Parody or Parallel?

Okay, so I'm seeing a trend in my life. About 6 years ago I was sick one weekend and started watching the tv show, "Alias" on dvd. It wasn't long after that I found myself on the internet wondering how someone could work for the CIA.

5 years ago I was sick once again and my friend Amanda rented me a season of "Gilmore Girls" in which I proceeded to watch every season. It wasn't long after that I found myself on the internet applying to culinary school in New England.

2 weeks ago I was iced in and started watching, "Glee" on hulu.com. I keep listening to the soundtrack and thinking, "I could lead a show choir! I'm dramatic and Broadway musicals make me cry (in a good way) unless it's, "Fiddler on the Roof" which is in turn traumatizing."

Anyway, there's something about these shows that make me want to live a fuller life with adventure and story. A story worth watching in a movie theater. This is the premise of a great book I just read by Donald Miller called, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years". God is writing our story, but are we allowing Him to live in us to the fullest to where we live with courage and faith? Even in the mundane things in life, do I ask myself in those moments, "Could I respond differently here or to this person or that situation to make it a better story?" Maybe it's speaking words of life into another person instead of just thinking the words. Maybe it means biking across the country in order to raise awareness about something God has given you a burden for.....I don't know, but what I do know is that God is saying to me, "Beth, I want you to have courage to live a better story." We'll see where this ride takes me....I hope I bump in to many of you along the way.

Beth

Don't Judge Me....:)

It happened again. Every year I vow that I will not get sucked in to watching, "The Bachelor", but it's like a train wreck that you can't take your eyes off of. It's a laboratory for human behavior. Who came up with the idea? You take 25 women and you put them in the absolute worst environment emotionally possible and you sit back with your popcorn and with a pillow closeby just to cover your head because you are so embarrassed for these women. It doesn't help that the token "nutcase" of the season is from my hometown. Oh dear. At least I might have one client when I graduate with my masters in counseling.

So I was thinking. What would it be like to be a Christian and be a contestant on this show? 1. It would never happen, and 2. I'm too prideful. HOWEVER, let's just imagine what it could be like if the contestants were my friends. I imagine it would play out like this.....

My bubbly friend Loveday is the outgoing one. She would hop out of the limo and snag him with a witty comment and a gift to remember her by. Perhaps a little song and dance?

Haley would have her Diet Sundrop in hand and be the cool, laid back friend who took it all in and yet would be picked due to the "mystery".

My friend Beth would play it cool because she is cool, but inside her head would be figuring out his Myers Brigg personality type.

Kristen would be on the show just to commentate on all the dynamics in the room.

Sally (even though now married) would crawl under a table because she was so uncomfortable with how the girls were making fools of themselves.

My little sister would find out if he was financially responsible and if he had any issues.

I would trip.

Here's to another season of train wrecks.

Beth

P.S. I do think I could snag the first impresson rose, though.

Dancing gone awry.....

So every year the Midsouth region has a staff conference for all the CCC staff in KY, TN, NC and SC. My friend Eric and I have emceed the conference for the past three years and each year we try and think of a creative way to begin our time. We decided (I admit that I pushed pretty hard for this one) to reinact the wedding dance entrance that's on you tube and spoofed on, "The Office". I added the link for those who don't know what I'm talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Anyway, everything is starting off great until it is time for Eric and I to enter. Well, Big Er danced down the aisle just fine and then I entered and felt someone kick me as hard as they possibly could in my calf. I was in excruciating pain and immediately went back to my theater background (haha) and started acting like I couldn't dance and thus drug my leg up the aisle.
I'm not sure how I made it through that meeting. Pure adrenaline, perhaps????

Long story short, an Orthopaedic doctor in Asheville took 2 MRI's and said that my muscles were torn and they needed the 2nd MRI to see how far down the tears went and if it effected the Achilles tendon. He said surgery was pretty much going to be my option, but to see the doctor back in Knoxville. Well, I just got home from my doctor here in Knoxville (Can I give a shout out to Dr. Mathien?) who looked at my MRI's (I hand delivered the same ones given to me by the Asheville doctor) and he said there were no tears, only a severe sprain and that I would just need therapy. I think Jesus changed the MRI images and I am so grateful

Thanks to my Midsouth family for your funny comments (particulary the one about Chris Brown, "Darn you, Chris Brown! First Rhianna and now Beth!" - Erin Coltrane Smith. My 2nd fave comment was from Cara Chute who said what everyone else was thinking (including myself), "Gosh, aren't you embarrassed?" Yes, Cara. Thank you. haha!! At least it makes a good story and the most awkward workmans comp. request.

On a more serious note, I would appreciate your prayers for quick healing and that I can be off crutches soon. I have end-of-year planning and exams. Thanks you all!! What's your most embarrassing moment?

Fall! Fall! Fall!

I have a love affair with fall. I love everything about it. Football, pumpkins, the colors, being outside, conferences with friends, fun staff team socials, bonfires, etc. I had a bunch of girls over not long ago and one said, "Beth, it looks like fall threw up in your house." Well, it's true.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a few pics taken over the past month of some of my highlights of the fall.

