In the form of this.

Atta boy, Dave Barnes. Well played.

From now on, I’m not going to blog on Sundays. I am going to try to carry on the blog daily tradition Monday thru Saturday (thanks, Matt G!). Mainly because I probably enjoy blogging way more than y’all enjoy reading, the tens and tens of you who check daily. I just think I need to take Sundays off. So I’m going to.

Starting next week. Well, I mean, I had to EXPLAIN it this week, you know? So I will officially start not blogging on Sundays next week.

Geez…. now this post has taken twice as long as it should have because I feel the compulsive need to explain every single detail in my life.

Ok, stop. Stop now. Hit “publish post”. Good night.

I slept late today. Real late. College late. It felt awesome.

About an hour ago (yes, 11:30am), I finally made my way downstairs and sat on the couch, still mildly blurry eyed, when something SLAMMED in to my front door. It made me jump. And it cleared my blurry eyes.

I hopped up and looked out the slats of the blind that hangs on the door. I saw a rectangular package with “ROYAL MAIL” stamped on the front.

‘I told the Queen to quit sending me jewels,’ I thought, ‘when will she ever listen?’

I hurriedly grabbed the package and tore in to it. Aparently.It is better than jewels from the Queen. It is a Christmas present from two of my favorite friends in Scotland!! Harry and Anne!!What was in the package? Well, a print of St. Andrews, my favorite location (so far) in Scotland, and a book of the history of Scotland. Call me a dork, but I couldn’t decide which one I wanted to study first. The book looks insanely informative and the print has fabulous colors. I’m pumped about both.And no, I won’t be displaying and describing every Christmas present I receive this year. This one just is such a sweet reminder of the place I have grown to love so much. And the people. I have a few new readers (probably about 2) since I returned from Scotland, so if you haven’t seen my pictures from last year, they are HERE.

We have our first meeting tomorrow for the Scotland 08 trip. And, crazy as it seems, I am leading the trip. So, I BEG you to pray for me in this role. [I mean that as much as I have ever meant anything I've written on this blog.]

But for the last week or so, my thoughts about Scotland have revolved around logos, fundraisers, meeting agendas, contacting team members, coordinating calendars, planning meetings, creating spreadsheets, and generally just stressing about doing this “leading” thing correctly.

And this Royal Mail reminds me of the real reason we do these trips. Not to look like a great leader. Or coordinate everything perfectly. Not to get presents [Justin!]. But to honor God by honoring the people we meet. To glorify God in the everyday part of friendships. To go across the ocean in order to build relationships that far outlast a 14 day trip.

Thank you, Harry and Anne, for the gifts, for loving me and for being a reminder that God is far more concerned with my heart than my organization skills.

Enough for today … I’ve got a new book to read.

Today, we watched this video at school. AT SCHOOL. It’s listed in our school’s collection of videos. It’s one of three videos that are Christmas stories from around the world. We watched them, and other religious holiday videos (i.e- Hanukkah), to compare/contrast how different countries and religions celebrate. So let me just put that out there first and foremost. THIS IS PART OF OUR CURRICULUM.

It’s a little long- 9 minutes. But it is a BEAUTIFUL story of the power of Jesus when He speaks, and touches, the lives of children. Not only healing the body, but healing the HEART. My kids were silent- completely drawn in. They were connecting with the little boy; God only knows on how many levels. Oh, it was awesome.

At the very end, after a long and heart felt discussion, a kid asked “Ms. Downs, is this story true?”

I said, “Buddy, what do you think?”

His answer, “Yes, ma’am. I think Jesus could do that.”

I said, “Yeah. Yeah He can.”

Now you are nervous. Don’t be. The favor I have to ask of you really ISN’T Texas-sized. It’s actually quite small. It will take approximately 2 minutes of your time.

Some friends of mine in Houston [get the Texas reference now?] are trying to win $25,000 from Home Depot. By rapping. Nice. Twenty percent of the deciding vote is how many people watch the rap from start to finish on YouTube.

