Ryder's Big Week

So, last week was a very big week in the life of little Ryder! He had his very first birthday on Wednesday! I was told they celebrated with chocolate donuts (his first) for breakfast and by the time I called to wish him happy birthday, his tummy was aching a bit. He's having his big birthday party this coming Saturday and I'm using one of my free flights to go back for the celebration. It's a 70's party because Ryder is a little "Love Bug". I think they know someone with an old Love Bug that's going to be parked out front and (of course!) I'm icing who knows how many Love Bug shaped sugar cookies on Saturday morning. But that's not all! On Friday, it was confirmed that Ryder's going to be a big brother!! My sister is only about 6 weeks along- I've known for a while, but she had her first doctor appointment on Friday and heard the baby's heart beating. Also, Ryder had his 1-year doctor appointment and they found out he has jumped from the negative 3rd percentile to the 7th! So, he's starting to catch up now! Anyway, because he's just too cute, here are some pictures I took when I was in Texas about a month ago.

Chicago and Beach Baptism

This has been a big weekend so far! After work last night, I was all geared up to come home and just work on organizing all my stuff that has been in somewhat of a chaotic mess since it arrived almost a month ago now. It's getting better and better, but I will admit I really have procrastinated in getting everything put in its spot. As I walked home, though, my mind drifted to how I'd seen Rita Wilson last weekend and how this week I had found out that next week is her last in the show. That fact, combined with the fact that Usher is going to be starring in it as Billy Flynn starting in August, made me want to see Chicago sooner, rather than later. So, I decided to go by the TKTS booth to see if they had any Chicago tickets. Amazingly, they did. However, every show they had tickets for were being sold at 1/2 price, except, of course, Chicago. Chicago was being sold for only 35% off. But, I decided I probably haven't seen enough of Broadway since I've been here and I really wanted to see this musical, so I went for it! It was incredible. I loved watching Rita on stage. She's probably not the best singer or dancer, but she can hold her own and was definitely very entertaining and did a great job playing the part of Roxie Hart. Oh, and another famous person was in it- Obba Babatunde- I wouldn't have known his name, but definitely recognized him from movies like The Manchurian Candidate, The Notebook, and John Q. It was great!
Today was The Journey's annual beach baptism. What an awesome day! We spent the entire afternoon at Jones Beach on Long Island. It was a real beach!! Very nice, clean, white sand, huge waves! I loved it. I layed-out all day long and got a nice little tan. The baptism started at 2:30 and was very cool. There were probably around 150 people there, I would guess (but I'm never very good at estimating numbers of people). Thirty-five of those people had signed up to be baptized today. A couple of the guys from the band brought their guitars so we started out with a time of worship and sang a few songs together. Then, the folks getting baptized had the opportunity to thank anyone who helped lead them to this decision. This is always a really neat part of The Journey's baptism. I was especially touched today by one girl who said she wished her parent's could be there because this was a day they had been praying for for many, many years. She said they have always been ones to quote a verse here and there and just have really tried to be an example to her. Yet, as she drifted further away, they never gave up. Now she's in her twenties and their prayers have been answered-- how exciting! It reminded me of my own parent's. They were lucky in that their greatest prayer, for me to accept Christ, was answered when I was only 9, but I know there are other things for which my parents are in constant prayer for me. Anyway, after the "baptizee's" shared, we all headed for the water. All the ministers on staff got in the water to help with the baptisms. The waves were Out of Control today!! So, it was kind of funny to see them all crashing around out there. But, the baptisms were so exciting. One of the girls from my growth group was there to be baptized-- I didn't even know she was going to be there! She was there alone, so, I gave her a big hug and held her towel and sunglasses while she was baptized. They went in one at a time and the praise, yelling, screaming, and clapping after each person was "raised to walk in the new life" was so loud! It was very awesome. That is one of the things I have loved most about The Journey's baptisms. Prior to The Journey, I had really only experienced baptisms in traditional Baptist churches-- and they are great and have become so much more meaningful to me as my relationship with Christ has deepened. But, there have been times when someone I have been praying for makes a decision or when a child I have taught gets baptized and I've wanted to shout in praise, but I knew it wasn't appropriate in those settings. Now I am at a church where that is not only appropriate, but highly encouraged! I love it!

Favorite Place

I am pretty sure that I have found what will remain at the top of my list of favorite places in New York.
Last night, I went with a few friends over to Brooklyn to the Summer Film Festival. Every Thursday night, they show a FREE movie in a park over there. The park is located just on the other side of the East River from Manhattan and is just below the Brooklyn bridge with a great view of the city behind the bridge. It was an awesome spot-- but it got better!
We laid out some sheets and got pizza from a fantastic place called Grimaldi's and ate and played cards while we waited for the movie to begin. The movie last night was "Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure." This was one of my favorite movies growing up-- I watched it over and over and over. I wasn't sure how much I would like it now that I'm all grown-up, but as it started playing, it made me so happy!! About 20 minutes into the movie, it started lightning really bad and then we began to feel drops of rain. They shut the movie off and said they would have to cancel it for the night. We were disappointed, but this is where things ended up taking a turn for the best. As we walked towards the subway, the rain stopped completely, so we decided to tour the neighborhood. We went down by the shore, behind the Ice Cream Factory, which is a hot-spot to get ice cream, although we didn't get any. The view of the city from down there was gorgeous!! Then, we walked over to The Promenade which was up a bit higher. It's basically a long walkway with amazing views of the city, the Brooklyn Bridge, and even the Statue of Liberty. I was in awe and fell completely in love with this place! After taking it all in for a little while, we walked up and around to the street behind the walkway and it was full of the cutest, most unique brownstones. I loved it! I had dreams of living there someday!
If you ever come to New York, this is definitely at the top of my list of places you should see!

