Thankful

As I look back over a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday, I am overwhelmed with all the many things I have to be thankful for but mostly for the numerous individuals that bless my life. It's no lie that my move to Dallas has not been the easiest transition for me and that I am still struggling with the adjustment. But as I stop and survey my position right now, I overwhelmed with gratitude.



My Parents, My Grandparents, My Brothers & My Aunts - Thank you for making me laugh, loving me during my freakouts, encouraging me, listening, etc. I feel your love constantly and it's a constant reminder that no matter what I am going through, you are always there.



Kate & Bethany - Thanks for making my time in NYC fabulous. It felt like going home. I miss you and love you.



Taylor, Kellie, Jay, Scott, Jess, Nallie - Thanks for being here for me in Dallas. Each of you have made an effort to welcome me back and included me in your day to day lives. You make me laugh. You all represent the things I love about Dallas.



Kristen - Thanks for listening and relating. It's nice to have someone who has been through the same transition.



The list could go on and on, but I must run to work (oh the real world).



O give thanks to the Lord for he is good. For his steadfast love endures forever.

Mel's 50th Bday

Today is a special day. Today is the day my mother, the Melody Rogers, turns 50 – YES THE BIG 50!!

In contemplating what I should write to send her warm wishes for her birthday, all my ideas fell short to the amazing woman that she is. How could one birthday blog possibly contain everything I would want to say about the woman who has been my constant over the last 24 years? With this dilemma, I turned to Proverbs 31:10-31, the Hymn to a Good Wife. I pulled the verses that remind me of my mother.

Proverbs 31:10-13 (MSG)

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.

She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She is skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need.

…she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says in kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them busy and productive.

Her children respect her and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many woman have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

MOM – Happy Birthday. I love you. Thanks for always being there; highs to lows, you are always in my corner. No matter where I am, from NYC to Hong Kong to London to Dallas, you are always with me. My life is blessed because of you.

Hope all your birthday wishes come true.

New York, New York

I do not know exactly where to start or what to say regarding my move from the fabulous city.  In my mind, I'm still living there and just on a trip to Dallas.  I have learned that there is a HUGE difference between leaving a city by choice and leaving a city due to obligations elsewhere.  I am sad, but like normal, I've distant myself from the emotions and gone through the required motions to make the move.  I said my goodbyes quickly as possible (and probably offensively in the process) and kept myself super busy in the time leading up to my departure.  On the day my flight left, I looked for anything to occupy my mind - I read the entire NY Times in the airport, rearranged my carry-on bag three times and walked up and down terminal D at LGA.   I welcomed any distraction on the plane, including but not limited to the screaming baby three rows behind me, just to make it out of the city without tears.  Since landing, it's been one activity to the next.  My plan - to be busy and positive with the hope that all will fall into place.  (Sunday is dedicated to my mother's visit.  Monday will be painting the outdoor swing and sweeping the leaves from the roof.  And yes, I have a plan for every single weekend through the end of October.)

I could reflect back over my 13 months in NYC, but to truly do that I would have to face the fact that I am gone.  Without a doubt, it was one of the best years of my life.  It had extreme highs and lows (and I'm not just talking about the weather).  I had my heart broken only to learn more about myself.  I missed out on things in Texas but made life long friendships in NYC.  It is safe to say that I'm not that same girl that landed on August 7, 2008.  This past year was a year filled with new experiences, lots of laughs and many adventures. I have learned that I can roots and wings.  

That is all the reflecting that I will allow for now.  Right now I am looking forward.  I have a super cute house thanks to my roommate Bailey, I get to see my family on a bimonthly basis (if not more), I don't have to pay $5.50 every time I need to do laundry, I have many great friends that I get to reconnect with and the Baylor Bears did not blow their lead on opening day - what more could a girl ask for?  

24 in 24

In honor of my 24th birthday, I've decided to make a list of 24 things I want to do while I'm 24. This list has been in the process for about 2 months now. There are BIG adventures, small pleasures and everything in between. Some are to be done with a big group of friends, some with family, some with strangers, some with individuals and some alone. Some can be accomplished in one day and others will require a longer commitment.

So here they are......drum roll please.

