Saturday, February 11, 2012

Aug.- Dec.

Golly I'm a slacker.. or blogs just don't do it for me anymore.. or my own blog at least.. But reflecting is a good thing.. something I do without the blog.. but here goes!

Aug- The big move.. again.. back to Florida to give teaching and Christians another shot. Fort Myers is familiar. I know people. People love me there. They are excited to have me.. after what happened in Austin, this is the environment that I need. The month is great. It's like I never left. Teaching is so much fun. The beach is wonderful. And I'm enjoying Nicole and Shiner and the city.

Sept- Boys soccer beings.. coaching boys is a little nutty. We have a fun pep rally at school. I've figured out how to watch Uconn football games and the NY Yankees online! We also take a road trip to Tampa to see the Yankees and Rays. We're meeting some neighbors too. I also decide to get my hand checked out again.. It still hurts... after all of these months.

Oct.- A routine is established. I'm digging the church here. I'm really enjoying school and people. There are weekly trips to Moes and Bw3's. I take a quick trip to Austin to reconnect and celebrate Whitney Miller!!!!!!! and Nicole decides to join the National Guard.. whoah I know.. The Spring will be very different now.. Trying to not think about that though and trying to enjoy the now. I check out a Surfers for Autism event.. fantastic!! and even do the Discover classes at Next level. I decided to start serving in the kids zone.. :)

Nov.- Mom comes to visit! We do the walk for Autism Speaks. I sign up to coach a Challenger baseball team in the Spring. Boys Soccer at school ends and I get a quick break before basketball begins. I go see a wound care specialist and he does a complete eval. on my hand.. uggggg.Let's just say cortisone shots hurt like hell. Looks like surgery is in my future. Unbelievable. Taylor swift in tampa was awesome. wow.. Then a nutty trip to Austin, Orlando and then Connecticut for Turkey fun. Then back to Orlando for Disney fun!!

Dec. - Basketball is off and running. The girls have great attitudes but not a lot of experience. It's fun having nicole coach at the school too. Things are getting nutty now. School is winding down, the holidays are coming. Nicole is leaving soon and now I'm having surgery... wow. I've loved getting involved in BeOrange.com . The weather here is awesome. Surgery.. not so much.. Golly.. then off to CT for the holidays.. or to lay very still and rest my hand.

I'm very thankful for this year of family fun, and a time to get back in the saddle and see what the lord has.. He is good. :)

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

another year 'bites' the dust... Jan- July

I like to reflect.. it helps me process and see what the Lord has done.. My rock star life is never boring.. and this year was no exception. I am regaining my voice and learning to use it again. Thanks Taylor Swift and Hope Solo for the inspiration. Part 1 ...

2011-2012
Jan. '11
Amelia and Nicole visit me in the frozen tundra of CT. We get snowed in from multiple blizzards and have a blast with Shiner. We also go to NYC!! I continue my BB coaching at Masters, Dog walking fun, and watching Uconn basketball games at the XL Center and Gampel. SO MUCH SNOW! Happy birthday Amy :). I put pressure on myself to think through whats next.. but that takes so much effort...Loved spending the holidays with the fam!

Feb. '11
Dog business continues to grow and thrive. I am dressed head to toe in snow gear but am enjoying it. I also love my Young Explorers class at church. Concussions have hit my team hard. So hard in fact, that we have coined the phrase 'concussed'. It is hard to see the girls struggling and missing school with headaches and dizziness. BOO CONCUSSIONS! Planning for Sports Camp begins. It's great to be with my church during the planning stages. Future.. Connecticut? Church Planting? Back on Campus? Kids? Teaching? Will the Village join me??

March '11
UT spring break an only mean one thing!! Amelia and Nicole are coming to visit!!! And we're staying in the Castle!! And there is snow! CT Whale and Uconn games, watching Griff play soccer, and Ultimate Frisbee begins. Throw in a surprise trip to Austin for Centex, family birthday fun, and lots of dogs, and the month flies by!

