baby boom...

I'll settle the rumors that this title might evoke right now. No, I am not pregnant! 

Ok, so I am pretty positive that that thought didn't cross any of your minds, but I figured I'd cover my bases just in case!

Now to the real post: Upon graduating from college, something comes upon you that you are completely unfamiliar with- the wedding boom! All of a sudden friends start getting engaged left and right, and you start doing things that only months before would have seemed quite odd- you know, like spending $200 dollars on a dress that makes you look like a shiny gum ball or a rather large blade of grass, like buying your friends towels and pyrex for presents, or eating endless tiny pimento cheese sandwiches for lunch! 

But after a few years in the wedding boom, you begin to master the wedding etiquette. And after about 5 years, I believe I've done it, I have finally mastered it! (I, however, am not quite sure my wedding coordinator friends would agree since I am the ONLY one of our friends who they do not hire to help with their weddings. Don't worry, Mindy and Karen, I'm not bitter:)) 

But regardless of their professional opinions, in my humble opinion, I have mastered it. I send in my response cards on time. I buy my gift a few days early, so that it has time to be gift wrapped and I don't have to pretend like the Pottery Barn bag with tissue coming out is the "way it was supposed to look." I arrive on time, sit on the right side of the church, and never bring a guest if I am not "And Guest-ed" (Although this might be for other reasons:))

Ok, so I had all this perfected and mastered, but just when I was getting the hang of it, something new and totally unfamiliar hit me over the head like a baseball bat...THE BABY BOOM. Seriously, I am not sure what is in the water but it seems like ALL my friends are getting pregnant! That is how you get pregnant right, something in the water?? (Sorry, they didn't really cover those details at my private christian school!). 

This baby boom has brought with it a whole new set of things I have to learn:

1. How to wrap your gift. No one told me that you should wrap your shower gift in pink if it's a girl, blue if it's a boy, and some sort of gender-neutral pastel if your friends are going the old fashioned way and not finding out. So, this November I showed up at a shower for my friend Bess and her sweet little girl, with my gift all nicely wrapped in seasonal wrapping paper-dark greens, deep reds and oranges. I think it tried it hide it under my shirt when I walked in and saw that everything else was wrapped in a precious shade of pink. I was so mortified when I laid it on top of all that cute pink stuff, and just wanted to crawl under the couch when she asked who it was from. All I could do was awkwardly shrug my shoulders and say, "Happy Thanksgiving!"

2. Etiquette on suggesting a name! The main thing I have learned thus far, let people name their kid whatever they want. I keep offering up my name for people's children. I mean Caroline goes so well as either a first or middle name, and in my humble opinion is a great complement to any last name! If, however, they don't go with Caroline, I like to offer up Nastia as a good second choice! You've got to with a name that will ensure success, and what better than the legacy of an Olympic Gold-Medalist. This is when people usually cringe and say they are probably going to go with a family name. I mean, I guess that's cool too.

3. What in the heck to do when you go visit someone in the hospital. This is where my awkwardness just shines. I have no idea what to do, or what to say. Case and point- yesterday, I went with some friends to visit my dear friend Lily and her new baby girl, Abigail, in the hospital. Kim immediately grabs little Abigail, who I am too petrified to hold. Bess immediately asks her questions about how labor went, how she is feeding, etc. I have absolutely no idea what to do, so I choose to awkwardly sit in the chair in the corner, tightly gripping my purse, and trying to think of something good to say. Unfortunately,  only question that comes across my mind to ask is if that piece of chocolate cake from the hospital cafeteria is any good! 

Basically, I am back to square one. If anyone has any thoughts as to how I might wade my way through this baby boom, I am all ears. Many thanks to my friends who have given me the opportunity to master this new etiquette, thanks to you who have been patient with me as I learn,  and special thanks to the ones who have trusted me to hold their children! 

I guess for now, I will just keep practicing, so that one day I will master this too, and be ready for my very own little Nastia to enter the world! 

only comfort

I was reminded again of these words tonight in class. They are rich, and beautiful, and full of truth. I hope they encourage you and as they have encouraged me. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!

Christian, what is your only comfort in life and in death? 

That I belong, body and soul, in life and in death, not to myself but to my faithful savior Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil. And that he also protects me so well, that without the will of my Father in heaven, not a hair can fall from my head, indeed that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Whereby, he also assures me of eternal life and makes me willing and ready, from now on, to live for him. 

-Heidelberg Catechism

on worry...

