tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112605899159113222024-03-05T23:43:45.730-05:00a second chancemiranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-68848824727795911292013-09-24T01:01:00.001-04:002013-09-24T01:01:17.198-04:00unlucky 13<div>
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The other day I talked to a friend on the phone for the first time in a long time and she made a comment about how fun my life seemed. & I laughed. Not that my life isn't fun, but I think instagram gives a great facade. In reality, my day-to-day life sometimes seems so mundane it brings me to tears. Literally. <div>
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There are days when I am certain that God has me here for a purpose. I think He gives me little glimpses of His plan to encourage me. But, most days, I struggle. </div>
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This year has been hard. Isn't 13 supposed to be lucky? I think they might be wrong. I buried four people I love this year. After my grandpa passed away this summer, I prayed, "if someone else passes please let it be me because my heart couldn't possibly survive another loss." </div>
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Last night I went to fall asleep and randomly thought about our beloved family dog, Blake, who passed away in 2011. I don't know what sparked the memory, but my heavy eyelids couldn't fight the flood of tears that came when I remembered her final days. I could still hear the loud thumps of her head hitting the hardwood floor with every seizure. I practically flew as I rushed down the stairs to get to her as fast as my legs would carry me. I could still feel her sitting atop of my crisscross legs as I held her tight until her body stopped seizing. I remember being late to my first day of work because I couldn't bare to leave her, with her foam covered mouth and tired eyes, until another family member came home to keep close watch on her. I left her surrounded in pillows and towels to protect her sweet face should she have another seizure. When I came home from work that night, she greeted me just like she had done almost everyday since she was a puppy. She waited for me. And a few hours later, she had a seizure so bad we knew it was time to let her go. My eyes well up with tears as I type it. And last night... I sobbed myself to sleep. </div>
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I thought, oh God, has this year completely broken me? </div>
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I think the older I get, the more sensitive I get. For a while, I thought this was a weakness. Something you tried to fix, you know? However, I've found great encouragement in 2 Corinthians 12:9.</div>
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<i>But he said to me. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.</i></div>
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The <b>same</b> sensitivity that lead me to tears at two in the morning also makes me a caring and compassionate friend. The descriptive details of my dog's final day is the <b>same</b> memory that recalls my friend's birthdays and favorite candy. The pillow/towel fort I built for my dog is the <b>same</b> thoughtfulness I put into gifts and letters. The love I had for my family pet is the <b>same</b> love I have for my family and friends.</div>
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Maybe broken wasn't the right word. Humbled. Humbled is how I really feel. </div>
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I love that God can use my "weakness" for His glory. Just proof that He is always at work in our lives. And even though I may not love my zip code or my job or my current situation, I <i>can</i> say that I am starting to love the person God made me to be. </div>
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And when the world weighs heavy on my heart and starts to make me feel like a failure, God is quick to remind me of His call to love. And that is something I can stand before Him and say that I have done. </div>
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miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-17548320242637196562013-04-01T14:31:00.001-04:002013-04-01T14:32:01.058-04:00Why I'm ashamed to be a Christian on SundaysBefore I worked in the service industry I had heard the rumors - Christians were notoriously known in the restaurant world as pushy, unforgiving, impatient, rude, and worst of all...terrible tippers. And at first I couldn't possibly buy it. Christians weren't like that! Christians were kind, caring, loving people who extended grace and forgiveness.<br />
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Then I worked my first Sunday lunch shift.<i> A fluke</i>, I thought. <i>A coincidence</i>. <i>An unusual Sunday</i>. A gloomy day, maybe? I had to give Christians the benefit of the doubt. They were my people. They carried the name of Christ, the same title I had so proudly carried myself. And who's to say that the guests that come in on Sunday afternoons were Christians anyways? Some people get dressed up on Sundays just to dress up, right? Those large hats? We've all been warned about the risks of skin cancer. But the usher name tags...the volunteer shirts...the Sunday service pamphlets with the church name adorned in bold letters...those were the things I had a harder time dismissing. I didn't want to believe it.<br />
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Sunday after Sunday only proved the rumors to be true and it wasn't long before I found myself dreading those Sunday shifts just as much my co-workers. I quickly came to realize exactly why no one was allowed to request off on Sundays. But it wasn't until this Sunday, Easter Sunday, that I found myself almost ashamed to call myself a Christian. To associate myself with the people who treated my co-workers so poorly only to reward their hard work and service with a tract and a tip less than 10%? I couldn't.<br />
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Any Christian in the service industry knows what a different world it is. To minister to my co-workers 6 days a week by loving them, encouraging them, and helping them was being completely destroyed on Sunday afternoons when the church crowd came in and showed them a different picture of Christianity.<br />
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Not to cast stones, (because I too struggle with the pressure of living a life that honors Christ) but we have got to step it up as Christians. Tipping generously (20%) and being kind, forgiving, and understanding to the people that are serving us is just one practical way we can prove the rumors to be exactly what they should be - rumors.<br />
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Can I get an amen?<br />
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<br />miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-21405311161278914712013-01-21T01:44:00.000-05:002013-01-21T01:45:46.649-05:00i'm obsessed.<h2 style="text-align: center;">
MY CURRENT OBSESSIONS:</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNloeFhEqs5xzSjwv6ZYnV0dD2mPPrsznbuHdNBrQmBjHdfTLob1I1i_tIpj2Ko4rZ30mUg-scW1aS7G1jOPpoBuHppYAvuYT8NPvVkISIID-KVjFFYrmVXOFL_yvj4l9Ag2m0_Qu1Tu8/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.15.11+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNloeFhEqs5xzSjwv6ZYnV0dD2mPPrsznbuHdNBrQmBjHdfTLob1I1i_tIpj2Ko4rZ30mUg-scW1aS7G1jOPpoBuHppYAvuYT8NPvVkISIID-KVjFFYrmVXOFL_yvj4l9Ag2m0_Qu1Tu8/s320/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.15.11+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>MOCHI</b> - (as in the frozen yogurt topping) This has quickly become my "go to" topping for frozen yogurt. I don't know what makes them so good, but those tiny japanese rice cakes are delicious and addicting. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYIZ7dsYYygOgvTccBwsDiKzZEtbi_5dQlDLQyOz81Tc6axeZTT18MnQP-rvdID7gbV-jef68FBY5ncl2Zdr0xQdNEG_wsIO0YoB8pzdlvsC_gL02birvaA_TJAyfSI6M9V94be07bFA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.15.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYIZ7dsYYygOgvTccBwsDiKzZEtbi_5dQlDLQyOz81Tc6axeZTT18MnQP-rvdID7gbV-jef68FBY5ncl2Zdr0xQdNEG_wsIO0YoB8pzdlvsC_gL02birvaA_TJAyfSI6M9V94be07bFA/s320/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.15.32+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>WOOL SOCKS</b> - I have worn them all winter and I can't get enough of them! They keep my toes warm and they are so soft and comfortable to wear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZtxcPqCrhO9U_nEgYkO2Z9bp0AGgeVBndmk3HeDyLDsuxL09ciYHn6thRF-5lUXDv2EnXDItEz7CyKDvKnOtcWFS-yL-1Q86zm9I4kDCR2GwYJipkRY5N54qWfEuvF-H39jBWu2rWUA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.15.