One day at a time...

Big Smile!

2008-09-08T22:26:00.001-05:00

Game 1 final score: Panthers 26 - Chargers 24!

A few bits of news...

2008-09-03T22:58:00.003-05:00

I'm trying really hard to keep up with my current blogging routine. But I'm running out of material, what with not being able to snap a few dozen shots of the Capitol every day anymore. So, instead...here are a few things that I've found exciting in the last few days.

#1 - a new Chick-fil-A is being built about three miles from my apartment. This makes me very happy, but I realize that it may not matter to you. So on to...

#2 - Tim Gunn's Guide to Style is back...on October 2nd. Very excited to hear that he'll be joined by Greta Monahan this time around. Love her!

#3 - Confessions of a Shopaholic has a release date...but it's not until next February. I really don't get this whole idea of promoting a movie five months before the release. I'm more into the instant gratification thing, I guess. I've read each of the Shopaholic books several times over and Becky Bloomwood has me giggling every time. I tried really hard to find the movie trailer on YouTube, but it doesn't seem to be out there. I saw it tonight on tv, though...looks great!

Sorry, that's all I've got. It's about time I call it a night. Hoping for some better blogging material in the next few days!

These are a few of my favorite places

2008-09-02T22:35:00.002-05:00

I took the day off work today, fully intending to clean and do laundry all day. Well, I got the laundry done (no thanks to a power outage mid-day), but the cleaning took a backseat to my latest home dec project.

On my last two trips (to California and DC) I picked one picture as my favorite and had it enlarged and framed it. Today, though, I decided to go through a bunch of old pictures and pick out pictures that represented my favorite places. The result is the wall that you see above.

The places range from Fair Park in Dallas to Arlington Cemetery. Some of them are widely recognized as beautiful, such as Alaska and the Bahamas. For most of them, though, such as Derby, Kansas and Culiacan, Mexico, the appeal lies in the memories. Still others wouldn't be recognizable to anyone but my own family...the backyard of the home where I grew up or the bird fountain in my grandparent's front yard.

Anyone who knows me knows how nostalgic I am. This is just the latest expression of that nostalgia. Call it a scrapbook on a wall, if you will!

Capitol City Day Four

2008-09-01T08:11:00.003-05:00

Sunday was arguably my favorite day of this trip. We got up early and went to Mount Vernon. I've loved Mount Vernon ever since I first visited it, probably thirteen years ago. The estate has undergone extensive restorations since then, including a beautiful new visitor's center and museum. Before touring the mansion, we decided to take a Potomac River cruise. The views from the ship were incredible - views of the home Washington loved from the river he loved equally. I've now got a nice sunburn as a souvenir!After spending about six hours at Mount Vernon, we rushed to Arlington National Cemetery and were fortunate to catch the very last tour and the last changing of the guard. The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a very solemn moment. Before beginning the ceremony, the guard requests that all observers stand in silence. We also saw the Kennedy tombs, as well as the Challenger and Columbia Memorials, from a distance.From Arlington, we went to our very last stop...the Jefferson Memorial. This may have been my favorite of the memorials. I love the shape of it, which hints at the shape of Monticello.
We reached the Jefferson Memorial at sunset, so the views were amazing. This is the Washington Monument, viewed from inside the Jefferson Memorial. I sat on the steps of the memorial for about fifteen minutes, snapping all sorts of pictures, trying to catch what I wanted. This city is beautiful at dusk - the lights are reflected in the Potomac and the Tidal Basin.

It's been such a fun trip, but we're both ready to get home. I'm watching the news right now and praying that our flights aren't delayed. We're flying from Baltimore to Atlanta, then from Atlanta to Dallas. We'll be crossing the path of Gustav, so I'm concerned that we might run into some weather delays. But we'll deal with that as we come to it!

Rachael and Sarah Go To Washington - Day Three

2008-08-30T21:44:00.004-05:00

This morning, Sarah and I woke early and headed back to the Capitol to pick up tickets. As we neared the Capitol, though, it became very obvious that we had not woken early enough. The line for tickets would have taken us at least an hour. We decided that we'd really rather see Monticello. So...we hit the road towards Charlottesville. We got stuck in some traffic for the UVA/USC game, but we weren't in any real hurry.

I'd never been to Monticello before, and I loved it. James Madison once said that there were few houses that exhibited their owner's personality so well as Monticello did Thomas Jefferson's. The house has many elements hinting at the time that Jefferson spent in France, as well as his love for science, books, gardening and architecture. Monticello is situated on a mountaintop near Charlottesville. The views are most likely the reason that Jefferson chose the location. In one direction, there is a magnificent view of the Blue Ridge mountains and in the opposite, the University of Virginia (which Jefferson founded in his retirement) can be seen.
After we finished the tour, we headed back to Washington, intending to stop at the Jefferson Memorial. We got back to DC at ten, though, already tired. When we discovered that we would have to walk a half-mile from our parking spot to the memorial, we decided to nix that plan for tonight.

So, tomorrow's plan is to visit Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery and the Jefferson Memorial. I'm very excited for all of this. I love Mount Vernon and I've never visited either of the other destinations. Should be another fun day!

The monuments are whispering your name

2008-08-29T21:16:00.007-05:00

That's a line from a song by Matt Wertz, one of my favorite artists. The song is "Capitol City" and I've been humming it a lot the past two days. I've also been picturing lots of clips from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"!

