Then Sings My Soul Saturday 4

I have not done posted for Then Sings My Soul Saturday for awhile.  Today, I was thinking about my alma mater closing it's doors after graduation this month.  The people who have attended and been instructed at this place of higher education have made an impact on the city in which it is located as well as cities and towns and countries around the world.  Many people have mentioned that they are very sad to see the university close, especially because of the loss of the people who interact with people in a positive way.  Students, faculty, and staff have worked and volunteered with a wide range of ministry opportunities from working with the homeless, to tutoring, to student teaching, to working with media and local government.   Last weekend when I attended the heritage weekend, it was said that there is still work to be done and we who have had a part in the school will continue to keep the vine growing and impacting our cities, states, countries, and the world.  Just because the campus buildings are closing, it does not keep us from growing and living the lives that God has for us.  This reminded me of the song I want to share with you today.  I first discovered it this past summer when we sang it at my church.  It was shortly after that I heard the story behind the song.  I am posting that as well.  It is well worth the time to watch.  

The week in review

Tuesday I met up with my friend Tonya and her son C for lunch.  We have been trying to find a time that works for both of us for awhile now.  We had a great time chatting even though it was VERY brief due to the traffic & construction she got caught in and I had to get back to work.  We said that we should find an evening or weekend that would work to get together and also invite some of our other friends too.  

Tuesday after work, I picked some of the tulips that did bloom this year in my yard.  The tulips that grow almost as tall as I am didn't bloom this year.  Only the leaves grew.  I have been enjoying this vase full of flowers ever since.  They are sitting next to my computer as I type.

Wednesday, my mom, sister and I gathered for Bible study.  Before I went home, my niece and I went for a walk.  It was a really nice evening for a walk.  

Thursday, I went for a walk with another friend and her two kids around the neighborhood.  We are hoping to do this every Tuesday and Thursday now.  It will be nice to have someone to walk with again.  

Last night (Friday), a student from TUFW that I have mentored came over one last time before school ends.  We decided to make pizza for supper since it was National Pizza Party Day.  We made crust that had whole wheat flour; toppings were: fresh mushrooms that I sliced and mixed with a little bit of olive oil, galic, basil, and oregano; green pepper that Mindy sliced; turkey pepperoni; and mozzarella and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Heritage Weekend

This weekend I attended the Heritage Weekend at my alma mater.  It was a great time of seeing college friends.  We had great weather as well.  It was nice to hear everyone reminiscing; from those who graduated over 50 years ago until the most recent graduates. 

My best friend even flew in from SC and we stayed up waaaaaaay too late talking into the wee hours of the morning.  It was fun though even if we felt tired the next day!  

I went to college with the wife and recruited the husband when I began working in the Admissions office.  I believe that this was the first wedding I was invited to as a staff member.  Sadly, I was not able to attend.  Now they have two beautiful kids!

This couple led the missions trip to Portugal that I went on during my Junior year.  He was also the VP of the university at the time.  

This is one of the maintenance guys at the university.  He and I had this on-going joke:  It seemed that every time I saw him, he was on a break...he even gained the nickname of slacker.  I caught him actually working (one time) this weekend.  I told him I had to get a picture of it.  He said that I'd better hurry before he had to take a break.  He always had a smile on his face when I saw him and loved to encourage students.

A few of us went over to another friends house just a few blocks from campus to hang out and catch up on each other's lives.

The goofy picture!

Saturday evening I was invited to a graduation cookout for one of my college friend's husbands.  He just earned his MBA.  This party was hosted at another friend's house who lives just down the street from the college.

Another couple that are friends from college with their 10 month old girl.

My best friend and one of our international friends.

My best friend with the graduate and his wife.

Girlfriends

Friends' children.

This is one of the students I recruited to the college.  I don't remember when, how, or why this started, but whenever we say each other we would do the "sign" we had come up with for each of us.  When I saw him, I would put my hands and right foot up in the air.  When he saw me he would look like he is checking his watch and giving a thumbs up.

Saturday night ended with a bonfire.  We worshipped together around the fire and reflected on how faithful God has been in each of our lives.  This was followed by a time of communion.  I didn't stay to roast s'mores since it was so late and I was exhausted.

This week

This week has been rather uneventful so far.  The one highlight has been Wednesday evening when my sister, mom, and I met to begin our very first ever Beth Moore Bible study.  Our cousin sent us the DVDs that go with the study.  After watching the introductory session, we are all excited to see what God has in store for our lives.  I am looking forward to this weekend.  My best friend will be here tomorrow and Saturday and we will be attending an event at the college we attended.  It will be great to see college friends again.  I am sure I'll have pictures to post.  

Great news Friday

This arrived at my house today.  How exciting to come home and have a package to open...what an even better surprise to discover chocolate along with the expected book!!!  Yes, I ate a piece of the dark chocolate, listened to the cd and read the book.  It's just as good as Tracy said it would be.  Thank you so much, Tracy, for this wonderful give-away and choosing me!  

