Breakfast and a Silly Old Bear

This weekend, my loving husband took me on a morning date to celebrate my new job, a.m. style. For breakfast, we went to my favorite food spot in Macon - The Fountain of Juice (also known as "the foj," "f-o-j," or "fountain." It is the best place to lunch with a friend or find a plethora of North Macon moms. But really, it is amazing! Everything is organic and local as much as possible.

I've frequented there a lot in my time - Every college girl at Mercer knew it was "my spot" and that I'm on a first-name basis with the awesome people who work there. Of course, as soon as I quit a job where I'm at Mercer every day, FOJ opened their new location right off campus! I guess going there now will have to be more of a special treat. Which brings me back to my initial thought...

The new location serves breakfast, so G took me on Saturday. He had a sage and apple sausage biscuit and I had banana-stuffed challah bread french toast. I have no picture of our breakfast because we ate it too fast. Delicious!

After breakfast, I was treated to see Winnie the Pooh at the theater.

Don't roll your eyes.
You know you miss him.

Truly, it was adorable and brought back so many memories of my childhood. To prepare for the movie last week, I watched the classic "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." You should too. Not all of the voices were the same in the new movie, obviously, but I will say that Pooh's voice was dead on.

My favorite line: "I am a bear of very little brains, and big words bother me." It's said with a voice inflection that only that silly old bear can master. Really- Greg and I both tried it numerous times to no avail.

Here are some clips I found that should be inspiration for you to go see it!

Tigger (I've informed Greg that he is like Tigger: orange with a strong chin :)
Piglet can not knot
Reading Christopher Robin's note

To Reliving Childhood and Enjoying It,
Mary Jane

GOOOO Vikings!

Thank you for bearing with me in last week's emo post. It was good to write out all of the words swirling around in my head. Definitely needed.

I'm sorry I left all of you hundreds of readers in such suspense about my new job. I'm sure it's been all you could think about this past week, kind of like me after I watched The Prestige (seriously, GO WATCH IT!).

So here it is: I am now working at First Presbyterian Day School (FPD) here in Macon. I'll be helping with Administration duties as well as assisting in the daunting task of Enrollment. At a school like FPD, Enrollment = super important. I have been there 3 days already, and to say that I've been drinking from a fire hydrant is an understatement! There is so much to learn, so much to do and so many people to meet. And only two weeks until school begins! Hurry it up, Meyer.

I've loved FPD so far - the people there are the nicest you'll find around here. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of what this great school is all about.

Go Vikings!

Mary Jane Meyer

Enrollment Assistant

First Presbyterian Day School

A Bittersweet Transition

Well, the last two months have been very interesting for me. In May, I finished my third and final year on staff (or "doing the internship") with Reformed University Fellowship, or RUF at Mercer University. I can't believe it's over.

For those who aren't sure what working for RUF meant for me, it meant lots of one-on-one conversations with college girls, leading small group Bible studies and planning all kinds of events - for RUF as a whole, or for a few girls. It meant weekly large group meetings, singing with the music team, meeting with my campus minister, Buck. It meant bi-yearly training weeks with other interns from campuses around the country. It meant a lot of hard work in raising 100% of my support, a lot of emotional energy flowing into my girls' lives. It even meant meeting, "secret dating" and getting engaged to my husband (good story). It meant many more things I can't put into words. In a nutshell, it meant learning things I'll cherish forever and having relationships I'll never forget. The internship was the hardest and the best thing I've ever done. The experience changed my life.

So, if you can imagine how difficult it is to leave a job that is all about people. You're leaving people you truly care about. It feels far worse than ripping off a band-aid, because they've become part of you.

RUF is all I've known for three years, since I graduated from Ole Miss. I've loved it so much. God has been gracious and patient with me as I've struggled in learning how to minister (still learning) and keep going, despite seeing the horror of my own selfishness. It's hard to love other people, especially when you want to love yourself only. But by showing me that Jesus loved me when I was undeserving, the Lord has brought me low and enabled me to see his grace far better than I could before.

Tomorrow I start a new job, which is why all of these emotions are bubbling up now. I am thankful for God's provision as jobs are so hard to get these days. I am very excited about it, but a little scared at the same time. I guess that's normal - it's an unknown.

Really, I don't really know how to close out this RUF chapter in my life. A lot of prayer, a lot of tears, a lot of reminding myself that God is in control. It's hard to swallow that leaving is what he has for me, but I trust that it is time and that he knows best.

The Lord has allowed me to have a front-row seat to watch lives change. He has used me to do that - ME! It's incredible how God uses such messed-up people for his Kingdom. I am in awe of it still. And I know that no matter where I serve, he will continue to use me for his glory. There is much more to be done.

Mary Jane

"Back to School, Back to School...

...to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I've got my lunch packed up and my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight..."

Come on, Billy Madison anyone?

Greg had his first day of school on Friday. (It actually was his third day, but my camera and I were not there. Hence, Day 3 = Day 1).

"What do you mean, MJ, that this is Greg's first day of school?" Well, my husband is beginning to take classes at RTS. RTS = Reformed Theological Seminary. Eventually, he is going to get his Masters of Divinity and become a minister. Yep, that's the long term plan. But for now, we love being in Macon - he is only taking one class. 

