Let's Talk Bucket List

You know those things you've always wanted to do in your life? Mine is sort of ever growing, but here are a few of the highlights:
1. Visit all 50 states (airport layovers count)
2. Visit all 7 continents
3. Spend a week at a cabin by a lake
4. Take a transatlantic cruise
5. Watch the sun rise on the East Coast
6. Watch the sun set on the West Coast
7. Spend a week with my dad in the mountains
8. Sponsor a child on each of the 6 inhabiteted continents
9. Spend the night in a lighthouse
10. Watch the Boston Pops live on the 4th of July

The Highs and Lows of Late July

It's hot. The temperature is much higher than I would prefer to ever dwell in, but alas it comes with living in the low country.

It's been four years since she left us.

My dad will be 62 tomorrow. He's now twice as old as me. And simply amazing. I love my daddy.

My uncle has been gone two years tomorrow.

The S.S. Scotts celebrate four years of marriage on Thursday. Love you guys! Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day and so many days since then.

LoveGave -- Go. Donate. I'll be standing outside W@l-M@rt Friday and Saturday. If you're in the low-country head over, say high, and buy some crayons! If you're not in the low country and have already donated THANK YOU! If you still want to donate, please do and THANK YOU!

An Itinerary

As I stated recently I'm headed to the Pacific Northwest for some vacation time in a few weeks. One of the friends I'm going to see has an entire itinerary planned for the day. Seriously, from breakfast to supper. I'm going to go ahead and apologize to all the people who have ever visited me here because I have FAILED you. Ok, not really. You all seem to still love me and keep coming back. I'm going to pretend it's because I'm a great hostess and not because I leave near the beach. So, I've been thinking. If someone did come to visit me in my city because they want to see my city (and not my beach) what would the be the best way to showcase my 'hood. So here are my thoughts. For those of you've who have been, let me know what I missed or what you didn't like about what I did include.

Breakfast -- Hominy Grill -- There are several great places to grab the 1st meal of the day, but I find this place has the best bacon. And really, breakfast is all about the bacon.

Aiken-Rhett House -- This is my favorite of the historic homes. You get an MP3 to guide you through the house and yard which allows you to tour the home at your own pace. It's my favorite of the historic homes I've been able to visit in person thus far.

Follow this up with a drive down to The Battery and then a walk through some more of the historic district using the amazing walking tour book my auntie Susie gave to me.

Lunch -- The options are unlimited. There's Waters Edge if you're feeling like seafood, Jack's Cosmic Dogs if you're feeling like picnic food, Taco Boy if you're feeling like tacos, Sesame if you're feeling like a burger and sweet potato fries, etc. etc. etc.

Now here is where you'll have to make a decision. For the budget concious we'll head toward John's Island to see the Angel Oak . Trust me, this will not make you want to come back to Charleston, but it is the oldest tree East of the Mississippi. The trip will continue on down to Folly Beach where you can witness first hand the devestation that was Hurricane Hugo. With a section of the island completely washed away, you can now walk to the edge of the surf and see the Morris Island Lighthouse as it sits in the middle of the waterway.

For those who want to spend a little more we'll head over to Boone Hall Plantation. From touring the house to walking through the gardens and learning about life on the plantation in the restored brick slave homes, this plantation is one of my favorites.

Supper -- Old Village Post House -- It's not in the heart of downtown, but it is one of my favorite places to dine.

Dessert -- Kaminsky's -- It's the ultimate dessert place. It may not have creme brule (Anson's has the best), but the offerings are amazing. You can get it to go, walk down a few blocks, and walk along the waterfront as you eat it. Hopefully one of the swings will be empty and you can get a nice breeze of the water and enjoy a perfect end to a great day in the Holy City.

Movie Quotes I Love

I am a sucker for a good chick flick. I've seen them all. Multiple times. My favorites are The Wedding Date, Sweet Home Alabama, 27 Dresses, When Harry Met Sally, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, etc, etc, etc. And each of these movies has some great lines. Here are a few of my favorites (in no particular order:)

When Harry Met Sally

Harry: I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

The Wedding Date

Kat: You know what pisses me off? I've been spilling my guts all weekend and I don't know a thing about you.

