M is for Mugs, Muffins and Movies!

This morning I had my Life Group girls over to enjoy a cup of joe, some homemade (yeah, right!) muffins and a fun movie! Cute, right?! Everything was great and perfect for a cold Saturday morning. After the movie, I pulled out my awesome new Mac and one of the Apple savvy girls immediately began showing me the ends and outs, shortcuts and do da's my computer could do. After spending about an hour on Photo Booth, here's just a sample of the almost 50 pictures we took:

I absolutely love love love my new computer. It's super cute and I can't believe all the nifty things I can do on it! Stay tuned, my next Apple tutorials subject...making video confessionals! ;)

M is for MacBook Pro!

I believe it is only fitting I write my first entry of the year (I know, I'm really working on being a better blogger) on my new toy... a MacBook Pro! My old computer, a lowly Dell, was nearly six years old and on the fritz! There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't have a severe panic attack for fear of losing my life in document form when the blue screen of death popped up. Now, not only do I have a new computer that works when I turn it on, but it plays my iTunes on request and doesn't shut off when I click on a link!!

For some reason, I do believe I will be more active with my blogging all because of this awesome new machine!

More to come...promise!

T is for Truth

I usually go to church in the afternoon. Today, however, my friend Carrie and I are traveling to Charleston to go to a show, so I wouldn't been able to go at all if I didn't go this morning. Because of this scheduled previous engagement that I didn't want to miss, and because I wanted some worship time today, I decided to go to a new church plant here in Columbia called New Spring. New Spring, in a nut shell, is a mega church based out of Anderson, SC with numerous satellite campuses all over SC.

Once the message began, I was completed moved and consumed by what the Lord was putting on the speakers heart to say. The message was about the end times, and more so, judgement. What would happened when we all show up to that appointment of death? What would the Lord say about you, the way you lived your life and, most importantly, would your name be written in the book of life?

Towards the end of this amazingly powerful message, the speaker told two stories. The first was about a man that lived his life completely and utterly for the Lord. He understood many years prior that he was sinful, that he deserved death, but that the Lord's grace and mercy saved him and that when he died he would be with the Lord, in heaven, forever. He worked his entire life telling people about the love of Christ and growing deeper in His word everyday.

After growing very sick from a disease that was overtaking his body, he asked his wife one morning to bathe him, shave him and dress him because he was going home. "Going home?" she responded, "You're already home." He shook his head and said, "To be with my father." She did as he asked and after he was ready, she took him downstairs and sat him in his favorite chair. In a short time, he lifted his arms and said, "Look at how beautiful the Lord is. Do you see Him? Do you see Him?" His wife said, "No I can't see the Lord, honey." He said in response, "If you could see what I see, you would want to go with me." Moments later, he cried out, "Hallelujah," and started clapping his hands. Not soon after that, he took his final breaths and went home to the Lord.

The second true story, drastically different, was about Joesph Stalin. The pastor said that while Joesph Stalin (atheist, murderer, heartless, terrible individual) was on his death bed, his daughter sat with him and recounted the final moments of her father's life. "Make them stop, Make them stop," Stalin screamed as he threw his arms in the air above his face. His daughter, confused at what her father was talking about said, "What is it? What is it?" "The wolves," Stalin continued to scream, "The wolves!" As Stalin continued to scream and with his final breaths he says, "Dear God, nooooo," and passed away.

Message: What will happen when you die?

T is for Tennis Skirts

The other day I went to Starbucks for a treat. (Ps. It's really hard going into a place and paying full price for items that a few short months ago I received for FREE!) While in line, I started a conversation with the lady in front of me...go figure. The reason I started talking to her was because of what she was wearing.

"Do you play tennis?" I asked with a smile and in an overly excited voice. "Oh, you're sweet," said replied, while touching my arm with one hand and putting her other hand over her heart. "I don't, I just wear the skirts, they are so comfortable and they make me look like an athlete." "Oh," I said in a perplexed tone which was accompanied by an awkward laugh. "I do...actually play, and I have a skirt that resembles that one." "You actually play," she said, completely shocked and surprised. "I thought everyone just wore them around for fun."