There are certain things in life that I could be tempted to buy into... things that in normal circumstances seems completely preposterous....but things that I begin to see in a different light when the problem seems big and all too near, and I am in desperate need of a quick fix.  These are things that I, in my utter foolishness, am hoping will solve the problem, but in the end they don't deliver, and I am found in a bigger predicament, a bigger mess than when I first started. 

You might be familiar with one of these scenarios:

1. You need to fit into that bridesmaids dress that you ordered a size too small because you were certain you were going to get yourself in gear, diet, and exercise and lose those 10-15 extra lbs that have been hanging around since who knows when. But alas, your best friend's wedding is only 2 weeks away, and the dress isn't fitting quite the way you'd like, like you'd hoped. You are mourning your failure, drinking the 12th diet coke of the day and watching a little TV. When what comes on the TV but a commercial for one of those amazing little pills that promises to help you lose 20 lbs in two weeks with WITHOUT diet or exercise. You order those pills as fast as you can dial the numbers on your new i-phone. And for the next two weeks- pop a pill every morning, eat junk, and sleep in each morning instead of going for the morning run. Trouble comes however the day before the wedding when you are trying on that "should be loose" bridesmaids dress and it won't zip. Your quick fix has failed and now you are running out the tailor on your way to the rehearsal dinner seeing if he can take it out a bit for you...and all by tomorrow morning, so your wonderful-laid back-best friend-bride will never know! 

OR...

2) For that same wedding you are feeling a little bit pasty, and since tanning beds are completely out of the question and you are too tight on the budget for a mystic, you buy that little bottle of self-tanner. Nothing like a quick, self-made tan. You put it all on before you go to sleep anxiously anticipating that glow you will have in the morning! But alas, the glow is a little different than you anticipated. No you won't be the pasty white girl in the pictures, but you will be the one who is doting a shade of orange not much different from the dress you are wearing! 

Ok, so these examples are somewhat ridiculous. And I do not know them by experience:)  But this week, I did buy into a quick fix that I have determined is the "failure quick-fix par excellance."...WORRY!

It's interesting to me how I think about worry. When things are going well, worry appears to me to be a really foolish thing. It is so obvious that the comfort and control it is advertising just simply won't work. 

But when things begin to change a little bit, when the problem seems big, and am I feeling the need to fix it fast, I begin to see worry in a whole new light. I grasp onto it immediately. I allow it to fill up all my free time/my free thoughts. And when it seems to fail me. I buy into it again, thinking that maybe, just maybe a little bit more worry might do the trick. I allow it to consume me in almost every way, hoping that maybe around the next corner is that comfort or control it held out to me. 

But I have found (again) this week, that worry does not deliver what it promises. It does not bring comfort. It does not give control. It does not change circumstances. It does not give answers. It doesn't actually do anything...well not anything good. 

What worry does do is leave me in a worse off place than I was before. I have found this week that it causes me to turn so inward on myself. Causes me to think that the things in my life are the only things going on. Causes me to forget eternity, and to think that my "now" is the only thing that matters. Causes me to disconnect from others around me because I am so wrapped up in my own little world. It causes me to get irritated and lose patience with people when they aren't helping MY situation get any better, not giving ME any answers. 

Worry causes me to turn not just away from people, but also away from God. As I seek control, I turn away from the one who actually controls things. As I seek my good above all things, I forget the one who is committed to my good, enough to send his own son to the cross. As I seek the fulfillment of my plans, I forget the one who has promised that he has plans for me for a hope and a future. As I am preoccupied with self, I fail to focus on the ONE who is bigger, better, more satisfying, more worthy of my focus than any of the plans I have for myself. 

Worry makes me a slave to myself. And so again today, I am thankful for the God of the Gospel- who gave his son to set me free from me! I pray this week that I will experience the freedom of trusting my life to a faithful creator. That I will surrender myself to my faithful savior, and thus be free- free to love Him, and free to love people- the very things I was created for in the first place!

Do not fear little flock, it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

M.I.A.

Just wanted to offer an apology to my faithful readers for the fact that I haven't been blogging much in the past few days. Haha. I flatter myself. I realize all that really needs to be said is, "Sorry Mom!!" 

I have had no time to blog this week. I would like to say it was because things have just been crazy at work, or that I have just been buried in the books for school. But neither of these have been the case, and my performance on my Greek Quiz this week definitely proves that the latter was not true at all. Looks like I have officially found my one "drop quiz" for the semester. 

