Why I love….

Foot Fetish.

Call it what you want, but I love my nephew’s piggys.

I love them so much that I always take a picture of them when I see him, weird I know, but I’ve faced the fact that I’m weird. I think my parents also should be recognized for attributing to this obsession cause when I was a wee one my parents (and dad still will) would tug on my toes. I can still remember my mom grabbing them and singing, “This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed at home. This little piggy has roast beef, This little piggy had none. And this little piggy cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!” all the way home”.

Well now I have these little piggy’s to sing to.

Piggies

Add comment November 8, 2009

Repost: My Job.

Back when I started this good old blog it was my intent to express my thoughts on why I love “fill in the blank”. While lately it’s gotten away from each post being something different that I love and why I love it, I’ve recently been reminded of why my first post was my job. Yesterday Jeff Henderson started a new sermon at church called @work. He spoke about four main reasons that we work…

1. we do it for a purpose

2. we do it to pay the bills

3. we do it for an identity

4. we do it for success

None of these reasons will make you love your job. In fact, they’ll stress you out, make you hate it and take you away from the real reason that God created work. Jeff went on to share Colossians 3:23 which states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” He highlights that WHATEVER you do you are working for the Lord. Regardless of where you are – church, McDonald’s, ING, WHATEVER you do you are working for the Lord. We are to show that God is at work in our lives, that God is the reason we work – to glorify Him, to thank Him, to show His light… and with that said I repost an excerpt from my original post “job.”

“Who loves their job? Do you? Do you find yourself waking up each morning thinking today I get to work and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be? I do. It’s crazy (or maybe that’s what the average person would think). Nowhere else I’d rather be is a huge statement. Something that I probably can’t even fully grasp, but as much of it that I can – I know it’s the truth. I wouldn’t rather be at the beach or the mountains or even at home in my (oh so comfortable) bed. I want, desire, and love to be at Waumba Weekday at Buckhead Church.

So here’s the story: Over a year ago, God used a great friend to encourage me to apply for a teaching position in Waumba Weekday (a.k.a. Weekday / preschool program) at Buckhead. I considered applying (for maybe a second), threw it aside and the little pest bothered me again about it the very next day (in more words or less this is how it went down)….

J: “Hey, you e-mailed Kristin Willis from the bulletin at church about the preschool position?”

T: “No, you really think I should? I mean yeah it would be nice to work during the day and then tutor at night. Maybe it’s some sign. (It was the first time I ever attended a service at Buckhead – I was without a doubt a Northpointer).”

J: “What could you lose?”

T: “Nothing (except valuable time to lay in bed)”

Finally halfway through that week I was tired of being “bothered” as I called it, and I decided to e-mail Kristin and give it a shot. I got an interview, but I had heard stories about applying at the church and how long it could take so I didn’t have high expectations. Interviewed, didn’t feel one-way or the other, confused as all get out when I left the grocery store. Probably a little over a week later I had a job offer. (Huh? What? Ok. God you’re doing something). I started as the 3’s teacher April 30, 2007. Little did I know what God had in store.

Looking back on the past 17 months God has blessed me beyond my wildest imagination. I taught for over a year and then recently accepted the position to be Director of Weekday. I get to hang out with my friends each and every workday. God has blessed with an amazing providential relationship. The children (who are the real stars) teach me about God’s love each day. These little ones challenge and motivate me to make their environment better and better. Each day has and I am sure will continue to be unpredictable.

I make one last rant that probably is my heart for loving my job. I love the friends and stories I have, but through the past 17 months God has shown me what Weekday does in His Eyes. Weekday provides an environment that not only impacts the lives of staff children and staff, but every individual that steps into the doors of Buckhead Church or the living room of someone’s home through a Buckhead environment. We don’t just watch the future of the world (even though that’s what brings us joy each day), my friends and I are an integral part of what God’s doing in Buckhead. We help make GroupLink, the Living Room, and so many more environments possible. More than likely what we do at Weekday has impacted your life.

That’s why I love my job.”

I love my job cause it provides me an opportunity to work for Him just like yours. Yes, it’s in a church, but let me be the first to tell you that that does not make it any easier to work for the Lord.

Are you working for the Lord?

Add comment November 6, 2009

White Lightning.

I’ve got a question for you….

What’s white and really fast?

Give up?

My Honda.

I appropriately named my car white lightning a few years back. I’m not going to lie I have a lead foot, especially when the music is loud. Anyway let’s get to the real reason for this post. My first big purchase out of college was white lightning on 12/1/05. It was the first car I ever bought so I knew she’d be special, and I knew I would have her for a long time. Monday, my little white lightning hit 50,000 miles. I’ve never driven that many miles on one car! She’s been the best car that I’ve had in 11 years (ouch, I feel old!) of driving, and I plan to have white lightning until there’s a one in front of that five.