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZtxcPqCrhO9U_nEgYkO2Z9bp0AGgeVBndmk3HeDyLDsuxL09ciYHn6thRF-5lUXDv2EnXDItEz7CyKDvKnOtcWFS-yL-1Q86zm9I4kDCR2GwYJipkRY5N54qWfEuvF-H39jBWu2rWUA/s320/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.15.45+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>DESIGNER LINES FOR TARGET</b> - I try to get at least one piece from every line that comes to Target. The Neiman Marcus line was a major win for me this holiday season and I can't wait until the Prabal Gurung line hits shelves on Feb. 10!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2gkbREip0TdoPUoE8f6XAfj-5hGhqOfKEHSCyQbMetgYlnLijtZb0lXI6pRwbFUKgpTfw9iZ7rIOIYhq78Nm71FylqJzk2Yy-2oQzSm9sxeLF5MfgJmA7SFvpV-GicYnN9YYKmYzc3c/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.01+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2gkbREip0TdoPUoE8f6XAfj-5hGhqOfKEHSCyQbMetgYlnLijtZb0lXI6pRwbFUKgpTfw9iZ7rIOIYhq78Nm71FylqJzk2Yy-2oQzSm9sxeLF5MfgJmA7SFvpV-GicYnN9YYKmYzc3c/s320/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.01+AM.png" width="292" /></a></div>
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<b>WASHI TAPE</b> - I discovered washi tape a year or so ago when I got my first smash book and my collection of tape has slowly grown ever since. The uses for this tape is endless. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsxNl_qAfEvY0CgEPSbWJ_fBoV4ZELMPF82Mm6Rdpn2vrgSDM-bsoeswjIjXJ4Zi4qL6tZ3iw9xczBWKxB9EolKr5qR9Rx7UZ9NC_Kh2cqUBpSDi5AB9FGJLKxOaBSoK7eT8D9Jzro7U/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsxNl_qAfEvY0CgEPSbWJ_fBoV4ZELMPF82Mm6Rdpn2vrgSDM-bsoeswjIjXJ4Zi4qL6tZ3iw9xczBWKxB9EolKr5qR9Rx7UZ9NC_Kh2cqUBpSDi5AB9FGJLKxOaBSoK7eT8D9Jzro7U/s320/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.14+AM.png" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>LOCKETS</b> - I love the versatility, sweetness, and nostalgia of lockets. There are so many uses and creative ways to decorate the inside of lockets. I've had so much fun designing ones for my friends!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81gSUnvSKt9coxFnv2cfZcAw1AWHnj5Zksh83ZEvrgb_PJPIezEAlvKQJb36CP1_SCbOLhOqmFQEmALn1Ubor-cJmIK-W6cCjz_ucK1awsBBytW_oLVhYmUtr6GCJdkMPLdMkJWDuTtk/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81gSUnvSKt9coxFnv2cfZcAw1AWHnj5Zksh83ZEvrgb_PJPIezEAlvKQJb36CP1_SCbOLhOqmFQEmALn1Ubor-cJmIK-W6cCjz_ucK1awsBBytW_oLVhYmUtr6GCJdkMPLdMkJWDuTtk/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.30+AM.png" /></a></div>
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<b>AVOCADOS</b> - I eat them whole. With a spoon. Plain. Or sometimes with a pinch of salt. They are SO delicious!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KJzf24_j612L-7I796ueJ1pd1Y83Q2DbLqvTXAAuWlrULX34Jl6nA5Wksxz_jhr9x7gX9oUysLzvtYA-Z2vWdKFAS8FNQgwDtayj6pkfB2Lfxh2cKfWGYRx76cizc0tlU5YMFeNQZY0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.39+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KJzf24_j612L-7I796ueJ1pd1Y83Q2DbLqvTXAAuWlrULX34Jl6nA5Wksxz_jhr9x7gX9oUysLzvtYA-Z2vWdKFAS8FNQgwDtayj6pkfB2Lfxh2cKfWGYRx76cizc0tlU5YMFeNQZY0/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.39+AM.png" /></a></div>
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<b>HUMIDIFIER</b> - I started using a humidifier last winter when I got really sick and now I can't sleep without it. The one I have is the exact one pictured. The white noise helps put me to sleep and when I wake up in the morning my skin, throat, and nose feel great. Clearly a win-win.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCxeVpg-y3VbPGlEbSC48sPbrkfZ5_8j5wG4jD50DwJarbZEBmwmy-GorKjQnm3HC0NNFyNMJLKGitjEfImxTMfcuWNQXLVTSjjyawCdA_LJ2j4QAPiwAVzU5Qgmb2bnI1cg2T_PWOgg/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCxeVpg-y3VbPGlEbSC48sPbrkfZ5_8j5wG4jD50DwJarbZEBmwmy-GorKjQnm3HC0NNFyNMJLKGitjEfImxTMfcuWNQXLVTSjjyawCdA_LJ2j4QAPiwAVzU5Qgmb2bnI1cg2T_PWOgg/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-21+at+1.16.50+AM.png" /></a></div>
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<b>ELASTIC HAIR TIES</b> - these are the best hair ties ever!!!!! They keep my hair out of my face, don't leave dents in my hair, and don't rip my hair when I pull them off (everyone with curly hair understands this well). </div>
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What are <i>your</i> current obsessions?</div>
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((all pictures are from pinterest))</div>
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miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-4813304054830114502012-12-30T15:28:00.000-05:002012-12-30T15:28:43.028-05:00arrivederci 2012I am guilty of being a negligent blog writer.<br />
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Before, I had plenty of words but not enough time. Lately, I have found myself at a little bit of a loss for words.<br />
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Christmas was amazing. I got more gifts than I deserved but my favorite gift was having my sister and brother home for Christmas. Isn't time truly the most priceless gift of all?<br />
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Right before Christmas I went up to NYC with my best friend, my aunt, and my aunt's best friend. We stopped into Times Square to sneak a peek at the 2013 new years ball, where we scribbled down wishes on scrapes of paper in hopes that they will come true when they fall from the sky at midnight on the 1st. It might seem taboo to share my wish, but this year I wrote...<br />
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<i>"more time with my friends and family"</i></div>
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I honestly couldn't think of a better wish. Having my best friends (and now my sister and brother) scattered across the US has made time the most coveted thing I can think of. I have been truly blessed this year to be able to travel and spend as much time as I did with friends and family and I hope to make that even more of a priority next year.<br />
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I am excited and hopeful for great things in 2013. I saw a quote (on Pinterest, of all places) the other day that said, "Please hold onto your hope. It is in such limited supply around the world these days. Hold onto it and be proud that you are one of the ones that does."<br />
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It certainly has been a year of ups and downs, but I feel very loved when I think of all the heartache that the Lord has spared me of. I will never know a day without love and I'm praying the same for everyone close to my heart.<br />
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<b>Happy New Year friends.</b></div>
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<br />miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-35395420715830243192012-11-06T11:39:00.003-05:002012-11-06T11:39:57.873-05:00fearIt's election day and I'm quite convinced that today has been scarier than Halloween this year. I'm not crazy about either candidate and yet I find myself so passionately taking a side and so personally offended at the ignorance (on both sides) and lack of care about such an important election. Living in a swing state has just heightened the tension for the past few weeks. I have genuinely feared the outcome of this election. I have feared for the safety of this country, the security of jobs for my family (my parents work and own small businesses and my brother and sister work in healthcare), my future...<br />
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<b>And I was reminded this morning of the verse in 2 Timothy 1:7 -<i> "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind."</i></b><br />
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I take great comfort in knowing that He will take care of us regardless of who wins tonight and that even though my immediate future here in the US may seem a little cloudy, that my eternity in heaven is still secure.miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-78166405761310314902012-09-12T21:22:00.002-04:002012-09-12T21:22:48.455-04:00autumn bucket list<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">MY 2012 AUTUMN BUCKET LIST:</span></b></div>
