through the eyes of a nomad

I had a great couple of days in Atlanta this past weekend with my family and David. The drive was long (the way back was MUCH longer, or at least it felt like it was)...we went to a Braves game on Sunday afternoon. It was lots of fun, but really, really hot.

It was pretty smoggy on Sunday...but that's pretty much Atlanta all the time during the summer...especially when it doesn't rain. But I still love it...and miss living there terribly.


David and I.


This would be the real me. Goofy. Haha!


And here is my brother. Just as goofy. I love this photo! Makes me laugh every time I look at it. Hahaha! Looove my brutha!


Turner Field.




Maggie in her jail riding back to Richmond...I know she looks pitiful, but she really does like being in her jail when she's in the car more than sitting in someone's lap...she's a very uptight and anxious traveler.

Just wanted to share some photos from Deeper Still in Atlanta. It was an amazing conference! I'll write more about it later. In the mean time, check out Beth Moore's blog, Travis Cottrell's blog or the Deeper Still blog for videos, photos and highlights!


Me and my mama on the first day of the conference.


April and I having a good ol' time.


Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore.


The ladies on the second day.


Beth Moore (front center) and Travis Cottrell (upper left).

Turns out, writing six-word memoirs is kind of fun! Definitely not as challenging as I was expecting it to be. If your wondering what in the world I'm taking about click here.

I have received numerous 'six words' from friends and family...and I would love to have more (comment, hint hint). Here is an updated list of memoirs...the new ones are in pink:

My memoirs:

Loved deeply. Hurt painfully. Loved again. - me

By grace I have been saved. - me

Destined to be a nomad forever. - me

My biggest temptation is a sale. - me

Degree? Check. Job? Check. Restlessness? Check. - me

The following memoirs are from friends and/or family:

Seeking God's kingdom, everything else follows. - April Franklin, author of Discourses of a Vagabond with a Mission

Six feet deep; no glass ceiling. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Full of myself, running on empty. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Death no longer a bumble bee. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Live for Him, forever with Him. - April Franklin

Learn to serve, learn to lead. - April Franklin

Without pain love is not learned. - April Franklin

Life's not free; get a job. - Amie Nixdorf

More of Him, less of me. - Amie Nixdorf

Two schools of life: responsibility, accountability. - Amie Nixdorf

As mentioned in my previous post, Sum your life up in SIX words, I am going to try my hand at a few six-word memoirs of my own, as well as, include some others have sent me. If you read my previous post, these six-word "stories" are not near as difficult to write as I thought...or I may be in the writer's "zone" right now...who knows! Anyway, please send me you six-word memoir(s) and I'll post them! :)

My memoirs:

Loved deeply. Hurt painfully. Loved again. - me

By grace I have been saved. - me

Destined to be a nomad forever. - me

My biggest temptation is a sale. - me

Degree? Check. Job? Check. Restlessness? Check. - me

The following memoirs are from friends and/or family:

Seeking God's kingdom, everything else follows. - April Franklin, author of Discourses of a Vagabond with a Mission

Six feet deep; no glass ceiling. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Full of myself, running on empty. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Death no longer a bumble bee. - Jianfranco Alvarez

Live for Him, forever with Him. - April Franklin

A few weeks ago, I bought a book of memoirs called "Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Famous & Obscure Writers." Long title, I know. It is actually a fascinating book! Here are a few of the memoirs:

Taking a lifetime to grow up. -Mirona Iliescu

Recent doctorate means overeducated and underemployed. -Philip Sternberg

Even the quietest sounds make noise. -Paul Boggan

Seeking route, not sure of destination. -Gary Belsky

Drew on walls, creative for life. -DeAnna Sandoval

I auditioned. I got the part. -Faith Hoffman

This got me thinking. If I were to write a six-word memoir about myself, what in the world would I write? As a writer who likes to use a lot of words, the thought of only writing a six-word story is almost unrealistic and hard to even wrap my mind around.

What about you? How would you write your life in ONLY six words? If you're up for the challenge send me a comment with your six words (no cheating, only six!)

My next posts will (hopefully) be my memoir(s) in only six words...we'll see if this is possible! ;)

I have a picture I want to share with you. It is of a family I met while I was visiting Lebanon (I want to go back so bad!). I think I may have blogged about them before...

A friend and I were walking down to the Mediterranean Sea when we saw this family having a picnic lunch by a rock. My friend asked if he could take their picture. They said yes, and then invited us to have tea with them. We refused a couple of times (as is true Arab culture I am told) and then agreed to sit with them for awhile. We had three cups of tea with them. We talked religion, politics and just life in general. After our third (or was it fourth?) cup of tea, the man (who is a taxi driver, but came to Beirut for a doctor appointment) invited us to his family's home in southern Lebanon. We had to catch a plane the following day, so we were forced to refuse. He told us that we were family, and welcome to their home anytime we were in Lebanon.

This family was the highlight of my trip. I still think about them often.

MY BROTHER IS COMING TO SEE ME!!!! Yay!!! I can't wait...he flies in on Saturday morning. I've been a bit homesick, so I'm really, really looking forward to him coming to visit. :) I would be looking forward to it regardless, I'm just EXTRA excited! :) I'm going to take him to D.C. so that we can go to the Spy Museum - pretty cool place! And then we are going to see Michael Buble in concert later on in the week. FUN TIMES! I can't wait!



Today was also a special day for a special person - James Johnson graduated Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University! Congratulations!! I am so proud of you! :)



Maggie had her first bath (given by me, the ladies she lived with before bathed her) today. I think she probably hated it. But, I guess what dog doesn't dislike baths? I also started trying to walk her on a leash today. Needless to say, it's been quite a traumatic day for little miss Maggie. She doesn't like the leash at all, but she can outrun me now, so she needs it...I don't want her to run out in the road.



My parents are coming to see me at the end of August, so I'm pumped about that as well! Aug. is going to be a good month I feel! Oh, and April leaves for Uganda on Thursday. She is really excited, but nervous...lift her up! :)



A close friend of mine just received a job offer today, please lift her up as she makes this big decision...she will have to move about three hours away...

I went home last week to surprise my dad for his big 5-0 birthday! It was good times - take a look at the high-tech bald man comb I gave him. :)


In March, my dad retired from the Army...this is a present my mom put together - it's some of the patches from units my dad was part of, his dog tags, a flag that flew at his retirement ceremony, and all the awards he collected over the years. I'm so proud of my dad!