1.) Read the entire Bible
2.) Learn to drive a standard
3.) Send Christmas cards
4.) Start a book club
5.) Run a marathon (White Rock - Dec 13th)
6.) Subscribe to the Sunday Edition of a major newspaper
7.) Cherish the blessings of my grandparents and great-grandmother (Goal: Go to Olney at least once every six weeks)
8.) Africa - support a child, go on a mission trip, find a charity or GO
9.) Bungee Jump with Reece
10.) Be involved in a children's ministry
11.) Volunteer
12.) Host a wine party
13.) Napa Valley
14.) Learn to sew buttons & tie a tie
15.) Grad School Reunion
16.) Play Fantasy Football
17.) Become ambidextrous
18.) Create a "to die for" recipe book
19.) Visit Raegen in Costa Rica
20.) Study Spanish
21.) Find a career passion
22.) Plant flowers
23.) Make a travel map that marks places I've been and places I want to go.
24.) Say "yes" (don't know to what, to where or to who)

Definitely not all inclusive, but it's a great start for my 24th year.

New York Love

Greeting readers! I know - long time, no post. But I'm back at least for tonight and I'm writing about something that I truly love: New York City.

It's addicting. The rhythm of the city that is: the constant on the go, something new, somewhere to be, something to experience. The fact that I have to leave seems unnatural and forced. As I walked down the 50th Street subway stop tonight, taking in the sights, sounds and scents of the city, I couldn't help but think this is where I feel most alive.

Tonight was a great night. One of those nights that you don't plan, but that you will always carry with you. Tracy, Jennifer and I went ventured to Spice Market to dinner where we shared laughs and life over wine, water and white rice. As I reflect back on this year, I realize what a blessing those girls have been in my life. I have learned from them and grown to cherish the time I have with them. They have shown me new perspectives and challenged the way I think, which makes me not only a stronger person, but a better person. I love Tracy because her background is completely different than mine. She supported herself through school and has faced situations that are beyond my imagination. She makes me realize how fortunate I am and I respect her for all the things that she has accomplished. I enjoy Jennifer because she tells me exactly the way it is. She sees me as I am, sheltered and all, and accepts me as is. These two friendships alone have made my year in New York memorable. Together they have seen me through each day, shared the pitfalls of work but also the laughs, plunged through adventures and ultimately developed friendships that I hope will last a life time. I will never be able to look back at my time in New York and not think of them. I can only hope that as our paths diverge into different directions, we will continue to be a part of each other's lives. They are friends that require no prerequisites - just me as I am is what they accept. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

So tonight, as I diagonally crossed 8th Ave dodging a yellow taxi cab back to my apartment, I thought about my move. Do I want to go? Not really. When I was a little girl, I watched a show on some cable channel where the girl froze time by pointing her two index fingers together. I would kill for that special power now and to be able to extend this stage of my life. I feel like myself in New York. Looking back over the past few months, I have had highs and lows, but I have grown as an individual. The thought of Dallas is bleak to me. Granted, there are many positives: my family, Jay, Kellie, many other good friends, a steady job, a great house with much cheaper rent, etc., but nevertheless, my heart seems to be filled with dread. I'm sure after a few months, I will adjust and be fine, but right now New York is all I want. The city is alive, and as I walk (or sprint walk) the streets, I just feel right. So tonight as I finish this blog and head to bed, I will dream of honking cars, bright lights, crowded streets and the sounds of subway trains passing below my feet - New York that is - the city that never sleeps, where dreams come true.

Subway Stress

Every major world city has a subway system. I have been from Boston to Barcelona to Bejing and have mastered the subways, often in a foreign language. But, and a huge but here, then I came to New York City. The New York City subway is by far the most complex in the world not mention that it is antiquated and has a horrible stench. There are trains that are express, there are trains that are local, there are even trains that are express in the lower part of Manhattan but local after Midtown. It takes an adjustment period to truly learn the system. And by learning I mean flying by the stop I needed because I was on the express train and it's only a local stop. But after a month or two, it becomes managable.

Well, that is until today. My coworker Jennifer and I are regulars at the Saturday morning bootcamp across the Brooklyn Bridge. The instructor was being feature on the local Fox news this morning and need participants. She offered a free workout if we would commit to be there at 6:30, so of course we jumped at the chance. Jennifer and I were to meet at the 42nd Street Station on the Downtown platform for the A,C train at 5:50 to head over to Brooklyn for the workout. I, of course, arrive early. At 5:55 the first A train comes along but Jennifer is no where to be spotted on the platform. Weird, I think to myself. Jennifer, also a type A accountant like myself, is rarely late. I start pacing and also receiving weird looks from all the construction workers waiting on the train also. I mean seriously, who wears complete workout gear and is waiting for a train at 6:00 in the morning. In my mind I am formulating a list of where Jennifer might be. The next train finally arrives at 6:07 AM. I decide to get on without Jennifer while the list of possibilities of here whereabouts continues to grow in my head. And then I hear it, "Uptown train to Queens. Next stop 50th Street." OH MY GOSH!!! I, me, RILEY - I'm the idiot here. The doors are already closed and the train is moving forward. I look at the window and see the sign I was standing right beside the entire time I was waiting. It reads "Downtown Train --->." It was a literal Jeff Foxworthy moment - "Here's your sign."

