We’ll try it and see if there’s a difference in uploading, in pictures and in publishing.

Thanks for checking it out! 

Here’s where it would go . . . jenbush.blogspot.com (it’s up and running now). . .  the only thing that would change is “wordpress” to “blogspot”.

Any ideas? Does anyone even care if I DO change it?

All comments (or non-comments) are welcome here- or there. Whatever!

And what about you . . . what do you think?

They have great, clean, usually-indoor play areas for the kiddos, it’s ALWAYS clean inside, their drive-thru service is ALWAYS fast, the inside service is quick, it’s fairly inexpensive and it’s the healthiest place to go if you want all that in one fell swoop.

But it gets better.

Recently, I hit up the ChickFilA (that’s “chickolay” for some of you) in Alabaster (and that’s “alabastard” for some OTHERS of you). I had 3 precious little girls with me, one of whom left the house without her shoes on. Awesome. (And good call for me- way to pay attention.) We strolled in with what seemed to be all of Alabaster and Helena’s mama’s and children, and I thought to myself “Ohhhh, great. We’re not going to find a place to sit, it’s gonna take too long, they’re already hungry, maybe we should have just driven thru….UGH.”

Oh, ye of little faith.

I had 2 little girls on my hips and one attached to my hand when we walked in and IMMEDIATELY found a 4-seater next to the window . . . . that had just been cleaned by the most professional, attentive 17-year old Chick-Fil-A employee I’ve ever met. She asked if she could do anything to help me out, but I was good for the time being. We all walked up and got in line, were greeted by a friendly face, the girls ordered their food and I mine, and we paid. (That’s right- everybody got to give the sweet cashier some money. Fun times.)

Then the cashier started getting our food together on the serving tray and proceeded to pick it up like she was going to take it out to the table. “Oh, I’ve got 3 little girls here who are itching to hold stuff…..I can get that!” I told her. She politely shook her head and said, “Oh, no, ma’am…I have to!” with a smile. And she brought it out and set it up (and all the girls thanked her) and we enjoyed our meal.

But it gets better than that.

I don’t know what the age is to start working part-time now- what, 16? 17? Younger? Whatever the age, this kid must’ve had his birthday the day before. But he was just as nice and professional as all the others we’d met. He came by with nothing but a smile and said, “Can I refresh a drink for anyone? Can I dispose of some of this trash for y’all?”

WOW.

I knew Chick-Fil-A was a top-notch establishment, but this puts them over the top in my book. I don’t know if this is just the new way of doing things all over the company- as new company policy- or if this is simply excellent management at the Alabaster location, but you can bet that’s where I take kiddos when they’re on my watch.

We love us some “chickolay” and “lemolade”, don’t we? 

This….my favorite possession, if you can call it that. I’m actually thinking of getting a new one, but then I’d have to transfer all of my underlining and notes and quotes…hmmm….oh, the choices we have.

Have you ever stopped to think about how RIDICULOUSLY spoiled we are in the sense that we can walk into most any bookstore and have at our fingertips at least 7 translations of the Bible, in different colors of leather or hardback or some sort of cover….and others around the world don’t even HAVE the Bible?

My fantastic Blackberry. LOVE this thing (and yes, I do mean “love”.) It keeps up my productivity and lets me connect to the rest of the world. With just a few touches, I can send an email, text, find important information on the web, download music, take pictures AND video…OH, and make phone calls, too. 

Speaking of increasing productivity…this new computer is fantastic. SO fast, and I’m even starting to get used to Vista….

. . . I looooove this place.

   This is just one of the NEATEST inventions ever. Where there is cell service, there is internet service. YAY!

  So far, these are pretty much my favorite flipf lops.

So, per the previous post, y’all know how much I like (read: love) this Barnes and Noble purchase.

My church! I LOOOOOOVE my church! www.brookhills.org if you want to check it out- or go with sometime!

Of course, I can’t talk about my church and not talk about . . .