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<b>1.</b> go apple picking & bake up something delicious!</div>
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<b>2. </b>have a bonfire with s'mores</div>
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<b>3.</b> pick out a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch & carve it</div>
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<b>4.</b> drink fancy fall-flavored drinks</div>
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<b>5.</b> have a photoshoot in a leaf pile</div>
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<b>6.</b> go to a football game</div>
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<b>7.</b> go on a hay ride & through a corn maze</div>
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<b>8.</b> drive to see leaves </div>
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<b>9.</b> run a race</div>
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<b>10. </b>make my own halloween costume</div>
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<b>11.</b> attend a festival/fair</div>
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<b>12.</b> have a halloween movie marathon</div>
miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-34716105399287959322012-09-03T00:47:00.000-04:002012-09-03T00:47:11.914-04:00prayer & praiseSorry for abandoning you all summer blog. It certainly wasn't for a lack of words... but I got a little distracted with <a href="http://twitter.com/mirandawray">twitter</a> and <a href="http://begoodmiranda.tumblr.com/">tumblr</a> and instagram and <a href="http://pinterest.com/mirandawray/">PINTEREST</a>!!! So much has happened this summer it would take me all night to write about it so I'll try to keep it short...<br />
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<i>First</i>, I'd like to celebrate making it through a summer without a single <a href="http://mirandawray.blogspot.com/2011/09/casted-still.html">broken bone</a>. It is just a little past the one year mark and I'm happy to report that my foot is back to normal for the most part. I still have aches right before it rains (perhaps I should pursue a job at the weather channel?) and when I run for a long time (I ran my first half marathon in Nashville this April!). Pray for me during the rest of hurricane season.<br />
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<i>On a sad note</i>, I had to say goodbye to my sister when we dropped her off in Chicago this past weekend. We've been far away from each other before, but never for this long. I'm really happy for her and Matt, but I already miss her so much. This has been a summer of goodbyes. It is hard to have your best friends live so far away. And now my sister is 864 miles away...<br />
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<i>In the midst of everything</i>, I have to praise God for His sovereignty. I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions trying to seek out God's will for my life. Even when I doubt His love or His goodness, He chooses to shower me with blessings. I still sometimes have a hard time wrapping my mind around a love like that.<br />
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Not too long ago I was blog stalking a friend of a friend (this isn't as creepy as it sounds) and she wrote about the Bible story of Paul and Silas' imprisonment. You can find the entire story in Acts 16, but basically Paul and Silas were in prison simply praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were sitting around listening when the prison doors flew open and their chains came loose. <b>Faithfulness</b>.<br />
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Paul and Silas didn't sit around questioning why they were in jail. They didn't doubt God's love because of their circumstance. They prayed and praised God!<br />
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It took over a year for me to finally start piecing together the bigger picture of God's plan for what I originally felt like was "wasted time". I know God hears my prayers and knows the desires of my heart, but I don't want my desires to get in the way of what He is doing through me right now. Sometimes it is the simplest things - like daily living out a Christian walk - to accomplish God's work. I am making a conscious effort to be more faithful, especially during the trying times.<br />
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<br />miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-67199490626727845382012-05-11T01:03:00.002-04:002012-05-11T01:04:07.201-04:00we bought a zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-83468573956927985642012-04-11T13:10:00.002-04:002012-04-11T13:13:31.397-04:00you're gonna be<div style="text-align: center;">you're gonna fly with every dream you chase</div><div style="text-align: center;">you're gonna cry, but know that that's okay</div><div style="text-align: center;">sometimes life's not fair, but if you just hang in there</div><div style="text-align: center;">you're gonna see that sometimes bad is good</div><div style="text-align: center;">we just have to believe things work out like they should</div><div style="text-align: center;">life has no guarantees, but always loved by me</div><div style="text-align: center;">you're gonna be</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-49652856166550097292012-03-22T21:01:00.001-04:002012-03-22T21:03:36.049-04:00dirty dog<div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday's rainy day shenanigans...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDzlqMkY3SSUlOsJgl9jAnWJGfq0oSyPfvOW05OdmIA9SV05HIhKW-2wrjVvQP-GpSm85k80G9cQlVvyfPDxB5zgXf2NWmoTQxe86R0L96Kc9HhD0l8toXq8yS9lA9DkNSrTLB1PIS50/s1600/559691_10100343410978998_55704381_45063255_2101967926_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDzlqMkY3SSUlOsJgl9jAnWJGfq0oSyPfvOW05OdmIA9SV05HIhKW-2wrjVvQP-GpSm85k80G9cQlVvyfPDxB5zgXf2NWmoTQxe86R0L96Kc9HhD0l8toXq8yS9lA9DkNSrTLB1PIS50/s320/559691_10100343410978998_55704381_45063255_2101967926_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722891722257280530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf7evGwefaaats2rb7POEtsJEVxsY_pOO3EbST1pjOhrDX7jZ2H_yZaiQmnEJ7g9uXwdG4iyvLD36ZtO-0HaveVX0AqHlXiHP2TxIhaeJMBjVzKA7SWIa7U6YQGI940UAWlqS9yh0wrM/s1600/531695_10100343410395168_55704381_45063254_1888200545_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvf7evGwefaaats2rb7POEtsJEVxsY_pOO3EbST1pjOhrDX7jZ2H_yZaiQmnEJ7g9uXwdG4iyvLD36ZtO-0HaveVX0AqHlXiHP2TxIhaeJMBjVzKA7SWIa7U6YQGI940UAWlqS9yh0wrM/s320/531695_10100343410395168_55704381_45063254_1888200545_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722891718880590290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACCKd5DgLrCdgxQNWW0KMO90cB7RYEvUjpbOO458WWlIVqy0IEDjKKhqsr5Ulh9VcHrDxbrn8SSlXtWolsGIZnDjTfw9YbTI-kmTCO48c2Pv4T_b_2p-cW2tRPEK-jTzh7dJBfv3teY4/s1600/525940_10100343411722508_55704381_45063256_1890038337_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACCKd5DgLrCdgxQNWW0KMO90cB7RYEvUjpbOO458WWlIVqy0IEDjKKhqsr5Ulh9VcHrDxbrn8SSlXtWolsGIZnDjTfw9YbTI-kmTCO48c2Pv4T_b_2p-cW2tRPEK-jTzh7dJBfv3teY4/s320/525940_10100343411722508_55704381_45063256_1890038337_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722891716187597074" /></a><div><div><br /></div></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-44712286601847748042012-02-09T12:38:00.008-05:002012-05-11T01:04:19.249-04:00i was wrong (take 2)<div>
When I was in college my roommate Kelly and I would often joke about her desire to write a book entitled "I Was Wrong" that recollected all of those moments when she was, in fact, wrong. I remember lying in our beds late at night laughing hard at how many contributions we could easily make to a book with that title. For example...<br />
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I can dance outside during a hurricane without breaking a bone.</div>
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<b>I was wrong.</b></div>
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My teacher won't notice me googling jokes during class.</div>
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<b>I was wrong.</b></div>
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I know how to get there.</div>
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This list could go on. My most recent "I was wrong" moment happened</div>
