Wow...

So, I am preaching on Sunday at East Dallas Christian Church. This is the congregation that I grew up in from the time I was in 7th grade. I love this church, it is my home. To have the opportunity to preach there is exciting, but it is also scary. Scary in the sense that they are much more high church than the congregation that I am currently serving. But really, like I said, this is home.

So want to know what is really scaring me about preaching this Sunday?

I am preaching sermon number 3 in a series. That's right...I was given my scripture and my topic. Ok, that's not too bad, I can handle that. My topic - Communion and Baptism. Again. I can handle that.

What makes it so hard then, Debra?

I'll tell you. The fact that the parameters of the sermon were sort of laid out for me. I have to add in Disciples History of Communion and Baptism. I also have to talk about why we call them ordinances instead of sacraments (even though I tend to call the sacraments, not ordinances...).

Gah.

I feel like I'm losing my own voice by trying to cater to what my minister wants me to talk about. So, now I'm trying to let God speak through me, because this sermon is the toughest I've ever written. I want to have fun with it, and for it to retain my voice...but, man, that's tough when I'm having to do a history lesson. *sigh*

I can do it...I'm not worried about it, I'm just ready to be happy with what I've written so far...

And I introduce to you...boy.

Well, I call him Aaron since that's what his parents named him...anyway - this was taken of us at the KU Basketball game we went to in Kansas. I went to Kansas City, MO over New Years to meet his family. That's right, after a mere 2 1/2 months, we've officially met the families. Its fun. He's amazing and makes me uber happy. =o) Funny how quickly it can happen that you can't imagine your life without someone in it. =o)

I'm in a January term class with Dr. Jeter this week. Interpretation for Preaching: James, 1,2,&3 John and Jude. This class is fascinating...but I'm ready for the week to be over. I have until January 30th to write an exegesis and a sermon over a text of my choosing. We'll see what I pick. I kinda liked my sermon brief for the scripture in 1 John that I presented on today...we'll see if that is what I end up doing. I've made it through the week in a D.Min level class...makes me think that I could do it...someday. Let's be honest, I can't afford any more schooling for a long while.

So...its about that time of year again. Finals are upon me...and I'm procrastinating, once again.

I know, I know...you are all shocked.

I'm actually "working" right now on a 5000 word paper...or updating my blog. Either way you want to look at it.

I hate finals, I feel like they put so much pressure on you, I wish there was a way to not have to take finals, that the work we have done throughout the semester should be used as a better reflection for what I have learned, rather than what i can remember during a 2 hour time frame two weeks after class has finished. Blah. Although, I guess the paper isn't only being done in two hours...but really...5000 words?!?

Anyway - at least I have Vanilla Biscotti coffee and freshly baked cookies to get me through the evening.

Yesterday was an amazing day... Anne, Katie, and I went to Southlake to see Anne's dress. She looks STUNNING in it. Jeff is going to crap his pants when she starts walking down the isle! Yay!

It was funny - while we were at lunch Katie and Anne were pumping me for more info about Aaron. He makes me SO happy! I'm glad things are going so well with him.

He does this thing where he tells me at LEAST twice a day that I'm great, awesome, wonderful. Take your pick, he says it. And, he makes me smile nonstop.

Yeah.

That's all I've got to say about that. I'm taking him to dinner with my parents next week. =o)

Tagged

CanDance tagged me...so here I go.

7 Things you may not know about me.

1. I'm completely OCD when it comes to putting lotion on my feet. I can't put my feet under the covers of my bed unless I put lotion on right before hand.
2. I've been working on a cross-stitch for my dad for over 2 years. If I keep going at the rate I am this moment - it will be done for Christmas.
3. Monkey is my favorite animal - I sleep with one every night.
4. I can't imagine doing any other job but ministry - it is my life, my calling, my passion
5. I've been keeping a journal since I was 15 with the intent to give it to my daughter when she is 15...I guess that's assuming I have a daughter.
6. I'm addicted to TV on DVD...it makes me happier than buying a movie
7. I am directing TBA Chi-Rho Midwinter in Jan/Feb...woo!

Eh - I'd tag people, but no one would do it...so if you want to, do it. =o)

Hm... Meeting the parents?

Kind of exciting idea/prospect.

Aaron just invited me up to Missouri for a couple days at Christmas... his parents would pay for my ticket. Kinda freaks me out, but makes me excited at the same time. I dunno...I'm just saying.

Guess its moving along.

I'm still extremely happy.

This week he is at home, and I miss him. I've gotten so used to seeing him a lot, and its weird to not see him for a whole week.

Anyway - that's my life. Guess the next step is for him to meet my parents. Guess it makes sense for him to meet mine before I meet his - if only because mine live here...and his are in another state. Haha.

I don't do cold well - Missouri in winter = COLD...but it'll be worth it if we can get dates to work out. =o)

I awoke with a start. There was a loud ripping noise outside my door and the pounding of feet running down stairs. My heart rate accelerated greatly. This was it. After almost a month of trying, the time had finally come. I hear the feet come back up the stairs and a beating noise happen that causes the awful ripping noise to finally stop. It's over.

"Did you get it?" I yell.

"That wasn't a mouse...it was an 8 in rat!"

a full body shudder took over me. I have been living with a rat for over a month.

Our landlord has not been doing anything, until I finally told her we had to try something else besides poison because the 'mouse' had eaten through my shoe last night. Guess that should have been a clue that it wasn't a mouse. Anyway. She brings by two heavy duty crazy strong sticky traps. Jeff sets up the line of defense just inside the door the thing was always going into.


The boys are laughing and excited. Anne and I are completely grossed out and tell Jeff he has to stay in case we catch the mouse because we don't want to deal with it.

Thank God he stayed. Anne couldn't look at the rat, although she did see it. I couldn't even open my door until I knew that it was gone from the house. SO GROSS. All of this happened at 6:40 this morning. What a wake up call.

Hopefully, there was only one. Guess we'll find out. We put out the second sticky trap, I just hope we don't have to deal with another one...that ONE was scary enough.

Now, I have to finish a paper, and Anne and I have decided to clean our entire house cleaner than it ever has been before. Every inch of this house will be cleaned. We are getting new rugs for the upstairs...because...ewwww....

NASTY!