Bells (not silver)

Just back from Europe.

Yes! We went to Europe for the holidays. My dad had to work over Christmas, so we decided to go on his trips with him. Spent a day in 's Gravenhage (The Hague), one in Amsterdam, and 2 in Kobenaven (Copenhagen). It was excellent!

The most amazing part was hearing every church bell throughout Copenhagen declare the birth of the Savior on Christmas Eve.

-- beach in Den Hague --

-- courtyard of townhall building in Copenhagen --

-- old church on square in Den Hague --

-- canal in Amsterdam --

Peels

I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas...

Bananas are easy to peel. I like them.

I hate peeling oranges, tangerines, and other citrus fruits. They are oh so refreshing to eat. I would eat them more often if they weren't so dag-on-difficult to peel.

When I was a kid I got bleach in my eye while cleaning our swingset. The eye doctor said my cornea looked like an orange peel.

Pic of Some Friends

It's November

It is November and lots has happened since my last post. Here is a brief rundown.

End of Oct went to wedding of long-time family friend in Arizona and got to hang out with some wonderful people. Love just hanging out in life with them.

Had dinner in B.E.D and went to The Fray concert with some co-workers.

Went to a Thrasher's game and learned what a hat trick was.

And tonight I went to see Stranger than Fiction. You should see it!

So, that's the surface stuff. Now deeper, things that have been crazy. I can't seem to be on time to anything. Not that that is new. But I'm later, much later than I normally am. I can't think or plan much past a tomorrow. And I can't seem to stick to a particular attitude I say I'm going to keep at work.

Today, there was a guy, an author of a book rather, at the Walden Book store downstairs. I felt sorry for him because no one was there meeting him for the book signing. He offered a book mark to me as I walked by, but I refused. Will he go home feeling bad about himself? I want to be able to help people know that they are important, and special. I want people to know that they are created for a purpose. But what does it look like to know that you are special and loved and created for a purpose? Maybe this author will go home and feel discouraged because nobody came to his booksigning. But whether or not people go to his book signing doesn't determine whether or not he is significant. Does he know that? I wanted to stop and ask him about his book, but I didn't. I really wasn't interested in his book. Hmm...

Isqoutm Squash Embellishing Gala

These pictures are from our Isquoutm Squash Embellinshing Gala held in the 8N Large Conference Room. Yes, we had a pumpkin decorating contest at work. Some of my fellow FART members and I organized and hosted the event. I was very amazed at the ideas a bunch of accounting and finance people could come up with. Accountants are not known for their creativity.

-- all the entries in the contest--

--some of my coworkers--

--my team's pumpkin--

Horses and Halloween

Lots has been going on lately. Here are some pictures from our Pony Club Halloween Party on Sunday. Can you figure out which one is me?

Disney's Version of Hiking

-- the hikers --

Went hiking yesterday, or well tried to, with some friends. The trail we intended to hike was closed. So we ended up spending an hour and a half looking for the trail head to another trail, but N. Georgians don't have skills in developing good signage. Anyway we ended up, at a state park that was kind of Disney World's version of hiking. Well groomed "trails" with concrete steps. Uh, not exactly what we were looking for but we got to see the fall colors and got to spend some time out of the city.

I'll fill you in later about the adventures trying to find the trail.

Bubble Wrap

Who loves bubble wrap?

I do and so does one of my friends from work. Today was her birthday and she was conveniently out of the office, so "some individuals" in the department decided to wrap the desk, all the file cabinets, shelves, chairs, tree, etc. in approximately 200 sq. ft. of bubble wrap.

Here are the pictures. It was amazing.

Although you can't tell in the picture, the desk is covered too.

Did I mention that one of the individauls might have been me?

FART

I am not usually one to engage in humor about bodily functions, particularly farting. It just isn't me; but over the last 4 months I have begun to incorporate this sort of humor into my daily conversations and even at meetings.

Let me explain.

