Catrina Sings "Kinkle, Kinkle Little Star"

This is my adorable little niece singing one of her favorite songs...Kinkle, Kinkle Little Star!
Love HER!!!

The Cutest Blog on the Block

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I'm Back From Ethiopia!!!

I'm finally back...I'll do my best to get some pics up soon...today was super long and my bags are still not in my possession...they're in Tulsa just not with me yet! I'll post as soon as I can charge my camera battery :-)

New Moon....

I'm officially addicted to New Moon now!  

This too, will be taking up a lot of my free time...

Yesterday was a GORGEOUS day...I came home

after church and opened the doors and all the windows 

in the house, I curled up on the couch with book 

#2 of the Twilight Series.  I'm lovin' every page of it!!!  

I highly suggest this series, but seriously, 

read at your own risk...It is VERY ADDICTIVE!!! :-)

Twilight....

So, this is what's been taking up most of my time lately...It all 

started on my road trip to Minnesota with Leah and Emily. 

Now...I work, go wherever I need to go next, then 

come home and jump in bed with this ever so popular and 

exciting book!  I'm reading thelast few pages this evening and 

it's off to "New Moon" the 2nd book in the 4 book series.  

I'll let you know how that goes!

This book will be in Motion Picture this December, you can 

check out a trailer here.  I don't know if I'll go see the movie

because it may ruin it for me.  they're using a bunch of 

no-name actors and it'll probably end up being a cheesy movie.

We'll see, come November, if I'm singing the same tune. 

The Olympics Are Over...so sad

It's All over :-(

I've really enjoyed the excitement of

the Beijing Olympics. I've had many conversations

with friends about the SPECTACULAR Opening Ceremonies,

close finishes in swimming, Dara Torres competing at 41 and showing

great sportsmanship when her competetor had a torn suit,

Michael Phelps smashing world records and winning 8 Golds,

Shawn Johnson finally winning a much deserved Gold,

OU boy Jonathan Horton winning Silver-Boomer Sooner!,

Trampolining...who remembered that was an Olympic sport?!?

The women's & men's relay FINALLY getting it together and

winning after dropping the baton in the previous race,

and many more fascinating moments...I LOVED IT ALL!!!

It was all good...I loved every second of it and

I'll patiently wait for the London Olympics 2012.

Beijing Olympics 2008- One World One Dream

The Countdown - 498 Days 

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This is me on the very steep slope on the Great Wall

While we were climbing, we kept seeing signs that said 

"Sleep Slope Ahead" 

You can't tell but I'm sporting my Olympic Gear- the Jacket

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This was up high on a hill as we climbed 

the Great Wall

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The Opening Ceremonies- AMAZING!!!

Just over 500 days ago my excitement for the Olympics began...How do I know 500 days?!?!

I was in Beijing when the "500 days until the Olympics" mile marker occurred.  

They celebrated with a bang that day too....fireworks and all!  

We were in Tiananmen Square where they had a HUGE countdown displayed.

I climbed the Great Wall of China and saw the Olympics slogan for the first time...up close and personal- One World One Dream 2008.

Val and I bought our semi matching Olympic Gear.

Great memories.  

Well....to no surprise, China out did themselves with the opening ceremonies...I was in AWE the entire time.  Nothing short of Spectacular!  

This is a fantastic time of year....thousands of people from around the globe, all in one place, to compete...they're the best of the best in the entire World.  Makes for very intense & exciting competition!

Enjoy.  Go USA!

Lovin' every minute of the Olympics!!!

The Men's 4 x 100m Relay, one word....INTENSE!!!!

So the Frenchies decided they would do a little smack talk...

I say...BRING IT ON!!!  The Men's relay team said the same thing

and kicked some France tail!!!  I've NEVER been more excited about

swimming in my entire life!  It was the most exciting race I've ever witnessed and 

I do believe it made history, I know they demolished the World Record.  

You can read more about this exciting relay here.

I'm certainly addicted to the Olympics this year...be ready for me to post 

NUMEROUS times before the closing ceremonies.

An Old Passion Reignited...

I'm a week late posting this but for good reason.  I've taken up a new hobby, well, it's not all that new actually.  I was given a camera at the age of 5 but was never really taught the ins and outs of photography.  I've ALWAYS LOVED taking pictures, but they never quite turned out how I hoped.  In January, I FINALLY bought a digital camera before my big trip to India.  That's where my passion for photography was re-ignited.  

I've also been blessed with a roomie that knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to taking photos.  She happens to do it on the side as a hobby/business.  I've learned a LOT from her this past year just watching her and seeing the different angles, learning the 3/4's rule, etc.  I wanted her to come out and take pictures of Amy and the girls...she said "Alecia, you totally have the eye and technique, you just need to borrow my camera!"  So, she graciously entrusted me with her VERY expensive camera to shoot some pics of the girls.  

We headed out to Woodward Park and I was snapping away.

"Now, why does that make you take a long time to post?!?!" you ask.  

Well, Andreia (the roomie) has also been teaching me how to edit photos with photoshop.  I've been editing a few pictures every night. 

Here are just a few of my favorite girls in photos:

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The Lee Wedding

Me & the flower girl Nina (another

one I babysit)- 

She's got the awkward

smile going on.  

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Laura, Nina & Chris

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Kim & Lawrence

Congratulations!

Planting Flowers

I've wanted to make my front and back porch 

look pretty, soooo I enlisted my very talented

friend, Leah & her adorable daughter, Cora

to help me pick out pots and flowers.

Our day started with a pedicure, then went to

Lowe's & Wal-Mart for pots and flowers.