Truth be told, the real reason for my lack of blogging this week has been due to the fact that I have spent every spare second of my free time curled up in my bed and  buried in the newest book by one of my favorite authors. It has been one of those weeks where I have seen how incredibly dorky I am because all I have wanted to do was read. One of my high school girls last weekend actually forced me to go out with my friends instead of reading. This after I kept asking her if she wanted to stay home with me and have a reading party! Seriously?!? What was I smoking? What 16 year old wants to stay home on Friday night with their Bible Study leader and have a "reading party"? Why not, I thought it was  pretty good offer. 

Anyways, I finally finished Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser tonight. Just minutes before a date came to pick me up. I had tears rolling down my cheeks and just knew I was going to show up at the door with mascara smeared everywhere! Nothing like a good impression. 

I loved this book, it encouraged me, brought me joy, made me smile, and made me cry! 

Go get yourself a copy. And while you are at it, pick up the Swan House and Searching for Eternity- my other favorites by Ms. Musser! Once you've got the book... find a comfortable spot, and clear your schedule. 

Oh, and if you decide to have a reading party, be sure to give me a call! 

senior sunday

I hate May.  For the past 5 years my Mays have been characterized by an endless stream of tears and an endless recitation of the phrase, "I hate change." And this is not an exaggeration, a hyperbole to make the beloved blog sound better, I really do hate change. And as a result, I hate May- because in youth ministry, May is the month of change. It is when all my girls officially graduate high school (which is a good thing, I realize), and begin to move on. 

Now, for those of you who are wondering if I have checked my calendar, I realize it is only April. But for me, May-- the dreaded month of change-- officially began yesterday as we celebrated Senior Appreciation Sunday at the church. It is the time to honor, and challenge, and encourage these students who have grown up in our body before they head off to college, head off to a time when their life and their faith must really become their own. 

This Senior Sunday was particularly emotional for me because this class of girls is particularly special to me. They were the youngest of the first group of students I had at PCPC back when I was only a sophomore in college. (Weirdly, not much older than they are now). They were 11 and absolutely adorable. I loved them from the very moment I met them, but couldn't have imagined how much I would love them now. Back in the day, we could have driven around for hours in my old Rodeo with the windows down, sunglasses on,  and dancing over and over again to "Hey Juliette"-- they were always so encouraging about my 4 dance moves!! Back in the day, conversations consisted the boys they had crushes on and were talking to on AIM, and whether or not they should cut bangs! Back in the day, they were just little girls. 

But today, these little girls have grown up. And yes, we still have an occasional dance party in my car, and have had more than enough talks about boys. But there is so much more than that. These girls are now young women with whom I love to spend my time and share my heart. They are people whose faith in Christ is a great encouragement to me. Somewhere over the past 7 years, "my girls" have grown from my silly little students to some of my dearest friends. The Lord has blessed me beyond my wildest expectations. I am so thankful for their friendships and for their presence in my life. 

Yesterday, my heart was filled with joy as we honored them, but my heart also broke a little- for in a few short months, as they go off to school, they will be taking a piece, a big piece of my heart with them. 

To all my girls- I love you so much! What a joy and privilege it has been to walk with you all these years. I can't wait to see the paths and the plans that our God has laid out for you. My prayer is that you will walk on those paths with courage, and that you will always, in everything, "fix your eyes on Jesus."

Their last day of 8th grade (I thought my life was over as they leaving me in middle school and going to high school.)

My sweet girls, yesterday at our Senior Sunday Lunch!

dear diary: karen, craig, gymnastics, and calvinism

For your humor and my humility, I give to you the next diary entry. Unfortunately, everything that follows is actually recorded in that sweet little yellow book, in green pen in fact (I appear to have switched colors every day. Gotta make it cute ya know?!)

Dear Diary,  Oct. 17, 1995 (6 days after last post)

Hey, wuz up? NMH!

Today was fine I made a 100 on my math quiz! Finally! Coach Hatton said Christ didn't die for everyone.* I'm confused. I made a 98 on my history double quiz.

Im furious at Karen now. I told her I wasn't having my b-day party with Chad. She told me I had to. I was like, I'm sorry, I'm not. She told me I was rude. I just don't want to have my party with Chad. I told her to choose 1 or the other. She told me if I was going to be that way, she picked chad. I'll have my party by myself!!