Several months after I started working at Turner, a coworker and I were asked to join the departments "social committee". I said ok, but my coworker said she wasn't going to be a part of anything called a social committee, but if the name of the team was changed then she would join. A few days later our director mentioned his idea for a new name to my coworker. The name he came up with was the Fun and Recreation Team. My coworker was in the middle of something and just nodded her head indicating that that was a good name. A little later our director stopped by again and said, "I don't think you heard what I said. The Fun And Recreation Team." Coworker replied, "Yeah, I heard you." Our director said, "No, think of the acronym."

That started it all.

The Fun And Recreation Team. I had overheard the conversation. Cube walls don't provide much privacy. After our director walked away, my coworker turned to me and said, "You know we have to change the name of the social committee to the Fun And Recreation Team, now." She can be a bit of a smart aleck. But that is just what we did. And the FARTs had their beginning.

You would be amazed (well maybe you wouldn't) at how many people open up and are compfortable talking about farting. The fart jokes roll when we are having our monthly FART meetings. Even those who were UNcomfortable saying the name of the team can't help laughing when we present FART team updates at our weekly staff meetings.

The new name for the once "social committee" has brought out a lot of positive things. People laugh, jokes are traded, people aren't afraid to interrupt our FART meetings, or bring in farting putty. Today in our FART meeting, a member reminded us that mature, professional conversation was out, "I mean with a name like ours, who could be mature." His point was we are supposed to be having fun.

The FARTs get together and plan fun and recreational things to do. Some are team building while others are more just to ease stress around the office. But the one thing that puts people at ease or at least makes them laugh is when we tell them we came up with the idea while farting around. Our moto is, "To bring fun to the office one FART at a time."

Sometimes my job sticks, but that's when we have to start farting again.

"Better out than in" as Shreik would say.

Prayer

What is it? What does it do? What does it accomplish?

When someone prays for healing, does that healing come? If it doesn't was that prayer fruitless?

A common theme throughout the OT is that the prayers of the faithful servants are the ones that are heard and answered. Does this mean if I am not a faithful servant my prayers will not be heard or answered?

Hebrews5:7-10 "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest..."

The man Jesus was, if anyone was, a faithful servant of God, but his prayers and petitions were not even answered in the way he wanted.

So why pray if we don't get what we ask for?

I will keep praying because it reminds me that I am needy and depend on others. It brings me closer to the one I am praying to and connects my heart and spirit to those I am praying for. My prayer is working in me; changing me. When my brother called to tell us his girlfriend's father has passed away today; my heart sank and my eyes filled with tears. We have been praying for Jenny's father. This isn't how we wanted our prayers answered.

Luke 22: 41-42 ...and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

Phil 4:6,7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I want peace.

Tacking on the Hours

Well today I worked for 13 hours. That makes a total of 46.25 so far this week with 2 more days to go.

And after my day job I'm adding a new night job! Yes, I am adding something to my already crazy schedule.

I have been presented with the opportunity to help prepare the proposal for Freedom Firm's Animal Assisted Therapy Program!!! I am totally excited about this work. I love planning, thinking through things and learning. I won't be able to make it to India at the end of October, possibly have to wait until the spring. But anything is possible.

A Little Fishy

My two brothers, Jeff and Mark, and Mark's girlfriend, Jenny, are in town this weekend for a visit. We went to the Georgia Aquarium yesterday, today we rode horses and tonight we are heading to an Atlanta Braves game. I love hanging out with my family.

--"I think there is a star fish down there."--
-- the fish got camera shy--
-- mesmerized--
--Me--

--one of the whale sharks (only about 1/2 grown)--

Moving?

Got the urge to move again. Maybe into Atlanta... or

Maybe I should try another city. Maybe LA, NYC or DC. All three are places that I can go within the Time Warner family (where I work now).

Or maybe I should change jobs and companies and try a totally different place.

Or maybe I should stay where I'm at for the next year and then head to India.

Hmm... so many options.

Horses in India (2)

In my brief post on 8/22/06 I introduced you to Freedom Firm. Here is a little about the riding program, officially it will be an animal assisted therapy program, that has caught my attention.

