I'll teach you how to bowl...

...the perfect gutterball.
I was offering lessons yesterday.
It was ironic, though - when I went to demonstrate my mind-blowing losing techniques, I got a strike. LOL

But yeah, I went bowling with a group of people from church yesterday. I haven't been since I was about 11, so I knew I wouldn't be any good. I had no idea how terribly bad I would be. A billion gutterballs in a row bad. You know, sometimes I take a certain odd, twisted sense of pride in being the worst at something. At least, when it's something of little to no importance.

It really was hilarious, though. I had a blast. I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did. Talking, laughing, and people-watching are the best of sports anyways, and I excel in those. :D

Plus, I can blame my score of 32 or whatever it was on my skirt, right? It was homecoming Sunday at church, and I decided I just wasn't going bowling afterwards. And so when I decided to at the last minute (when I knew for sure how many fun people were going to be there) I realized that people don't usually go bowling in their church clothes. I really wished for some jeans. But that's okay! Laura and I still had so much fun. Thanks to Amber for the ride there, and Matt for the ride home. And to all the crazy people who let me be my weird little self.
... Yay for my friends!

(To those of you who were at church - did the choir sound good? I felt like we nailed our songs, but... when you're surrounded by altos only, it's hard to tell.)

Um... I have lots to do today. Custom orders to work on, orthodontist apptmt at 2... um... well, nothing else super pressing, but that's enough anyways.

Tomorrow is movie night!! YAY! I get to see my non-church friends! ha - that kind of makes them sound bad. I don't have many friends that aren't "church friends," and it's fun to get to hang out with them. We have the bestest of times. Can't wait!

I can, however, wait for Wednesday. Awana kick-off. Not, not, not looking forward to that. Regular old wednesday night club time, yes. Kick-off, no. And from what I've heard from more experienced leaders, I have good reason to dread. lol ... Personally, I think that club should just start. No crazy shindig stuff. Maybe extra candy or points or something since it's the first day. But then, maybe that's the killjoy in me. **evil laughter** Could just be the dislike of mass confusion and chaos. ... I think that's what it is. I'm not usually known to be a killjoy.

I think this is the first time I've ever used the word "shindig" in my blog. And I've been blogging since... let me check... 2004. A lot of you didn't even know me in 2004. ha! Ah, yes... back in the days of Live Joural and AIM, which have long since been abandoned.

So. Now that you know a little more random stuff about me, I will leave you. Do me a favor and find something to laugh about today. (Even if it's me. lol) You'll live longer. ;-)

Caitlin

From the Mind of a Double-Anti-Contemporarian

So, after my last blog post, I waited for a comment. I thought surely it was worthy of at least one, from someone, somewhere.

And then Zach posted this note in reply. He was going to leave a comment, but it got a little long-winded. I liked it rather a lot, so here it is.

It's worth the read, but if you don't like big words, don't bother trying. :) lol
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I think I'm becoming re-addicted to this stupid venting thing they call 'blogging'...anyway, this started out as a comment on Caiti Butler's blog about going to a contemporary-worship service. Miss Butler grew up in a traditionalist environment, as did I. In fact, my mind was so unused to feeling syncopation that it fought back while listening to Charlotte Church and received an ache...yes, the 'classical' music of Charlotte Church used to give me headaches! Ah, and at the age of 13 I did a 'wild' thing of smuggling an Enya CD into my bedroom and listening to it from start-to-finish. Though I now listen to a smattering of hardcore and bang my head against some heavy metal, I still can't stand the ear-damaging noise-level of rock concerts...

Yes, very applicable blog to our divisionistic human natures. Perhaps this anti-traditionalist (or, better put, nor really anti-traditionalist as anti-anti-contemporary...h

mm, double-anti-contemporary, I like that...) blog should've been entitled 'Praise the Lord, yo!' instead of your Shakespearean form? Hehe...jp.

When was the last time anti-contemporary-ists checked the context before quoting John 4:23?

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."

They use this passage to 'prove' that our worship should be in the 'truth' of classical structures. Yet this passage is of 'the woman at the well', and it immediately follows their conversation about Jews worshiping in Jerusalem but Samaritans in their little hills. I.e., this verse is saying that Jesus came to put an end to the formalities and forms of worship. Our body is the New Temple, and as such we may worship God in our 21st-century Jerusalems, as well as our Samaritan hills. Which antagonizes another point brought up by anti-contemporary-ists, that the Old Testament proves that God desires a specific kind of worship. Amen to that, but the specific type of music we use to express our loyalty and love is no longer given to our American equivalent of Levite musicians at the Jerusalem Temple. Yes, God desires a specific kind of worship--as this passage says, in 'spirit' and 'truth'--but neither imply the avoidance of pulse-heightening songs. But still anti-contemporary-ists insist upon using this passage to 'prove' that our worship should be in their traditionalist 'Jerusalem'.

On the issue of the healthiness of Rock, many cite early deaths of rock stars. To counter that evidence, all one needs to do is consider for a moment all the other factors possibly involved in the poor health of such persons. Still, I cede the fact that living in the non-ending presence of deafening noise could be adverse to one's health. But does that mean a little is bad? We know too much work can kill you...but does that mean we should avoid it completely? Also, a heightened pulse is a natural effect of emotion...so, should we have no emotion in our worship?

