Merry Christmas from the Daugherty Family

Hello! We hope that these Advent days are treating you well. Just last week, I commented to a friend that I had chosen not to send out a Christmas card and letter this year because nothing new was happening in our household (not to mention that the life of a PhD student and a college administrator can get pretty busy). And then, a big surprise came our way, so I thought that I would post a last minute holiday greeting.

So, I'll begin with our most exciting news: today, I accepted a job as the Director of the Center for Worship Arts at Trevecca. The center is brand new at Trevecca, and I will be in charge of creating both a major and minor as well as to provide continuing education and conference opportunities for worship pastors. The job will give me the opportunity to help to train and encourage the next generation of worship leaders. The job is a little overwhelming, but also very exciting. I will still keep my current job as the Director of Church Services, which will be about 60% of my job, and the other 40% will be dedicated to the Center for Worship Arts. I am loving my job at Trevecca, and look forward to the new challenges that lie ahead in the new year. I also started running this summer. I ran my first 5K in September, and dad and I ran another 5K on Thanksgiving Day. I'm still not sure that I want to be a runner, but I'm considering running the Country Music Half-Marathon in April.

Brad is keeping quite busy with his work at Vanderbilt. He has two semesters left of classes, and is very much looking forward to being done with his formal class work. He is enjoying his program, and knows that he is doing exactly what he was meant to do. This spring, he will be presenting a paper at the Wesleyan Theological Society meeting, and we're all looking forward to a trip to Anderson, IN in March. Brad will spend this coming summer doing some traveling with me (including a trip to Poland with a group of Trevecca students) and studying Greek to prepare for classes in the fall.

Ella continues to be the absolute joy of our life. She turned 3 in November, and certainly keeps us on our toes. She finally found a daycare home at the Vanderbilt Child and Family Center which is just a few blocks from Brad's school. She loves school and can't wait to go each day. She and several of her girlfriends call themselves the "Lava Girls." She is learning all of her letters and loves to sing and read books. Her favorite thing to do is play pretend in the kitchen and with dress up clothes. When she grows up she wants to "be a mommy or a daddy so that I can make breakfast and dinner and have a baby in my belly." She also has become quite the sports fan, loving the Red Sox and Colts, although she tells us that basketball is her favorite sport. She is very much looking forward to visiting our family in Illinois and Indiana this Christmas.

This year, we have been reminded again and again of the goodness of God. When we have least expected it, God has provided for our every need, and some even before we knew we had them. We are astonished at the paths that we continue to be led on, and look forward to what lies ahead in the year to come. We pray that the grace of God would be evident in your lives in the coming year.

The Things We Teach Our Children

I'm pretty sure that part of the point of parenting is to teach your children things about life, and how to navigate through it. But sometimes, even the good things that we teach us come back to get us.

For the past 5 months, Ella and I (sometimes Brad) have gone to East Nashville Cooperative Ministry on Sunday evenings to help with a meal for the homeless and working poor. Each week we help to set tables, serve food, and spend time eating and talking with our new friends. Ella loves Soulfeast, and know that on Sundays we go to church and Soulfeast. On Sunday night, a local youth group was helping out, and one of our very best friends invited us over for dinner. We made the decision to forgo Soulfeast this week, and come back next week. When Ella learned of this, she was not going for it. She said that she wanted to go to Soulfeast, they needed us. So, Brad went over to our friend's house alone while Ella and I went to Soulfeast to set things up and get the meal started. After we had done that she was "so excited" to go for dinner. I guess that she is our little humanitarian.

Then, this morning, I had given Ella her waffles and dried cranberries for breakfast, and came to the table with my own breakfast of toast with butter and a banana. Ella looked at my breakfast and said, "You have two pieces of toast?" I told her that I did and then she said, "God likes it when we share, Mommy," while greedily eyeing my piece of toast. I asked her if she would like a bite of my toast and she said, "Yes Mommy, God likes it when we share." And with a sly smile, she ate my toast!

She's obviously learning some of the things that we're trying to teach her, which is wonderful. Perhaps I should be thankful for the times when she reminds me of ways to act in our world.

For the Holidays

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here! I can't believe that December is just around the corner. Ella turned 3 this month, and we had a wonderful party. Unfortunately, our camera broke and no one one at our party brought one. So, it will just have to be a party that lives on in our memories. I thought to celebrate the holidays, I would share a few Ella stories.