I jumped out of the train as soon as the doors open at the 50th Street Station. It's a local stop, so I have to get out of the subway and cross on the street and pay an additional $2.00 for my downtown ride. Luckily, a C train comes relatively soon which is roughly 6:12. The entire ride I'm frantic and fidgeting constantly, once again receiving unwanted stares. I passionately HATE being late. It seemed like the longest subway ride of my life, but I finally arrived at the High Street Station in Brooklyn at 6:34 and took off in a dead sprint and almost knocked over two bicyclist that were unfortunate enough to be in my way. I arrived at the Fulton Ferry Landing winded to say the least at 6:38. The instructor looks at me and says, "Perfect timing Riley. We are just now getting started. Get right here and start with 25 push ups." I'm so wrapped up in being late that I forget there in a camera there. I look up and there is the camera right on me and my sweaty, frizzy-hair self . All I could think was "I sprinted for this!?!?"

The Hamptons - Take 1

To celebrate Memorial Day, a group of friends and I ventured out to a special place in the Hamptons called SeaCrest. It was fabulous to say the least and there are numerous stories that I could share but for now, just the one with the most bang - literally.

We got two rental cars from Budget Rental on the Upper East Side at 8 AM and hopped on FDR to escape the crazy pace of Manhattan. My car carried four lovely ladies. Everything is going great - we are driving in the HOV lane enjoying the radio and the wide open spaces of 495. We take the Hwy 27 with a feeling of ease due to the lack of traffic.

Around East Hampton, we hit it. The crawling traffic of five miles per hour going bumper to bumper. But no worries on the home front, we are out of the city and there is a super hot guy in a Range Rover behind us, shirtless with a great hair swoop. We are all swooning over here and toying with the idea of putting one of our phone numbers up in the window just like we did on junior high field trips. Life is good at this point.

But then we hear it. "What's that noise? The radio?"
"No, it can't be. Here turn it down."
"Ya'll that's the car."
"Riley, stick your head out and see if you see anything."
"OH MY GOSH! We have a FLAT!"
"WWHHAAATTT!?!?!"

We pull our tan Toyota Corolla rental to the side of the rode and find that we have not one, but two flat tires on the passenger side. LOVELY. Oh and Mr. Hottie with the great swoop well he drives by then pulls over on the other side of the road. "Ok, this might now turn out so bad after all," we say to each other. But just when it seems we might get to interact with the mysterious man in the Range Rover, he turns his car around and takes off. So much for being a knight in shining armor.

We have too much going on at this moment to be heartbroken, so we decided to leave the discussion of Mr. Lacking Southern Manners for another time (aka bedtime chat). We have a situation at hand that needs our attention PRONTO. Two flat tires and one spare - not going to work. We have the other rental LOOP us (oh the joys of an iPhone) because we had been separated at some point on the journey. At least this vehicle (a Pontiac that was nicknamed the GTO by the end of the trip) had three boys and surely one of them could change a tire.

Let me say this. Before the GTO arrived, we, as in the four girls, sat on the side of the road obviously needing help while NO ONE, no not a SINGLE car stopped to help us. Cars just idled on by gawking at us. This would NOT happen in Texas.

Finally the GTO arrives and we decide will use the spare from their car also. We run into a problem with the first five minutes of the tire change. The spare given to us in the Corolla will not fit. What kind of rental place is Budget? I mean seriously? There is no need in wasting time anymore. We go up to the closest house and find a sweet lady who was very helpful. She helped sort out everything with the tow trucks and let us leave the car there rather than make us wait from one to three hours for the Budget Roadside Assistance. In her graciousness, she redeemed her fellow Northeasterners from my opinion of being rude and unhelpful.

So here we are. There is a plan in place for the Corolla, but what about it's passengers. Well we weren't left with much of a choice. We all cram and I mean CRAM into the GTO. Did I mention I was claustrophobic? Nice, very nice.

We successfully make it to lovely SeaCrest about 45 minutes later. We head straight for the beach. Needless to say we need some space to stretch out!

