Tonight...

Mat Kearney
Rocco DeLuca
The Feeling
Ryan & Amber

Jesus Videos

Click on each picture to start the video clips.
These old Jesus Film clips were dubbed over by the geniuses at Vintage21 and if you ask me, they're hilariously priceless! (Yes, I said "hilariously")

ht: BirkeyBlog

I can't stand to watch anymore...

It's a sad, sad day for Chris Sligh, MY FAVORITE potential American Idol...

P.S. Get Sanjaya outta my face!

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55% of plepoe cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but teh wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Crazy....or should I say "czary"

[ht:Lindsay]

Impossibly Complex Balloon Animals

This is the type of guy you'll find walking around at the next Balloon-Tying Convention you go to.

It kinda makes you're average balloon-tying clown a huge disappointment, eh?

I just found THREADS, a new resource from LifeWay...and it seems like it's speaking my language. Based solely on the marketing of the site, the pictures, the graphics, the content...I like it.

We're just like you. We're sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends, roommates, mates, and dates. We're piecing life together, mending the torn places, patching the holes & ironing things out. Every aspect of who we are hinges on one thing: relationships. Truth is, we're wired for relationships. We want to belong to a community where even when things like faith get messy we know we're not alone. We want to use our time to make a difference in this world. While there's a lot we haven't figured out, we know this much is true: we need God and we need each other. We're Threads.

Our Favorite Show

Finally! New clips from an upcoming episode of The Office are now up at Yahoo! TV. This week's show is still a rerun, but the clips offer a hilarious peek at what's coming next week. Let's just say we get to see Dwight using nunchucks and Michael wearing a women's suit (accidentally?)

"Smokey Mountains, Here We Come"

Ryan found out yesterday that he starts his residency on June 18th! We have a lot to do before then, including a vacation hiking in the Smokey Mountains! Talk about a really good time for an amazingly small amount of money! Yippee! We booked our little cabin and will be heading south in May. I'm so excited!

If you have ideas of what we should do in Galtinberg, leave me a comment!

She's not a baby, She's Fun!

It seems to me that Carolyn has recently become incredibly fun!

What do you think?

Radical Transparency

I love what Mark Batterson had to say in his blog today.

"Transparency is a judo move."


Ever notice that people stop making fun of people who laugh at themselves? It's judo. Ever notice that people stop criticizing people who admit their failures? It's judo. Ever notice that people believe people who admit their doubts? It's judo.

I want to live in a transparent, authentic, genuine way. I want to be real.

Friday Buzzword Fun

NEW CORPORATE BUZZ WORDS …

• Blamestorming: Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
• Cube Farm: An office filled with cubicles.
• Idea Hamsters: People who always seem to have their idea generators running.
• Mouse Potato: The online, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.
• Prairie Dogging: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.
• Swiped Out: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because the magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.
• Irritainment: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but you find yourself unable to stop watching them. ie., Brittany - Paris - Anna Nicole

I found THIS site that spoofs the NBC 'The More You Know' public service announcements with funny videos about some ridiculous church practices. It's all about poking fun and drawing attention to some of the things we do in the church that don't really matter. The things we get hung up on and really aren't the point.

Welcome to TheChurchYouKnow.com! We love Jesus, and His Body. This love compels us to question some of the characteristics and practices we see in the church we know...and this site is our way of doing that.

These 3 clips are my favorite! Hey Dad...you have to watch the "clothing" one.

CLOTHING

TITLES

WORSHIP

Grand Canyon's Glass Skywalk Bridge

Now THIS I've got to do!

For a mere $25, up to 120 people at a time will be able to look down through the glass skywalk to the canyon floor 4,000 feet below, a vantage point more than twice as high as the world's tallest buildings.

Don't worry, because architect Mark Johnson said the Skywalk can support the weight of a few hundred people and will withstand wind up to 100 mph. The observation deck has a 3-inch-thick glass bottom and has been equipped with shock absorbers to keep it from bouncing like a diving board as people walk on it.

...what if I want it to bounce like a diving board?

The glass skywalk is scheduled to open to the public on March 28th.

