2011. a synopsis in photos and bullet points.

• Dad came home to ATL
• Car paid off
• Credit Cards paid off
• Turned 26 (went to Helen to "shoot the Hooch" with my roommate Jessica)
• Took part in Sarah's wedding
• Travel to Seattle, Oklahoma (2x), Orlando, Portland, Chicago, Florence (SC), Muncie (IN), Louisville, Denver (also Colorado Springs & Fort Collins), Richmond (VA),  & NYC
• Met Trent through my dear friends, the Norman's.  Emails, phone calls, texts, skype conversations, g-chats, hand written letters, and a few treasured visits.  What a man. So thankful for Him.  #James1:16and17
• Christmas- Dad helped pick out and set up my tree/Trent helped me take it down.
• I'm more aware than ever that my understanding of the gospel is opposed by the enemy of souls (John 10:10, 1Peter 5:8)
• took 9 of 12 months of 2011 to read Knowing God by TI Packer.  Whoa.  What a great book.  One of those I could read over and over again in my lifetime.
• I had a list of goals for 2011...of which only half came to completion.  Namely the financial ones (God is soooooo good.  Also, let me just take the time right now to record that a few years ago as  I was waking up to the seriousness of my debt, I told God that I would pay it off and then, I would be open to wherever/whatever He had for me.  The very morning in June that I made my last card payment, Trent had emailed me.)
• Spent my summer Mondays with my sister Cameron, who is growing up so quickly
• Attended probably about 10 different Braves games.
• 1:04 in the Peachtree and 2:20 in the Publix GA half marathon (FKA the ING half marathon)

And now, ladies and gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure...

Sarah's wedding rehearsal

Abby's "Peanut" and I doing the scrunchy face

Braves game!

26 years old. 'Bout to 'shoot the hooch'

Beautiful sky over Midown!

Disney World!

Crater Lake Nat'l Park with Maura

Jonathan and Leslee got hitched!

Chi-town.

After my red-eye flight arrived into Atlanta on Friday morning, my grandma picked me up.  I went home and took a long nap.  Then I repacked my bag for my flight to Chicago at 5pm.  Then I headed back to the airport.

Here are highlights from Chicago:

• I took the train from the airport to meet Michelle on Friday night.  She treated me to a fantastic dinner.  The food was superb.  The company was the best part.  
• The next morning Michelle and I leisurely prepared for the day and walked downtown to meet Trent.  He brought hydrangeas.  What a guy!  I'm so thankful for him! We walked through downtown and by the lake with Michelle for awhile, stopping for lunch and making our way to the Chicago river to buy tickets for the Architectural boat tour (which was my favorite part).  Another fave part of Chicago was the big Bean in Grant Park, which is this giant reflective piece of stainless steel shaped like a big bean.  I love that bean.

• Trent and I ended up with matching red Toms.  He received them as a gift for his birthday, and I happened to receive them as a gift because Elizabeth didn't want them!  Yes, I normally don't do red....but they're Ball State colors, I promise!  (Ball State is where Trent went to school.)
• Then we made our way back to Michelle's apartment.  We walked back downtown for dinner, where we shared the best Mexican food I've ever had.  Some Mexican restaurants can seem overdone and over priced to me, but this one was legit.  There was also live music.  
• Sunday morning, Trent and Michelle's neighbor, Joy, joined us for church.  It's a churchplant in Michelle's neighborhood.   What a treat.  I really connected with the pastor, as he was from Atlanta and a runner!  He talked about the Bible.  He gave this illustration to help us understand the BIG picture happening (Genesis 1-2: created in the image OF God; Genesis 3-Malachi: God AND man; Matthew 1-Acts 1: God WITH man; Acts 2-today: God IN us).  
• Trent and I shared a short, light brunch with Michelle before parting ways.  I was so encouraged by my time with Michelle.  Trent and I headed back downtown to meet his parents for lunch.  I think I broke the ice by spilling his Dad's beer.   We shared some deep dish pizza for Trent's birthday and then walked to the lake and back.  
• Trent and I then met up with his best friend Christopher (who has an uncanny resemblance to Taylor Hanson) and his fiance Jenna for dinner.  We got to hear about how they became a couple and vice versa.  What a treat! 
• Also, the Renegade Craft Fest was happening on the street where the restaurant was, and I kept my eyes peeled for a Red Velvet tent, but I missed them! I was only a little sad though, because my company was so great.
• I got to stay with Jenna at Moody Bible Institute that night.  She is a doll. 
• On Monday, Trent's birthday (!), Trent and I met for a short run through downtown Chicago.  Then we walked to Trader Joe's to pick out some food for a birthday picnic at Navy Pier.  It was such a magical day. 
• The whole weekend was just magical.  The most trying part however, was, after we decided to drive to Ikea out by the O'Hare airport, we realized that we'd be cutting it very close for me to make my flight on time (I was flying out of Chicago Midway, which is closer to downtown).   We prayed that I would make my flight and tried as best we could to enjoy our last few moments together in the car.   As we approached the airport, it came to a point when I said "I think I'm going to miss my flight."
• (Time for a new bullet point)  After Trent dropped me at the airport, I rushed to the check in desk and asked if I could still make it.  They said I could if I ran.  So, they printed my boarding pass and off I went.  I'm sure I held a panicked look on my face as I ran up to security.  Praise God that they allowed me to pass through the priority line.  Once I got past security (it had to be less than 3 minutes that I was in security), I SPRINTED down the terminal, causing a scene as I went as I yelled "excuse me!" and "On your left!" as I went. I was at once thankful for increased lung capacity from running, my rolly bag, and moving sidewalks. 
• I also made a friend when I was running.  This guy who I passed on the terminal yelled at me, "Are you late too?" Me: "Yes!"  Guy: "Where you goin?" Me: "Atlanta!"  Guy: "Me too! Let's run together!" Me: "OK! Come On!"
• The gate was at the end of the terminal and as I ran up, I heard the gate agent say into his walkie talkie that they needed to close the gate.  When I got there, I asked, "Did we make it?!"  He exclaimed, "You made it!"  I replied, "Oh, Praise GOD!"   A bystander sitting in the terminal waiting for his flight was laughing at the scen, so I obliged him by giving a curtsy before I made my way down the walkway to the plane.
• When I plopped down in my seat on the plane, I was dumbfounded that I had actually made it.  Then I laughed to myself as I remembered the scene from Home Alone when the family was running through the airport.  That was me. On the flight home I got to see a glorious sunset.  Grace abouds every day.  Poor Trent had no idea until I got back to Atlanta and called him from my Dad's phone  (as mine was dead) that I had made it.  His response was "that means that we squeezed out every possible second together!"  #truth

