Year-End Faves: Friends' Blog Posts of 2007

I love blogging. I love that it keeps me connected with friends near & far, past & present, in such an easy and fun way. Not to mention it gives me such incredible insights into their souls! I have learned so much about the people I love and people I'm becoming better friends with through the blessing of blogging. There is so much wisdom to be found in their words! I chose six posts that really stood out to me this year, and selected a quote from each one to whet your appetite. If you have not already visited these folks' pages, grab a tasty beverage, sit back, and enjoy. You won't be disappointed.

1. Jen's writing is always amazing, but I found particular joy in this post, Days of Awe. Here's a quote:

God has a big box of sticky notes waiting for me, I know. Just because I haven’t wanted to listen, that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t have things He’s been wanting to tell me.

2. Brie sees beauty in the everyday. Right now she's living in the Big Apple, and I'm enjoying the opportunity to live vicariously through her as I read her blog. I loved this post, hitting the mark. In it, she says,

the good news is that the coach is the best around, and he doesn't give standardized tests. he has the time, energy, and support from the Upper Administration to craft specialized tests for each player, designed to reveal what's lacking, challenge to a higher level, and reward where the hard work has paid off. He's good like that.

3. My friend Pam is serving the Lord and the people of Nicaragua. She's about halfway through her assignment. I love to read about what she's doing, and even more about how it feels to be wholly used of God in the mission field. This entry (introspection) made an impact on me.

... a deeper part of me recognizes that this cloak of stability and "normalcy" that I cling to as a future dream is not a full answer to my desire to find a place where I truly belong.

4. Jenny wrote a post entitled "siblings" about her children that really touched me.

And I wonder how we cultivate transparency, understanding, love, and REAL friendship among our kids.

5. My brother in law, Bob, wrote this post after he visited us in our new town. I thought it was something special. I put a copy of it in Eli's baby book for posterity.

The first thing you will notice about Eli is his eyes. I feel like me and Eli bonded in the way only an uncle and a 4 month old nephew can. To ensure our bond he made sure to mark me with his industrial drool.

6. Jan describes her first marathon experience so well, you feel like you're right there next to her throughout the entire thing. If there was ever a blog post that inspired me, this one is it.

I tried to embrace everything as it unfurled...not really knowing what to expect. I did not expect the pain nor did I expect the power of whispered words from fellow runners..."Come on. Just a little further," words that were repulsive coming from the crowd of on-lookers, but full of hope and promise when spoken from fellow participants. I did not expect it to be an act of worship....

And one more shout out, just because I thought it was so funny. Read this, then this.

the best ornament ever

(here's vince, the guy who first opened the steve carell ornament. he didn't know who he was. another person ended up "stealing" it from vince.)

dave and i happily went to a Christmas party with the "young adults" group at our church tonight. everyone was instructed to bring a wrapped ornament of their choosing for the gift exchange. we've been informed that this gets kinda wacky, so we'd better bring something memorable. this is what i decided to bring:

and to put its size in perspective for you:

i just think there's nothin' funnier than steve carell! where better than to put a framed picture of him on your Christmas tree? my criteria for choosing this ornament was simple: would i like to receive this ornament? :)

he became the running joke of the evening, and even made an appearance in the group shot.

conversation piece

i love my pig candle. i first bought it when we were selling our house a couple of years ago, as some spunky decor on a living room table. it is a fun little conversation piece.

what kinds of things do you have in your living room that catch visitors' eyes?

all i want for Christmas...

I really want this bike.

It's being used in advertising for Regions Bank here in the south. I can't really find a way to buy one.

Everything about it is just super cool.

completely random!

Found this page and enjoyed finding out which celebrities I resembled (insert sarcastic tone here):

Alicia Silverstone

Kate Beckinsale

Queen Latifah (!)

JUDI DENCH (!!)

It is, after all, an exact science. If you have 2 minutes and nothing better to do, do it yourself and comment as to which ones you "look like"!

p.s. Just did Dave's and his made me laugh out loud for awhile: Joe Rogan (Laurie, be sure to tell Nate!), Kenneth Branagh, THE ROCK!, Matt Dillon, "Boone" from "Lost", Robert DeNiro, and Elle MacPherson. I am not making this up.

Come on, now you KNOW you want to join the fun. You too can be compared to aging film icons, former WWF wrestlers, and international supermodels.

so, which is it?

Throughout my life, there are numerous common phrases I find myself saying, knowing what I'm trying to get across yet not knowing if I get the phrase itself right. Does that make sense? Such phrases include (but are not limited to!):

"I've said my peace." I have always imagined it's "I've said my piece", meaning my part of the conversation is out there now. Either way, it doesn't matter unless I'm writing it down.

"I'd just assume call you Mr. Big Bird, thank you." That's how I think the correct phrase goes. I always say, "I'd just as soon call you Mr. Big Bird, thank you." Which one's the right one? (For the record, I've never actually had a conversation with Big Bird, or any other bird, for that matter).

And I've oscillated between "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" throughout the years. I've heard both equally. So, which is it? And what phrases do you often mess up but say anyway?