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yesterday. For a while now I have been begging my coworkers and managers to spend a day together volunteering, so when my manager found an open spot with Habitat for Humanity I was ecstatic...</div>
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I thought volunteering for Habitat for Humanity would be fun.</div>
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<b>I was wrong.</b></div>
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Now don't get <i>me </i>wrong here, I'm not a habitat hater. And I should probably give it another chance b/c we volunteered for the Restore project in this huge abandoned building vs. the usual rebuilding of houses. It was fun..for the first two hours. Then Tara and I got stuck on power washing and squeegeeing the floor duty. Now I am all about some girl power (who run the world?), but I think this job would have been more effectively done by men. I say that only because we started out with power washers and ended with squeegees. About the time our socks and shoes were soaking wet (5 minutes into it) in 40 degree weather we had had enough. Our desire to leave was confirmed when our manager got hit in the head with a drill and we officially called it quits. Even though it wasn't the BEST time, I think we all still managed to have a good time. I couldn't stop laughing after we left and I still burst into fits of laughter when I look at pictures and video from the day. I love that my co-workers can make light of any situation. Check out pics of the crazies I spent my day with...</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707231639981432898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQfg_1N0qndLXacyEaOBVH4PMpRIJyZCUDwvQ8vSbg_uBPKS7pZ073Dx-bgA5sWwYVuVb6TOJmFeC0YPDVouvRgWcPQsb8c4nJu_Y7UPusDbtL_8Y92BjoCbIcpLiQoQfvbQyGTRSrac/s320/404238_10100286162101208_55704381_44829392_95536965_n.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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All smiles in the beginning! Upon first entering the building Tara looks at the huge truck we had to unload in disgusts and says, "IS THAT DUST?!?!" We knew right then it was going to be a long day hahahaha...</div>
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Looking the part. Keyword: looking.</div>
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Taylor & I building a teepee nbd.</div>
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The point in which I questioned if I was a prisoner or a volunteer...</div>
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The crew after a long day. This picture most accurately represents what we were all thinking.</div>
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</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-76624728897747525842012-01-09T13:10:00.002-05:002012-01-09T13:13:16.706-05:00be good miranda<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrR4Z0j2vRLe5Ju98HA2RFSRK9DYL0GjfTlUlh98djnPHlG3nE-gs9FO_qGtI67yTe2uz50oQZrvEyW-Zx3kFBN320wkxU522o-dL2vsKim5K0rlHU63p-BfxToUEZYeXfjXrw-Kg2oQ/s1600/Picture+5.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrR4Z0j2vRLe5Ju98HA2RFSRK9DYL0GjfTlUlh98djnPHlG3nE-gs9FO_qGtI67yTe2uz50oQZrvEyW-Zx3kFBN320wkxU522o-dL2vsKim5K0rlHU63p-BfxToUEZYeXfjXrw-Kg2oQ/s320/Picture+5.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695696843078252306" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't abandoned my blog, but right now I really do love my tumblr!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out my tumblr, <a href="http://www.begoodmiranda.tumblr.com/">Be Good Miranda</a>, for my makeshift 365 (366 this year!) project. A photo every day!</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-59449165162502384062012-01-06T23:23:00.002-05:002012-01-07T08:55:57.071-05:00epiphanyYesterday after/during my meltdown in the car I was feeling a little bummed because I was dead set on making 2012 different from last year. I knew I wanted to make some resolutions, adopt some new motto, and participate in the 365 project. But then I blinked and it was the 6th and I was about to say "to hell with it" when I was listening to K-Love and they started talking about the <a href="http://www.klove.com/blog/amanda/post/2012/01/06/Last-day-of-Christmas.aspx">Epiphany Holiday</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Today, January 6th (the 12th night of the 12 days of Christmas), actually marks the last day of Christmas. Some people even celebrate today because today is the day that the wise men arrived and presented their gifts to baby Jesus (this is also <a href="http://katsyfga.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/when-did-the-magi-come-to-see-jesus/">debatable</a>). Either way, I'm sure it was just the Lord's way of reminding me that it's never too late. </div><div><br /></div><div>So in true magi fashion I present to you my 3 resolutions & my 3 new mottos...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">RESOLUTIONS:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>1. </b><a href="http://www.mirandawray.blogspot.com/2011/12/be-all-there.html">Be all there.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2.</b> Learn to sew.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>3.</b> Keep a daily quiet time & pray more. <i>A lot more.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><b>MOTTOS:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><b>Sidenote:</b><i> </i>Brie & I both adopted these this year after seeing <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389137/">We Bought A Zoo</a>, which is where they all came from...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>1. </b>"You know, sometimes all you need is <i>twenty seconds of insane courage</i>. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2. </b>"Find the light."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>3.</b> "Why not?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">& look for my makeshift 365 project by following me on Instagram or on my <a href="http://begoodmiranda.tumblr.com/">tumblr</a>! </div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-46100693160502625882012-01-06T00:14:00.003-05:002012-01-06T01:33:15.537-05:00fabulous & flawedTonight I opened up a Dove chocolate promise that read <b>"It's OK to be fabulous AND flawed</b>" and I just thought it couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. I had a mini meltdown in the car today (please tell me I'm not the only one that does this). I just felt so defeated. I'm trying. I'm trying hard. I'm trying my <i>best</i>, but sometimes it doesn't feel like its enough. I'm not competitive but I'm also not a quitter...I keep trying until I get it right. But lately I haven't quite been getting it right. I think maybe sometimes I am too hard on myself because to strive for perfection is really a setup for disappointment. Every once in a while I need a reminder that I'm human and therefore flawed. It's ok to be flawed. If we weren't flawed, there wouldn't be a need for a Savior.<div><br /></div><div>I also remember a sermon from Water's Edge Church (get it on itunes - WEC Podcast "Five Lies of the Devil" from October 30, 2011) where they did a series on the "Five Lies of the Devil." This particular week was the lie "You are not good enough." Rob Shepherd talked about the verse Romans 3:23, reminding everyone listening that no one is perfect, but God is. He also talked about Paul and his thorn in the flesh. But his next point blew me away. It's a little paraphrased, but you'll get the gist...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Even if you worked really hard to be smart, someone would still tell you you're dumb.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even if you went years without making a mistake, someone would point back to the one mistake that you made.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even if you were perfect, somebody would crucify you."</div><div><br /></div><div>Not feeling good enough is Satan's way of making you feel defeated. It's his way of preventing you from what God has for you. No matter what you do, how hard you try, how careful you are - you will never reach perfection. And even if you did (like Christ), somebody would still crucify you. I thought it was such a good point because it made everything click for me. It's not about being perfect, its about being strong enough in your weakness to reach out to God who<b> is</b> good enough.