April '11
Final Four fun in Indy with Nicole. We see the Indy 500 track, LATZ :), and Uconn upset by ND.. so sad. Texas A&M wins it all, but Howl at the Moon cheers us up! :) Coaching Ultimate Frisbee is a challenge but I'm enjoying the players. I'm holding down the fort while my parents go to Florida, when I'm stopped in my tracks. During a Doggy consult I'm attacked and bitten by a dog :(. Ambulance, ER, doctors, pain = no fun zone. I try to keep up the business but need help. Dad, Tracy, and Nicole to the rescue! But I'm in a lot of pain and my right hand is useless. Griff starts baseball and I try to keep up with everything, but by Easter I'm rethinking the dog business and thinking about what to do.. maybe teaching.... Nicole seems up for a move but Amelia has landed a job!! A Real job! YAY!!

May '11

Frisbee gets more challenging. So many doggy friends. My hand hurts so much. I'm very tired. I put some feelers out about jobs in CT but don't hear much. I reconnect with old friends in Florida and a job opportunity pops up. Fort Myers? Again? HMM? Off to Texas to celebrate Amelia and Nicole (and others) and have a meltdown at a wedding. Too many faces... Thankful for the Tooleys, Haugs and Allison Brown to pick me back up. They say Florida... but I don't know..

June '11
Masters Athletic Banquet. Great to see the kids from VB, Basketball, and Frisbee. I am bummed there is not a job opening there and am confused why the Lord wouldn't open that door. I keep on keeping on and go back and forth on whats next. Griff starts soccer , Gianna graduates from Pre- School and has her Dance Recital, :), Ella has a birthday, and I go see the Yankees/ Red Sox with Cheryl!!! Lots of clients, lots of family, but community is missing. Panda Mania is a blast and I'm convinced Kid's Ministry is where its at. The Gospel, the Faith, is so simple when its taught to children. God is wild about you. God made you. God listens to you. God watches over you. God loves you no matter what. God gives good gifts. I left this week refreshed in the gospel of grace. But it made me think, at what age do we add to these simple truths? At what age do we complicate and add to the gospel of grace... cause we do.. I decide to go to Florida to be back with kids, do sports and ministry, and enter back into Christian community. A big step of faith yes.. especially when I get the text from one of my players that she's been kicked out of her Christian school for admitting she is a lesbian...

July '11
This month is filled with emotions as I fight for this student athlete and fight against what I feel is an injustice, against the teachings of Jesus.. and just plain wrong!! This situation brings back all that I feel is wrong with how believers are called to live and love.. I question my decision to leave CT. I now know why a job wasn't provided at that school for me. I would have had to resign. I enjoy leading Sports Camp and being with Griff, Gianna, and cousin Carter. The UW team embraces my family, my birthday and Yankee Stadium :). I visit Florida which helps with my doubts, and I dance the night away with Michael Jackson and TC! Nicole comes and we prepare to move.. Saying goodbye to doggies and owners are sad.. goodbye to the family even more sad.. But a fun job awaits so the road trip begins! Hopefull on 3!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

a birthday blog :)

Friday was my birthday. Giddee UP! I was sang to at camp, received fun texts and facebook posts, and even got a phone call or two (Who knew you can use your phone to call people! Wow!).

I was then asked the birthday questions. Yes, there are birthday questions! This tradition was started by the Fairback family, and I have tried to pass them on to everyone I know. The great Sarah Tooley called my on my birthday and asked me the big 3. It was fanfreakingtastic.

The birthday questions are:
  1. What is your favorite birthday memory?
  2. What was the highlight of your year?
  3. What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?

You can add more or put your spin on them. But it is a fun tradition!

Here are my answers.. On this 35th birthday of mine!

1- Favorite birthday memory:
After camp a few years ago, my UW team shocked and awed me by singing me a special song. It really made my day. If you have facebook, you can see the video of this special moment!

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=568385204570&comments

2- Highlight of my year:
After having a really rough 2010 spring and summer, the Lord led me to a great peace about moving home and spending a year with my family. In August 2010 I decided officially to leave Austin and return to Connecticut, and the head and heart finally began to rest and heal. It was an amazing time to know I was right where the Lord wanted me to be.