Concordance definition of 'spirit':

2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated

a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides

b) the soul

4) the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one

a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.

Concordance definition of 'truth':

truth as a personal excellence

1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit

If anything, 'truth' is double-anti-contemporary, free of biased affection for old hymns (and thus disaffection with contemporary worship), free of the pretense and simulation of ritualized worship, free of the falsehood and deceit which says that we must worship in Jerusalem. Having said all this, bleurgh on the awful mimic-quality of most contemporary musicians, and bleurgh on their awfully repetitive and shallow choruses--CCM artists are often like boys seeing how many times they can make a rock skip across a pond, without acknowledging that treasures lie in the depths of dark waters. But are hymns' depth worth anything more than this, if our mind dips its big toe in just enough to flick some droplets of words up into our mouths? Let us now worship our Lord in spirit and in truth, without the dumbingly-stupid and repetitively-redundant shallowness of most CCM, but neither chained by the Pharisaical belief that non-syncopated songs--or anything other than Grace--leads to holiness.

Finally!

Really, I have been meaning to post for ages, and just haven't gotten the chance.
I'm finally here.
With pictures.

I really don't know where I left off in my life happenings last time I blogged, but - OH! I just remembered. I meant to blog about visiting Calvary a few weeks ago and I never did. That was 'mazin' fun. Really. Lots of love to all of my Calvary people. I'm sad I didn't have more photos, or better ones. Beth-Dear, I should like to see the ones you got. :D

Me, Ham, and Andrew

Tabitha, Laura, and Becx

Next interesting happening: I colored my hair strawberry blonde. Mama did a great job. Only the people who know me SUPER well said "oh, you dyed your hair!" The other ones all say, "something's different with your hair... I can't tell what, though..?!"

I love it.

I interrupt this irregularly scheduled blogging with a breaking news story.
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Cheeseburger's Shortcoming Gets Him Kicked to the Curb

It was an unusual end to a Sunday night for the Butler family. They had been to church, and were on their way home. Tired and hungry, Mr. Butler decided, for the sake of his sanity and satiation, to stop at Checkers and buy cheeseburgers and hot dogs for everyone. Taking advantage of the "69 cent Sunday" deal, they ordered ten cheeseburgers, ten hot dogs, and ten apple pies. Unusual as this was, the story grew stranger.

While waiting for the immense order, something unusual was spotted on the ground beneath the service window. A double with cheese, made unusual due to it's location. Upon hearing that such an oddity had been sighted, all members of the family pressed the member nearest the door facing the burger to open it, for all to see the unfortunate sandwich.

The authorities have nothing to say on the subject, and nobody knows exactly what happened. It is presumed that, in transit to a vehicle, it was simply dropped. Dropped, and left on the pavement to grow old and cold. Perhaps this abandoned burger was rejected, and thrown out the window of an unhappy customer? This picture was taken some time after the actual defenestrating of the burger. It leaves many questions unanswered, one of which being "what happened to the wrapper?"

Stranded on the curb, this burger's future isn't looking so hot.

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Week before last was pretty uneventful, I think. Last week was great. The beginning of the week is a blur. Wednesday, we went to the park with the Looneys and other friends of theirs. Laura and I had especially been wanting to meet these friends of Katey and Alicia, so I was super happy to finally have the chance. Laura had to be at school, though. :( She missed out on some amazing tag. Wish I had pics of the game. lol!

Nicholas, on top of the monkey bars.

Famous Matt's hand, Famous Garrett, the most adorable Ryan in the world, Nicholas, and Morgan

Thursday, I had my follow up exam at Dr. Peck's, from whence we determined not even Acuvue Oasys lenses will work for me. This week I'm on another trial pair. It's my last hope, apparently. If these don't work, I'm stuck with glasses for life.

Laura and I were dropped off at Katey and Alicia's that night. We got all dolled up in lightning speed, and were out the door to the HMV concert. The band was great, the jazz band was good (not quite as good as usual), the choir was awesome. It was fun, and afterwards we went to McDonalds. Most of the HMV people did.

There's more to the story, but I'm going to save it until I get a hold on the photos I need for it. ;-)

Once back home at the Looney's house, we crashed.

Friday was a little gloomy, but still fun. In the evening, we had party food for dinner. It was strange, and delicious. Then we watched August Rush. I think we teenage girls were the only ones that enjoyed it. I love it. So there.

Everyone went to bed while Laura, Alicia, and I stood outside for about 15 minutes just watching the amazing lightning. It was indescribable. Id never seen anything like it. Brilliant, silent flashes of light, illuminating the stormy clouds from behind. I know I overuse the word "awesome," but this really was one of those awe-inspiring experiences.

Then we killed the awe by going inside. Laura, Katey, Sheesh and I watched Red Eye - a pretty good suspense movie. Then we went to bed.