Pdx.

My favorite part of Portland?  Maura Perrin by a long shot.  She had to work 3 of the 5 days that I was there, to her chagrin.  But we sure carpe'd it up (as in carpe diem) during the time that we had together!  I'm so thankful for her friendship and the great number of miles between us certainly makes the heart grow fonder.  This seems to be a theme in my life.

For your reading pleasure, here's a short list of highlights from the trip.

• Since I flew to Portland (PDX) on a buddy pass through Salt Lake City, I got to sit in first class on the second leg of my trip.  I got a window seat and while The Help provided some reading pleasure, I could not keep my eyes off the beauty happening outside, as we were flying right into the sunset.  As we left SLC, the brilliant red from the sunset was reflecting off the sides of the mountains and the lake.  It was so beautiful that I cried.  
• When I arrived in Portland, it was so good to see Maura again.  She asked me if I had brought a Chick fil A biscuit for her. Apparently she's not a vegetarian anymore.
• Tubing down a river for 5 hours on a lazy sunday.  It was fantastic...until the trees started hogging all the sunlight, rendering me freezing cold!  It was a fun afternoon nonetheless!  Maura and I ate a tasty dinner in Portland with her friend (now mine too!) Ryan.  (Ryan also follows the Braves religiously)
• I met up with Ryan on Monday after Maura had gone to work and after my run (PDX is gloriously flat!) at the largest privately owned bookstore in the country (?), Powell's, where I could have stayed all day long.  I almost bought a book of sonnets, a book about Caravaggio (rennaisance era artist), and a book about Coco Chanel.  But I was good.  I only bought what I needed, which was a small collection of books for Trent's birthday.  Then  Ryan showed me around downtown Portland.  It's a gorgeous city and they do public transit so well!  I saw more young white homeless people than I've ever seen in my life in downtown PDX.  
• That night we met up with Maura at this elementary school in downtown.  We went there to watch the swifts, which are birds no larger than the size of your closed fist.  They migrate through Oregon during September and will nest in this big chimney at said school every night around sunset.  There were thousands of them!  It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen!  Also, a hawk made an appearance for some dinner. :-)  
• After the swifts, Maura and I consumed almost an entire bottle of wine, planned for camping, and exfoliated.  We also bought a bag of the biggest marshmallows you've ever seen.  
• On Tuesday, I got to hang around on the street where Maura works, Hawthorne.  I visited a coffee shop, bookstore, and used/vintage (sometimes 'vintage' just means ugly, I learned) clothing store.  I bought a cute dress for Jonathan & Leslee's wedding (this weekend! eee!) for $18!
• That night, Maura and I made last minute preparations for camping. 
• Wednesday, we left early that morning for Burlington Coat Factory Crater Lake National Park, a 5 hour drive from PDX.  It was so beautiful on our drive down.   All the trees in Oregon look like Christmas trees. 
• When we finally made it to the Park, we reserved our spots on the 2pm boat tour and made our way down (1.1 miles of switchbacks; 700ft drop) to the lake, where we had time to swim (!) and eat our lunch.  
• The boat tour was pricey but worth it, as it was 2 hours long and took us all around the lake.  The water was fantastically blue.  
• After we left the lake, ignorantly heading out the way we came, hoping we'd find our campsite on the road from where we came, we realized quickly that it was dumb to assume that'd we'd have access to our 3g networks.  We ended up finding the campsite about an hour later, 30 short minutes before sunset.  We set up the tent, enjoyed (I use the term 'enjoyed' here very loosely) some ramen noodles, and went to bed.  When we went to sleep, it was overcast, preventing us from seeing stars. But Maura woke me at around 5am when the clouds had cleared.  I only dozed after this and peeked out of the tent every now and then to catch glimpses of the sunrise.
• Another thing we found after we got back in the car Wednesday afternoon after hiking back up to the car was that a bag of marshmallows + hot car = bag of white goo.
• Once we awoke Thursday morning, we broke down camp and headed back to Portland, stopping the uberly cute Bend for some brunch and a look around.  We arrived back in PDX for Mar to do my hair, eat dinner, and pack for my return home.  We also got to hang out with Mar's roommates, Patricia and Dan.  They are delightful.  
• I was nervous for my flight, as I was flying on a buddy pass and it looked like my chances were slim as far as getting on the flight.  But I said a prayer and went to the airport.  After the flight was about halfway boarded, I was sitting there nervously waiting to hear my name.  The gate agent called me up to the desk and asked me if I wanted a middle seat that reclined. I asked, "So, I'm in?!"  She laughed and said "yes!"  I exclaimed towards the ceiling "Thank you, Jesus!"  I then thanked her and asked for one that reclined. Apparently degree my relief struck a chord with her and she gave me card for a free glass of wine on the flight.  
• I'm continually amazed at God's gifts to me. That's all.  Next Chapter- Chicago.

