Meredith's March Madness

Nope. Not talking about basketball. My bracket is shot, but so is everyone else's in America. My vote at this point is for Kentucky! Roll Tide!

March has been a crazy month.  I've been beyond busy, and on the road way more than I've been in the office. It's been fun... here's a taste of what's been happening.

Family Visit. We went to California several days early (no first class flight this time). We visited Disneyland with Nic's family and then hung out at the beach for a couple of days before making our way to San Diego.

CPC San Diego. Nic flew back home for work and I stayed in San Diego to work at the Children's Pastors Conference. I helped promote two new LifeWay Kids products, FLYTE and THEO, and also had some great conversations about CentriKid Camps!

Home for a few days. Played catch up, went grocery shopping, did lots of laundry, and got ready to travel once again!

Director Training. I was home just long enough to realize how much work I needed to finish for Director Training, and leave again! We were in town at a YMCA camp. I loved getting to hang out with some incredible folks and talk leadership. We got to preview the new movie COURAGEOUS and climb a tower... and, of course, we always play nerts!

I got home Sunday and completely crashed. I did some laundry and repacked to hit the road again...

Georgetown Meeting. Jen and I left yesterday for Georgetown meetings to get ready for summer. These are always good visits, and our friends here are great ministry partners. I can't wait to meet our teammates who will serve here this summer, and today we get to see the Ice Cream Fairy!

I'm definitely looking forward to April, to some kind of routine, to spending more time with Nic, and simply slowing down!

catching my breath

Life's been pretty crazy the past week or so. Not bad crazy, just crazy busy. For several days, I felt like I didn't even have time to catch my breath -- running from one thing to the next! I've taken the little bit of time I've had and decided to spend it on things other than blogging. Shocker. Actually, I haven't even read one blog in my google reader in 10 days. I hope I can catch up on that! A few friends have questioned where I've been, and wonder if I've quit blogging.  No, I definitely haven't quit, but I decided to take a couple of days to catch my breath, and aside from that here are some fun things happening:

*Traveled to Alabama to visit my parents and attend a baby shower for my sweet friend, Kristen!
*Worked on CentriKid Camps print pieces... a lot!
*I'm getting ready for a trip to San Diego and visiting Nic's fam. So exciting!!!
*Trying to meet writing deadlines.
*Couponing (spent $3.90 at Publix this week and saved over $22)
*Hanging out with my parents who came up to Tennessee this weekend.
*Antiquing with my mom (I found a Hoosier cabinet that I REALLY want!)
*Celebrating with friends on the birth and adoption of their baby girl. YAY!
*Running... more than I have in a long time.
*Visiting my brother and sis'in'law and my niece (ok, that hasn't happened yet, but is happening soooooon, as in today!)
*Preparing for the CentriKid Camps team reveal tomorrow. One of the biggest days of the year for staff.

No excuses, though. I'll be blogging again soon! :)

randomness, randomness, everything is randomness!

Some pretty random stuff has been going on in my head and in my life recently...

*Jen and I had a successful road trip to Kentucky.  We had a lot of fun talking to Children's Ministers about CentriKid Camps!  Oh, and we got to see Mary Margaret tell stories in person.  It was even better than her youtube videos.

*Nic took me to Sunset Grill to celebrate Valentine's on Saturday night. It was a sweet surprise. We had a great meal, and even got a huge discount. I came home from my trip to flowers and a clean house (which he knows I love!)

*Sunday, my car battery died.  Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but the battery died at the most inopportune time.  We were next in line for the car wash. We had waited in a long line (because of all the snow, everyone wanted to wash their cars). Nic was getting ready to pull into the bay, when he turned the key and nothing happened. He got the car in neutral and the car wash owner pushed it in, as the water was just starting to spray.  When the car wash was ending, my car wouldn't go into gear at all... we finally got it in gear and Nic got soaked as he helped the guy push it on out of there.  It was an adventure to say the least!

*Work is crazy busy right now!  So many details, and so many deadlines in the next few weeks.  I'll also be traveling a ton.

*Our Couch to 5K training is going well, but I still hate running on a treadmill. Does anybody else watch the clock so much that you have to cover it up so you won't look at it?

