"I've Had the Time of my Life"....80's Prom at UBC

Okay, I know it's kind of old news, and I know I'm supposed to be writing about my hopes and dreams for the Church, but I wanted to share with you my pictures from the 80's prom we had at church last week. The hours we spent decorating were well worth the outcome. Everyone had a blast! I was afraid that it would be awkward, you know, like a junior high dance or something. Not knowing who to dance with and what not, but I shook my a*% and had a great time. The outfits were great, the hair was frizzy and mullety, the place looked amazing, and the David Crowder Band, minus Crowder that is, supplied some 80's cover songs. They really got into the whole 80's bit.

My need to plan events was satisfied, especially when I stood up on a corner of the stage and snapped pictures of everyone dancing under our tin foil stars and having such a great time. If you ever want to plan an 80's prom, give me a call. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. Enjoy the pictures!

Much Love,
Janalee

Matt Singleton aka Marty McFly and Drew T sporting a members only jacket.  

Me with Jamie, Valerie, and Lacy. Some hot 80's chics, don't ya think?  

Jason Solley was living the rock star dream, not that he doesn't live it every week, but he really got into this. The band played songs like, "Never Say Goodbye", "Sweet Child of Mine", "500 Miles", and "Don't You Forget About Me". They kicked tale.  

Everyone jammed out to tunes like "Footloose" and Beat It". Of course most of us youngsters couldn't remember true 80's dance moves. Don't you love the painting of the Lord's Supper in the background.  

My First Blog Series... I Hope It's not too Controversial

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless--that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. 1 Peter 3: 8-9

This was part of our sermon today, and it was so timely for me. I have been challenged by a particular friend lately as to my personal theological viewpoints as well as those of my seminary and the Emerging Church. I don’t know that I can exactly speak for everyone in those last two groups, but I should by all means be able to speak for myself. Rather than retaliate against certain denominations or theological camps, I would simply like to write about the kind of Church I dream about, and hope to one day be a part of. I want to do this in a way that honors Christ above all. So that is what I’d like to talk about in my next few posts. I hope it will bless all those who read it.

The Baylor Lady Bears won a national title on Tuesday night. Happy times in Waco TX! 

A picture for you 

So about Donald Miller...

A dream came true on Tuesday when I journeyed to Austin with some guys from Truett to meet the man of my dreams, Donald Miller author of Blue like Jazz. It was completely wonderful even though I had heard the talk he gave on cd. I re-read a bit of Blue Like Jazz on the way up just to refresh my memory on all the reasons I really like him. In his chapter about relationships, he said, “If you like someone, you have to tell them. If you don’t you’ll always regret it, and wonder what if.” So I thought to myself, ‘This could be your only chance.’ I thought and thought and thought about what I might say to Don if I got the chance to talk to him. Since he is semi-famous and all, and since he doesn’t know me from any other psycho-bitch, I couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t make me sound like an absolute crazy.

I just repeated to myself again and again, “I am confident. I am good enough for someone like him. I am confident. I am good enough for someone like him. I am confident. I am good enough for someone like him.” (Aside: yes guys, girls do that to.)

So when the moment came, after his amazing talk, I walked up to him with my friend Vernon and his friend Steve whom I had never met. Steve started going on and on about how Blue Like Jazz changed his life. He kept on going and kept on going and at the end he said, “After I read your book, I literally was able to relax my butthole.”

I immediately covered my face with my hands, know this guy had totally ruined my moment with the man of my dreams. Vernon quickly recovered by changing the subject and throwing me into the conversation. He asked something about Don being at the Emergent Convention, and I just gave him a look of confusion because I knew he wouldn’t be. Don looked confused to and finally said, “Do you mean Catalyst?”

“I think he does. I went with my seminary class, and it was really good,” I said.

Then Vernon made some comment about how we came from Waco to hear him and how we were in seminary at Baylor. Then I said something about him having such a big fan base around Baylor. Vernon and Steve asked him to sign their books. And I was thinking, ‘ Here it is…this is your chance. Write your number on a piece of paper and shake his hand and give it to him. Darn, no paper.’

So we all began shaking hands with him, and when it was my turn all I could manage, while making extraordinary eye contact and flashing my best smile, was, “I’m Janalee, and it’s really wonderful to meet you.” I held on to his hand for an extended second, and I kid you not, he didn’t try to let go.

Our hands finally parted and I took my journal/sermon notes tapped him in the stomach and with all the mad game I could muster told him, “Come see us sometime in Waco.”

Granted, this is not the most thrilling or romantic of exchanges, but for a girl who has zero confidence around guys who I actually like, I didn’t do half bad. Part of me really wishes I would’ve given him my number, but the other part of me says it’s good that I didn’t because he might have thought I was a book whore. More than one friend has assured me I made the right decision. Yes, I probably sound a little silly going on and on about a man who I have little or no chance with in reality, but I feel that if I would have a chance with any celebrity crush, it would be him. We’d be damn cute together as a matter of fact. Instead of being short and stocky like I imagined him to be from the pictures, he was probably 6’3, 320 lbs. A bigger guy, and everybody knows that I am way into that. Anyways, little or no chance with him… probably so, but in a place like Waco that seems to be dry when it comes to the fellas (at least for me that is), he is a nice dream. This author with adorable dimples is a reminder to me that there are really good guys out there that can bare their soul. Yes, he is to me exactly who Emily Dickinson was to him.