</div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I can't live my whole life wasting</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All the grace that I know You've given</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'Cause you've made me for so much more than</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sitting on the sidelines</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't wanna look back and wonder</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If good enough could've been better</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Every day's a day that's borrowed</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So why am I waiting for tomorrow?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Oh, I'm making this my moment now</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>To grab the hand that's reaching down to save me</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Oh, You save me.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5VlRwoaf8k">Mandisa "Waiting for Tomorrow"</a></i></div></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-83914533262129855922012-01-01T22:07:00.003-05:002012-01-01T23:04:13.703-05:002012<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>2 Corinthians 5:17</i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am ESPECIALLY thankful for this promise today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you Lord for a second chance. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A new year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">& a fresh start.</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-68984900068123172562011-12-25T22:01:00.001-05:002011-12-25T22:16:44.919-05:00happy birthday jesus<div style="text-align: center;">The angel said to them,<i> "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>- Luke 2:10-14-</b></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-56802380741887915202011-12-24T00:10:00.004-05:002011-12-24T00:47:58.755-05:00run run rudolph<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL63JqfiftuLxvMyCIZD56TwJm6eXOmz0s0ejE1xCjDl82_M1hoqc7lUvjha3jnmOx9qZaN4GIceXUGWRZjWnAv-kBjBPJosyZuULGDJBPJqyFDlEcEVQuyHkZul0O1SFNief_7B5Mk8/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL63JqfiftuLxvMyCIZD56TwJm6eXOmz0s0ejE1xCjDl82_M1hoqc7lUvjha3jnmOx9qZaN4GIceXUGWRZjWnAv-kBjBPJosyZuULGDJBPJqyFDlEcEVQuyHkZul0O1SFNief_7B5Mk8/s320/IMG_3960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689567201854001906" /></a><br />I can't believe it is already Christmas Eve! This time of the year is so much fun! Last weekend we had our company Christmas party at work and I somehow managed to convince six of my co-workers that it would be a good idea to dress up as reindeer and make up a dance to perform in front of everyone and their families. <i>Have I mentioned how much I love my co-workers? </i>We all wore matching red reindeer sweaters with big puff paint pictures of reindeer with names (I was "Dancer"!), antlers with bells, and turtlenecks. The turtlenecks were my request of course. Tara, Tim (our dance coordinator) and I spent like 3 hours one night coming up with the dance and we taught it to the rest of the girls in an hour on Saturday morning and performed it twice (did I hear encore?) on Sunday morning for the crew. It made me laugh and think of all of my college friends who I surely would have convinced to do the same thing had we all been together this year. Some things never change. Check out my FB page for the video! MERRY CHRISTMAS!miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-51193663473023132702011-12-20T00:55:00.004-05:002011-12-20T01:43:07.720-05:00be all there<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Elliot</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">This simple little quote has been so convicting/encouraging as I reflect on this past year. "Being all there" is something I strive to live out daily, but can sometimes be challenging, especially during a year like this past one when things didn't turn out necessarily how I imagined or hoped they would. The truth is, even though selfishly I may not be exactly where I want to be, the Lord has still proven His love and faithfulness with numerous blessings in spite of my disobedience. As 2012 approaches (please hurry!) I think my <strike>number 1</strike> only New Years Resolution will be to continue to embrace God's plan for my life by making sure I am "being all there" and living out His word in Colossians 3:23 - <i>"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."</i> (NIV).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It wasn't until I stopped fighting God over what I thought was best for my life that I saw all the blessings He has placed right in front of me. I can't thank Him enough for my sister who is also one of my best friends, family (both immediate & extended) that exude love, friends that support and encourage me even from 100s of miles away, and co-workers that make me smile everyday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pray for me as I continue to extend this standard into every area of my life!</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-24105425686817680382011-12-16T09:02:00.002-05:002011-12-20T01:43:17.202-05:00i believe<div>Recently I read an article in Good Housekeeping magazine where Amy Grant was talking about her youngest daughter and her strong belief in Santa, or maybe rather her choice to <i>still believe </i>in Santa even though she had been told the truth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Amy Grant said (referring to her daughter) - <i>"I believe she'll give Santa credit for all good things that happen at Christmastime until she's 25, because she loves the mystery and magic of giving. When she was younger, I felt like I needed to ease her into reality. Now she clearly understands reality and chooses to make the mystery fun for all of us."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>After reading that I couldn't help but think of my own poor parents and the night they "eased me into reality." You see, and I'm not embarrassed to say this, <b>I believed in Santa Clause until age 10.</b> Do the math - thats 5th grade. And I believed with every part of my being, thats how much I believed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, my "reality" came as part of a punishment. Apparently I was being a brat that year and I had asked Santa for some toy (probably a Barbie nail salon) and then I got into some trouble (probably from disrupting class at school). My original punishment must have been that I was not getting (insert said gift), but when they told me I would not be receiving the top item on my Christmas list I quickly replied, "Fine. I'll just ask Santa for it." Did I mention I was being a brat?</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of simply telling me I was on the naughty list that year my parents called me into our family room to have a talk. Sidenote: nothing good follows the words, "we need to talk." They told me that Santa was not real and that they were the ones that had been giving gifts all those years. I didn't believe them...the past 10 years a lie? No way. I thought they were trying to get me to not believe in Santa so that he wouldn't get me the toy I had asked for. Growing up they had always told us that if we ever stopped believing in Santa he would stop bringing toys. This, I thought, was a setup. After some convincing, and let's be real here probably a few tears, I saw the light and began to ask the bigger questions...</div><div><br /></div><div>"Is the easter bunny real?"</div><div>"No."</div><div>"Is the tooth fairy real?"</div><div>"No."</div><div>"Is GOD real?!?!"</div><div>"Yes, Miranda God is real!!!!"</div><div><br /></div><div>And that was that. I was told to keep the news hush hush to my cousin and younger sister who had been skeptics for several years. I was the one convincing <i>them</i> to believe. Oh, and I didn't get the toy I asked for in case you were wondering.