I Don't wanna grow UP!

How do "hard-working" Cardiothoracic Researchers unwind from the blood sweat and tears of a long day??? Well, they collect and trade toys of course. Meet my friend "Jibby" my own personal personal blog monster given to me by the Incredible mARYmACK.

Hey there fella...someone wanna come out and play? Don't be shy...

Ahhh yes, sweet freedom from your cardboard prison...

Smile, it's your time to shine....

And here's the $$$ shot....

a little dunny booty for ya.

Build a Bridge...

One of my most beloved quips is "build a bridge and get over it". With theatrics and all I say it or sing it at least once a week to someone. Thank God, God doesn't have that same attitude with us. A dear friend of mine recently miscarried on her second pregnancy. She is one of the most profoundly dynamic young women I think i will ever meet...just all around a neat person. She said that she just doesn't quite feel herself and is not sure when "normalcy" is supposed to kick-in; also that she feels almost selfish for not wanting to give it anotha go right away. I know what she means... sometimes life just sux. It deals some slightly unfair and unwarranted sucker punches to the best of us just when we think we've got the life thing in check. One of my students has lost both his parents and an aunt within 5 years and doesn't want to grieve for fear of appearing "punkish" (my dear sweetheart) When I suffered some minor (note emphasis in comparison) heartache this year and revisited the source of that heartache I broke down & then I got mad at myself because I thought I was further along in feeling normal than I actually was. I discovered I was still hurt, sad and frustrated. Bummer. Well, God doesn't say build a bridge and get over it He says " I AM the bridge (Christ) and I am here for an eternity to bring you back to God, back to peace, back to joy, back to "normal" no matter how long it takes. Christ doesn't put us on a time clock when it comes to grief. Scripture says: "For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one, He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help." Psalm 22:24. He doesn't get pissed or peeved when we groan in saddness. He is a very PRESENT help. He is so compassionate and patient. Christ whispers to us: dear one I know it hurts but "Be still and know that I AM GOD" ~Psalm 46:10. Lets keep our eyes and hearts fixed on a loving God who does hear and see every affliction. He will never let go even when we do.

I'm Ron Burgundy???

From hard hitting news to a playin a mean jazz flute; apparently Anchorman Ron Burgundy is also a philanthropist. He left this little diddie for me at my desk today. God Bless this man. Is there anything he won't do for the good of mankind?

Ode to man with the crazee 'stache:

"I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal."

"I'm a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man I am. You're just a woman with a small brain. With a brain a third the size of us. It's science."

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. "

"Ohh, it's the deep burn. Oh, it's so deep. Oh, I can barely lift my right arm 'cause I did so many. I don't know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand. "

"Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina. "

"I'm gonna punch you in the ovary, that's what I'm gonna do. A straight shot. Right to the babymaker"

Love ya Martinovich! Thanks!

Sundaze~Huxtable Style

Sunday's in the Criddell household are perfection. Typical Sunday~first we all go to church, dad cooks giant waffles for everyone and he eats toast, we all pass out and dad reads the paper and gets the T.V. to himself (come to think of it, that's probably why he only eats toast :-) . My favorite part... I usually fall asleep on my parents bed with the ceiling fan on high, my nephews who are now 13 and 16, when they were a few years younger, would come jump on top of me, first Evan then Brandon...we would watch Nickelodeon or Disney or NOG, wrestle around and fall asleep until dinner in one human pile. Even though they are older we still do this in some form usually we lay like vienna sausages on the bed and their arms and legs end up in my face, we get up go "play" basketball & volleyball, come home & I lick my wounds...it's just perfect, I feel so loved by them.

Breaking Free!

So, I love music that no one else (at least locally) knows about. I am now a huge fan of New Zealand singer Brooke Fraser...she also sings for Hillsong. This is a song that I am pretty sure correlates with Song of Solomon 2:7 which says, "Do not arouse or awaken love until so desires"
It has really ministered to me lately.