 . . . this guy. Unbelievable Christ-follower. This man inspires me in the way that John Piper and Al Begg and RC Sproul do. And he’s MY local pastor. What a thrilling notion. Careful in making idols of men, though….

  There’s my sweet boys!!

. . . . gotta love these guys . . .

. . . and this guy- my amazing brother.

 Love some of THIS kid . . . .

 . . . . and his sweet little brother . . .

 . . . . and maaaan, do I love me some of these ladies . . . .

. . . then there’s this big lug . . .

I loooove me some o’ this girl- the embodiment of “precious” . . .

. . . and this girl is priceless . . .

 . . . and this adorable little one.

 And, of course, you gotta have F.R.I.E.N.D.S . . . .

. . . and The Office . . .

Surin’s coconut curry tofu soup . . . YUMMY! . . .

. . . and their spicy tuna . . .

AND FAAAAAACEBOOOOOOOOK!!!! Yaaaaaaay!

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

That said, if any of you need a good planner, this is it. $16 at Barnes and Noble and SUCH a trooper. I LOVE this planner- God willing, I’ll never have anything else.

Beautiful baby boy needs a home!

I found this guy, a 10 week old (approx) Beagle, at an apartment complex I was showing on 7/22. He was sad and lonely and scared and hungry, soooo… J I took him to the vet and put about $200 into him and got him TOTALLY fixed up- got his mange and infection cleared completely. He’s SO happy and playful and sweet- good to go, but I can’t keep him as I have 2 big guys. I don’t want anything back for this little man . . . JUST A LOVING HOME (and maybe some updates every now and then!).

CALL ANYTIME, day/night- 205.705.4685- Jen Bush
e-  jenbushjj@gmail.com, jenbush@apt4you.com

This was my Bible verse for the day. How INCREDIBLY pertinent- for all of us, but especially for me, right now, at this point in my life.

Exodus 20:17- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The word covet does not come up in everyday language much. But it certainly is a part of everyday life! The definition for coveting is: to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others. Behind this is a heart of ingratitude, selfishness and a belief that God has somehow withheld something from us. “I sure wish I had one of those… or, “why isn’t my spouse more like them…or, “why do I have to stay in this job…?”

Wanting what we don’t have displays that we are not satisfied with God’s provision in our life. “I deserve better than this!” And, “I know what I need better than God does.” When we believe that God is infinitely good, and we remember that he alone is sovereign, we can set all coveting aside. Another way of translating this command would be, “Be satisfied with what your generous God has given you!”  (Today’s Commentary by: Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor Soma Communities)

Yes, Lord. I’m listening.

Those of you who are fathers (and mothers, for that matter) know what it’s like to feel unconditional love for your child, to do everything in your power to never let them be bullied or be sick or feel an ounce of pain, to want only the best for them and expect nothing in return, to shower love and grace and mercy on them as if they were the only ones in the world. I do not. I am not a parent. I have 2 dogs and that’s about as close as I come to not wanting anyone to hurt “my babies”. (I know all of you parents are rolling on the floor laughing at this HORRIBLE analogy and how far off it is from relating to human children that you birthed yourself, but it’s the best I can do.) 

My father, God love him…he’s a different breed. His life story explains a LOT of why he is the way he is, thinks the way he does, acts the way he does, etc. He is a lawyer AND a pilot, so he’s DOUBLY as anal as one of those occupations would be singularly. He has his quirks and flaws like everyone does, but my father…is gracious and merciful and content and generous and loving and kind and maybe the Godliest man I know. His wisdom and knowledge far surpass anyone I can think of- I think there’s nothing he doesn’t know. As many times as I fail him, he continually picks me up and help me out and pushes me back on the road. I know that it is only by the grace of my Savior that I was given to him (and he to me) and not to a family of 15 in Uganda trying to live on 15 cents a day and have never heard the name “Jesus”. It is only by God’s unimaginable, undeserved grace and mercy that I lived the life I did while growing up under the shelter and care of my parents.