----------------------
From correspondence with the founder of Freedom Firm:
"I don't have much on paper yet for the "animal assisted therapy" program. That still needs to be written, but [my husband] and I have certainly dreamed for years about what that would look like. I have done some reading on equine therapy and animal therapy in general, and it seems there is clear evidence that animals can really help children who are sexually and physically abused. It was interesting to me to see that when kids learn to take care of an animal, a lot of times they will learn to transfer that care to themselves, in really practical ways. So a girl that rejects herself because of abuse, finally will begin brushing her hair because she has been grooming a horse for a month... fascinating. I know from my own experience of a painful entry to the States at the age of 10, how I found solace and a sense of purpose in existing when I started working with horses. Thank God my parents had the sense to let me lease a horse, and then work at stables for 8 years and finally save enough to buy Raz and High Hopes when I was 17. I am quite sure my connection with horses kept me from going off the deep end when I was growing up. So far we own an acre and 1/2 on a hillside [in India]. We are trying to buy three more acres adjacent to that land. My dream (horse wise) is to start a horse farm where the girls can come and learn to ride and care for horses, but also where it might grow into an income generating scheme. [Where we live] is a tourist town, and very very beautiful. Foreigners already come from all over the world. If we got a website up and we got on the map for horse trekking (it already is on the map for local pony riding), I could see rescued girls actually having jobs leading trail rides/giving lessons/ running a horse business. There are many schools looking out for the possibility of riding lessons... so that is a long term thought. And one I am very excited about. It is interesting to me that you have all this experience with horses and children and business savvy as well!

An interesting thing to note is that there are many discarded racehorses in [the city]. We have a huge race track that is fully operation in the months of April and May. At the end of the racing season a few young horses are simply left out on the street. They last about a year before they die of starvation. There is also the option of buying racehorses during this season as well. They run about $1000 per racehorse. At the home we have just rented, we have a shed I plan to turn into a stable. The owner gave us permission to take in one of these discarded race horses. There is a pasture on the hill just below the rehab home that belongs to the house we are renting. (1.5 acres) hemmed in by a stream. Hopefully in the month of October I am planning to take in our first horse,and try to rehabilitate it, and at the same time start our animal therapy program. Molly, I would love it if you could come out for a couple weeks if at all possible and join us for a time to get to know eachother. It would be great to coincide it with the adoption of our first race horse. I know that is not much time at all, and I know it may be way too late to arrange that for October. Anyway, we are wide open to whenever it is convenient for you to come. In order to make this horse project work we need the right person. While I know a lot about horses, it could never be my main thing,especially now, where I have to coordinate the whole program of rehab. I love your perspective on animals and the role they play with kids. I agree wholeheartedly! Thanks so much for your interest in our work. It is tremendously encouraging to us."

---------------------------
I'm going to try to go to India at the end of October. Don't know if I can get off work, but we'll see.

Bodies

Last Friday I went to BODIES... The Exhibition at the Atlanta Civic Center.

WOW!!!! This was incredible. I spent 3 hours in the exhibit and I could have been their for another hour or two if they hadn't closed. The exhibition was presented really well. It was soooo fascinating to see the intricacies of the human body. Words just can't describe how awesome it was.

You should GO see it if the exhibition if comes to a location near you. It is not gross or creepy. It is just TOTALLY awesome to see the complexities of our design.

Itchin

I'm itchin for change.

A mentor and friend asked me the following question the other day, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

You've probably heard the same question or a similar one before as I have, but it is good to think about it periodically. Quite frankly I haven't thought about it in a while. I've been thinking more 3 months out.

I answered my friend something like this:
Let's see 5 years, I'll be 31. In general married, a family. Not working in accounting, but leading something awesome. I want to be off on a great adventure with someone. I'm not exactly sure what kind, but I want to be involved, not on the sidelines. I love figuring out where people want to go and doing my best to help/ encourage them to get there. When it comes down to it, how a company reports it's operating leases or what the GAAP rules are on accruing for something(finance stuff) are not the most important thing to me. I understand and am good at accounting and finance, but those get boring. What I really care about and enjoy doing is bringing people together for a common purpose. It is challenging and rewarding. I love it! Whether it is in the office, in Pony Club, or any other place.