3- What I'm most looking forward to this upcoming year:
The Lord blessed my time in CT as I launched my own dog walking and pet-sitting business. I enjoyed being outside withe pups and having freedom and flexibility in my schedule. However, as I taught a 5-6 year old class at my church each week, I realized I missed working with kids on a regular basis. I wanted to use my gifts and talents on a regular basis again. I wanted to be in an encouraging working environment. And the Lord has provided an opportunity. :)

SO is it someones birthday? Ask them the questions!! It will make that person's day!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

God showed up... a look at my year... 2010-11

i have more Christmas shopping to do. my creative juices aren't flowing yet. they will. oh yes they will. i have time, in between doggy walks and uconn games, to get er done.

as i begin to reflect on the season.. god's love for sinners through Jesus.. i have looked back a bit at the year. its been a year like no other... a ton of the highest highs and lowest lows.. miracles.. deep joy and hurt...new adventures.. a lot of steps of faith... sin.. repent...believe the gospel..step out in faith..

the waltz of the christian life eh? (thank you dancing with the stars for the visual)

yet the lord's faithfulness and care have blown me away yet again. so here we go looking back at the lord's handy work. god showed up kids..

Jan: Great time with the family and shiner in CT. Road trip baby- Memphis & Harrisonburg.. and a night on a highway in Lexington.. so much snow!! Uconn games, more snow, & family time!! a new hire at the church and great hope and excitement for the year!! Amelia off to Peru! road trip training begins!! bring on the verge! poor colt :(. hang outs! hang outs! hang outs!

Feb: verge.. Haiti.. holy spirit.. rocking my world... spark group encouragement & kerby lane... road trips full and gaining steam.. intern connection team fun.. hang outs ! hang outs! hang outs! loving me some renovate ut! trivia Tuesday nights at the saucer! Special Olympics volunteering too.

March: spring break road trips!! fort myers, memphis, omaha, sherman, gonzales, piedras, beruit, D.R. oh my!!! over 120 folks trained and sent! florida or bust! then to CT for family birthday fun! then i took the long way back to TX and stopped and saw the huskies in VA! followed by an amazing and refreshing time at uw head coaches training in colorado! a lot of traveling.. but the lord is speaking as I'm on the go!

April: final four in san antonio with the family!!! huskies huskies huskies!!!!! intern recruitment and road trip follow up. SENT training begins, acts reading with the staff, the lord moving and speaking.. hang outs! hang outs! ... and a then god says enough.. my time with hill country ut ends.

May: a blur of shock, confusion, hurt, and Jesus having the wheel the entire time- emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion. Jesus speaking so clearly its incredible.. my condo sells in a day- I've never felt the lords love more then that day in he tooleys backyard... hotel tooley saves the day (and fill my stomach) . trips to vegas w' my sis and wisconsin to see melee kick ass... the packing begins. no idea what's next.. but feeling such amazing peace and freedom.. his voice was so clear... i feel so free...

June: uw training in oklahoma.. a soothing balm to a weary soul. then finishing packing & a few goodbyes as shiner & I leave austin for awhile for a road trip to the beach, and then to memphis and virginia to be with old friends who speak truth.

July: shiner and I make it to connecticut! rest, naps on the deck and family time help me recover my strength for 3 weeks of UW sports camp in VA, CT and MA . so great to be with a UW team partnering with churches to use sports to share the love of Christ. CA CAW! birthday questions at 5 guys too! then return to CT, and reach out to a few campus ministries and church plants about the fall.. but not feeling settled in that direction at all... read 'the shack' and 'a tale of three kings'..

Aug: mental battle still tough..a week in cape cod enjoying 'eat, pray, love'. head and heart decide to stay in CT for awhile.. not sure what to do now.. but feeling rested and excited.. make contact with the master's school.. and over drinks at chili's a new business venture is pondered.

