A look inside: WINDING DOWN

Sunday, December 2, 2007

WINDING DOWN

I'm sitting here on my comfy couch in my fuzzy Oregon State sweatshirt (sorry Jill) and my flannel pj pants, sipping Moroccan mint tea - my favorite! And there is no place I'd rather be. I love being home. This past weekend was a whirlwind, and I'm glad it's over. I have just returned from the NCSS (national council of social studies) conference in San Diego. I am too tired to recount all the details, so I will leave you with a few pictures. Since I'm sure you were all waiting with great anticipation to hear about my trip :)

Yes, such a nice little set-up isn't it? I did that, thank you very much. I spent 18 hours standing in this booth talking to high school teachers about how to integrate our materials into their social studies curriculum....umm yeah.

When no one was in our booth, I would frantically read the summaries of each book and try to memorize key phrases so I could repeat them back to people, and sound like I knew what I was talking about

This is what it looked like outside. Cold and windy, with pouring rain on Friday. Do you know why I was most disappointed about the rain? I wasn't able to wear my favorite peep toe pumps....I brought three different pairs. Good thing I had back-ups though, you can never pack too many shoes!

Number 3 favorite part of my trip:

The coffee maker in my room made incredible tasting coffee. Maybe it was because I used the $5 a bottle water to make it :)

Number 2 favorite part:

This glorious bed....simply amazing. I hated getting up in the morning.

Number 1 - all time - absolute favorite part of my trip:

Seeing my good friend Janel and her family.

She is an amazing, uplifting, wonderful person. And any time I am able to spend with her is a good time. And we had such a great visit together. I will post more about her and her adorable little boys later. Oh, and she is Ona's sister-n-law and is thinking about starting her own blog. So hopefully you will all get to know her and her family very well real soon.

16 comments:

Sharon said...: Thanks for the re-cap, you working girl! Those conferences are crazy~did a few of those during my working years. Does make that bed and the $5 coffee seem so inviting! And what a bonus to be able to visit with a friend! That's awesome~but nothing's as awesome as being home! Welcome back!; December 3, 2007 at 12:12 AM
Lindsay said...: WOW... sure wish I could have snuck in with your luggage or something... :)

Glad you had a great time... but I know your kids are liking having their mommy back!; December 3, 2007 at 1:49 AM
Michelle said...: Happy to hear that you made it home safely... now your daughter can rest at night. ;-)

I am off on a business trip today.. so give me a day or two and I will be feeling similar feelings... home sweet home! :-); December 3, 2007 at 5:56 AM
Ona said...: Glad you got a chance to meet up with Janell. I got your e-mail, thanks for the pictures. Enjoy your time to rest because tomorrow is going to be brutal. We are either going to get really drenched or blow over before we finish our run :); December 3, 2007 at 8:02 AM
LizzyG said...: I can't wait Ona!!!; December 3, 2007 at 9:32 AM
momaof4 said...: What a bed! That is amazing... Very classy.

Hope your run went well with Ona!!; December 3, 2007 at 9:40 AM
Glory Laine said...: Ahhhhh! Janell! So good to see her boys and her big smile. Yes. She must start a blog.; December 3, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Rachel said...: You look so professional and the booth looks great! I'm glad you made it home safe and sound and happy to be there!; December 3, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Anonymous said...: So glad you are home safe and sound!
I so happy that you were able to spend time with Janell! I was wondering of you would get to see her!!!
Anyway I hope you are having a great day!
This is a special week for you isn't it????? :); December 3, 2007 at 2:33 PM
February Jill said...: What????

Liz we were just so close to being bosom buddies, or kindred spirits as my friend Ann Shirley likes to say...
We both love God and our kids and our husbands and volleyball. You run and I aspire to...
Well I am not ready to break up with you just yet. I am willing to attempt to convert you and save our friendship.
Just kidding, I don't really care! I just grew up near Eugene and naturally cheered for the Ducks. The only time I was an out-for-blood fan was while my brother was there and that's been a few years. You're still my online-never-met BFF!; December 3, 2007 at 5:20 PM
LizzyG said...: Oh Jill, you have me laughing out loud right now! I love the way you write, you are so witty. Thank you for not putting an end to our online relationship! I too am not a die hard Beaver fan, so I will still celebrate with you when the Ducks win. I hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend!; December 3, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Arminda said...: People who think that Liz is pretty cool for heading to San Diego and winging it through a conference: Me. :)

Is there anything you can't do, supermom?

On a different note, I made gravy last night, and it was terrible. I bet you're good at making gravy...; December 3, 2007 at 8:57 PM
Arminda said...: Oh, and help! I don't know whether to call you Liz or Elizabeth in work emails. Please advise.
Sincerely,
The Hottie in Gatke 202; December 3, 2007 at 8:59 PM
Jen said...: Liz...I am impressed!!

