Harbinger

This Italian Stallion celebrated his 24th this weekend, and he was kind enough to give us at least a few hours of his precious time.

Uncle Mark came in from Denver, and, like Matt, gave us just a few hours before hopping on the boat with Papaw to float down the river for a week.

I have a hunch that Mama Ese was giving him some safety reminders.

Sure looks like a natural, unposed picture, huh? Nope - total fake.

You know how some people cook a meal and they either have really good potatoes or a perfectly cooked steak? Well Mom don't play that game. She goes all out on each element of the meal.

I made this s'more brownie recipe in honor of the backpacking trip Mark, Matt and a crew of some others will be taking next weekend.

We woke Saturday morning to a deluge, and I must say I was quite content to stay in bed reading while Andrew whipped up some homemade buttermilk pancakes. I didn't actually get out of the bed until 1:00.

And even then I just moved to the couch to read some more.

What can I say? Milly's lethargic nature was rubbing off on me.

I started and finished My Sister's Keeper this weekend.

I'm thinking the best harbinger of being one of the biggest dorks on the planet is not reading a 400 page book in two days, but rather injuring oneself by reading the 400 page book in two days. If tennis players can get tennis elbow, then readers can get reader's wrist, right? Well, I'm here to tell you it exists and though not exactly painful, it is absolutely aggravating.

Wild Ride

My alter ego, Sarah C., you know the laid-back, adventurous, artsy girl, had quite an exciting weekend. It started with a session on Friday with Tate S. in celebration of his upcoming one year birthday. The weather held out for about thirty minutes, and then it unleashed on us. Luckily we found a fun little nook under cover to take some pictures, and his parents graciously let him play around in the rain for some fun pictures at the end.

Click here to see more of this sweet face.

Saturday morning, back as regular ole Sarah, I coordinated a tennis clinic for middle and high school players in effort to raise some money for a ball machine and a new net. We had a great turnout; nearly twenty kids showed up. My hope is that we can generate more interest in the community for the sport, and who knows - maybe this could even become an annual event.

Saturday night, Sarah C. made another appearance at the Oak Ridge High School Reunion for the Class of 1969. I was the second shooter for another local photographer. He taught me so much in the few hours I worked with him, and I can only think of one reason I shouldn't do it again - equipment envy! Surprisingly I have made it through the weekend without buying a new lens, but it hasn't been easy; I'm not making any promises about what might go down on B&H in the near future.

Tonight we started the new Beth Moore study "The Inheritance." I'm not sure what I think about not having homework in this study because it is usually so fruitful, but maybe that will just leave more time to allow the truths we learn to sink in. Not only is Moore an incredible Bible teacher, but the lady seriously cracks me up. Tonight she talked about how if you are bored or boring, you are out of God's will. Believe it or not, many of her main points came directly from Paris Hilton's Confessions of an Heiress.

Here are a few of the notes I took from the DVD we watched tonight:

• There is more to life than being good.
• It's only a wild ride if somebody else is driving, so let go of the wheel and scoot over.
• Control freaks do not have fun.

You know when you feel like the preacher's sermon was just for you - as if no one else is in the room because it speaks so specifically to your life? The comments above did just that for me. I'm so excited about this study, and where it will take me. I've been doing the wild drive for a while; I'm officially ready for the wild ride.

Iron Fist

I hadn't raised my voice with my second period once this semester - that is, until last week. They are a wonderful class, but when they wouldn't give me their attention in the last few minutes of class, I had to set them straight. It went a little something like this.

**Raised eyebrows and intensely firm voice.

I feel like I'm not in control right now. (Pause.) I don't like not being in control. (Pause.) I can rule with an iron fist if I have to. (Extra long pause with fist slightly raised for dramatic effect.) Do you understand?

**Abrupt switch to sweet teacher voice.

Now, don't forget to study for that quiz, class. I can't wait to see you tomorrow!

I haven't had to raise my voice since. In fact, we have shared a few laughs over my iron fist speech.

More of the Same

I'm wondering if you can really call it Saturday when your alarm goes off at 5:30 AM.  That's exactly how ours started since we were supervising the Praxis test at Bearden Middle.  Somehow we lucked out by working half the time we normally do while also getting paid double what we normally do.  No complaints here.