The last two days have been jam-packed. Yesterday we started out the day intending to go to the Capitol, the Library of Congress, Union Station, the National Archives and all the memorials. We started the day by walking to first the Washington Monument and then the Capitol to get tickets. We then headed towards Union Station for breakfast, but encountered some pretty heavy rain. We ducked into this little straw-bale house at the Botanical Gardens to wait it out. Here was our view of the Capitol...

While waiting it out, we decided to change our plan, due to the weather and opted to walk over to the National Gallery of Art.

We've still only seen the East building of the Art Museum. If time allows, we'll go back to see the West building. Jackson Pollock is all well and good, but I want to see some Monets.

From the Art Museum, we walked over to the Holocaust Museum. We fully intended to go to the Washington Monument afterwards, but we spent three hours in the Holocaust Museum and missed our ticket time. It was worth it, though - the Holocaust Museum was incredibly moving and thought-provoking. There was no photography allowed, though, so I have no pictures.

Day Two - The rain let up a little bit today, so we decided to follow through on our original plan for yesterday. That meant a LOT of walking. According to Google Maps, we walked about 12.9 miles today, and that's not even counting the walking we did inside buildings.

We overslept a little this morning and missed the window of opportunity for Capitol tickets. That's okay...tomorrow is another day! We did manage to see the Library of Congress...

...the Supreme Court...

...Union Station for lunch...

...the National Archives...

...the Washington Monument...

...the World War II Memorial...

...and the Lincoln Memorial.

It's been a long day and our feet are aching, but we'll be back at it again tomorrow. The plan is to go to the Capitol first thing in the morning and then drive to Charlottseville to visit Monticello. Drive...yay. That means a little rest for the weary feet!

If you're looking for a few more pictures, check out my Facebook albums. They're at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53678&l=e6d07&id=778399337 and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53749&l=5ff9e&id=778399337.

I'm Back!!!

2008-08-27T20:11:00.006-05:00

After a very long hiatus, I've rejoined the blogging world. Just a note on the last post, though...Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is now out on DVD. So...if you didn't heed my advice to see it when it was in theatres, rent it...tonight!

Last Thursday, Mel and Gina and I went together to a free(!) Dave Barnes concert at FBC Dallas and thoroughly enjoyed it! Mel and I both got to hear our favorite songs...On a Night Like This and Greyhound.

This week, I'm in Washington, DC with Sarah. We've got a full day of sightseeing planned for tomorrow, so I'll be sure to take lots of pictures. We've already established, though, that Rach does not handle driving in a new place very well. After hearing "recalculating" about twenty-five times from our GPS (whose name is Shaniqua) and hearing from Sarah multiple times that I was way too stressed, I reached a decision...I will not be driving the remainder of this trip! Nope, Sarah gets that pleasure...Shaniqua and I are strictly navigators.

A note from your social secretary

2008-03-10T17:09:00.002-05:00

Please add this to your social calendar for the coming weeks - you must go see this movie!

I went to see it last night and I think it's safe to say it was the best chick flick I've seen this year...and I've seen a few! I believe it's just in limited release right now, but you can find it at the Angelika or AMC Select theaters.

What's in a name?

2008-03-06T13:43:00.002-06:00

I love these things!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Buddy Outlander
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Cookie Dough Heels
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Dog
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Leah Baltimore
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name):Deara
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Orange Diet Coke
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Roscoe Luther
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy):Daisy Reese
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Denver Deatherage
10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Autumn Poppy
11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow):Apple Slacks (get it...play on Apple Jacks?)
12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Nothing Willow

Unwinding

2008-02-29T22:35:00.003-06:00

It's been a crazy week at work. Nonstop. But now it's over and I'm unwinding in front of my computer. My relaxation strategy?

Step 1 - Catch up on Eli Stone. (I've loved Johnny Lee Miller ever since he played possibly the most believable Austen hero - Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park.)

Step 2 - Wait with bated breath for the next installment in Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story. Still waiting.

Step 3 - Browse Etsy for some fabulous finds. And this is where the real fun begins.

I know these are slightly creepy, but I love them.

And this...you're definitely going to see this gracing my walls before too long.

And one last priceless little gem:

Step 4 - Look for a new blog template. Yup...gotta get cracking on that. Update: Blog updated...and I love it!

Hope

2008-01-18T09:34:00.000-06:00

I don't know that I've ever been able to honestly say that I'm eagerly awaiting Christ's return. While I hope for it, a little part of me always thinks "But what if He comes before I get married...have kids...do this...go there?" That's changed recently, though, as I've begun to identify more and more with this passage:

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22-23

Last night, my grandfather died. He had a stroke on Tuesday, so I've had a few days to grieve and I've found comfort beyond explanation.

My comfort is in knowing that my sweet grandfather is not only in his Creator's presence, but that he no longer groans inwardly or awaits his redemption. He's been redeemed, he's complete in ways that my human mind can't even imagine.

On Tuesday, as I drove to my parent's house to see my family, I prayed for comfort. As often happens for me, I found it in a song. This is "Love Wins" by the Robbie Seay Band and it sums up all of my scattered thoughts beautifully.