Jr. Highers...and rotten sneakers...

MONTPELIER, Vt. - Thirteen-year-old Katharine Tuck's sneakers are equal opportunity offenders. They smell as bad as they look. Now, the Utah seventh grader is $2,500 richer because of it:

On Tuesday, she out-ranked six other children to win the 32nd annual National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest, stinking up the joint with a pair of well-worn 1 1/2-year-old Nikes so noxious they had the judges wincing.

"I'm so proud of the little stinker," said her mother, Paula Tuck.

Read more HERE

WHAT? Is there such a thing as a COOL Christian??

Check out THIS article questioning Chris's faith. Stand Strong Chris! Some Christians don't realize that you CAN be COOL and RELEVANT and still be a CHRISTIAN!!

"He's not going to back away from the fact that he's a Christian," said Chris Surratt, pastor of Seacoast Church, where Sligh has been music leader for more than two years. "He's going to let that shine through in what he does." Hundreds of people gather each week to hear Sligh's music at Seacoast, where his electric guitar and vocals have become an integral part of services, Surratt said.

FREE Iced Coffee

TOMORROW IS FREE ICED COFFEE DAY Click HERE to tell your friends!

Dad as a Cartoon

The "My Life" series at Granger has been one of my all-time favorites. I have only been there in person for one weekend, but was able to watch the rest of the weekend services online at www.gccwired.com. A couple of weekends ago Jeff Petersen and the team created THIS MEDIA to illustrate how important it is for the church to make more space for everyone to bring their friends. I thought it was GENIUS!! I loved seeing my dad drawn as a cartoon.

More Match Day Pics

GLORIOUS MATCH DAY!!!

All of the celebrating yesterday didn't include time for me to blog...but this morning I woke up ready to let you know that RYAN GOT HIS FIRST CHOICE!!! We will be moving to Grand Rapids Michigan this summer and he will do his pediatric residency at DeVos Children's Hospital for the next three years. After that, we have no idea where we will be for his three years of fellowship. We are thrilled that we will be back in West Michigan!

Thanks for all of your encouragement, support, and prayers during these last few months of big interviews, huge decisions, and enormous excitment. You are incredible! We are blessed to have you in our lives.

Countdown to Match Day

More Match Day Pics

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." --Jeremiah 29:11

http://ambercox.blogspot.com/2007/03/countdown-to-match-day.html

National Potato Chip Day

Bet you didn't know that today is National Potato Chip Day. And did you know that the potato chip was "invented" in 1853 by a Native American chef in a resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.? A guest did not like the resort's french fries, and the chef, George Crum, decided to get back at the complainer by making really bad fries that were too crisp to eat with a fork. The guest liked the brown, paper-thin potatoes, and soon potato chips were a specialty at the hotel.

Click HERE for a brief history of the potato chip.

...interesting

TOMORROW IS MATCH DAY!!!!!

Countdown to Match Day

4 MORE DAYS!!
This Thursday is a BIG day! Ryan opens his envelope and we find out where he will be doing residency and where we will be living for the next 3 years! Ahhhhhh!

I can't wait for all of us to be there when he opens it. Ryan's parents are flying in from New York and mine are driving up from Michigan for the day.

We know he matched...we just don't know where.

Stay tuned for Match Day updates!

Our Best Cities

American Cities That Best Fit Amber::

60% Austin

50% Honolulu

50% Seattle

45% Atlanta

45% Miami

American Cities That Best Fit Ryan::

70% Denver

65% Seattle

60% Austin

50% Las Vegas

50% Philadelphia

According to this quiz, it looks like Ryan and I should have checked out Austin or Seattle! I love that we actually had a couple of the same answers.

Which American Cities Would Best Fit You?

Could it be Spring?!?

Today was a little sunny, and a little bit warm (40 degrees) in Chicago, so Ry and I decided to take a picnic lunch and walk down the bike path along LakeShore Drive. The lake is still frozen, but in a few more weeks, the path will be PACKED with hundreds of jogger/biker/skater/roller-blader types.