I hear some of the things my dad used to say when I was growing up, and I heard it…but I never REALLY understood it until the world took hold of me and started vying for my time  and attention, wanting every piece of me and to mold me into what IT wants rather than what my God wants and expects of me…. things like “remember who you are and what your name is.”    “Remember who you are and Whose you are.”     “Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”     ”What do we have that is not a gift from God? The very air we breathe, the car you drive, the parents He gave you, the faith to believe that He IS God and is the ONLY God…these are all gifts, sweetheart.”     ”In the overall scheme of things- in the big picture- does this really matter?”     “Obey your father and mother, for this is good in the sight of the Lord.”   ”Live below your means.”      “Obey the first time, every time, and with a good attitude.”      “What else could that money have been spent on, sweetheart? Sending Bibles to China? Sending a missionary a month of meals in Nairobi, Kenya, while they do the work of the Lord?”       “Because I said so.” (NOW THIS MAKES SOOOO MUCH SENSE! Unfortunately, THAT is the first things that comes out of our mouths, not “because mama asked you to do this and you should obey mama because Jesus asked you to obey mama”…)   “Do you need an attitude adjustment?…because I can make that happen.”        ”If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, you SURELY won’t have time to do it right the second time.”         ”…SEE the key….” (as in, “do you see they key in your hand? Do you have the keys in your hand before you lock the door?”)      “…YOU do the right thing.” (as in, “I don’t care whatever everybody else is doing, THEY are not my children or my girl. YOU are. So YOU do the right thing.”)   “Hey, my girl…” (as in what he says when I call him and he answers the phone)      “I wouldn’t take anything in the world- not anything- for you and your brother.”        ”Don’t miss this, dear friends….” (as in, adopted this from our long-time pastor, Dr. Carter, and used it for his own!)       “Just act as nice as you look and you’ll be fine…” (as in, picked this up from my grandmother [mom's mom] and used it for his own- it makes sense, right?!   )

I’m reminded so much of a song by Laura Story. It’s perfect for this post!

“Grace” by Laura Story  

My heart is so proud, my mind is unfocused
I see the things You do through me as great things I have done
And now You gently break me then lovingly You take me
and hold me as my father and mold me as my Maker

I ask you how many times will You pick me up when I keep on letting You down
and each time I will fall short of Your glory,  how far wil forgiveness abound??
and You answer, “My child, I love you ,and as long as you’re seeking my face
you’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.”

At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged
knowing that someone somewhere could do a better job
for who am I to serve You? I know I don’t deserve you
and that’s the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on…

I ask you how many times will you pick me up when I keep on letting you down?
and each time I will fall short of Your glory how far wil forgiveness abound??
and You answer “my child, I love you, and as long as you’re seeking my face,
you’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.”
You are so patient with me, Lord…

As I walk with You, I’m learning what Your grace really means
the price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary
so instead of trying to repay You, I’m learning to simply obey You
by giving up my life to You for all that You’ve given to me

I ask you how many times will you pick me up when I keep on letting You down
and each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far wil forgiveness abound??
and You answer “my child, I love you, and as long as you’re seeking My face
you’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.”

Thank you, Daddy- I love you!

