job

so today was a typical "danielle" moment. i had the cutest little 6 1/2 year old, who i was getting frustrated with a little bit today during his cleaning, because he started gagging and purposely choking because he didn't like the water? i was confused by this, but during his coughing rage, i calmly asked, "Ben, can you just tell me why you don't like the water or what you don't like about the cleaning and i'll try to help you?" haha. i really wanted to get really frustrated and be like, "BEN, i cant handle your coughing and purposely gagging!!! just toughen up and be a man and let me use the water tip, because we have to get the toothpaste out!!!!" but i refrained. anyway, after i cleaned his teeth and did his fluoride treatment (which he also didn't like), we had to walk to the other hallway and take a panoramic x-ray. which for those who don't know what that is, it is a picture of your whole mouth basically. you bite down on a little plastic thing, and it goes around your whole head, you have to stand perfectly still and then it's done! well, i had put this heavy lead apron on ben and during putting it around him, i said "this is a big heavy apron! it will help protect you from radiation!" and he just responded "yes ma'am!" which might i add, he was a very polite 6 1/2 year old, seriously. he said yes ma'am after everything. anyway, i leave him for a minute to go finish setting up the machine, and i come back to finish getting him situated, and he looked at me and asks, "what is arrraciation?" and i think i looked at him REALLY confused and said, "WHAT????" and he asks again, and he said, "you just said that word...what does it mean?" and i said, "i don't think i did...are you sure i said it? when did i say it?" and he says, "just a minute ago!" and smiles at me toothlessly. (he had just lost his 2 front teeth). haha. well i started to smile really big, he smiled really big and i started laughing! and said, "OH!!! RADIATION?!" and he looked at me and said, "yeah! that's what i said!" haha. it was really cute. it makes me smile to think about. i see some of the cutest kids...but also some of the most difficult and challenging. i can go crazy one minute and be fine the next. it's like an emotional roller coaster.
anyway, it was a good day- busy but good. i like busy because it goes sooo quickly. and that is one of my "kids say the darndest things..."

a new place.

i'm sitting in my new apt...and watching juno/looking up the pioneer woman recipes and wishing i had $ and patience right now to bake or cook something. over the wkend, i bought window curtains for my living room and 2 pillows. i am so excited that it is slowly coming together. and by slowly, i mean i need a coffee table and kitchen table/chairs still :) and a washer and dryer... not to mention a shower curtain and pictures.

here are the curtains (from http://www.pier1.com/) and the pillows to go on my green couch.

I am really liking the colors in the curtains, even though it makes my apt look really dark! my new obsession is antique stores...i think i've always kindof liked antiques, but lately since i am decorating the apt, i have liked them more and more. i also like reds, yellows, and torquoisey blues for my room color scheme. i feel like i have a big imagination for decorating, but actually making it happen can be difficult time and money-wise.

this is a pic from google imgs of the factory (antique row) in franklin and historic downtown franklin...and a newly found restaurant that i like.

the factory---a mall of antique-ish stores :)

one of my new fav restaurants!

another one of my new fav restaurants/coffee shops!

Kairos (καιρός): ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment)

(www.funtimesguide.com)

last night i went to a worship service at brentwood baptist church. i was debating at first whether or not to go, 1- because i was exhausted 2- i didn't know anyone and 3- i just figured i could go next wk. well i ended up going, and had texted one of my friends who used to go when she lived here. she told a couple of people to look out for me...but i didn't think it was going to work out to meet them at the service. i sensed from looking online that it was a rather large group!
i got there a few minutes early to find a seat...there was an OVERFLOW of people from the parking lot into the building. and when i got in there, i felt like i was at the fedex forum...there were so many people. the atmosphere reminded me of a hillsong concert (i've never been to one, but i can imagine this is what it would be like). i ended up finding the girls my friend knows and i was able to sit with them. i have been to worship services similar to this, especially at k-colorado...but after the service, it amazed me that so many people my age and younger gathered in this place to worship Jesus. i mean it was awesome. and at the end we sang a beautiful song (i can't remember the name) and the Lord's presence was so real.
today is a LONG day. and i have groceries to buy and a bed bath and beyond trip that involves finding a shower curtain, towels, and pillows maybe. pictures of the APT to come soon!

give me Jesus

new fav song is by jeremy camp. first read the lyrics, and then watch the youtube video of him singing it live. he is AMAZING. and when days get hard...remember these lyrics and say it in a prayer.

"In the morning, when I riseIn the morning, when I riseIn the morning, when I riseGive me Jesus.Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus.You can have all this world,Just give me Jesus.When I am alone,When I am alone, When I am alone,Give me Jesus.Give me Jesus.Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus.You can have all this world,Just give me Jesus.When I come to die,When I come to die,When I come to die,Give me Jesus.Give me Jesus.Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus.You can have all this world,Just give me Jesus.Give me Jesus.Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus.You can have all this world,You can have all this world, You can have all this world, Just give me Jesus."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmohv6yO7hE

nothing exciting really happened today. just same old work and walking. i need some new music...any suggestions?

i can't wait for FRIDAY! and it's only monday :(

"friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them"

thank you, michael w smith for those amazing and true lyrics. haha. this past wkend i made a mini trip to auburn to see my friends. i feel truly blessed when we get together! it is a good reminder that friends can stay friends even with distance between them. there are about 6-7 of us that try to get together a couple of times a year. some times it doesn't happen, especially now that we have our separate lives and are not in auburn. but it is such a great time and we have our "usuals" we like to do together!

auburn has definitely changed...things are different and i just felt old when we were driving around campus and walking downtown. there's a gigi's cupcakes now! and a really cute store called MOXII. which i haven't been to auburn in a while, but this store just amazed me. it is so cute. and my brother and i actually know the owner and their fam! i was on the hunt for a shower curtain and thinking of things to decorate my room...i am definitely in that zone when i shop now. clothes sortof are on the backburner.

those are some shower curtains i liked at the store...not really the pink or orange... but i liked the green. and they also have white. they have an online site: www.moxii.com. look it up, SO CUTE. especially if you are in the decorating mode like me.

well after my short visit at auburn (which i got me some bagel chips...yummy!), i headed to bham to visit some friends. and i wish i could have stayed longer!!!!! and my plan was to get back last night pretty early and do laundry since i haven't in about 2 1/2 wks, but instead, i crashed and went to bed.

today i am visiting churches- in fact, i'm visiting steven curtis chapman's church! and then laundry and a grocery run.

i had a blast this wkend, and it made me miss my auburn friends. it kindof reminded me i don't like change either...but we all grow up. just remember- "friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them".