Gym was ok. I didn't release flic-flic but some tick-tock-flicks. Floor was fine. Dawn was in a rotten mood. I did round-off flic, whip, 1 1/2 on the tumble track. My pick tsuks were good! My front-giants sucked! I went from good to horrible? How?

I heart Craig! He was so nice to me today. He called me brain. I told him to shut up. He told me he was kidding + gave me a friendly hug. Ahh! I love him to death. FOREVER! We're not even a couple. I don't know if he likes me. Oh well. I still love him.

Love, Caroline

Ash and I have some siamese twin thing goin. 

* This was my first introduction to the theology of limited atonement. Clearly, I gave it a lot of thought! 

Again, please don't judge me:)

And Karen, I'm sorry.

In Christ, 

Caroline.... Phil. 2:5

shout out to a friend

I would like to give a shout out (HOLLA!!) to a dear old friend who was really there for me today...

This is a friend who frequently gets my day off to a good start.

This is a friend who calms my nerves and makes me feel comfortable when sitting in my seminary class surrounded by only men.

This is a friend with whom I have shared countless lunches, but our time together never gets old. 

This is a friend whose presence is severely missed when I haven't experienced it by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. 

This is a friend who gives 4-hour long meetings a little pizzaz. 

This is a friend who though I have tried to cut her out of my life on several occasions, thankfully keeps crawling her way back in. 

This is a friend who when I am tired and down gives me that extra "umph" to keep on going. 

This is a friend who is loved and cherished not just by me, but by many- undoubtedly by many of you!

This is a friend who truly always fills my cup! 

Thank you dear friend, for all you do. I really needed you today. 

Love, 

Caroline

xoxoxox....LYLAS...BFFL...BFFAEAEAEAEAE

family...

Over the past several years I have developed something which I have named (primarily for the purpose of this blog post:)) the "post-holiday funk". This could be attributed to the slightly sick feeling you get the next day from too much turkey, corn casserole, or in this case, candy from the easter basket by beloved mother, i mean the easter bunny, still gives to her adult children. However, since yesterday, I have worked out twice (if you call a leisurely walk through the streets of HP a work out), thus the "too much easter candy" feeling has worn off,  but the "post-holiday funk" has not. 

I think this funk that comes over me has less to do with food than it does with family! (Thank goodness!) I adore my family, and holidays seem to be filled with wall to wall family time. And so, when it is all over, and I, like everyone else, get back in my car to go home a little loneliness, a little sadness, a little nostalgia... aka "the funk" begins to set in. And yesterday, was no exception.

This weekend was full of great family time. Worshipping with my family at my favorite service of the year, the Maundy Thursday service. The traditional lunch and manicure/pedicures with my mom and sweet sister Lindsay (of whom there are many more blog posts to come ;)). Celebrating Big Bill's birthday at Houstons! Easter Sunday morning, celebrating the resurrection with my whole family in church.

And then, our traditional Easter lunch at Granny and Grandad's house! I love this and don't think I can remember an Easter where we weren't there. I love walking in and having about 20 people greet you from the L-shaped couches that have lined my grandparents living room for as long as I can remember. I love my Granny introducing everyone to each other again. (She just loves to make sure we all know each other and haven't forgotten since the last holiday, or even since last week). I love sitting in my "chair" for lunch. In fact, I think I may have sat at the exact same chair at the kids table for the past twenty-something years. (The kids table is actually now just the girls table... somewhere along the way the boys graduated to the adult table!). I love then gathering with all the "adult girls" in the dining room for dessert while the boys watch whatever sporting event might be gracing the big screen! 

Here's a few pics of the gang to give you an idea. (None of these pics however were taken this Easter... not sure why, but oh well!)

Lindsay and I... my sweet sister, who I just adore and with whom I spent almost every waking moment of this past weekend! 

Most of the members of the "kids table" minus Ally and Emily (the only ones who are actually under the age of 20!)

The fam, just hanging out watching the Super Bowl. Please don't judge us for the glasses. We are cool...

I am extremely blessed...

As I was walking yesterday, I mean working out intensely, I was thinking about family, and how all of this tied into the real reason we gathered to celebrate in the first place- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! What an amazing and gracious God we have...I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for this Father to see his only Son, the eternal son of his infinite love, hanging bloody and naked on a cross! And then for this Father to pour out his wrath, all the just condemnation for all of his people's sin on him. And all this, that he might draw to himself, into his family, and call me his child! And then, on that blessed Sunday morninf, Christ broke the bonds of sin and death, allowing me the privilege of being a part of the family of God--as a co-heir with Christ himself. The resurrection seals for me the sure hope of actually being with God my Father face to face one day, and enjoying pure, unbroken fellowship with him and with my savior and with the whole family of God- a fellowship that will go on forever and ever, and will never end. I can't imagine the joy...but if the joy of being with my earthly family is even the smallest picture, the slightest reflection of what that fellowship will be like, all I can do is finish with the hymn I  began to quote just the other day...