Cora helped me put the soil in the pots

Leah worked her magic planting the flowers

The Finished Product

I took this picture- I LOVE the morning

sun on my plants...It makes me smile every morning!

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35

Matt wanted to get together for prayer

one more time before the group went their 

separate ways.

Joel, Katy, Inez, Christine, Matt & I got together

and just talked about areas we needed prayer.

We took turns sitting in the middle of the 

group and prayed for one another.

It was a sweet time.

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Inez, Christine, Matt, Katy & Me

Hair Update!!!

It's official...I've gotten addicted to 

experimenting with my hair.

I got it cut a little shorter and added highlights

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Just added to the Sassy!

Lunch with a Dear Friend

Donna & I met and college and she's been 

a GREAT friend and an amazing spiritual

confidant.  I can count on her to be my 

prayer warrior.  She's an amazing friend,

great wife and mother.  Thanks for the example!

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Donna K & Grant

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Grant- Mischievous 

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Donna 4 DAYS before delivering....

Crazy, I know!

Keeping With Tradition

This is where it all began

Retreat- The Newbies go to Sonic and hang

out in Matt's truck- Each year at 

Retreat we try to make the same little 

trip to Sonic

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Three years later...we're all a little older

and a LOT closer

Thanks for the Memories Guys!  Love you MUCHO!

The "Retreat"

The Dude Ranch...don't hate!

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International Night

Sheba, Christine, Me & Babitha

In our India Garb 

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Cathie's reaction when she saw Lori

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Cathie & Lori

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Every year we have our annual work "retreat"...we seriously need a vacation after the "retreat". This is when we welcome the new Interns and the 3rd years graduate and move on to the real world or mission field.  It was a fun time...I didn't get much sleep but it was great to relive fun moments shared and meet up with old friends.  Lori, who started at Image the same year the 3rd years started, moved to another program 7 months into their first year.  She and I had maintained our friendship and we decided to surprise everyone with her....that was such a hard secret to keep!!!  But worth it.

It's a sad time, having to say good bye to my friends that will be scattering all over the world. I'm blessed to have had them in my life for a season.  

Blessings to you all as you pursue God's call on your life.

Christine is MARRIED!!!!

The Bride & Groom

Christine and Andrew

You might recognize that girl singing if you

watched American Idol last season,

that's Alaina Whitaker- best friend of the bride

The Girls- Cara is in the yellow, sister of the bride

Cara told Andrew in her toast that they're a package 

deal- he not only gets Christine but they come with her 

I thought that was cute.

Congrats Christine & Andrew!

Seriously.....I'll Post for Real....SOON!!!!

I know, I know....I'm totally behind on all my blogging...I've been super busy.  But I had to share these two sites with you that I do believe I'm in LOVE with....all my creative friends will have a hay day looking at these sites.  The first on is from a photographer that I go to church with, Ashley Ann....she has lots of fun ideas for summer fun with the kiddos (If I had kiddos these are things I would do with them).  She also has fun crafty things to do.

The other site is Design* Sponge, a fun DIY design site....soooo cute and full of clever ideas.

I do believe Amanda & Amy, in particular, will enjoy both of these sites!

Happy Browsing!

The Bachelorette Finale....

GO JASON!!!

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I have so many other things I need to blog about right now but.....
I'm SOOOO ready for the finale and I hope so badly that she picks Jason...he's so sweet and wonderful!

I'm having a girls night to watch the finale...talking during commercials ONLY!!! :-D My adorable friend Amanda, who by the way didn't watch the show until I was at her house one Monday night and I had forgotten to set the VCR (Yes I still have a VCR- I also have DVR but I don't get local channels on it- How crazy and ridicoulous is that?!?!). Needless to say, I've had numerous phone calls during commercials, and after each episode since! I LOVE IT!!! So, Amanda & I decided that we MUST have a girls night to watch the finale...I'll post pictures when it's all said and done.

Hope...

At Bible study this evening our leader shared a story about the Stanfield family.  Their story is tragic but hopeful which is something that only the Lord gives us...Hope within tragedy.  I was very encouraged by this particular story and wanted to share it with others.  

"Lord, give us wisdom not to waste this."

This speaks volumes to me.  As Christians we will face many trials but don't waste those trials asking why me instead, get on your knees before the Lord and learn who He is in that trial or particular moment and allow Him to move in your life like never before. 

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Fun In Edmond

After the fun in the Asian District

I went to visit my sweet friend Amy

and her family in Edmond

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The kiddos played on the water slide

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Swung on swings

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I brought Amy & Grace these 

matching Vera Bradley Aprons

They both LOVE aprons!

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Gracie & I baked Sprinkles Cupcakes

They were AH-Mazing!  

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I took the day off on Monday

and we went SHOPPING!!!

Some serious Damage was done...

good damage though.

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Grace dressed herself in this adorable outfit

accessorized by the bangle bracelets

I brought back for her from India

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Before I left I snapped a picture of the 

Gorgeous Couple celebrating their 8th 

Wedding Anniversary

Happy Anniversary!

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I hit the road to head back to Tulsa...

I was bummed...it's hard going back 

when you have such amazing friends that 

make it hard to say goodbye to.

Love you guys!

The Asian Persuasion

Some of the residents went to OKC for a scientific assembly.  It ended Saturday so after work, Matt & I drove to OKC to meet up with them for a day of Asian Cuisine.  Saturday Night we went into the Asian District of OKC for Vietnamese food and Boba tea.  It was a night of interesting, yet delicious food.

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Matt, Kyle, Jude & Vanessa

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Mango & Strawberry Boba Tea

We ended our Asian Feast on Sunday morning with 

Chinese Dim Sum

It was a very delicious and fun time together.

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