*I'm working on a 30 before 30 list... what should I add to it?  Places to go? Things to do? Races to run? Scripture to memorize? Comment and let me know!

randomness, randomness, everything is randomness!

Curious what's been happening in my life or in my head lately? This week's version is shorter, but here it is!

• This weekend we had our VBS Preview events at LifeWay.  Fun times.  If you love silly videos or pinatas, watch this video. 
• I love days when we get to wear jeans to work.  Jeans are so much more "me." When I wear jeans, I feel like I get more done, which is great if you're into getting things done. #gtd
• This week is our office team retreat.  I enjoy having time off-site to plan for the future, dream, and talk through ideas.  Director Off-sites were some of my favorite times at Waters Edge, especially when we needed to hash through some big decisions!
• Saturday, Nic and I are attending a Dave Ramsey Live Event here in Nashville.  We are kind of obsessed with Dave Ramsey principles, and oh so close to paying off debt! Have you seen Dave Ramsey live? What do you think? 
• I hate running. I don't exactly know why.  I'm still excited about our upcoming 5K race, but I still hate running.  Any suggestions for making running better? 
• I recognize that it's no longer acceptable to double space after sentences, but I CAN'T HELP IT! It drives me crazy that I can't stop myself from typing a period followed by space space.  See?
• We spent part of Sunday looking for ancestors... and stayed up way too late last night tracking them down.  More on that later this week! :)

randomness, randomness, everything is randomness!

Here are a few of the things that have been going on in my head and in my life...

• Yesterday, Nic informed me that he'd been sick for over half of 2011.  And, well, when you put it that way, not the best year so far... I'm really hoping it gets better!
• I hate sickness.  I got home from Orlando and cleaned the whole house.  It made me wonder if those disinfecting wipes really work?  And where do germs sit?  How do you get germs out of upholstery and clothing?  I think I was paranoid as I cleaned. But, so far so good for Meredith staying well!
• I hate that my husband got sick while I was away.  I think I'm one of those nurturing people, at least for my family.  I guess it is genetic, because my mom was an awesome caregiver when we were sick. I don't know if I'll be that good, but I definitely yearned to just be home and help take care of him. It was nice to get home. :)
• A week in Orlando was fun and a nice change of pace from Nashville snow.  I walked a ton, stood in a booth a lot, talked to random people, and had a few awkward conversations.  You can read about it in my CPC Post. 
• Auburn won the national championship in college football (I know, I'm a week late), and I really struggled with who to pull for in this game.  In the end, I'm happy for my Auburn friends, happy for a 5th SEC National Champion, and not sure what's gonna happen next in the Cam Newton saga.
• Nic and I are planning to run a 5K soon.  It's for our friends who are fighting a really tough battle with cancer.  Can't think of a much better cause to support... if you're in Nashville, you should consider running this race!
• My brother and my sister-in-law are having a baby this week!  I can't wait to welcome Jenna Grace into the world... and I'm finishing up a painting for her room today.  I'm still quite excited to be an aunt. 
• I attended my first tweet up this past week.  Not sure what that is? Let me google that for you. It was interesting. I'm not sold on tweet ups but intrigued, yes.

That's all for now...

randomness, randomness, everything is randomness!

Here's some of the randomness that's been going on in my life and in my head:

• I am scared of blog stats.  Seriously, they scare me. I look at them, and then wonder who those people are that look at my blog. Then I wonder, wait, why are they reading my blog? Do I really want to blog? Even typing this is scary to me. I need to just get over it.
  
• I saw a blog the other day that said, "I'm called to be a kidmin, not to blog about it!" I chuckled.  Many days I feel the same way.  I'm called to do ministry, and that's what I do everyday.  I'm called to be a wife.  In this season of life, I love love love working with CentriKid.  I'm just not good at blogging about those things.  I'm hoping to be better. Thanks for bearing with me.
  
• Nic has been sick. I don't like it when my husband is sick.  I love to help take care of him, but he's not as fun to hang out with when he's sick.  It makes me sad when I know that he's in misery or pain.  I prefer wellness in our home.
  