Love Is Waiting lyrics:

In the autumn on the ground, between the traffic and the ordinary sounds I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through I watch as lovers pass me by Walking stories whos and hows and whys Musing lazily on love Pondering you

I'll give it time give it space and be still for a spell When it's time to walk that way we wanna walk it well

Chorus: I'll be waiting for you baby I'll be holding back the darkest night Love is waiting 'til we're ready 'til it's right Love is waiting

It's my caution not the cold There's no other hand that I would rather hold The climate changes, I'm singing for strangers about you Don't keep time, slow the pace Honey hold on if you can The bets are getting surer now that you're my man

Chorus

I could write a million songs about the way you say my name I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again And like I can't force the sun to rise Or hasten summer's start, neither should I rush my way into your heart

Chorus 2X

*Sidenote: R.I.P. Tim Russert...so sad that he's gone, it's bizzare. This nation needs more journalists like him. 2008...man!

blOg hOdge pOdge

Bridesmaid Blooze...
So why exactly is it impossible for me to find a perfect "little black dress" under $200 that is wedding appropriate? I am a bridemaid for a bride who so graciously assigned the easiest requirements for a dress possbible~black, A-line, at least knee length. 1,000 stores later and I got nada. Arrrggghhh! ayudame!

Is There a A Slow Motion button on this thing?...
Okay so in November 2007 God called me into seminary & confirmed that I was to go to South Africa....that was what?...yesterday? I leave for Cape Town in a little over a month. As soon as I get back I move to Waco. Orientation is next and then classes start. My dear friend is getting hitched (I'm in that too) the next week. 4 days later I turn 27~ 3 weeks from then my brother's wedding in AZ. I am taking all in strides but I keep having these minor public anxiety attacks which my co-woker finds quite humorous. NOT FUNNY! I feel like Adam Sandler in "Click"~I think my remote is broken.

Church...
Church for me lately has been a war zone; I may be exaggerating. I can't wait to go to a church where I am no where near involved in even the knowledge no less the operations of church politics...(so says the Youth Minister)...yeah right! But really, it can be hard at times. My only respite, thankfully enuf, are my kiddos. As "bad and "unruly" as they are labeled 2 B the youth are the sanest ones in the joint. They are honest to a fault and they challenge me to study and understand the Bible in ways I've never imagined possible...just so that I can preach it to them. It's such a miraculous process. I get a workout every Thursday and Sunday. I am consumed with thoughts of them. I want to save them all or at least let them know they are loved and well thought of. I want to lead each one by hand to their highest potential in Christ and though the knowledge that I can't is my greatest burden they are my greatest joy.

"Work"~yeah, that's what we'll call it...
I learned a new game at work along with Gin, Hearts and Puerto Rican Tequila (all card games). It's called "Snaps" It is so odd and inexplicable that all I can say is I learned how to play. So fun. I'm gonna miss those chicas at BCM.

Been a long time Comin...But I know a Change gonna come. Oh Yes it Will.

I am so proud to be black, a descendant of strength, love, family, power, courage and faith. Today history is written because for the first time in the story of this country a black man is a presidential nominee. Journalists say that this a day for the entire country to be proud of; to own but this country has, for generations, continuously turned it's back on my fathers, mothers, aunts and uncles, humilated them, abused them and changed the rules so that a day like this could avoided at all costs. The pride we display in this nomination extends far beyond the realm of politics and religion. It is a long overdue resurrection of a people in the same country that has perpetuated a love for hatred and death of human spirit. I come from greatness and this day means more to African-Americans than America could ever attempt to appreciate.

DON"T FORGET TO REMEMBER...

Nearly 15 million Ripped from Our Countries for 400 years

Piled high in the bottom of slave ships laying on feces, blood & each other dead or alive

Two-thirds human; tracked like livestock.

"Belled Slave Collar"

Worked 'til numb feet, raw hands; minds dizzy with exhaustion & saddness; nursing children ripped from mother's breast, husbands stolen from wives.

Some hoping for change...some waiting for death

Beaten mercilessly, without reason; dehumanized, mutilated for all to see, day after day

Our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, brothers, uncles, husbands, children

Fighting for every "human right"; Fighting for freedom & the right to vote; to be given a voice.

James Baldwin "To be a Negro in this country & to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage all the time."

Constantly turning Rage into Resilience.Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator Barack Obama

From the Kings of the Old Testament to all of my ancestors who, under incredible opposition & danger, refused to take their eyes off of a saving God; I come from greatness. Thank you to all who were beaten, spat on, denied, mistreated, misused and murdered. Thank you for walking in faith before me.