Passionately and with great conviction today- as always- Dr. Box geared us toward remembering the wonder of our salvation, and there were more than a few things he said that really stuck with me. A#1 that really hit home (and has actually been on my mind a good bit lately) is that he said he’s preached this exact sermon on 2 very different continents, here and in South Afica, in a place where the literal translation (in the native tongue) of the town he was in was “hell”. He said he preached it here and MOST of the time, he got a “great sermon, preacher- great job, I really needed that…hey, how was the game last night?” However…in South Africa, when people hear this sermon and hear what Dr. Box preaches, it’s “AMEN” and “HALLELUJAH” and “JESUS SAVES” and people falling on their knees and faces with their hands raised in the air. Not, of course, because of the greatness of Dr. Box…but of the GREATNESS of Jesus Christ and the power of His cleansing, healing, soul-saving blood. Dr. Box said he doesn’t know why that is- that power is POWER wherever we are in the world, and when it TRULY is life-changing, it IS life-changing. So why do we take it for granted here? Why does is not “mean as much” here? Why aren’t we on our faces and hands and knees every HOUR of every DAY, especially at church around our faith families who are supposed to, praising Jesus for His awe-inspiring very nature, His life-giving breath each and every day and the many blessings we so blindly take for granted every day, like we’re owed something because we were born as Americans.

I think I know why, and Dr. Box touched on it ever so briefly in his sermon this morning- he mentioned our affluence. And I’m very much inclined to agree. My daddy has actually mentioned it before, and ever since he did, it’s aaaaaaaall started to make sense. I GUARANTEE you that being a Christian in Mountain Brook (or any other “over the mountain” area in Birmingham) looks very different on a daily basis than being a Christian in downtown Birmingham or Roebuck or Centerpoint or on Lorna Road. I guarantee you that being a Christian looks different in the affluent suburbs of _____ (pick a place) than it does on the borders of Texas and Mexico or in the slums of a major metropolitan city or on the outskirts of a poverty-stricken town where few dare to even set foot in America. And I can without a DOUBT guarantee you that being a Christian here in America is vastly different than being a Christian in the Gaza Strip…or in Uganda…or in South Africa…or in China. Does not the same faith and grace alone that saves the unemployed, AIDS-infected, uneducated widow in ____ (again, pick a place around the world) save us here in the United States? Of course it does. SO WHY DOES IT SEEM TO MEAN SO LITTLE???

I think- no, I’m certain- it goes back to our affluence. Now I’m sure many of you (rolling of eyes- of maybe the 6 people that read this blog!) are thinking “affluent? Have you SEEN my bank account lately? I’m not affluent in the slightest- you have got to be kidding me.”. And you’d be sorely mistaken. Take myself, for example. I moved last week to a different apartment- and I couldn’t help but think over and over again….” I don’t use half of this stuff. And really, I probably only use about 30% of this stuff.” Why do I have all this STUFF??? It’s just stuff!! Really! And it’s because we live in America, where the unmistakable mantra is “the American dream”. More and more stuff. More money to buy more stuff. More hours at work to make more money to buy more stuff. A bigger house- which means more money to make which means more hours at work- then you add in…let’s say….time with the family (soccer games, recitals, shopping [inevitably for more stuff], watching TV and movies, bath time, etc.), dinners out to eat with friends and family, going to the gym, church on Sunday morning, gotta have some alone time in there somewhere….oh, and gotta fit God in there somewhere because if I don’t, I might feel guilty.  ? ? ? ? ! ! ! ! ! ? ? ? ? ! ! ! ! ? ? ? ? ! ! ! ! What is wrong with this picture?

