It's Tough Getting Older....

So today I turned 23. Someone asked me what I was going to do to celebrate today and I simply (and slightly smugly and bitterly) replied, "Everything I did not do when I turned 18 and 21. And I am going to do it all by myself!" We laughed and I went about my day. I said this because I knew my 23rd birthday was not going to hold too much excitement, and I guess I wanted to escape reality and imagine what excitement might look like in the life of Amy D for a split second...oh Amy....some might say.....I was immediately snapped back into reality as I realized how ridiculous I was truly being. First of all, I was not going to buy a pack of cigarettes and smoke them, or buy a lotto ticket, or buy alcohol and get drunk, nor was I going to go to a club just so I could get carded....and I most definitely was not going to get a tattoo...my luck is that if I actually did these things, I would get drunk and then get a tattoo and wonder why I had BOB's name on my back.....oh Amy...Second of all, this is just plain delinquency...and NOT the excitement I would want or need....although it would make for an interesting story to tell the grand kids....

It was a rather odd birthday, but overall it was a good one. I had to work on my birthday. I am not going to lie....It is tough getting older and adjusting to the real world. So, as I drove into work this morning a little before nine, the calls just started rolling in telling me Happy Birthday. It started with my grandparents, which is always a delight because they talk to me at the same time! I can envision them sitting in their recliners one on one phone and the other on the other phone just talking away....It brings joy to my heart! My heart was gladdened when they raved about how proud of me they are and how young I am.....that's when I received a phone call from Sarah Begin. Being that I am the first posse member to turn another year older, she reminded me of how old I am (a slight contrast from the conversation I just had with my grandparents). Then throughout the day the entire posse decided to let me in on a few secrets as to why it is a good thing to get older....here are just a few reasons (I have filtered because as we all know....sometimes the posse can be inappropriate...)
1. Senior Discounts
2. Depends-who needs a bathroom break from the routine of your day when it is on you....
3. Handicap Parking-you can drive slow AND park close....along with whatever the heck else you want....you have a handicap parking sticker...that is all that matters....
4. Earlier to bed-no one can give you a hard time about it
5. You can say whatever you want when you want-no filter required and it is acceptable...sort of.

SO, as you can tell, my birthday was a very uplifting and encouraging day....haha. I am kidding. This did bring some laughter into my mundane day at work. Although we did have a party at work today because my boss' birthday was yesterday....it was fun. Olive Garden was for lunch and that is a favorite of mine so I can't complain.....

As I complain and joke about getting one year older, there truly is no place I would rather be. To keep things in perspective, I would like to reflect on the past year of my life and state some reasons why I am so excited about getting another year older (and wiser I might add).
1. I have become a more confident woman who is starting to really know who I am and what I want in life....I can't say that about myself a year ago from today...it really is a FANTASTIC feeling...
2. To add to #1, I am becoming my own person, gaining independence, truly being myself, and doing things that I want to do for a change....I guess you could say I am sassy and satisfied!
3. The past year's experiences have brought me so much pain (and many tears), but also the most joy, fulfillment, and freedom I have ever experienced in my life....
4. I have experience God more in the past year than I have in a very long time....this has been well worth every second of the long road of this past year....
5. I have wonderful, wonderful life long friends that love me dearly and encourage me on every level and every step of the way...that has never rang more true in my life until this past year....
6. I have been blessed with two Godly, wise, amazing parents, and two beautiful, vibrant sisters who I love more than life itself....without these people I would not have been able to make it through this past year...for this, I am eternally grateful and immensely blessed.....
7. And for the perfect 7: I have never felt more challenged, dealt with more struggle, or had as much heartache as I have over the past year, but as a result, I have never been more in love with my Savior, never been so full of life and joy, and never been so at peace at where the Lord is taking me!

So, I guess getting another year older isn't so bad. It is a time to reflect and think back on the past year of your life and look forward to a new beginning and year ahead.....

As I arrived at accountability group this evening, I was feeling rather sorry for myself, for a number of different reasons which I will not bore you with (the depressing old folk jokes hadn't helped this even though they did bring some laughter...) As I arrived with cake (left over from the roaring party at work), we began to discuss how it was my birthday when one girl said, "But imagine how much has happened in the past 23 years, how far you have come, and what all is going to happen in the next 23 years!" My perspective changed at this point. I really do have so much to be grateful for. I have had countless facebook messages, emails, phone calls, and text messages from many, many people that care about me and love me and wanted to wish me a happy birthday. I have a good job, wonderful friends, and an immensely gracious family! I have had a great year of growth and change...and this is just in the past year...this doesn't even include the last 23 years of my life! If life has been this good for 23 years...I can only imagine what the next 23 will be like! I hear life gets better with age...I look forward to experiencing that to its fullest! I've got a lot of living to do! So here's to getting another year older...it really is a wonderful thing and I look forward to where life is leading me!

Oh, and for those of you wondering...my birthday didn't turn out too bad....in fact it was excellent and concluded by a good movie with my parents and some good friends and some new clothes from none other than Banana Republic...it really is okay getting older...

Until next time...be blessed!

Silence....

So I am sitting here writing this blog in utter silence, which is interesting since my sisters are home for fall break from Baylor. Jen has gone to get the food (since the parentals are gone) and Mel is taking a cat nap. Which leads me here writing to both of my faithful readers (thanks Mom and Dad).