It's a big world, we are hoping
For a big change, we are broken
In the fading light of a dying sun
We cry for redemption

There is hope, there is hope, there is hope
But everyone who's lost will be coming home
And everything that hurts will be whole again
And love will be the last thing standing

Can't stop, you can't stop the seasons
Don't stop, don't stop believing

Keep on dreaming of the day when it all will change
Believe in the end, love wins
If you're waiting for the time when the sun will shine
Oh look above cause love wins

If it hurts you, just breathe in
When it pains you, just believe in
The radiant light of the morning sun
We can find our redemption

Love is strong, love is strong, love is strong
It's been there holding you all along
Everything thrown away will be new again
And love will be the last thing standing

There is hope, there is hope for my lonely soul
There is hope, there is hope to be made whole
There is life, there is life to be set free
There is life, there is life surrounding me
There is hope, there is hope for my broken heart
There is hope, there is hope for a brand new start
There is life, there is life, give me eyes to see
There is life, there is life, You have captured me

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2008-01-15T13:30:00.000-06:00

Today's my mom's birthday! Like most of the best-laid plans, it's not turning out exactly as she hoped, but nevertheless, I wish her a very happy day. She deserves no less.

I've got to take a minute to brag on my mom just a little bit. She's an incredible woman. Here's just a few items on her resume:

She's an incredible mother - willing to let her kids be themselves and encouraging them to fly on their own.
She's a devoted wife, sticking with my dad for almost 27 years and supporting him every step of the way.
She's had a long career as a teacher - I think this year marks twenty years. She's taught K-12, all subjects and has had three kids graduate so far.
She's easily the most talented person I've ever met - a great painter, seamstress, writer, decorator, cook, baker, scrapbooker - she's the complete package.
She's had numerous part-time jobs over the years - teaching painting, booths at craft shows, working retail and sewing home dec projects.

Over the past couple of years, Mom has found the one thing that I think gives her personal satisfaction, as she's joined the children's ministries staff at church. She loves those kids so much and she loves her volunteers maybe just a little bit more. I've never seen her so excited about something - she can barely talk about anything else.

It's been an absolute joy to be my mother's daughter these 24 years, but it's been an even greater joy to be her friend these past few. Thanks, Mom, for all the love, support, encouragement, girls' nights out, listening ears, crops, advice, laughter, tears...thanks for being more than just a mother, but my Mama! I love you!

There'll be songs to sing, every family's a choir!

2007-12-08T15:51:00.001-06:00

I've been inspired by BigMama and have decided to share a few of the Christmas songs that I've been playing over...and over...and over for the past few weeks.

I'm loving all of these songs. Some of them, like Natalie Cole's rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" bring back childhood memories. Some are guilty pleasures...namely Britney Spears! Many of them I simply love for the beautiful, simple melodies or for incredible vocals.

Enjoy...but please don't judge my taste in music too harshly!

Well, that's new.

2007-12-08T15:49:00.000-06:00

I spent the better part of the morning in Walmart, waiting on that oil change. I did a little Christmas shopping, but then I settled down in the waiting room with a copy of InStyle, because it's much easier to ignore the snoring of the guy sitting across from me (not even kidding!) if my mind is filled with thoughts of Christian Lacroix, Valentino and Balenciaga. As I flipped through, this ad definitely caught my eye.

In case you can't read that little pink block, here's what it says:"The First Couture Fragrance for Dogs""Pawfum, Shampoo,Conditioner,Nail Polish"
And really, I have no words.

2007-12-06T17:36:00.000-06:00

I'm in a really grumpy mood right now. My day started out great, but around 3:30, for no reason at all, the blues set in. And you, my dear friends, have the distinct pleasure of hearing about what has contributed to the grumpiness.

My passenger-side headlight is out and I need an oil change, which means I get to sit in a Walmart waiting room in the near future.
Some dumb Walmart employee refused to pick up the phone when I called to see how long I should expect to sit in their lovely waiting room.
I really wanted Arby's roast beef and curly fries for dinner...but the nearest one is ten miles from my house.
The belt that I chose to complete my outfit today and the fact that I was going for an hourglass figure meant that I didn't breathe for most of the day.
All the telephone lines in Frisco are covered with birds. This happens every evening at this time and I hate it.

So, now that I've actually written these things down, I see how petty and stupid they are. Please forgive me for taking your time! But thanks for listening...I feel better.

Welcome Christmas - Bring Your Cheer!

2007-11-28T20:58:00.001-06:00

There are several things that signal the start of the Christmas season to me. Early morning shopping the day after Thanksgiving, the lights going up on all the trees around my office and KVIL beginning to play Christmas music. These are all great, but the number one thing for me?

That's right! "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" was on tonight...so the Christmas season has officially begun!

Fah who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome Christmas, come this way!

Makin' Whoopie (Pies)

2007-11-10T15:52:00.000-06:00

A gorgeous fall day with nothing to do inevitably leads to baking. Today was no exception - time to make the baked good that epitomizes fall to me...pumpkin whoopie pies!

From this...
to this...and from this...
to this...
The finished product
Pumpkin whoopie pie and apple cider...I can almost imagine that I'm at Roots Market in PA!

I'm back

2007-11-08T22:48:00.000-06:00

While I fully support the fight against breast cancer, I really, really wish that the Komen Foundation could have picked...say...green as their signature color. Although I guess that's being used by environmentalists. Because apparently I hate pink. I never realized this before, but the sight of my blog last month was so repulsive that...well, I didn't post. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Whatever inspired the absence, I'm back now and I'll try to come up with something semi-witty, humorous, and/or inspiring a little more often. For now, let me leave you with this - because it's Thursday and yes, I'm slightly obsessed.