</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-44189746330204120702011-12-11T20:47:00.003-05:002011-12-11T21:50:04.351-05:00can you hear me now?I have had my fair share of phone troubles this year. I started the year with my <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=violet+blackberry+curve&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1114&bih=602&tbm=isch&tbnid=9MGxZ5bQN9TloM:&imgrefurl=http://www.gadgettastic.com/2010/02/11/blackberry-curve-8530-now-available-in-violet/&docid=UyAsc04dpXCVPM&imgurl=http://www.gadgettastic.com/wp-content/2010/02/blackberry-600x542.jpg&w=600&h=542&ei=vGXlTorQJeTW0QHt3IjUBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=659&vpy=224&dur=358&hovh=156&hovw=172&tx=122&ty=136&sig=100214554871637969984&page=4&tbnh=110&tbnw=122&start=55&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:55">purple blackberry curve</a> which I loved until it broke <strike>one</strike> <strike>two</strike> <strike>three</strike> <b>FOUR</b> times!!!!! Each time it broke it had to be shipped away and I was phone-less for a few days until a "non-faulty" refurbished one arrived. I was not a happy camper. I quickly surrendered my bb loyalty when my dad upgraded his phone and passed off his hand-me-down <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=droid+2&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1114&bih=602&tbm=isch&tbnid=MaAGmtTEUUWzuM:&imgrefurl=http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/motorola-droid-2-everything-you-need-to-know/&docid=tgmzKA--KnAh7M&imgurl=http://cdn4.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/motorola-droid-2-1.jpg&w=650&h=600&ei=KmblTrLbFKPd0QGpwoTsBQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=588&sig=100214554871637969984&page=1&tbnh=114&tbnw=121&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=75&ty=62">droid 2</a>. I thought I had died and gone to cell phone heaven with all my new apps and widgets and features. All was right with the world until my phone starting freezing, not sending texts, dying after like 30 minutes, etc. Can I please just get a cell phone that works? Which is why I finally invested in the <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=iphone+4+silver+leopard&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1114&bih=602&tbm=isch&tbnid=hZ-gXuj6cDi8AM:&imgrefurl=http://www.cellphoneaccents.com/p-68075-apple-iphone-4-silver-leopard-snap-on-faceplate-protective-case.html&docid=lch7vDFA_hMgJM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.cellphoneaccents.com/productpics/big/apple-iphone-4-silver-leopard-snap-on-protector-case-faceplate.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=TmflTqaLF6Pm0QGgt5WtBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=281&vpy=101&dur=385&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=159&ty=166&sig=100214554871637969984&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0">iphone 4s</a>! I have waited so long for my upgrade and on December 6th I was at the Verizon store as soon as it opened to cough up my cash for a brand spankin' new white iphone and I could not be happier with my purchase. I don't care what anyone tells you about phones - the iphone takes the cake. I'm completely obsessed and have been app happy ever since I got it a few days ago.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>My must-have apps:</b></div><div>1. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/style.com/id289380413?mt=8">Style.com</a> - the coolest app in the entire world. It shows all the latest runway shows from pretty much every designer you can imagine. I also like <a href="http://www.trendstop.com/en/fashion_trend_mobile_app.html">Trendstop</a> which is pretty similar and gives great fashion news.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. <a href="https://foursquare.com/">Foursquare</a> & Facebook - my two favorite social media apps.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. <a href="http://instagr.am/">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doodle-booth/id403497940?mt=8">Doodle Booth</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picfx/id417563413?mt=8">picfx</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fotolr-camera-fx/id445780101?mt=8">Camera Fx+ & Fotolr CS</a> - all awesomely cool photo apps.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. <a href="http://www.foodspotting.com/">Food spotting</a> - for all my foodie friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. <a href="http://stamped.com/">Stamped</a> & <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oink/id451160341?mt=8">Oink</a> - both are new and pretty similar. Stamped lets you list all of your favorite things - books, movies, food, music, etc. You follow friends similar to Twitter and see all of their favorite things/recommendations. Oink lets you rate a variety of things, both good and bad. I think if they both catch on they will be really fun apps to share with friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. <a href="http://keyringapp.com/">Key Ring</a> - a great place to store all of your loyalty cards.</div><div><br /></div><div>7. Games!!!!! Right now I really like <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/style-studio-fashion-designer/id366492169?mt=8">Style Studio</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tap-zoo-2-world-tour/id482769629?mt=8">Tap Zoo 2</a>, and virtual pets games like <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-pets-dogs-2/id400502029?mt=8">Touch Dogs 2</a> & <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-horse/id421167112?mt=8">My Horse</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>So friends, what are <i>your</i> favorite apps?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-15447634195817153962011-12-09T00:40:00.006-05:002011-12-09T01:06:38.514-05:00so silly<div style="text-align: left;">I think I may have mentioned <a href="http://mirandawray.blogspot.com/2010/06/overnight.html">once</a> or <a href="http://mirandawray.blogspot.com/2010/11/turn-turn-turn.html">twice</a> how much I love Amy Grant, but can I just say it one more time?!? I LOVE AMY GRANT! Her & Vince Gill's Christmas concerts are the best. I look forward to them every year, checking her website several times to see if/when she will be touring. I bought tickets as soon as they went on sale for Norfolk and I have been looking forward to this night for months. I knew right away to take my BFF Loisann with me. After all, she had been with me the first time I saw Amy's Christmas concert and the first time I got to meet Amy (aka my favorite Christmas present ever!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This year we made it our personal mission to get backstage to snap another goofy picture with Amy like we had done back in 2003. It turned out to be mission impossible! Even with the charm turned on, we couldn't get past a single guard. We resorted to plan B - waiting outside in the freezing cold by her tour bus...it worked! She came out and spent a few minutes with us and then we got another silly picture with her. Just confirmation that she always will be my favorite singer. I don't know what it was about "It Takes a Little Time" that touched my 10 year old soul so much, but I've been a forever fan ever since. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRT4lp6O0raqJisPVH1y3K6Gwn_iT_qzFYvALTS26C-ZQK05g3rJSj18LM7QhmXixLBer4Y24XnMcqhsF8NNNqpFTOXMwruV2qgQCcwVU3dx9iFb7VTvRmhFlWhUYUwP34t0vlSzi8OQM/s320/amyface.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684005507607422434" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Now</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><b><i>&</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><i><b>Then</b></i></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmGEUz9LXoYOsvn38smPWWzpWzv6JDJb9yr1TcIxnpSlsA3WxL81lPB5XU8uSSLr8HStq-uD_TFG4vIhT9GpUZOU87_Pr25bh7DAKpez7vFQl9kvonmBIYHLE2SVOp2ZglW18WpsMQwg/s320/amygoofy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684005284862663154" /></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-46994190077960941572011-12-07T23:45:00.012-05:002011-12-08T01:11:22.804-05:00sorelle per sempre<div style="text-align: left;">Last year my sister and I made a pact to take a sister trip every year no matter where we were, what was going on, etc. At the time I was living 3 1/2 hours away from her and even though I'm only 30 minutes away this year it has still been a struggle to spend a significant amount of time together with our crazy schedules. You may remember our Disney trip from last year - click <a href="http://mirandawray.blogspot.com/2010/03/happiest-place-on-earth.html">here</a>. This year we barely made the 2011 trip, but I am so glad we finally carved out some time for a short vacay. We also extended the sister trip to our aunts and cousins, which I believe truly enhanced our experience. On Friday morning we (my sister, me, my three aunts, and two cousins) headed up north to my favorite city in the whole world...NYC! It had been WAY too long since my last visit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We were greeted with beautifully mild winter weather and immediately adapted to the hustle and bustle of the city. Prior to the trip everyone had made a request of at least one thing they wanted to see while we were in the city so it was kind of like a fun game to travel across the city and make it to each destination. First up? A trip to the huge Forever 21 in Herald Sqaure (per Kalen's request) - she was in heaven. We also took a pit stop in Macy's to see the <i>real</i> Santa, who kind of resembled a creepy wax figure. Then we headed downtown to Chinatown (Grace's request) where we ran into Nicki Minaj!!!!!!!!! The <a href="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh2zfeUoRp4OYEQKe3">Billboard Women in Music</a> awards were being held at the Capitale and we were hoping to also catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift but Nicki Minaj's fans had gotten a little out of hand so T.Swift headed out the side door :( The guards at the door gave us her newest CD to make up for it though! Nice. We also saw Robin Robbins, Katie Couric, & Hoda. It was a celeb hotspot!