what's your weakness: fangs or fur?

ok so i'm seriously intrigued by the uproar over the whole twilight saga...so much so that i just like to hear people's thoughts behind it. as i've said in a previous post, i'm currently reading new moon...i'll be done by thanksgiving, for sure. and just last night i saw it in theaters. for more on that, i'll probably make a specific movie review post, as well as discussing it with my partner in crime on the underground podcast on our next episode.

but here is one big issue i want to hear thoughts about:

team jacob vs. team edward

one's hot. one's cold. one's got fur. one's got fangs. one's a dangerous guy, striving to be sweet. one's a sweet guy, with a newly-discovered stroke of danger. they somewhat night & day to each other, however, seem to have a similar mindset when it comes to one bella swan: love her...and protect her at all costs.

i try to put myself in the perspective of the demographic that twilight series author stephenie meyers sought to appeal to...i'd like to say it's tween girls...sorry moms out there going gaga (not lady...she's a whole nother breed of something or another i could post about) over vampires & werewolves, but let's be honest here...meyers is luring in your daughters. wow, that's encouraging. but reading/watching this storyline unfold from that BOP-reading, tween perspective has allowed me to see 1) how they could become interested in these characters...particularly the vamp/wolf ones and 2) how meyers honestly does a great job (if we're just judging from an author's goal to captivate the audience) at keeping them hooked from beginning to end....even in the some parts with a "blah at most" plot. but without getting any more into plot & such (save that for the review post! eh oh! like that tease to make you come back to my blog?! : ) haha)...TELL ME, TWEENS (or not tweens...but people who are or aren't fans of the twilight series)...are you TEAM EDWARD? or TEAM JACOB? do you even take sides? or are you TEAM CHARLIE!? yeah! the dad is one of my favorite people. haha : )

we'll also be giving our reviews of the movie on the next underground podcast episode, so call in to our voicemail at 918.409.2593 & tell us what you thought of it! or email us at undergroundpodcast@ymail.com or tweet us at @undergroundpod - we'd love to hear your thoughts...as well as what team you're on! : )

so they think they can dance.

i am absolutely LOOOOOOVING so you think you can dance this season--all thanks to the handy dandy invention of dvr! i've never been able to keep up with any seasons before, but PTL for that b/c i probably would have become obsessed with dancing or something....more so than i already am! buuuut now i'm finally able to get into the show in it's sixth season and have been so impressed with contestants in the top 20! maybe you watch...maybe you don't...but whatever the case, here's some of my favorite partnerships on the show!

first up: legacy & kathryn's contemporary piece...a beautifully choreographed routine by mandy moore (the choreographer, not the singer) about struggles with fear...

next up: jakob & ashleigh's hip hop routine, choreographed by tab & napoleon (these guys kill it every time!!!)

here's ashleigh's hubby, ryan, with his dance partner ellenore in a travis wall contemporary piece...travis does a phenomenal job in telling a story through contemporary routines!

and the last of my favorite partnerships is russell & noelle...keep in mind, they're dancing the foxtrot for the 2nd time together...and russell is a krumper...seriously!

thoughts on the moon being new??

if you haven't been living under a rock lately then you're bound to know that the second installment of the twilight saga, NEW MOON, is premiering this friday with midnight premieres all over the place. to keep up with current youth culture, i've been reading the twilight books...but i'm only reading them as the movies are coming out to keep the material fresh when i go see the movie. well here's the deal: i want to know YOUR thoughts on twilight! anything & everything. what do you like about it? not like? what about the story line, the characters, the style of the writing keeps you interested? how have these books made an impact in your world? are you going to the midnight premiere? let me know! i'd love to hear your thoughts. remember, i haven't finished the 2nd book...nor have i read the 3rd & 4th ones...so don't give away any plot secrets! but know i have a pretty good overall knowledge of the entire storyline & where things will head in later books (i read reviews & such prior to ever opening one of the books!) but send me your twilight thoughts...you can just post them on here, whether you want to put your name behind it or keep it anonymous.

