Of Football and Tears and Fears

Me and Sis at last week's victory

What's better than Jaguar football? Jaguar football live....2 weeks in a row. I love going to games and haven't been in a few years, why haven't I been going more often?? The games are awesome!! Had my first really tailgate experience, since I never tailgated in college. So much food, so much beer. Where is the girl who hated beer a year ago?

Me and Brenna at this week's victory!!!

Harry Potter...seriously people. This one is the best yet. The entire movie was great! I never was so terrified of all the scary parts (mostly involving a really big snake) and I hadn't laughed as much. And people, I haven't cried as much since Cedric Diggory died. Oh man, the ending was a tear jerker and I tried to muffle it because I knew others around me were dry eyed. I felt like the grown man I sat next to during the 2nd Star Wars movie....crying in Star Wars. Come on. But yes, I cried in Harry Potter. I'll be that girl.

Lately life has been and I am learning much of myself as of late. The girl I thought I was is not the girl that I really am. The girl I thought I would grow up to be is the girl I never will be. Dealing with the heart, dealing with issues is really, really tough. I keep waiting for "the" breakthrough, but no wall has broken. For several years I have avoided my heart, I have avoided my feelings, I have avoided the inevitable. Maybe I lived in a "what if" world, maybe I painted a picture of an unattainable life. Long ago I climbed inside of a box, a cage, and I have since stayed, my heart dying every second. I found myself alone and drowning, silently and slowly. I know I have not really believed in the Gospel of grace; portions, yes. I still don't believe in it. A couple months ago I had enough of this dead heart and broke down to a friend. One of the best things that has happened. I found that I'm not alone and much of the hurt I carry is very similar to those around me. I longed to be free of the bondage, longed to be free of the shackles and the burdens I carry with me. For too long I have dragged them along with me, they are my closest friends.

The feelings of depression, loneliness, struggles with sins: they are still there. I don't know if they will ever go away, dissapate, or give me a reprieve.

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

Mumford and Sons...look them up!!

Highlights

I'm running a half marathon. In 3 weeks. I think I'm ready, but I just want to finish. Not going for stellar times, just get it done.

I have/had a rat in my house. A very big rat. He has been terrorizing me for the past 5 days and finally I have his remains to prove it. Or a picture at least. I put up good old fashioned rat traps in my kitchen and around my house. Success!! I was out of town and my roommate's awesome boyfriend took care of the mess.

Went to Andrew Peterson concert 1 week ago, a night spent with truth in song. Kelly was my date and we sat front row. I bought an Andy Gullahorn CD and have enjoyed many hours listening to new music. Also purchased The Wingfeather Saga for me and a set for my brother and had Andrew Peterson sign them. I'm thinking of moving up to the Nashville and getting in on the babysitting for Andy Gullahorn and his wife, Jill Phillips. I know they are looking. Then they can so conveniently introduce me to a young, up and coming, soulful artist. Its all planned.

Back to work, which I looked forward to, but then had a few rough days. It was good to have time off, tho my paycheck showed. My older sister was in town for a week and I have been back and forth 2 times. I also went to the Jaguar game today with my sisters and dad. What a game!!! The ending was amazing, so glad I went!

The last days: 6 & 7

One day we spent 4 hours or more at the Holocaust Museum. Very interesting, very intriguing. No pictures were taken, but the images are definately stuck in my mind. Especially pile of shoes from one of the prison camps. It was a somber morning.

Afterwards we went to the National Museum of Art to see the Norman Rockwell paintings. Again, none of them could be photographed, so we took random pictures instead. Like this one of Natalie and the whimsical girls.

John Adams and I....One of my favorite guys from the American Revolution.

In the afternoon we stopped one more time for some froyo. Yum!

Took some more random pictures at the Navy Memorial

Got to meet up with an old friend I played volleyball with in college. She and my older sister played 2 years high school club and all 4 years of college. Love this girl, one of a kind! Had a good dinner and went for drinks after.

We started our last day off eating breakfast at Eastern Market for the 2nd time. Not so busy and crowded, but just as good. Seriously, best pancakes I have ever ever had. We figured it must be the syrup. It formed a sugary crust on the top of the cakes...so good.

A nice guy was hitting on us, but offered to take our picture.

We decided to hit up the last few museums and buildings. We went to the Library of Congress, walked by the Supreme Court building, and the Capitol. It was so beautiful up there, I liked this picture of the fall leaves. We sat at Starbucks for a long time and went back to the hotel for an early night to pack everything up.

And this was our dinner. Last hurrah for the last night. No wonder I gained weight...Five Guys is amazing!!

Washington D.C. Day 5 (aka my favorite day)

Monday, Natalie and I took a day trip out to Mount Vernon, Virginia, to see George Washington's home. Wow, it was amazing!!! It was my favorite day, so thats why this post has the most pictures.

And what would it be without our start of the day pic?

The front of the mansion. I thought it would be much larger, at least from pictures I have seen. We couldn't take pictures inside for some reason.