Best Friday night in a while...

2007-10-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

Last night Mel and I spent arguably the best $20 of our lives and went to see Dave Barnes and Matt Wertz perform at the Granada Theater in Dallas.

The concert was fantastic...both artists are incredible vocalists, songwriters and performers! I've loved both their music for a couple of years now, but have a newfound appreciation after seeing them live.

Check 'em out...all their albums are superb!

The REAL joy of being a woman

2007-10-16T17:26:00.000-05:00

As I got dressed this morning, the thought occurred to me: "How empty men's lives must be - they have no closet full of shoes". This thought is not original to me...I know I've seen it on a Hallmark card or two.

But seriously. This morning, I put on a navy blue high-waisted pencil skirt and a navy-blue-and-white printed blouse. I added some gold jewelry, but the outfit was still slightly bland. But then I added a pair of red patent leather heels. And not only did the outfit suddenly look like something straight out of InStyle (I'm thinking next time my trench coat might complete the ensemble), but my mood suddenly soared!

As I went through the day, it just got better and better. The moment I walked in the door someone complimented my lovely red shoes. One girl even stopped her conversation and leaned out of her cube to watch the red shoes walking by.

One more thing...these particular shoes came at a price. I found them at Marshall's for $20.00, but in a half-size too small. Yes, I bought them anyway, because, yes, I am that vain. And each time I've worn them, my feet have screamed all day. Except today...thanks to a little trick I learned courtesy of the Rachael Ray Show. This morning, before leaving the house, I held my blowdryer to the inside of the toe and the heel of each shoe. The heat from the blowdryer, along with your body heat, softens the leather and allows it to stretch throughout the day. Give it a try...it really works!

It's a win!

2007-10-07T22:15:00.001-05:00

I have spent very little time watching football this season. I've only watched one Panthers game...and only a portion of that one. I'm feeling a bit "fair-weather-fan-ish", but truthfully I've had something going on just about every Sunday afternoon.

But the Panthers pulled it off today...even without me watching! We beat New Orleans 16-13. My boy John Kasay (only original Panther still on the team...fun piece of trivia for ya!) kicked the game-winning 52-yard field goal with the clock running out, thus saving fans from a no-doubt nail-biting overtime.

So Carolina has now improved to 3-2, tying for the division lead with Tampa. Which means it's gonna be a fun season and our playoff hopes could come down to the very last game of the year - December 30 - at Tampa Bay.

Biting my nails...just a little bit.

Going pink!

2007-10-02T19:58:00.000-05:00

Pink is not my favorite color. In fact, it's just above purple at the bottom of the list. But when I saw this website yesterday, I decided it was worth having a pink blog for a month.

So...my blog is pink for the month of October in loving memory of my wonderful Mommom, Dorothy Lee Stape Rider.

Laugh for the day

2007-10-02T19:51:00.000-05:00

I saw Anita Renfroe perform this at Women of Faith in August and was excited when I saw it featured on the Yahoo! home page today. Enjoy!

Renaissance Man

2007-10-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

My favorite boy was a junior groomsman in the wedding this weekend. He absolutely loved wearing the tux, especially since it was in Panthers colors. He is such a camera hog - constantly posing.

The wedding was at 1:30 and Evan's team was scheduled to play at 5:20. Mel and I left the wedding with him a little early and headed out to the field. When we got there, we found that the entire league was running late, pushing our game back an hour and a half.

The boys finally took the field, but it was pretty sad. I don't remember the final score - maybe 34-0? In any case, the boys still had a great attitude and Evan was given the defensive MVP for the game.

So, in the course of just a few hours, Evan went from a handsome tux to a sweaty football uniform. I have to say he looked just as cute in the uniform, though!

I hate this crazy state

2007-10-01T20:22:00.001-05:00

I don't really. But there are about four or five weeks every year that I really think I do. And those weeks typically fall in the months of September and October. These are the weeks that everyone else is putting on sweaters and corduroys, going for long walks, baking pies and drinking apple cider.

But in Texas? Well, the stores are filled with those sweaters and cords, but everyone is still walking around in shorts and tank tops. Long walks? Only if you want to really work up a sweat. Baking pies? The air conditioner is already working overtime and turning on the oven will only make things worse. And apple cider? Ask for it in Kroger and you'll have people looking at you like you're crazy, telling you to check back at Thanksgiving.

I love this state. I love this state. I love this state. But today I hate this state.

My little brother's married!

2007-10-01T00:15:00.000-05:00

My little brother is happily married to Katie as of Saturday afternoon! I'm very happy for both of them and wish them a lifetime of joy!

Here are a few pictures from the wedding...

The wedding party

Caleb and Katie with Mom and Dad

Three generations of handsome Deatherage men

Me, Mom and Mel

(Mom's dress cost $28.00 - doesn't she look great???)

And number one...

2007-09-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

Really, is any introduction necessary?

"Sooner at heart"

2007-09-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

I got an update on last Saturday's big game that I just had to share.

At one point in the game, a mom sitting behind us leaned forward to ask if we had noticed that my dad (assistant coach) had pulled a few of the boys aside and was talking to them. We really didn't think too much about it until a couple of days ago.

Come to find out, Dad pulled a very specific group of boys aside - those who had played for the Sooners in past years. As he did, he told them "You were taught to play better than this. You were taught to hold a tackle. You were taught to block. Your jerseys may say Saints, but you're Sooners. So play like it!"