And I’m speaking to myself, as well, because I am FAR from perfect- but I am called to REGULARY examine my life and right myself back on the straight and narrow. Here’s one of my sins- it’s easy to be a Christian here. We have it SO easy here in America- we can go to church each Sunday in a beautifully orchestrated, well-oiled machine of a church, with its air conditioning and/or heat, its children’s programs and up-front parking for first-time guests, bikers and the handicapped. We can buy a new Bible when the “old” one has a tear in it. We can hear Christian songs on the radio, sung by artists with God-given talent doing what they know they’re supposed to be doing….listening to them on a radio…in a great car with A/C and heat and leather and a sunroof…driving down a paved highway or interstate…in really great clothes that were most likely bought within the past 6 months to a year…drinking $4 bottled water which we’ll conveniently throw in a garbage can on our way to a meeting or lunch with friends or the job that has been so graciously provided to us. Where does God fit in to all that? To the typical (and yes, I say TYPICAL because that may or may not be you) American, God- the Holiest of Holies, the one and only Living Savior, the God of Universe, the One who decides whether you take your next breath or not, the Almighty Father, the Trinity, the Most High God, the God whom our predecessors trembled before and had such fear that they literally DIED- yes, that God… is an afterthought. Maybe. If you’re “lucky”. Maybe you think of Him and say a quick prayer for “a good day” or to pass your test or thank Him for the [over-priced] meal you’re about to inhale on your yacht before cruising to the next destination. Maybe you take His name in vain when someone pulls out in front of you in traffic or takes your parking space at the mall. Or maybe you treasure the time you get to spend alone with that God, making time throughout your day to praise His HOLY Name and thank Him for what He’s done and is doing in your life. Maybe you make it your goal to give 10% of your income each month in a tithe to your church and then give another 10% to it’s missionary fund that gives necessary income and essentials to its teachers and preachers around the world.  Maybe you have a heart for people and a desire to see those around you and those around the world come to know and have a true, honest, DEEPLY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the Living God. Maybe you are regularly astonished at the state of our nation and those around you and find yourself turning your personal compass back to Him on a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute basis, always  keeping in mind that everything we have is a gift from God and HIS name is to be glorified and praised and honored. OH, I hope to be something like the last person.

Here’s what Dr. Box was touching on today- it’s easy to be a Christian here in America for one specific reason I can think of off the top of my head. The typical American has NO idea what it’s like to be a true Christ-follower, a “Christian”, for we have turned the term “Christian” into something wholly wrong and ugly and totally unlike what Christ wants of us. We do not identify with the Christ of the country club, the $90K SUV, the vacation homes in 3 places or the excessive “bling” we wear when going out to fancy $200 dinners at trendy bistros. We, as Christians, saved by the redeeming blood of the Son of the Most High God, should identify with the poor, the needy, the destitute, the diseased, the filthy…with the nails on the cross and the throngs of people yelling and spitting on Him. We, as “owed Americans”, have taken Christianity, removed all the things we don’t like about it and turned it into something “easy” and “light” and “mainstream” so that everyone is “loved” and nobody’s feelings are hurt. (Yep, that sounds like an American response to things these days..) It’s not a term to use lightly or that anyone can just “pick up on” and run with and claim they are, not a “good person mentality” or throwing money at the church every month or even volunteering in the nursery or going on misison trips. It’s a lifestyle, it’s a total sacrifice of this earthly life for the next life spent praising and glorifying Christ, it’s a “dying-to-self-and-living-for-Christ-day-in-and-day-out-no-matter-who’s-looking” kind of life. Is affluency bad? No. Is “stuff” bad or inherently wrong? Of course not. But we are used to a lifestyle here in America- rather, we have been ABOVE AND BEYOND graced with these lifestyles- and it’s way too easy to depend on ourselves for everything we do and need and buy and see and think. We don’t have to wholly and assuredly depend on our Savior for our every need every day. Our faith is so small because our problems are so few. Our walk with the Lord is so backward because every day life is so easy. Our faith would look a lot different if we depended on our Savior and our local church for our food, toiletries, any sort of medicine we might be able to get our hands on, clothing and some sort of shoes to cover our feet.