Sept:
jv volleyball and varsity basketball coaching jobs! lods of love ct pet services is launched! loving your pets well while you're away!!! young explorers class begins! trip to austin to say goodbyes, watch the yankees get spanked and grab a few boxes... god is moving and healing.. and we got season tickets to uconn basketball games! also saw jennifer knapp live and chatted with her.. kansas cd plays really loud with the top down! i am home.. after 14 years away, I've moved back home!!

Oct: settling in and finding a rhythm. my home church away from home becomes home :): valley community baptist church and its saturday night service. volleyball is much more then bump, set, spike. shiner loves my parents and their comfy couch. are time with griff, gianna and ellafanfreakingtastic! feeling blessed to serve so many clients and their pups!!! and it's not that cold :)

Nov: ellie, shiner and I have fun while family is in aruba.. uconn men and women begin their awesomeness.. a very thankful holiday with the family.. and a lot of pets to love on! and the Connecticut Whale are back!!! hometown paper interview too! busy busy busy but jesus has taken the wheel. so blessed! and it's not that cold (with a few layers)

Dec: wow it's december. where did the semester go? (yes i still see life in semesters) in awe at what the lord has done to bring me to this point. his voice was so clear in the spring and his love and leading has been incredible. family. the masters school. valley. lods of love ct. and 89-0. nicole and amelia are visiting! and keith tooley is a pastor once again.. all is right with the world. happy birthday jesus! (and supposedly its cold.. but a Christmas miracle has me adjusted fine to the elements!)

yes god showed up. he spoke. i listened, obeyed, stepped out in faith.. and my goodness, his love, care and provision have been truly amazing.. i am still a stumbling, bumbling, big fat sinning ragamuffin.. but a very loved one as well.

a thrill of hope! the weary world rejoices! for yonder brings.. a new and glorious morn!!

i can't thank sarah, the tooleys, trish, jimmy & christine( go road trip!!) lisa, susan at cfrc, md, todd, justin, sam and the uw staff, susan & britton, sharon & jane, jordan, bradford & aubry, nicole, the masters school, my family & the college students enough.. they prayed for, cared for, and loved me very, very, well. may you know the love of christ more this year..


i hang out with my family. i care for and love on cats and dogs. i coach high school sports. i pick up poop. i watch uconn sports. i do px90. i teach kindergartners about jesus.

and all is right with the world... God continues to show up!

88-0

yes my huskies are about to (god willing) make history. the uconn women's basketball team will play florida state tomorrow night, and if they win, will hold the record for most consecutive wins by a men's or women's collegiate basketball team..

giddee up. i will be there yelling my head off and hopefully drinking in celebration afterwards.

but it got me thinking.. what would it be like to be 88-0 . to find a way to win every night you faced an opponent. no matter the talent against you.. no matter the opposing coaches game plan.. no matter the injuries or illnesses.. no matter the team you have assembled.. or changes to that team.. no matter the leadership.. or changes in that leadership.. no matter the venue.. the time.. the crowd you play before...

you find a way to win.. over seasons.. over years...

to give your all every game.. in front of 1000's of witnesses.. and to not stop until victory is attained..

and this is about basketball... a game.. a hobby for some.. a job for some..

and these are women.. the weaker, sensitive ones..

not one coach.. not one team.. has solved the uconn women's basketball mystery...

well yes heather.. since leaving austin you've gone coocoo for uconn cocoa puffs..

nah.. I've always been this nutty. (see tattoo on right calf)

but as I've cheered on my huskies from my couch and in the stands, its begun to hit me what it must be like to be 88-0..

the pressure and expectations..

but also.. why don't we all give it our all each and every day.. when witnesses are watching.. or not..

do we have an inner drive and passion that makes us stop at nothing until the goal is accomplished..

i have felt that.. most of my time in austin was like that.. when I'm coaching now i feel glimpses of it.. but i look around and don't see many with that look.. that drive.. that passion..

to go 88-0.. or strive for anything close to it..

church.. what the hell are you doing most of the time?

right right.. its women's basketball heather.. well then, where the hell is Tennessee? Stanford? unc? duke? lsu? and all the other women's basketball powerhouses?? not every all american goes to uconn. what is it about this land of storrs that has produced this streak?


freakin tree..