#1 - For her birthday, Ella received a gift card to Target. And, as much as I wanted to spend it on something practical, we decided to take her to Target and let her pick out whatever she wanted. For a few weeks now, she's been telling me that she needs her own laptop (I guess that Brad and I spend too much time on ours!), and so I brought them to her attention in the toy department. Immediately, she decided that she wanted one, so we took it up to the register and she bought it with her own "money". Ella loves her laptop, and for several days we would be doing things around the house and Ella would randomly yell, "I'll be right back, I've got to check my e-mail." She would run into the living room and spend a few minute on the computer. Today, however, I was looking for a way to distract her in the car and asked if she needed to check her e-mail on her laptop, she said to me, "My laptop doesn't have any e-mail, just games." Very astute!

#2 - One of Brad's favorite things to do when we're taking a few moments to rest on the couch as a family is to yell "Dogpile" and we all pile on. Ella has also developed a liking for the game. This week, as we were sitting on the couch, she decided that we needed a few rounds of Dogpile. After we had done that a few times, she yells, "Duckpile!" Brad asked her what that was, and she proceeded to show us: for the game of duckpile, you pile on top of each other, but with everyone on their backs, facing the ceiling. Ella loves this game even more than dogpile, and proceeded to yell "Duckpile!" over and over again until we told her we couldn't take any more of the piling. We'll see if it, too, becomes a family favorite.

Hope that you have a wonderful holiday!

Ella Endorses Obama!

Last night as we were driving home from church, I told Ella that I had gone to vote that day. We talked a little about voting and I asked her who she thought should be our next president. She excitedly answered, "Barack Obama." We're not sure where she learned about Barack Obama or John McCain, but apparently we talk about them more than we think. I think that Barack Obama is a pretty fun name to say. Nonetheless, the child has given her opinion. I guess that we'll see how the rest of the country feels in just a few days......

Life never gets back to "normal"

I, of course, have been pretty excited about my new diet/weight loss over the last year and a half. Not to mention becoming a "runner" (I'm still not sure if I can call myself that yet). But, I have forgotten a lesson that I learned in the beginning of my weight loss: Life never gets back to "normal", meaning that I never get to go back to eating whatever I want. Even with running I can't eat dessert everyday, and not measure out portions, and eat "just a little more." The pounds slowly but surely creep back on.

So, does this mean that I am on a perpetual diet? Does this mean that I can never eat what I want again? I guess that the answer is both yes and no. I am on a sort of diet, I have never been, and obviously never will be, the kind of person who can eat whatever they want and keep up the weightloss/maintenance. What I need to do is remember the lessons that I learned, in eating you make choices, a lot of them. If I want ice cream in the evening, then I can't have a cookie in the afternoon. If I want a little more dinner, I should eat a little less lunch, or vice versa. If I am eating badly, it's even more important that I make time in my day to go running (which is pretty hard with a little one). These are good lessons to learn, but hard to live out.

I guess this post is more of a reminder to myself, it's time to get serious, and be healthy! Being happy with who I am and proud of how I look is more important than that cookie that looks so tasty. If you have experienced the same thing and have any advice about staying on track, I would appreciate it!

What's the Matter with me?

Those of you who know me well know that when I say that I like sleeping, it's an understatement. I actually list napping as one of my hobbies. If a Sunday goes by and I don't get my Nazarene nap, I'm not a very happy camper. Lately, though, it seems that no matter how much sleep I get, I am never rested. I can sleep 8 hours a night and wake up feeling like crap, just the same as if I get 6 hours of sleep. I drag myself out of bed every morning bleary eyed and wanting more sleep. Every night when I get home, I count down the hours until I can go to sleep at a time reasonable to most adults (and after my 2 year old).

I just don't understand it. I eat a very healthy diet, I exercise about 2 hours a week, I can run 3 miles. Why can't I stay awake? One might think that it's some thyroid thing, but I've had that checked. One might say that it's because I am the mom of a toddler, but my toddler sleeps for almost 12 hours, and only 1 or 2 times a week wakes me up in the middle of the night.

I hate being tired, I want more energy. I have so much to do that I can't afford to go to bed at 9:00 every night. I just don't know how to make it better. Any suggestions?

P.S. I can't do caffeine, it gives me headaches and makes me want to sleep more!!!

What a Big Girl!

I have been meaning to write this post for a while, but I haven't' been able to because our computer has been on the fritz. This has been a big summer for our little one, who is slowly but surely making the transition from being a baby to being a "big girl."

In May, Ella started going to daycare at Vanderbilt, just a few blocks from Brad's school. It has been such a blessing. One drawback for her was that they don't allow 2 year olds to have pacis at Vanderbilt. So, on her first day, we prepared her, "No pacis at Vanderbilt." We decided to go cold turkey, and that evening we put all of her pacis into a box, and took them out to the mailbox where the mail carrier would come to "take the pacis to the babies." That night, we questioned our decision while for 2 hours (from midnight-2) Ella cried, "I want my paci." But, after that night, we were done! What a relief. But even now, if you ask Ella what makes her happy she will say without hesitation, "my blankie and my paci."