How cheesy is that? It sounds like something straight out of Friday Night Lights or Remember the Titans! But it worked!!!! That was the turning point in the game. The boys started blocking and that's also when they scored!

Mint, Dwight?

2007-09-25T22:00:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't guessed, this is my own personal countdown to the season premier of The Office (Thursday night, 8:00 CDT, NBC), featuring the greatest Dwight/Jim moments of Season Three. Looking forward to all the classic moments Season Four has to offer!

One last post for tonight

2007-09-25T21:21:00.000-05:00

Man, this can get really addicting. Note to self...need to work on time management!

Just thought I'd share what I have to deal with anytime I sit down to the computer. Yes, the cat is on my lap. And while he's lost weight, that's still a significant burden to bear, as well as being difficult to maneuver around.

Edited to add picture. Sorry...not sure what happened the first time around.

Since money IS an object...

2007-09-25T17:54:00.000-05:00

As promised, here's my supplement to Tim Gunn's essentials lists. Now I'm a firm believer that accessories are an easy and inexpensive way to add interest to an "essential" wardrobe, so I'm going to try to keep these budget-friendly. And what better place for budget-friendly style than...drumroll, please...Target!

#1 - Go-to earrings - love these! I'd probably pick them for an evening look, but could definitely make them work for day, too!

#2 - BIG bag! I like this one by Isaac Mizrahi.

#3 - Black heels. Please tell me when you find these. I have looked everywhere for a pair of basic black high heels, with a pointy toe (to elongate the leg, as Stacy and Clinton would say), preferably under $50.00. Until I find them, I'll have to make do with these. The toe isn't quite as pointy as I'd like, but it'll do.

#4 - Great flats. I have to say that this is as close to a flat as I can get...I've got too many tall friends! These are a shameless knock-off of Steve Madden...love them!#5 - Boots - a must-have, especially for fall!

#6 - Watch. This one's pretty darn cute,

#7 - Necklace - preferably long!

#8 - Scarf. This one looks so much more expensive!#9 - Sunglasses...the bigger the better.#10 - In honor of Sarah...an eye-catching pin or brooch. Are you ready for a shocker? Target doesn't carry too many of these. I know! GASP! Still...how about this one?

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica.

2007-09-25T17:52:00.001-05:00

'Nuff said.

Week Three!

2007-09-24T19:08:00.001-05:00

I couldn't possibly forget about the Panthers update. But you see, they hadn't yet played when I posted the Saints update. And I'm still working on my seeing the future abilities.

The Panthers managed to pull off a win against the Falcons (definitely struggling minus Michael Vick). I didn't get to see the game, choosing shopping with Mom and sis over football...can you believe it? I did have a few updates during the course of the game from my devoted father, though, who insisted that the Panthers only won because the Falcons "beat themselves". Either way...a win's a win. Especially when it's a divisional win.

The big question on every Panther's fan's mind is...who will start as QB next week? Jake left the game in the third quarter with an elbow injury and David Carr didn't do too bad as his replacement. Personally? Jake's been looking pretty good...hope that elbow heals quickly.

If money were no object...

2007-09-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite tv shows is Project Runway. I've enjoyed it since season two, but I've actually not been a big fan of Tim Gunn. But I decided to give his new show - Tim Gunn's Guide to Style - a try anyway.

I'm hooked.

The biggest hook for me is Tim's list of ten essentials that should be in every woman's closet. It's got me taking a closer look at my own closet. And while I have something that will pass for most of the categories, I've been thinking more than a little bit about the essentials that I would buy...if money were no object and I could afford nothing but Nordstrom's. And lucky you...I decided to share! By the way, the essentials are listed in no particular order.

#1 - Blazer - Semantiks Suiting Jacket (note on this one - there are far cuter blazers out there right now, but I figured Tim probably meant something classic.)

#2 - Jeans - David Kahn Jeans 'Nikki K Pocket' Stretch Jeans (confession...I already own and love these)

#3 - Trench coat - Soia and Kyo Belted All Weather Chino Coat

#4 - Cashmere Sweater - Karoo Mark Eisen Sash Sweater

#5 - White Blouse - Elie Tahari 'Celia' Shirt (the tie is removable...but why would you want to?)

#6 - Skirt - Semantiks 'Item' Pleated Skirt (Semantiks must be a store brand, because this skirt is pretty reasonable...well under $100.00. I may be able to justify this one...take a look at the picture of the back and tell me you're not in love!)

#7 - Dress Pants - Laundry by Design Herringbone Cuff Trousers

#8 - Black Dress - Suzi Chin Maggi Boutique Drape Back Crepe Sheath

#9 - Sweatsuit Alternative - Karta Beaded Tunic Dress (imagine this over jeans...perfect for running errands)

#10 - Day Dress - Diane von Furstenberg 'Estovan' Silk Jersey Dress

Coming tomorrow...another top ten list that Tim apparently forgot - accessories!

It's progress!

2007-09-22T23:44:00.000-05:00

I realize I've been missing from the blog world for a while. I wish I could say it's because I've had a super-exciting and busy social life, but really? I've been catching up on Grey's Anatomy.

More posts are coming soon, but I just have to share a little bit about...well, football.