• Speaking of wellness, I am going to a nutritionist tomorrow.  I am really scared.  I don't think I have any major issues or anything, just want to eat, exercise, and live a little more healthily.  I'm the kind of person who does better with accountability so that piece of me is looking forward to it.  I'm still scared though.  What keeps me going is the testimony of multiple friends who've had great success working with said nutritionist. I will surely post more on this.
  
• My travel schedule is CRAZY the next few weeks... should make for some fun things to blog about, but will also stretch my time! This time next week, I'll be in Mickey Mouse world.
  
• I will be an aunt soon.  This means Nic will be an uncle.  Unreal!  I really can't quite fathom it.  I am so stinkin' excited for my brother and sister-in-law.  For us, I guess it's like the next best thing to being a parent or a grandparent, right?  Kinda scary but super exciting!
  
• I've recently begun praying for a new mentor who lives locally in Nashville - a woman who's a stage or two ahead of me in life, who I can learn from and meet with regularly.  Becky was an absolutely amazing mentor for me when I lived in Virginia.  God knew exactly what I needed!  However, asking someone to be your mentor is scary too. 

Maybe the title of this blog should have been scary, scared, or insecure?

randomness, randomness, everything is randomness!

Here are some things that have been floating around in my head or happening in my life lately:

This weekend we had a CK2 reunion in Nashville (That's CentriKid Team 2 for those of you who don't get the CK lingo). It was a blast! 
I love when camp friends become more than just camp friends -- they become real life friends.
We did a scavenger hunt with a tiny pinata... loads of fun.  CK2 won! 
Last Monday, we got to be a part of Mary's surprise party! Happy 23rd Birthday Mary!
Later this week, we get to spend Christmas with Nic's family -- looking forward to that!
Today is my first ever Garth Brooks concert, and I think my first ever concert with Nic... should be fun!
I'm on Christmas Break from work, and pretty stoked to have a couple of weeks to rest!
I haven't finished Christmas shopping for Nic, but I don't think he's started shopping for me... not sure which is scarier!
Nic and I have been watching Avonlea via Netflix for several weeks... did anyone else watch that show growing up?  We're only on season 3... and I think there are 20 more discs in our Que. He calls it "the most wholesome show ever!" I guess that's a good thing.
JE posted this video on his blog... its HILARIOUS! Check it out.
I've been struggling to find things to blog about lately.  Let me know if you have ideas.
I just submitted my next small writing project.  My latest ones are here and here. 
Merry Christmas!

randomness, randomness, everything is randomness.

Here's what's been going on in my life and in my head...

• Last night it stormed.  I hate storms.  The weather reporters were my favorite last night, though.  They just act differently when storms are close.  Regardless, I'm very thankful for them. 
• This weekend Nic and I went to watch the Bama/UT game in Alabama... 3 miles across the Tennessee line.  You'd think we were fleeing the state, but actually we just went to hang out with Molly and Trey and Caroline.  Fun times, and we killed the vols. Roll Tide!
• My good friend Deborah had a birthday on Sunday... Shout out to Deborah - Happy Birthday Debo!!!
• Last week I got to participate in a writer's conference.  It was fun to give a few ideas... I may or may not have mentioned this video that would, perhaps, be too much for preteens.  Its funny nonetheless.  Oh, and I discovered Eloise along the way.
• Is nonetheless a word?  It looks strange.  I've encountered a lot of grammar questions lately.  I wish I knew more about grammar. 
• Speaking of grammar, I can't get away from d  o  u  b  l  e spacing after a sentence. It's not accepted many places, including publishers I write for, but it's a habit from 7th grade when I learned to type [period space space]
• Amanda and Sarah are coming to visit soon. I'm excited to hang out with Brennemans or is it the Brennemen? Or Brennewomen? They are going to a hockey game. I do not do hockey, but am excited that they can enjoy the Nashville Predators or their opponents at least. Yay for friends in town from far away!
• Nic wrote a fun guest blog about Swiss cheese.  If you haven't read it, you should! He's witty and creative, and an incredibly sweet husband to me! :)
• This week we are moving offices. Again.  I move on October 28.  I looked at my calendar and last year I moved from my old office that I'm moving back into, to my current office that I'm vacating, on October 28.  Coincidence? Yearly tradition? You tell me.