Day 26

I so look forward to fall weather.  Unfortunately, I live in Texas.  We had glimpses of fall last week but have returned to 100 degree weather this week.  Sometime I really do miss living in the southeast.  I miss the colors changing in the fall.  I miss big piles of leaves and the chance to jump in them.  I also miss good friends.

One of those friends who I know shares my love of the fall and the leaves is my friend Andy. I do belive he also shares my love of Phase 10.  He sent me my challenge today.  So he gave me four options and all of them were truly great.  I will share three of them with you.  I am not forgetting about the last option but am saving it for quite possibly the morning of the 17th.

 Idea/Thought One:
Find a way to surprise someone in a positive way!
You can do this by getting to know and regularly encourage a shop clerk of a store you frequent, or another member of your community.  A great way to start a friendship/encouraging relationship is to "Ask them what is going great in their life?" or "What brings them most joy?" You can do this while checking out at a hardware store, grocery, talking with older church member, young married couple with baby, or wait staff at a favorite restaurant. (this is an ongoing challenge)

I had thought about sending you a check with some money to find someone and then give it away to help them full-fill a dream!
Check Not Mailed :)

I recently asked a young lady at Lowe's when checking out with some garden supplies this question, '"What is going great in your life?" and she answered an internship!  She is working as a photo editor for a local photographer.  I ended up to be a five minute conversation.  I worked on remembering her name and I'm in process to go back sometime to encourage her somehow!  I know she wants to shoot more photos and owns a Canon Camera - May potentially invite to church for the Christmas @ Mount Vernon and or give her a gift card for camera supplies.

Idea/Thought Two:

Skip one week of work!  Ha! Don't Do This!  I know you love your job, want to keep it, and hopefully I've made you smile a bit!

Idea/Thought Three:
Be Vocal and Tell people (family & friends) how much your care for them!  Life is so Precious!  Don't Wait!

Make some phone calls and write some Thank you/Appreciation notes!
(Maybe to Identify wonderful qualities they possess, or ways they look at life that inspire you!)

A couple of nights ago I met this Old Navy employee from the possibly Bangeldesh.  We chatted for a few moments about Bollywood and then she was off as her ride pulled up to pick her up.  Since that night I have been thinking about doing some shopping for the sole purpose of interatcting with her again. While I didn't make it into the shop today, I am planning on continuing interact with her in positive ways.  And like Andy said above it is definatley an ongoing challenge.

I would so love to take the second of these three, combining a week off from work with a vacation to some beach somewhere.  But I really do have a very busy week at work plus I start my volunteer work with Awanas this Wednesday. 

So this evening I called a few people and wrote half a dozen notes of appreciation that are going in the mail tomorrow.  I really shouldn’t have to be challenged to stop and tell people how much I appreciate them.  It was wonderful to actually sit down and think about what I appreciate most about the six people I chose to send notes to.

Andy, thanks for challenging me to take the time to tell those I care about that I truly care about them. 

XOXO-Amanda May

Day 25

As of many of you are doing today, I too am remembering where I was 10 years ago today.  I was just waking up to a phone call from my parents telling me to turn on the television.  When I did I was absolutely stunned, shocked, and scared.  In the hours and days to come I remember seeking God and praying that our nation would turn back to God.  I took and still take comfort that He is in control.

The mantra of our country has been for 10 years, never forget.

Weeks ago my sister Kristi has requested that she challenge me this very special day.  She also told me that she would need to preregister for the challenge.  I was a little bit worried.  But when I opened her email yesterday, I thought it was perfect.

So I hope you have fun today. Grab your camera, tennis shoes, shorts and a t-shirt. Head down to  300 West 6th street. Get there between 7am and 745am When you get there you are going to check-in. Then you will follow the directions of the event coordinators. What might the event be you might be asking yourself right now. Well let me tell you. I have registered for you for the Central Texas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. What is this you might ask? Let me explain a little bit. This is a climb to remember the 343 FDNY firefighters that lost their life on 9/11/2001. The event is only open to 343 participants. Each participant will have an accountability tag with the name of one of the firefighters lost that day. The participants will climb 110 floors, which is the height of the Twin Towers. This is a unique way of fulfililing the vow to "never forget" the sacrifices of the 343 brave men and women who lost their lives. Sooo get ready to climb away. But that's not all.