This year Evan's playing for the MYFL Saints. Now in the past he's played for the Sooners and y'all...they rocked! Several "Super Bowls" and the playoffs almost every season. But this year it's the Saints. They have a new coach and several brand new players...I think nine boys that have never played football. So one would think that the MYFL head-honchos would put the Saints in the lower bracket. But no, they put them in the higher bracket, based on their past performance.

All that to say...we're gettin' beat up...bad. Our boys lost the first two games and were unable to even score during either game. The first week, they held their heads high, but last week, morale was definitely down.

Tonight marked some progress, though. We played the Longhorns tonight. Now we former-Sooners hate the Longhorns. Big rivalry...there was a MYFL Red River Shootout every season. And the fans! The closest I have ever come to murder has been at one of those shootouts...there's one mom-slash-fan with her burnt orange and her cowbell that just delights in screaming over us every time we try to encourage our team. Well, she was back tonight and I made it my personal mission to drown. her. out. As a result, I now have no voice.

But back to football. Our boys, with more than a little encouragement from the fans, managed to score a touchdown tonight...extra point and all. They still lost - 31-7, but it's progress, y'all! I told Evan that the goal for next week is to lead at some point in the game. The week after that, we'll start to think about winning!

Sorry, no pictures. I was a little too obsessed with outdoing psychotic burnt orange mom. I'll try to catch a few next week.

Let's play catch up!

2007-09-11T21:29:00.000-05:00

I think I've been moderately good about blogging since I started this crazy thing, but I really blog about absolutely nothing. I feel it's my specialty. But every now and then I'll try to throw in a few events. Cause I do have a little bit of a life.

So...my weekend revolved around the Parrs. Yes, folks, believe it or not, I gave up the opening weekend of football to spend with them...is that love or what? (By the way...MYFL Saints lost, but did so with excellent attitudes. Carolina Panthers...27-13 over the Rams! As all other NFC West teams lost this weekend, we're in playoff contention!)

Okay, back to the Parrs. Saturday night I watched my precious baby girl...always fun! We discovered that she shares a couple of her Aunt Rach's loves.

#1 - Big Sunglasses

#2 - Hannah Montana (the girl loves to dance to those Hannah songs!)

Sunday morning marked my departure from K-Club. I have officially graduated from kindergarten and it's only taken three years! I'm now working with a different grade each month during the 8:00 service. This month, I have 3rd and 4th graders...quite a switch from kindergarten! We had a blast making Stars of David out of breadstick dough. Note to self...attempt to make a Star of David out of breadstick dough before attempting to teach a room full of twenty eight- and nine-year-olds.

Sunday afternoon...yummy lunch at Olive Garden with Sarah. Em, I had the pumpkin cheesecake...so good! Thanks for the recommendation! Afterwards, what did we do? Oh, yes...walked Stonebriar Centre (walking off the pumpkin cheesecake!) and then saw The Nanny Diaries.

Which reminds me that a confession is due here. I am guilty of movie-cheating. My very dear best friend is understandably quite upset with me because I saw not only Becoming Jane, but also The Nanny Diaries without her. I have apologized and promised not to do it again. But allow me to offer my deepest regrets here for all the world (or the three people who read this blog) to see.

Okay, so we're up to Monday. I started a new class in The Theology Program last night...Humanity and Sin. I'm excited for this one...I think it's going to be a great class. My only fear is that I'll be slightly lost because I haven't taken Trinitarianism yet. But I'll do my best to muddle through.

Work...y'all, I'm not gonna lie. It's been really rough the last few weeks. Keep me (and a dear coworker who will remain nameless) in your prayers. I know that we're not out of the rough waters yet.

That's enough for now...this got kind of lengthy. I'll try to catch up a little more often in the future!

My love for autumn

2007-09-07T22:09:00.000-05:00

Autumn on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Yep...I left that for TX!)

It's absolutely no secret that I love autumn. It's my favorite season for so many reasons. I love the scents, the flavors, the sights, the weather, the clothes, even the name. Autumn...it sounds so refreshing!

Just a few of the things I love about autumn...some of them covered in more detail in previous posts.

-Football - the Carolina Panthers and the McKinney Youth Football League's 5th grade version of the New Orleans Saints.

-The colors. Orange (see previous post for more details on this obsession) and green are everywhere. In nature, in fashion, you name it.

-The foods. My mom grew up in Adams County, PA, the heart of apple country and passed on a great love for all things apple. Among the best...apple dumplings filled with tons of cinnamon sugar and butter and topped with a generous scoop of Blue Bell (that's the Texan in me!) vanilla bean ice cream.

-New episodes of Grey's Anatomy and The Office.

-The clothes. Sweaters, great jeans, boots...what's not to love? And have you seen the velvet blazers at J. Crew? I'm in love.

-Cool breezes. Granted, these are not usually felt in TX in early September, but I'm holding onto hope.

Pumpkin

2007-09-02T20:10:00.000-05:00

Y'all, I want these shoes so bad! How stinkin' cute? And in my signature color, too! There's something about September that makes me want to go out and buy pumpkin-colored everything. Clothes, shoes, pillows, towels, heck, even a Kitchenaid mixer!

Enjoy Labor Day! It may find me making some pumpkin whoopie pies...or pumpkin bread...maybe muffins?

Crescendo

2007-08-30T17:43:00.000-05:00

Sarah responded to my last post with this comment, which reminded me of a scrapbook page I did a few months ago.