88-0. in basketball.. in life..

giddee up huskies...

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Titles of books I haven't written yet...

1- For the Love
2- The Art of Sarcasm
3- How to Be a Passionate Sports Fan
4- What Really Happened (and other conspiracy theories put to rest)
5- How to Survive in the South
6- How to Survive in New England
7- Sweet Nectar of the Gods- The History of Diet Coke
8- Singleness- It doesn't have to be Akward (or suck)
9- Holy Spirit on 3 (co-written by MD)
10-How Christians have screwed up Christianity
11- Why God should hit the re start button
12- Why People Hate Christians
13- Why Jesus Hates most Christians
14- Thank God my Father Raised me a NY Yankee Fan
15- Weddings- How the World has set the cost and stolen the image of the Gospel
16- Authentic Community: The story of a Longhorn band member, Ultimate Frisbee Player, Church Staffer, Nurse, 2 dogs, 2 cats & a llama

Saturday, September 4, 2010

# 84

Top ten's lists are everywhere.. of course they are best on Sportscenter.. Letterman is just too weird for me.. but the city of austin seems to major in top ten lists. the city seems to be on every list!

  • top 10 up and coming cities
  • top ten place to live if your single
  • top ten greenest city
  • top ten film making city
  • top ten place to live in ten years
  • top ten place to meet your mate (ok might have made that up)..


but everyone seems to know how cool austin is.. and over the past 5 years when i told people i lived they, their response was always, "what a cool city" or 'i've heard great things" or "that's right by san antonio and the riverwalk right?" :) . yes my coolness factor increased while living there.

But i've decided to leave austin, the #1 live music city capitol of the world.. and move home.. to the #84 best places to live :).

ok bristol.. or connecticut, actually, doesn't have any cool slogans... or the ones we do.. need a little work:

  • bristol- home of the oldest wooden roller coaster
  • connecticut- the nutmeg state!
  • hartford- we're in the middle (of boston and new york!)
  • hartford- the insurance capitol of the world
  • bristol- home of espn!! (ok that does make us really cool.. and i have seen sportscenter live!)
  • hartford- we used to have the hartford whalers
  • connecticut- home of the University of Connecticut Huskies!!!
  • hartford- part time home of some UCONN games :)

so yeah.. its no austin.. and i think you can fit like 10 Connecticut's or more into the state of texas.. but i've decided to come back anyway..

why? well leaving my job at hill country ut didn't mean i was leaving austin... and in the months following my resignation I did a lot of resting and traveling, but it was always in the back on my mind to return to austin eventually, jump in with another church and continue to hit the ground running in my burnt orange tee yelling hook em (as i secretly checked the UCONN , NY football Giants and Yankee's score :).

but then, after a month of sports camps in new england, much prayer, godly counsel, reading a small book that was recommended to me (ask me and i'll tell you), and family time ... i've decided to leave the city of austin... and move home..

god gave me 3 reasons.. although there are a few more... but the big 3 are:

1- to preserve unity

2- to spend more time with my family

3- to bring the gospel to new england and the ridiculous amount of college students and other folks up this way who think people that are way into jesus are nut jobs.. along with other things i'll tell you later..

do i love the college students at the University of Texas and do i miss them? YES! I also miss dear friends that knew my heart well.. I miss mama fu's and trivia nights.. I miss renevate ut meetings and partnering with other ministries to get all of our students on mission. i miss the village and walking shiner in hyde park...

but #84 was calling. God has been calling me 'home' for a long time. so here am! not sure for how long.. awhile i think.. will i return to austin ? yes! my stuff is still there ! but also dear people i love.. so keep your ears open for a 'heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy' really soon..

will i return for good some day? you never know.. jesus is silly that way.. but for now i have a uconn football game and ny yankee game to watch...

:)