In 5 years I don’t want to still be living in Atlanta. I have been looking to move from my parents to Atlanta for about a year now, but just can't bring myself to do it. Why? Because I there is so much more world out there to see. I want to live someplace I've never lived before.

The conversation developed into compatibility and great adventurers. I'm gonna see if I can get more details from him, because it was really good stuff. The only things I remember are discussing if I am a type A, B, or C person and whether I wanted to be a cheerleader or an athlete. But the details of this are for another conversation.

Sorry I digress; let's return to my 5 year outlook. I'm not totally sure where I can use my skills and how. I'm not sure what great path God has for me. But I'm itching to move down that path and see what is around the next corner.

So what is it going to take to get me moving towards things I want to do? I don’t know.
Where will I find myself in 5 years? I don't know.
I’ll have to do some more thinking/ praying AND trying things out.

Fellowship

Just got back from Arizona, where I hung out with some long time friends, the Stodas and Jaramillos. It was a wonderful time catching up and fellowshipping over errands, beer and MST 3000 (Mystery Science Theater).

Here is a picture that Leo Jaramillo took of Jen and me. We were looking at labradoodles on the internet.

Jack, my new cousin

My new cousin, Jack, came home a week and a half ago. He is from Guatemala. We are thrilled to have him as part of the family!

Capturing the Moment

My youngest sister, Lani, wants to be a photographer. She is a really good. To the left is one of my favorites that she took of my nephew Timothy and his Chi-wa-wa, Max.

Click here to see more of her pictues.

Fears

What are you most afraid of? What keeps you from doing the things you really want to do?

These are questions I've been asking myself.

Answers: I don't have any good ones yet. I have to do some more thinking about them. But ideas like "what if I don't like it?", "what if there is someone better to do this job?", "what happens if I make the wrong decision, and this really wasn't the path I was supposed to take?" and, "what about all the things I enjoy doing now?" are all part of my thought process.

Free Wheelchair Mission

I thought this was pretty cool. What a mechanical engineer can do...

the Free Wheelchair Mission

an article

Boston Cream

Why do I do this to myself. I treat myself to donuts for breakfast once a month. And everytime I order two of the messiest donuts to eat in the car, a Boston cream and a jelly filled power donut.

WILL I EVER LEARN!?!

At least I wasn't wearing a white shirt today.

Horses in India

I actually don't have much info on horses in India. There just isn't much on the internet. But they have 'em there, mostly for work and racing.

This organization may be starting a riding program, and they'll have horses too.

Freedom Firm

maybe more later...

Day Trip to the Beach

Went to the beach for the day with Amy and Eiren, two of my co-workers. It was a long day and it went something like this...

7:00 am - meet in the employee parking deck
11:30 am - on the beach, observe a pirate birthday party
12:00 pm - apply sunscreen
2:00 pm - eat snack, go in water
3:00 pm - lay on stomach to tan back
3:15 pm - jump up suddenly because waves came up high
4:00 pm - apply more sunscreen, watch a mom coaxe tiny son into water
4:15 pm - observe some, uh, interesting tatoos and a shark
5:00 pm - back in the water
6:00 pm - packed up and headed to dinner
6:30 pm - dinner @ The Crab Shack with cats that beg for food
12:30 am - back in the employee deck

It was a lot of driving but also a great time to get away and just talk.

I'm finding that Amy and Eiren like to do out doorsy things! They aren't the type that like to go shopping. This is cool because I like the outdoors and HATE shopping. Anyway we had fun. Most of our conversation was about all the people on the beach. We came up with some pretty good stories about the people on the beach. Oh, and we got to see a shark.

It is funny, many people don't understand why we drive so far (4 hrs one-way) and only stay on there for a day. Do you understand?

Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Thinking

That's my personality type. We took a Myers Briggs personality type indicator test at work this month. We used the results to help us to better understand the people on our team so that we can become a "highly effective team". It was VERY interesting, but I'll leave the conversation about my team for another day. For now I'm going to focus on ME.