I have three or four scrapbooks going at any given time. Most of them I'll readily share and even force people to read, but there's one that is much like a journal. I usually hold that one a little closer and share it with very few. But I'm making an exception here. So...here's the text of the journaling seen on the page above.

"A tremendous musical crescendo never fails to elicit an emotional response from me. Consider the magnificent finale to the 1812 Overture, accented by an equally magnificent fireworks display. My favorite example, though, is Stonebriar's arrangement of 'A Mighty Fortress'. On the third verse, the orchestra slows on the last line, leading into a breathtaking bridge, which swells as it nears the fourth verse. The kettle drums sound and the congregation joins in with 'That word, above all earthly powers...'. And without fail, my eyes fill with tears and a lump forms in my throat."

'A Mighty Fortress' has been my favorite hymn for many years, not only because of the incredible musical possibilities it presents, but also for its profound lyrics, so rich in sound, strong theology. How can I fail to be moved by this - "The Spirit and the gifts are ours, through Him who with us sideth. Doth ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He. Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same. And He must win the battle!" - especially when it is sung to a full orchestra?

I Am

2007-08-30T08:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend, I was unexpectedly blessed with the chance to go to Women of Faith. My joy was made full when I found that Nichole Nordeman would be singing at the conference.

I LOVE Nichole Nordeman! A friend introduced me to her through her "Woven and Spun" CD several years ago and that particular CD has topped my list of favorites ever since.

Nichole's music is beautiful, but her lyrics are what set her apart from other artists, in my opinion. They are completely authentic and consequently, thought-provoking.

My favorite of Nichole's songs is "I Am" and I was thrilled when she sang it on Saturday afternoon. If you've never heard the song, please go to ITunes and buy it. I promise you won't regret spending the $0.99. The song speaks about the stages of life for a woman, from childhood to the teen years to marriage and young children. At each stage, it speaks of God's presence at that place and uses several names for Him...from "Elbow-Healer" to "Comforter, Maker, Life-Sustainer".

While I've loved this song for several years, I heard it in a new light this weekend. I went home and in the course of my devotions this week, I've begun reading through the Psalms and underlining the names and attributes of God. It's amazing to me that He is all of these things. When I desperately need a Rock and a Fortress, He says "I Am". When I need a Shepherd or a Father, He says "I Am". He truly is all that I need.

My "no-longer-a-baby" brother

2007-08-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's hard to recognize this kid! Without waxing too nostalgic, I remember the day he was born, forever changing the Deatherage family dynamic. In some way, from that day on, all five us became invested in making sure that Evan James grew up okay.

And he has. He's not a perfect kid, but he's given us good reason to be proud of him.

This Monday, Evan starts fifth grade. The part that excites him the most? He's now old enough to volunteer in children's ministry at church. He puts many adults to shame with his enthusiasm.

He's begun practices for his fifth year of football. Every Saturday from September through November, Evan has his own little cheering section. (Actually it's a pretty big cheering section and usually attracts a little bit of attention!) Evan's a good player and he loves the game, but what's most fulfilling is watching his sportsmanship - the way he congratulates a teammate on a job well done or graciously (albeit not happily) concedes a game.

For our little family of five, our lives changed on December 4, 1996, but they've only been enriched. Our family would not be complete without Evan. In case you can't tell, I really love this kid!

And the madness begins...

2007-08-13T17:09:00.000-05:00

Those who know me well will most likely read the title of this blog, pause to reflect on the fact that it's the middle of August, and possibly remember that this is the time of the year when football fills my every conversation.

For those who don't know me well (although they're probably not reading this blog), I'm a die-hard fan of the Carolina Panthers. I have stuck by them through thick and thin, from a 1-15 season to three NFC Championships and one Super Bowl that still brings tears to my eyes on occasion. One night last week, I'll confess that I actually dreamed about football. I think it's a first - even for me! But I dreamt that our star receiver, Steve Smith, was killed in a car accident. I woke the next morning and immediately checked http://www.panthers.com/, just to ensure that it wasn't true. This morning, driving to work, I passed a car with this on the back and tried desperately to think of some way to communicate that I was also a Panthers fan. We're few and far between in Texas - you've gotta stick together!

I'll try not to fill this blog with football talk, but I will warn you that it may pop up every now and then. I need a place to celebrate those glorious victories (like over the Cowboys, please God!) and agonize over the defeats (not too many, please God!). For now, I'm happy! We beat the Giants this weekend. I didn't get to watch the game, but I'm satisfied knowing that they played well and won.

Random Lessons

2007-08-07T23:27:00.000-05:00

Since I'm the one that got Sarah hooked on this and she's now putting me to shame with her blogging skills and frequency, I figured it was probably time to post again.

Just a few random things I've learned over the past few days:

I am NOT ready to have children. At least not a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old. Thank you, Lord, for knowing that and saving me from my own hopes and dreams!

I've got some pretty great parents. How great is it to have parents that tell you on a regular basis how much they love you and how proud they are of you? I'm so blessed and I love them so much!

4 hours on high in the crock-pot does not equal 8 hours on low. Be warned - you will probably wind up with some very burnt grossness if you do not heed this warning.

Once you pass 21, there really are no more exciting birthdays. Hope that doesn't sound like I'm throwing a pity party or anything - I personally wasn't all that excited about this one.

Days off from work may not be worth it. There's even more to do once you get back to the office. Still weighing the pros and cons on this one. I'll let you know when I reach a verdict.

