Birthday Recap - Round One

I had a great 27th Birthday week of festivities. Still have to upload pics from last nights dinner but here are some photos and info of all the fun that has taken place thus far!

It was kicked off with a dinner with my Bible Study on Thursday night where Jodi brought me an ice cream cake. I use this word loosely as by the time the cake made it to me it was pretty much more ice cream than cake. And had to be taken out of the box and put into Tupperware for safe keeping...But still a good time.


Friday, Jodi had planned a low key party for me. We thought entering my late twenties would be a good time to reminisce about my youthful days. So thus we had a “Chucky Cheese” style party at Dave and Busters. A bunch of folks showed up to play games, eat food and have a great time. I schooled John and almost Jodi in Air Hockey, took on everyone in skeeball with my top score at 340! WHAT WHAT! Traded 1st Place honors with everyone on the basketball game. And then Jodi and I attempted the Dance Dance Revolution game, and convinced John and Jeff to do the same. All I have to say is that this game totally dated all of us as we were completely confused and humbled by the game and our lack of dancing skillz! At the end of the night everyone pooled together the tickets won and got me a large purple bear and some other random goodies.


Some of the folks who came out on Friday to celebrate my birthday with me! Thanks Everyone!

Jeff, Me and Aaron

Gathering Folks! Rachael, Jodi, Me, John and Ryan

Me, Shari and Jodi

Me, John, Jess and Micah

Old Campaign Friends!

Me and Jodes attempting to "Dance"

This confused face says it all!

Jodi and I then packed up and hit the road around 1 am and headed to Lake Anna about an hour and a half south. We got in around 3 am and slept till a little after 10 am, when we got up had some wonderful banana bread from Jodi’s mom and then headed to the water for a little skiing. Jodi’s Dad was great and had the boat in the water waiting for us and took us out on a tour of the lake. Jodi did some slalom skiing and then I hit the water for my first ever attempt at water skiing. I was able to get up on my fourth try! Whoop! It may not have been pretty but I was up! The water was awesome and even though I hit the water more times than not, I had a great time and Jodi’s Dad was very patient with me through the whole time. We then hit up a little Cheesecake Factory and devoured some great food and my fav Tuxedo Cheesecake!

Jodi showing off her skills on the Water!

Me... Not to Graceful... But Like I said I am up!

Jodi and I on the Boat

Mr. and Mrs. Weatherton

Sunday came one of my favorite surprises of the weekend… after service at the Weatherton’s church we headed to Sonic! WHAT! Yes folks there are no Sonics within an hour from where I live and they run the commercials ALL the time! I totally enjoyed my Sonic trip and inhaled two drinks. (Strawberry Slush and Strawberry Smoothie) So I like strawberries… I also had some of Sonic’s wonderful Tater Tots! After Sonic we headed back to Northern Virginia for church where I rocked my gift from Jodes a great shirt that reads “I’m Kind of a Big Deal”.

Jodi and I ordering at Sonic... I kinda ordered one of everything!

Enjoying my Sonic Drink!

Rachael, Me and Jodi with the Bear from D&Bs

Nuf Said!

27

Today I officially turn 27, this is the start of my late twenties I am told. And I am excited. My Grandmother celebrates her 27th birthday every year so I have high hopes for this year of my life. The changes in me between 26 and 27 have been immense. God has given me many joys this past year, and taken away many things as well. But in all looking back over the year I can see how God has used each step to bless me more than I could have ever asked or imagined.

I had a job last year I loved dearly and threw myself into wholly. It took up a lot of time and a lot of energy just to not turn out as I had hoped. But the friendships and relationships I built will last me a life time. As any campaign job goes you work so many hours and endure so much junk that these friendships are ones that just come naturally even if you have nothing else in common with that person but the job itself. This year I do not have a job like that, while I enjoy the folks I work with my days of long hours and intense work have passed for now, while it left a weird hole in my life the Lord has filled all this time that was once spent at the office, with college students from American University. He has blessed me with being able to watch so many of these students grow in their Christian walk, and allowed me to be a part of this growth. He has bonded me together with a group of other volunteers in a way that I can never replace. He has allowed me to see the beauty in watching one student all of the sudden get it and the pain in watching another walk away. I can not describe to you the joys that this ministry and new “job” have given to me. But when I left my old job and did not get what I thought was the perfect job to follow that. One that would have taken all my time again and while it may have been professionally rewarding, it could not have brought me the joys that my students bring me each day. I say I get tired of late night phone calls or meetings every two seconds with students but in reality people I live for that. And I love that I have the time to do so.