Andrew wants to make it known that as soon as he finds that elusive job, we won't be doing this anymore.  We'll let him think that anyway.

With this attire, I don't think any test-takers questioned where we were headed.

We had a blast tailgating with friends all afternoon.  

Entrance requirement: oversized sunglasses.

Maybe a little premature?

Since it was my first game of the season, we hiked through the sea of orange to get to the Vol Walk.

I started regretting it when the claustrophobia kicked in.  Andrew lifted me up to remedy that, and it just so happened to be a great angle for pictures.

Next time we'll get there a little earlier; this was all I saw of the players - a quick glance through the front of the bus.  I did however get to see them rocking the bus back and forth.  Just when I began fearing for my safety, I looked at the bus driver, and he didn't seem concerned, so I let it go.

We finally found Matt and his crew in the tailgating madness, but much to his relief, I forgot to take a picture.  Just add a thick mountain man beard to the Torchbearer, and we'll call it close enough.

Much to my relief, I didn't have a ticket to the game so I went home after the Vol Walk.  The atmosphere and hanging with friends - love it; as for the game - I can take it or leave it.  I enjoyed some much needed solitary time at home watching a foreign film that Andrew wanted nothing to do with.  I've never really appreciated animated films, but Persepolis is in a class of its own: witty, insightful, profound.  I also found myself rereading Crazy Love.  Somehow I ended up in the fifth chapter which ironically was the inspiration behind today's sermon/drama.  If you didn't see it, be sure to catch it on the Powell Church website this week, along with my annual attempt at a semi-solo.  The night ended with a much needed run along the greenway.  Nothing like a little running to clear the mind and find some clarity.  

Today, always my favorite day of the week, I spent some quality time with most of my favorite people.  Lunch with the rents and my brotha, a visit with MamaEse, a meeting with my new bible study group, dinner at Andrew's parents, a walk with my girls.  I threw a much needed nap in there, too.  Looking forward to a week of more of the same. 

In Perspective

Even though I'd never even consider entering the ridiculous crowds at Boomsday, I never miss this fireworks display that has become one of my favorite events in Knoxville. I was spoiled for years when we used to make a whole day of riding Papaw's houseboat from Fort Loudon Marina down the river to the city (not to be confused with over the river and through the woods). There is no better place to watch the show. The last few years we mourned the loss of the houseboat and instead watched it from the World's Fair Park - a nice place to still feel in the action without all the claustrophobia issues.

This year we watched the Labor Day festivities from Cherokee Bluff behind UT hospital.

Thanks Brooke for sharing your incredible view.

And for letting us, all 8 of us, invade your house.

The smoke this year was worse than I ever remember it being.

These gentlemen could hardly enjoy the show for all the anticipation about next week's game still six days away.

After laboring most of the holiday away, Andrew and I treated ourselves to some baby time at Melissa's.

I'm sure as a parent you get over thinking every little thing they do as being terribly cute, but as an aunt, I can still think that, right?

I don't remember what this was about though I'm sure it was very important business.

Katelyn with her Nana and without a care in the world.

As I begin to feel the stress of the week creeping up on me, thinking about these sweet little ones is reminding me to keep things in perspective. Thank you Audrey, Madelyn, Jake, Emma Grace, and Katelyn.

Definitions

In order to stifle the giggles traveling through the classroom, I found it necessary to define these words in class today as we were reading Washington Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker." These are Juniors, mind you.

bosom: (n) the center of feelings or emotions

prostrate: (adj) overcome, overthrown, or helpless

booty: (n) something seized by robbery or violence

Ah, Friday.

The Journey

Just last week Rachel came by my room and said she found a blog I should read. How crazy is it that the blog she was talking about is one I've actually been reading for months. Out of the millions of blogs out there, we both happened upon this same one. I have been selfishly keeping it to myself, so I'm now sharing it with you. If you're ever in need of a good dose of reality or humility, this blog is just the ticket. Tonight in fact, I walked in from a jewelry party wishing I could have afforded the $40 bracelet I wanted. Solution: Read Katie's latest post and instantly realize - Who freaking cares about the dang bracelet!?! Problem solved. How to respond to the life she lives is a problem I haven't quite figured out yet.

Please Note: If and only if you have an entire box of tissue at hand, please take the leap over to The Journey. Read the August 14th post for some background on Katie's journey.