Now, I don't mean to hate. There have been plenty of times that I have thrown on work out clothes for the days errands with absolutely no intentions of doing any kind of exercise activity that day. But, to completely call yourself out and say, "I'M A POSER," is a whole other story!

In my eyes, the tennis skirt, while very cute and super comfortable, is an article of clothing that must only be worn by tennis players! I'm not saying that you even have to be good. I'm saying that you have to have actually stepped foot on a real tennis court and attempted to hit a real tennis ball just ONCE to wear one! That's it. That's your golden ticket. All these ladies that just wear them for fun, pain me. I have put in many a hour, blood, sweat and tears in my tennis skirts. To see them worn as Saturday summer wear is a disgrace! Ladies, take off the tennis skirts and put on a pair of shorts. You haven't earned it!

(Please know I'm just joking...I'm not that serious about tennis skirts...but seriously ladies take them off!)

Q is for Quote

Growing up I used to be a really big quote person. For birthdays, I would always ask for the calendars with the inspirational saying and words of wisdom then try... for that particular day... to live out my life as parallel as I could to the saying or phrase. More times than not, I would generally forget what saying I was trying to "live out" by 10 a.m., but nonetheless, it was something that was a part of my daily routine.

Today, I am still really moved by quotes, and more so, words. I try, as a much older and wiser adult, to take them to heart a bit more than I used to. Sometimes they sticks; sometimes not. Here is one, however, that I found today, that I just love and will hopefully carry with me for a lifetime.

"The finish line. We're always just one more run, one newer car, one fancier title, one bigger house, one better romance...from a happy ending. Stop in your tracks, and just love where you are." - Skirt September 2009

R is for RUNNER!

I never in my life would have ever thought that I, Kim Jamieson, would be called a runner. But this morning...just a few minutes ago... I made swift strides right into that title! I just completed a 4.82 mile run! And, to top it off, I really wasn't that tired at the end. In past attempts at running, I failed miserably. During every "run" I would think awful hate thoughts to myself for even trying to accomplish a feat, that was obviously out of my realm of fitness. I used to have to mentally tell myself not to turn around and walk back home to the new bag of salt and vinegar, kettle cooked chips, chocolate chip cookies, popcorn, PBR, pizza and any other pastry I had in my house.

But today, I turned my jams up and kept telling myself, "One step at a time, one step at a time!" So with this new found like...definitely not love yet...for running, I think I am going to officially sign up for my first race. As the training continues, I'll be sure to document my progress...or lack thereof! Keep me... and my legs...in your thoughts as I venture into the wonderful world of running!

W is for Wedding!

Tomorrow is the big day! My older sister Lillian is getting married and I'm really excited for her. She is marrying a big ole (and by "big ole" I mean 6'5") guy that loves football and has this crazy obsession with all things Clemson. This was something that was very hard for me to get over... seeing as though I am a two-time graduate of THE University of South Carolina!

I can't really believe that this day is actually here. I feel like just the other day, Lillian and I were sharing a room and fighting over who would be the one to get up and turn off the light, making up dance routines to our favorite Michael Jackson hits, staying up late at night watching TGIF, playing doubles together in tennis tournaments, yelling at dad let us sleep a little longer in the mornings, giving each other high fives in the halls at Eastside, swimming for hours at every hotel we stayed in on tennis trips, running around the house like crazy kids when are parents left us home in the summer, writing notes to each other on the back of the offering envelopes in our grandma's church because the service was so long, moving each other into college and so much more.

Even though from here on out, things will be a bit different, she will always be my sister and my heart. We will continue to add to our extensive list of memories and tomorrow I will be able to add, fluffing her veil, calming her nerves, holding her flowers, almost dropping his ring and giving her the biggest hug ever before she pulls off into her new life as Mrs. Lillian Jamieson Johnson!