AND if you want to share your thoughts on the UNDERGROUND PODCAST, call our voicemail to have your message played on air! call at 918-409-2593 and we'll play it! or you can email us your thoughts for us to read on the podcast by emailing undergroundpodcast@ymail.com - CALL OR EMAIL TODAY!

once i finish reading new moon, i'll be heading to theaters to check it out...so i'm sure i'll post on here about that soon....

it's not just dodgeball...it's DODGEBRAWL!

i can't work for k-life and not give a plug for our fundraiser dodgeball tourney! tulsa k-life is hosting the 2nd annual DODGEBRAWL tourney on sunday, november 1 and you should get a team together for it! seriously. it's awesome.

go to the tulsa k-life website for downloadable registration forms, consent forms, and official game rules! we made it as easy as possible for you to sign up. umm you're welcome. : )

winter: not so much a wonderland.

if you have ever thought of parts of your spiritual walk like seasons, then you'll understand. no matter what the season outside, i've been experiencing one of the longest winters of my life. it's cold. it's lonely. it feels as if you're isolated from any form of community. and let's be honest, it sucks.

no matter what i do or don't do, it seems as if the winter storm just continues to stir. i wish i could say how long i've been awaiting spring. longing for spring. when the signs of winter melt away. when life shows signs of growth and renewal. when all warms up and the sunshine warms your face.

i don't know how long this winter is going to last. but i know one this is for sure...i'm dying for glimpses of spring.

i am a podcaster.

i know what you're thinking: "wow, meredith is already just sooooo cool with this blog...being a podcaster would just make her even cooler!" and yes, that's what's happening here folks. i, meredith, have joined forces with my former co-worker, andrew ("money"), and we have put together a little thing we like to call THE UNDERGROUND PODCAST.

last year we began thinking about adding a podcast to our repertoire of ministry...and well, thoughts became...more thoughts...more thoughts became logos...logos became podcast supplies...and lo and behold, here we are with our first official episode hitting the itunes airwaves. you can also check out the podcast's website, which includes andrew's blog (which will probably correspond with the podcast more so than mine will...however, we might share some things. sharing is caring, right?). on the website you'll see our underground podcast logo, designed by yours truly...that's the logo you want to look for when you search it on itunes in the podcast section. some other podcasts with names like "the underground" or even one with the exact same name as ours might link you to euro-techno beats or materials with the red explicit stamp on it...so search carefully! ours won't include material deemed "explicit"...however, i might throw in a few techno beats from time to time. i love me some sandstorm. ha.

the underground podcast is where kingdom and culture collide. our purpose is to simply chat about culture (music, tv, movies, life, religion, relationships, etc.) from a biblical perspective and have fun while doing it. we'll have entertainment segments in the show to discuss big things happening in the entertainment world...we'll interview people you're either interested in or will be interested in once hearing an interview with them on the underground...and we'll have opportunities for you to voice your opinions, ask questions, or let us know what you want more/less of on the underground. we've got a facebook group, twitter account (@undergroundpod), email (undergroundpodcast@ymail.com), and will soon have a phone number you can call to reach us!

the first episode is a little rough because we're doing this for the first time, getting used to talking to each other while trying to make sure we're talking to those out there in listener land, we have one mic that's a quality mic...but it would work best if we were both mic'd up, and i'll admit--i sound like a tool on many occasions. ok maybe "tool" is the wrong word to use...i sound like a cheeseball on many occasions. there we go. little more light-hearted self-slander.

so check it out. take a listen. i think you'll enjoy...if not laugh a few times...and it will get better with every episode. it better. : )

episode 1 is titled "the triple" if that entices you to want to subscribe...yeah, i knew it would...

and just to whet your audio appetite, here's the logo i designed for the cast of pods:

beauty from the ashes

the following video is from a song by a band called esterlyn. the band was named after the niece of one of the band members, a little girl adopted from china who was named esther. she was born with a cleft palate...and as her new family prayed and prepared for her to join theirs, psalm 147 rang continuously in their hearts. it was from that passage, esterlyn wrote the song "esther,". inspired by this sweet little girl and hoping to inspire others with reminders of the Lord's faithfulness and truth. enjoy. : )

Esther from luke caldwell on Vimeo.

He heals the broken hearted

He binds their wounds

He is love

He finds those forgotten

Those who've been abused

He is love

He knows your name

A Father to the fatherless

A healer of the brokenness

You make beauty from the ashes

A helper to the helpless

A fighter for the hopeless

You Love those who are alone

He comforts the lonely

He hears their cry

He is love

He holds the children

Throughout the night

He is love

He knows your name

A Father to the fatherless

A healer of the brokenness

You make beauty from the ashes

A helper to the helpless

A fighter for the hopeless

You Love those who are alone

He comforts the lonely

He hears their cry

Give us your heart Lord help us love the unseen

Give us your eyes Lord help us love those in need

You're a Father to the fatherless

A healer of the brokenness

You make beauty from the ashes

You're a helper to the helpless

A fighter for the hopeless

You Love those who are alone

Those who are alone

He knows your name

He knows your name