FreeRice.com

I am so excited about this website!! Anytime you ever feel bored or just want to pump up your vocabulary, just go to this site. The awesome part is that it isn't just the pointless games that we usually play on our iPod (sudoku, 10 million forms of solataire, etc). It's actually something that is helpful to those most in need. For every vocabulary word you correctly match with its synonym (don't worry--it's multiple choice!), the UN will donate 10 grains of rice to feed the hungry. Ten grains of rice isn't a lot, but that number will grow exponentially if more and more people tap into this awesome resource!! Last night, in literally 5 minutes, I earned 800 grains of rice. How exciting! I'm definitely going to tell all my friends, as well as the teachers at school--what a great way to use extra time in the computer lab for kids that finish early! Anyway, check this site out OFTEN--every day, even! (And there's no penalty for wrong answers, so you can go all day!)

Also--look in the "subject" heading and you can quiz yourself over math, geography, spanish, and other things, all the while helping the World Food Program! SWEET!!

Come Back, Cats!

Wow. That's really all I can say. Anyone who saw the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game will know exactly what I'm talking about. That was an amazing display of awful. I miss the days when Kentucky could be down by like 20 points with 2 minutes to go, and yet somehow they would always manage to pull it out in the end. I guess that's why I used to get so disappointed (especially in the tournament) when they would actually lose. I remember one year (probably elementary school) when my brother and I were dressed in all Kentucky gear with pom poms and all, rooting them on to a crazy comeback.....and they LOST! I can't remember if David did, but I know I threw my pom-pom down and cried. Pretty sad, or pretty hilarious, depending on how you look at it. Actually, it's both.

Anyway, where have all the Tony Delks, Jamal Mashburns, and Travis Fords gone?? I love Jodie Meeks, but people, he's got to have some help. Some of you were stepping up, but wow. We lost to Vandy. Badly. Not cool, not cool.

Today was a very hard day. We went to the funeral of a sweet, smiling, life-loving young lady. It's one of those days where I'm reminded of the Fall and of the fact this is not how God intended life to be. It's also one of those days when I'm reminded of God's unfailing love to His broken and sinful and selfish creation. Because of what Christ did on the cross, this life is not the end. Death is but the passing into eternal life, and for that I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving. I'm reminded of the Casting Crowns song, "Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name?" I'm confident in the promises God has made in Scripture--that He has prepared a place for us, and that He will come back to take us to be with Him forever. I am confident in them because God is the faithful God who has always kept His promises. Reading His Word confirms this. My own life confirms this. He has never failed me yet, and I put all my hope in Him.

We sang a song today by Chris Tomlin called, "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)." Something that has brought me joy today is knowing that Emily has received the promises. I still wait--we all still wait--for their fulfillment. But she has received the salvation promised her when she first trusted Christ to be her Savior and Lord. How beautiful. The song says, "My chains are gone, I've been set free. For God, my Savior, has ransomed me. And, like a flood, His mercy reigns. Unending love, amazing grace." I can praise God even though my heart breaks because her chains are gone and she's been set free to sing, dance, and love with complete abandon. I'm sure that's what she is doing--all three at once. Emily Long was an amazing person. I'm so thankful that I got to know her for a little while. On this side of heaven, the world is a little less bright, but now she shines in perfect reflection of the glory of God. I miss her.

Getting Historical...

So, I'm a huge dork, but I love all things history. I'm the one who likes to stop at all the historic sites on long road trips, take millions of pictures, and then get the free brochure before I leave. I love Washington, D.C.--I could visit the Lincoln Memorial 200 times and still not be bored. It's just amazing to think about where we have been and to be hopeful about where we're going. So, even though I didn't vote for Barack Obama and even though I disagree with him on several issues, I was psyched about today. It is very rare that you get to live through something so huge in history and know it at the time. I am hopeful that our new President will be contagious. I am hopeful that all of our citizens of this great country will take this opportunity to start fresh and to start doing something good. We've done too much bad and been too indifferent and been too lazy. It takes everybody and it takes individuals. We all will have to sacrifice and we will all have to work and to care to make sure no one in the most prosperous nation in the world goes hungry or has to sleep outside. It's been unbelievable to watch how the country has embraced Barack Obama over the past year. There are even Obama bobble head dolls! There are 512 songs about Obama on iTunes. My hope is that we do more than just Amen his message of change. My hope is that we actually will. My prayer for him is that he never forget who put him in power. I pray that he will seek God and that God will grant him wisdom for the years ahead. I also pray for our country, that we would turn back to God--we've gotten scarily far away in the past 60-70 years. Interestingly, Obama's Inaugural speech was very biblically true. His words contained a lot of wisdom and I hope that's a good sign of things to come. And no one can deny that he is a fantastic speaker--he has the ability to inspire us to new dreams, which I pray he uses wisely and justly.

On a completely different note, Yo-Yo Ma played--no, threw down--at the Inaugural Ceremony. I can't imagine how cold his fingers must have been. It's amazing he could move them at all. I've always loved Yo-Yo Ma, but today he just shot up 200% in popularity points.

So, President Obama, I am behind you 100% as our new President. You are the man for at least the next four years and I'm in your corner. And, by the way, Michelle Obama was completely beautiful today--I'm hoping in her to do great things, too. Here's to a completely awesome day.

Dad's birthday

Well, today my dad turned 61! Kind of amazing that he is that age. He seems so young, but yet he's looking to retire in just a few years. It just reminds me how quickly life can get away from you. I hope we start to slow our lives down enough to really make the most of the family and friends we have.

Dad, Happy 61st Birthday! I Love You!
Love, Byron

Time with Susie

Sitting here with Susie, watching as Baltimore lets the game slip away. One thing about her though, she pulls for her team till the end. Finally a true fan! Its pretty great to have a wife that loves and watches football! She does get a little crazy about it though. I sort of feel like I've created a monster, well, me and her brother. She's pretty wonderful - I am so lucky to have been chosen by her to be her husband! Last night I got to see her work with Megan Wright on lessons they are preparing for the girls in our youth group and it was amazing to see her in action. She has a real passion for youth and seeing them make great decisions in their lives. I am so proud of her and thankful that she is such a great person.
Sorry for the Baltimore loss baby! I guess we can all pull for the Arizona Cardinals and the Louisville Cardinals!

Happy Dragons

So, we took our nephew Tyler to the Franklin-Simpson basketball game tonight. On the way there, he gave me a piece of paper and asked me to draw a dragon for him. So, I drew something that looked a little like this...Proud of my masterpiece (I am a girl, after all, who really can't remember exactly what a dragon looks like), I showed him and said, "Whaddaya think??" With a serious face, he looked me straight in the eye and said, "I don't like happy dragons."

Oh, really? Hilarious. It has been a while since I've laughed that hard.