Audra Jennings

Rachel had the great idea to work on our classroom for Vacation Bible School after work the past few weeks during the time I refuse to walk due to the heat.  We almost have the room ready, and now the heat is on to get onto the lessons before next Monday. We're obviously doing a circus theme. We still have some posters to hang up. The next couple of work weeks will be a circus too. Two weeks before I am on vacation for a week. I haven't had to prep to do that since this time last July.  By the time I get through the next two weeks, I'll be ready for a vacation. 

There's some phrase about insanity and repetition. I'm pretty sure that proof of my insanity is evident that I've been to four New Kids on the Block concerts. Four. But to my defense, that's over the course of 23 years. Ok, fine, yes, three of them were in the past five years.  Don't judge me.  They still put on a really, really good show. And the same friend has gone with me to all four. The first time we had to have an adult go, and the second time another friend went with us, but this is our thing. We go in solidarity. It's our guilty pleasure, and we love it. This time around, they are touring with Boyz II Men and 98*. What I didn't know is that the concert would only be those three groups with absolutely no other lame opening acts. Who knew? I left town about 15 minutes after I intended, and we waited for what we thought was a little too long for our food at the restaurant. Yes, the tickets said 7:30, but we didn't get there until 8

I may really be going deaf in my left ear now. Jenny and I are at our 4th New Kids on the Block concert in 23 years. 

What do you get so absolutely tired about reading on your Facebook feed? Is there someone who always posts/shares things that drive you crazy? Are there people you would hide except you do want to see a few of their posts to keep up with them? Do you wish you could hide some people, but just don't have the time to because it's too hard to do on your phone or just don't have time. Now granted, I agree that everyone has their right to post whatever they want on Facebook, so I'm blogging my free speech on my blog tonight. After all, why have a blog if you can't rant on it from time to time? You probably hate all of my stupid updates, and you can share your hatred for my posts here. Including my pointless pictures of the day that I do just because I told myself I was going to take a daily picture this year. Stupid Facebook challenge. As I have said before, although  I believe in freedom of speech, Facebook would be a much happier place without all of the political

An interview with Bekah Hamrick Martin, Author of Bare Naked Truth Teens are bombarded from all sides when it comes to messages on sex. At church, they hear, “Wait until marriage,” while the rest of the world loudly asks, “Why wait?” Even though they know deep down what they should do, heart and hormones challenge the head. Debut author Bekah Hamrick Martin provides an honest discussion on purity, boys and relationships in a new book aimed at teen girls, The Bare Naked Truth: Dating, Waiting, and God’s Purity Plan (Zondervan/May 7, 2013/ISBN: 978-0310734024/$9.99). Q: Tell us about your journey and what led you to write a purity book for teens. I wouldn’t call it so much of a “purity” book as a “waiting” or “start waiting” book. The Bare Naked Truth really started over ten years ago when every conversation I had in camp ministry eventually came back to the topic of dating or waiting. It’s an age-old dilemma, but none

You know summer has hit Texas when your electric bill jumps by $100 in one month. It's been plenty hot, but they are just now predicting 100 degrees this week. My office at the front of my duplex was hot last year. I had to buy heat shields, I mean thermal curtains, and not turn on the air until late in the day to manage. I have to have it cold to sleep, so I'd down it at night and the cool would stick around for a while into the day. It's sort of like what they say about boiling frogs by starting them in cold water and gradually increasing the heat. This year in the house, I have a brand new energy efficient air conditioner just for the office, however, because it is an upstairs room and heat rises, the A/C runs all day long. I don't think it's insulated too well. I may have to move down stairs for the next couple of months. I really, really don't want to do that though. A couple of weeks ago, I called TXU for free nights. My theory is if I can let it run

And then, there were 11... The intro into tonight's episode of The Bachelorette promises much. I hope it delivers. The remaining men fly over to Munich, Germany, ready for romantic dates and time with Desiree. A few tried to speak some German, and let me just say that Kasey seemed less stupid when every sentence had a hashtag in it. Chris Harrison tells the men that there will be a one-on-one, group date, and two-on-one. That's the one I look forward to. I've seen previews that it is Michael G and Ben. Let the punches fly! Bachelor Chris - in whom I still don't understand the appeal - get's the one-on-one date. They go around Munich trying on traditional clothes, dancing, etc. Meanwhile, Bryden feels his feelings haven't developed enough. He should have just not excepted a rose at the end of last week's show and saved ABC the airfare. He decides he cannot wait any longer and sets out to find Des to tell her. I was thinking, "what's he

Yesterday, for Paige's birthday, we went to the movie that she has been waiting for since before Pixar even knew they were going to make it. ;) Monsters University As Paige calls it, "the prequel to my favorite movie ever!" I'm to blame. I've blogged about that before .  Ever wonder how Mike and Sully became best friends? How does one train to become a master scarer? Well, that's what the story was about. I really enjoyed it, but like Paige said, you can't really compare it to the first one because it's just different. It's true.  I loved little Mike so very much. Sully was kind of a jerk though. You need to go see. You just need to go see it. However, I will say that some of the previews/teases I saw beforehand weren't actually in the movie. 