Oh road trips...always an adventure in some form or fashion! :)

Enough

Lately, I have been overwhelmed with the feeling of not being enough - inadequacy actually. At work, the projects are stacked on my desk. It seems as soon as I start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, two more urgent and time consuming items need my attention. There are friends back in Texas that I have kept in touch with well enough. There are friendships here that I haven't given enough of my time and efforts. And in one recent relationship, I came up short in numerous areas.

Last week, the preacher at my church talked about receiving identity in Christ rather than striving to achieve identify as the world does. I know that I am striving to achieve my identity and hence, my enough problem. But how do you receive identity? Insert Sunday School answer here - "Well Riley through faith of course." Ok yes, but really how? On a day to day, hour by hour, minute by minute basis, what do I do differently?

I have had this question bouncing around my head and heart since Sunday. This morning in my quiet time, I came across this verse. "My grace is enough; it's all you need." 2 Corinthians 12:9 MSG.

There is nothing that I can do but trust in God and His amazing grace and that will be more than enough in any and all areas of my life.

To My Crazy Aunt Kathy On Her 51st Birthday

Today is a great day because 51 years ago on this day, my grandparents received their first bundle of joy - my aunt Kathy. I believe that everyone should experience the joy of having an aunt like Kathy. She is a full of surprises and there is NEVER a dull moment when she is around. There is always a good chance that she will go flying off the handle especially when her cell phone (which is set on the loudest volume option) receives a call from work. Although she loves her "peeps," there is always some sort of drama at the "home" (she works at an assisted living home).

Kathy is a passionate person, something that I have always envied about her. She loves our family especially her boys, Rue, Reece and Drew, but who could blame her; they are pretty spectacular. She loves baseball and often reminds me that there are few things more beautiful than a perfectly executed double play. She loves to read and due to this her daily vocabulary includes words like "impeccable" and "immaculate" just to name a few. She loves Baylor - "Bear Air" is good for the lungs but hard on the heart. She loves politics and will be a true Democrat until the day she dies. She loves animals and her home houses a zoo of "animales." She claims that dogs are life's purest source of joy and one of her life goals is for me to also embrace this truth. She loves old people because they are a great source of wisdom. She loves the 7 AM hour of the day and has passed that love on to me.

I love Kathy. It's a guaranteed good time whenever she is around. She is and always will be an important person in my life. I can't imagine my life without her. I'm not going to lie, our family get togethers would not be near as colorful without her stirring things up and voicing her opinion. I look forward to many more years of "laughing loud, laughing long and laughing often" with her.

So Kathy, Happy Birthday! And remember "earthly bodies" are overrated.

Saturday....

I desperately needed a relaxing Saturday and that is exactly what I got today (please remember that everyone views relaxing differently). I started out the morning with a bootcamp workout across the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a great way to get the day started and the blood moving. Next, I venture to Harlem with NY Cares for some basketball with kids and other volunteers. I love kids and basketball so it was the perfect mixture. After lunch, I met some friends in Central Park for an afternoon of quality conversation and good laughs. The afternoon also provided me the chance to catch up with two of my close friends back in Texas.

This day was just what I needed. It reassured me that even though I don't know what my future holds, that day by day God gives me exactly what I need. Not only that, he fills my life with amazing people and wonderful moments. I am BLESSED.

Surviving Jasper

For the past 2 months, I have shared my tiny Manhattan studio with a crazy German named Jasper. Jasper is a smart, funny, laid back guy who is always up for a good time. He was the foreign exchange student my senior year in high school and somehow, some way I fell for his charm and we dated for about 9 months (go ahead and laugh, Alyssa - I know you want to). Even after we broke up, we remained good friends exchanging emails every week and the occasional visits across the pond. He was interning at the German consulate to the United Nations and hence became my roommate.

Although I was on a roller coaster of emotions while he was here (which I'm not really ready to talk about), there were many great moments. With Jasper, I attended church in Harlem, visited Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, walked the boardwalk and ate fried chicken at Coney Island, had brunch at 4:00 in the afternoon, attend a Broadway play, played basketball in Central Park on a random weeknight (he even ventured to the Bronx, but I was not that brave), attend my first "stummptist" which is basically a German party, met many new and interesting (and predominately foreign) people.....just to name a few. In a way, he helped me explore this wonderful city that I often take for granted.

Reflecting back on his stay, the best way for me to sum it up is that I survived. I survived his constant tardiness (I run 15 minutes ahead of schedule while he runs at least 30 minutes behind), I survived sharing a bathroom, I survived coming home to my flat being a wreck, I survived his loud music, I survived hearing German constantly, I survived our cultural differences (me from the Bible belt and him from post-Cold War Berlin), I survived our personality differences (me completely Type A and him completely Type B), and I even survived our differing views on politics and religion. With all this though, I did grow in many ways - I developed more patience, became more confident in my beliefs, learned that Trader Joe's is manageable, developed a deeper appreciation for my friends and family, and now have a amazing ability to quickly matched men's dress socks which all look the same.