So where I would usually post the video here, you’re gonna have to take an extra 2 seconds to click over to YouTube (hence the 2 minutes- 1:58 of video, 0:02 of clicking) to watch it.

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Z2fZhBqhw

Yeah, right HERE.

If you missed those two, click HERE and watch it.

Or you could click all three and help them out thrice over. Just remember you have to watch the video from start to finish for it to count.

Listen, they aren’t going to get a $25,000 recording contract to be famous rap artists, so the least we can do is boost them to victory so that Home Depot’s money can be theirs to spend. And the freestyling can continue for hobby only, not for making the big bucks.

Let’s blow up YouTube to show the Long family that Annie’s bloggites and blogmies make a difference in this world. Blogmies, feel free to post a link on your blog as well.

I’ve never had someone ask me to use our combined blog powers (powogs? blogowers?) for the betterment of the world like this. [Maybe not the "world" per say, but the Longs' world, that's for sure.] So I feel a little pressure to help them win. So please. Just click HERE and watch it.

Our next group project to better the world? Fill all of Georgia’s pools with pudding. It’s all about conserving water, people.

December dinner club meeting (aka “Stoners“) = full on success. Tonight was the Sweater Soiree. Please enjoy as a few local fashion designers are featured.

First up, we have the staff members of RiverStone Church wearing vintage DBardwell. Nice, ladies. Candace, in the awkwardly flowy gown-of-sorts, was our host tonight. She featured this meal- burrito casserole. It ruled. The is the remnants of the … ahem … second casserole. The first one? Goner. Don’t judge lest you yourself be judged.For you people not in the South, this is what we call puttin‘ a hurtin‘ on a meal. And we did it. You can also see Candace’s signature dessert in the background. Pound cake. Here is Emily shopping through some DBardwell and PDowns signature series shirts. How do you pick between gorgeous and breathtaking? She didn’t know either …. until she saw the embroidery.
Heather went for the other. Rick-rack on the three quarter length sleeves? If that’s wrong, she refuses to be right. And candy on Emily’s collar? Genius. Here is Katie and Haley. Katie is sporting a CWeber original (including jingling accessories) while Haley enjoys some signature pound cake in a PDowns vest from her 1993 collection.Below, I am proudly wearing a PDowns, circa 1987. And if you think I’m kidding, I can show you the picture where she is wearing this and is pregnant with my 19 year old sister. Sally wasn’t 19 years old when Mom was pregnant with her …. it was 19 years ago …. Sally was just a baby …. okay, we’re all getting confused. I’m saying that this collared sweatshirt in it’s 20th year. It is a COLLECTOR’S ITEM. Just like this photograph. And my bangs? I don’t know how I did that, but I make a vow to you that I will never do it again.
[P.S- Jason, I expect you to proudly frame this picture in your room at Columbia. Just so you know.]

Last, but certainly not least, the newest items from the MerDykes clothing line. We were … how do you say …. privileged to get this full outfit tonight because this is actually from her current closet. Words for this. Umm. Colorful? Life changing? Memorable? Original? Best in show? It’s obvious how it makes Molly feel. THAT, my friends, is the cross-legged laugh of a proud daughter.Finally, an “Sears Portrait Studios would be proud” photograph. Is it just me, or does this scream CHRISTMAS IS HERE? No, you can’t use it as your Christmas card. Well, you can, for a price. All this beauty isn’t free.

Oh, and were you confused about the post title?

Ok, listen, I have a lot to do. Namely fold 3 loads of laundry that have doubled as my covers the last couple of nights. Don’t ask.

But I have got to express my utmost disappointment at the most recent Atlanta Falcons development- that being the 2007 SEASON.

Poor Keith Brooking. Bless his heart.

And now, Petrino decides to leave with 3 weeks left in the season? 2 of the games are away games? Are you kidding me?!? What in the WORLD kind of head coach walks out with 20 some odd days left in the season? Seriously. You couldn’t hang on for 20 more days? Really.