Thanks White Lightning!!!!

50,000 miles

Add comment November 5, 2009

“My good book” review.

I’m not a reader, I don’t profess to be one, and probably won’t ever be an avid reader. Lately I’ve committed myself to be more of a reader. I’m starting out with small, less than 200 page books.

I’ve finished reading my first book! yay! It was “The Best Question Ever” by Andy Stanley (ironic… I got it as a free book when I became Weekday Director). I was hooked right away! It couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time, and it makes me smile when God does the little things like that.

The book revolves around one principle that I feel like should be revisited everyday and a book I should read at least once a year. Andy states that all life’s questions can be answered through this principle… which is what is the wise thing for me to do in light of my past experiences, my present circumstances and my future hopes and dreams. Andy teaches the importance of making wise decision with your time, money and morality. He pulled verse after verse of God talking about how to make wise decisions and why to make wise decisions. My favorite verse he used was Ephesians 5:15 – Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but wise. God is using such simple words to get across such an important aspect of life. He wants us to live our life as wise people looking to Him for Wisdom.

When’s the last time you sought God’s Wisdom?

Add comment November 3, 2009

Finding wholeness

in discovering Surrender.

in learning Wisdom.

in seeking Truth.

in embracing Love.

in knowing Jesus.

Add comment November 2, 2009

Curls just want to have fun!

I’ve been thinking lately that I want to do something with my long hair. I definitely don’t want to chop 10 inches off again, but I want to do something that I can do on my own. I want to give my hair some volume cause it is straight as a board.

Tonight, mom and I put curlers in my hair for the first time (that I can remember). I wasn’t necessarily convinced that I was going to like it, but I was at least going to give it a shot.

After all is said and done… I’m actually really loving it! Crazy, me with curlers? Who knows I might just go buy my own set! Watch out!

My mom is the greatest!

: What!?!?!

: Curls.. Curls.. Curls..

: Sassy!

1 comment November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween.

Fall time is my favorite part of the year, so it’s no surprise that I love Halloween. Most Halloween’s my sister and I were dressed the same, which I loved and she didn’t. Some of my fondest childhood memories are carving pumpkins with my family. I loved digging into the pumpkin and pulling out the seeds and guts. It baffles me that most children don’t enjoy that aspect of Halloween. Apparently pumpkins have become gooey-er or something cause most of the children I’m around think it’s disgusting.

This Halloween is a little more special though than in recent years (the dressing up part of Halloween isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re an adult – even though I was a penguin on Thursday for Weekday). Today marks Wyatt’s two week birthday and his first Halloween. I wasn’t sure that I was going to get to see him today, but the last ring on the doorbell tonight was my little nephew in his first Halloween shirt (purchased by Gran, complete with pumpkin socks and sock hat). Such a great surprise!

I get so excited when I see him, and I’m still obsessed with taking his picture. Tonight he was bright-eyed and bushy tailed! We certainly got some adorable pictures… let me know what you think.

Rockin' the pumpkin socks

What's that you say? I'm cute?!

I'm not going to laugh!

Caught you laughing!

Add comment November 1, 2009

Planes, Texas and Automobiles

Yesterday I went on an impromptu trip to Texas. My pilot friend Sean was picking up a client and asked if I wanted to tag along. My thought was well.. why not?!?

We flew out around 8:30 made it to Laredo, Texas in about 4 hours. If you don’t know where Laredo, Texas is just think of the U.S. border (literally). As we were landing, Sean pointed out the HUGE Mexican flag that was just on the other side of the river between the US and Mexico. I certainly didn’t expect to see into Mexico yesterday. I wish I had taken my passport cause it would have taken less than 10 minutes to drive across the border.

We drove around Laredo, ate lunch and headed back to the airport. In addition to picking up Sean’s client, we were taking him to Gainesville, Texas (northeast) to check the progress of an 1960 Ferrari that he is restoring. It was probably the greatest part of the day (besides finishing my good book on the flight back home ). I grew up with a grandfather that restored cars for fun. Countless evenings and weekends were spent at Papa James’ shop in Tucker. As a ten-year old, I was amazed at the work (and years) that went restoring a car properly. My papa put a lot of blood, sweat and time into restoring his Fords back to perfection. The quality of work is priceless compared to that of cars made now and yet we pay tens of thousands more dollars. tragic.