Nick: I'm allergic to fabric softener. I majored in comparative literature at Brown. I hate anchovies. And I think I'd miss you even if we never met.

Sweet Home Alabama

Melanie: Look at you, you have a baby... In a bar.

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Jake: What do you want to be married to me for, anyhow?

Melanie: So I can kiss you anytime I want.

The Sountrack of My Summer

In order to survive working in a small trailer at work with some overly loud people (which I know I can be one of those people at times) I rely on my iPod and my Bose headphones. Seriously, two of the greatest inventions ever. So here's what I'm listening to these days to get me through the work days with a bit of my sanity intact.

1. Matt Nathanson - Some Mad Hope
2. Train - Save Me San Francisco
3. Need To Breathe - The Outsiders (Seriously, they have a song "Girl Named Tennessee". What's not to love?)

What is the soundtrack of your Summer?

My New Family

So, in my previous entry I introduced you to some people who have been part of my extended family for a period of time long enough that they are pretty much stuck with me. Sorry guys!

Now for the new members of my family.

Mike, Whitney, and the boys -- You can meet them here. They are the leaders of my community group. And we also went to the same college. While Mike and Whitney met and fell in love, I didn't know either of them. Whitney and I knew some mutual friends and Mike and I made to sure take every class in the College of Business. But alas, 8 years after we graduated our paths crossed and I love these two dearly. It's great to have people in our present who can also understand part of our past. Mike and I share some similar sentiments of our time at TTU so we can relate on what warped us during those college years. Whitney is a bookworm so it's always fun to share books and discuss what we read. Top if all of with a shared love of Christ and it's win/win. Plus they are about to have a baby (any. day. now) and we all know how much I love babies!

Benji, Lauren, B and baby -- Lauren was the first person to really welcome me into River Church. She's the cutest thing you've ever seen. Really, I've never seen her look bad even when she was moving boxes into their (super-cute) new house. Benji played minor league baseball so it's like having a mini-celebrity in our midst every week. Just kidding, he's in no way conceited. It's awesome to get to talk to someone who got to live out a childhood dream of being in the leagues (even if it wasn't the big leagues.) They bring a real heart for their friends to grow closer in their faith and it's great to hear how God is moving in those relationships each week.

Stephen, Annette, and the kids -- I told you to read Annette's blog a few posts ago. Guys, I'm sorry, I should have said it was for the girls. It's true. It's really not guys reading material. I apologize. I never leave this couple's presence without truly seeing something so God-like and God-minded. I know they have no idea what impact they have made on me and words could not even begin to desribe it. I watch them constantly be obidient to God's calling even if it means wondering how the dollars will stretch the entire month, but knowing that they are where they are supposed to be and that's the ultimate goal. To be where we are supposed to be, no matter the circumstances. And the circumstances, they will show up. Just ask Stephen or Annette. They'll tell you.

And there are so many more. Danna and Corey, Candise, Zhenya, Todd and Lori, and more. To say I have been blessed is an understatement. This group of people has finally made the place I've lived for the past 2 1/2 years finally feel like it might be home to me.

Thought don't think I've forgotten you Tennessee...

We Are Family

Lately I've thought a lot about family. What is family? Two definitions of family are as follows:

1. a group of persons of common ancestry
2. a group of people united by certain convictions or common affiliation

I love my family as defined by #1. They have shaped so much of whom I am today. And I would do anything for any of them . But I think there is something to be said for the group who fall into #2. These people may not be related by blood or share a common DNA, but sometimes they shape us, the love us through the pretty and the ugly, and they leave footprints on our lives that will always be visible. So, I'd like to tell you about some of my family #2. The ones who've been there the past few years and have made an impact that will be long lasting.

S&S -- You can read about them here and here and here. And as much as I loved and respected the two of them then, the love and respect has only deepened over the years. I know that I can pick up the phone and call Shanle to tell her about my deepest secret, my happiest joys, and my random rants. We can talk about 200 things in the course of 5 minutes and know everything that was said. It's through her that I got my title "RandomCarrie" because I don't know that we've ever discussed one item for more than 3 minutes straight unless it was really important. They are my family.