I also found out that my best friend is flying in next weekend!  We haven't seen each other for two years and we will see each other in 7 days!  I am already planning a trip out east to see her this fall.  Will we be able to handle seeing each other twice in the same year?!  Of course!  

Mascot and a Census

Saturday, my mom, niece, nephew, and I went to the new ball park downtown for a children's health fair.  We walked around and gathered information and trinkets.  We also got to meet the new mascot.

On Sunday I went to church and the sermon was on community.  I am very fortunate to belong to a small group that meets on Sunday nights that incorporates just what we learned.  Our small group really isn't so small...we have 22 people in it!  Last night we witnessed first hand how being transparency and forgiveness brings healing and unconditional love.  On a lighter note...we were just getting started with our time together when there was a knock on the door of the house we were meeting.  The owner of the house answered the door to a lady who said that she was with the census bureau.  She could not see (all 22 of us) sitting in the room, but as soon as we heard who she was we all just started laughing loudly.  The group leader asked if she would like to get several houses done at once.  She just handed him a piece of paper and left.  I bet she doesn't get that kind of welcome very often!

Administrative Assistant Day

Yesterday was Professional Administrative Assistants Day and those of us who fit that description and our supervisors all went to lunch at Cebolla's.  On the way, I asked my supervisor where we were going and he said that it's a surprise.  Once we were turning into the parking lot, he was very quick to tell me that Robin (another supervisor) planned the luncheon.  If you translate the name of the restaurant into English you will know why he told me that...He didn't want the blame for me eating at a place called "the onion!"  We all got a laugh out of it.  When we arrived, there were sombreros, Gerbera daisies, and chocolate for each of us.  A picture of mine is below.  It was a fun time and we felt really appreciated.  I even managed to get a meal with out the dreaded onions!

Tonight I went for a walk and took my camera with me.  I took more picture and have posted a sampling of them.  I also met a lady that lives about 2 blocks from me.  We got to talking and have decided that once she is cleared by her doctor, we should go walking together.  (She just had major surgery and has another 4 weeks of recovery time.)

Cakes and a park

Saturday I picked up my niece and we went to see "Hannah Montana the Movie" before creating a surprise for her mom (my sister) for mother's day.  I will have to post about the surprise later so that my sister will be surprised.  We went to a local restaurant and shared a club sandwich and Scooby snacks.  Scooby snacks are really good potato wedges with their special seasonings served with a cucumber sauce.  We then began making cakes for Sunday and also played go fish with the Nemo fish cards. On Sunday, I finished the cakes for small group snacks.  Thanks to my sister, I made two sizes of cupcakes.  The larger cupcakes take one cake mix per cupcake!  Those are full-size peeps sitting on one of them.

I also made a butterfly cake that seemed to be the rave of the crowd.

On Monday after work, I stopped by the park and took some pictures.  I would have taken more than I did but it began to rain.  Here is just a sampling of what I did get.

Friday night fun

Tonight was a great night!  I volunteered at the Selah concert tonight.  I saw many friends I haven't seen in awhile and made some new friends as well.  I love to listen to Selah and they are so real.  I had the opportunity to meet them about two years ago when I was the runner for the show and looked forward to seeing them again.  If you have the opportunity to see them in concert, do it.  They are a blessing and are very encouraging.  Best of all, they shine the light of Jesus through their lives!

Allan, Amy, & Todd

Selah does a song in an African language.  Tonight, there was a lady from Africa that lives locally that attended the concert.  Selah met her in the lobby prior to the concert.  She came up on stage and sang the song with them.  She actually stole that part of the show!  It was really cool.

The members of Selah each have a story just like each one of us.  They were open about their struggles.  Amy had us all in stitches the way she told her story.  It was nice to see how she could take her serious story and lighten it up without making light of it.  

Selah and family with a couple that attended the concert.  They are fellow bloggers and wanted to get a picture with Selah and their Stellan sign.  

Yes, I got to see Angie (Todd's wife)!  I met her last time they were here and I drove her around town.  I thought that she was someone I would like to hang out with...too bad we live in different states.  This was before the blog thing.  I saw on my cousin's blog that Angie had a blog too, so I began reading it.  I was excited to see that she was at the concert tonight.  I also got to meet their three daughters.  They were so cute all dressed alike and they are very energetic!  Angie is such a sweetheart.  She hung around to talk to all us bloggers who wanted to chat with her and get our pictures taken.  Even though there were so many of us, she made each one of us feel like we were the only person when she was talking to us.  I noticed she remembers people and their names so well too.

I said that I made some new friends tonight...well one of them is Tasha.  I met this sweet young lady while we waited to talk to Angie.  We past our time talking with Angie's girls until they ran off some of their energy.  That is when we began to chat.  She has two little girls that are just adorable.  I didn't get to meet them, but she showed me pictures of them. 

Well, it is going on 1 a.m., so I should probably get to bed.  I am looking forward to spending some time with my niece later on.