</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrsxb_Cd0iNp_WJAkmN-Mr90CCoHno-cersvNReao143nWRA0v2oCWLOfgAx9wGRfHvWoWNU01SuQ6NxiOiKu6ah9GLk90jb-bTcODj3a2H0nwHcw6f3kaWKKO3pms0yaQyW97EHmAcY/s320/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683623119769589074" /><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Who the eff is she? She's Nicki Minaj she macks them dudes up, backs coupes up, and chucks the duece up!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After that we headed over to <a href="http://papabubbleny.com/">Papabubble</a> and then to Soho for my Bon Jovi obsessed aunt to <strike>stalk</strike> catch a glimpse of his apartment building on Mercer St. We were there for a little while hahaha. We had dinner reservations at Stand. I had a temperature of 102 so I had to pass on a marshmallow milkshake (gasp!) but my family certainly enjoyed them. We walked around the Holiday Market at Union Square and then headed uptown to see the windows at Saks and the tree at Rockefeller. The lights in the city are so beautiful and seeing them always makes me super excited for Christmas. The temperature dropped that night so we all ended up buying these knit animal hats that made us look like we escaped from the Central Park zoo. Hey, at least it was easy to find each other! Here are a few pictures...</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjml6pHd_Nx-Urc31xnb-rOwaP-v1e9tg3oRnQBD2zCxzPk1ZnI8rjGnCm5T64a5X5v94ViUqDLuLXrYI3WiO9CJ7XAy-U21fG2nQsy1nAbe0BFcs_7CRNkFJvKFYiUuytFREb0-BWSIU4/s320/Picture+7.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683627544862096818" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLSywzy88pLr_bPrh4DPno2vPiHJsAnN_gcc_MTAReD8yXZVm5-hVYOpTDYHS4XWvqY7YIAzLZgtWNMU4Z0JAsAObALD8R7dqPR-0n32XttPM_-MMKyZ9NlGz_LiYrHjIfp0cif66tOc/s320/Picture+9.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683627365182137202" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSQHGH4KL3UtSEXnSTqXnPKDQui8rVomh67K858beoxapkcwuxsBZq1A1FZLKuRlWylQ9onRtFKtlUohLz_fM3EZbuY9DnQ4oQ3zMttKfsT6SlSHGxI8kXpabBn9IdxHk77tXNgYWli8/s320/Picture+8.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683627077299221634" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0aWonexEMiuMo7_0501PhXnKs7S7G5FHmK9KIYGbdprnFtQ8cC_JAacJ_j9gRYQsemCdSav0Evoau-t6NbPtHN9cO71xtGGmKKwVtCToedxFhWwXxCkyOCAbSSRoq4x5UVZwURhHk9Q/s320/Picture+10.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683626877999284914" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Saturday I took the girls to Dylan's Candy Shop and then we met up with my friend Suzanne (remember Suzanne from my days at Shape?) who took us to the new <a href="http://gagasworkshop.com/#collection">Lady Gaga Workshop</a> at Barney's. It is pretty much the epitome of awesome - sooooo much cool Gaga memorabilia. And on the way out we saw Vera Wang posing outside! Crazy!</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_F0_jt4qP25nMFSwlXf4YHYauBvzabmQ1sNsk7RD9MNKWStQy4I8T6LGBVdnU8AQEPYYf7r9uHCCY_9rrfZ3sgEuKVd63S8kcmbefQPyDT5Ti742gMHzWIxp7JgFMYq6Lk3aXinVR8Mo/s320/Picture+11.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683631348365742162" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_qrMzCKGZzs72byxQAtZv9fo24UDIKKSccIn-VlynQQtKxwWt3N4L7DpswW_I4CHdCZWnTt-K6IlB3hc0g8fvRVwE3eYkttRzy2shc75vBZRxIcq1blhCAigTGS5_d1XR74OpKcdeiw/s320/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683630561432885026" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>My time with Suzanne was too short! We parted ways at dinner and my family and I had pizza and then headed into Times Square until it was time to see The Nutcracker!!!!! The Nutcracker was probably my favorite part of the trip (& also my "request") Those ballerinas are so good I could barely take my eyes off of them. After dinner we went back to Times Square for round 2. We ended up getting back to our hotel at almost 2 am! Talk about girl's night out, we were having way too much fun!</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkigbTSKBNqdUn4J4_0MuaIh394XZ0qKMpAMdA7_JYBScmQS3DmOuzHSf8jZif4rYHdYobQGxTTSk43mBfF1u74Z_M6QgNyBA-qd3_jDBYJT_JzN7Xd0hrqopGniT3TnhGVJSUJSacrew/s320/Picture+13.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683632723535390546" /><div style="text-align: center;">My crazy family & our signature poses!</div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday we went to a Chocolate Expo in Secaucus, NJ where we got chocolate wasted. It was a lot of fun, it was pretty much all local vendors with some of the most unique and delicious food. One of my favorites was maple cotton candy - yum! Around 2 o'clock Buddy from <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/cake-boss/about-cake-boss.htm">Cake Boss</a> joined the fun and Brie and I were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. We got to take pictures and shake his hand. I told him that we had been to his place in Hoboken and that we loved his lobster tails. <a href="http://mirandawray.blogspot.com/2009/08/this-is-it.html">Remember?</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHYxbiAcFqYZJBqGkRtYhRx5V_VRZWzQsagDXRzys5qIucW5z035LywVYm2wxLcyrwlH2oYl-d3Mm3rHh5pwV6_NFxGazSL7YgodGugzbiXiv8CLAh50vR49gJQcIpM7n0wxQOeSvgqM/s320/Picture+5.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683635005604598130" /></div><div>After the expo we packed our bags and had dinner at Planet Hollywood in Times Square...a new sister trip tradition perhaps? We made the trek up to the airport and then headed home. Leaving the city is always sad, but I was so sick that part of me was looking forward to crashing in my own bed. Another successful sister trip completed.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><b>Sorelle per sempre.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><i>Sisters for always.</i></span></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-36172644230197321952011-12-01T14:30:00.011-05:002011-12-01T14:45:55.993-05:00tales of christmas past<div style="text-align: left;">Some of my favorite Christmas memories are from my four years at LU. There was really only a 2 1/2 week span between Thanksgiving Break & Christmas Break every year - a time intended for studying for finals, though none of my favorite Christmas memories include studying...imagine that. One of my favorite things about LU was that since it was a Christian school there was no hiding the reason for the season. Our halls, dorms, cafeteria, the whole campus really, was covered in sparkling lights, Christmas trees, and big red ribbon bows. Every year brought some crazy new adventure as my friends and I got caught up in the Christmas cheer. Here is a look back (don't judge)...</div><div><br /><div><b>Freshman year.</b> In true freshman fashion myroommate Brooke & I ditched last minute studying for finals and instead decided to spend an entire night (literally) decorating our dorm room <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/">Elf</a> style. The result was unforgettable - a life sized gingerbread house covered in real candy that satisfied the midnight study cravings of our dorm mates. See picture below.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXIPuOqrO1YGLRGDEet7FvN1fWEgmlkhGbYwsJC9Ucs2JYlY5kC2JSdM_8QuEDgzZhnwriTlEjzWqmb8uREFNH6BUxohCQpiGXbsH1NeYcbmU6e_vCI1R7GVeH4l0kaJjlJxqmVZSPLI/s320/Picture+3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681247653881284418" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>Sophomore year.