Last year I was surrounded by many friends and people in my life, this city and politics can do that to you. But through the last year God has pruned a lot of friendships out of my life. Many we have just grown apart, they stay busy with their jobs and I stay busy with the students, and at first I was upset by this, but now looking back I am overjoyed. While before I had many amazing friends who I will forever love. Now I have a handful of close friends who pour themselves into my life and I in turn now have the ability to pour myself into theirs. Don’t get me wrong I love people and love all my friends, but God has shown me how to focus on the few that will hold on no matter what is going on around me. I have three wonderful roommates, who will drop everything in a moments notice if I needed them. We stay up late laughing and watching TV and we argue some but all in all I could not ask for 3 better women to walk this single life in the city with. We are all different and God uses that to bless each of our lives. Nicole the baby of the group is a servant like I have never seen. She will drop whatever, whenever you need her, no matter how big or small the ask is. She is fun and crazy and we goof off a lot. Selena has lived with me four years now here in DC. We joke we are on our way to a common law marriage but the familiarity of her friendship is what I love. Selena is a mom she takes care of all of us and keeps us on track. She picks me up from the metro when I come home late so I don’t have to walk in the dark and laughs at my same jokes always. She endures my little quirks and silly jokes with ease. She is a great teacher to her students and devotes her self and service to them. Big shout out to the teachers out there. Sara, poor Sara, she has had to put up with me since the summer of 1999 when we were camp counselors together at Camp Balcones Springs. We became inseparable very early and our friendship grew over our years through college. Developing our tight knit group to 4 of us that did everything together. Sara and I the last of the singles in that group so its only natural we live together. Sara is a learner she absorbs everything she can and loves to share that knowledge. She protects our country and I am not sure if that makes me feel safer or not… Totally kidding… she is a constant source of laughter and someone I always know I can just be around and not have to do anything. She does not expect anything from me and understands that I can only be so out going and funny for so long and then I just need to be quiet and she lets me do that. We often have dinner dates to a steak house or nights out to our favorite pool hall by ourselves. She is that friend that just fits. Jodi, well she might as well be the fifth roommate. God blessed me with her six months ago but I feel I have known her my whole life. There are few people in the world that you meet and right away know you will have a great friendship with… Jodi is one of those people. She does not care about the “Christian appearance” she will get right in my face and ask me why am I still struggling with that and I do the same for her. She is not afraid to be honest about her life and struggles with me, and that is refreshing where so many try to prove what a great Christian they are. And she helps me to understand I can’t have it all together till heaven but I best be trying! She is funny and crazy and willing to pick up and do something with me in a drop of the hat. She is a great friend and accountability partner. Its rare at our age you find a friend like this where I can see her an entire day and still when I get home or she does we need to call each other and chat about the day.

Many have asked me if I am okay with still being single at 27. If I think had I stayed in Texas and not pursued my career would my life be different or better. To be honest sometimes I get a tad annoyed when people talk to me as if I have some sort of disease of singleness that may never be broken. Please no cats for my birthday… To those I say thanks for asking and caring but no worries y’all! God has things under control! He has immensely blessed my life in not just these two areas, and believe me I will be glad when Mr. Right comes along, but for right now, I am basking in all He allows me to do with my life that I am single. And all He has blessed me to be able to see and experience because I was single and to be honest I love my friends and my college students too much, not sure if there is room for a guy right now. Just kidding there will be room but do not worry over me and feel sad for me because I have an AMAZING life and the Lord has blessed me MUCH more than I could have asked or imagined. And for that I am so very thankful!

Are You Kidding Me!