There are too many good movie options right now and not enough time to see them. "No Reservations" gets a thumbs-up for me. On my list for the next few weeks: The Bourne Ultimatum, Hairspray and Becoming Jane.

Facebook = pretty cool. I've connected with a best friend from junior high, as well as a few kids I used to babysit. (Question: If the kids I used to babysit are now in college, does that make me old?)

Enough of the randomness. I'm going to bed.

Land of the Midnight Sun

2007-07-31T18:10:00.001-05:00

Every employee of Insight for Living, whether they admit it or not, longs to be invited to attend one of the cruise conferences that IFL sponsors every year. Typically, the only person from Listener Ministries to go is Carley, who just happens to be married to Jason, who does the youth programming for the cruise, so I've never held out a lot of hope for being asked to go.

This year, though, was the year I'd been secretly hoping for. Being single finally paid off! One of the girls from Special Events needed a roommate. Since they were also short on bookstore staff, I was asked to go along!

The cruise was an amazing experience. I've always preffered cruises to any other form of vacationing, because it's forced relaxation. But traveling with a large group was an entirely new experience. We had about 50 event and program staff and roughly 900 passengers on the ship. The IFL group commandeered about half the ship. We had our own programming throughout the week, with Chuck teaching each day and a concert each evening by talented performers including Nielsen and Young, David Pendleton, Jenni Till and Greg Buchanan.

Alaska is just breathtaking, too breathtaking for words. So how about pictures?

In Seattle on July 1st, with my roommates, Donna and Angela. We paused on this bridge because you could see Mount Ranier in the background. It didn't show up too well in the picture, though. I'm completely in love with Seattle and really want to go back for a longer visit.

Glacier Bay on July 3rd. We spent about four hours in the bay, watching the glaciers calve. Huge pieces of the glacier will break off and fall into the water. The sight, as well as the rumbling sound that precedes it, is awe-inspiring.

Juneau on July 4th. Juneau was my favorite of the four ports of call and I've got about a hundred pictures to prove it. Several of our group started the day by taking a tram up Mount Roberts. The views were spectacular. I was able to overcome my fear of heights long enough to shoot this picture.

The afternoon of the 4th, Chuck and Cynthia treated the staff to a trip to Taku Glacier Lodge. The trip began with a floatplane trip over several glaciers to the lodge.

There's nothing quite like viewing the glacier fields from the air. You can see the blue reflected in the glaciers...it's just gorgeous.

This spot at the lodge is known as the "Christmas card" spot. Everyone inevitably winds up here, shooting that perfect picture for their Christmas card.

Just about every trip to Taku will yield bear sightings, primarily because of the salmon they serve. Apparently the bears like it just as much as humans! We all stood and watched and photographed this mama and her two cubs for about ten minutes.

Group photo at Taku. This is almost the entire event and program staff. Really a great group!

Working hard at the bookstore - from right, Carley, yours truly, Gage and Sharon. Even this was a lot of fun. Even though our staff in LM gets to speak to IFL listeners daily, it's somehow different to speak to them in person and hear the stories of how the ministry has affected them. It's a great reminder that I'm truly working in ministry, even though I may not see it every day.

Totem pole in Ketchikan on July 6th. (July 5th was Sitka, where I saw "Transformers" with Jason and Carley and the youth. Not too many pictures of Sitka - it just felt like your typical small town.) Ketchikan was a great stop for shopping. If you're ever there, be sure to visit Ketchikandies - their chocolate-covered oreo's are to die for. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.Our final port of call was Victoria, BC on the 7th. Victoria's a beautiful city...full of British influences. Carley, Jason, Gage and I enjoyed dinner in a fun Irish pub, with live music included. We also wandered through the lobby of the Empress Hotel...very impressive.

This week I was asked to record a few of my thoughts about the trip. Listen to the broadcast in October and you may hear clips of me talking about the Alaska cruise. Be forewarned - the moment I sat down in the studio, I lost half the words in my vocabulary. Apparently the only adjective that remained was "amazing". But I guess that's not a bad one...it does sum up the trip quite nicely.

Yuck!

2007-07-31T17:50:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning feeling just disgusting. My sweet younger sister was kind enough to bring me a souvenir of her trip to church camp last week...a fun summer cold!

On a random, though not unrelated note, I love the new Kleenex boxes...the oval ones that are actually pretty. It makes a cold almost bearable to be able to look at a sunny yellow Kleenex box. So much better than those ugly old gray boxes.

I spent most of the day in bed catching up on some much-needed sleep, but managed to get some reading in, too. I'm currently reading Liz Curtis Higgs' "Lowlands of Scotland" series and utterly enjoying it. The series is a retelling of the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah (one of my favorites, for obvious reasons), based in Scotland. The author takes a lot of creative license, but I really love it. One of my favorite things is that she sprinkles bits of Gaelic throughout the books. One word has stood out to me - "gracie". I checked the glossary at the back of the book and found that it means "devout, virtuous". How cool is that? I'd absolutely love to be called a "gracie woman". Or maybe I should say "gracie lass".

First time for everything!

2007-07-29T16:40:00.000-05:00

Today I enter the wonderful world of blogging! Aside from a few random posts on MySpace, this is my first attempt.

While I don't have a hubby or children to fill my blog, I'm convinced that God is doing exciting things in my life every day. It's my hope and prayer that this blog will help me to really reflect on those things and look for the extraordinary in my daily routine.