 

 Then after words make sure you get some pictures with the firefighters and the team members that you climb with. And you must go to the post party at Hooters at 425 West Riverside. So if you didn't get pictures after the climb, you can get them at the post party. While your at the party meet at least 3 firefighters.

 

I thought this might be something you would enjoy to remember 9/11 and also kind of significant for your birthday as you like to bring a cake to the fire department on your birthday.  So hopefully today you will meet some firefighters and you can bring the cake to them or even invite them over to your birthday dinner. But I wont make that part of the challenge.

 

I'm not done yet. Do something relaxing with your afternoon go get a massage, go for a swim at Barton Springs, or just go soak in the tub for a bit. But don't go to sleep cause I have just a little more to your challenge.

 

So when you worked in North Carolina your boss liked the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. And I remember that you had never seen it and you had it ordered on Netflix, but it was always on back order. Not sure if you have seen it yet or not, but tonight your going to go see it if you haven't already. See if you can get a friend to go with you. Its playing tonight at at West 6th St., 719 West 6th St. at 730pm. Oh if you have seen it then don't worry about going to see it, just don't want you to turn 30 without seeing it.

 

Ok that is all. I hope you had a fun, memorable day. Love you tons.

 

Love Always, Kristi

For the second day in a row I was up before the sun and was soon on my way downtown.  When I arrived on site, I entered with a somber attitude. I was met with a room full of firefighters in full gear and other climbers much like me ready and willing to climb. Minutes later I was signing release forms stating that my participation was voluntary.  I couldn’t help but think was this really voluntary in Kristi registered me for it.  I was given three names tags to wear in honor of the fallen heroes.  As I moved to the staging area I took time to learn that the three firefighters that I wore on my shirt were three of six from Engine 40 of the New York Fire Department who died ten years ago.   I climbed for these firefighters: Kevin Bracken, Michael D'Auria, and Bruce Gary.

Once a chaplain blessed the climb, the first team of firefighters started the climb.  This first team of six or seven fire fighters in full gear was from the Bastrop Fire Department.  I am not sure if it was if they were from Bastrop and just this week have been battling wildfires or just the  significance of the climb, but when they moved to the door to start the ascent they were applauded.  This was the case for the next 10 teams of firefighters. After all the firefighter teams started up other members of the community were grouped into teams and started up.  As each person started up they did so remembrance of the 343 firefighters who were killed. 

110 flights of stairs is the height of the Twin Towers, no we don’t have anything close to that in Austin.  I learned that the 110 flights would be counted as going up 22 flights three times and down twice.  The first set up and down was fairly easy.  I hate to say that I passed a couple of fire fighters going up, but Of course I did not have full gear on.  Going up the second I could start to feel the burn, but I went slow and steady.  There were reservist and volunteers at various levels ensuring everyone’s safety.  It was during the second descent that my legs started to shake.  But before long I was starting up for the last time.  But slow and steady I took each flight as an accomplishment remembering those firefighters who were never made it that far up the towers.  I finally got to the 22^nd floor for the last time with a sense of accomplishment.  After the ride down the elevator I arrived in the lobby to a microphone were those we all had climbed in memory of were remembered  by name and a bell to be rung. I stayed to hear many of the fallen remembered as climbers read their names.

Below are pictures of the commemorative coin given to each person who climbed. 

By 10:30 I was in my car headed to church.  I couldn’t possibly be ready for the after party that early and wasn’t ready to miss church today.  After a quick trip to target for church clothes (I was expecting the climb to take longer than it did and was fully ready to find an evening service to attend), I was worshipping corporately.

Soon after church, I was headed back downtown for the after party at Hooters.  I have actually never been there before, but it was the second part of Kristi’s challenge.   Hesitantly I went in found a seat and ordered fries and wings.  I have no idea what they put their fries but so yummy!!  Though I had talked to several firefighters at the climb, I had to complete the challenge.  Before leaving I noticed that PeeWee, the event organizer was across the room.  I approached him introduced myself and told him about my sister signing me up.  He gave me a huge hug and actually thanked me for climbing.  I was taken aback by this since he is the one gives his life for community, state, and country.  He is from the Bastrop Fire Department.  I also met Chris from the Cedar Park Fire Department. PeeWee also shared that registration for next year’s climb will open Monday morning. 