Not 1, but 2....

celebrity sightings on Saturday!! I saw Molly Ringwald and Rita Wison! Joy and I were walking through the park when we walked right by Molly. I didn't notice her and after we passed by, Joy told me it was her. I immediately turned around and chased her down so I could see her myself. It was definitely her! She was pushing a stroller and chatting with another lady. Then, Saturday night, I was walking home after a party from a sub-stop that is on the other side of the theatre district from where I live. As I was passing the theatre where Chicago is currently showing, I noticed a big sign advertising that Rita Wilson is now playing in it. As I was thinking to myself that would be good to see, I heard tons of screaming, so I crossed the street and there was Rita herself! She was leaving the theatre and getting into her car and stopped to sign autographs and let fans take her picture. She was really cute and very friendly.

I'm working on getting some pictures together so you can actually see some of the stuff I've talked about on here- so be watching for that! I still don't have a digital camera, so it's more of a process. I'm hoping to get one for my birthday next month!

Symphony in the Park

Last night we went to go see the New York Philharmonic in Central Park after Growth Group. It was incredible. We missed the first half or more, but it was still so great. There must have been thousands of people out there sprawled on the Great Lawn with blankets and picnic baskets. It was really cool. The music was beautiful and I wished we had been able to hear the whole thing. While you sat and listened to the music, all you could really see was the symphony on the stage up front, trees, and all the people. It didn't feel like we were in the middle of NYC at all. A great escape! After the symphony was over, Joy was like "now it's time for fireworks" and I said "really?" and she said "well anytime there are more than 5 people gathered in New York there are bound to be fireworks". And about 5 minutes later, I hear booms behind us. So, everyone hops up, turns around and watches the fireworks show. I thought it would be a few fireworks, but it lasted a long time!! It was so pretty to see the fireworks above the trees with the skyline behind them.
I was headed in a different direction when it was time to go home and as soon as I got out of the park, it started pouring!! I caught a subway close by so it wasn't too bad, but when I got to my stop, I had a ways to walk. I love all the walking, but have found myself in a bind when it rains and I'm not expecting it and have no umbrella. I didn't want to wait, so I tried to walk under awnings, but finally gave up and just walked in the rain. Flip-flops get really slippery when wet, so I was walking rather slow, too. By the time I got home, I was drenched!! My hair was soaked through as was my cute skirt and top!! They needed to be washed anyway, so I decided it didn't matter. It was kind of fun in a way!

Coney Island!

Yesterday was a big trip to Coney Island! I went with two girls from my Bible Study, Laura and Becca. It didn't end up being the greatest day to go to the beach, but we had fun anyway and just being at the beach was great! There were a ton of people there. When we got there, we first went directly to the beach. It was overcast, but we had hope. We were so excited to see the sand and ocean! It's not the greatest beach ever, but it was okay and still the beach! Laura brought a sheet, which is a brilliant idea-- much easier to shake off than a beach towel-- so, we all sat on that. Not 10 minutes later, it started to rain. Becca pulled out a tiny umbrella and we all 3 sat huddled under it reading a magazine together. It was hilarious, but fun! We gave up after about another 10 minutes and decided to find a place to eat inside. Of course, you're supposed to get a hot dog at Coney Island, but all the hot dog places are just stands you walk up to and the lines were long and in the rain. We walked away from all the craziness and found a place to grab a bite inside. When we finished, the sun was out, so we hit the beach again. I fell asleep! Becca and I waded in the water a bit-- it is freezing cold!! People were playing in it, but I don't know how! There weren't really waves at all. After laying on the beach for a while, Becca and I wanted to try out the roller coaster-- you can't go to Coney Island without riding it! Laura had been a few times, so she wasn't quite as into trying everything like Becca and I were, but she still had fun with us! The ride was great-- longer than expected and a good wooden roller coaster!
I love knowing that I live in a place where I can just hop on a train and get to several different beaches. Laura left town today for 6 weeks (she's a teacher so she can do that!), but Becca and I plan to hit up some of the nicer beaches before summer runs out!

Birbiglia

On Thursday night I went with a group to see this guy, among other comedians at the Gotham Comedian Club. Mike and at least one of the others have been on Letterman and Comedy Central. It was hilarious! I'm always a little hesitant about comedy because sometimes it is so uncomfortably crass and other times it's that kind of silly/stupid comedy that I don't find funny. But, this was just really, really funny! The club was really cool too-- definitely a place to consider going back to. It was also a great time with some fun folks from church! Oh, and the hostess who sat us mentioned to one of the guys that she went to Mizzou (he was wearing a Jayhawks shirt), so I told her I grew up in Columbia and we had a quick little chat about BoCoMo.