It’s very easy, we talked about Sunday, to miss out on the WONDER of our salvation. On the very wonder that we are by NO means owed ANYTHING in this life, yet we are graced with so many blessings we take for granted on a daily basis. On the very wonder that the Father was not only able to save us from our sins, but was WILLING to save us from our sins and watch us mess up on a daily, hourly and minute-by-minute basis, only to forgive us (should we ask) over and over and over again. Missing on the WONDER that we were DEAD in our sins- not sick, not diseased, not dying….DEAD. Not flailing about in the sea begging for a savior, but DEAD  at the very bottom of the abyss of the sea, and the Father dove to the bottom, pulled up our lifeless corpses and brought us to the top and then to shore, then breathed His breath into us, thereby giving us NEW life. And again, we come back to the fact that dead people can do NOTHING- if you’re dead, you’re DEAD. No life whatsoever, so to say that we “accepted” Christ isn’t entirely accurate. No, instead, we were GRACED with the very ABILITY to believe that Jesus Christ was the one and only Son of God who came to the earth as a baby, born of a virgin, lived a sinless, perfect life, taught and preached and lived every emotion and feeling that we do as humans created in His image…and then died a horrific, torturous death on a cross 33 years later, was buried and RESURRECTED HIMSELF TO LIFE again 3 days later.

And we have the audacity to take that for granted?

OH, MY…how I need to be reminded of that every second of every minute of every hour of every day of the rest of my life.

http://michaelldouglas.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/worthy-is-the-lamb-who-was-slain/

Here’s a bit of what he says.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jenbushjj/BlueAngelsTuscaloserRegionalAirport04032009?authkey=Gv1sRgCIWEktCxmMH-fw&feat=directlink

or maybe THIS one is my favorite...

                                                             * * * * * MY DADDY AND I WERE ABLE TO GET PASSES TO THE FULL DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE BLUE ANGELS SHOW THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!  I HAVEN’T SEEN THOSE BOYS FLY IN AWHILE, SO IT WAS GREAT TO GET OUT THERE ON SUCH A GORGEOUS DAY AND GET UP CLOSE (ISH). WE HAD SO MUCH FUN, AND IT WAS A GREAT DRY RUN FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW . . . . . IT’S NICE TO KNOW PEOPLE AND BE ABLE TO PULL STRINGS SOMETIMES, ISN’T IT???     * * * * *

OK, maybe this one's my favorite...and YES, they flew directly over my head!

or maybe this one is... BEAUTIFUL.

AMAZING!!!

love this one

goooooooorgeous

too many good ones to choose from!

love this one as well- a favorite

whew- is that cool or what?

gooooooorgeous!!!

sitting here having a quiet moment with my Savior before church, i’m reminded of the awe-inspiring nature of my Lord. everything He does is grand, everything He does is done with a flourish, everything He does is done to bring glory and honor and praise to His name and His name alone. why would I not want to be a huge part of serving that God??!! I am so blessed to be a daughter of the King. and now, as dr. platt said last week, it’s not about me anymore- it’s about all those billions of people out there who don’t know Jesus and may have never heard His name. it literally is my God-given duty to make His name known.

the trees are covered, and there’s a precious beauty to see the contrast between the bright, white, fresh snow and the dark color of the bark. one of my favorite things to photograph. the dogs were bewildered when we walked outside- then they figured out they’re snow-proof and started playing around in it and were as frisky as i’ve ever seen them, if not more. they played and ran, and i caught more than a few snowflakes on my tongue!  :)

me…i just stare at it. it’s actually hard for me to sit here and write this because i feel like i’m missing out on one of God’s great shows. so many words come to mind here- undeniably one of the most beautiful sights ever. mesmerizing. captivating. rare. amazing. romantic.  unbelievable. awesome. quiet. still.

i think those might be my two favorite words to describe it- “quiet” and “still”. have you ever noticed how still it is after a snowfall? it’s like a big white blanket of hush. well, that is, until children come out and start giggling and playing and yelling and screaming because they have the guts to get out there and do what most adults won’t let themselves do…play in it! be silly and vulnerable and child-like for a few moments. let the beauty and majesty and wonder of God’s creation wrap you up and revel in His awesome-ness.

I love the snow- LOVE IT- and I’m glad it doesn’t happen as often as it does elsewhere. we revel in it, are completely and totally caught up in the beauty and splendor of it- and then it goes away in 24 hours or less…doesn’t stick, doesn’t cause road issues (except w/crazy birmingham drivers!). it’s the best of both worlds.

dear Father, thank you for small Southern miracles.