I was then on the next item on the challenge…me time.  That consisted of a wonderful bath and a Sunday afternoon nap.  Absolutely lovely!

I didn’t make it back downtown for the movie, not because I slept past it but because I have indeed seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  Several times in fact. Thinking back to the movie and in light of my kick on Bollywood movies these days, I think my favorite part of that movie would be the parade in downtown Chicago where they all seem to break out in song and dance.  I love 80’s movie.

Kristi, thank you so helping me remember today in a very unique way.  I look forward to climbing next year, always remembering and never forgetting our fallen heroes and American resilience.

XOXO-Amanda May

Day 24

Today my baby sister turns 24.  For me that is so hard for me to believe.  I called her this morning and left an amazing birthday greeting in Spanish.  I was calling her from outside of Juan in a Million in East Austin and was just in that kind of mood.  I had been up by that point for almost 2 hours.

Why was Amanda up so early on a Saturday morning?  My challenge today came from my friend Suzanne.  It was to get up early, climb Mt. Bonnell, and grab breakfast with friends.  Seeing the sun rise or set is something that I love to do.  And even if I had already done this, I was so up for an early morning with friends. 

The sun rose at 7:13 this morning. I had three alarms go off this morning and I almost missed it.  I was racing against the sun to get there and climb the mountain.  But made it and I watched it come up. 

After taking plenty of pictures, we were off to Juan in a Million which was totally my choice since I had never been there.

I am sure that I could have more to say about an absolutely lovely morning with friends, but I really need to turn in and get ready for another early morning.

XOXO-Amanda May

Day 23

Tens of thousands acres of beautiful Texas has burned this year.  Thousands of home across Texas have been lost.  This hit home here in the Austin area this week.  As I type right now the fire is still burning and our hero firefighters are battling.  I left Austin last Sunday unaware of all of this and when I returned Monday night I was shocked to hear it was so close to home.

All week long I heard on TV and radio ways to help thousands of displaced people who had been evacuated or lost everything.  But I was unsure what I could do.

Eleven years ago I met a girl named Becky from Oklahoma.  She was the one other girl entering in freshman year of college from Oklahoma, and being at a small college in Texas this was huge for me.  Becky became my friend.  I have had the privilege to live with her junior year, witness her wedding, meet her 3rd child the day he was born, see her Emily and Adrian be baptized, and fall in love with her kids.  I love to see Adrian's eyes light up when he realizes that Miss Amanda has come to visit.  Many of these latter things have occurred by God's providence in settling each other fairly close to each for this season of our lives.  We have serious seen each other through a lot. 

About two weeks ago I had coffee with her and her husband J.R..  It was at this time that she gave me my challenge verbally since it would take some thought.  She wanted me to commit to something. Well since that time I have thought about this challenge over and over again.  I wondered if the new things that are coming up in my life and wondered if any of these would count.  But never really settled on anything specific.

Okay going back to the fires in Texas.  J.R. and Becky are currently serving at a church in Bastrop county, one of the more harder hit counties dealing with fires.  They are still blazing out there.  I noticed on FB that their church was set up as an evacuation center and she would be working out there.  Wanting to do something I volunteered to help Friday night.  Becky, asking if I was serious, challenged me to come on out and help sort clothing.

So here it was my two part challenge to commit volunteer in helping sort and actually do it.  I was on the road out there by 5.  Arrived by 6,  Saw Adrian's big blue eyes light by 6:15.  And by 6:30 was assisting in sorting clothes.  The church is currently home to about 30 displaced peoples.  I absolutely loved working along side Becky, showing the love of Christ to those in need.  I am not sure if they will ever be done sorting clothes.  There are tons of clothes!

This also put a nice cap to the past seven days.  If you remember last Saturday I made fudge and took it to the fire stations thanking them for their service.  I had no idea it would be so timely.  Tonight I was helping those who needed their service.  I am sure its obvious, but there are so many ways to help the community and give back there is absolutely no excuse not to.