Ella also made the leap of potty training this summer. She still has the occasional accident, and is working on giving up Pull-ups at nap time and nighttime, but we're making progress. She loves to wear big girl underwear, and often reminds us, "Diapers are for babies."

The last big leap that we made this summer is moving Ella from her crib to a big girl bed. She wasn't climbing out at night, but when she was in her bed for time outs, she would throw her legs over the side. We knew it was time. So, we got a great bed on Craigslist and put it in her room. She loves being able to climb in and out herself, and thankfully still stays in bed until we come and get her when she wakes up. She loves to bring 2 stuffed animals to bed with her (only 1 for nap time she tells us), and loves to "switch" them each night. Here are some pictures of Ella in her big girl bed.

Ella is such a joy, and we are really enjoying being parents to her. She is learning all of her letters and numbers, is very interested in reading and amazes us each day with new things that she is learning. She has also started trying to interject herself into all of our conversations. "You talking about cousin Andy, or another Andy." And is very insightful. Last week, Brad was talking animatedly to get a point across and she said, "You mad at mommy, daddy?" It made us laugh. Her favorite thing to do is hang out at the park. We are thankful for the blessing that she is, and look forward to the years ahead.

I Made It!

On Saturday, September 20, hundreds of people from toddlers to grandparents gathered together to run a race. I arrived a
few hours before the race and watched as children, parents, grandparents and college students streamed into the center of Belmont’s campus to register for the race. All around me, people of all shapes and sizes were chugging water, eating bananas, stretching and running warm-up laps to prepare for the big event, the 5K.

All of my training culminated Saturday night at the 5K. I lined up on Belmont Avenue for the big race (about 20 Trevecca students ran it, too). After some delay, and a few sprinkles, the starting gun sounded and we were off. It was hot, it was dark, and it was hilly. Most of the runners were ahead of me, but I kept running (sometimes, though, I had to walk to keep going). But as I came to the top of the final hill and could see the finish line ahead, I got a new burst of energy. And though I was hot, though my ankles were sore, and although I could barely breathe, the end was in sight. The time on the finish line clock was more than the 14:51 that the winner finished in, but it was faster than I had ever run (okay, it was 34:04). And what began as a dream in June became a reality. It wasn’t ever easy, and it was rarely fun, but it was worth it. I’m already looking toward a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day.






Ella and mommy after finishing the race.














I did it! Yes, I'm really red!

Race Day is on It's Way

Well, just a few more days until the race on Saturday. I have a short (2 mile) run tomorrow, and then I'll be resting (from running that is) until the race Saturday evening (how horrible to have to wait until 6:30 p.m.!). I'm not quite sure yet what the best thing to eat is on Saturday leading up to the race.

I feel like I'm ready, although I'm not sure that I'll be able to run the whole time. A friend of mine ran a whole marathon going 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I might do something similiar if the hills of Nashville get to me. Either way, though, I feel a sense of accomplishment. When I began in June, I could barely run for 30 seconds in a row. Now, I can run up to 2 miles without stopping, and sometimes even more. I thought that by now I would like running more, but I don't. I still haven't experienced the "runner's high" that people say gets them through. I'll probably never be a marathon (or half-marathon for that matter) runner. But, I'm in a better place than I was 3 months ago. And, running is a pretty efficient form of exercise that you can do anywhere.

I'm already planning my next race. My dad, brothers and I will be doing a Turkey Trot in Savannah on Thanksgiving Day. Two years ago, I couldn't even walk a 5K at that race (I probably could have, I just didn't want to!). I guess that I must just like poultry events :) I appreciate your prayers for Saturday, and I will post pictures when I can.

Ready or not, here I come!

I thought that I was the favorite

Most days, I drop Ella off at school and Brad picks her up. However, on Wednesdays this semester, our schedules dictate that we switch. I decided that today I would leave work a little early and spend some extra time with Ella (a precious commodity in our household). As she and Brad were leaving this morning I told her that I would pick her up after nap. She looked crushed and said, "But mommy, I have to have snack, and group time and play outside then you can pick me up." I told her that I could pick her up at 3:00 and she said, how about 5:00 (funny, since she knows nothing about time). We continued to discuss it for a few minutes, but she never backed down. She wanted me to pick her up from school, but not until she finishes her favorite activities :) I guess that spending time with mom isn't top on her favorites list anymore.