Here are some of the things it said about my type that I thought, "Yup, that's me" when I read it.

• clear vision of future possibilities coupled with the drive and organization to implement my ideas
• love complex challenges and like theory and abstract ideas
• value knowledge and expect competence from myself and others
• insightful, a creative synthesizer, conceptual, and a long-range thinker
• tend to be clear and concise, rational, detached, and objectively critical

Others may see me as calm, decisive, and showing an assured face to the world, though I may find it difficult to engage in social conversation. I usually don't directly express my most valued and valuable part: my creative insights. Instead I translate them in to logical decisions, opinions, and plans, which I often express clearly. Because of this, others sometimes experience me as intractable, much to my surprise. I am very willing to change an opinion when new evidence emerges. Others usually see me as private, reserved, hard to know, even aloof, conceptual, original, and independent. (but ask me questions and I'll usually share my thoughts and ideas)

Sound like me? Let me know if you agree or disagree with any of these.

Anyway it is interesting information. Not all of the qualities are necessarily good. I hope to utilize as a tool for understanding how and why I deal with things

If you want more details, here are a few sites that you can read.
http://keirsey.com/personality/ntij.html
http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mb-types/intj.htm

Difference?

• Is there a difference between a good, compassionate, well-meaning person and a person claiming to be a follower of Christ (a Christian)?
• Is there a difference between the things a good, compassionate, well-meaning person does and the things a Christian does?
• Should there be a difference?

Mystery Dinner

A couple of weeks ago I went to a celebrity murder mystery party with my sister and a friend. It was really fun, to solve the mystery. The event was hosted by a singles group at a local church. I have run into several people who I have known from way back in grade-school. I have gone hiking with the group and participated in a few other activities. We'll see where this goes, but I'm hoping to develop a network of people that live closer to me to fellowship with.

Anyway, I'll leave you with a picture of of us in character as celebrities for the murder mystery. But you've gotta guess who's was who.

A. Betty Grable
B. Eva Gardner
C. Hedy Lamarr

P.S. Jimi Hendrix was the murderer and he used his guitar to kill our host.

a molly

What is “a molly”? Many of you may have already been exposed to “a molly” and therefore, you can skip to the third paragraph.

A molly is not what the Webster’s dictionary describes. It is a noun used to describe the clumsy or klutzy behaviors made by a particular person. The most common usage in a sentence is “you pulled a molly.” Causes for a molly include: the carpet jumping up to grab you, the floor having a bump in it, other people’s legs being in the way, but the most common cause is the uneven air currents that float just above the surface of the ground.

I thought I was over mollies by now. But I’m not. As many of you may remember mollies became a part of my daily life when I was working on the crew at Eagle Lake Camp. My friends can describe the hilarious stories of when, as they would describe it, I “pulled a molly.” (Ok, I can tell a few really funny ones too, like the time I ended up sliding down the crew hill in the mud, face first.) Now I have to go through the same humiliation again. My co-workers have begun laughing at me and saying “op, you pulled a molly.” Why can’t they just say “op, you tripped”?

My brother has more sympathy for me. His condolences are evident by his remarks such as, “Walk much?” or “Have a nice trip?” See those are so much nicer than, “op, you pulled a molly.”
So, to all of you who have laughed, or even chuckled at my condition, now know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The crowd now includes my co-workers.

Photos

Okay. Here is a series of photos taken of me at the Turner Studios to be used on our company website. Which one do YOU think I should pick?



Do I look like a boring business professional, or what? (Don't answer that.) I thought they should have let us have cool action shots. Like climbing a rock wall or me of course riding my horse.

Un-signed up

Or rather, I unregistered for classes today. Scary.

Children and Animals

This is a story from a farm near me called Noah's Ark (www.noahs-ark.org).

