Time to be creative

The wall above my bed has looked like this since I moved in to my apartment back in September (minus the purse):

It took me until about 2 weeks ago to finally find the perfect artwork to hang above my bed. I got the idea out of Real Simple magazine and let me just say that I love it! 

Check out the newest creative addition to my tiny apartment:

 The clock hands and bird decals I bought at Target. Some of the frames I already had and some I found at Hobby Lobby( in the clearance section!). And the photos, well not only do they serve as numbers on a clock, but they are also memories: 

12= 12 members of the GC volleyball team in Nicaragua 

3= the candle from my 23rd birthday cake

5= gate number at the airport in Athens, Greece

7= the apartment building Jessie and I lived in

10= the back of a friend's shirt

I am really bad at blogging

I think I've started at least 7 blogs in the past few months that I've never gotten around to finishing. And I have tons of things I'd like to blog about stored in my brain. I think the blame goes mostly to the fact that I don't have internet access at my apartment and partially to the fact that I'd rather be doing other things than sitting at the computer writing a blog.
I will get better.

Blogs to come:
The story of my new old bicycle
My new favorite clock
How plastic water bottles have taken over my living room
My new friend Flat Jeffy (I've intrigued you, haven't I Jeff)
...

it's a rainy day in the month of May

If you've read Diane's blog, you're aware of the crazy rain we had here this past weekend. Yesterday, after it finally stopped raining, I went for a walk around downtown Franklin to check out the flood damage.

Here is just a glimpse of what I saw...

this is a yard, not a pond.

I found similar signs on the doors of most businesses downtown

that's not even the worst of the flooding around here. I just haven't been able to get out to see more. Right now there's only one way out of Franklin, so you can imagine the traffic nightmare. I decided not to spend my day sitting on Columbia Ave so currently I'm having breakfast at the Mercantile deli. Maybe I'll get out my mask, snorkel and fins later and swim to work?

Happy Earth Day!

i love the whole world

check out more earth day love over at Diane's blog

where I'm hanging out...

new toy

career?

As many of you know, I work at a church here in Franklin TN. What you may not know is what I do at a church here in Franklin TN. My official title is "Middle School Ministry Assistant"-whatever that means. Some people think I'm a middle school teacher, some people think I'm a secretary, some people think I'm a youth pastor. I think I'm none of those things but all of those things at the same time. I work 40 hrs/week, sometimes more. What do I do? Well, a lot of different things. For instance, right now I'm at a Girl's Ministry Conference at LifeWay in downtown Nashville. Two weekends ago I was a part of our church's Disciple Now weekend (which consisted of a weekend full of 240 students, 28 Bible Study leaders, one worship band, one speaker,countless volunteers, and not a lot of sleep). On a weekly basis I spend my time: planning events/mission trips/Bible studies, participating in events/mission trips/Bible studies, designing brochures/postcards/calendars/newsletters, preparing for Wednesday night worship and Sunday morning worship/Bible Study, figuring out how to best use our budget, keeping attendance records, hanging out with students, and trying my best to depend on Jesus for the strength I need to do all of those things.
That's what I do. It's crazy. And fun. And stressful at times. But it's also so rewarding.
If you want a glimpse of what I'm talking about, check out my other blog: Varnon Shmarnon.
Here I am, hard at work...

Thanks Di

Thank you to my big sister Diane for this blogging award!

Here's how it works:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the award and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Share 7 interesting things about yourself.

5. Nominate 7 bloggers.

7 Things About Me:

1. I want to travel the world.

 

2. My best friend lives in South Korea

 

3. Most of my friends here in TN are between the ages of 11 and 15

click here to see what I mean

4. I'm the crazy aunt.

 

5. I love to reuse things to make new things.

6. I don't own a microwave

7. I love photography and would love to work for National Geographic

Since I'm not a huge blogg follower, I'm just going to nominate one fellow blog friend:

1. Jessie F

24

A little over 2 weeks ago, I turned 24. My mom was in town so Diane, Mom, Javen, Liam and I went to Merridee's for breakfast. Mom and Diane brought me flowers, a balloon and petit fours (a childhood favorite of mine). They also gave me a new shower head filter (since Franklin water is full of chlorine). Strange birthday gift, I know, but I was excited about it!

 

My (not so) little brother gave me this movie (complete with a magically-appearing-food-when-it-rains umbrella):

Aunt Joy sent me a fun little birthday package. In it was:

a scarf made of recycled cotton, a recycled jam jar with a few buttons in it (to which I added all of my saved buttons), a card, and this photo:

 

Javen & Liam? Nope- its Diane and me! Family resemblences are crazy!

Now, you might be wondering why in the world a button jar is a good birthday gift. Well, for someone like me who likes to reuse everything, it's a great gift! Not only are random buttons good to have around in case you lose one from your favorite coat, they can also be used to make things like:

napkin rings!

  

Hooray for birthdays! Thanks to everyone for the gifts, texts and facebook messages. And a special thanks to my wonderful family members who sent me cards in the mail (even though some never made it). I love getting mail, especially cards and letters!

I love you all!

no longer Milton

That's right folks, Milton's real name has been revealed!

Liam Robert McDaniel came into the world at 10:12am, on January 15.

8 pounds, 2 ounces and 22 inches long.

Check him out...

proud Dad

 

big brother

look at that hair!

Javen kept touching his face...

perfect.

He's here

Liam Robert McDaniel
more photos to come...