Barbie, Chicago-Style

I'm not gonna lie, when I saw this I laughed...and was quite disturbed at the same time. Perhaps this is hilarious to me because we live in Chicago. Either way, I stole it from my friend Katie's blog so that I could share it with you.

Here it is...

Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Greater Chicago market:

"Hinsdale Barbie" This princess Barbie is sold only at The Oak Brook. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face - lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

"Naperville Barbie" The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Chrysler Town & Country Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic-jamming cell phone sold separately. "Cicero or Calumet City Barbie" This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife,a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ....unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

"Barrington Hills Barbie" This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them."Joliet Barbie" This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.
"West Loop Barbie" This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription available as well as warehouse conversion condo."Elgin Barbie" This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Joliet Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home."Lincoln Park Barbie" This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Lincoln Park Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

My Life Stories

I love the new blog that Granger is doing for their "My Life" series. They handed out post cards and encouraged people to write their stories and turn them in. The team at Granger put those post cards into a really cool blog. You can read the stories HERE.

The stories weren't re-typed for the blog, but actually posted in the original handwriting on the postcards for the blog. Awesome way to make the stories that much more personal.

Satan Hates Lifechurch.tv

Satan hates Lifechurch.tv! Check out their new billboard campaign with protesting messages from Satan. I think it's a great campaign. It's got shock value, it's got and edge, and it's speaking the language of the culture. I think this is going to stir the pot, and it's going to reach a bunch of people who might just stop to check out what Satan has to say about why he hates life.

Check out the other billboards and the website at SatanHatesLife.com

Kudos to Craig and the team at Lifechurch.tv!

Please, I beg of you, stand to the right.

Have you ever been one of those people?
The ones running full speed through an airport terminal with a crazy look in their eye and some carry-on bags flying in the wind behind them?
Today, Ryan and I were those people. I was kinda laughing (in between huge gasps for air) knowing that as we sprinted along children were tugging on their mother's pant leg saying, "mommy, look at those people!"

Which brings me to the question... Why don't people know to stand to the right so that people like us can run past them on the left side of the moving walkways?

Chris Cox Photo to be Displayed at Museum

Chris has been taking lots of art/photography classes at his high school since they moved to New York. His photography teacher submitted a bunch of his photos to Scholastic and Chris was awarded the Silver Key award from all submissions in Central New York! Scholastic chose his photo from all of the winners to be displayed at Everson Museum in Syracuse! He really has an artistic eye, and a huge interest in photography. His pictures are incredible, as you can see below.

I will be collecting his art piece by piece until I have a Chris Cox gallery in my house, where I will gladly sell you his photos for thousands of dollars.

We're back from Gore Mountain

What a weekend! The drive up to Gore through the Adirondack Mountains was gorgeous! We stayed in Lake George, which looks like an awesome place to visit in the summer. Saturday morning we got up in time to be the first on the mountain when it opened. I do enjoy skiing on the freshly groomed early morning slopes.

Ryan's Mom and I took some class lessons on the 2nd day. Since we were age 13 and over, our class was called, "Improving Your Skills" which is exactly what we needed. (I was picturing myself following a line of 5 year olds down the slopes - I was glad there was a class for people over 13.) It was great because there were only three people in our class, so it seemed more like a private lesson. We learned techniques. Then we practiced those techniques. Next time we go skiing we can help eachother remember the techniques.

On the ski lift, we met this local guy who told us that no one who lives in Lake George eats in Lake George...unless they go to a resturaunt called "George's." So Ryan's mom and I asked him exactly where this "George's" was so that we could go there for dinner. Later that night, we checked it out, and it was such a cool atmosphere. As you can see, there were probably a hundred tiffany lamps hanging from the ceiling. I would suggest that if you order the Chicken Marsala, you should split it with someone...it's really a lot of food. a lot a lot.

We've got the car packed up
and we're headed up to Gore Mountain for a couple days of skiing.
I'll post pictures and stories on Sunday night upon our return from the Adirondaks.

Livingto100.com

According to "Livingto100.com" I'm going to live to be 95 years old! Super Duper! Ryan has more stress and less sleep each night...so he will only make it to 89.

I might start eating more sweets...to even it out a bit