J&A -- Jeremy and I have been friends for 3 years. He married Amy. Praise the Lord. She's perfect for him. Jeremy is like the brother I never had. We've vacationed together, we've watched chick flicks together, and we've watched Dumb & Dumber together. His idea, not mine. He was my wedding date when one was needed and last Summer I had the pleasure of watching him marry his perfect mate. We don't get together as much as possible, but when we do, it's great. My heart is currently breaking for Jeremy as his father passed away unexpectedly today. But I think that's part of being family. We hurt for each other.

A -- I've told you about Arynda before. Many, many times but this one is my favorite. We may not get to talk as much as we used to, but her faithfulness to the calling of serving others always sticks with me. And when I had to pick up and move 5.5 hours away, she immediately said she would go with me to move so I didn't have to go by myself. Her gift of service in such a selfless manner is still an inspiration to me. Now, if I could just get her to learn the word "No"... She is my sister.

A2 -- I don't know if I've told you much about Autumn. Our friendship was cemented through Gmail chat. She served two years in the Peace Corp in Cambodia. And I served 6 months of extreme lonliness here in the Low Country. And God let us cry on each others shoulders, laugh at each other antics, and develop a friendship that 10 years ago would not have existed, but PTL for technology it does. She's that special someone whom I know I can count on for keeping it real. And for telling me in plain English what is going on in the political world both domestic and international. A future CJ Cregg.

Tomorrow I am going to introduce you to the newest members of my family. These are people whom I didn't even know 7 months ago and I have now vowed to love through thick and thin, pretty and ugly, no matter what we may go through.

Monday Musings

1. I had 5 cubic yards of mulch delivered on Friday. As of tonight there are still 5 cubic yards of mulch piled on my parking pad. Tomorrow that pile will hopefully shrink by at least .5 cubic yards.
2. I hate weeds. Seriously, they are a thorn in my side. Thankfully I have not encountered any with thorns so that is not a literal thorn in my side.
3. There are bats in my attic. They will not leave. I'm becoming anti-bat because they are doing nothing to help the mosquito population.
4. I have mosquito bites. So many I have lost count. Including one I got between my pointer and middle fingers walking to my car the other day. I hate mosquitoes.
5. My pastor's oldest daughter M completely made my day the other day when she ran up to me at Wal-Mart, made me pick her up, then had to hug me and talk to me the whole way out the store. Love that kid. She also wanted to come home with me last night, but she doesn't want to live with me. She's going to give me her little sister N though.
6. I love all my kids at church. Seriously. Every single, stinking one of them. And some of them, well they wear diapers and they stink. Literally. But PTL for Huggies and wetwipes. They can redeem their cute, snuggliness.
7. I have booked a trip here for later this year:
8. I am on vacation tomorrow. Guess what that means? Yep, I have to log on and check some jobs for work to make sure people do their jobs. But I refused to do so today because it's a holiday. I checked my email for critical items and that is all. Go me.

Thursday Thoughts

Today my thoughts are heavy for Amy Beth. If you've never read her blog (women) you are missing out. She's a fiesty girl in her mid-20s who loves Big Hair and Beth Moore. In college she started a ministry for girls in her community and watched it grow. The Lord laid it on her heart last year to end that ministry. Since then she has learned that she has more severe health problems that she ever imagined. So, take some time and catch up with Amy Beth's story. And say a prayer for her. For physical comfort and the emotional comfort she is going to need going forward as she faces the possibilities that lie ahead in her treatments.

Tonight, please lift up Amy Beth. She's in a lot of pain. And as someone who has taken care of so many throughout her short life, she can use all the prayers of as many of us as possible. As a single girl who would love to have kids of my own, I cannot imagine the hurt she is and will be feeling emotionally, but I know that the thought of going through what she's going through on her own must be tremendous.

So, Amy Beth, I'm praying for you. And I'm sure my readers will do the same. You have and you will touch more lives than you can ever imagine.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. -- James 1:12