Fun friday.

Well, hello again, 8-hour workday.  It's good to see you again, old friend.  Today I scheduled a dentist appointment at 4pm, meaning I need to leave work by 330.  Woop.

This week has been difficult, as most weeks are after returning from the top of a mountain.  My trips were absolutely fantastic.  Portland was beautiful (Maura is my favorite part of PDX).  Chicago was magic (so magical, in fact, that I nearly missed my flight home! It was definitely worth it, though).

I have many more pictures and stories to share. First I must catch up on life.  My room still has an open suitcase in the middle of the floor with clean and dirty clothes strewn about here and there.   I plan on doing some monster posts this weekend.  Keep your eyeballs peeled. 

26 years // 312 months // 9490 days // 227,760 hours

In my 25th year I have taken 2 trips to the lake, 1 trip to Oklahoma to be a part of Sarah's wedding, 1 amazing road trip with some amazing friends, a trip to Gainesville, FL to see Erin Leigh, and one trip to Seattle.  I ran my first Peachtree roadrace, 1 additional 10k, 2 5k's, and a half marathon.  For a period of about 6 months, I talked on the phone to both my sisters every day.  Maura lives in Portland now.  Erin Leigh lives in NYC now.   I have fallen in love with the Atlanta Braves.  I lost count of all the games I've been to.  I went to all but one Georgia Tech home football game.  I went to the last ever Georgia Tech basketball game in AMC.  My dad moved back to Atlanta. I gained a new amazing roommate.   I've gotten to know my office-mates, who never cease to get a giggle or sigh from me.   This past Thursday, I paid off my credit cards completely!


God is so good.   There have been some sad and happy moments this past year.  Because my birthday is in the middle of the year, it's good to re-evaluate where I am on my goals.  Right now, I know that I am doing abysmally on the Bible reading plan...but I HAVE been flossing!  :-) 

MILESTONE // Ebenezer

I was going to wait until my birthday on Saturday, but my paycheck came yesterday and I absolutely could not wait.

Today, I paid off all my credit cards.  So now:
Car - check
Credit Cards- check and check
Student loans- keep moving!

Thanks be to God, from whom all blessings flow!!  I was looking back through some blog posts from months past today and I realized how great a blessing this outlet has been to me.  So, in 2011 fashion, this is my virtual Ebenezer.   "Thus far, the LORD has helped [me]."

 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us."  -1 Samuel 7:12

52 lists in 52 weeks :: week 2

This week's list was What have YOU learned from a place you once visited? (Either another county or another state....or maybe even your own culture...)

Since I have spent considerable time in Seattle (2 summers-2004, 2005- at Camp Berachah, and probably a month in visits over the past 3 years.), and it's one of my favorite places, that's what I'm going to post about!  (click image to enlarge.)

xoxo,
Brooke

((edit: I received a huge blessing today when I went to the tag office to transfer my car title.  I was prepared to pay $125 in taxes.  Instead, I only paid $40 for a new tag!  #James1:16and17))