So, we drove up to ATL...

Ahhh...Atlanta.

And I dropped G off for his two-hour class...

Not everyone would be secure enough to allow this picture to be taken. Greg = trooper.

(The following 2 photos were taken AFTER class began. Apparently, I was embarrassing my sweet husband).

The new RTS building.

While Gregor was learning Apologetics, I was killing time at Trader Joe's (buying Two Buck Chuck) and TJ Maxx Home Goods. We don't get that kind of retail wonderfulness in Macon.

I was early to pick Greg up, so I browsed through my new copy of the best mag ever...

Don't hate on the funky face. I was bored.

After his full-day class Saturday, we rewarded ourselves with burgers from Houston's. Yummy!

Here's to great weekends, cheap wine and TJ Maxx,
MJ

Lemonade Stand-Out!

Who doesn't love a good lemonade stand? I can't help but stop when I see little kids sweating it out to make a few cents. It's the most precious thing. One time I stopped at one and the little girl was selling her "artwork." It was adorable.

Yesterday, I got to be behind the scenes at a rather productive lemonade stand. Our friends, Buck and Rachel Rogers, have three kids - Eli, Rosie and Sarabelle, who decided they just HAD to sell lemonade. And, on the hottest day of the year.

Rosie and Eli, owners.

Sarabelle, Support team.

 They had quite the selection of classic yellow and pink strawberry lemonade, as well as cookies. They even decorated the table with flowers and made their own signs (with a little or maybe a lot of help from Rachel, their super-creative mom!).

Rosie pouring my pink lemonade, right before I swooped in to save the merchandise from spilling everywhere.

There was quite the crowd!

Rachel, left, with two fellow friends and customers.

Eli making a deal.

Rosie could convince anyone to purchase some lemonade with that "are you serious?" look. She knows what's up.

Eli showed off his money...they made bank!

Sarabelle and Rosie kicking it back in the shade. Rosie's already moved on to her next entrepreneurship idea: stamping.

Soon, the kids got a little disenchanted and went inside to play Nerf War (those were the good ole days!), and the stand closed for business.

Sarabelle copped out of Nerf and cuddled with me instead :)

The weather was hot. The lemonade was refreshing. The company was wonderful.

It was a great day :)

Here's to many more Lemonade Stands!
Mary Jane

Mulberry Market Day!

Any Farmer's Market fans out there?

I love a good market. And I love local. Local restaurants, local shops, local produce - love it all. So you can imagine that when a weekly local market began on one of Macon's downtown streets, I was giddy with excitement!

Every Wednesday evening from April to September, Local vendors set up camp to sell their goods at Mulberry Street Market. I'm talking not only fresh summer produce, but also eggs, milk, grass-fed meat, bread, jams and pickles, flowers, plants and herbs. It's just beautiful.

 They have the best herbs!

So colorful!

A whole truck full of Dairy deliciousness.

Even the Band Grandparents come out! (note the shirt).

Greg usually assists me in my weekly venture. His job is to keep me on track (I get very distracted by it all as you can imagine), carry the goods and as we leave, ask me, "You're just so happy right now, aren't you?" The answer is always yes. I reward him by cooking yummy things with our purchases.

What a trooper!

Our goods: Milk, brown eggs, heirloom (Purple Cherokee) tomatoes and Mango Bread. Yummy!

 

Beautiful Sunflowers to top it all off :)

We had a fun time, as always. Way to go, Macon, for doing something like this. What a great success!

Keep it local kids,
Mary Jane

Fourth Festivities

The Independence weekend was filled with plenty of friends, fireworks and of course, watermelon. Our weekend started off with a cookout at our friends, Carlie and Anders' house. Like all good cookouts should go, the bottom of the sky decided to drop out on our way there and a monsoon quickly ensued.

Monsoooon!

Greg wanted to storm chase, so I informed him that 80% of people who get struck by lightning are men. I need him around, so I convinced him to stay on the porch.

Pensive Greg

We walked into the backdoor of the house, where the lights had just gone out - Yay for candles!

Anders, Carlie and Greg throwing it back old school, pre-Thomas Edison style

Don't worry, the lights came on right before Anders could have blown something up while trying to light the gas oven with a tiny match. Our cookout was successful -  America: 1, Nature: 0.

The morning of the fourth (who doesn't love Monday holidays by the way?), we welcomed amigos Corrie and Cam to join us for pancakes and the pool. Greg made a self-portrait. He's so talented. My artist mother would be so proud.

Cam brought a watermelon, which turned out to provide oodles of entertainment.

First, the men cutting it up:

Then, a seed-spitting contest:

Love it.

Atta way to put your back into it!

Before we hit the pool, the thunder hit us. So inside we went. We rocked Patriotic like you wouldn't believe: Thank goodness for The Big Bang Theory season 2 and comfortable couches.


Evening came, and so did the amazing cookout at our friend Will's house. At this annual celebration, dozens of Macon's finest get to relive the best homemade bbq and the most entertaining karaoke. Followed by: you guessed it, fireworks at the country club!

David and Elizabeth, Carlie and Anders, and Greg and me

Anders does this every year!

Successful night.

Thank you God, for blessing us with an amazing country and wonderful friends and family in which to enjoy it!

Rock on America,
Mary Jane