So if you remember back I spoke of a little competition that Jodi and I had begun. We are trying to see who can run 5 miles in the fastest time... well for a while now I have held the record at a not so impressive 43:17 (but very impressive for a 26 yr old who never ran fast in the first place!) So I have held this record for a few months now partly because it had not been broken and partly because we just have not had time to try...

Well the other day I got a phone call stating my day of reckoning had come, you guessed it good ol Jodes broke the record and set it at 38:45! WHAT! She shaved off 4 and a half minutes! How am I to break this! I mean seriously I have to get some less intimidating friends or at least ones that are less fit... so pray for me as I beat myself up trying to beat this record... again remember my fastest mile in high school was 7:57 people! This is going to be a rough deal...


Seriously y'all! This is what I am up against... not even fair!

Baby Kate!

God’s grace and strength is ALWAYS sufficient! This was proven once again in the birth of little Madeline “Kate” Fuller! She is the daughter of a significantly important woman in my life. I would easily say Mindy is the single most influential person in my Christian walk. Poor lady has had to put up with me since I was a Junior in High School. She has prayed me through and helped to guide me through many of life’s biggest decisions. And she is an amazing woman of God whom I adore if you could not tell.

Well a few months ago February 21 to be exact she was admitted into a special care hospital in Galveston, Texas a good 2 hours from her home, where she was told she would have to stay until Kate was born. (She was due in June) Mindy’s fluid level was too low and Kate had barely enough to survive. So regular bed rest was not sufficient and she had to be monitored in case the levels dropped too low they would deliver Kate right away. The doctors never gave her any real hope but Mindy stayed positive even while away from her husband and two other children! In typical Mindy style she began witnessing to other ladies in the hospital and sharing her peace of the Lord!

There were good days, bad days, and some great days while she was there for almost 3 months, but in the end her fluid levels rose (which the doctors never told her could happen) and she was actually released to go home and have Baby Kate at home! The doctors warned she had a high chance of having some mental problems or other birth defects so our praying continued…


Madeline "Kate" Fuller
May 23, 2007
6lbs. 5oz.
19 1/2 in.

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart. I will tell of all the great things You have done. I will be glad and full of joy because of You. I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9: 1-2

She was born a healthy and beautiful little girl! A true gift from the Lord! Now after all the tests and such have been run, Kate has been pronounced in perfect health! God is faithful and hears the prayers of His children! So we now have a new little person in the world who is just adorable I might add… And I am again blessed and privileged to know Mindy and call her my friend!

Mindy and I when she came and visited last Summer

Strong Holds!

Well it’s a proven fact the Lord will take any strong hold out of your life when He sees it… Case and Point…

When I was younger I used to LOVE yellow cake and white icing, it was all I wanted for my birthday cakes! As I have grown older in the last few years I have grown to love CHOCOLATE cake. Now I mean chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I blame my roommates as several years ago we instituted “Break-Up Cake” this was the cake to be eaten when someone broke up with someone else, or a boy wronged us in some way or another. (Side Note: If you want your own break-up cake, go to your local Chicken-Out and ask for a piece of their Towering Chocolate Cake. Its as big as you head! With four of us we barely finish it. Funny story – man this side note is long – but a couple of years ago Sara and I were at the Rehearsal Dinner for one of our best friends from college, we were seated at different tables and as soon as I saw the cake coming out I was so over come with chocolate joy that I said in a classic Michelle voice “Sara its break-up cake” realizing what I had just done at a dinner to mark the happy times of my best friend I was mortified… but still excited about the cake!) I digress....

So there is a wonderful bakery here in DC called Reeves, it is close to my former place of business and was the site of ALL of our bakery needs. Now if you have ever had DC’s Cake Love cup cakes or NYC’c Magnolia Bakery cupcake, I mean they are good but they are like $4 a cup cake! Reeves just as good if not better and only $1.35! WHAT! They also have a restaurant down stairs that is Southern-Comfort Food. So you see why I love this place so… But since changing jobs I don’t go or enjoy their treats as often as I would like, and last night I had to drop some things at my former place of employment and thought oh it’s a Reeves night! So I swang by to get me a cup cake. You guessed it a Chocolate-chocolate cupcake… when I walked in I was over-joyed with Gods blessing on saving one just for me! I asked that it be wrapped up and then thought I would bring some to my bible study girls as an evening treat. (Of course I would eat the chocolate-chocolate before study as not to have to share… I know)