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight.

The clouds be rolled back as the scroll. 

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.

Even so, it is well with my soul!

it is well....

...it is well, with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blessed assurance control

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate

And has shed his own blood for my soul

My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin not in part, but the whole

Was nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

PRAISE THE LORD, PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL

upon the backdrop of the cross

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26

This benediction is spoken over our congregation, over me, each and every Sunday. As each Sunday I have heard, listened to, and received this benediction, I had never once considered how it was that the Lord could speak these words over me, by what means were they secured for me, and at what cost to him. 

My dad shed much light on this for me as he preached yesterday at one of our church's Holy Week Services. He said that I can only hear and receive this glorious benediction from the Father because Christ heard and absorbed the grave malediction from that same Father, his true and eternal Father. In order for a holy  God to speak those words over me, he must speak much different words over his Son:

The Lord curse you and cast you from his presence; the Lord turn his face from you and bring judgment upon you; the Lord let his wrath pour down upon you and bring enmity between you and him.  (*dad's quote, reprinted with his permission:))

I had never considered the cost like this. In fact, as I have thought much over the past few days, I have realized that most of the time I live freely, lavishly, abundantly, and securely in the benefits of Christ without giving much, if any, thought to the cross, and to what it cost my God and Savior to win them for me there. What has been freely given to me, was not really free at all. It came at a great, incalculable, and unfathomable cost to my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

My Savior was betrayed, that I the betrayer, might be forgiven. 

My Savior was cast out of the city, that I might be brought into the city of God. 

My Savior walked the way of death, that I might walk in newness of life.

My Savior bore the weight of the cross, that my load might be easy and my burden light. 

My Savior wore the crown of thorns, that I might receive the crown of righteousness.

My Savior was bruised, that I might be healed. 

My Savior was broken, that I might be made whole. 

My Savior was held up naked and ashamed, that I might be clothed in his righteousness and the shame of my nakedness might not be seen. 

My Savior's prayers were met with silence, that mine might be heard. 

My Savior was left alone, that I might have an intercessor.

My Savior was mocked, that I, the foolish one, might be esteemed. 

My Savior who longed for a drink, received none, that I might never be thirsty again. 

My Savior was covered with the filth of my sin, that I might be made clean.

My Savior was crushed under the weight of sin, that I might be set free from its power and influence. 

My Savior suffered that my suffering might end. 

My Savior absorbed the wrath of God poured out for all sin, that I might drink from the bottomless cup of his  grace. 

My Savior, though innocent, was declared guilty, that I might have spoken over me "there is no condemnation in you."

My Savior was abandoned by his Father, that I might be adopted as his son.

My Savior was forsaken by his Father, that I might call him, "Abba, Daddy", and that this Daddy might say to me, "I will never leave you or forsake you."

My Savior was cast out of the presence of God, that I might draw near to the throne of grace.

My Savior was consumed by darkness, that I might walk in the light of life. 

As another pastor, Patrick Lafferty said, "My Saviors greatest horror, is my greatest hope!"

This week has been such a call to me to consider the cross and to count the cost, not of what it will cost me to follow Christ, but what it cost him to draw me to himself. 

It is my prayer this week that the Lord will change me, that instead of so flippantly enjoying the gifts of God, I will focus my gaze upon the cross of Christ. I pray that by holding the gifts of God up against the dark backdrop of my Savior on the cross, that they might appear all the more beautiful and all the more glorious to me.  And that that beauty and that glory might consume me in such a way that I am lost in wonder, love, and praise!

 
 

to my dad on his birthday....

My dad is many things to many people. There are many people who call him pastor, teacher, counselor, and friend. But for my siblings and I, we possess the unique and special privilege of calling him our dad. And for this privilege, I could not be more thankful.

When, I first started working at the church, every time I would introduce myself to someone, they would immediately follow with the question, "Oh, are you Bill Lamberth's daughter?" This question was in fact so frequent, that my co-intern, upon sensing that the question was coming, would respond, "Yes, yes, she is." Even before they were able to get it out.