Becky, I know you shared that you were looking forward to seeing me today, well I to was looking forwarding to seeing and serving with you!  My friend let me know if there is anything else I can do.

XOXO-Amanda 

Day 22

I totally realize that today is day 23, but I have not logged day 22 so I will do that now.

Thursday my challenge came from my church friend Randy.  Randy has an amazing heart for missions.  He also is a part owner of a sail boat.  Did you know I once a long time ago took a sailing class?

Randy's challenge for me was to set goals for this next year is various categories, social, spiritual, family, career, physical, and mental. I read his challenge the morning of and thought about it all day. I love making goals for my life, which I think is evident in this chronicle of my 30 Day challenge. Sometimes  I share my goals. Sometimes I don't. I once had to meet weekly with a ministry coordinator to discuss goals and progress towards those goals. I know that sometimes it helps sharing your goals with others to help keep you accountable. But this process is not always enjoyable.   Because of the nature of some of my goals I set last night, I am choosing not to share them here.  But if you ask and take me out for a long coffee I will share some of them with you.

The other portion of the challenge was to come up with a verse for the year and separate verse to keep me motivated. I will share this with you. 

And make it your ambition to lead a quite life. Your should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as you were told, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  I Thessalonians 4:11-12

XOXO-Amanda May

Day 21

I absolutely love playing volleyball on Wednesday nights at church.  It is a pretty fun game and doesn't get too competitive.  However, sometimes when players make the same mistake over and over again, it gets on my nerve.  Tonight this happened and I too get over it quickly I broke into "Jesus loves Me", well about half of it before the next serve was started.  Please don't think that I typically respond this way, I did so because of my challenge today.

Today's challenge comes from my friend Chuck Stone of Atlanta, Georgia.  Chuck and I attended the same church and in fact went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at the same time.  FPU is really where I got to know Chuck.  Several sessions of FPU the marrieds and singles break up into smaller groups to go other life stage specific items.  There were 3 in the singles group and Chuck and I were the youngest. Chuck has a frat tattoo on his foot.   He is also very athletic.  He and I ran in the same half marathon, and of course he smoked me. Chuck also let me put a Saxby sticker on the back of his car.  Any person who is willing to let me do this is amazing.  He has been one of my friends from Georgia who has stayed in touch, and I greatly appreciate that.

Knowing Chuck I really wasn't sure what I would get challenge wise, but super excited that he wanted to part of this 30 Day Challenge.  I opened up his email this morning.

Ok.  I don't know if you take a lunch break, but I want you to sing Jesus loves me at a restaurant or anywhere you may be around a group of strangers, church etc for at least 30 sec.  The point is break out singing randomly in a somewhat large group of people.  30 sec.  If that's too much, you have to say "Barack Obama" least 40 times today during conversation and at least once you have to say I hope Obama beats Rick Perry and that can be one of the 40.   Don't be a pansy. pick the first.  Hope you have a good day!

I knew immediately that the first would be much easier but much more awkward.  I don't think I can actually say Barack Obama 40 times in one day.  So on my way to work this morning I practiced "Jesus Loves Me."  It had defiantly been a while since I have sang it.

I had quasi plans for dinner and decided that it would be perfect to sing it in front of others with a friend sitting next to me and possibly joining in.  Well dinner plans fell through and before I knew it the day was getting away from me.  I thought about breaking into full song while at volleyball, but the point was to sing in front of strangers.  So the story at volleyball is true and was a warm up for completing the challenge.  Soon volleyball was over and knew I needed to get this done, so I headed to the grocery store. 

So Chuck this is where I completed my challenge.  I sang as I shopped at the grocery store and stopped before I left and sang the entire "Jesus Loves Me" song.  I also sang it  a loud at Starbucks right before I started this web log.   And yes I definitely received some strange looks but I have no problem declaring to the world that Jesus Loves Me and it says it right there in the BIBLE.

Chuck, Such an interesting challenge and thank you, thank you, thank you!!

XOXO-Amanda May

Day 20

My challenge for Day 20 comes from my mom.  She just had a birthday and I truly hope that she had a great day, even though I was not able to visit her.  I wasn't exactly sure what her challenge would be, but was excited to open it up.

