Well, I was finally able to get a few pictures up from our sailing trip!!
Thanks, Selina II!!
It started raining upon boarding, and Captain Iris gave us the option to sail the next day, but Steve was up for the big adventure, so we suited up in rain gear and hopped aboard! In true McMurray style, despite the fact that this was supposed to be a romantic sunset cruise, we had a blast!!
(For some reason, the blog is not allowing me to post any of our trip pictures, so as soon as we figure out what's wrong with it, we'll post more from our trip - we definitely have some good ones!! Stay tuned...)
I'll be in class all day tomorrow, and then WE'RE OFF to the surprise birthday destination Sunday and Monday!!!
Check back next week for details of our trip!!!......
Yep, my sweet co-workers and boss got together to throw me a party in my office!! First they took me out to lunch at one of my favorite Thai restaurants on the Hill, then we came back for cake, ice cream and "happy birthday" in sign language!!!
Me & the big boss - Dean of Student Affairs, Carl!
Some of the Student Affairs group!
...and the celebrations continue...
Stay tuned!!
Hi All!
I'm drowning in school work as I am finishing up one of my trimester classes in the next few weeks, but wanted to say thanks for all the birthday well wishes!! Since Steve and I haven't officially celebrated our birthday yet this year, I thought it would be fun to remember our birthday last year...the best one ever, so far!!
We were in Napa Valley, California for my cousin's wedding, and my family surprised us with a wonderful party at a wine vineyard to celebrate our joint b'days! We cruised around in our convertible and had a blast!!
Nothing much happening this week...school, work, school, work, school...the usual! :)
We're ducking out for the next few days to attend a conference at our new church over the big double birthday weekend!! Yes, Steve and I (born a mere 30 hours apart) will be celebrating the big 2-7 this year on Saturday and Sunday...yipeee!!
And not to worry, we will celebrate together next weekend...more on that later 'cause it's a SURPRISE!!!
Well, today is a somber day for most as we look back to 5 years ago and remember one of the most horrific days in American history. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing at that time?
I sure do...I was in South France and remember our Australian tour-mates running out to the pool at our hotel and telling us that the World Trade Center had been struck by a bomb or something. Everyone went running into the hotel bar to see the nearest TV, and the worst part was that the images were just being shown over and over with commentary, but it was (obviously) all in French, and we had no idea what was happening. We couldn't understand anything except that something horrible had happened in our country and we weren't there to understand it. No one was willing or able to translate for us, so I quickly called home and was one of the lucky few that got through before the lines were so crossed across the globe that no calls could get through to the US. I wish that my photographs from that trip were digital, because some of the images that I have of the days following were incredible...we attended a memorial service at the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Friday following when all of Europe had committed to three minutes of silence to honor the victims. The lines of people at the US Embassy in Paris, France were unreal - people waiting just to place flowers on the ground in front...I really wish I could share these images.
The next memorable part of this time in Europe was the airport in the UK a few days after the attacks...I've never seen so many dogs and machine-gun-donned guards in my life. We waited all day as our bags were searched extensively...and we finally arrived home on or just before my birthday (it was all a blur). Thanks to my family for welcoming me home after a rough end to a great month of European travel.
I hope that we all take some time today to reflect on those who lost loved ones five years ago today - children lost parents, parents lost children, husbands lost wives and wives lost husbands...lives were forever changed. It has struck me particularly at work today, here in DC, that what most remember was the billowing, black smoke that hovered over the Pentagon after it was struck...it has been described as sickening and unforgettable.
How do we make sense of awful events such as 9/11, in light of what Steve and I profess to believe in - a loving, merciful and gracious God? Pastor John Piper offers some answers in his recent radio broadcasts called: "In a Terrorized and Troubled World, Where is God? Part 1", "Part 2" and "9-11 Q & A". These may help you to reconcile the existence of God with the existence of suffering and evil.
May the truth of God's Word bring clarity and comfort to your heart as we remember this day.
I also want to add that we are so proud of my dad, as he prepares this week to attend ceremonies in New York honoring his leadership in the disaster clean up efforts at Ground Zero. I was able to attend a special ceremony in November 2001 as he was honored for his efforts at that time. He will also be visiting some of the Firehouses in New York to give medallions to those that served and to honor those that were lost. We're so proud of you, Dad!
Well, the fall semester has begun, and I'm full swing back in school...1 year left, YAY!! Anyway, my group of girlfriends from school and I decided to get together and catch up after the summer - and to make going back a bit more bearable!! These are the girls that have made school so much fun!!
L to R: Noemi, (Me), Allen Clare, Meredith, Charity (and not completely visible is baby Humm - in Charity's tummy!)Scrolling down, you can see what our closet looked like last weekend...below is what it looks like now...since they "fixed" our problem...ha! Their fix-it method? They painted over it!!
They tell us there is nothing more they can do, so, I guess we are just going to be grateful that it looks better...? Haha, we are brainstorming on how to proceed...
I just love quotes - sometimes they just say things so much more eloquently and succinctly than I can! That being said, if I run across a good one, I promise to share!
This is a good one:
"The Bible does not show the stellar performance of any human being. It is a record of mankind’s flawed obedience and unbelief toward God and God’s justice, mercy, and patience toward us. The same is true today. God’s people are a trophy of His grace, not a trophy of impeccable performance. Perhaps you may benefit from doing a study of God’s faithfulness to uphold His precepts and promises."
From Carolyn McCulley on her blog: Solo Femininity
Also worth reading is her testimony: Liberated From Feminism
