Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?

At the beginning of 2009 I decided that I was going to travel as much as possible that year...that plan changed when I closed on my house. With new homeowner expenses popping up everyday, that plan was put on hold for awhile. That change of plans didn't bother me in the least because I just loved being home every weekend and enjoying my new home. I suppose you could say I was nesting.

Well, my friends and family will tell you that has not at all been the case in 2010. I haven't even really been in my "nest" much at all this year. What a whirlwind of wonderful new friends I have made and fun travels I have had this year! Where have I been? This is a very brief overview of my year thus far.

Denver

Norman, OK for the OU Spring Red/White game....only because I love Rachel so much even though she is a Sooner :)

Denver again, to surprise my "twin" Sarah for her birthday

Stillwater, OK for Calf Fry - soo felt like I was back in college this weekend

Las Vegas for Memorial Day weekend

New Braunfels, TX to float the Guadalupe River and visit my favorite town in Texas - Gruene!

San Diego, CA...why did I ever leave there? Such a great trip & wonderful to be back out there seeing old friends!

New Orleans, LA - NOLA has replaced Vegas as my favorite US city. Hands down.

Kansas City, MO - one word. BBQ!!!

Fort Worth, TX - where the East ends and the ass-kickin' begins! Had to break in my new boots in the Fort Worth Stockyards of course... 

This upcoming weekend is my first at home in a very long time and...I.AM.EXCITED!!!!! My fun travels will begin again the following weekend, but for this one weekend I get to be home and be lazy. :)

In Him,
Brooklyn

It takes a long time to grow an old friend

During a brief conversation with my best friend today, one of us brought up that we had been best friends for over 16 years now!!! That number of years just seemed...well, too high. No way have we been friends for almost 2 decades! My reaction was something like, "Seriously? That can't be right...do the math real quick...we met when we were 12 and we are now...oh crap, I guess it really has been that long."

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time flies by. It also never ceases to amaze me how our friendship becomes more and more precious to me with each passing year. God has blessed me with a beautiful friend, inside and out, who loves me just as I am, unconditionally. We are both pretty much complete opposites - always have been, always will be I am sure. Our lives have been no different - opposite, but you know what they say - opposites attract right? Let me briefly illustrate...

She is shy. I rarely shut up.

She had a steady boyfriend when we were kids. I was always boy crazy.

I went to college and got a business degree. She became a massage therapist.

I moved to California. She moved to Midland, Texas (I know, I win this one right?) 

She got married! Wait, I did too...

She had a baby. I have two labrador retrievers...is that kind of the same?  

She had her first year anniversary...I ummm well, I ended up happily uncommitted.  

She loves the Young and the Restless soap opera - gag. I can't stand soaps.

She hates tomatoes, I eat them like apples... 

You get the picture.

We now live only a little over an hour apart - which although it is far far closer than 10 hours (thank God she came back from Midland! ehh!) - it is still difficult to coordinate our busy schedules to spend time together. But when we do get together, we are like two old hens, I swear...we have so much fun and so many laughs remembering all the trouble we have been in together...and I have the pictures to prove it! But it also makes us smile to recall some of our most memorable "disagreements"...one really big, nasty one in particular, which in a fairly direct way, led her right to the man God made for her to share her life with.

My train of thought that led me to write this blog today essentially boils down to this - God always gives us what we need, when we need it, in His time, not ours. The people, places and events of our lives are part of a much bigger story that He wrote for us long before you and I took our first breaths. I believe this more and more everyday. My life has been living proof of this. I am a lucky girl and am thankful everyday that God wrote such wonderful friends and loved ones like Kayla, in my story.

Garth never did a video for this song, so this is a dorky youtube video I found...but I have loved this song for years and it is fitting. I just wish the youtube video wasn't pink...geez...could it be any cornier? :)

Three books, three authors, one day

I read Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Eat, Pray, Love" awhile back and loved it. I got so much out of her story and I was excited today to find this video on BigThink.com of Ms. Gilbert's thoughts on modern love. In addition to the Elizabeth Gilbert video, I also randomly found out that John & Stasi Eldredge, authors of my two other favorite books "Wild at Heart" & "Captivating", will be speaking tonight downtown...so in ONE day I get to hear these three very wise, well spoken people speak about L-O-V-E...and it is Valentine's Day weekend...coincidence? I think not...I hope you enjoy the video.





LOVE,
Brooklyn

No I'm not the girl I used to be lately...see you met me at an interesting time...

I think John Mayer is an amazing performer as well as songwriter - I found this video recently and it is just too good not to share. Check it out - hope you enjoy it! (I'm sure this is probably an old song, but apparently I've been living with my head in the sand for the last few years as I had never heard it until this weekend...)


Brooklyn

You can take the girl out of the country...

I got a wild hair last week and decided to get out of Tulsa and head for the hills so to speak, for some R&R. I never realized how beautiful & serenely quiet southeastern Oklahoma is until this trip. I rented an awesome cabin in the woods, borrowed some fishing gear, packed some steaks and my ridiculous John Deere cowboy boots, and took off for a random weekend. It was the most relaxing, fun, "old people" weekend I have had in a long time. I came back completely rejuvenated as nerdy as that may sound. For me, the simplicity of just being out in the woods, by the lake, standing on the banks of the river & fishing, rocking on the porch of a cabin, hanging out fireside, playing cards, watching Lonesome Dove (cause what perfect country weekend would be complete without L.D. I ask you?) and just not being in any hurry whatsoever - no agenda, no stress, no drama - just enjoying God's creation & the peaceful quiet, was a wonderful idea.  I already have my next fishing trip planned and I can't wait!

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.

- Helen Keller

Much love,
Brooklyn