Your challenge for today is to go on a camera hunt. Go to this link and print up the current map. At the time of writing this there were 49 cows on display in Austin. You have to go to each cow and take a picture with the cow or at least of the cow. Depending on what day you do this there might be more.

http://cowparadeaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CowParadeAustinMap081111.pdf

After visiting each cow, decide which one was your favorite and head to Breed in Company in either Westlake or downtown. The downtown one is on 718 W. 29^th St just around the corner from Ashley’s downtown apartment. Westlake 3363 Bee Cave Rd Austin TX. Hours of the stores is Monday through Friday 730am-7pm. Saturday 8am-6pm. And Sunday noon to 5pm.

Yes, the cows are back in town and today was the day I could see many of them.  These cows, like many other animal exhibits in large cities, help raise needed funds for a children's hospital. I first learned about them being in Austin when they were all on display at one location and open to the public for free.  (I love free community events and am always on the look out for them.) Apparently there are currently 71 cows on display all over Austin.   When I read this I was thinking that 49 was crazy then I learned that there were 71 and was thinking that if I went with the original challenge of getting 49 I would be good.  I wasn't exactly sure why I needed to go the Breed-n-Co and actually didn't make it.  I was in the office till about 5 and then had a 7 pm meeting, thus I wasn't sure how many I would actually get find before midnight.

So I am sure what you all are really wanting right now is to see how many cows I actually saw.

A Moo-sical Moo-saic

A Psy-COW-delic Cow-ssword Puzzle

Armoodillo Cow

Barton Springs Eternal

Batsy at Twlight

Blazing Bovine

Chia Cow

Cow Quarium

Cowbella

Cowjunto Music

Cowmaro

Cowpital --City within a Park

Curly Q Cow

Discow

Eye Cowrumbal

Flower Power Cowiaction, "Esther Eloise"

Cookies & Milk :100 years of Girl Scouts

This one up close features all of your favorite girl scouts cookies, just in case you were wondering.

Flowerida

Guitar Cow

 Hairy Dear, Play me a Tune and Cowcycle.

These are inside and very, very Austinish.

I love Moo

Just Moo It

Kaleidscope Kow

Life Savers Cow

Mazy Moo

Miss Chemoo

Moolah

I wonder where his top hat went?

Moosic Capital

Gilded Lily

So I am sure you are wondering by now who these boys are....I first saw these crazy boys at the cows at the Frost Bank.  They were entertaining the friend taking the picture who was visiting from Minnesota and I am sure they noticed me taking pictures and consulting my map.  I didn't actually follow them but saw them at one other cow before we all arrived at Miss Lily together. After they took their picture one of them asked if I had a map.  I told yes and briefly told them about my 30 day challenge and my mission for tonight.   They then accompanied me to 2 other cows they are featured in.  As we finally departed ways, they offered me birthday wishes and suggested that my family and friends all chip to send me to 30 different countries during my 30th year.  I know it probably wasn't the safest thing to do, hang with complete strangers downtown, but I did have my cell phone and  it was probably safer than wandering by myself.

Moosic Capital

Moo-vement

It is hiding behind the dark car.

Morning Glory & Death

Musicowlly Speaking

Night Mooves

This one I snapped after my 7 pm meeting at the Dell Jewish Community Center.  If I had not gone to the meeting I would have missed it since it is a gated complex.

On your mark, get set, Moo

Once in a blue moo

Partying with Pi-Cow-sso

Peace Love and Harmooooony

Remember the Alamoo

Scrabbull

Tacky Taurist

At times I so felt like one.

Tacow

Texas Cow-try Summer Nights

Texas Moosicians

Texas Sports Holstein of Fame

The Ol' Cowskin

Udderly Austin

UGC  User Generated Cow

Western Cow

Were you counting?  No need to look at them all again, I captured 50.  No I didn't get all 71 cows, but I did look for them many that were suppose to be downtown or in the park I simply could not find.  I looked and looked till my camera battery died.  My mom suggested I finish up on a Saturday soon.  I possibly could, but there may be more by then.  The CowParadeAustin website speaks of 100 cows being on display during the exhibit.

I am hesitant to pick a favorite without seeing all of the cows.  But right now it would be Cowbella or Night Mooves.  I would love to know which cow is your favorite.

XOXO-Amanda May