</b> Practically every night of this Christmas break was spent with the girls in my dorm singing,choreographing, and designing outfits to a Shania Twain remake of "Man I Feel Like Some Christmas" inspired by this little <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq2Pz_3Qtkk">clip</a> from Santa Clause 2. I sit here with tears in my eyes as I laugh thinking about how ridiculous we must have looked performing this several times for so many different audiences...I would post the video, but I think my roommate Kelly would drive to the beach and kill me if I did. So I'll post another one of my favorite pictures from this year - open dorms (aka shoving as many boys into my dorm room as possible). At LU guys and girls were not allowed in each others dorms at all. Ever. The one exception was open dorms which was held once, sometimes twice, a year. For a couple hours one night all dorms were open and people went crazy (LU crazy, not typical college student crazy). It may sound lame to a non-LUer but it was seriously so fun. The picture below is of the boys visiting my dorm room.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBECrnaKtj0OP2DkQcsupyQ4uJDc9oiNme86mNtLhAradqtE8_hpXis_zih766aRDB2N7pY1bdpn5PcReS0gM8cxQOo9W_Vg5JQpBiuD_V-a59ZxVablh8fSoj2HUJ86g_LqjxMCNzsE/s320/Picture+4.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681247294554643106" /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Junior year.</b> This year I lived in an apartment style dorm with some of my best friends. Finals for us were so intense that year that our Christmas craziness had to be confined to a single scheduled "family" night. We all wore Christmas pajamas, exchanged gifts and stockings, ate Santa shaped pancakes for dinner, and finished the night with a Christmas movie in our decked out common room. It was such a chill night filled with sweet memories.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU6stcb_ADUpmJk4ErC3Kxrv-t5dVsc9vt6foKQKeE8-5xffrcEkWuTtQnmshgWS6up0P1Fu-y3ESmFpL2Wix9bZ1N0zyv3bPY0wsoYLdhqARR3M3UuS_l2WlPKP3FklcpjWfn5bV90Q/s320/Picture+5.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681246941325360530" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Our dorm room from the inside.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJn8yN4nWkfy7BsZB9V9IOxFIEvP0EIvxnziB8w_nHsePCafdHj-GRR_CBpGoHQDabeSVhQnXNFk6QtZ0VEknSx28ChaauHMm7hulqrD6AUGLFmD_6IS3AxyeyQ-jwNJdo1GmSXz0qUc/s320/Picture+6.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681246728359897074" /><div style="text-align: center;">Our dorm room from the outside.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyt7d-tkjHBECEhgvfzchaEkls55msXADGXSUxi_5TuJm-y_LIcazsNVD81ULHpsPJF8bGFHs4tVD80lILfBAa59n6wkAOU9q3IeiRDYgU2EalflVeptuSu94VtSsptDJJp1KJ2q6C1A/s320/Picture+7.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681246366406832402" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">All decked out in our Christmas pj's!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>Senior year.</b> By senior year my BFFs and I had moved off campus to a huge house (7 of us lived there!) and we decided to throw a more mature, sophisticated, classy party...we were seniors after all. We wore cute party dresses and drank mocktails. We felt so grown up.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5sTDVQZCzd_e_5ow2TZ5zKQmZt-tQcCIwUGLFlgHVNOZXAxVsw_XyvGs2nqBN_2AX3QHVtGJYBoNjRTfSxPTHGzDz7SDM20eBLm5crRULl1vc3SgZlIj9V2YDN0_L5ldsJMTIKWEWBM/s320/Picture+8.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681245948976883138" /><div style="text-align: center;"> 4/7 roommates & the first snow that year!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9OC-e4jyMOuw_EUhn73sK3jgxLabtVaScsAjE-HuMtlwf_yJ6bArHbpa0wxYYBIaz3bouIyqMbMYVM1HIBPDLAwHD1vvT2HNz0bH6l0B-XQi14-LFVmL5t2ao28nqFAxIoVGjjkfhss/s320/Picture+11.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681245653276423650" /><div style="text-align: center;">Those drinks are virgin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZBZf_KmOv9A9GyM0CbANu7qQlPSLsLwno7GmSU89qvlV9c5eMulL8ikXo1X5_dTvSioiagvrgrziWZz-LA847AEPTMQ02ovZJGU8iaAkybFdF77B7rOcyZkgTe4aj9LQ2SXz2ITIO3I/s320/Picture+10.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681245370800634370" /><div style="text-align: center;">I don't even know what is going on in this picture.</div></div></div></div></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-37581431802572569312011-11-27T19:51:00.007-05:002011-11-27T20:30:03.906-05:00sparkle & shine<div style="text-align: left;">Winter doesn't officially start until December 22nd, but I have been in full winter mode ever since we had a taste of the season with that temp drop at the beginning of the month (nevermind the 60+ degree weather we have had for the past few days). I love winter, maybe I'm biased because I was born in winter, but you have to admit that snow makes everything so beautiful! Plus, I love bundling up in puffy coats and tall fuzzy socks. Here are my favorite winter fashion trends this year:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boot socks.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEJZPmrzibiwiZTcb7-On7iLeTAYDufpvf2FwOtm2MjCwcItykrGANEnMwMHQzlu7xM7qx7Sy4XOrjryz1VlDYo-mZlfHcmQUCnEMQVEdxpsFIgeaEGcXCFzzLNkDn5daIdR2-JJ5jqg/s320/237705686551759848_qYvOxshh_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679852085215485266" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sidenote: I have collected so many of these already I had to get a bigger sock drawer. Oops.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Red jeans.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNvV72JiyOtQZKAXrDud1QJNLVwvnQt1nk1w4azVCo_WUG3Gog1AGC9Ymm2_DiuxPEvIhKBe3v4n95Krzvm10ohmzoPmLMV-0vrY-yNkkDLamTshsdKvdUTtTDU-qSGHexqgZ1Fv3Z1k/s320/264445809339226812_Fd1mHzeM_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679851866453422866" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sparkle EVERYTHING!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPexgeRvH_ut5S6Tv3dxqSV7_SPtFS9eXzy-VMoZA6WaTOuhpZU28_ymqo79Rd2S5NUvYujibQ26jcqcMVcMq1Mp6kBnV0E1MjYwFMaqsd1K1FdJPKKLmZITQvNK6G__7cUwpULSAigw0/s320/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679851687691996098" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oxfords & tights.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhku1W_TbbHcQOz375rq2gII-fMf1LMjRH6HXDTJ7JAfLb7PboaOx8efKMGcx0uWpPuuEg7RAbiKejHLldYUBGOymKBUiRIG2l5TOcNKCpBbOWCfQcuT5qpP07OKOzXfwp5I786uJvUcwY/s320/49187820899715448_m8dkKUDV_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679851520499546226" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lace dresses.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty6OMAqxwxDbMSolWxXqp8Ei0TYCaR-MlwC-aJQgHKWzGMdQwFEPxbAsMziluzQr-kjgtQQ1E_4v11cg9BaTxOgQse2TTCeismyVUW1XxYqhzzRa2pIIwLuKlF_g_SW1OL7nMLQi6BbY/s320/34902965831690466_lU0LiPjM_c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679851401387722450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260589915911322.post-85286884997072572342011-11-24T09:46:00.003-05:002012-01-01T23:04:28.758-05:00happy thanksgiving!<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him & praise His name." - Psalm 100:4 </b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are more than a few things I am thankful for this year, including, but not limited to:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>My Heavenly Father</i> who blesses me more than I ever deserve.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The ability to walk</i>, b/c for 6 weeks this year I couldn't.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>My brother and sister</i> for all of their love, support, & laughter.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Ballet</i>. When I went through some of the tough stuff of life this year I lost words to express what I was feeling, so I just danced.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>New friends</i> that feel more like family, and <i>old friends</i> who are still actively involved in my life from 100s of miles away.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Living by the beach</i> (even if I sometimes take it for granted).</div><div><br /></div><div>& <i>days off</i>, like today, that come so few and far between.</div>miranda wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00894685156570531204noreply@blogger.com0