As if that wasn’t enough, do you know how the players found out? THE SAME WAY I DID. From the media. That’s rude. Watch the video on Fox 5 Atlanta here.

I don’t rant often. I have to feel passionate. Like about my camera. But I’ll rant about this. For being such a great sport city, for having good quality players (the ones who aren’t in jail, that is), for having awesome facilities, and for having sucker fans like me who still watch every game with some inkling of hope that we won’t look like crap- we sure do have a terrible NFL franchise. And a coach who decides that his commitment to ATL means as much to him as the gum on my shoe.

Good riddance. You weren’t exactly “succeeding” or “winning” anyways. I hope Arkansas pays you by the game. At least we’d have saved some money that way.

Oh yeah, your birthday was in October.

We aren’t constrained by a silly calendar- we celebrated Haley tonight. At Cook’s Warehouse in Decatur. They offer cooking classes on about a bazillion different topics. B-day girl Haley chose tonight’s topic- “Traditional Southern Christmas”.

And me, being the freak/photo lover/blog enthusiast that I am, well, I busted out my camera [that is wooing me, but I am not sold yet] and memorized our moments. Other class participants may have stared at me funny, but it’s all about the memories, people. Geez.

First course, black eyed pea salad with green pepper vinaigrette. If there is one thing my real life friends know, it is this- I hate peppers. Every color. BUT, this was DELICIOUS. I apologize to you, green pepper. We may not be b-fries, but we are no longer enemies.

Here’s Haley enjoying said salad and Molly …. well, being Molly. I choose them BECAUSE of this behavior, not in spite of it. Just so you know.Oh, Molly made a new friend. She told Molly lots of very interesting things. Right now, they are examining the pamphlet to pick which class would be best next. Black Shirt is a pro, y’all. She’s on class #7 … yet she didn’t know what a robot coupe is? Pssh.
I hope this one kind of gives you a view of the situation. The chef, Peter, actually stands on the other side of the counter and cooks. We can see everything he is doing in the mirror. It’s seriously like an interactive Food Network experience. IT RULES. And tasted so good it was stupid. On the tastes good scale, “stupid” is about 4 steps past “seriously delicious”.Main course: Braised short ribs, mashed sweet potatoes, and snap peas. I’m telling you, the meat was so tender it fell apart at the SIGHT of a fork. It was ridiculous.Molly loves to hide behind short ribs. It’s just something you should know about her.If you think I’m too classy to drink a Diet Coke with a gourmet meal, I’m here to prove you wrong. I did use my fork. That’s classy.I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that has to be the extent of the evening. Great salad, great main course, wine, other fine drinks of choice (don’t judge the DC), lots of teaching, recipes to take home. Very nice night. Now head back to Marietta.

Not at all, my friends. There is still dessert to be had- banana bread pudding. Shut up. It was like someone put cubes of awesomeness in a pan, covered it with awesome, and then baked it.Do you see the lady helping? She didn’t like us. Our beauty intimidated her.

Haley taking some notes. And seriously. Just LOOK at that dessert. What I would give for smell-a-blog right now. You’d pass out. Because the smells were so rad. And you would cry. Because you weren’t there.We are not above requesting a picture after the class. And Peter is the one who offered the utensils. So apparently he’s not above being treated like Justin Timber-cook. And who can blame him?I HIGHLY recommend you take a class at Cook’s Warehouse. We’re already planning another in February for Mo’s birthday.

And at Peter’s restaurant, The Feed Store in College Park, he makes country fried short ribs. I said COUNTRY FRIED SHORT RIBS. Listen, all I have to say is if you get to eat that ever, you’re livin’ right.

So we’re gonna need to partake of a meal there soon and very soon. Who’s in?

P.S- Did I mention that everything is a few shades more awesome with Haley and Molly? Because it is.

On a short serious note, let’s keep YWAM in our prayers today.

Here is the news article.

What a tragedy.

It leads my brain in 3 directions:

1) Our battle is not against flesh and blood.

2) How will God use this for His glory?

3) Whenever You are ready, come Lord Jesus.

We will watch and pray.