This picture of Brooks (on my staff team) makes me laugh.
We were on a conference call when I snapped this.
I loved having the student women over to my house!

My childhood "Be Frie" Anne and I rarely get time together

these days, but we had a good laugh/cry fest for

a few hours at Calhouns!

Part of our staff team went to Gburg for a fun
social riding go-carts & eating at the Apple Barn.

My dear sister/friend Haley and I went to a UT
game when she was in town visiting.

I would love to hear what you enjoy about fall!!!

Beth

Allergies

My head is the size of a large pumpkin. Maybe I'm allergic to pumpkin and that's my problem. Okay, so I've lived in East Tennessee most of my life, but I've never experienced allergies like I have this week. Today I left the house in my pajamas on a quest to find relief. Church or liquor? I'm kidding. Anyway, I trudged into CVS hair uncombed, glasses, etc. Small children ran from me and adults parted the waters as I walked down the allergy aisle.


$10 of saline solution later I stumbled back into my home. Tissue abounds. Claritin, Benadryl, Honey have all made special guest appearances to no avail. Now I am climbing down to the bottom of the socially desperate rung on the ladder and blogging for sympathy and advice. I hope allergy season is over soon.

Beth

Going to the Chapel!

"Why aren't you married?" Ahhh........every single womans favorite question. I, along with fellow yet-to-be-attached friends, have spent countless hours dodging this question at family functions, church, high school reunions and even from 90 year old men walking the mall. Praise Jesus that this weekend I will celebrate the death of that sentence for 2 of my dearest friends as they say their, "I Do's".

Lisa, we have been through 15 years of life together. From roommates my sophomore and your junior year, cheesy answering machine messages for Christmas (remember, "Let It Beep"?), flannel shirts, white dress shoes, Lisa night, Chad Shirley, "others", Chuck for Pres, that creep who cheated on your who is a pastor now, homecoming court shopping, Ross & Rachel, Rachel & Ross, ER, elves, fudge rounds & leg lifts. Girl.......the list goes on. I can't wait to celebrate with you this week. Thanks for asking me to stand beside you. Kerry I'm sure knows what a prize he has in you.


This is a picture from my junior year spring break trip to Boston. Nicole, Lisa, me, VanCamp. Such a fun trip.

My 2nd dear friend getting married is Amanda. Sadly, I can't be in 2 places at once this weekend and my heart is so sad and heavy, but we will celebrate in person soon and watch the DVD over and over, hearing every detail. Amanda, I couldn't be happier that Dan snagged you up. He knows what a prize you are and will treat you as such. YOU have been the dearest friend at pursuing me, my travel buddy, constant encourager, you seriously have a remedy for everything, the friend who gets on a plane when I am in a pit and just sits with me, the only friend who remembered the date of my broken engagement and sent me a card. You are also the only one I know who loves Charleston as much as I do. Friend, know that I am celebrating YOU this week as well. Know how dear you are and how grateful I am for God bringing Dan to you.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. WAHHHHHHHHHHHH Whhhaaaaa (in the voice of Charlie Brown's teacher).

Off to polish my shoes for 17th time as a bridesmaid. I'm a pro. AND I love it.
Beth

Wonder Woman

Tomorrow is my first day of school in quite a few years. I'm starting grad school to get my MA in Professional Counseling. As my Uncle Sonny says, "Why do you need to go to school to be a counselor? I can tell you what to do and it's quick and free. Admit it and quit it." Hilarious.

Anyway, I've been blown away by how affirming the response has been from those closest to me. As you'll see below, my friend and fellow co-director, Britton gave me a lunch box with Wonder Woman on the front with the logo, "Strength & Beauty" on the side. I LOVE THIS LUNCHBOX and I am actually going to take it with me. I'm not scared. Thanks, Britton.

On a side note, I wonder if I should dress up as Wonder Woman for my first day? Honestly, sometimes I live life as if I should be this superhero....granted I don't run around in an 80's unitard with red boots (well, maybe I did with my childhood be frie Anne when we were choreographing dance moves in 5th grade), but internally I feel as if I should do everything well, lest I disappoint. Today I read in a devotional with my staff team the following, "We were created to be dependent. Dependency is not therefore a sign of weakness. Rather it is a universal indicator of our humanity." In Scripture we read about what happens when we live as if we are the independent superhero in this grand drama of life; and I see it lived out in my own.

We were created to be dependent on so many things for physical life - food, water, sleep, etc. Things we must get...can't live independetly apart from or we die. The same is true with our relationship with our Creator. If I live independently from Him then I begin to wither up and die as well. Apart from Him I can do nothing. At least nothing that is worth anything and all it does is leave me depleted and stir up a neediness of other things and people. Don't get me wrong, we need other people in our lives, but not in a way that is demanding and to alleviate emotional insecurity.

Man, I really wanted to get on here and be funny tonight. Oh well. Try me tomorrow after I get out of my Ethics class. I"m sure I'll have some good material then. Feel free to keep asking me over the next few years of my journey through school if I am keeping Christ and His Word at the center of all I'm learning. He is my filter and my grid.

Love to you all! Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.

Beth

Bdubs

Bait