the climb

the day i realized i liked a miley cyrus (hannah montana) song. and i don't just like it a little bit...

2 photos that make me smile

in my house in florida there is a space under the stairs (with the water heater) that we called "the hideout". it has now been passed onto the next generation (aka the mininger grandkids). look how many people can still fit into such a very tiny space! i like that.

gretchen: amazing singer. aunt joni: amazing accompanist. april: entirely-immersed-in-the-moment-interpretive dancer.
i love it when photos can evoke the laughter that bubbles out of your stomach, especially when it's unexpected. these did that

there's always a song in my head

this song is almost too much to handle, but one that is in my heart...

father hear me now when i am humbled,
i fear that i will soon forget.
now i have no strength to stand and stumble
i have no wish to leave you yet.

oh holy father, hear me now
when flesh is strong and spirit weak.
please break my back if i won't bow,
oh won't you have your way with me.

father hear me now when i am humbled,
when i am bent with holy shame.
all the lies that i believed have crumbled,
the blood of Christ my only claim.

i cannot trust my own designs;
my heart is prone to disobey.
so listen Lord while there is time,
chain me fast if i won't stay, take my life and have your way.

please hear me Lord this blessed hour,
when sin has loosed his hold on me.
thy mercy is a mighty tower,
so why should i not trust in thee, father have your way with me.

"have your way", andrew peterson

frozen raspberries are such a good idea

so far i've eaten them with:
-orange juice, limeade, tequila
-hot chocolate
-by themselves

next i'm going to bring out those super brown bananas i stuck in the freezer (telling myself i would make banana bread one day, fat chance), blend them up with the raspberries, some soy milk, maybe a little honey. hmm.

my absolute favorite thing about my apartment is the sunroom. it has 2 french doors that walk out onto the back porch. right now it's storming, and i'm sitting on the couch, in the dark, with the doors open, listening to the sound of thunderstorms, watching fireflies and lightening. we've had some crazy storms here in st louis over the past couple of weeks. i love thunderstorms--it's a floridian thing. but every storm i've been at work (including the one on monday with hail that blew our front doors open and knocked out the power to the gym!). this storm i get to enjoy here tonight in the quiet alone. it's nice. thanks God.

philly

for you nonfacebook people who haven't already seen some of these pics:







that girl's getting married soon! i need to start thinking of stories and witty comments to embarrass her and mark with...