As they were taping down my box-o-cupcakes and ringing me up a young lady came in looking very distraught, she looked all through the case and then asked sadly is there no more chocolate-chocolate left? I started to look away not to make eye contact with the young woman, and the Reeves workers ever the professionals did not mention that inside my box was the last one. I happen to look over at there after she received the news there were no more, and she looked she might cry, I assumed this had to be a boy problem and my heart was saying give her your cupcake, while my head was saying stay quiet you're almost in the clear! You may not get one for a while! Alas the Lords tugging at my heart won and I said I had the last one in my box and she could have it. She put up the one polite "no its okay" and I reluctantly told her no she could have it, she jumped and said "great thanks!" The ladies behind the counter looked at me in shock and awe of what I had done because one minute earlier we were dancing with delight on how ecstatic I was to get the last one of my favorite cupcakes. So the women placed a vanilla cake chocolate icing one in my box and rang me up. It took everything for me not to tackle her and take it back on the way out. I would love to say I feel so good about what I have done, but lets be honest, I really wanted that cupcake! Hopefully she feels better and maybe I will make the cross-town trek to get one tonight…

Taste of the South!

Taste of the South is one of my favorite events in DC, and I look forward to every year. And every year it never fails to rise to my expectations. What is Taste of the South you ask, it is a wonderful Black Tie event put on by all the Southern State Societies to raise money for charity. It also features all the good food of our beloved home states. Yes I actually prep all day with eating just the bare minimum I need to, to survive so that I might eat all that I can that night. Ah catfish, hush puppies, tamales, queso, salsa!, any fried southern goodness... you get the point, the key here is it is all done right. And that's just dinner, then you have dessert, Pralines, Bluebell, Apple Pie you see what I am saying. Ah its a good time for my belly. Then after you have eaten everything you can while still fitting in your dress, you head out onto the dance floor to burn off as many of those calories as possible. And as y'all know, I may not have rhythm or can "dance" to people standards but heck I love to have a good time. So we danced the night away and then limped back to our car in our heels. (Side note: Why has no one come up with heels that look good and are comfortable for a night such as this! My feet were KILLIN me by the end!) So Shari, Jodi and I headed down town for a fun night at Taste of the South and ran into a lot more friends there. All in all a good time was had and a lot of good food was eaten... I had to fast on Sunday just to recover from all the fried food I inhaled the night before. Ah but it was worth it let me tell you!

Here are the pics below... sorry no slide show was having some issues with them this morn and decided I did not want to fight... so here they are individually, you can click on them to make them bigger.

Jodi, Shari and I at TOTS

Me and the Guys

Stoney, Tara, Ricky and I

Bible Study Gals, Amanda and Candice!

Rebecca, Me and Mary-Scarlett

Josh and I!

Ladies in Black

Ricky Rockin the Aviators

Ricky and I breakin it Down on the Dance Floor
The Gals and Ricky
Walking back to the Car after a long night Dancin!

Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2011! WHOOP!

Last night at about 12:12 am... I recieved a phone call. I heard the phone ring I looked at the phone and then rolled back over (I was a tad tired) It took me about 30 seconds to think wait what if something is wrong... I flipped over and called the caller back... I was greeted by the sound of my sweet friend Jamie Lee's voice informing me she was the newest member of the Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2011!!! WHAT WHAT! I was very excited and still a little out of it... hopefully I was excited enough for Jamie Lee, but to be honest I don't really remember what she said. When I got up this morning for the gym it was not until I was in a full run on the treadmill that I thought... wait didn't someone call me last night... I think it was Jamie Lee... OH SHE GOT INTO A&M! (that was my train fo thought if you could not tell) And then I literally said, out loud mind you... WHOOP! Bill looked at me but kept running... great now he thinks I am one of the gym weirdos... Oh well it was great news! So congrats Jamie Lee! I am so pumped for the years ahead of you of growth and just plain ol Aggie Fun! You're a rock star my friend! Rock Star!