Now only a GA peach at heart

So Saturday night I went to watch the UConn basketball game with some other athletic trainers at a sports grille. I should have known something was wrong when the waiter continued to stare at my id. I had to ask myself..."I am legal, right??"... (haha...guess I don't get out much). Then the waiter told me that my license had expired. Not only did my 24th birthday bring a new year, but also the need for a new driver's license...woops! Who knows how long I would have been driving with an expired liscense if I had not ordered that drink!! Now it is official. I have a Virginia license, this is the last step of my Virginia citizenship (but in order to continue driving legally I had to take these desperate steps). No worries...I still claim Georgia, but I will be able to legally drive in Virginia for the next 6 years!

Note to self

Mk, always check your class schedule.
No matter how many times you've taught the lab or been going to school...Always double check your class schedule.
Having your lab assistant call you to tell you all the students are at lab, but there's no lab instructor is...humbling (but I definitely need moments like this). I know you thought the lab started at 7pm (like last semester), but it started at 6pm. It worked out fine; you only showed up 23 minutes late, and it was the first lab-so it was short. Woops! Learn from the mistakes and keep going...

Latest Intramural update

A group of us are still after the elusive IM championship t-shirt. An earlier posting was about our attempts at this prize through floor hockey. Those attempts were not reached...we lost in the first game of the playoffs, we never organized a flying V play, and I never got the whole team to chant "Quack, Quack, Quack."
Our failed pursuit at floor hockey has brought us to basketball- a sport that more of the members on our team are familiar with, so that's at least a better start. We had our first game on Sunday and we won (only by 5 points and the other team only had 4 players...but who's counting). I had forgotten the adrenaline that I get when I am in a real game. It's not the same feelings that I get when I'm playing a game of horse or just shooting around. When it came time to put the number on- I was out for blood. If we had a highlight video from the game, I'm sure I'd look pretty slow and missed more shots than I thought I did while I was out there. But while I was out there I felt great, had confidence, knew the foul shots were going in, and planted with boldness in such a way that drew the offensive charge.
I've been thinking about the emotions I had during the game on Sunday compared to the emotions I have during shoot around or HORSE. If God were the coach, I think He'd say something like..."play like every game was your last; life is not about just shooting around; it's a real game, a fight; your opponent is going to try to take the ball/your joy/peace/Truth/beauty away from you...so be ready; wake-up each day and prepare to be ready; have fun; encourage your teammates; be thankful for the opportunities you're given to play the game and remember who gave you the opportunities; go with your instincts/the Spirt I've given you; even though it feels awkward at times and you feel slower than you used to be or not quite on your A game...Trust Me; trust that this game will prepare you for the games ahead; Trust that I'm using these drills/plays/opponents to make you better/holy; Just do it/Trust Me."

Pics from my b-day

The Signature Sara Waz Funfetti Birthday cake...yum!

I was suppose to blow out my imaginary candles.

Me taking a big bite of the chunky chicken salad

Maddy's Queen of the mountain

24 Candles

In light of my 24th birthday, I've posted the lyrics of one of my favorite songs..."Twenty-four" by Switchfoot...let's all take a moment:

Twenty-four oceans Twenty-four skies Twenty-four failures And twenty-four tries Twenty-four finds me In twenty-fourth place With twenty-four drop outs At the end of the day Life is not what I thought it was Twenty-four hours ago Still I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' And I'm not who I thought I was Twenty-four hours ago Still I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' There's twenty-four reasons To admit that I'm wrong With all my excuses Still twenty-four strong See, I'm not copping out Not copping out Not copping out When you're raising the dead in me Oh, oh I am the second man Oh, oh I am the second man now Oh, I am the second man now And you're raising these... Twenty-four voices With twenty-four hearts All of my symphonies In twenty-four parts But I want to be one today Centered and true I'm singing 'Spirit take me up in arms with You' You're raising the dead in me Oh, oh I am the second man Oh, oh I am the second man now Oh I am the second man now And you're raising the dead in me Yeah I wanna see miracles To see the world change Wrestled the angel for more than a name For more than a feeling For more than a cause I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' And you're raising the dead in me Twenty-four oceans With twenty-four hearts All of my symphonies With twenty-four parts Life is not what I thought it was Twenty-four hours ago Still I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' I'm not copping out Not copping out

Thanks for hanging in there with the song- This song has powerful lyrics...they'd make good prayers for anyone, whether you are 24 or not!

Here's a brief overview of my day...I wasn't over excited about the big day, but God really blessed me several good memories/blessings:
- a random dream that involved me going for a run and ending up at my parent's house- they cooked me a chicken so I would not have to cook supper on my b-day
- a real b-day run in the morning- I suggest this for everybody on their b-day
- a helpful meeting with my supervisor about my VATA presentation
- productivity at work...I know it sounds crazy, but this doesn't always happen in our office
- a beautiful day- clear and a high of 63 degrees, which is abnormal for my b-day even when I'm in GA-
- a short hike with a few friends and a picnic at the top
- trail mix
- 11 friends that would play board games with me
- Apples to Apples
- Sara Waz's signature brownies and funfetti cake
- phone calls and messages on facebook
Here are some pics...ok, well I don't know if they all were uploaded or not! If they did not make it on this post, I'll just try it again...

Duplication picture

Me and Whit-Dawg manning our station at Passion '06

The Seed

I got the opportunity to volunteer at Passion '06 from January 1st to the 5th. It was a great way to start the new year not only because it involved serving but also because some close friends got to share the experience with me. Passion is all about a generation coming together for the glory of God's name. What I love about the heart behind Passion is that it's not about a particular denomination, speaker or band...but it's about real people seeking and responding to the greatness of God. A quote from the David Crowder Band describe their experience this way, "when our depravity meets His divinity it is a beautiful collision."

This picture is from the art gallery that was in the GoCenter...where we served all week. It always struck me as I passed by, but I didn't notice the words until I took the picture. I thought it was pretty cool- and wanted to share it with you for your viewing pleasure. My favorite hidden line in the picture says "spreading your love to those hopelessly separate from God."

Anyways...to the part about the seed. The one talk that I got to listen to completely was Beth Moore's. She was doing a bit on Galatians 6:7-9. She was centering in on the promise in Galatians 6:9 which says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. " She used an amazing analogy which has been such a blessing to me. She and her husband were helping with some relief work in Africa, particularly distributing food to those in need. While she was there she was talking with one of the full-time workers in Africa, she learned about a problem that was going on with the people. They were so hungry that once they were given seed to plant, they ate the seed and did not take it back to plant it to enjoy the full benefit of the seed. This action struck her as similar to what we do as Christians...instead of planting the "seed" of the Word into the reality of our lives, we taste it and agree that it was good and then a month later we wonder why we're not full and where are harvest is. I think this idea is partially what keeps me from getting excited about conferences like Passion. Let me explain...in the past I have gone to events like this before where I'm moved by the Word but I come back to real life having tasted the seed- but life gets in the way and I lose track and before I know it I'm back to my comfortable sin pattern again. But thankfully God's Word is here to make us victors not scholar!! Beth encouraged us by saying that in order to reap a harvest we must get the Word into our experiences..."therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word inplanted, which ia able to save your soul . But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. " Jame 1:21-22- Beth says it better than I do- so chech out www.268generation.org and look under Louie's latest messages. It will be under Beth Moore Main Session 3.
So may we live as authentic victors in this new year!