For some, this might be a frustrating or annoying question, especially when it is asked with such frequency, but for me, I have always loved the question and have been so proud to answer "yes... He's my dad!"

Dad, I really am so proud and thankful to be your daughter. 

I am thankful for the way you love mom, and what an example ya'll have been for me.

I am thankful for the way you always put our family first above everything else. As I have grown up and worked in the church, I have seen how difficult this is. Thanks for doing this for us, and never making it seem difficult.

I am thankful for the way you always took an interest in what John and Lindsay and I loved. For the fact that you now love gymnastics, soccer, and theatre just as much as we do. I love how you would always ask me how if I stuck my pike-tsuk on bars. In reality it was a vault, but at least you tried.

I am thankful for the way you have always been so patient with me....when I cried for months in the car when "How do I live without you" came on, when I use you as my human mapsco whenever I need directions, and when I would overdraw my checking account and never use a budget despite endless pleading on your part. 

I am thankful for the way you love people. You are genuinely interested in everyone you meet. You care about their lives. Meet them where they are. And you do not show favoritism in the least bit. 

I am thankful that I have you to talk theology with, and how you always seem so excited about what I am learning at work or in school. 

I am proud that as all my friends become involved in your sunday school class, they all love you and mom! (Even if you do frequently tell them that I how I proved to you the doctrine of original sin!)

I am proud that everyone who knows you always says, "oh, i love your dad."

I am so proud of how humble you are. How I have never heard you ever talk about yourself. 

I am proud of how you love Jesus so authentically! 

I love you, Dad! Happy Happy Birthday!

april fools

Wow! Unbelievable! My heart is still beating about a 100 miles a minutes as I am still recovering from the best April Fools Trick ever! 

As many of you know, I am a former gymnast, and one with unrealized Olympic aspirations. Even at 27, I still have all this pent up love for gymnastics and it all seems to come out every 4 years around Olympic Time! This past year, I was particularly obsessed with the Olympics in Beijing, with American gymnastics, and especially with Nastia Liukin, who as all of you should know was the Olympic All-Around Gold Medalist! 

 

Nastia lives and trains right outside of Dallas, but is now a student at SMU. (Which is literally 3 blocks from where I live). She has been spotted around the neighborhood, and it has been my dream (not kidding) to run into her somewhere! 

So, tonight after Bible Study, my phone rings twice. It is my best friend Kim, who I obviously screen, being the good Bible Study leader that I am. She then calls, Meredith, one of my Senior Girls, who then reports to me: "Caroline, Kim is at TCBY and Nastia is there!"

I immediately grab all my stuff, pretty much grab Meredith, and without saying goodbye to any of my other girls SPRINT out the door. As, we are almost to the car, Hannah sprints out the door screaming, 'I'm coming, I'm coming! NASTIA!"

With Hannah barely in the car, we peel off and speed our way over to TCBY. I have never experienced the pick-up in my car quite like that. I am going 50 on neighborhood streets, running red lights, and actually almost took out a couple who were on their nighttime stroll. 

Kim texts me on the way, "She's still here. HURRY." I try to call her and call her, but she doesn't answer. Obviously...she was talking to Nastia and trying to stall her for me! 

I'm driving, so excited I can hardly stand it, my heart is beating so fast! Phrases coming out of my mouth while I sped down Abrams included:

Oh my gosh, this is seriously the best day of my life!

If she's not still there I am going to be so devastated!

Wow, this is a dream come true. 

So excited! All I wanted to do before I leave for Philly is run into Nastia and the Bushes!

We pull into the parking lot, I don't see Kim's car. But am anxiously peering in the window at TCBY, barely containing my excitement. But Nastia is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Kim for that matter.

"Wait, maybe we are at the wrong TCBY" I think outloud. (There is not another TCBY that I know of.)

Immediatley, Hannah and Meredith look at each other, start dying laughing, and shout APRIL FOOLS!!! 

Wow, jokes on me!!!

While I was completely devastated:) I give major props to these two little pranksters! Best Joke pulled on me ever. (Even better than the Christmas card they sent out of me this Christmas to everyone I know. A picture of just me, well really the pic was mainly of my huge bangs! with a little poem under it that said something about high-kicks and mistletoe!)

Props to you Mabes and Mere! I am still laughing, and still hoping I will run into Nastia. 

One day, one day...and that day will be the best day of my life!!!!