The Potty Truck

It's been a while since I've posted. Our Mac is out of commission, and all the of cute pictures that I have of Ella to share are hanging out there. As soon as it's fixed, I'll post on Ella's big girl bed, and my new dresses :)

But, this morning, Ella and I walked out of the front door to see a His and Hers Plumbing truck in front of our neighbors house. Their logo is above. She looked at me and said, "Mommy, why do they have a potty truck?" It was all that I could do to keep from laughing. We spent a lot of time on the way to school discussing potty trucks!

The Promise of Baptism

In June, we spent a long weekend with my parents in Savannah. As a part of the weekend's festivities, my 11-year-old sister, Anna, was baptized. We had talked with Ella about it as we prepared for the occasion, and also talked with Ella about her own baptism. Since then, Ella has talked about baptism a lot. She has wanted to thank God for her and Aunt Anna's baptism, talked about what happens at Baptism (we have told her that we become Christian when we are baptized), and watched her own baptism video on Brad's computer.

Last night, I was giving Ella a bath, and she had some little cubes that hold water. She filled one up, poured the water over her head and said, "I get baptized, I'm a Christian now." She proceeded to "baptize" herself several more times during the course of her bath. It's amazing how kids think about the things that we tell them! Who knows, perhaps Ella is destined to be a pastor!

P.S. For those who care, I can run 1 1/2 miles in a row now!

Shopping

For most of my life, I haven't really liked shopping. It's been mostly because until now, I haven't had the best luck with getting clothes to fit, but now, I think that it's ultimately for a different reason.

Last night, Brad and I took Ella to Opry Mills Mall here in Nashville to get fitted for some shoes that she will soon need. But, while there, Brad and I both decided to look around for somethings that we had been thinking about (pants, a dress, some shoes). As we walked around the mall, I began to get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, and it was getting worse and worse the more stores I went into and the more clothes I tried on, and the more things I found myself wanting to buy.

Now, I don't really like to spend money (I have some issues that someday I'll figure out how to deal with), but then I figured out that shopping for me is a little like eating dessert. I can live without eating dessert, but the moment I begin, I want more. I can eat a serving of chocolate ice cream, and then once I finish, I think, "Now, if only I had a few more bites." More often than not I yield to temptation and go to the kitchen to get some more ice cream (part of the reason that running is so important for me!). I think that shopping is like that. When I don't go to the mall (or Target), I am pretty content with what I have, and find it easier to live simply. But, the moment I walk into the mall and see all of the clothes hanging in the stores, and the sale signs, I begin to get the itch...."Oh, I love that dress, now if only I had a sweater to go with it in case I get cold, and none of my shoes really match, so I might need to get some new ones." And so it goes.

Just like it's much easier to resist the chocolate ice cream (or Nutella, or cake, or brownies, or cupcakes) temptation if I never bring them into my house, or open the freezer door. It's easier for me to resist consumerism if I don't ever make it to the store. Now the trick is to find a way to live in harmony with my temptations..........

Keepin' On

Nothing too new or exciting is happening, but I thought that I would write about a few things:

Update on Running: It's been almost a month now since I started my running quest. It's going well, I think. This week, I walked/ran about 3 miles, with 1.2 of those miles being 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I'm starting to feel less and less tired when I'm running, although I'm still pretty sore. I don't love running yet, but I'm liking it more, and it makes me feel good about myself. I am having a hard time getting up at 5:00 a.m. to do my running! I still have a lot more work to do, but I'm optimistic.

Update on Mothering: Thanks for all of your advice and suggestions about dealing with a toddler. I've found that I get the most frustrated when I have agenda, such as a certain time that I want to leave the house, or a certain schedule for the evening. So, each time I find myself getting angry and wanting to yell, I think about whether or not Ella doing want I want her to is for her or for me. I'm yelling a lot less! I think that she appreciates it :) I would say that it's still a growing edge, though.

Random Thoughts on our Current Economic Situation: Some of you may know that I worry about money, sometimes more than I should. Every time I turn on NPR, or the news, or go to cnn.com, I find that the news is just bad, bad, bad (although the price of oil has dropped this week $18/barrel!). And the more I hear people talk about it, the more anxious I feel. I sometimes even find myself not being able to concentrate on work because the state of the nation's economy is weighing heavy on me. So, as irresponsible as it may seem, I'm trying not to pay much attention to what I hear on the news, I find that it makes me have a better outlook on life. Is that bad?