I say that because I am eating my words and they’re quite bitter.  :(  I said I didn’t want to attend this church because of numerous things that have since been reconciled, but I was too proud to admit I didn’t know it and was too haughty to think I would go anywhere other than what I found by myself. And now…what was my church is now the church I used to attend. I was going to join, but I missed the membership class on Sunday by about 2 weeks. I am convinced that was the hand of God leading me to be patient and wait- the church only has membership classes every quarter or so…and I just missed it. Now, had I already joined, it would make this process I’m going through now much harder. But God, in His sovereignty, knew that I needed that church at the time, and He knew what was coming down the road. I am now going with S to his church, and I’ve just recently completed the membership process there. We have an amazing senior pastor who brings The Word of God every Sunday with a passion and fire that are unrivaled, yet in the most genuine, urgent and modern way. The heart of the church is undeniably mission-minded, and our pastor is moving every day toward being even more solid in that aspect. I’m excited about going to church, I love to be in that building on Sundays, surrounded by a faith family who shares the same goals I do, and I have actually very much gotten used to the worship style. I didn’t think I would be able to- rather, I thought it would take much longer than it has- and I’m now very much at ease and comfortable with it all- well, most of it. I still tear up every time someone is baptized. 

All that to say, make ‘em taste good, y’all…they may come back in the menu of the day- and soon.  

I’m NOT a girly-girl. (I know you all are laughing hysterically right now, but contain yourselves, please.)  :)    

I’m not girly in a lot of ways that other girls are. I’m a “guys’ girl”- always have been, and I hasten to say I probably always will be. I’ve always had more guy friends than girl friends, but my girl friends are OH SO SPECIAL, and our relationships are so meaningful and deep. I like a lot more things that guys like than girls like and a lot fewer things that girls are supposed to like. I guess I could throw in a Sociology lesson here from last semester, but I will not. That would take all the fun away. 

I found myself wandering off in thought later that night, thinking, “he’s right!” So here it is:
- I really, REALLY like fast cars. I like to drive fast in them, and I rarely trust the skills of the driver in comparison to mine.
- I like very curvy roads. I feel like I could keep up a conversation about cars and which ones which are and WHY they are the way they are- now when it gets down to CCs and horsepower and torque and blahblahblah, I’m lost.
- I looooove motorcycles. They smells good!!! I love being on them (on the back, anyway), I love all the lingo that goes along with riding, I love hearing them, I love watching them, love them love them love them. 
- I REALLY like a good steak. Rare, please- and still bleeding would be a treat.
- I love loud music- sunroof back, windows down, tunes cranked to as high as I can stand it. Oh, yes. (Although at the same time I love loud music and the crazy stuff we listen to sometimes, if I’m by myself sometimes I like to have the ballads and softer stuff playing for awhile- it just depends!)
- I love sports and have always excelled at them (not bragging, just saying how very competitive I am). I LOVE soccer, football, beach volleyball, gymnastics, swimming (not doing it, mind you!)
- I think there are appropriate situations to let out a vile word or two- nothing sacreligious, just…pointed.  :)  Like a few rows ahead of here…I wanted to say something other than “heck yeah”.  HA!  :)
- Nothing like a good beer and some pizza. Good, cold beer. Rarely will you see me drinking one of those fancy, uppity, “girly” drinks. 
- I never want to pay for a manicure- pedicure, yes, b/c darn it, those things are just hard to reach sometimes and I have ingrowns that need to be fixed. Fingernails, I can do and don’t need the treatments and the fake nails and the acrylics and the blahblahblah. Bylech.
- I love shoes. You can only have so many brown and black and printed purses, then the novelty sort of wears off. But shoes….oh. Now, there, I am a TOTAL girl. Jewelry…not so much. A few great necklaces, some really nice earrings and a ring. I’m done. 
- I don’t get offended easily- say whatever you want. Better to be honest and go ahead and deal with it if it’s something that needs to be dealt with than harbor it and squash it only to have it come up in some conversation way down the road at an inappropriate time. Bring it up, talk about it, fight about it, be done with it. 

