The Ugly Mug

The Ugly Mug, quite possibly the best name for a sports bar!

Jess, Ben, Dietrich, and I went to the Ugly Mug on Saturday night to watch the USC game. It was fun and amazing-- USC kicked booty!
We also ran into our friend Russ, who leads the UCLA fan club--- needless to say, he hates USC. It was fun to have a little competition in the room-- too bad I wont be in town this upcoming Sat. to battle it out with him during the USC vs. UCLA game.



A little bit artsy---


Dietrich


Ben






Jess

The Many Faces of Amber Rader!

My friend, Dietrich, got a hold of my camera and took about 50 pictures. hahah!
Here are my many faces!

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving!

Genessa in Town

This past weekend my friend Genessa came to visit. She is one of my best friends from Seattle. Sometimes I am amazed that we have remained close even though we only knew each other for about six months.

When Genessa got into town we came back to my house, chatted, and then decided to go Country Dancin'. It was great. We met up with some friends and attempted to line dance, waltz, and two-step. I think the best song of the night was Sweet Home Alabama. Practically everyone got on the dance floor and we met a new friend, Mike, who has a Jeep Wrangler (which happens to be my dream car).

Saturday night we went bowling-- I'd like to add, I bowled a 130 (all time high for me). My friends,Hilary and Jess got to meet Genessa. It makes me so happy when good friends get to meet my other good friends--- sometimes I wish I could rally everyone up and introduce people.
After bowling we met up with my roommates, Belen and Anne Marie, in Georgetown and went to a club called The Guards. We danced and met some people from Belen's work and Anne Marie's MA program.

Sunday came and went. Today we are headed to the Outlet Malls and then I drop Genessa off.

The weekend went by quickly.

Life is Good!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Psalm 19: 1-4

This morning I woke up, studied, greeted roommates, started laundry, and then I stepped out the door to a strikingly beautiful day. North Arlington, Virginia is one of the most beautiful places in the Washington DC vicinity. I wish pictures could capture the beauty of this place. I wish words could capture the beauty of this place. Its not the kind of beauty I usually speak of, rather, its a beauty that stems from community, people, homes and neighborhoods. As I walked to the post office through neighborhoods of families, I realized there is something overwhelmingly amazing about neighborhoods, family, friends, children playing, doors and windows open, yard work, coffee on the front porch and all this mixed with nature; Squirrels running around, tall stretched trees reaching to the sky with brilliantly colored leaves and a bright sun that warms the skin. Why are these things so beautiful? It's harmony. It's all of God's creation in perfect sync and rejoicing---it’s the language that speaks of the work of his hands and the glory of God. I love it! It's a glimpse of heaven. It is heaven, little piece of his glorious Kingdom on earth! Truly, in these things, His greatness is revealed.