Tonight we had our first Daugherty Family Movie Night. Brad and Ella went to our local Red Box and picked up "The Bee Movie". Once they arrived home, we changed into our pajamas, popped some popcorn, poured a small amount of soda, and sat on the couch with our blankets. She was pretty tired at the end, but she seemed to love it. We look forward to more fun times and traditions together.

The Life of a Toddler Mom or just a grumpy lady?

So, I often find myself frustrated with Ella, and even raising my voice more than I would like. I especially noticed it after being together all day today. Ella is 2 1/2 now and is starting to flex her independence muscle. She wants to do everything, and she wants to do it her way. This works most of the time, but when we need to get somewhere, or when something needs to be done (or if it needs to be done in a particular way), I find that it's very hard to get her to do it, or to listen. We haven't made a habit of spanking, or using any kind of physical punishment, but are thinking that maybe we need to use a little to get her to respond. I often find myself yelling her name in exasperation.

So, is that what life is like as the mother of a toddler, or am I just a grumpy lady? Those of you who have raised (or are raising) toddlers, what do you think??

My Biggest Goal Yet - Can I do It?

So, most of you know that in the last year I have hit a lot of health/fitness milestones in my life. I feel like it's finally time to conquer my last fitness fear...running. For my whole life, I have been horrible at running and have hated it. I have a hard time breathing, my body moves too much, all kinds of excuses. Well, I am in the best shape that I have been in for as long as I can remember, so I think that the time has finally come.

My goal isn't to run a marathon, or even a half-marathon, but I would like to run a 5K. On September 20th, Nashville will be hosting the Chick-fil-A 5K. So, my goal is to be ready to enter as a participant in the 5K. I began this morning with a 2 mile walk along with a 1 mile walk/run. It felt good, and I have a REALLY long way to go, but I look forward to meeting this goal!

So, sometimes life makes you a little jaded

In the past few weeks and months, I have noticed that I have been approached by more people asking for food, money, clothes, etc. Even people coming to our door. We usually try to give people at least something, a meal, a few dollars, etc.

Last night, we took a quick trip to the grocery store, and while there, we took a pit stop at the restroom. As Ella and I were washing our hands, a woman came up and asked if she could have a few dollars. She told me that she had three children and would just like to get some bread, chips, etc. for them. She said that she has been asking God for a blessing and thought that I just might be it. I told her that I didn't have any cash, but that we were getting ready to check out, and if she wanted to get a few things, I would be more than happy to pay for them. She said that would be great and that she would meet us in a few minutes at the front.

We waited 10 minutes, and she never came. Obviously she didn't want the food, she wanted the money. For some reason, I felt really let down, betrayed almost. I was more than willing to help her out, but she lied to me. It led me to ask, how many people that we give help to lie to us? Should we still give anyway? What is my responsibility as a Christian?

Starring Ella

Our good friend, Jenny Selvidge, came over to visit tonight, and Ella let Aunt Jenny take some video of her. Prepare yourself for one of the cutest things ever!




Just in case you need a translation:

I had a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim,
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water (gulp, gulp, gulp)
He ate up all the soap (chomp, chomp, chomp)
And then he went to sleep.
With a bubble in his throat.
Big, big bubble pop, teeny tiny bubble pop!

When I Grow Up

A few months ago, I got a book from the library for Ella that talks about what we want to be when we grow up. Since that time, we've occasionally asked Ella what she wants to be when she grows up. We were delighted when she said that she wants to be a teacher like Ms. Allison (which means that Ms. Allison must be doing a good job as far as Ella was concerned).

In the last week, Ella's answer has changed. She was sitting at the dining room table this week, and I casually asked what she wanted to be when she grows up. She quickly answered that she wanted to be a mommy. She then qualifies it by saying, "I want to make dinner, I want to make breakfast, and have a baby in my belly." She's obviously thought about it. I wonder about it sometimes, but then I remember what an important job it is to be a mother, and I'm excited that Ella is looking forward to it.

Pictures from Poland

I could be a good person and upload lots of pictures to my Blog, or I can just be lazy and send you to my Facebook Album. I don't think that you need to sign up for Facebook to look at pictures. So, try these links:

Album 1

Album 2

I didn't take all of the pictures that I would have liked, but I think that this will give you a good sense of what we did in Poland. It was amazing, and we're planning to go back next year. Brad even gets to go with me!