Back porch view

Sister pic. Look at that view!! No wonder he wanted to step down from public life after the Revolutionary War and then after his presidency. Come on, who wouldn't want to wake up to that every morning??

The view is amazing...

After wards we ate at the Mt Vernon Inn Restaurant. It was so good!! The famous peanut squash soup was yummy. Good meal to end our day there. Although, our waitress probably thought we were crazy. Every time she came to our table we were laughing or doing something stupid. But...such is our life.

Metro pic. It took 30 minutes from city center to our stop, so we listened to music to pass the time. People on the Metro are so serious, not friendly. Well I should say people in DC are not friendly. Rarely someone will smile/talk/acknowledge you. Not a very nice city when it comes to the people. Except the last day we met two nice people who helped us find places we were looking for on our map.

At the end of the day we went to our Starbucks and then on to the Mall. We walked to the Washington Monument and World War II memorial fountain. Nice, cold evening. Many pictures ensued, but these are just a few of my favorite.

Of course, our tribute to our state of birth, Wyoming.

The flags around the Washington Monument were pretty cool. I love our flag!

Washington D.C. Day 4

Sunday was spent a little more lax than previous touring days. We didn't hit the Metro until close to noon and only saw Air and Space Museum. We met up with Rachel and walked around the Mall. Thus ensued many pics, some goofy, some not so goofy. Afterwards we met up with Alex and went to church. Nat and I ended it at Fudruckers. Seriously! They have awesome burgers!!

Some random statue at Air and Space

Yes we are cool tourists

Even the police man on a horse got in our pic

Kristi, your absence is felt even in DC. Here's where you would fit in!

Thus ensued the reflection pics

The Washington Monument is really tall, which makes one really slouchy when they look at it

Chinatown Pagoda

Yummy Milkshake, thus contributing to my weight gain while walking 10 miles a day...

Washington D.C. Day 3

Some of the best girls I know! So sad none of them live near me any more. :( Thank goodness for Skype!

Saturday morning we headed up to Eastern Market to eat at Market Lunch. Seriously, this place is amazing!! I am a breakfast foodie, and these were the BEST pancakes I have ever eaten!! I had bluebuck pancakes, blueberries in buckwheat mix. SO GOOD!! The syrup was delicious, it would glaze over and form a sweet little crust on the top of the cakes.

That morning we ran into my favorite blogger: RockStar Diaries. I have been reading her blog for over a year and it is one of my favorites. The pictures, their cute young married life. Her husband is from Jacksonville, so we talked about living there. My only regret is that I didn't get a picture with her. But, it was one of the highlights of the trip. Seriously that made my day!
That pic is of me and Nat right after we met them, can't you tell? Oh and we're sitting in their seats....not stalkerish at all.

Its times like these I wish I could go back for.

Me and Alex. Seriously, I love this girl. She is so dear to me, has a precious, precious heart. She was the first of my closest Orlando friends after transferring from UNF to UCF my second year of school and we lived together for a year after I graduated. She is a brave heart, one who lives and loves fully; not without error, not without fault, but not afraid to be real. She opened up and shared and is sharing her path towards freedom from bondage which has helped me as I began mine. The first time we ever hung out I sent her a text asking if she wanted to do something. Which is so odd for me, I never reach out to people that I don't know very well. The rest is history. Now she lives in DC working for IJM as an intern and will shortly go to India for a YEAR! I love you, friend!

Cute staged pumpkin pic outside of the coffee shop! It wasn't even that cold that day, but I loved that hat and wanted to wear it as much as I could. I live in Florida, dangit!! I'm gonna put on every piece of clothing I have when its cold!!
Me and Pamela on Pennsylvania Ave, Capitol in the background. Love this girl so much too. We went to RUF for 2 years together, were "aquaintances", never really hung out but in large groups. Wasn't until we took a tubing trip for 3 hours that we realized we should be friends. I lived with her only for 3 months, too short and so sad, but she is one of the closest friends I have. She is my regular Skype date on a Friday night. One of the few in my life who tells it like it is and will call you out on your junk. She's going to Uganda for 2 years in August....another one gone. Which means I can't get married for at least 2 years, or my friends won't be there!!

Jumping around on the Capitol lawn. I had a good time just being with those girls that day. Just being is one of my favorite things to do. Especially when its with some of my favorite people.

Washington D.C. Day 2

Each morning we would start off with a pic in the mirror, this was day 2.

We met Alex at IJM for prayer, a tour, and lunch at good old Chipotle. Nothing like eating at local eateries.
That afternoon Nat and I went to Arlington Cemetery to see the graves and the exchanging of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Very, very impressive.

The Eternal Flame in front of President Kennedy's grave. Robert E. Lee's house above on the hill.

Famous Kennedy quote

We took a long, windy, mile walk over the Potomac from Arlington Cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial.

That night we met up with old friends, Alex and Pamela for dinner, drinks, and dancing. So much fun. I love these girls and miss them soooo much!!