Saturday morning was good. We went home at noon, then went to babysit for the church drama at 5. Got home at 11. Ate too much cotton candy. Went to bed far too late, after staying up even after I told Beth-Dear I was going.

It was so good to go to Sunday School this morning! I'm going to scan my notes. I meant to tonight, but I forgot. We always start late. We technically begin at 9:45, but our lesson never starts until 10:15. We take our time getting settled in, and doing prayer requests. From 9:45 to 10:15, I was the only girl in a room full of guys. I felt a little small and alone. And amused. And I was very, very happy when Anna Leigh came in. lol! We learned about water bottles. (I'll show you later.) Never know what Phillip's gonna talk about.

This afternoon has been nice, too. Laura, Abby, and I went to Mema's house for a little while, and just relaxed. I finished up my secret project this evening. I was going to show you all tonight, but this post is so long already, it, too, shall have to wait until another time. Here's a picture, though.

you don't know what it is, do you?
(family members, shush.)

Wow. That was a lot of text.
Maybe I shouldn't wait forever, and then bog you all down with a huge post. But it's better than not posting at all, and leaving you all hanging clueless, right?
Right. ^.^
I wish you all a happy week, and a very green St Patrick's day.

Love, Caitlin

The Longest Valentine

I know it's late, but it's still Valentine's Day. :)

I hope you've had a nice day. I got lots of chocolates from my preschoolers yesterday and today. That was really nice. Honestly, I've just wanted to pig out and eat them all up. But I haven't!

My favorite in the 3 year old class is Julia. She calls me Aunt Caitlin. I don't know why, but I awfully like it. lol She's not my favorite because of that, though. Her little valentine said "to Aunt Caitlin" on it, which I thought was sweet, since her mommy wrote it for her. And I almost wrote "from Aunt Caitlin" on the one I gave her, but I didn't want her mom to freak out and be all like "Who does this girl think she is, calling herself "Aunt Caitlin"?!" ...anyways. Yes, it's just a silly little nothing, but I like being a fake aunt. LOL

I wanted to write a thought-provoking, eloquent post. It didn't work out. I specifically told Anne that I didn't want to just sit and ramble til I end up saying something, but that's what I'm doing now - apparently it's what I'm best at.

So. Valentine's Day. We've never made a big deal of it around here. Our aunt usually sends us something sweet. Isn't that nice of her! But that's about it. Not that I don't like it. It's just not a big deal.

I think it's sad that so many people think a romantic relationship is necessary for complete happiness. It's not. There is only one relationship that will make a person complete. What people fail to see a lot of the time is that if you have a thriving relationship with God, everything else will fall into place. In His time, of course, and in His way (which may or may not be pleasant for you), but if you truly have a right relationship with Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, you will have a surpassing joy and peace and fulfillment that can't even compare with the strongest, most devoted, fairy-tale, human love.

And here I insert that I haven't the time and energy at this moment to define "right relationship" and the differences in what we call "happiness" and holy peace and joy. Although if anyone would like for me to expound, I would be happy to some day (soon?) when I have a little more "umph" in me. :D

Nor is this to say that I'm not like every other girl who wants a Prince Charming, either.

But it is awfully thrilling to know that I'm a Princess of the King of Kings, and he loves me with the most perfect, completely incomprehensible love ever. The Charmingest of all Prince Charmings can never live up to the love I already receive.

God is love. We've all heard it over and over, right? But think about it. What is love? It's hard to define. There are so many different kinds of love, and ways of showing love. Everything you can think of that is love, God is.

I said this last year during Valentine's season, but I'll say it again. It stands to reason that the God who *is* love is not limited to "types" of love. His love must be unmeasurably the strongest parental love, the sweetest brotherly love, and the most passionate romantic love together; the perfect love "which passeth knowledge." For as long as God is, we can't define love in it's fullest. It's beyond us. He is love. Selfless, giving, forgiving, eternal, unconditional love.

Don't be discouraged or lose hope when you're going through a tough time. You don't know how it's working things out to your good. I pray that God will grant you strength to bear it, so that you will be able to understand just how strong, and powerful is this love that passes all human understanding, and gives you such fulfillment in life. Give glory to Him; He can do more for you than you could ever even think to ask for.
( a very short, Caitlin translation of Eph. 3:13-21)

1st John 3:1(a.) "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God"

Upon confessing our unworthiness, and accepting Christ's love (that he was already giving, even though we weren't responsive), we are drawn into His family and are worthy to be called the children of God. Kind of like the earthly way of a bride becoming part of the groom's family.

There are points I haven't covered, but I already mentioned that I was too tired to hit them all. I think it would take too long, too. You guys probably don't want a book out of me. LOL I promise, I don't count myself an expert, either, so do speak up if you have a word. :)

So, my basic point is this: I like Valentine's Day. I'm all for romance. But if LOVE himself doesn't satisfy you, kisses and roses from a human aren't going to, no matter how perfect they are, or how happy they make you feel. Think about God's love, and rest in him. He wants to be loved back too, so don't ignore the One who loves you most.

All said, if you're reading this, I must love you in some sort of way, and I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day. :)
~Princess Caitlin

P.S. This is probably the longest valentine note you've ever gotten.