Because I was Tagged

Movie Meme
One of my favorite California friends, Andrew, tagged me:

1. One Movie that Made you Laugh: Juno

2. One Movie that Made you cry: Cadence

3. One Movie that you loved when you were a child: The Labyrinth

4. One Movie that you've seen more than once: Sweet Home Alabama

5. One Movie you loved but were embarassed to admit it: Bring it On

6. One Movie that your hated: The Devil Wears Prada

7. One Movie that Scared You: What Lies Beneath

8. One Movie that bored you: The Golden Compass

9. One Movie that bored you: Castaway

10. One Movie that made you miserable: Evan Almighty

11. One Movie that you weren't brave enough to see: Inconvenient Truth

12. One Movie character that you've fallen in love with: Josh Lucas as Jake, Sweet Home
Alabama

13. The Last Movie you saw: The Golden Compass

14. The Next Movie you hope to see: I don't even know what's out!

15. Your Favorite Movie: Juno (I don't really watch movies all that often!).

I tag: Andrew S., Becca, & Jaime (because they are the people that I know read my blog!!)

My New Favorite Quote

"Jesus is not a weapon" - Hurley's Mom, LOST

I made it home safely!

I have been home for just over 5 days, and think that I have finally gotten over my jet lag (although I did fall asleep on the couch last night at 9:00 p.m.). I thought that it was probably time to update you on the trip to Poland and thank you for your prayers. The trip to Poland was amazing. It was slightly stressful being in charge of 18 other people and their safety and team finances and traveling to a place where only about half of the people speak English, but it was worth all of the stress.

While we were in Poland, we had the opportunity to do a good bit of ministry & sightseeing. We spent most of our time in Gdansk, which is one of the largest cities in Poland right on the Baltic Sea. While there, we spent the majority of our time building relationships with about 25 students at what would be the equivalent of a Jr. High in a nearby village. Our students jumped in with both feet having conversations, playing sports (even though most of them weren't very good) and pouring themselves into the students. We spent three full days with the Polish students (which included a basketball game between our students and the Polish 14-year-old National Champions), and hosted them to the Nazarene Ministry center for a coffeehouse. It was an incredible experience for the Trevecca students to get to know the Polish students. There were definitely some relationships built that will last a lifetime. Our other main avenue of ministry was building relationships with Polish youth who are already a part of the Church of the Nazarene. It was a great way for them to get to know a little more about Protestants in general and the Church of the Nazarene in specific. One of the things that I really admire about the work that Nazarenes are doing in Poland is their willingness and excitement to work with the Catholic church and provide avenues of involvement that the Catholic church may not. They aren't trying to evangelize people that are already Christian, but to work alongside of them to help enrich the spiritual lives of people who are interested.

We also had a good bit of sightseeing. We saw Malbrook Castle, which was for a time the headquarters of the Crusades and the Teutonic Nights. The castle was almost completely destroyed in World War II, and has been meticulously restored. We also saw the shipyards where the Solidarity Movement began (this was the beginning of the Fall of Communism in Poland), and some incredible old buildings. We took a trip (an 8 hour train ride!) to Krakow, which is in the southern portion of Poland. Krakow was the only major Polish city not destroyed in World War II, and so it has some incredible churches that are 8-900 years old! While in Krakow we got to visit Wawel Castle, which is the castle of the Polish Kings. I spent my time there in the chapel and crypts where many of the Polish royalty are buried. It was incredibly beautiful and interesting. We also went to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, Nazi death camps from WWII. It was an incredible experience. Until that day, I do not think that I could even begin to fathom the atrocities that went on in Nazi concentration camps. To think that 1 million, or more, people were murdered there, because of a man who didn't think that they were worthy enough to be treated as human beings. It was a tough day for our students, but I think that it was good for them to experience the camps. A quote posted in one of the bunkers really summed it all up, "Those who do not learn history are destined to repeat it." I hope that the hours that we spent in that place will be hours that challenge us to stand up for those who are persecuted, and to keep anything like this from ever happening again. It was not until I spent this time in Poland that I realized what a tragic and violent history the Polish people have had. They have stood up under centuries of oppression, violence, upheaval, and still continue to be a gracious people. After this trip, I can say that I am truly proud of my Polish heritage.

In addition to sites, we had the opportunity to eat some wonderful Polish food. Lots of sausage, bread and cheese, along with pirogi (a family favorite), Polish pastries, European chocolate and plenty of gelato. There were a few things that I didn't like, but most of it I did. Our students were brave enough to try tome things that didn't look so great (warm, shredded beets!) I was surprised when I came home to learn that I had only gained 1 lb. It was probably the incredible amount of walking that we did while we were there.

Brad and Ella did just fine without mommy. They were glad to see me when I returned, but were quick to tell me that they made it okay. They enjoyed their 5 days in Muncie with Brad's parents, and I think that Pat-Pat and Paw-Paw enjoyed it, too. It was good to be away, but even better to be home!