Way to pull it all off. I know how intimidating running a booth like that at a conference can be. I did it once when I was 20, I totally know the feeling of "having to read the books" in between guests. It's crazy. I see a great future for you in the business world!

Still so bummed out it rained when you were here in So Cal... SO LAME!!

Janell looks familiar? Was she a RIOT girl?

Okay...peace and love, I've got to study. Papers to write. Jen; December 3, 2007 at 9:29 PM
Stefanie said...: That looked pretty fun - and a little pampering in the hotel. I enjoy some alone time. Not quite as fun as me, Jill and Becca's shopping extravaganza with no work and all play! Glad you are home safe!; December 4, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Unknown said...: I am just like you, Home is my very favorite place to be! I'm so glad you had a good trip and got to meet up with a friend! Donna said she had lots of fun with the kids. :); December 4, 2007 at 6:15 PM

Words to Remember

"Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had. Let them not promise themselves more honor or pleasure in the world than Christ had. Let each live a life of labor and self-denial as his Master, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple."
~Matthew Henry,
English Pastor 1662-1714

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
~Martin Luther King

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot

"I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice."
~David Livingstone

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. "
~C.S. Lewis

"I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field; whether married or alone, in happiness or sorrow, health or sickness, prosperity or adversity - I want Thy plan, O God, for my life."
~Oswald J. Smith

songs with meaning

If you hear one of these songs playing while visiting my blog, here is why it is so special to me:

I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman: I would listen to this song as a young teenager and dream about finding a love like this song describes. Guess what? God gave more then I ever dreamed.

Any Song by Keith Green!!! I first heard Keith Green as a young child and knew all his songs by heart. As a teenager, I loved his music because he is so honest and authentic. I also read his autobiography when I was in my teens. He is one of my all-time heroes! I remember my friends laughing at me when they were in my car, wondering why I would be listening to songs from the 70's. Yes, the music is cheesy, but the lyrics are simply amazing!

How Could I Ask For More by Cindy Morgan: My senior year of high school I was on homecoming court with four other girls, who were all good friends of mine. We all picked this song to be played during our ceremony. I still love this song!

Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart: The song Jon and I danced to at our wedding. I smile every time I hear it.

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me: This song was played at Brian Ditchen's memorial service. Brian was Jon's cousin who he grew up with, and who I went to school with, and he was a dear friend. He passed away in March of 2004 in a tragic plane accident, he was only 28. It shook the core of our faith. The only comfort came from knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, who Brian lived his life for: Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated believer, and we can't wait to see him again. Every time we would hear this song, it touched us deeply, it still does. Heaven has become very real to us.

The Scientist by Coldplay: My younger brother, Ben, sang and played this song on the piano at my brother Jeremy's memorial service. Jeremy passed away suddenly in September of 2004, he was only 31. Once again our faith was shaken (see next song)....

Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day: Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of my brother Jeremy...."To everyone who's lost someone they loved, long before it was their time, you feel like the days you had were not enough, when you said goodbye....cry out to Jesus" I am reminded to turn to God in the midst of my pain and loss, and it's OK to go to Him with my questions

We Will Dance by Steven Curtis Chapman: My current love song. It so beautifully describes mine and Jon's relationship.

I'm Not Cool by Scott Krippane: This is Daniel's song.Not in a mean way. He absolutely loves this song and sings along with it every time. The funny thing is, it describes him perfectly.

She's a Dancer by Phil Keaggy: This is Sarah's song! It so sweetly reminds me of Sarah...."she's a dancer, she loves to dance, she's a singer, she loves to sing, she's a lady, walkin' round in mama's shoes, standin' tall in mama's shoes" Sarah has also been caught singing into the bathroom mirror. And when she was younger she put on many "dance performances" for us in our living room.

Olivia by Phil Keaggy: Obviously Olivia's song! I've sang this song to her since she was a tiny newborn. She knows the words and sings along now. Whenever I put this song on, she stops what she's doing and gets a big smile on her face, and says "my song!"

Beautiful by Bethany Dillon: OK I'm 32 now. And sometimes when I look in the mirror, the depression creeps in. I don't look like I did ten years ago, I don't see a beautiful young woman looking back at me. And that can get you down sometimes. This song reminds me that true beauty is who I am in God's eyes. I could be perfect in every way on the outside and yet not be beautiful in the eyes of God, and when it's all said and done, my life would have been lived only for myself. I want to be beautiful in God's eyes, I want Him to look inside my heart and smile, and most importantly, be pleased.

Who Am I?, The Voice of Truth, and Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns: All three of these songs are very special to Jon. These are three of his all-time favorites. These songs brought him close to God when he was going through a hard time in his life.

I Am by Nicole Nordeman: The first time I heard this song was at a Women of Faith conference. She played it live on the piano. It was so beautiful and moved me so deeply. God is truly my "I Am", He has been my one firm anchor through every season of my life.