Five Faves

Kate Schmate put me up to this. And I'm glad for the opportunity to share 5 of my favorite things right now.

In no particular order:

1. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanaukenMy friend Megan recommended this book to me, so I picked it up at the library. And then I passed it on to Nate. This is a love story and account of a couple's conversion to Christianity and the influences of C.S. Lewis through actual letters. I highly recommend it.

2. These running shoes. Awesome.
3. Muddy Buddy Adventure Race. I'm waiting for the 2010 Austin info... who wants to buddy up with me?
I don't know who these people are, but I would like to be in their shoes...

4. I have a problem finding headbands that will stay put, and stay tight around my head. My large head tends to stretch headbands out so much that they become loose and fall of my head after 30 minutes, which defeats the purpose of holding back the flyaways and soaking up my sweat. I'm intrigued by these Under Armour Mini Headbands and noticed they received good reviews. But now that it's starting to cool down a bit in Houston, I may not need them.

5. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.So maybe that's an odd item to name as a favorite thing right now... but it always is. My lips are addicted.

Back to Maine

I know I can't stop talking about Maine. But recent news from Acadia National Park was eye-opening for me. 7 people were swept up by a giant ocean wave, 1 young girl died.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/08/25/maine.wave.death/index.html

And of course a blurb and photos from M.S.
http://www.themarthablog.com/2009/08/a-tradgedy-near-my-home-in-maine.html

Almost exactly a year ago, Nate and I were in almost the exact location where this happened. Here we are, smiling happily at Thunder Hole.
Thunder Hole is a popular tourist attraction at the park.
My condolences to those involved in the tragedy... especially to the family of the 7 year old who perished in a completely unexpected event.

Wow.

I was reminded this weekend that my parents dropped me off at Vanderbilt almost exactly 10 years ago today. Really?!?!?

After 6 years, the search is over

I was so excited to find lychee at the Asian supermarket this weekend! I have been searching everywhere for it ever since I arrived in Houston, although I am sure I haven't quite been looking hard enough, because while I was at Kroger today, there they were in the regular produce section! YUM!

My life is complete.

A 4 year old's thoughts on the cross

We had a great time visiting with my parents, brother and sis-in-law, and our three nieces in Dallas last weekend! I had to share a conversation about my necklace:

My 4-yr-old niece CC: Auntie Charlotte, why is there a cross in the heart?

Me: Oh well don't you like it?

(after thinking it over...)

CC: Jesus died on a cross.

Me: Yes, he did.

CC: And then he was in a cave.

My friend: the neighbor's cat

A couple weeks ago I noticed that I hadn't seen the cat next door in several days. I naturally began worrying about her and I was convinced she was dead. However, Nate has always said that I have a "ripe imagination" so I put my hopes on the fact that she we would soon reappear.

I talked to our neighbor today while he was out washing his truck. Sheba is gone. Apparently, he found her dead, and he suspects that a dog got to her. I was horrified and very sad. She was a beautiful Siamese mix, very friendly, and had a reputation of keeping the other critters away from the territory surrounding our units. Our neighbor had her for 8 or 9 years. He was obviously still coping with the loss.

She wasn't mine, but I had grown somewhat attached to her, as she would often greet us when we got out of our cars, roll around on the path ready for a rub-down, and she was just a natural part of our immediate surroundings at home. We can still see the shape of her body in the indentations she made in the ground cover underneath the stairs, where she would often sleep.

There's one thing about a pet dying of old age... and another about a pet dying in a struggle of self defense. It makes me sick. But, that is nature, I suppose. She will be missed!

(At the time of this writing, Cheyenne will never ever ever ever be an outdoor cat. Sheltered indoors for life!)

All creatures great and small

Back to M Stewart and Maine, she has partnered up with Purina One to raise money for animal shelters.

Cheyenne was a shelter cat and ever since we picked her up I've been wanting to go back and contribute my time to them. I've been volunteering at the local SPCA for the past few months, and as an avid animal lover, it is honestly one of the most rewarding volunteer projects I've ever been a part of. I don't do what seems like much (I clean cages and show cats and kittens to interested customers), but at the end of the day, I know I'm helping animals off the streets and adopted into good homes. And that means the world to me.

Sign up to help out at your local animal shelter and Purina One will make a donation to a participating shelter.