"It's faith that built Noah's Ark and it's faith that keeps it going. It's not always my faith, though. We were coming in one evening last month and noticed turkey vultures circling over the pasture. Sometimes it's an indication that an animal is down and sometimes they're just soaring on the air waves over the farm. This time it was an animal. A momma sheep had given birth to two babies and it was apparent she was only going to keep one of them. She must have felt something was wrong with the other baby and decided to put all her efforts into the one that was strongest. She hadn't even tried to clean up the weaker one. Not wanting to upset the children should something unfortunate happen, Pop turned the truck around to leave so he could come back by himself to see what could be done. I didn't look like the baby would make it. She could barely stand and the mom kept pushing her away.

One of our childern - a faith-filled three-year-old boy - shouted, "No Pop, stop the truck! We've got to save the baby. We can't leave her. Pop, put the baby in the truck - I'll take care of her. We can't leave her." Still not wanting the children to be upset, Pop tried to tell then he'd come back to take care of the baby after we dropped them off. It sure didn't look like this baby had any chance for survival. But the three-year-old was persistent. "Please, Pop, please put her in the truck." Pop couldn't resist the child's faith in the Noah's Ark family to save the baby lamb. Pop picked up the baby (goo and all) and put her in the back of the truck. The child talked to the baby the rest of the way home, assuring her that she was going to make it.

We got her home, got her some colostrum and milk replacement and proceeded to get her cleaned up. What a job! It took three of us that many hours to get the job done with the little boy and the other children standing by praying for her. She did make it and cleaned up really well - all soft and white and fluffy. The child named thte little white lamb, Mary. I don't have to tell you who's taken over feeding Mary. What a beautiful sight to see - all because of the faith of a little child."

---Jonoah, Mary, and Juneau---

School or Not to School

To school or not to school that is the question. I'm not talking about learning. That's something will never quit doing. What I'm talking about is graduate classes and whether or not I should do a flying change in my life.

Background
The CPA is something that I have thought would be a good thing to have. It would give me access to more types of jobs, some possibly in other countries, and would allow potentially flexible hours for when I have a family. I have talked to many wives/moms who have their CPA's and are glad they do. (seems like a pretty safe path) So, since I didn't have many commitments in the summer of '05 I started the classes I needed to become a CPA. I have taken 3 classes and need 5 more.

The Change
Why I'm thinking about changing directions? Well, I have to ask myself what do I really want to do. When I think about that I often jump right to the things that I am already doing that I love. For example

• teaching horse-back riding lessons to the OM kids
• volunteering for the USPC
• hanging out with my co-workers
• visiting my friends around the country, and
• I can't forget riding my horse.

But I have a long list of things I want to do/think it would awesome to do. Some of those things are

• live in other countries
• have some kind of camp for kids
• hike the Andes Mountains (or any other mountains)
• be an encouraging part of kids lives
• of course I want to be a cool wife and mom, and
• if I could have it all I would love to ride in the Olympics.

Will my CPA help me with these things? Why am I not doing them now, what am I waiting for?

Those are questions I need to answer. I like to be in control. The CPA seems like a path with variables that I can control. (Course God can always throw things my way to remind me I'm not in control.) It is a good path. And it can potentially lead me to opportunities that will allow me to do what I want to do. But maybe I should change directions and begin a new path by visiting some Brazilian friends.

A picture of my horse.

This is a picture of me and my horse Solomon.

Flying Changes

That's the name of my parent's farm. The name came about for many reasons, like my dad, brother, and brother-in-law all fly and flying changes is the skipping movement that horses can do. My sisters and I all ride horses. The association with horses of course appeals to me the most.

In horse terms the flying change is a change from one lead to another without changing gait. In normal person's terms a horse does a flying change when he is cantering or galloping so that he can turn without loosing his balance and without slowing down. Horses can do this naturally but it takes years to teach them to do flying changes while carrying a rider.

I want to be able to do flying changes in life. That is, I want to be able to navigate the path without loosing my balance or slowing down.

My [child], let them not vanish from your sight;

Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

So they will be life to your soul

And adornment to your neck.

Then you will walk in your way securely

And your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear

Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

For the LORD will be your confidence

And will keep your foot from being caught.

--Proverbs 3:21-26--