This week I got the honor of going to a conference called Conclave. It is put on by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and it is strictly for youth ministers and youth workers. Considering I spent two summers working in youth ministry, took several classes at Baylor surrounding the adolescent age, and I am currently work with 7th graders as a small group leader, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to go. I got to stay at a really nice hotel and learn about youth ministry! It was an awesome experience. I also got to have lunch and coffee with some dear old friends! It was a much needed break from the monotony of what has become my everyday life!

I got to learn a lot about youth ministry and how to minister to youth effectively, but I think that the most interesting thing that I learned about was girls and the media. The media is having such an effect on young girls today, their sexuality, and their attitudes. It was very interesting (and heart breaking) to hear statistics and facts about this. What I took away from this session was that we cannot change the media or the fact that the media and advertisements are affecting young adolescent girls today. What we can do, is train them how to think and respond to this. This is something that I am in the process of doing...keeping an extra close eye on letting the pure in and guarding against the impurities of our society. After all, if I am not living this out in my life, how am I going to encourage young girls to do it?

I got home last night and spent the night in this huge house all by myself. It was not as bad as I thought....probably because I was asleep by 9 because I wasn't feeling well. I did not wake up until the alarm went off, so I didn't hear one weird noise being all alone! I did wake up without a voice, however. If you were to hear me saying this to you as opposed to writing it, I would sound like a man in your ears. Yes, I have a man voice, probably due to the fact that the doctor diagnosed me with an upper respiratory infection this afternoon...not exactly a pleasant arrival back home after a great week conferencing! But it looks like I will have a full week off of work...

I would also like to take this time to give a shout out to the TRI! I miss you all dearly! I hope you are all having a TRI-riffic day...homecoming is in two weeks and I am more ecstatic than you know! Until next time...be blessed!

I never would have thought....

I am sitting here watching college football, wondering how I got here. I NEVER would have thought that I would ever be this into college football. I think that it is my freshman college roomate who is obsessed that I have to thank, or maybe the fact that it is a great way for me and my father to bond. He does put up with a lot from all us girls, so it is the least I could do! Whatever the reason, I never would have thought that I would waste this much time watching different teams run around a field tossing a football. But alas, here I am, and I have to say that I may waste a lot of time, but I am LOVING every minute of it. There is something about the excitement of the fans in college football, the energy of the team, and the exhileration of never knowing what is going to happen! Today is another prime example. First of all, A&M lost and have a worse record this season than Baylor, which makes me very happy. UT, ranked #5 beat the #1 OU team....HOORAY AND HOOK 'EM! Florida (#11) is beating #4 LSU. OSU (#17) is beating #3 Mizzou...and BAYLOR BEAT IOWA STATE 38-10...SIC 'EM!!!!! This has been a great and exciting day in the life of college football! AND the announcers are saying REALLY GOOD THINGS about Robert Griffin, Baylor's new quarterback. He is going to be a star, and I am excited about the future of Baylor football. The class of 2012 gets to be the second largest class, the class that is around during the ending of vision 2012, AND experience good football at BU, with possibly a bowl game during their college career...JEALOUS? I believe I am!

This past week at work was MUCH better! I am finally getting into the groove of things and figuring out my place in the office. Everyone in the office has started calling me the business counselor...mainly because everyone that calls feels like telling me their entire life story, not leaving out a single embarrassing or gory detail. At least it keeps things interesting and makes the time not creep by so slow. I am not sure what it is about me that makes complete strangers confide the details of their life in me. I will say that I prayed this past week for the Lord to show me how He can use me at work, but I never would have thought it would include listening with a counselor's ear at a real estate investment firm...

Friday night, we made the trek back to Baylor for parents weekend! We had dinner with Mel and some of her friends and their parents at none other than Ninfas! Mexican food is my favorite, so Ninfa's is always a welcomed delight! We then made a girls weekend trek to Bedford so Mel and Jen could meet Baby Riley! We had so much fun having a girls day with our cousin, grandma, aunt, each other, and the new baby! Mom made more bows, so naturally, I put each one one her head, while oooing and awing. I almost put her in my purse and brought her home with me...those bows are TOO CUTE, especially on her precious little head!You always wonder what a baby will look like when its in the belly of a friend or family member, but I never would have thought she would be THIS cute! Here is some proof of my mother's amazing bow-making talent and just how cute they/she really are/is. These are just a few of the bows...and pictures...

Tomorrow (Sunday) a good friend and her mom are coming to church and lunch. I am very excited about seeing them both and know that it will be good times! Then, I will make the trek to Austin to my Bible Study. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this women's Bible Study. I have learned so much about myself, who the Lord is, and about Biblical womanhood. It has only been three weeks, and I have been challenged spiritually on a level that I have never been challenged before. And, I have met some amazing girls that are in the same place that I am in life. I never would have thought it would be this much of a blessing in my life! This week we are learning about women's roles according to the Bible and submission....I am looking forward to it, but am praying that the Lord can open my heart to teach me what I need to learn from this complicated, and slightly controversial issue in society among Christian women, men, and churches in today's world. I will let you know how it goes.....

Well, I am going to peace out for the night....football is calling my name!Until next time be blessed!