I learned a lot during my 10 days in Poland, and I am so thankful for the opportunity that God has given me to share the good news of the gospel not only here, but around the world. Thank you for your prayers, they were truly felt and uplifted us during this time.

Leaving on a jet Plane

Tomorrow morning, I am going to be leaving for a 10 day trip to Gdansk, Poland. I will be leading a team of 18 people from Trevecca. Although I have been coordinating these trips for the last two years, this will be the first international trip that I have been on (and my first trip to Europe!). I thought that it was probably a good idea for me to actually go on one of the trips that I coordinate.

I am really excited about the trip, but I will also miss Brad and Ella like crazy. This will be the first time that I will be away from Ella this long. We have been preparing her that mommy is going to Poland, but I don't know that she actually knows what that means. I am sure that they will be fine, but that doesn't make it any easier. They're actually going to visit Brad's parents for 5 days, so that will make the time easier for them.

We would appreciate your prayers for our team, and also for our family. I'll post pictures when I return!

Not Much of a Nazarene

You would think that growing up in a household with two Nazarene ministers, Ella would be a very good Nazarene. However, we learned last night that she is not! We went to an end-of-the-year party at Vanderbilt Divinity School. There was lots of good food, great desserts, and a band made up of Divinity School professors and administrators (which was surprisngly very good). They had a dance floor set up, and as Ella watched the (slightly intoxicated) Divinity School students take to the dance floor, she, too wanted to join in. So, we let her. For probably 30-45 minutes, she was out on the dancefloor. Sometimes I was with her, sometimes others were with her, and sometimes she was the lone soul on the dance floor. Each time that I told her that it was time to go, she would say, "One more song, mommy!" We finally had to tear her away from the dance floor so that she could go home and go to bed. Later last night, when I asked her what her favorite part of the party was, she happily answered, "The dancing". Maybe it's time for some dance classes?

So the Nazarenes can be funny

So, some of the students from our West Coast school made a pretty funny video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnIrE3vf3Eo


And, in case you missed the original "Nazbo Rap", here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mrtsCBe6x0&feature=related

I guess that being Nazarene naturally lends itself to making rap videos or something.

My Kind of Coffee Place

I saw this article today in Christian Century:

"It is not so unusual that Catholic authorities in Croatia have opened a coffee shop. What is unique is that their customers can pay for their caffeine fix with prayers. The cafe' Zagreb charges four "Our Fathers" for a cappuccino, and five "Hail Marys" for a Coca-Cola, the most, expensive item on the menu."

Good thing I grew up Catholic, I can p(r)ay up!

An Actual Conversation

This afternoon, our phone rang, and even though it said 1-800 service, I answered the phone just so that they would quit calling. When the caller was told that Brad was not available, he asked to speak with the person in charge of the telephone provider decisions:

Heather: "That's me, but I have to tell you, we're pretty happy with our provider."
Caller: "What if I told you that you could save $30/month on your phone bill?"
Heather: "That would be quite impressive since you would be paying me money at that point."
Caller: "Who is your service provider?"
Heather: "We use Vonage."
Caller: "Oh, well I can't beat Vonage's price. Please let AT &T know if you are ever unhappy with your current service."

..Click

I have to tell you that the conversation gave me great pleasure. It makes me smile whenever I think about it.

Mommy & Daddy Wear Glasses

This morning on the way to school, Ella wanted to read a book. When she picked up her book, she also picked up her sunglasses, and told me repeatedly that she needed to put them on (even though it was cloudy and rainy). She then proceeded to wear her glasses all the way to school, reading her "horse book". When we got to school, I asked her if she was ready to take them off and she said, "I'm done reading my book now," and handed me the glasses. I asked her why she needed her glasses to read the book and she said, "Mommy and Daddy wear glasses to read stories." It is amazing how much they pick up without us ever knowing.

Environmental Tip for the Day

On the radio today, I heard that if your washer has a "2nd spin" cycle, it's most energy efficient to use that cycle each time you wash. Although it seems that it would use more energy, it actually takes more moisture out of the clothes so that the dryer can run for a shorter time to dry the clothes. Ella's winter coat is in the washer, and I put it on the 2nd spin cycle for the first time. Whatever we can do to conserve energy is important, hope that if you have a 2nd spin cycle, you try it, too.