In the same ways that I’m very much not a girl, there are some things that are just intended to be girly. Having HIM- whoever HE is, wherever HE is, open doors for me (church, car, home, restaurant, etc.) is just fantastic. It makes me feel so special and loved.  :) All the “girly” things surrounding a relationship that really are special and really do mean something, the things that make the other person feel appreciated and giddy and like they’re the only person in the world to you- aaaaaall that stuff….the hand-holding, the surprise of flowers on a…Tuesday, being sweet and letting down the guards we put up to be vulnerable and open with the other person, kissing everywhere in public and not caring who sees, getting all caught up in the other person. Undeniably, one of my favorite things is to be wrapped up in his arms, staring up at him while he looks down at me and makes me feel incredibly safe, protected and cared for.  These are just a few of my favorite things. Just wait ’til HE shows up- y’all will see.

As women/females/girls, we have so much to deal with. Now obviously not all this applies to me, but here’s the short list of things I can think of. Off the top of my head: hormones that make us sad then happy then down then up, weight gain that boys don’t have to deal with, having babies and raising children (not bad, hear me- it’s just that most of the rearing falls on our shoulders in most cases), cooking/cleaning (again, in most cases), hair coloring, waxing, making dinner every night, shaving, keeping the men in line , boobs (hahaha), keeping up the stereotypes that women (in general) have, dealing with that monthly enemy of ours, etc. That said…. boys seem to have it so much easier! They can pee outside, go to work, then come home and sit on the couch, relax, wait for dinner to be made, rarely have to help clean up and can blame it on “being a woman” if we get upset about something. They don’t have to work near as hard, on the whole, as women do to get and stay in shape, they don’t have hormones to deal with, they don’t have to birth children, worry about keeping up their nails and hair, they can burp and fart and blame it all on being a guy. 

Now…the same hormones that make it hard to be a girl sometimes also make us kind and caring and compassionate and sweet and make our boys want to hug us and kiss and love on us. They make them want to pull us close when we cry- and sometimes laugh at us when we cry (though, believe me, that won’t happen often!). The same things that we complain about physically are the same things that make our boys look at us the way they look at us. The same hormones that make us feel crazy sometimes are the same hormones that make the ones around us feel loved and cared for, even when we don’t think they do. The crazy monthly stuff we have to deal with is a part of making beautiful, adorable, lovely, make-you-crazy-sometimes children to nurture and protect.

It’s a double-edged sword being a girl, isn’t it, ladies…?  

As one of the biggest Auburn fans you’ll ever meet, I am a bit perturbed over the Auburn Nation’s continued bashing of new head coach Gene Chizik. No, he’s not Tommy Tuberville. No one ever will be. No, he’s not the one we “wanted” (though those were all over the place); however, HE IS OUR NEW HEAD COACH, SO LET’S GET BEHIND HIM!

He is the one Jay Jacobs picked- he didn’t play “pin the random coach on Auburn” or get drunk one night and go through the “coaches phonebook” (as it were) to find the craziest person he could. He made a justified, sound decision based on the research done and communications held between him and the administration- and coaching staff! Here’s a great example- let’s look at our former coach, Tommy Tuberville. Whoever gets him, should he decide to coach somewhere else, is going to get a fantastic coach- and an all-around good guy!    BUT…when the fans of his new team take a look at his last seasons, what will they see? LOSSES. Many more than the Auburn Nation would like to count. But we KNOW he can coach, we KNOW he’s a great coach and we KNOW that the players and fans respected (and still respect) him.

So why can’t we show Gene Chizik the same respect?

I say, congratulations, Coach Chizik. You’ve just stepped into some big, big shoes and our Auburn Nation is behind you. Make us proud!