Happy birthday to my favorite 12 year old in the whole wide world! Thank you Paigey for letting Peyton and I go with you to "the prequel of my favorite move of all time!" It would have been nice if the ID cards had been turned the right way so that you could get your picture made in them the right way. Even though I told Paige I wasn't going to get her gift until we went on vacation so that she could pick something out, after seeing the movie I ordered her a little something. Because she is a nut case. I told her I was going to get her one if I found one.... Archie the Scare Pig. It's the one part of the movie that scared me. At first, I thought he was a goat. I'm still not so sure he isn't part goat. Don't you want an Archie the Scare Pig?

Welcome to the campaign for Tracie Peterson 's newest book in the Land of the Shining Water series, The Quarryman's Bride .   Tracie is celebrating with a "True Love" $200 Anthropologie giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party. One winner will receive: A $200 Anthropologie gift card The Quarryman's Bride and The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the " The Quarryman's Bride " Facebook Author Chat Party on July 9th . Connect with Tracie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tracie will also share an exclusive look at the next book in the Land of Shining Water series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening. So grab your copy of The Quarryman's Bride and join Tracie on the evening of July 9th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you hav

An interview with Randy Singer on his latest release, Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned more than ten legal thrillers and was recently a finalist with John Grisham and Michael Connelly for the inaugural Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction sponsored by the University of Alabama School of Law and the ABA Journal. Randy runs his own law practice and has been named to Virginia Business magazine’s select list of “Legal Elite” litigation attorneys. In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He calls it his “Jekyll and Hyde thing”—part lawyer, part pastor. He also teaches classes in advocacy and civil litigation at Regent Law School and, through his church, is involved with ministry opportunities in India. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Virginia Beach. They have two grown children.  Visit his website at www.r

Today I bring you a review of  Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer About the book: Landon Reed is an ex-quarterback convicted of organizing a points-shaving scheme. During his time in prison, he found forgiveness and faith and earned his law degree. Now he longs for an opportunity to prove his loyalty and worth.   Be careful what you ask for.   Harry McNaughton is one of the founding partners of McNaughton & Clay—and the only lawyer willing to take a chance employing an ex-con-turned-lawyer. Though Landon initially questions Harry’s ethics and methods, it’s clear the crusty old lawyer has one of the most brilliant legal minds Landon has ever encountered. The two dive into preparing a defense for one of the highest-profile murder trials Virginia Beach has seen in decades when Harry is gunned down in what appears to be a random mugging. Then two more lawyers are killed when the firm’s private jet crashes. Authorities suspect someone has a vendetta against McNa

It doesn't take much to realize my sometimes angst about singles and church... especially when I'm expected at singles' events. Our preacher participates in an annual lectureship and received his topics this week. He asked Rachel about his topic, then she pointed him my way because she new I had an opinion. Sam sent me the message below, and I wanted to share some thoughts because maybe it will help plant seeds of ideas for others. Got my assignments for Polishing the Pulpit in August. One of my lessons is called Seven Minutes of Wisdom (because that's about all I got). The audience is college age and singles in the church. The lesson is about dealing with friends who are married with children and all the talk about is their kids or their marriage. Thus making for boring, unnecessary conversation with single friends. The lesson is about how singles should deal with this situation. I know you have faced this some, so I thought I'd get some ideas from you to beg

Tonight, I am blogging as I watch The Bachelorette  on the night it comes on. Except, I came home about 30 minutes in. Ah, heck, I'll probably catch up after zooming through the commercials. They are headed to Atlantic City. Isn't it basically a Vegas for old people in the northeast? Yeah, I know Atlantic City was big before Las Vegas was. The date card... It's Brad. Maybe it was just me, but don't half of the guys this season's names start with a B? Brad, Ben, Brooks, Bryden, Brandon, Bryan. Mikey thinks Brad is a nice guy, a quiet guy, but not good for Des. Because Mikey is an expert. He calls everybody a kid too. They go out on the boardwalk, ride some rides, eat some taffy, go in search of chocolate. From the hotel, all the guys are watching them from the 44th floor. "Not the carousel, something always happens on the carousel." Someone else voices their opinion of Brad not being the right guy. Maybe the right guy just isn't a single