The Downside of a Good Thing

So, I posted recently about my weightloss, and I have finally found a downside. I have weighed the same thing basically since I was a senior in high school (so like, for 12 years), with the exception of gaining 28 lbs when I had Ella. So, I have been able to aquire my wardrobe and several pieces over the last 12 years. There aren't a ton of things that I've saved for a long time, but good pieces, like suits, have lasted a long time. Well, going from a size 12 to a size 8 or even a 6 means that I can't waer any of those clothes anymore. Today, I went to a tailor to talk about altering my suits (thinking that it would be less expensive that way). What I found out is that losing so much weight basically means that he would have to take my clothes apart and basically remake them! This is expensive (over $100/suit!), and he said that some of them would be incredibly difficult to do, like my pants (since I lost over 7 inches in my waist!). Buying a wardrobe over 12 years makes it not too painful, but buying a lot at once can be a little painful. The only questions now are where do I find the best deals, and would I rather have new suits, or a fence in my backyard?

A Game for the Ages

"We don't really conversate.''
--The real words of New England wideout Randy Moss, on his relationship with coach Bill Belichick.

From Peter King: I think Roger Goodell got off a good line this morning at the MVP press conference. "We're grateful to Archie and Olivia and hope they'll have at least one more child," he said. Probably not going to happen.

What a great game! It was one of the best that I've seen, I loved it.

P.S. I hope that Cooper Manning is really successful at whatever he does. It has to be rather intimidating to have two younger brothers who are Superbowl MVP's

The End of a Long Journey...or is it just the beginning

This morning, I made it to the workout room at Trevecca for a weigh-in, which I hadn't been able to do before Christmas. I was a little hesitant when I went to step on the scale, but today, I made it to my goal weight!

When I began this journey on June 6, 2007, I didn't know if I would be able to make it. Could I really lose 31 lbs? I have been the same weight for the majority of my adult life, and my goal would have me weighing less than I did at my 9th grade physical. But, I knew that I was unhappy with the way that I looked and felt about myself and I wanted to change.

So, Brad and I began a long journey. We began to radically change the foods that we ate, the way that we cooked, and I began to work out 5-6 days a week. And now, 8 months later, I weigh 31 lbs less (if I count what I weighed when Ella was born, I've lost 60 lbs!) and we eat a great, healthy diet. It wasn't easy, but looking back now, it was worth it. Though let me tell you, I want to eat some Chinese food (the one single food group that I have avoided for 8 months!). I have to give a good deal credit to Sparkpeople.com, the best diet plan ever. It helped me to track my food, my exercise, and give me accountability for my weight loss. If you have struggled with diets in the past, I encourage you to check it out.

Today is a great day, and I am excited. But this doesn't mean that I can stop exercising and eat what ever I want. I think that we have successfuly made a life change. I look forward to Ella (and her someday siblings) growing up in a healthy household that will help to give her a great start in life. I hope that our lives will continue to be different!

At least someone with the last name Manning....

is in the Superbowl. Peyton didn't make it, but Eli did. I had hoped that the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre would win, as they probably have the best chance of beating the hated Patriots. But perhaps Eli and the New York Football Giants will surprise me and kick their butts. Maybe Eli can do it for Peyton!

Some Random Thoughts for the New Year

After a long and enjoyable trip to Florida for the Christmas holidays, we have returned to freezing Nashvegas (although it's supposed to climb into the 50's tomorrow). Several thoughts to share as we begin the new year:

1. Christmas is so much more fun with a toddler. Ella loved every present that she opened, even the socks and underwear! We also enjoyed the fruits of reading her a new book "The Fruits of the Spirit" in which she learned that patience means waiting your turn. She patiently waited while other family members opened pictures. What an angel. While at my aunt's house, there were 17 members of our extended family. Before going to bed each night, Ella gave a kiss and a hug to every person in the house. She is a very loving child!

2. Brad and I made it to see a movie, without paying a babysitter (which then makes a 2 hour movie a $40 event). We saw Juno, which neither of us were sure about. But, it was incredible. All of the reviews say that it had quick and witty dialogue and it really did. It is a little racy, but we thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

3. The 2008 elections have started! Tonight, Brad and I have the T.V. tuned to C-Span as we watch the interesting event that is the Iowa Caucus. How cool would it be to live in Iowa and get to participate in this awesome portrait of a democratic America. If you haven't taken the time to watch it before, you're missing out. In precinct 53, it looks like Obama is going to win. The only question is what will happen in the rest of the night and the next few weeks.

4. It's one of my favorite times of year, NFL playoffs. The Colts, having earned a bye, will sit out this week, but there's still plenty of excitement to be had. It would be even better had the Giants pulled it out on Saturday night and kicked the Patriots butt. I hate the Patriots and if they make it to the Superbowl, I might just puke.

I head to California next week for a Pastor's conference, and I'm excited to support my pastors, spend some quality time with some of my closest friends, and enjoy the California sunshine :) Until then...