I will miss Jasper, especially his uncanny ability to make me laugh and his laid back perspective on life when I am uptight. But overall, I'm relieved. Today was my first day without him. I had originally taken off work because he thought he was flying out today. In reality his flight was late last night. I have enjoyed this day so much. I slept in, had a great workout at the gym, cleaned my apt, went shopping, spent time at Barnes and Noble, read with a coffee, had a little dance party and took a nap. I'm looking forward to getting my life back in order - calling those many friends that I've neglected for the past 2 months, getting back in the swing of things at church, exploring the city with my NYC buddies, starting to read again, volunteering with Kate and Jennifer......basically just being me.

So I guess this post reflects my feelings right now - a messy mixture. Jasper is gone and I'm okay. And I guess the attitude I'm taking right now is that of my Nandy "Onward Ever!"

Aunt Bubba

Recently my great great aunt passed away. Crazy, I know that I even had a great great aunt and even crazier was the fact that I actually knew her and had a relationship with her. She was blessed with a sharp mind throughout her life. We called her Aunt Bubba and yes, there is a long story behind the name but that's not what this post is about.

My Aunt Bubba was one in a million. She never married but rather was the rock that kept our ever growing family connected. Growing up in Olney, we would always go "down home" to Aunt Bubba's house on Sunday mornings for a cup of the strongest coffee I have ever come across in my life and her views on the world. Forever a devote and strong Democrat, she would enlighten us on the faults of Republican party and especially the Bush Administration.

But when I reflect on Aunt Bubba's life, one theme continues to rise above the rest - LOVE. She loved each and every one of us that sat at her table; she loved her Lucky Strike cigarettes; she loved history; she loved the expression "Well Honey!"; she loved Christ, her Savior; she loved to really getting know someone. The list could go on and on, but it made me think, "What do I really love in this life?" Well here are just a few that make me realize how blessed I truly am. I love....

...my dad's cinnamon toast in the morning especially as he hums his cinnamon toast song.
...taking in a baseball game on a beautiful afternoon.
...the Friday night lights of Texas high school football.
...setting down for dinner with my family.
...rolling down the windows and going for drive with the wind in my hair and the radio blasting.
...a good old Baptist hymn.
...my many friends with whom I just laugh.
...a long run.
...my grandparents.
...a movie on a rainy day.
...that an Andes mint will forever remind me of my great-grandparents.
...the excitement of a well deserved vacation.
...people with passion.
...the smell of my parent's house.

Alyssa, Kate & Kristen

I must dedicate this first blog to the three lovely ladies that formerly dwelled on the Upper West Side. These three were my first true New York friends and with them I have made many great memories and shared numerous laughs. But more than that, it was these girls that first introduced me to blogging and encouraged me to start this blog (so basically if you hate this or if I annoy/offend you in any way - blame them).

You will no longer find us huddled together around the television on Monday night gabbing about Gossip Girl. Kate has now moved to Gramercy (I'm guessing on the area's correct name) while Alyssa and Kristen have headed back to the Lone Star state. So in honor of the wonderful times we shared together, here are a few highlights in our various escapades.

1. Egg - The wonderful brunch spot in Brooklyn with this great little potato ball and where Alyssa loved the grinds in her coffee.
2. New Years Eve - Alyssa do you have your shoes back yet?
3. "Have you ever said a cuss word?"
4. SNL with Zac Efron - "More like Zac, what the F is wrong?", "Gillie", or who could forget that random guy relieving himself while we stood there waiting line for tickets from 3:30 to 7:00 in the morning.
5. Who's Bad?
6. M&Ms and Pretzels - wonderful, but dangerous combination
7. The Clooney Clause
8. "Didn't you pass out after you got your eyebrow pierced?"
9. Our game of celebrity at Megan's apartment which included JR and Kenny three times each.
10. Unlimited sushi and sake
11. Gchat - you three get me through long days
12. A child's ticket at the movies

Honestly, I could go on and on but I'm a little nervous about the first post and don't want to over do it. But I will end with a simple thank you - thank you for opening my eyes to the world of pop culture and blogging, thank you for showing me the ends and outs of the city, thanks for being there during my first few months, thanks for the memories. Giggle Giggle :)

No worries, this blog's layout WILL change.